Medical X-Press – Staff Writer
Mum and dad wear them so the kids want one too. But how well do children’s activity trackers keep up with these little bundles of energy? A new QUT study is aiming to test the accuracy of commercially available fitness trackers by comparing their data with information collected by multiple scientific movement sensors during 20 minutes of play. (more)
Pysch Central – Janice Wood
Substituting diet soda for sugar-sweetened versions during pregnancy also appeared to have negative effects, according to the study’s findings. However, children’s fruit consumption had beneficial effects and was associated with higher cognitive scores, researchers said. For the study, investigators collected dietary assessment data for more than 1,000 pregnant women from 1999 to 2002 who participated in Project Viva. Their children’s diets were assessed in early childhood. (more)
The Chicago Daily Herald – Staff Writer
Advertising, social media and celebrities have a huge impact on teens’ perception of body image: Who has the perfect body, and how do I get it? Unfortunately, it can be the reason so many young girls have very unrealistic expectations about their own body image. And those whose appearances don’t “stack up” are often victims of cruel peer teasing. (more)
The U.S. News and World Report – Michael O. Schroeder
Adults aren’t the only ones who spend a significant portion of their days sitting. Just as many grownups go to sedentary jobs, kids spend hours daily rooted to chairs in classrooms. All the while childhood obesity continues to be a major problem, and recent research published in the journal Pediatrics indicates it’s only getting worse, reflecting how weight concerns afflict people of all ages in the U.S. (more)
Reuters – Lisa Rapaport
Self-regulation covers a lot of things that kids need to succeed inside and outside the classroom, ranging from the ability to have positive interactions with others, the capacity to avoid inappropriate or aggressive actions, and the ability to carry out self-directed learning. Cognitive processes contributing to self-regulation are often referred to as “executive function” and can include impulse control as well as the ability to direct or focus attention, adapt flexibly to changes, and retain information. (more)