The Independent – Staff Writer
Research shows that four out of five children in Ireland are not getting enough physical exercise – but how do you get sedentary tech-obsessed kids away from their screens and onto their feet? We asked the experts for their best strategies to get the whole family out of doors and exercising as the days get longer. (more)
Medical X-Press – Clare Milliken
Once upon a time, kids could bring candy to school for Halloween, and the market for trading lunchbox goodies was hot. These days, classrooms are peanut-free zones, and many schools ban treats altogether. That’s a direct response to a surge in childhood food allergies across the U.S., says pediatrics professor Dr. Ruchi Gupta. Gupta has been at the forefront of food allergy research, applying her findings both in her clinical practice and in her home. After Gupta began her career, her daughter was diagnosed with peanut, tree nut and egg allergies. The impact of that diagnosis, and the struggle to separate fact from fiction, cemented Gupta’s drive to understand more about allergies, help families cope, and empower food allergy sufferers to lead full, fearless lives. (more)
Medical X-Press – Staff Writer
Junk food ads are shown more frequently on TV at times when many children are watching, new Heart Foundation-funded research shows. The research, led by the University of Adelaide’s Associate Professor Lisa Smithers and published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health today, also showed that children were exposed to twice as much unhealthy food advertising as healthy food advertising. (more)
ABC – Rebecca Carmody
Monique Robinson assumed her four-year-old son Teddy was getting more than enough exercise, comparing him to a border collie that needed to run twice a day. But when researchers tracked his physical activity for a week, it was a big surprise to discover she was wrong — that he was actually doing less than the nationally-recommended three hours of daily activity for children aged 2-5. And far from being alone, the Robinsons are in the majority. (more)
Medical X-Press – Staff Writer
Children who get less than the recommended amount of sleep for their age are at a higher risk of developing obesity. Research at the University of Warwick has found that children and adolescents who regularly sleep less than others of the same age gain more weight when they grow older and are more likely to become overweight or obese. (more)