The Bellingham Herald – Kali Tupper
At some point in our lives, we’ve probably all heard the words “Eat your vegetables.” We all know that vegetables are good for us. They provide important nutrients and fiber that nourish our bodies, promote a healthy digestive system and strengthen our immune system. (more)
The Times Telegram – Staff Writer
When you think about the most important part of a child’s school day, what comes to mind? Is it reading? Science? Math or history? What about recess? Children will likely mention recess as their favorite part of the day, and new research shows that this free time is actually a fundamental component to their future development and host to numerous educational opportunities. (more)
Medical X-Press – Gillian Kiley
A new study by Brown University epidemiologists found that children on the threshold of obesity or overweight in the first two years of life had lower perceptual reasoning and working memory scores than lean children when tested at ages five and eight. The study also indicated that IQ scores may be lower for higher-weight children. Obesity, which can dysregulate hormones that act in multiple brain regions, is associated with lower cognition in adults, the researchers said. But until now, despite the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity, there has been scant research on whether weight status impacts how children learn, remember information and manage attention and impulses. (more)
Medical X-Press – Staff Writer
Well-meaning dads may be over-feeding their toddlers and increasing the risk of childhood obesity, according to a QUT and Flinders University study being presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Vienna today. The researchers compared mothers’ and fathers’ feeding practices and their preliminary evidence suggests dads are more likely to want their child to “eat up” and gain weight, despite feeling less responsible overall for meal giving. (more)
Medical X-Press – Staff Writer
Even healthy weight boys have become less fit over the past 20 years, according to new research being presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Vienna, Austria (23-26 May). The study, which tested the aerobic fitness of normal and obese 11-year-old boys from Malaga, Spain in 1996 and again in 2016, highlights the need for a shift in focus towards child fitness and away from just their weight. (more)