Omaha.com – Staff Writer
There’s no denying the countless benefits of a good exercise routine – lower cholesterol and blood pressure, decreased body fat, increased blood and oxygen flow, the list goes on. However, there is more to a healthy child than the ability to successfully run a mile. Take a comprehensive approach: Consider your child’s nutrition, home environment and mental health, as well. (more)
Medical X-Press – Staff Writer
As summer winds down, parents and children are preparing for the start of the school year, but for children with food allergies, heading to school for the first time can come with significant stress and anxiety. When a child is at school, they’re away from the watchful eye of their parents—those who can best control their children’s exposure to allergens and recognize symptoms of a reaction. This issue affects more families than ever before as the number of children with food allergies has risen to one in 13, or about two per classroom. (more)
Medical X-Press – Tim Olds
A Deakin University proposal to measure the height and weight of all Australian school children has understandably generated controversy. Some commentators have labelled it misguided, fearing it could encourage kids to “pursue weight loss at any cost”. While there are benefits and downsides of measuring kids’ height and weight at school, the pros outweigh the cons. (more)
Medical X-Press – Emma Thorne
Children and young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at an increased risk of injury, a study at the University of Nottingham has found. The research, published in the journal Child: Care, Health & Development, shows that children with the developmental disorder are more likely to suffer a broken bone, sustain a burn or become the victim of an accidental poisoning. (more)
The New York Times – Roni Caryn Rabin
A major pediatricians’ group is urging families to limit the use of plastic food containers, cut down on processed meat during pregnancy and consume more whole fruits and vegetables rather than processed food. Such measures would lower children’s exposures to chemicals in food and food packaging that are tied to health problems such as obesity, the group says. (more)