Safe Weight Loss for Overweight Kids

SOURCES: Tamara Melton, MS, RDN, LD, program director and clinical instructor, Georgia State University. American Heart Association: “Overweight in Children.” Hammons, A. Pediatrics, June 2011. Boutelle, K. Obesity, July 2012. CDC: “Tips for Parents – Ideas to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight.” Lutes, L. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, June 2008. National Institute of Diabetes…

What Is a Lactation Massager?

While shopping for breastfeeding gear, you may have noticed lactation massagers in addition to breast pumps, nipple cream, and nursing pillows. What are they? And do you need one? A lactation massager is a handheld device that’s intended to help women overcome certain breastfeeding challenges, like engorged breasts or clogged milk ducts. Should…

Early Menopause May Raise a Woman’s Odds for Dementia

TUESDAY, March 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Women who enter menopause early may be more likely to develop dementia later in life, new research indicates. During menopause, production of the female sex hormone estrogen drops dramatically and a woman’s periods come to an end. While women typically enter menopause in their early 50s, many do…

As Fires Rage, Survivors Struggle to Find Care

SOURCES: The New York Times: “Climate Scientists Warn of a ‘Global Wildfire Crisis.’ ” “ ‘Build Back Better’ Hit a Wall, but Climate Action Could Move Forward.” National Fire Protection Association: “Fire Loss in the United States During 2020,” “Home fires with ten or more fatalities.” CNN: “Survivors of California’s deadliest wildfire are now helping other survivors…

Study Says Pfizer COVID Vaccine Wanes in Kids Ages 5 to 11

March 1, 2022 — You may have already seen the headline: The Pfizer vaccine’s effectiveness against COVID-19 infection drops to 12% in 5- to 11-year-olds. But how do experts interpret this and other results from this preprint study? Despite the findings, which have not been peer-reviewed, researchers at the New York State Department of Health,…

Parents of Trans Teen Sue Texas to Stop Investigations

March 1, 2022 The parents of a transgender teenager in Texas filed a lawsuit to stop state agencies from investigating reports of gender-transition procedures on children as cases of possible child abuse. The parents, identified as John and Jane Doe, and their child, identified as Mary Doe, say in the complaint that an investigator from…

Newly Diagnosed Diabetes in COVID Patients Often Temporary

MONDAY, Feb. 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Newly diagnosed diabetes in many COVID-19 patients may be a temporary type triggered by COVID, according to a new study. Blood sugar levels returned to normal in about half of the newly diagnosed diabetes patients after they left the hospital, and only 8% required insulin after…

Why Losing Your Temper and Yelling at Your Kids Isn’t Cool

When Mary Wyatt was growing up, her mother yelled a lot. “My mother yelled at me for my behavior, grades, or even when she struggled with her own personal trials,” says Wyatt, a motivational coach and mother of two who lives in Chesterfield, VA. When Wyatt became a mother, she found herself repeating the pattern…

Social Isolation and Loneliness Linked to Heart Disease

Feb. 28, 2022 — Social isolation and loneliness are linked to a greater risk of heart disease, stroke, and death from heart disease among postmenopausal women, suggests a new U.S. study. Even after adjusting for other risky behaviors, such as smoking and being physically inactive, social isolation and loneliness were related to higher odds of…

Media Needs Safer Reporting on Suicide: Experts

Feb. 24, 2022 — How should the media safely report on suicide? The news of Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst’s untimely death by suicide on Jan. 30 stunned the world. Scrolling through breaking news headlines and social media feeds, many questioned how an accomplished lawyer, TV host, and social activist could have taken her own…