Tag Archives: heart disease

A new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that children of obese mothers have increased risks for developing serious cardiovascular disease and early death. Yikes!

The study is based on the health records of more than 37,000 people born in Scotland between 1950 and 1976. It does not try to explain why a mother’s weight would affect the health of an adult child decades later. Genes may play a role, and so too might family lifestyle. There is abundant evidence that adult eating habits are often originally defined during childhood, so family lifestyle may play a significant … Read the rest

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There may be more risks associated with obesity than you think. According to a recent poll by the Associated Press, only a few people knew a majority of the risks associated with obesity. Even scarier, about one quarter of people think it’s possible for someone to be very overweight (i.e., obese) and still be healthy!

Most people know that being obese has serious health consequences, including heart disease and diabetes. But other consequences aren’t so well known. For example, only 7 percent of people surveyed mentioned cancer, although doctors have long known that weight increases lead to higher risks of … Read the rest

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Businesses are beginning to get the message: It is in their best interest to help employees maintain a healthy lifestyle. For a growing number of workers, healthy behavior is now being encouraged by their employer.

One great way that companies are helping is by encouraging employees to get more exercise. Companies like Domino’s Pizza and General Electric are now giving employees pedometers so they can keep track of how many steps they take each day. But it doesn’t stop there. These companies are adding financial incentives too. These companies are making employees who walk a certain number of steps eligible … Read the rest

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According to a new study, obesity in America will grow from about 33 percent of the population today to at least 44 percent by 2030 unless something is done. And, that same study predicts that 13 states may see adult obesity rates of over 60 percent!

This is happening at the same time that a national discussion on reducing medical costs is in full swing. What is the easiest way to reduce medical costs, in our opinion? Reduce obesity. Obesity has been linked to so many preventable diseases like diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. “If states could reduce their residents’ … Read the rest

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September is National Childhood Obesity month, and I must admit that I’m conflicted. I don’t know whether I should be happy or sad. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that we are putting focus on this important issue, but I’m sad that we need to focus on it at all!

Childhood obesity is the health challenge of our generation. How bad is it? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years. In 2008 (the most recent year that comprehensive statistics are available), nearly 20 percent of children ages 6-11 are … Read the rest

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