How would you feel if your child was removed from your home and placed into foster care for being obese?

According to a group of health specialists in England and Ireland, some obese children should be removed from their homes.

There are 20 documented cases in the U.K. where obese children have been removed from their homes and there are sporadic cases of the same situation occurring in the U.S.

How is this justified?

Childhood obesity can be seen as a failure to adequately care for your children by failing to provide a healthy diet and sufficient activity, whether through direct neglect or more subtly through an inability to deny children the pleasures of energy dense fast food and television viewing, according to health experts.

The neglect that leads to obesity may be a sign of other problems in the home. As many as one-third of obese adults say they were sexually abused as children.

Some pediatricians and other professionals wonder if obese children would be better off in the custody of child protective services.

Failure to provide children with medical treatment for chronic diseases (asthma or epilepsy) can result in the government intervening and placing the child in foster care.  If  removing an obese child from their home prevents future health problems such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, is this justified?

Thoughts?

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Some of those changes are downright sneaky—you can slip them into your daily eating plan without any stress and they’ll help you feel healthy each day.

1. Take out a ruler and measure your plate. The size of American dinner plates has grown in recent years. Many are now 12 or even 14 inches wide, great for loading up but not so good for encouraging healthy eating. Big plates result in big portions and weight gain, since most of us are conditioned to eat what’s on our plates. Instead, get out those old 9- or 10-inch “luncheon” plates you may have received as hand-me-downs or buy some inexpensive new ones. You’ll serve yourself less food with smaller plates, but still feel satisfied.

2. Make your second helping all veggies. You may have heard the advice to mentally divide your dinner plate in fourths and fill two of those sections with vegetables and/or salad, one with a starch and one with a meat or other protein. That works well as a guideline for smart eating, but if you’re still hungry and want more, commit to making your second helping all veggies. For seconds, start with one-fourth of the plate or less. Eating more cooked or salad vegetables increases your feeling of fullness without adding a lot of calories—so long as you don’t butter the vegetables and use only nonfat or low-fat salad dressings.

3. Serve from the stove, not at the table. Although the image of filled serving bowls on the family dinner table is associated with well-being, serving food directly from pots on a stove or counter is better for healthy weight, according to Brian Wansink, PhD, director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab and author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think. The reason this sneaky tip works for weight control is simple: When you sit and look at food, you take more and eat more. For a modified approach, reduce traffic jams at the stove and promote better food choices by keeping only the cooked vegetables and salad on the dining table.

4. Eat breakfast every day. More reason to wake up and smell the coffee: Eating breakfast improves weight loss efforts and helps keep weight off long-term. When you skip that starter meal of the day, hunger hits stronger, often well before lunchtime. To quiet hunger pangs quickly, you might reach for something calorie-loaded without much nutritional benefit, such as a doughnut (or two!), muffin or bagel. Whole-grain cereals, like oatmeal, will carry you through the morning. Other options: have nonfat yogurt, eggs or peanut butter for protein, with whole-grain toast.

5. Have a tall, thin one. Time to hide the wide glasses! Dr. Wansink and his research colleagues have shown that you’ll pour less and drink less (thus cutting calories)–yet still be satisfied—when you use tall, skinny glasses for serving beverages. You can still use your wide glasses for water and other calorie-free drinks.

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Explore the recesses of your refrigerator and you may find foods that science is, increasingly, crediting with being especially supportive for brain health. These edibles may improve memory, clarify thinking, delay cognitive decline, and perhaps even ward off Alzheimer’s disease.

Recent research shows that you may want to include the following on your shopping list more often for brain-strengthening nourishment:

• Apple juice and pomegranate juice
• Red grapes, cherries, apples, blueberries and strawberries
• Tea and cocoa
• Salmon and light tuna
• Soy foods
• Sunflower seeds, walnuts
• Vegetables, especially leafy greens
• Canola oil, olive oil
• Dark chocolate

When buying processed or packaged foods containing these ingredients, be sure to read the nutrition labels carefully. Some of these “good” foods may be prepared with high amounts of sugar, fat or salt added to them, resulting in too many calories or too much sodium in your diet. For healthful eating, choose fresh versions of these foods most often, or prepare them with low-fat ingredients. Eat processed types in moderation.

For example, you can still get the benefits of pomegranate juice (which has sugar added to offset its tart flavor) by mixing one or two ounces into sparkling water as a spritzer. Cocoa made with nonfat milk gives your brain a boost without adding extra fat. And letting a small piece of dark chocolate melt slowly in your mouth prolongs your enjoyment while keeping your daily intake healthful (one ounce or less).

For brain health as well as overall health, be sure to avoid foods containing saturated fats or trans fats (check those nutrition labels!). Diets that are high in such fats are specifically related to declining brain capabilities.

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Snoring is usually caused by irregular nasal air flow due to a blockage in the airways. Other causes can be a weakened throat, a throat surrounded with fat, nasal congestion, or tissues surrounding airways that rub against each other and vibrate.

If you are looking to find solutions to snoring problems, there are a wide variety of treatments available. While there are some very effective surgical and medical treatments, it is always a good idea to start with natural and non-invasive solutions.

6 natural cures for snoring:

1) Mild snoring can usually be addressed by switching to a different sleeping position. If you sleep on your back, you may want to try sleeping on your side and see if it addresses or reduces your problem.

2) Try elevating your head when lying down by using more pillows. This can free your airways and make breathing less strenuous while you sleep.

3) Lifestyle changes can do a lot to remedy your snoring problems. If you have vices such as drinking or smoking, try cutting down or quitting entirely. You should also exercise regularly to enhance your respiratory system. If you are overweight, try to lose a few pounds and get to your ideal weight.

4) Several types of medication can also cause snoring problems. Among them are sleeping pills which, ironically, people tend to take when they can’t sleep due to their snoring problems. As much as possible, try to get natural sleep and ask your doctor if any of your other medications contribute to your snoring problem.

5) There are also other very helpful but unconventional treatments including singing or playing woodwind or brass instruments. Such activities exercise your lungs and strengthen your throat to reduce or completely cure your snoring problems.

6) Activities such as yoga and meditation can help you eradicate your snoring problems if done regularly, especially before sleeping. Such activities help you relax and improve your breathing techniques.

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Admit that you and your family are in crisis. When you hear the word “crisis,” it typically conjures images of natural disasters and third-world countries—not something that is the result of a day at the doctor’s office. However, no matter how small a scale, a crisis is a turning point, one that denotes a pivotal change in your life. A diagnosis of cancer is just that. Aldrich says that you have to come to terms with the fact that your life has now changed, and move forward knowing that even though things won’t be the same, your life will continue—and it must.

Remember that knowledge is power. When you are faced with a terminal illness, there are so many things that are simply unknown to patients and their caregivers. The best remedy for feeling “armed and ready” during your fight with cancer is to equip yourself with information—a lot of it. Aldrich says that most patients and their families tend to defer to their doctor without realizing that they actually have a say in all decisions. Insist from the beginning that your medical team be direct and forthcoming with all information. Pay close attention at doctor’s appointments, ask for multiple recommendations, and stay grounded. You need to clearly understand your options, the side effects, and future concerns. After all, this is your life at stake.

Make use of the gifts of those around you. Chances are the people in your own inner circle, your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, all possess individual talents and resources that can help you face your fight. For example, perhaps you have a relative with experience in the medical field who can help you navigate the hospital system. Or maybe your neighbor has a gift for organization and can help you keep up with your paperwork and appointments. People really want to help, so don’t be afraid to ask. You’ll be amazed at the talent and resources that are available to you—often right in your own family!

Don’t stop with the first opinion. At the onset of your diagnosis, it’s important to remember that nobody, not even your doctor, can know what will happen—good or bad. Plus, doctors are human, not superhuman, and they can send you down the wrong path. One of the biggest mistakes people make after a diagnosis is failing to get a second, third, or even fourth opinion on their diagnosis and treatment options. Even if you have to travel out of state or across the country, it’s worth the effort if it means getting the best possible care.

No one knows a patient’s “expiration date.” Cancer is very serious and you don’t want to live in denial. Yet, you also don’t need to assume the worst. If your doctor says the typical patient with your kind of cancer lives six months, that doesn’t mean you have only six months. Maybe you have nine months or two years or even more time ahead of you. The doctor doesn’t know for sure. Assuming she knows how long you have sets you up psychologically to live until that date and no longer—and since outlook is such a critical part of the battle, that could have dire consequences.

Commit to face the cancer battle together. A cancer diagnosis is challenging in many ways. It can tax you mentally and physically—and it can put a real strain on your personal relationships. You have to go into it knowing that neither you nor your partner will survive this trial without the other one. Studies show that patients with poorly managed anger and pain may feel stress, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and guilt. They may even withdraw from loved ones. Sometimes that will hurt you both, but your mutual understanding of what is happening can make all the difference.

Remember, the patient has the final say. When you’re the patient, you’ll want to do everything in your power to fight your cancer and become a survivor. But there may come a time when it’s all too much, or when you don’t feel comfortable with a decision or treatment plan—and it’s okay for you to say no or ask for another opinion. Personal choice is critical in the fight against cancer, and keeping in mind that you have a choice can be both empowering and comforting.

Realize that life does go on (if you let it). A cancer diagnosis changes everything about the way you live—your capabilities, your schedule, and your ability to make future plans. And quite often, this loss of freedom and flexibility is one of the most difficult aspects of the disease for cancer patients to cope with. That’s why it’s critical to live your life as normally as possible. Get up every day, go to work if you are able, and stay active and involved with your friends and family. Despite how you may feel initially, your life does not have to come to a screeching halt. Finding the right balance will keep your spirits high and your attitude positive. Part of this balance is leaving the “what ifs” and “if onlys” at the door.

About the Author:
Joni James Aldrich believes that she has been preparing to write The Saving of Gordon and The Losing of Gordon for most of her life. As a child, she was a better than average student. She wrote dramatic poetry.

Last year before becoming pregnant I had triumphantly gotten down to 245lbs. My maximum weight at one time was 320-330lbs so I was proud of myself. During my pregnancy I gained over 60 lbs (35lbs more than the recomended 25lbs). 

Oneand a half month after delivering my beautiful baby girl I’ve lost 20lbs which I consider to be a good thing.  So what’s my problem?   My problem is the excruciating pain that sent me to the Emergency Room last Thursday. Come to find out I have gall stones and need to have my gall bladder removed.

When I visited my surgeon, I was surprised to find out that weight loss can cause or attribute to the formation of the stones! Bet they don’t tell you that on any weight-loss program! Although you can live without a gall bladder and the surgery is only 20 minutes long, the pre-operation pain is horrible!

Just wanted to give my PSA for the day. Take it easy folks.

The benefits of drinking enough water are many but below is just a list of some that I thought were interesting:

• Promotes clear skin
• Lubricates joints
• Prevents muscles soreness
• Helps to eliminate toxic waste from our bodies
• Regulates body temperature
• Helps keep excess weight off
• Protects our organs
• Helps in digestion and constipation
• Relieves fatigue
• Moisturizes the air in lungs
• Helps to relieve headaches caused by dehydration

Some of us only feel the need to drink water when we are thirsty or are experiencing dry mouth which is a sign of dehydration.  Many of us are living in a dehydrated state and can cure many of the ailments that we may be suffering with by doing something as simple as just counting how many C.O.W.’s we are drinking a day adding an additional cup. 

Take note now and if you are not drinking at least 8 – 10 glasses a day, you are actually causing your body to work twice as hard to keep it functioning properly.  Below is a small list of some signs that you may be dehydrated:

• Dry skin
• Dark  Urine
• Constipation
• Tiredness
• Irregular blood pressure
• Cramped muscles
• Hunger

I know drinking water can be difficult at times but once you start, you will be used to consuming a healthy amount of H2O.  So try drinking an extra cup of water today and see if you don’t start feeling better by the end of the week!

Just this week, a few of my colleagues visited ERs for various reasons, and their stories about the long waits, sick crowds and general poor conditions took me back to my time spent in ERs. Like the time my son, as a toddler, cut his head, which bled profusely all the way to the hospital. Or the time my grandmother, while visiting, fell down a flight of stairs in my home at 2 AM.  Or most recently when my husband’s new replacement hip dislocated and left him writhing in excruciating, uncontrollable pain.

Those visits were warranted.

But many visits can be treated outside emergency rooms, yet for various reasons – lack of health insurance, trouble getting through to your overworked doctor, convenience or ignorance – people are overusing them. And that leads to even more problems, since waits can extend into several hours and treatment by the overworked staff can be less than acceptable. 

And while it’s true that many lives have been saved in emergency rooms, unfortunately, the opposite is true, too. People do die – sometimes because they simply had to wait too long.

Knowing when to visit an ER can be a thorny issue at times…especially if your mind is muddled with anxiety, fear or pain.

Jane Brody, the health writer for the New York Times, wrote a very helpful column about this last month. She included tips for when an emergency room visit is warranted from author Patrick Conlon (he wrote “The Essential Hospital Handbook”), based on recommendations from the American College of Emergency Physicians. I personally think it’s worthwhile to print these out and tape them to the inside of a cabinet or closet door.

• Difficulty breathing
• Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
• Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness
• Changes in vision
• Confusion or changes in mental state
• Any sudden or severe pain
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Suicidal feelings
• Difficulty speaking
• Shortness of breath
• Unusual abdominal pain

I was unusually calm when I had to call 911 to take my husband to the ER. I think it might have been – thank goodness – because it was not life-threatening. So, while I waited for the ambulance, I packed a goody bag full of snacks, reading material and even my I-Pod, since I knew from experience that we’d be in for a pretty long wait.

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The percentage of obese girls in the United States increased more than twice as much as the percentage of obese boys from 2003 to 2007, according to a study by researchers at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

States such as Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana and Tennessee were in the top 20 percent of childhood obesity rates with prevalence exceeding 20%, while states such as Oregon and Wyoming in the Western region had the lowest obesity rates with a prevalence of about 10%. The geographic disparities in obesity prevalence increased between 2003 and 2007.

“Children in several states in the South are at twice the risk of becoming obese than children in Oregon, which had the lowest prevalence rate,” said study’s lead author, Dr. Gopal K. Singh, of HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Based on children aged 10 to 17, the study was the first to present geographic differences over time among individual states and used extensive individual, household, and neighborhood data from two large, nationally representative cross-sectional surveys conducted under the overall direction and sponsorship from HRSA and conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study also analyzed overweight prevalence among children and adolescents.

Overweight and obesity are labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems. This study analyzed heights and weights of children as reported by their parents during the surveys.

Additional information found in this study included the following:

• While overweight prevalence among the total population did not
  increase significantly between 2003 and 2007, it increased 9 percent
  among girls in these areas.
• Overweight prevalence varied from a low of 23.1 percent in Utah to a
  high of 44.5 percent in Mississippi.
•  Obesity prevalence nearly doubled among girls in  Arizona and
  Kansas.

Risks of obesity or overweight increased significantly in relation to decreased household income, lower neighborhood access to parks or sidewalks, lower levels of physical activity, and increased television viewing time and computer use.

This study implies that girls in southern states are more likely to become overweight.