Food firms told to offer snack size portions posted by Jana on 5 February 2009, 1:31 pm, under Health

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4518794/Food-firms-told-to-offer-snack-size-portions.html

Alan Johnson will meet leading business figures from firms like Mars, Coca-Cola, Britvic and Nestle as part of the Government's Change4Life campaign. Speaking to the Business4Life coalition of companies, Mr Johnson will call upon them to create healthy new snacks that will appeal to children and to cut down portion sizes. He will urge them to reduce the sugar content in existing food and drink, and to sell "snack sizes" of products along traditional sizes.

Gene fault 'ups antibiotic risk' posted by Jana on 5 February 2009, 1:31 pm, under Health

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7866749.stm

One in 500 children is carrying a gene variation which means they are more likely to be damaged by a commonly used hospital antibiotic, a study suggests. Aminoglycosides, often used to target serious infections, can permanently harm hearing. A team from the Institute of Child Health in London found the gene fault in 18 out of 9,371 children tested. In the New England Journal of Medicine they say it should be possible to screen out at risk children.

Obese cancer 'explosion' warning posted by Jana on 4 February 2009, 7:42 am, under Health

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7866681.stm

The current generation of children faces a far higher risk of cancer later in life due to their unhealthy habits, a specialist has warned. Professor Kathy Pritchard-Jones said western countries should prepare for an "explosion" of weight-related cancers.

Sun's rays make summer babies taller and stronger, study claims posted by Jana on 3 February 2009, 2:08 pm, under Health

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/4447045/Suns-rays-make-summer-babies-taller-and-stronger-study-claims.html

Those born in the late summer and early autumn are around half a centimetre taller and have wider bones than their peers born in winter and spring, an 18 year project found. Expectant mothers lucky enough to be blooming in the hot months should get enough sun to boost their
vitamin D levels just by walking around outside or even sunbathing. But winter parents should consider taking vitamin supplements, researchers at Bristol University recommended. Anyone thinking of trying to short-cut the process by sitting on a sun bed for the final weeks of their pregnancy would be doing themselves no good.

'Hidden salt' in restaurant meals posted by Jana on 2 February 2009, 2:13 pm, under Health

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7861017.stm

Many popular restaurant meals in the UK contain large amounts of salt, a campaign group has said. Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) found that nearly three quarters of the main course dishes had levels in excess of ideal daily limits. They say customers would have "no way
of knowing" how much they were eating.

'"How Are the Kids?': Diet plans for 11 million families posted by Jana on 31 January 2009, 1:11 pm, under Health

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/dietandfitness/4399872/How-Are-the-Kids-Diet-plans-for-11-million-families.html

More than eleven million families will be offered "personalised" diet and exercise plans from today, as part of an anti-obesity drive that could cost more than £35 million. Under the scheme, parents will be asked to detail what their children eat and how often they play, so that experts can offer advice. More than seven million will receive the surveys, which ask questions including whether the family eats their evening meal together, through their letterbox from this weekend. Another four million surveys, called "How Are the Kids?", will be given out through schools, GP surgeries, magazines and in town centres. Once completed, parents will receive advice on how to
encourage children to eat more fruit and vegetables and how much exercise they should take.

Teenagers who watch the most television 'eat more junk food than adults' posted by Jana on 30 January 2009, 1:28 pm, under Health

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4386782/Teenagers-who-watch-the-most-television-eat-more-junk-food-than-adults.html

A study of the eating habits of American teenagers found a link between the length of time young people spent in front of the television and the quality of what they ate in later life. It is the first time a study has shown how viewing habits could be used as a predictor of future diet. Scientists have long observed a link between a sedentary "couch potato" lifestyle and failing to eat healthily, but the researchers from the University of Minnesota concluded that fast food advertising was also playing a significant role.

Mobile dental help for children posted by Jana on 30 January 2009, 1:28 pm, under Health

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7859584.stm

A fleet of mobile dental units aims to visit 300 schools over the next three years in a bid to improve dental health in Welsh children. The assembly government's Designed to Smile project had been run on a limited basis but it will now be rolled out in super pilots in north and south Wales. Toothpaste, toothbrushes and advice will be given out during the scheme. Ministers want to improve statistics which show Welsh children have the worst rates of tooth decay in the UK.

One in five young women 'has an eating disorder' posted by Jana on 30 January 2009, 1:28 pm, under Health

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4389444/One-in-five-young-women-has-an-eating-disorder.html

The "snapshot" of the nation's mental health shows that 20 per cent of 16 to 25-year-olds showed signs of a problem with food. The most common forms of eating disorder are anorexia, where patients start to starve themselves, or bulimia, in which they binge on food and then purge. Experts warn that both conditions typically start in childhood or adolescence and can vary greatly in severity.

'No alcohol' urged for under-15s posted by Jana on 29 January 2009, 1:27 pm, under Health

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7856595.stm

Children aged under 15 should never be given alcohol, even in small quantities, England's chief medical officer has advised parents. Sir Liam Donaldson said childhood should be an "alcohol-free time", as ministers prepare to publish guidance on the issue for the first time. He told BBC News children who drink were at risk of "serious harm". It is legal for parents to give a child over five alcohol in the home and the guidance is not expected to become law.

'No ball games' signs 'should not restrict children's exercise' posted by Jana on 27 January 2009, 2:34 pm, under Health

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4348798/No-ball-games-signs-should-not-restrict-childrens-exercise.html

Councils should not erect 'No ball games' signs where they could cause children to take less exercise, the Government's health watchdog has recommended. Proposals to put up the notices should be examined to see if they would have an effect on youngsters's activity levels, according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).

Is Calpol bad for children? posted by Jana on 26 January 2009, 1:50 pm, under Health

Since I mentioned the story on this week's show, here it is for all of you to read:

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article5568550.ece

After a recent scare linking paracetamol to possible health risks, is it time to stop using the pink stuff?

Parents given stark warning on alcohol posted by Jana on 25 January 2009, 5:45 am, under Health

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jan/25/liam-donaldson-alcohol-children-ban

In England a more hardline approach will this week be demanded by Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer, when he tells parents that children under the age of 15 must not be allowed to drink. The recommendation is contained in the first set of guidelines Whitehall has produced to advise parents and young people about the risks of drinking alcohol.

Teenage pupils get class therapy posted by Jana on 24 January 2009, 3:34 pm, under Health

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7846578.stm

Teenagers are to be given group therapy in the classroom in an attempt to ward off bouts of depression. A £1m government-funded trial taking place in Bath, Bristol, Nottingham and Swindon will provide sessions for around 7,000 adolescents. The researchers hope the intervention will particularly benefit the 20% of teenagers at high risk of depression.

Meningitis warning as cases rise by a quarter posted by Jana on 23 January 2009, 2:35 pm, under Health

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4324456/Meningitis-warning-as-cases-rise-by-a-quarter.html

Cases of potentially fatal meningitis have risen by a quarter this winter, prompting charities to urge the public to be aware of symptoms. Official figures show there have been 252 cases of meningitis B between December and early January compared with 191 cases in the same period last year and 142 the year before.

And since parents are supposed to be aware of the symptoms, click here to see what they are.