There have been many and to spare studies which show that adults, teens and even pre-teens who drink sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) in their diet are statistically more obese. Now, finally, we’ve got relevant data for 9 month to 5 year olds too.
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Obesity, it’s the “genes” you want to believe; but, really I’ve never known a “gene” to force-feed anyone, and the calories have got to come from somewhere.
And there’s that pesky research that showed a high link between obesity and the number of fast-food establishments around your house and on the way to work.
And how about twins living apart who are not both obese? And… and… and….
Is it really all genes, leaving us no hope; or is it environment and advertising? Let’s find out:
12 Posts in "Obesity" Series
- Obesity Series: Intro/Index – 9 Oct 2013
Obesity and how to avoid it, explaining "genes," tips for kids, fun videos and a great new skill to learn.
- Obesity in Toddlers and Sugar-Sweetened Drinks – 10 Oct 2013
There have been many and to spare studies which show that adults, teens and even pre-teens who drink sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) in their diet are statistically more obese. Now, finally, we've got relevant data for 9 month to 5 year olds too.
- Gastric Band Last Resort for Teen Obesity – 17 Aug 2015
How physicians around the world are trying to help their patients deal with obesity, a malady which has seemed to attack the U.S. populace as if by some nefarious design. Gastric Banding last resort for teen obesity.
- Type 2 Diabetes - Some Odd Possible Correlations – 6 Nov 2015
Three quasi-scientific articles about Type 2 Diabetes and correlation with odd issues.
- Video: How to make our day harder to expend more energy – 1 Dec 2015
Here is Dr. Mike Evans again with another one of his takes on life as we know it. I think he's got our house bugged with all the insight he has into how we do things. He talks about work and the obesity epidemic.
- Fast Food – 16 Jan 2016
Believe it or not, the more fast food outlets there are on your way to work the fatter you will be—genes or not!
- 10 Ways To Ditch Obesity – 24 Jan 2016
Have you taught your kids that all of us 2/3rds of US adults who are overweight or obese came from people JUST LIKE THEM! How can kids ditch obesity, I'll tell you.
- Teens - Treadmill Dance – 1 Feb 2016
Ok, in this series we've talked about the Obesity epidemic from various viewpoints. First, there was a great new research article describing a "smoking gun" of obesity: fast food. Then there was a great list for teens who'd like to kick obesity. Now a great way of loosing weight, if only some of us still had the ability.
- Where does the fat go? – 9 Feb 2016
In his TEDx talk, Ruben Meerman answers the question: When you lose weight… where does it go? Does fat evaporate, come out in urine or other body waste or get burned up? You'll know after watching this short and highly entertaining (there be vapors and smoke and test tubes) talk.
- BIG SODA, advertising conflict of interest – 2 Nov 2016
I have to tell you I'm still pretty ticked-off finding out about this huge conflict of interest: Big Soda acting like Big Tobacco and the health-care industry falling for it!
- Obesity now more common in world than being underweight – 18 Apr 2018
Obesity is now more common in the world than being underweight! How crazy is that?
- Five Diseases Reduced by Excersize – 7 Apr 2019
Five of the world's top diseases are reduced by simple physical activity!
Children face a number of medical issues when they leave the relative ease of summer in favor of the more crowded environment of school each year. Here is part two of a list of common illnesses and issues facing us at “back to school” time.
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Ask any medical student, intern or resident: “where is the place where you get sick most often” and you’ll be told “the hospital.”
The problem is that the relationship also holds for “adults” with “work” and “children” with “school.” That’s because (more…)
A child’s “Job,” if you will, is school. Lot’s of time spent in school. Lot’s of fairly intimate exposures to other kids, some of whom possibly are “carrying.” (Viruses and bacteria – what did you think I meant?)
So, how does a parent prepare for Back to School? Are there any things you need to watch out for? The ol’ “Praemonitus, praemunitus” motto – “forewarned is forearmed” sort of thing. Get comfortable, this may take a bit.
5 Posts in "Back 2 School" Series
- Back to School: Intro/Index – 26 Sep 2013
This series could eventually become quite extensive as the years go by. We start out with at least 15 back-to-school diseases that are frequently seen. Then we throw in some psychological/emotional and administrative issues and eventually come back to take another look at those same issues almost 5 years laters - to see if anything has changed.
- Back 2 School 1: Tinea - Measles – 28 Sep 2013
The first post in the series about "back-to-school medical maladies" covering: head lice, ringworm, hand-foot-mouth disease, strep & scarlet fever, conjunctivitis, chidken pox and measles-the rubeola kind
- Back 2 School 2: Mumps - Flu – 4 Oct 2013
The second installment of what to watch out for sending children "back to school" this year (any year). Things like: Mumps, Fifth Disease, Impentigo, Scabies, Whooping Cough (Pertussis), Meningitis, sore throat and Flu. Many fairly easily prevented.
- 5 Back 2 School Issues – 26 Aug 2014
"Back to School" medical problems we once thought we had mastered, seem to be raising their ugly heads again prompting school and public health officials to issue immunization mandates; in addition, we discuss the topic "School Phobia."
- Refresh: 15 Back to school diseases – 16 Oct 2017
"Once more into the breech then"… So much has changed, and yet the issues still remain on the Back-To-School list. Here is an updated reprise of the same diseases covered four years ago; but, all in one post this time.
There are many childhood diseases which keep coming up in varied discussions. If you’d like to check into some PARENTING topics check out the series of guest posts by a colleague Dr. Greg Barrett- Real Pediatrics.
[An active mother wonders about the propriety of taking her children jogging with her.]
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In most of our practices, questions about children’s bedtimes are one of the most frequent queries from parents pediatricians receive. And, I thought we had just about covered it until I heard about some new research on: NO bedtimes — or better said, no specific time for bed.
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Is NOT sleeping or TO MUCH sleeping better; or NOT better? It’s that “best of times… worst of times” issue. They’re both bad… and good; depending on the circumstances, time and age.
That’s why I’ve begun curating the several posts I’ve written over the years explaining the many and varied aspects of the issue. And, with the benefits of the computer programming, whenever I write a new post this index post is automatically updated so is always the most up-to-date.
So… here’s all about sleep in children, teens and young adults:
7 Posts in "Children's Sleep" Series
- Children's Sleep series: Intro/Index – 13 Aug 2013
I've noticed the large number of questions from parents which have "sleep" as the core issue. This series is all about sleep, how it works, how much is needed; and… "what's the matter with this kid?"
- Bedtimes and Children's Thinking Ability – 14 Aug 2013
It seems that we now have evidence that irregular bedtimes in early childhood may actually impair children's cognitive development and even have damaging long-term health effects throughout life.
- How much sleep – 20 Jan 2016
No really! How does sleep work? You think you know… until things change, and you realize you don't know anymore. You've got babies who wake you up at all hours and you've got teens who don't seem to ever get out of bed? What gives?
- Sleep In Teenagers – 28 Jan 2016
Right from birth it seems that tired children can crash to sleep anywhere, anytime they are tired. That's all over in "teenhood" however, partly because all of the nervous system changes occurring with puberty.
- Sleep Expectations and Training, Infants – 6 Mar 2016
Frankly, the topic of infant sleep is probably the most frequently asked group of questions from new parents and in the “top 3” for all parents; but still…. there's a lot of "wives tails" lurking about in the topic.
- More sleep training and tips, Infants - Part 2 – 11 Mar 2016
NOT sleeping through the night is no accident; sleeping THROUGH the night is no accident either; and, good sleep begins with deciding and defining. Infant sleep habits are varied but there are some tips.
- Sleep in Toddlers, Older Children – 28 Feb 2023
A good synopsis of this post might be "sleep through the ages." It does change you know, based on the growth of the child AND his/her environment that YOU provide based on family and house "rules." That means: here's what might be making (enabling) the problem that your child might be having and what you can do about it.
Quite a bunch, no? All inform about just a little bit different aspect.
Being one of the roughest of all children’s sports, it’s a rare parent who hasn’t had a boy who has been conked on the noggin hard enough to see stars, become dazed or actually go unconscious playing the game. YOU CAN’T DO THAT SO CHEAPLY ANY MORE!
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What has been a terribly understudied area of medicine is now slowly gaining momentum and can possibly save lives: Concussions, Head Injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
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Concussions are when a child’s head gets knocked around and causes their brain to be bumped back and forth against the hard skull. It always causes at least some tissue damage but children’s bodies being what they are, doesn’t always produce noticeable effects, at least not immediately.
Here is a fairly large collection of posts about the why’s and wherefore’s of the topic, which is receiving a whole lot of interest from the research community, including explanations, examples and even videos.
11 Posts in "Childhood Concussion" Series
- Childhood Concussion Series: Intro/Index – 23 Jul 2013
This Childhood Concussion Series has grown into a fairly substantial number of posts, probably because there's a lot of interest in researching this topic, not to mention it's our kids, right? There's not only explanations but videos and examples too!
- More dangerous than we thought – 24 Jul 2013
This article begins a discussion about children's concussions and how new research shows that they are more dangerous than we have thought even just last year. We'll even give (and show) real-life examples.
- New guidelines for sports – 27 Jul 2013
Let's attempt to explain children's sport concussion injuries and the dilemmas around diagnosis, treatment and prevention. We'll be taking about the new concept of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy as well as rules and regulations.
- Reading test a predictor of concussion – 30 May 2014
An interesting finding, if it pans out, is that simple tests (like reading) may be able to help diagnose childhood concussion and neurological impairment. That, of course, helps in treatment and rehabilitation.
- 10 scary issues – 18 Jun 2015
There are at least six scary issues about sports brain injuries and many of them involve player, coach, sponsor and even parent dishonesty, such as: denial, pressure to win, mis- or un-informed caregivers, legislation, return to play and repeat injuries (among others).
- Football and brain damage – 21 Aug 2015
This post attempts to explain football player's brains—well, as much as that is possible. Of course, that's in order to attempt to explain how they are injured and what happens when are. Sort of like an enigma wrapped in a mystery.
- 5 things to know – 12 Sep 2015
A concussion from a contact sport often leads to long term problems - many of which can be avoided if parents understood these five things before letting their children participate. Understanding these five things can help you make informed decisions about return-to-play after an injury.
- TBI, concussion and early nutrition – 28 Apr 2016
Here's an explanation of the "Cool Kids Brain Injury Nutrition Study" and the new things it has taught us about children who are injured playing sports receiving brain injuries.
- Video: Concussion 101 – 6 May 2016
This video is for kids and parents of kids who have had a concussion and explains in less than a few minutes the three important things to remember if you've had a concussion. It's when that awesome brain of yours gets bumped and thumped around a bit inside your skull and it's a lot more complicated than the doctors who took care of your grandpa or even your dad had any clue about.
- Video- concussion management – 30 May 2016
There is more new medical information about concussion, especially pediatric concussions, in the past 3 years than in the previous 10. We now know that it's much more complicated and substantial than we used to think and we're beginning to understand how better to treat children who've been injured. It's explained in this video.
- Helmits?! Do they prevent concussions? – 5 Apr 2017
What is a concussion? Probably not what you think it is. In this TED talk, David Camarillo (former football player now bioengineer) gives a lot of great information about concussions and how/why what we are doing to prevent them is letting us down. It's apparent that our safety standards bodies are also inadequate and are actually preventing new protective innovations. Watch with interest, then I'll explain the one weakness of his talk I'm disappointed in.
If you’re interested in reading about other childhood sports injuries, you may like: Common sports fractures.
Last week I described the problem of enuresis (bed wetting) — how it is fairly common (10-20 percent of seven year olds) and how there are a large number of contributing factors.
I have recently become aware of the statistic that approximately 3 percent of marine corps inductees have wet the bed within a year prior to their induction.
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