Nibbles: Restrictive diets may be unnecessary for autistic children, new website shows you how to squeeze in exercise, and the cost of caring for obese Americans sky rockets
Special diets may not be best for autistic children
Many integrative physicians have recommended gluten or dairy-free diets for autistic children, saying that gastrointestinal issues may be the underlying cause of the disorder. Now a Mayo Clinic review says that children with autism do not have most gastrointestinal problems more frequently than children without autism, though autistic kids do suffer from constipation more often and have a higher likelihood of being picky eaters who do not gain weight easily. The author of the study, which appears in the current issue of Pediatrics, says that children should not be put on restrictive diets without having proper diagnostic tests carried out.
New website highlights “incidental exercise” opportunities in every room of the house
No time for the gym? Why not squat while you blow-dry your hair, or do bicep curls with your groceries? On the new website squeezeitin.com, two busy moms share their secrets for finding work-out opportunities all over the house. “I do the butt squeeze in the grocery store all the time,” raves one of the site’s co-developers. “No one can tell what I’m doing. And by the time I’m done shopping, I can feel it.”
Cost of caring for obese Americans soars
The cost of caring for obese Americans has doubled in the last decade, now topping out at an estimated $147 billion. Government statistics just released show that a person who is considered obese (those who are 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight) rings up $4,871 in medical bills a year, compared to $3,442 for someone at a healthy weight.
Birth control injections trigger weight gain in specific population
The Depo Provera proegesterone-only birth control shot has been shown to cause weight gain of an average 11 pounds over three years, along with an increase in body fat of 3 percent, among users. Now researchers say women who use the shots and gain weight have certain attributes in common: they usually gain weight soon after starting the shots, were not obese before usage, are usually mothers, and feel an increase in appetite after six months of taking the pill. Women who experience immediate weight gain after starting the shots should probably find another form of contraception to avoid long-term weight gain, according to a researcher who has studied the product.
China is getting serious about food processing rules
The Chinese government has tightened its rules about food production processes: now food makers in China must record all processing procedures and keep records for a minimum of two years. The rules are part of China’s new Food Safety Act which was launched this summer in response to some high-profile food contamination cases in recent years.
Workout tips from the British Army
A UK newspaper has published a workout plan by the Army Physical Training Corps – one designed to help potential army recruits pass basic training. Civilians who choose to test-drive the program will be relieved to discover that all 16 weeks include rest days.
(By Margaret Thomas for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)
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