Prevention/Policy
Jun 29, 2010
 A glimmer of hope for childhood obesity prevention!
In an early release from the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers documented the effects of a 3 year, 21 school, 4,600 student, multi-pronged, intervention that spanned Grades 6 through 8 covering nutrition, physical activity, behavioural knowledge, communications and social marketing on the children's body mass indices, waist circumferences, fasting glucoses and fasting insulins. |
Jun 24, 2010
Researcher Confirms Blueberries Can Improve Cardiovascular Health
(PhysOrg.com) -- Nutritionists have long known that one of Maine’s most prized and prolific natural resources, the wild blueberry, provides health benefits that we’re still just learning about. |
Jun 14, 2010
Taste buds may feel the pinch, but shaking salt habit a must for health: experts
It's pretty well in everything we eat — literally from soup to nuts — but health experts say Canadians need to shake up their diets and cut back on the salt. |
Jun 18, 2010
Nearly all stroke risk preventable: study
A Canadian-led study suggests about 90 per cent of the risk of having a stroke is preventable through lifestyle changes. |
Jun 16, 2010
Studies Suggest Politics Is Key To Tackling Widespread Obesity
Politicians could do more to tackle the spread of obesity, a new series of studies suggests. |
Jun 16, 2010
Panel calls for foodmakers to change to fight U.S. obesity
Obesity is "the single greatest threat to public health in this century," an expert panel declared in a report Tuesday that urges Americans to slash calories and increase their physical activity. |
Jun 11, 2010
Obesity Prevention Starts in the Womb
On June 10, at the Second Canadian Student Obesity meeting, currently being held in Ottawa, Kristi Adamo from the University of Ottawa and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario presented the Keynote dinner presentation on “Balancing Work and Life on the Pathway of a Research Scientist“. |
Jun 01, 2010
Dieting for Dollars? More U.S. Employees Trying It
ATLANTA (AP) -- How much money would it take to get you to lose some serious weight? $100? $500? |
Jun 13, 2010
Progress Report on World Health Organization 12 Guidelines on Marketing Foods and Non-Alcoholic Beverages to Children
WHO Member States formally adopted on May 21 (the closing day of the annual World Health Assembly) a set of 12 recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children.
The 12 recommendations were contained in a summary report of the November 29, 2009 WHO Executive Board Session, which discussed ongoing work in "Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases: Implementation of the Global Strategy."
This information is taken from a brief summary report of the Assembly by Food Chemical News. IFIC will monitor for further developments and keep you apprised. |
Jun 02, 2010
Health Canada aims to cut Canadians' salt intake
Food industry asked to follow voluntary sodium reduction targets. At last, the Sodium Working Group is making some headway |
May 21, 2010
WHO targets child obesity with food marketing curbs
(Reuters) - Health ministers, alarmed at the growing number of obese children, agreed on Thursday to try to reduce children's consumption of junk food and soft drinks by asking member states to restrict advertising and marketing. |
May 24, 2010
Calif. bill seeks healthy beverages at day cares
Sacramento, Calif. (AP) --Licensed day care centers would be prohibited from serving children drinks with natural or artificial sweeteners under a bill moving through the state Legislature. |
May 23, 2010
White House task force issues report on fighting childhood obesity
In a tremendous show of administration muscle, Cabinet officials Tuesday stood shoulder to shoulder onstage with Michelle Obama to reveal results of the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity: a 124-page report laying out 70 recommendations and a gentle warning that, while the federal government can't solve the obesity epidemic, it is prepared to take action where others don't. |
May 23, 2010
Why The Junk Food Industry Will Survive The First Lady’s Anti-Obesity Campaign
In February, to much fanfare and public applaud, First Lady Michelle Obama launched Let’s Move, a campaign designed to eradicate childhood obesity within one generation. Despite her best efforts, and the wonderful team she has put together, we were skeptical, and remain so today. |
May 16, 2010
White House task force issues report on fighting childhood obesity
In a tremendous show of administration muscle, Cabinet officials Tuesday stood shoulder to shoulder onstage with Michelle Obama to reveal results of the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity: a 124-page report laying out 70 recommendations and a gentle warning that, while the federal government can't solve the obesity epidemic, it is prepared to take action where others don't. |
May 16, 2010
Recommendations from White House task force to combat childhood obesity
The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity calls for: |
May 03, 2010
The US 2010 Dietary Guidelines: some hints at what they might say
By congressional fiat, federal agencies must revise the Dietary Guidelines every five years. This is one of those years. |
Apr 22, 2010
Why Governments Dither on Addressing Obesity
In an insightful article published in the latest issue of CMAJ, Nola Ries and Barbara von Tigerstrom, both affiliated with with the University of Alberta Health Law Institute (amongst other institutions), examine why Canadian governments appear reticent in passing appropriate legislature to promote healthy eating and physical activity. |
Apr 22, 2010
U.S. Plans Drive to Limit Salt in Foods
U.S. regulators are planning a push to gradually cut the amount of salt Americans consume, saying less sodium would reduce deaths from hypertension and heart disease, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday. |
Apr 19, 2010
Michelle Obama delves into the details on kids' obesity at task force meeting
The fresh-faced elementary-school children were nowhere to be seen. There were no bright spring vegetables being harvested, no celebrated athletes or actors for added sizzle. First lady Michelle Obama's campaign against childhood obesity got down, dirty and wonkish Friday afternoon with a gathering of administration officials reeling off statistics and academics quoting from research papers. |
Apr 06, 2010
Will subsidizing healthy food lead to buying more junk?
No one said changing the world would be easy. Certainly one of the strategies put forth to change our nutritional environment is the subsidization of healthy foods. The theory is pretty straight forward - make healthier foods cheaper and people will buy more of them. The practice may be slightly different than the theory.
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Jan 28, 2010
Heart Group Lists 7 Essentials for Heart Health
DALLAS (AP) -- Here are the seven secrets to a long life: Stay away from cigarettes. Keep a slender physique. Get some exercise. Eat a healthy diet and keep your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar in check. |
Jan 17, 2010
Tackling obesity may require anti-smoking style approach: Canada's top doctor
OTTAWA — Canadians need to do more to reduce their growing waistlines, but the country may not be ready for tough measures and legislation to help shrink the nation, according to the chief public health officer. |
Jan 17, 2010
Citing Hazard, New York Says Hold the Salt
First New York City required restaurants to cut out trans fat. Then it made restaurant chains post calorie counts on their menus. Now it wants to protect people from another health scourge: salt. |
Jan 13, 2010
Guidelines on pregnancy weight gain are faulted
A leading authority on exercise and nutrition during pregnancy says the updated guidelines on pregnancy weight gain fail to adequately address the obesity epidemic. |
Jan 10, 2010
COMMENTS: New study presents "hard truths" about obesity.
The Los Angeles Times (1/7, Roan) "Booster Shots" blog reports that a commentary published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has determined that "the vast majority of overweight and obese Americans will not lose sufficient weight -- and obesity won't be prevented -- without major changes in society."
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Jan 07, 2010
Obesity can be fought with the Mandometer, a new talking scale
New technology that monitors portion size and how fast people eat is helping obese adolescents to change their behaviour |
Dec 20, 2009
Front-of-pack ‘traffic-lights’ ineffective for health choices: Study
Traffic-light labelling on the front of food packages do not change the relative healthiness of consumer purchases, says a new study from Oxford University. |
Nov 02, 2009
Diabetes Prevention Works
Yesterday, The Lancet released the 10-year follow-up of the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Outcomes Study. |
Oct 25, 2009
Report: Schools should adopt healthier meals despite costs
A new report calls for dramatic changes in the meals served to school children, including offering kids a greater variety of fruits and vegetables, serving 1% and skim milk instead of whole and 2% milk, and limiting sodium and calories. |
Oct 18, 2009
Snacks may be at the heart of obesity; convenience stores targeted in South L.A
Links found by researchers between snack foods and obesity in poor communities are prompting new calls for more regulation of convenience stores in South Los Angeles.
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Oct 12, 2009
Menu labeling might not change food purchases
Posting calorie information on menus is often cited as an important tool in fighting obesity, but a study published today shows that at least in its initial stages, it doesn't have as big an effect as many health officials hoped. |
Sep 29, 2009
Will Soda Pop Tax Prevent Obesity?
Legislators are considering the option of food taxes on sweetened beverages. |
Sep 18, 2009
Tax soft drinks to fight obesity, U.S. experts say
Cent tax per ounce could cut consumption by 10 percent. Cutting caloric intake could lower obesity levels. Industry groups say soda taxes don't work |
Sep 05, 2009
Report suggests local action to fight child obesity
A new report from the U.S. Institute of Medicine suggests local governments adopt a mixture of taxes, incentives and new zoning policies to fight childhood obesity. |
Aug 18, 2009
Soda makers: Don't tax our soft drinks
Industry groups are fighting a soft-drink tax proposal that is not part of any pending health care measure. |
Aug 11, 2009
A community strategy to prevent obesity
A new approach to combating the obesity epidemic in the USA was launched last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). |
Jul 30, 2009
Views wanted on front-of-pack labelling
The Agency is today launching a consultation on the issues that need to be resolved to produce an integrated approach to front-of-pack labelling. |
Jun 05, 2009
Nutrition Information Rarely Accessed; Menu Postings Recommended
In this observational study, we
determined how frequently consumers
accessed on-premises
nutrition information provided at
chain restaurants. The number of
patrons entering and accessing nutrition
information was recorded at
8 locations that were part of 4 major
restaurant chains (McDonald’s, Burger
King, Starbucks, and Au Bon
Pain). Only 6 (0.1%) of 4311 patrons
accessed on-premises nutrition information
before purchasing food. |
May 13, 2009
Health Canada weighs fortifying junk foods
Health Canada wants to allow food manufacturers to add nutrients to a wider variety of foods, including junk food — a proposal that has some health specialists worried. |
May 01, 2009
Health Canada Reviewing Hydroxycut Products in light of U.S. Advisory
OTTAWA - Health Canada is aware of the Next link will take you to another Web sitepublic warning issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Warning on May 1, 2009 regarding certain Hydroxycut products. The FDA is advising U.S. consumers to stop using Hydroxycut products as there have been reports of liver injuries potentially associated with this product in the United States. |
May 14, 2009
Diet and Exercise Help Cancer Survivors
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Cancer survivors may be able to reduce their risk for functional decline. A new report reveals a home-based exercise and diet program helped older survivors of colorectal, breast and prostate cancer stay healthy. |
May 19, 2009
Quebec Announces $30 Million for Bariatric Programs
Now, following not too far on the heels of Ontario ($75 Million for Bariatrics in Ontario), Quebec’s health minister Yves Bolduc announced almost 30 Million in funding for bariatric programs
(Click here for press release in French). |
Nov 02, 2006
Wrong Way to Fight Fat
"Post your favorite fat photo on your refrigerator."
This weight loss tip from a bodybuilding Web site reflects the widespread belief that making people feel bad about themselves is an acceptable -- and effective -- form of motivation to lose weight. It isn't. In fact, the effect of this sort of thing -- we call it weight stigma -- is likely to be just the opposite. |
Feb 04, 2009
World Cancer Day!
On World Cancer Day, the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) will launch "I love my healthy active childhood", the second full-year theme in our "Today's children, tomorrow's world" cancer prevention campaign. |
Jan 09, 2009
Soda Tax' Proposed in New York
New York Gov. Paterson proposed an 18 percent sales tax on non-diet sodas and juice drinks in an effort to reduce the state's budget deficit. The tax, which would not affect bottled water, diet soda, coffee, tea or milk, is estimated to raise more than $400 million in the first year. |
Dec 15, 2008
New York state plans soft drink 'obesity tax'
New York state could impose an “obesity tax” on high-calorie soft drinks such as non-diet versions of Coke and Pepsi as public concerns over obesity turn potentially fattening foods into a politically acceptable target for taxation. |
Nov 02, 2008
Breastfeeding Lowers Obesity Risk
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- There may be a behavioral reason to explain why breastfeeding can lower the risk of obesity later in life. |
Oct 14, 2008
Endocrine Society Releases Guidelines on the Treatment of Paediatric Obesity
CHEVY CHASE, Md -- October 3, 2008 -- The Endocrine Society has released a new clinical practice guideline for the prevention and treatment of paediatric obesity. A rapid release version of the guideline has been published online and will appear in t |
Aug 09, 2008
Britain and France grapple with child obesity problem
Subject: Agence France Presse, 8/5: Britain and France grapple with child obesity problem |