Screen time, no physical activity adding to kids’ weight woes
Too much screen time and no physical activity could have more to do with a child’s weight is sues, a new study has revealed. Researchers at Queensland, who studied the habits of 144 kids, looked at the children’s level of physical activity, body mass index, and how much time they spent staring at screens, from computers to TVs and video games, a website reported. They found that physical activity was not the deciding factor in whether a child was overweight or not. Dr Rachael Sharman, from the University of the Sunshine Coast, said that most of the children were reasonably active and overall did similar levels of physical activity, which had no direct correlation with their weight. However, those who were overweight spent significantly more time sitting watching television or playing computer games than those in the normal weight range. According to the researcher, the study, which looked at kids aged five to 13, showed that it was important for parents to limit screen time to ensure the benefits of physical activity aren’t negated by too much time spent sitting. (ANI)
Cataract may occur in children too
Cataract, a common disease in the elderly, might also strike children and require a far more complicated treatment, said doctors Wednesday. “A malformed lens in a developing foetus is the cause of cataract in infants. It is relatively rare, but I receive about 10 to 15 cases a year,” said Sanjay Dhawan, director ophthalmology at the Fortis Hospital. According to doctors, it was very important to detect paediatric cataract at an early stage, as the retinal image becomes so distorted that a permanent loss of vision might occur without early treatment. Dhawan said: “Children with cataract might eventually need eye muscle surgery for crossed eyes. In cases of congenital cataract, we do not expect the baby to have 100 percent vision, they have to be satisfied with 70 to 80 percent vision.” However, cataract surgery in children was not very painful, said the doctor. “As a precautionary measure, parents must get neonatal eye examination of their children done,” adds Dhawan. (IANS)
New, Cheaper dialysis system expected by ’16
A private hospital Wednesday announced that it would be able to produce a new and cheaper method of haemodialysis in India to help chronic kidney patients. Stating that India was home to 75 million people with chronic kidney disease, and that nearly 200,000 new kidney patients required dialysis every year, Pratha C. Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals said that in collaboration with Medtronics, a leader in medical technology, her hospital would unveil the new system in about three years. The new dialysis system will be portable and helpful for kidney patients, who often pay for costly treatment after getting admitted to hospital, she said. (IANS)
Slow, loving touch could boost sense of self
Research shows a slow, loving touch, which is often an instinctive gesture from a mother to a child or between partners in romantic relationships, may boost the brain’s ability to create a healthy sense of self. These findings come from a new study published online in Frontiers of Psychology, led by Neuropsychoanalysis Centre Director Aikaterini (Katerina) Fotopoulou at University College London, and NPSA grantee Paul Mark Jenkinson of the Department of Psychology, University of Hertfordshire. The study of 52 healthy adults used a common experimental technique known as the rubber hand illusion, in which the participants’ brains are tricked into believing that a strategically placed rubber hand is their own. As they watch the rubber hand being stroked in synchrony with their own, they begin to think that the fake hand belongs to them, reports Science Daily. This technique demonstrates the changeable nature of the brain’s perception of the body. (IANS)
Almonds don’t add to body weight: Study
Snacking on almonds helps in reducing hunger while improving dietary vitamin E and fat intake without increasing body weight, according to a study published Wednesday. “This research suggests that almonds may be a good snacks option, especially for those concerned about weight,” said Richard Mattes, professor of nutrition science at Purdue University in the US. The study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers at Purdue University investigated the effects of almond consumption on weight and appetite. “In this study, participants compensated for the additional calories provided by almonds so that daily energy intake did not rise and reported reduced hunger levels, particularly when almonds were consumed as a snack,” added Mattes. The study was conducted on 137 adult participants who were at risk of Type 2 diabetes. Participants were divided into five groups: a control group that avoided all nuts and seeds, a breakfast meal group and lunch meal group that ate 43 grams of almonds each with their daily breakfast or lunch, and a morning group and afternoon group each consumed 43 grams of almonds between their customary meals. (IANS)