The number of food retailers was obtained within a 1 km and 5 km radius around 178 schools in Canada. Retailers included full-service restaurants, fast-food restaurants, sub/sandwich retailers, doughnut/coffee shops, convenience stores and grocery stores. A total food retailer index was most strongly related to overweight, but in the opposite direction to that hypothesized. Exposure to various types of food retailers in school neighbourhoods was not associated with an increased likelihood of overweight in Canadian school-aged youth. The opportunity to make healthy choices from a variety of options and the unique Canadian context may explain the findings.
FDA accepted industry’s contention that rebaudioside A (a new sweetener extracted from the herb Stevia) is “generally recognized as safe”. What a nice Christmas present!
15,574 US adults at baseline (1986/89) and 12,678 adults six years later reported television, PA, and diet data through questionnaires and BMI was measured at both time points. Participants with high TV exposure at baseline had a 40% greater odds of being considered insufficiently active. Participants with high TV exposure at baseline had a 40% and 31% and greater odds of being considered insufficiently active.
Data from the UK Ofcom shows just how far Ofcoms rules fall short of what is needed to protecting children from junk food advertising.
Children who undergo early adiposity rebound are at increased risk of later obesity. The review of evidence presented here is supportive of the hypothesis that physical activity is protective against obesity in the preschool period, and that sedentary behaviour, particularly television viewing, is obesogenic.
Researchers at University of Minnesota tested an intervention to designed to increase consumption of whole grains by 4th and 5th grade children. 67 kids in the intervention and 83 in the comparison school. Whole-grain consumption at the lunch meal increased by 1 serving and refined-grain consumption decreased by 1 serving for children in the intervention school compared with the comparison school post-intervention. The multi-component school-based programme implemented in the current study successfully increased the intake of whole-grain foods by children.
30 minutes of treatment with Playstation EyeToy Games per day for 4 weeks showed significantly more improvement in the EyeToy group compared to the control group.
To determine the current level of activity of Australian local governments in 29 food and nutrition action areas and whether the level of activity had changed between 1995 and 2007. A postal survey was undertaken of all local governments in Australia. The same questionaire were used in 1995 and 2007.
This study examines the usefulness of applying a walking suitability assessment to a specific geographic area surrounding elementary schools. Walking suitability is an important consideration when examining the feasibility of walk-to-school programs within school settings; however, it might not be the main factor limiting children’s active commuting to school. Several aspects of the environment were captured that researchers, practitioners, school personnel, and transportation experts may deem useful.
5,471 grade 5 students and their parents in the province of Nova Scotia in Canada particitated. Students completed the Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire and had their height and weight measured. Parents completed questions on socio-economic background and how they perceived their neighborhood. Children in neighborhoods with greater perceived access to shops had healthier diets and were less likely to be overweight or obese. Children in neighborhoods with good access to playgrounds, parks and recreational facilities were reportedly more active and were less likely to be overweight or obese.