Study Shows: Kids' obesity risk starts before school age

Those efforts to fight obesity in schools? Think younger. A new study finds that much of a child's "weight fate" is set by age 5, and that nearly half of kids who became obese by the eighth grade were already overweight when they started kindergarten.

The prevalence of weight problems has long been known — about a third of U.S. kids are overweight or obese. But surprisingly little is known about which kids will develop obesity, and at what age.

Researchers think there may be a window of opportunity to prevent it, and "we keep pushing our critical window earlier and earlier on," said Solveig Cunningham, a scientist at Emory University. "A lot of the risk of obesity seems to be set, to some extent, really early in life."

She led the new study, which was published in this week's New England Journal of Medicine and paid for by the federal government.

It tracked a nationwide sample of more than 7,700 children through grade school. When they started kindergarten, 12 percent were obese and 15 percent were overweight. By eighth grade, 21 percent were obese and 17 percent were overweight.

Besides how common obesity was at various ages, researchers focused on the 6,807 children who were not obese when the study started, at kindergarten entry. Here are some things they found: WHO BECAME OBESE: Between ages 5 and 14, nearly 12 percent of children developed obesity — 10 percent of girls and nearly 14 percent of boys.

Nearly half of kids who started kindergarten overweight became obese teens. Overweight 5-year-olds were four times as likely as normal-weight children to become obese (32 percent versus 8 percent).

GRADE LEVELS: Most of the shift occurred in the younger grades. During the kindergarten year, about 5 percent of kids who had not been obese at the start became that way by the end. The greatest increase in the prevalence of obesity was between first and third grades; it changed little from ages 11 to 14.

RACE: From kindergarten through eighth grade, the prevalence of obesity increased by 65 percent among whites, 50 percent among Hispanics, almost 120 percent among blacks and more than 40 percent among others — Asians, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans and mixed-race children.

By eighth grade, 17 percent of black children had become obese, compared to 14 percent of Hispanics and 10 percent of whites and children of other races.

INCOME: Obesity was least common among children from the wealthiest families and most prevalent among kids in the next-to-lowest income category. The highest rate of children developing obesity during the study years was among middle-income families.

BIRTHWEIGHT: At all ages, obesity was more common among children who weighed a lot at birth — roughly 9 pounds or more. About 36 percent of kids who became obese during grade school had been large at birth.

The study's findings do not mean that it's too late for schools to act, but their best tactic may be to focus on kids who are overweight and try to encourage exercise and healthy eating, Cunningham said.

The work also shows the need for parents, doctors, preschools and even day care centers to be involved, said Dr. Stephen Daniels, a University of Colorado pediatrician and a spokesman for the American Heart Association.

Parents who are concerned about a child's weight should talk with their child's doctor, because it may be hard to tell what is normal at various ages and appearances can be misleading. In children, obesity and overweight are defined by how a child ranks on growth charts that compare them to other kids the same age and gender. Kids at or above the 85th percentile are considered overweight, and obese at the 95th percentile or above.

No child should be placed on a diet without a doctor's advice, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises. To help keep kids healthy, balance the calories a child gets from food and beverages with how much exercise he or she gets to allow enough for normal growth — some weight gain is normal, the CDC says.

"You can change your fate by things that you do early in life," with more exercise and eating a healthy diet, Daniels said. "Once it occurs, obesity is really hard to treat. So the idea is we should really work hard to prevent it."

Source: news.yahoo.com

Secret Ingredient for Super-Healthy Cookies

Brrr! It's cold out-and the Arctic Vortex isn't exactly helping our skin. What's more, the cold also makes us crave sweets, which can get in the way of our attempts to make better food choices. But here's a healthy and incredibly enjoyable way you can both protect your skin and satisfy your sweet tooth: this gluten-free and vegan oatmeal, prune and raisin cookie recipe.

It's Prunetastic
Dried plums, with their wide array of phenolic compounds (plant nutrients that contribute to the flavor and color of produce and have potential health benefits), are rich in antioxidants. In fact, dried plums have one of the highest levels of antioxidant capacity, with more antioxidants per weight than many other foods. These antioxidants can help protect skin cells from damaging free radicals that form from outdoor exposure, which may help to guard against premature aging and wrinkle formation. Just five dried plums contain 3 grams of fiber and 30 percent of your daily recommended intake of vitamin K, along with potassium and vitamin A.

Eat Less and Feel Full
The oatmeal in this recipe provides a good source of dietary fiber-a key player in weight loss and long-term weight maintenance. A number of studies have shown an inverse association between fiber intake and body weight. This association is likely explained by fiber's ability to promote satiety and feelings of fullness.

Unlike store-bought cookies, there's no added sugar or empty calories. Instead, these cookies are fabulously sweet because all of the sweet goodness comes from the natural plant sugars found in the prunes, raisins and bananas. You can easily freeze bananas that are getting over ripe and then you'll always have them on hand to make these cookies. To make it easier, peel the bananas first and then freeze them in a plastic re-sealable bag for easy removal.

This is also a great recipe to make with your family, especially with children. Kids love to smash things, and the first step when making these cookies is to mash the bananas and then just fold in the remaining ingredients. Your family will love helping, and you'll love knowing that these cookies are not manufactured and are good for you.

Gluten-Free, Vegan Oatmeal, Prune and Raisin Cookies Recipe

Makes 36 cookies

Ingredients:
3 bananas, ripe
½ cup canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ cup walnuts, toasted, chopped
¼ cup pecans, toasted, chopped
¼ cup prunes, dried, pitted, no sugar added, chopped
1 cup yellow raisins
2 cups oatmeal, plain, old-fashioned whole oats

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas with hand masher, combine and mix in canola oil, vanilla, walnuts, pecans, prunes and raisins. Add oatmeal and mix all ingredients together until well mixed. Using a 1-ounce scoop, measure and drop mixture onto parchment-covered cookie sheet. Slightly push down mixture with fingers to lightly flatten. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes. Remove, let cool and serve. 

- by JimPerko C.E.C.

WORTH READING: COFFEE ON THE WALL

I sat with my friend in a well-known coffee shop in a neighboring town of Venice, Italy, the city of lights and water.

As we enjoyed our coffee, a man entered and sat at an empty table beside us. He called the waiter and placed his order saying, “Two cups of coffee, one of them there on the wall.”

We heard this order with rather interest and observed that he was served with one cup of coffee but he paid for two.

When he left, the waiter put a piece of paper on the wall saying “A Cup of Coffee”.

While we were still there, two other men entered and ordered three cups of coffee, two on the table and one on the wall. They had two cups of coffee but paid for three and left. This time also, the waiter did the same; he put a piece of paper on the wall saying, “A Cup of Coffee”.

It was something unique and perplexing for us. We finished our coffee, paid the bill and left.

After a few days, we had a chance to go to this coffee shop again. While we were enjoying our coffee, a man poorly dressed entered. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and said, “One cup of coffee from the wall.”

The waiter served coffee to this man with the customary respect and dignity. The man had his coffee and left without paying.

We were amazed to watch all this, as the waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the trash bin.

 
Now it was no surprise for us – the matter was very clear. The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants of this town made our eyes well up in tears.

Ponder upon the need of what this man wanted. He enters the coffee shop without having to lower his self-esteem… he has no need to ask for a free cup of coffee… without asking or knowing about the one who is giving this cup of coffee to him… he only looked at the wall, placed an order for himself, enjoyed his coffee and left.

A truly beautiful thought. Probably the most beautiful wall you may ever see anywhere!

Prayer: Lord Jesus lead me to where my help is needed.

-By Chanchani

Four Job Interview Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Job interviews can be stressful, especially if you’re nervous about making mistakes that could sabotage your chance of getting the job. Fortunately, many errors are easy to avoid with a little preparation. Here are four of the most common ones and some tips for steering clear of them.

1. Getting Too Personal
One common error is revealing too much personal information during the interview, says Anastasia Kurylo of Fortified Communication Consulting. “I have conducted interviews in which candidates inundate me with their personal life story,” she says. “Voluntarily revealing this much personal information can make an interviewer uncomfortable and raise legitimate concerns about how confidential the candidate will be with company information.”

Takeaway: When answering interview questions, it’s best to stick to work-related answers.

 

  2. Not Picking Up on Cues
Another common mistake is not following the interviewer’s lead in the conversation. Kurylo says she once had a student who wore a business suit to the interview for a fun and casual job. The interviewer made several comments about it, questioning the candidate’s understanding of the company culture.

“The candidate assumed she’d blown the interview the moment she put on the suit,” Kurylo says. “The interview had been blown by the candidate not providing a good response about her choice of clothing. The interviewer repeatedly told her how much she loved the candidate’s credentials and experience.”

Instead, the candidate could have laughed off her clothing choice and blamed it on advice that went against her own judgment; something she wouldn’t do again. “Then the interviewer -- who clearly wanted to hire her -- would have had more to latch onto in order to excuse the poor clothing choice. If she had persevered rather than given up in the interview, they might have been laughing about the suit over a business lunch weeks later.”

Takeaway: When the interviewer gives you an opportunity to course-correct, take it.

3. Not Doing Your Homework
Many candidates continue to make the mistake of not researching the company before the interview. “Hiring managers want to know that interviewees are interested in their open positions, not simply that the interviewees want a job, any job,” says Cheryl Palmer, owner of Call to Career. Candidates who can speak knowledgeably about the company and how they can contribute to the organization’s success show that they’ve done their homework and have a high interest in the business.

Takeaway: Take advantage of any resources (online and offline) you can get your hands on to learn about the company’s mission and culture.

4. Not Taking Initiative
Stu Coleman, partner and senior general manager at Winter Wyman, says another common mistake is taking too passive of a role. “It’s important to determine, for both parties, if what each has to bring to the equation is a benefit to the other,” he says. Candidates need to interview the company, as well. “You have to be respectful and professional, but don’t forget to be real. This is a big decision, one that hopefully you will live with for years, so make sure it is as good for you as you are for them.”

Takeaway: Come with your own list of questions about the company’s strategy and culture.

Culled from:career-services.monster.com

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED

My daughter is very funny. Some time back I picked her up from school and when we got home, I had to start cooking from scratch. I thought I would be quick and decided to boil some rice which should be ready, give or take, in 30 minutes. 10 minutes after the rice was placed on the cooker, she comes to the kitchen and asks “Mummy, is it ready yet?” (Need I remind you that that’s her favourite sentence? *smh*) I said “No darling, give it a few more minutes” (Oops, big mistake!)

Few minutes later – “Mummy is it ready yet?”

Exasperated I said “It will be in 20 minutes”

“20 minutes?” She exclaimed, “Oh God, I have not even eaten anything today!”

That just got me laughing! How could she say she had not had ANYTHING to eat? What happened to the cereal she had before going to school? What happened to the lunch she took to school? The snacks, fruit and juice? I had opened her lunch box and it was empty. And I remembered asking her how lunch was and she said it was fine. You know what? The hunger was affecting her thinking and making her has ‘selective’ memory. As far as she was concerned, she was hungry, it was taking too long and that meant she had eaten nothing at all that day. She totally disregarded her earlier meals as she got impatient for the next one!

We might dismiss this story and say “Oh but she’s just a child. Children act that way”. And yes, you are absolutely correct! Only children would think that way. So why some of us are are still children in our thinking? Why are we quick to forget the good we have enjoyed from God, the past blessings just because the expected ones are yet to manifest? Ah! Little wonder the Psalmist had to have a ‘pep’ talk with himself, reminding himself to remember all what God has done for him

Psalms 103: 1-5 (New Living Translation)
1 Let all that I am praise the LORD;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the LORD;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

The Psalmist went on and on in the entire chapter reminding himself of God’s goodness, stating clearly all that He has done and thanking Him. The power in thanksgiving cannot be over-emphasised. Showing God how grateful you are for what you have and not forgetting what He has done is a sure way of stroking God’s ‘ego’ and releasing His blessings upon you! It is written clearly in His word!

Psalm 67: 5-7 (New Living Translation)
5 May the nations praise you, O God.
Yes, may all the nations praise You.
6 Then the earth will yield its harvests,
and God, our God, will richly bless us.
7 Yes, God will bless us,
and people all over the world will fear him.

 
 Can we have a little exercise this morning? What is that one thing you are so desperately in dire need of? Is it a job? Then thank Him this morning that you are employable! Do you need a new car? Then thank Him that at least you have an old one, or you can drive! Do you desire children? How about thanking Him for giving you a husband/wife in the first place!

There is an adage which says, Only if you have a head will you desire to put a cap on it! Gratitude to God brings altitude in life.

The hymnist wrote:
“Count your many blessings, name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done”

When I count my blessings, I am amazed!!!

Go on Friends, count your blessings. Are you amazed yet?

-By sis Deby

UK Queen Elizabeth II Down to Her Last Million Due to Overspending

Perhaps Queen Elizabeth II could learn something from her thrifty granddaughter-in-law Kate Middleton.. The 87-year-old monarch has been overspending the royal family's famous fortune, according to a report published by the Commons Public Accounts Committee on Monday, Jan. 27.
Following her courtiers' advice, Her Majesty the Queen's reserve fund has fallen from £35 million ($58 million) in 2001 to just £1 million ($1.6 million) in 2014. The report states the royal family is "spending above their means and dipping into the reserves...the balance now stands at an all-time low."


The report also reveals that a number of palaces are in "dangerous or deteriorating" conditions. Forty percent of them, in fact, are "below acceptable standards." It's not exactly new information, as Queen Elizabeth II knows that there's an $82 million backlog in repairs due to tightened government funding.
Taxpayers fund the royal palaces in Britain, comprised of more than 300 buildings. In 2013, the public spent about £31 million ($51 million) renovating and operating the facilities. The report urged the treasury to "get a grip" and help the royal family to prevent "further damage and deterioration."

According to the report, royal staff members have been forced to catch rain in buckets to protect art and antiquities in some locations. Queen Elizabeth II's "antiquated" boilers are more than 60 years old.
"The Queen has not been served well by the Household and by the Treasury," said Margaret Hodge, the labor chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. "We got the impression that they just haven't tried to make greater savings. Here we are, we're all in it together, but they are failing to seek better value for the Queen. They are dipping into their reserves in a way that just isn't sensible."
"If you look at the Tower of London and its visitor numbers it makes you think that there's potential there. Have they done their dankest to maximize value for money?" Hodge wondered.
The royal household has pledged to introduce a 10-year maintenance plan to resolve the backlog. It has also pledged to increase the size of its reserve fund. Married to Prince Philip since 1947, Queen Elizabeth II has four children and eight grandchildren including Prince William and Prince Harry.

Source: uk.eonline.com

Ten Foods That Will Help Your Diet

Shedding pounds can be no fun at all if your diet leaves you feeling hungry all the time. Make sure you add in these ten foods to your diet, to help you stay fuller and feeling satiated longer.

Nuts. Although nuts like pistachios, almonds, and cashews have a high level of fat content, eating them in moderation can make you feel like you just ate a hearty meal. The good fats and protein they contain help your body feel more satisfied with your snack, and they also pack in tons of fiber and antioxidants.

Eggs. These are another good-in-moderation food. Studies have shown that people who eat a breakfast that includes eggs tend to eat fewer calories throughout the day. Just make sure you stick to a healthy cooking method, like hard-boiling or poaching instead of frying.

Beans. These versatile legumes contain two types of fiber – soluble and insoluble – as well as a significant amount of protein. This combination can help fill you up while simultaneously lowering your cholesterol.

Salad. If you start your meal with a salad, you’re likely to eat 12% fewer calories during your meal than if you dive right into your main dish. Why? The water and fiber content of the veggies help fill you up, and you feel like you’ve gotten to eat extra.

Soup. Similar to the salad effect, starting your lunch or dinner with a bowl of a broth-based soup (extra credit if it contains lots of veggies) can help fill you up with a low-calories extra course, keeping you from going back for seconds.

Extra veggies. Sneak in some extra servings of high-fiber, low-calorie vegetables by mixing them into your meal. Whether you’re having a pasta dish, stir-fry, or even pizza, loading on additional vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms, shredded carrots, and spinach can give your food some extra bulk that will make it more satisfying.

 
Whole grains. An oatmeal breakfast or a dinner that includes a whole grain like quinoa will make you feel way fuller than if you stuck to simple carbohydrates. Because fiber takes your body a long time to digest, whole grains rich in fiber will keep you feeling full for hours after your meal.

Fish. A study published in nature   found that healthy individuals who ate fish for lunch tended to feel fuller later in the day, and they ate fewer calories at dinner than study participants who ate beef during the day.

Potatoes.  It sounds counterintuitive, since potatoes are high in simple carbohydrates, but a landmark study on satiety actually found that boiled potatoes ranked the highest in terms of satiety out of the 38 foods studied. If you want the benefits of satiety in a slightly healthier form, try sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes.

Apples and Oranges. The same study found that out of all of the fruity snacks you could possibly be eating, apples and oranges are the most likely to make you feel full for an extended period of time. So if you need a sweet pick me up between meals, an apple or an orange is your best bet.

Source:  daily health.com