Sleeping Late

A new study says that going to bed late may be bad for our health. It may even shorten our life. The study was carried out in the United Kingdom. Researchers spent six-and-a-half years looking at the lifestyles of 430,000 adults between the ages of 38 and 73. At the end of the study, the researchers compared the deaths of people who went to bed early to those who went to bed late. They found that night owls (people who go to bed late) were 10 per cent more likely to die during the period of the study. The researchers concluded that night owls were at higher risk of an early death than early birds (people who slept early). Night owls were also at a greater risk of poor health compared to early birds.

The researchers said society and working patterns needed to change to reduce the risks of ill health for night owls. Researcher Malcolm van Schantz said: "This is a public health issue that can no longer be ignored." He suggested that night owls should be allowed to start and finish work later in the day so they could sleep longer in the morning. The researchers said that night owls were more likely to suffer from mental problems, diabetes, and stomach and breathing troubles. They were also more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and coffee, and take drugs. Researchers also said different sleeping patterns during the week and at weekends could increase the chances of health problems for night owls. (Breaking News English)

LOW SOCIAL STATUS BAD FOR HEALTH

A new study shows that having a low social status can be bad for our health. The study was on monkeys. Researchers from Duke University in the USA looked at the behaviour and health of 45 female monkeys and found that those with a lower social status had more health problems. The monkeys were split up into five groups of nine. The researchers gave the monkeys in each group time to get to know each other. Then they took one monkey from each group and put her into another group. This meant she was the "new girl" and was at the bottom of the group. When scientists checked the health of the monkeys, they found that the "new girl" was unhealthier than the other monkeys.

The researchers said that although their study focused on monkeys, the findings could also be true for humans because we share a lot of our DNA with monkeys. Professor Graham Rook, from University College London, told the BBC News that the findings of the study may also apply to humans. He said governments must understand that people with a lower social status suffer more from health problems. He said that just because "people at the bottom" have got cars and TVs, it does not mean they are happy. If they feel they are at the bottom compared with richer people, their health will worsen. People who are richer can live up to two decades longer than those who are poorer. (Breaking News English)

Women do not get enough sleep

A new report says a lack of sleep can cause long-term health issues and even death. Women are more likely to have problems sleeping than men. Researchers from the Sleep Apnoea Trust Association questioned 4,100 adults. Apnoea is when breathing stops for a short time during sleep. Almost half of the women did not sleep enough. This compared to 36 per cent of men. Women were also more likely than men to wake up at night.

Health experts warn that feeling exhausted due to little sleep could be a sign of a serious problem. Many women do not know about the dangers. Only a quarter see a doctor about this. A sleep expert said: "Often women think that feeling exhausted is just part of modern life when in fact it could be something more serious….It leaves women at risk of reduced quality of life. Bad cases of sleep apnoea can cause heart attacks and strokes.

(Breaking News English)

Harmful bacteria

A new report warns that people could be in danger from superbugs if they eat rare and undercooked meat. The report is called the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance. Researchers looked into how antibiotics in food are making bugs stronger. The report said the use of antibiotics in agriculture is making bugs stronger and more resistant to our medicines. The researchers said the huge amount of antibiotics in farming could be dangerous to people's health around the world. They suggested that farmers reduce the amount of antibiotics they give to their animals. The leader of the research, Jim O'Neill, said this was important if we wanted to make sure that our life-saving medicines still workeff ectively.

The researchers are calling for strict targets to reduce the number of antibiotics given to farm animals. Mr O'Neill said this was necessary because of the huge amount of antibiotics farmers give their animals. He said: "I find it [unbelievable] that in many countries, most of the consumption of antibiotics is in animals, rather than humans. This creates a big risk for everyone." He added that the public could get ill from superbugs if they ate meat that was rare or undercooked. He said: "My advice to consumers is that they have to make sure they cook meat properly. If you are going to choose to cook it as rare as possible you have to be aware of where it's coming from." (Breaking News English)

Smaller plates help reduce obesity

New research suggests there is a simple and easy way that helps people to stop over-eating. Researchers say there is an alternative to fancy diets. They say that using smaller plates, knives, forks, glasses and other tableware could reduce the amount of food we eat. Many of us tend to use the size of the plate as a measure of how much we can eat. If we use a large plate, we fill the plate with food, which often means we eat too much. Research from Cambridge University in the U.K. suggests that smaller plates could lower the amount of food we eat. British people could reduce their calorie intake by up to 16 per cent, while Americans could see a reduction of up to 29 per cent in calories.

The research team looked at data from 6,711 people who took part in the eating trials. Dr Gareth Hollands, one of the leaders of the research, said that many people think it is, "obvious that the larger the portion size, the more people eat," but said that until now, there was little research on this. He added that it was wrong to think people ate too much because of a lack of self-control. He said: "Helping people to avoid 'over-serving' themselves or others with larger portions of food or drink by reducing their size, availability and appeal in shops, restaurants and in the home, is likely to be a good way of helping lots of people to reduce their risk of overeating." (Breaking News)

 

 

 

Food crime is an international problem

There is a new and growing danger with the food we eat. Criminal gangs are selling billions of dollars of fake food to supermarkets around the world. The food could be very dangerous. In the past few years, there have been some high-profile scandals. In Britain, tons of horse meat ended up in products that were labeled as beef. British police recently found a product that used cheaper peanut powder instead of almond flour. This could seriously harm or kill people with peanut allergies. In 2008, six babies died in China after gangs made and sold fake milk powder. Gangs can make a lot of money from fake food. It is also safer than selling drugs for the gangs because the penalties are lower.

The assistant director of Interpol, Michael Ellis, told the BBC that food crime is very similar to the drugs trade. He said: "In my experience, the patterns used by criminals involved in counterfeiting are very similar to those used in the dealing of drugs." He said police in 33 countries showed that food crime is a serious international problem. The police found children's candies that were dyed with a poisonous chemical, 430,000 litres of fake drinks and 22 tons of long-grain rice that was labeled as high-quality basmati rice. The British government said it was a difficult problem to tackle. It said that using technology might be the only way to beat the criminal gangs. (Breaking News English)

 

 

Children can learn to eat vegetables

Getting kids to eat their greens can be difficult. Children often refuse to eat vegetables. This can lead to a poor diet. A new study says parents can train their kids to like vegetables. Under-twos can get to like vegetables if they try them up to ten times. Even fussy eaters will eat them. This is good news for parents who are worried about what their children eat. It also means kids will have better nutrition.

The study was on children aged between four months and three years. Each child had between five and 10 servings of artichoke puree. The younger children ate more of it. A professor said under-twos will eat new vegetables because they are more open to new experiences. After 24 months, they are less willing to try new things. She said if parents want children to eat vegetables, they should start early and serve them often. (Breaking News English)

 

7 portions of fruit & vegetables a day best

We are always told that five portions of fruit and vegetables are enough to keep disease away and to live longer. A new study now says people who eat seven portions a day are healthier. Researchers studied the eating habits of 65,000 adults over seven years. They said that there was a strong "inverse" relationship between eating fruit and vegetables and death with people who ate more fruit and vegetables.

The researchers said people who ate up to seven portions a day had a 42 per cent lower risk of death than those who had just one portion. They said schools should serve healthier meals and supermarkets should display cheaper fruit and vegetables where people can see them better. They said frozen and canned fruit was bad for you. A dietician said people who ate more fruit and veg were richer, so their lifestyles helped them to live longer. (Breaking News English)

 

Night work could damage your health

A new study suggests working shifts at night can be damaging to one's health. In particular, it increases the risk of several cancers, diabetes, mental illnesses, and various heart diseases. Researchers from the Sleep Research Centre at the U.K.'s University of Surrey discovered that many genes in the body needed to follow a regular 24-hour cycle, during which the body sleeps at night. If this cycle is broken, up to 1,500 genes could get damaged, eventually resulting in potentially life-threatening diseases. Professor Derk-Jan Dijk said: "The study has important implications because we now need to discover why these rhythms exist and think about the consequences of that."

The human body has around 24,000 genes. Many of these switch off if the body does not follow a regular sleeping pattern. This can cause parts of the immune system to become less efficient, making us more susceptible to illnesses. Study co-author Dr Simon Archer said: "Over 97 per cent of rhythmic genes become out-of-sync with mistimed sleep, which really explains why we feel so bad during jet lag or if we have to work irregular shifts." Dr Dijk said that despite the results of the research, it would be difficult for people to change their lifestyles. He explained it was difficult for society to function without people working night shifts, but said people needed to understand the dangers and "mitigate the impact". (Breaking News English)

Menu shows exercise needed to lose weight

New research reveals that restaurant menus showing how much exercise is needed to burn off calories could be good for losing weight. Researchers from the Texas Christian University say that telling customers how many minutes they must walk to burn off the calories from a hamburger is much better information than showing how many calories the hamburger has. They say people do not really understand calories but do understand they have to walk for 30 minutes. Senior researcher Dr. Meena Shah said the menu could help people make healthier choices. She said: "We need a more effective strategy to encourage people to order and consume fewer calories from restaurant menus."

The researchers looked at the restaurant orders made by 300 different people. Some used a menu without calorie information; some had a menu with calorie information; and the rest were given a menu with a guide to how many minutes of fast walking would burn off the calories in the food. Example information on the last menu suggested a woman would need to walk for two hours to burn off the calories in a double cheeseburger. The people who had the menus with the exercise information ordered food with the fewest calories. Researcher Ashlei James said: "Brisk walking is something nearly everyone can relate to, which is why we displayed…the minutes of brisk walking needed to burn food calories." (Breaking News English)

Should junk food adverts be banned?

Doctors are calling for a ban on junk food adverts before 9pm in a new plan to tackle obesity.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which represents nearly every doctor in the UK, says the UK has an obesity crisis with a quarter of adults classed as obese and one in three kids leaving primary school overweight.
They also want a limit of the number of fast food outlets near schools and to raise taxes on sugary drinks by up 20 percent. (CBBC Newsround)

Breast cancer

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when men and women around the world unite in a show of support against the disease.

The annual campaign has helped put breast cancer under the spotlight, and it has worked hard to teach women the importance of early detection and breast awareness, the best weapons in the fight against the disease.

Both have helped save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, including some famous faces who have successfully battled breast cancer because it was caught in its early stages.

Here's how to stay vigilant and reduce your risk.
Have an annual check
For average-risk women, a clinical breast exam done by a GP or nurse as part of a regular health examination is recommended. For those aged 47-50 and above, this annual check can be an important complement to a mammogram, which is offered every three years
Examine your breasts regularly Know what is normal for you and report any changes to your doctor
Eat healthily
Make friends with vegetables and fruits, high in fibre and antioxidants. A low-fat diet has been shown to help ward off breast cancer
Maintain a healthy weight
Extra pounds also mean extra risk
Limit alcohol
Drinking is one of the known lifestyle choices that increase your risk of developing breast cancer, so cut back or quit if you can
Stub it out
Now is the time to stop smoking
Get active
To reduce your risk of disease, the World Cancer Research Fund recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on five or more days a week (Hello!)

Hand washing in hospitals halves superbug infections

A campaign that was launched in hospitals encouraging people to wash their hands has helped halve the number of "superbug" infections.
Superbugs are germs that antibiotic drugs can't destroy, so if people get ill, they can't be treated.
In hospitals, the bugs can spread easily from patient to patient.
During the government's "Clean Your Hands" campaign, the amount of soap and hand gel being used in hospitals tripled.
The campaign has now finished but it's hoped hospitals will carry on the hand washing practices highlighted.(CBBC Newsround)

Staying healthy

Questions about eating disorders

Expert Susan Ringwood from the charity BEAT answers questions about eating disorders which were sent in by Newsround viewers.

How do eating disorders develop? And how can you treat them?

Eating disorders do sometimes start very slowly, which can make it hard to know when you have a problem. If you are at all worried about yourself or a friend, you should speak to someone as soon as possible.

The sooner someone gets treatment, the better it is.

The best treatment is usually talking about your problems to someone who really understands it. And they will help you learn how to cope and eat healthily again.

How much sugar should you have in a day?

There aren't any rules about how much sugar is good or bad, but it is important to eat a variety of food and not too much or too little of any one thing.

My friend is really thin. Is she doing it herself or what else could it be?

There might be lots of reasons why someone could be very thin. Some other illnesses can make you thin too.

You can't tell from someone's size whether they are ill or not, but if your friend is really worried about the food perhaps you could help her to talk to someone about it.

When you don't eat, apart from eating disorders what other problems can occur?

Everyone needs to eat a healthy range of food to keep their bodies working properly.

Young people's bodies are growing and that takes a lot of energy. If you don't eat then your body may not grow properly until you start to eat again.

I have a friend and she is worried about her weight and talks about it. Sometimes I think she's joking but when the guys are around she won't eat. Is there anyway I can help her and talk her out of it?

It sounds like you are really worried about your friend, and its good that you want to help her. Friends are very important in times like this, but you may not be able to help your friend just by yourself. Perhaps you could encourage her to talk to an adult who she trusts.

How do you know if you're anorexic?

If you are concerned about your health or changes to your body the best thing to do is to speak to an adult you trust.

Growing up is a very difficult time, and your body changes a lot. Sometimes this can be very difficult to deal with, but remember that no matter how isolated you may feel, it will always feel better to share your problem with someone who could help.

What's the right weight for a tall 14-year-old girl?

There is no right weight for anyone. Everyone's body is different.

However, if you are concerned about changes to your body, do not be afraid to speak to a trusted adult about it. They have been through it too remember.

People keep telling me I'm thin. People keep commenting on how I eat, how much I eat, what I eat. I know I am not fat, I don't think I'm thin. I do watch what I eat. I do calorie count. Should my parents be worried??

It sounds to me like you are a bit worried about how you think and feel. It must be difficult when everyone is commenting about what you do. Maybe they are just worried about you.

Do you think that you could talk to them about it? Maybe get some information that would explain things to you and your parents.

What's your opinion on anorexia? What if you don't want to get better?

It must be really hard to feel that you don't want to get better. We do know that eating disorders can be beaten. People do get better, and they do get well. It's hard to do that on your own and telling someone else if you think you have a problem is the very first step.

What is a good way to get to like different foods? I'm a really picky eater, so I don't eat too much. And if I do, it is always sugary stuff, and I'm worried I'll get fat.

Eating good meals is important to keep you healthy. Maybe you could try one new thing each week and see which ones you like the best?

Waiting until you get very hungry and then eating junk isn't good for you. Try to eat regular meals and healthy snacks throughout the day, and this should help to stop your sugar cravings. (CBBC Newsround)

WHO Says One Billion People Disabled

A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) says the proportion of disabled people in the world is rising. It estimates around 15 per cent of the global population has some form of disability – that’s one billion people. This figure has increased from 10 per cent in the 1970s. The World Report on Disability says about one in five of the 15 per cent, nearly 200 million, suffer from a severe disability. WHO director-general Dr Margaret Chan warned: "In the years ahead, disability will be an even greater concern…due to ageing populations and the higher risk of disability in older people as well as the global increase in chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and mental health disorders."
One of the most worrying conclusions of the report is that the disabled are more likely to face discrimination in the future. The WHO says the disabled will have greater problems finding work and accessing healthcare. The report authors say disabled people are three times more likely to be denied healthcare than other people in developed countries. The WHO’s Tom Shakespeare said: "The clear message from the report is that there is no country that has got it right.” Dr Chan said: “Almost every one of us will be permanently or temporarily disabled at some point in life. We must do more to break the barriers which segregate people with disabilities, in many cases forcing them to the margins of society." (Breaking News English)

More schools need sun safety plans, say experts

There's nothing better than messing about in the sunshine at break time. But some experts are worried that schools aren't doing enough to keep pupils safe from the sun's rays.
A recent survey has found that almost half of all school children had suffered sunburn when they were in the playground.
A skin care charity is asking the government to help them put rules in place to make all schools follow a 'sun safety' guide in the summer.

The charity, Skin Cancer UK is also asking for special sun safety lessons to be taught in the classroom to try to make sure that more kids can avoid getting caught out by the sun.

Some schools have been refusing to make sure that pupils have enough sun cream on before they go out at break as they think that it isn't their responsibility.

However parents are worried that if they put sun cream on their children before they go to school, it might wear off before the end of the day.

Sun experts reckon that it's best to reapply sun cream every two hours when out in the sun. (CBBC Newsround)