'Health News'
The New York City Public Health Department has launched an innovative, visual campaign to help convince New Yorkers to limit the amount of calories they are consuming from sodas and other sugary beverages by asking them of they are “Pouring on the Pounds.”
You can see the images being used in the campaign below:
The Facts
According to Cathy Nonas in the related blog about the campaign:
The reality is Americans consume 200 to 300 more calories each day than we did 30 years ago. Of these extra calories, nearly half come from sugar-sweetened drinks with zero health benefits.
The number of calories and sugar in different beverages can be quite a bit.
- One 20 oz. bottle of soda = 250 calories with 16 ½ teaspoons of sugar.
- One 20 oz. bottle of lemon-flavored iced tea = 210 calories with 14 ½ teaspoons of sugar.
- One 20 oz Sports Drink = 120 calories with 8 ½ teaspoons of sugar.
A table with the different number of calories and sugar content in different beverages is available on the New York Health Department.
As part of the campaign the Health Department is encouraging people to not drink themselves fat, to cut back on soda and other sugary beverages and go with water, seltzer or low-fat milk instead.
The Campaign
The public-awareness campaign, which includes posters in the subway system and a Health Bulletin, will run for three months.
Do you think that we should do something like this in California to discourage Californians from consuming too many empty beverage calories and fat?
More Information:
Press Release. August 31, 2009. New Campaign Asks New Yorkers if They’re “Pouring On the Pounds.” New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Are Your Pouring on the Pounds? Posters. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Three Versions (Soda, Sports Drinks and Tea) (PDF File)
Health Bulletin. 2009. Are You Pouring on the Pounds? Vol 8, No. 6. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. (PDF File)
September 5th, 2009
More than a decade ago, in 1998, the medical costs due to obesity were estimated to be as high as $78.5 billion. In a recent study, published in the July issue of Health Affairs the authors of the study now estimate the annual healthcare cost of obesity in the US now may be as high as $147 billion dollars a year.
The government-sponsored study was conducted by researchers at RTI International, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Key findings from the study on Annual Medical Spending Attributable To Obesity: Payer- And Service-Specific Estimates were summarized in the article on Medical News Today. Lead author Dr Eric Finkelstein and colleagues found:
- In 1998 the medical costs of obesity in the US were estimated at around 78.5 billion dollars a year, half of which was financed by Medicare and Medicaid.
- Between 1998 and 2006, the prevalence of obesity in the US went up by 37 per cent.
- This rise in obesity prevalence added 40 billion dollars to the annual healthcare bill for obesity.
- Obesity is now responsible for 9.1 per cent of annual medical costs compared with 6.5 per cent in 1998.
- The medical costs for an obese person are 42 per cent higher than for a person of normal weight.
- This equates to an additional 1,429 dollars per year: the costs for an obese person on Medicare are even greater.
- Much of the additional Medicare cost for an obese person are the result of the added prescription drug benefit.
- Medicare prescription drug payments for obese recipients are about 600 dollars a year more than for normal weight recipients.
- Obesity accounts for 8.5 per cet of Medicare expenditure, 11.8 per cent of Medicaid expenditure, and 12.9 per cent of private insurance expenditure.
- The annual healthcare costs of obesity could be as high as 147 billion dollars for 2008.
In looking at this information it isn’t hard to see how reducing the health cost due to obesity would significantly reduce our overall healthcare costs.
Focusing on keeping people healthy, keeping children from becoming obese adults, aggressively treating increases in weight gain and those who are in the overweight category would be cost effective ways of helping to reduce these staggering costs due to obesity.
Resources:
Paddock C. July 2009. Obesity Healthcare Costs US 147 Billion Dollars A Year, New Study. Medical News Today.
Finkelstein EA, Trogdon JG, Cohen JW. Dietz W. July 2009. “Annual Medical Spending Attributable To Obesity: Payer- And Service-Specific Estimates.” Health Affairs , Web Exclusive, July 27, 2009
Image: Michal Zacharzewski. Shadow Fat Man. Royalty Free Use.
August 31st, 2009
In May the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) sent a warning letter to General Mills, the manufacturers of Cheerios indicating that they had found “serious violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act” in that they believe based on the packaging that Cheerios was “is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug because the product is intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease.”
According to the Warning Letter sent by the FDA to Cheerios they were accusing General Mills of marketing an “Unproved New Drug”
Based on claims made on your product’s label, we have determined that your Cheerios® Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug because the product is intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease. Specifically, your Cheerios® product bears the following claims on its label:
- “you can Lower Your Cholesterol 4% in 6 weeks”
- “Did you know that in just 6 weeks Cheerios can reduce bad cholesterol by an average of 4 percent? Cheerios is … clinically proven to lower cholesterol. A clinical study showed that eating two 1 1/2 cup servings daily of Cheerios cereal reduced bad cholesterol when eaten as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.”
These claims indicate that Cheerios® is intended for use in lowering cholesterol, and therefore in preventing, mitigating, and treating the disease hypercholesterolemia.
Cheerios packaging has changed a lot over the years. As seen in the photo above, the claims on the packaging are that Cheerios are “Clinically Proven to Help Reduce Cholesterol.” It looks with the latest boxes on the shelves that Cheerios has removed the claims of lowering your cholesterol 4% in 6 weeks.
I think that the FDA was correct in pointing out that General Mills has crossed a line in it’s packaging and marketing of Cheerios, using language that is usually used when discussing drugs.
With that said, Cheerios has been a staple in our house since the girls were young, because it is one of the few cereals out there with low fat, low sugar, high fiber and healthy benefits from oats.
Sources:
FDA. May 5, 2009. General Mills, Inc. 5/5/09. Warning Letters.
FDA. May 14, 2009. Labeling of Cheerios® Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal Q’s & A’s Regarding FDA’s Warning Letter. Resources for You > Consumers.
June 15th, 2009
The Woman Challenge is a new a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH) also known as WomensHealth.gov.
Woman Challenge is a part of the Office on Women’s Health year-long Woman Activity Tracker program. The challenge runs from May 10 through July 4, 2009. It is a way to get women involved, thinking about their health.
The Challenge kicks off the 10th annual National Women’s Health Week (May 10-16, 2009).
Goals of The Woman Challenge – 8 Weeks for Better Health
The Woman Challenge encourages women to
- Get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week.
- Including muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days of each week.
What Does the Women Challenge Include?
According to the Women Challenge Website:
Each week that you meet or exceed your personal physical activity goals, you will receive a virtual Woman Challenge Trophy. Earn 8 trophies in 8 weeks and receive a certificate of completion! From May 10 to August 22, 2009 you will receive weekly e-mail newsletters with tips on staying motivated.
There will also be weekly quizzes to test your knowledge of fitness and nutrition and give you a boost towards your weekly goal.
See the Women’s Health Website for More Information.
May 11th, 2009
The FDA urges consumers to discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risk. Adverse events are rare, but exist.
Consumers should consult a physician or other health care professional if they are experiencing symptoms possibly associated with these products.
Linda Katz, M.D.
Interim Chief Medical Officer
FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
I saw an ad for Hydroxycut in a magazine this morning and was wondering about the safety and claims made by the product. Another one of those…”looks too good to be true” and “buyer be ware.” I guess it was only been a matter of time that something would come up.
Today the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issued an official release warning consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products. To date the FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant. In addition one death due to liver failure has been reported to the FDA.
About Hydroxycut Products
Hydroxycut products are dietary supplements that are marketed for weight-loss, as fat burners, as energy-enhancers, as low carb diet aids, and for water loss under the Iovate and MuscleTech brand names. The products are prodiced by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y.
Return Products to Place of Purchase
Consumers who have any of the products involved in the recall are advised to stop using them and to return them to the place of purchase. The agency has not yet determined which ingredients, dosages, or other health-related factors may be associated with risks related to these Hydroxycut products. The products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts.
List of Hydroxycut Products being Recalled:
The list of products being recalled by Iovate currently includes:
Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
Hydroxycut 24
Hydroxycut Carb Control
Hydroxycut Natural
More on Dietary Supplements
For more information on Dietary Supplements, see the page on FDA 101: Dietary Supplements.
Sources:
FDA. May 1, 2009. FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Using Hydroxycut Products. FDA News.
FDA. May 1, 2009. Hydroxycut Products. FDA Products.
May 1st, 2009
I learned about Shelby Allen’s story listening to a local newscast following the season finale of E.R. The executive Producer of E.R. John Wells was inspired to base the series finale on the death of his 17-year-old niece, Shelby Lyn Allen. This storyline included a group of young girls doing shots at a party. One of them was still in a coma as the show and the season ended.
In real life Shelby Allen didn’t survive the drinking game.
Shelby’s Rules.com website was set up to tell her story:
On December 20th 2008 17 year old Shelby Lyn Allen died at a friend’s home of alcohol poisoning. You would have liked her, she was fun, lively, silly and wise beyond her years, but what she didn’t know killed her.
She and her friends were ignorant of the fact that approximately 8 ounces of hard liquor (the size of a small juice glass) consumed in under 2 hours can be lethal.
Shelby’s Rules Foundation
The Shelby’s Rules – Alcohol Poisoning Education Foundation was founded by her mother Debbie to raise awareness about Alcohol Poisoning:
I founded the Shelby Lyn Allen Alcohol Poisoning Education Fund after my 17 year-old daughter, an 11th grade student at Foothill High School in Palo Cedro, California died of acute alcohol poisoning. On the first night of Christmas break 2008, my daughter and her friends began drinking at a nearby home. It is unclear what happened, but we are told Shelby became violently ill and was semi-conscious when her friends left her propped up over the toilet. When she was discovered the next morning, she could not be revived.
I have vowed to do whatever I can to educate teens, young adults and parents to the dangers of alcohol poisoning. I want all of them to know that immediate medical intervention can save lives. It is my deepest desire that no other families or friends will have to endure the pain of loss that we experience every day of our lives.
Shelby’s Rules
The rules that the foundation has come up with
They are also working on getting out the word about the Warning signs of Alcohol Poisoning:
Warning signs of alcohol poisoning:
* Vomiting
* Person cannot be roused
* Semi-Concious or Unconcious
If you see someone with one or more of these symptoms, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.
Waiting can result in brain damage, coma or death.
Don’t be afraid to call, every second counts.
It is a very sad legacy to have left behind for one’s parents. I talked to my daughters (9 and 7) about Shelby’s story and told them about the possible deadly effects of drinking too much Alcohol this morning. I hope it registered with them.
Image: Nico Van Der Merwe. Shot Glass 02. Royalty Free Use.
April 15th, 2009
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