Quick Links

News Roundup

Culture

• Bias bill - protecting short people and fat people
  Massachusetts lawmakers are trying to legislate protection for those who are fat or short.
• Japan changing shape: Big-Small-Big
  The body shapes of Japanese women are changing. They've gotten taller, have wider hips, slightly smaller waists and wear bigger bras.

Health

• Tomatoes offer no protection against prostate cancer
  Another nutritional u-turn. Previously tomato consumption was viewed as protective against prostate cancer.
• How effective is the BVI?
  The Body Volume Index is put to the test. The 3D scanner appears to give more usable results than standard BMI.
• People aren't interested in the DASH diet
  Dietary guidelines for those with high-blood pressure are largely ignored - less people follow DASH now than over 10 years ago.
• Steroid use on a par with Heroin use
  UK officials believe there are as many as 100,000 steroid users in Britain - twice more than previous estimates from crime data.
• Calcium supplements for kids are unlikely to reduce risk of fracture (via CAM Report)

News Roundup

• Fathers parenting style blamed for fat kids
  Yet another reason to add to the growing and contradictory list. Another study blamed strict mothers, or maybe TV, or even busy parents.
• Tall buildings make slim people
  The Med Journal Watch blog points to a study of New York and obesity. People who live in crowded urban situations are thinner. Unsurprising given that suburbia is built for cars not people.
• Fancy restaurants have calorie-dense food too
  NY Mag compares the calorie count of "fancy" food with that of a Big Mac. It's a no brainer. Of course food from fancy restaurants is high in Calories. Chefs generally aren't interested in substituting flavor for calorie count.
• Diet and Cancer
  Two large studies looking at links between diet and cancer show that fruit and vegetable intake is the key to avoiding cancer. This is an enormous subject - and something worthy of some serious consideration. Just how much does our diet of processed food contribute to cellular degradation.
• Meridia doesn't work very well
  A 12 week trial of sibutramine (Meridia) on obese teenagers showed no additional benefit.

Quick Links and News Roundup

Everything from sushi flash drives to the evolution of dinner.

News Roundup and Strange Links

The Worlds Thinnest Noodles
Chinese noodle king Li Enhai manages to thread 39 strands of noodles through the eye of a needle. The amazing feat has put him and his noodles in the Guinness Book of Records. Perhaps it's the start of a new diet - eat thinner noodles and lose weight.

Obese Weighed on Horse Equipment
Hospitals in Rio de Janeiro have been sending their obese patient to the racetrack - not to watch the horse races - but to be weighed using the horses scales. It's no surprise the patients find the practice humiliating.

India Ditches Skinny Models
"At the five-day show, skirts accentuated curvy hips and sensuous tops revealed plump bust lines, as the focus of designers and local fashionistas seemed to shift to fitness and health rather than the stick-thin look."

Fast Food Everywhere
For those of us obsessed with fast food, FastFoodMaps.com allows you to locate every major fast food outlet in your city of choice. Scary stuff.

Fat Counters Vitamin C Benefits
Some intriguing research has shown that a meal high in fat may counter any positive effects from anti-oxidants. When high levels of fat are in the stomach at the same time as ascorbic acid (Vit C) --"the ascorbic acid could no longer convert the hazardous compounds into safe ones."