You may already be conscious and diligent about integrating a nutritional diet into your healthy lifestyle, but does the idea of working to help others find the right mix appeal to you?

If so, a Nov. 16 informational open house hosted at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (CSNN) in Nanaimo could be your opportunity to take the next step on that pathway. Learn how to harness your passion and turn it into a professional certification as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist.

The open houses are a chance for prospective students to experience the school, hear from instructors what and how they teach, and get a sense of what students would be learning, says Dona Bradley, R.H.N., manager of CSNN Vancouver Island.

Helping sift through the details

When it comes to finding good information on healthy nutrition, the public is faced with conflicting reports from online sources and word-of-mouth suggestions about the latest fad diets, Bradley says. Thats where a knowledgeable nutritionist can help, she says.

Its hard for people to sort out what is the truth, what isnt and what is simply people trying to sell us something. People seem more confused now than less; they seem to really need that common-sense approach to regaining their health in a natural way.

CSNNs curriculum is based about 30 per cent on hard science and the rest on social sciences, which Bradley says is critical for taking a holistic approach to health. We also teach about the anatomy and pathology of the body, how it works and what it needs to function well in terms of the macronutrients and micronutrients.

Its about more than just food

The schools motto, Learning to Change Lives, is not a hollow promise, says Victoria campus manager of CSNN Vancouver Island Audrey Sidnick, R.H.N. Its a commitment to giving students the tools to help future clients sort out what works for them healthwise, and what doesnt. Its definitely about more than food, we need to understand the body, she says. Its not only what you eat, but what your body can do with that.

Learning to understand the science around food, and how natural nutrients affect the body is a way to help more people veer away from todays prevalent pharmaceutical route, where theres a pill for everything, she says.

Every person has individual nutritional needs

CSNN, which has been teaching the medicine of the future since 1994, does not advocate any one type of dietary habits. Instead they take an integrative approach that sees diet as just one part a constantly changing one, based on bio-individuality, lifestyle, an individuals health plan and personal preferences, Sidnick says.

*****

The free open house happens from 1 to 4 p.m. at the CSNN Nanaimo classroom, 2C-91 Front St. RSVP to eventbrite.ca. For more information email v.i@csnn.ca or call 250-741-4805.

If youre unable to make this time, a later open house happens in Victoria on Nov. 23 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the CSNN Victoria classroom, 3045 Douglas St. RSVP to eventbrite.ca or for more information email victoria@csnn.ca or call 250-888-4231.

You can also follow the school on Facebook and Instagram.

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25 years of goodness: Training nutritionists to help others enjoy better health - Nanaimo News Bulletin

The short answer is yes, according to Sleep Health Foundation chair Dorothy Bruck, but true natural short sleepers are a rare breed, estimated to make up only about one per cent of the population. Thats because most people who claim to be short sleepers are in fact sleep deprived.

The Sleep Health Foundations 2016 survey found 12 per cent of Australian adults slept less than 5 hours before work days. Of those, three-quarters admitted to having two or more sleeping difficulties or daytime symptoms.

Many people claim they sleep less than six hours without consequences but when researchers look at them closely, they find the opposite.

That leaves a quarter who didnt complain of negative impacts due to short sleep. But Professor Bruck says its highly likely the majority of these are not doing as well as they think they are.

Many people claim they sleep less than six hours without consequences but when researchers look at them closely, they find the opposite.

Telltale signs that someone isnt getting enough sleep include guzzling down caffeine or playing catch-up on weekends and holidays. A true short sleeper wouldn't rely on coffee and would continue the same sleep habits regardless of the day of the week because they are naturally efficient when they hit the hay. It means they manage get the same amount of deep, restorative sleep in six hours or less as the rest of us would in eight hours.

Researchers are still trying to identify what makes somebody a natural short sleeper, but findings are suggesting it is genetic. Studies out of the University of California have identified two types of gene mutations that promote natural short sleep.

Some common traits have also been noted for reasons that are unclear, with short sleepers tending to be more optimistic, more energetic, better multi-taskers and more pain resilient.

But aspiring to become a short sleeper would be a fruitless pursuit. Australasian Sleep Association President Alan Young says that for the vast majority of us, short sleep is not an ingredient for success.

[Short sleep] is probably a genetic disposition, but for the rest of society who dont have those particular genes its actually very unhealthy to deprive yourself of sleep, Associate Professor Young says.

Adults who are sleep deprived have higher rates of absenteeism from work, their work performance is worse and there are higher rates of work accidents.

Negative effects from lack of sleep are wide-ranging, from impaired memory and concentrationto mood swings and irritability. Sleeping six hours or less is also linked to chronic illnesses such as obesity, type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease and depression.

Dont believe everything you hear because there are people who say they sleep 4-6 hours a night and are perfectly fine, but often their perception of how they are functioning is incorrect, Professor Young says.

Almost every adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep a night to function at their best You shouldnt be chasing less sleep to give time to do other things.

Professor Young says there are many industries, including health and politics, where people wear short sleep as a badge of honour.That really needs to stop, he says.

As it is, inadequate sleep affects up to 45 per cent of Australian adults and Professor Bruck says the "sleep machismo" whereby some people glamourise short sleep is not only unhelpful, it's also really silly.

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We say sleep is one of the three pillars of a healthy lifestyle along with diet and exercise, but some think sleep is uncool and think soldiering on without sleep is praiseworthy, she says.

Its actually much better to perform at your best, which is only possible if you get the sleep you need. If youre trying to sacrifice sleep for being successful in other parts of your life, thats a completely ridiculous concept.

Her takeaway message is a simple one: Sleep is cool.

Sophie is a homepage editor, digital journalist and producer for The Age.

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Getting by on six hours? Welcome to the 'sleepless elite' - Sydney Morning Herald

Fitness trainer Mostafa Mersal showing correct workout steps. Photo: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News Image Credit:

The most common workout methods for those pursuing a healthy lifestyle are cardio or weightlifting exercises, with the aim of toning the body and looking fit.

Most people try all types or routines of workouts, even exercising six times a week, hoping that this will get them into that skinny fit jeans or shirt. But they often lack the right tips in order to keep their body in the fat burning zone and achieving their long-term goal.

The first natural fat burner is water. If you consume five per cent of your body weight on a daily basis, you will see a massive change in your overall well-being. You should also organise your food intake and consume smaller portions to improve your metabolism. Food has a huge impact on insulin levels in the body and if we avoid spikes (big meals) or drops (long hours without food) the body will function better and it will help a lot during the fat burning process.

Resistance training such as boot camps and circuit training are the best workouts to burn fat, where all the muscles are active in one go. Try keeping your heart rate between 140-160 bpm (fat burning zone) for the longest time possible. This way, you will be working on the cardio-vascular system and putting it under pressure to keep the body in that zone.

So to help you achieve those goals, here are five common mistakes people make while training, which prevents them from losing weight or shaping up their body:

1. Focusing on heavy lifting

People go to the gym and copy what they see others do and try to lift heavy weights without any professional guidance from a trainer. Heavy lifting, which will shoot your heart rate above 160bpm (pumping zone), should be done gradually and progressively with the assistance of a coach who will draw a plan to reach the desired goal. In fact, heavy lifting will grow the muscles in size and look bulkier, which is not recommended for people who are trying to lose weight when they should be focusing solely on toning their muscles.

2. Spending hours on the treadmill

Most people who want to lose weight in a short period of time use the treadmill as the easiest way to burn the excess fat even though it is actually the poorest type of training, since it only involves the lower body (legs) and does not help in shaping up the body.

3. Increasing the number of reps on the same muscle thinking that they are toning it

The term fat targeting unfortunately doesnt exist and thinking that overworking the same muscle over and over again will make you lose that fat (for example, the belly) in incorrect. In fact, to lose fat, you will have to decrease the BFP (body fat percentage) of the entire body, so you should engage as many muscles as possible to keep the heart rate level above 140bpm the entire time youre exercising.

4. Workout on a full stomach

Working out on a full stomach will make it really difficult to breath during the set. The heart would pump in most of the blood and the food that has been consumed will remain undigested in the stomach and will start to digest only after completing the workout. Additionally, you will not be able to derive the energy from whatever you have consumed, and hence a pre-workout meal should always be consumed at least 45-60 minutes before the workout. To lose weight, you should workout on an empty stomach.

5. Having a protein shake or food once you finish your workout

After the workout, the body is in the fat burning mode. The best strategy for weight loss is to eat around two hours post the workout. So you wont stop the burning cycle.

Mostafa Mersal is the lead coach of Fitness Bootcamp DXB. Follow them on Instagram at @fbcdxb.

Watch Mostafa's top tips here:

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Dubai Fitness Challenge: 5 things to avoid while working out - Gulf News

We have partnered with Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals to refine the use of a common blood test to detect heart failure in more patients as early as possible.

With record numbers of people going to hospital with heart failure in England, its vital to improve the accuracy of tests to treat the right patients at the right time, helping more people to better manage their symptoms and live fuller and longer lives.

Heart failure means that your heart is not pumping blood around your body as effectively as it should. For people with severe heart failure, everyday tasks like going upstairs or walking to the shops become impossible. Although theres no cure for heart failure, you can stop your condition getting worse by taking your medication and living a healthy lifestyle.

NT pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) is a blood test used as the first step in diagnosing suspected heart failure. If a patient has a test result above a specified limit they will need to have an echocardiogram (an ultrasound scan of the heart) to confirm a heart failure diagnosis.

Sarah Young, Nurse Consultant Cardiology at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, led an audit, supported by the BHF, which revealed patients were undergoing tests unnecessarily or not getting the echocardiogram they needed if the result was raised.

After discussing the findings with nurses, doctors and consultants, Sarah created a new simpler algorithm for how the test should be used more effectively to target higher risk patients. Reducing unnecessary blood tests and importantly, ensures the right patients undergo an echocardiogram.

While the NT pro-BNP pathway is not new, the audit demonstrates it is not always used appropriately and there is a need to support clinical staff to use it most efficiently.

This improvement could cut costs and save patients avoidable trips to their GP. Over a six month period, the audit found unnecessary tests costed just one small area of the hospital around 1,600.

Sarah Young said: What we want is for the right patients to get the right test at the right time, which will improve their care and treatment. Using these tests appropriately will not only save money, it will mean people that need an echocardiogram will be able to access this when needed.

The number of people in England who have been admitted to hospital due to heart failure is on the rise, which means the use of NT pro-BNP and echocardiogram testing are likely to grow.

Several factors could be contributing to the rise in people living with heart failure, including an ageing and growing population, growing numbers of heart attack survivors and stubbornly high rates of people living with heart failure risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Sally Hughes, our Head of Health Services Engagement, said: Heart failure is still not being diagnosed early enough thats why were supporting new ways to ensure more people get diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Its early days, but if improvements like this yield earlier and more accurate heart failure diagnosis, we could provide treatment sooner for the estimated 920,000 people living with this often cruel and debilitating disease in the UK.

Keeping track of many different medications to treat heart failure which is often one of a number of long term conditions that the patient has to manage can be difficult. Were also supporting a project to ensure these patients take the right medication properly to help control their symptoms and reduce any unnecessary medications too.

The Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group linked pharmacists with the community heart failure specialist nursing team to create a new referral pathway for patients to have their medicines reviewed. Clinically, it has already proven beneficial. From the first eight referrals the team received from the nurses, the pharmacists recommended 33 changes or interventions. They also stopped 12 unnecessary medications saving nearly 1,500, as well as potentially preventing two hospital admissions with the associated healthcare costs.

How we're improving heart failure diagnosis

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The BHF is helping to refine the use of a common blood test to detect heart failure in more patients as early as possible. - British Heart Foundation

Are school lunches the root of American obesity? Or is a healthy lunch program a lost cause?

It has become known over the past decade that American obesity is on the rise. From 23% obesity in 1962, to 39.6% in 2016, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. These figures solely counted Americans who were clinically considered obese, which is determined by a Body Mass Index(BMI) of 30 or higher, and an overweight person has a BMI between 25 and 30. In fact, 17% of American children are obese, and a forecast based on early long-term trends suggests that more than 85% of adults will be overweight or obese in the U.S. by 2030.

The roots of obesity lie in the foods we eat, and how we were taught to take care of ourselves. Todays students are offered a variety of options at lunch time, most of which have little nutritional value. Instead of spending more money to provide fresh, healthy lunch options for their students, American schools opt to buy cheap, processed, and unhealthy food, which in turn leaves the children feeling tired, unfocused, and lazy. In an environment where kids are supposed to be learning healthy habits, why are they fed chicken nuggets, tater tots, and cookies, calling it a balanced meal? For some students, school lunch is the only real sustenance they will eat in a day, and many arent learning how to live a healthy lifestyle at home. Therefore, a nutritious meal at school serves as an extension of the classroom in learning to live a healthy lifestyle. While school lunches do lack nutritional value, they seem to do a good job of keeping sugar levels low in the provided meals, as the sugar students do receive comes from chocolate milk, which some students opt not to take. Being a high school student myself, I walk into the lunchroom everyday to see my classmates eating macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and tater tots for lunch, which is not what we need as students to fuel our brains to finish out the day.

Many researchers have tried to tackle the difficult topic of school lunches, but few have considered the solution of providing fewer options in the cafeteria in order to save money, and provide only one or two meal options per day, using the money to serve healthier food. This begs the question: is the solution to todays lunches attainable, or are healthy school lunches a lost cause?

Because such unhealthy foods have been served in American schools for so long, students have gotten used to the foods they get to eat, and may not want to buy school lunch if it were healthier, thus reducing the profit each school makes from selling lunch. This brings into question the priority and purpose of providing school lunch; is it for profit or to provide students with a mid-day meal to boost their minds and bodies through the rest of the school day?

Tying back to my original argument, if students are not learning how to build a healthy meal as part of their education, then they are not learning to lead a healthy lifestyle. Thus, American obesity originates in unhealthy eating habits, which are provided in school lunches. The lunchroom should be an extension of the classroom, where students learn to make healthy choices to benefit their bodies and brainpower.

Ellie Tillma

Grand Rapids

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School lunches and American obesity - Herald Review

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. The Healthy Lifestyle Programs at Holland Hospital help patients discover ways to live their best lives. Meet Tina Vande Guchte. She works with those programs but has a long list of credentials that makes it obvious why she is in that role. Tina is a certified medical exercise specialist, a certified personal trainer and certified sleep science coach. Clearly not all of us can do all of those things but we wanted to know what a well-rounded lifestyle includes.

Tina Vande Guchte will be the featured speaker at a free open house at Holland Hospitals Healthy Life Programs. It is scheduled for Wednesday, November 6, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 175 S. Waverly Rd. in Holland. Tina will talk more about healthy eating, weight management, and improved fitness.

For more information, visit http://www.hollandhospital.org/events.

Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this.Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.

If you would like more information about advertising with 13 ON YOUR SIDE, please contact Jeff Olsen at jolsen@wzzm13.com.

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Attend Holland Hospital discussion on maintaining a healthy lifestyle - WZZM13.com

Swedish direct selling company Oriflame, known for its skincare and wellness products, has been focusing on expanding its portfolio to wellness for the last few years.

According to CEO and President Magnus Brannstrom, the company wants to position itself as a healthy lifestyle brand and focus on routine products that people use for their well-being.

We will expand in weight management, sports and fitness and subsequently there will be products like meal replacements, higher protein products for enhanced performance in sports and fitness, said Brannstrom.

Brannstrom said the companywill continue expanding their existing skincare and wellness portfolioas the fundamentals remain the samethe importance of treating skin every day.

Oriflamerecently delisted from Nasdaq Stockholm. It was followed the buyback of the firm by the companys founding families, valued at nearly $950 million. The firm says its future sales growth will be from Mexico, Russia, Turkey, India, China and Indonesia.

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Oriflame to Position as Healthy Lifestyle Brand, Focus on Wellness - Direct Selling News

With diabetes now the fifth-leading cause of death in the Bahamas, the countrys minister of health urged Bahamians to make more healthy lifestyle choices to prevent getting the disease.

The prevalence of diabetes in 2005 was 6.7 percent. It has now reached 13.9 percent and if we include pre-diabetics, we have a staggering prevalence of almost 19%, Dr. Duane Sands said at the Bahamas Podiatric Medical Association Conference on Friday, according to The Tribune, one of the Bahamas leading newspapers. Our death rate from diabetes stands at 37.9 deaths per 100,000 people.

Noting that it is a well-known fact is that many persons with diabetes suffer from foot and ankle ailment and complications, Sands added, Around the world, approximately a million people with diabetes will lose a part of their lower limb.

It is for this reason, Dr Sands said, why prevention of foot ulcers is an important priority for podiatric medicine and the diabetic patient in general.

Eight-five percent, give or take, of amputations are preceded by an ulcer, and therefore, can be prevented, the Bahamian health minister said. With these startling statistics in mind, it demonstrates that a multi-disciplinary team approach for the treatment of diabetics and diabetic foot problems is required.

Podiatry services were reinstated in the public sector about one year ago and since that time, approximately 700 patients were treated, he said. They were aged between three months and 98 years. Sixty percent were treated for a diabetic foot. There were 161 minor surgical cases.

Sands noted, however, that there is still a major shortage of podiatrists in the country, a shortage he said presents a challenge to the countrys health care system.

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Bahamians Urged to Make Healthier Lifestyle Choices - The Washington Informer

With Baby Boomers living longer than those who came before them, active lifestyles can help keep our older population physically and mentally fit.

Among other services, Sharp Grossmont HospitalsSenior Resource Centeroffers a variety of health education programs, health screenings, health fairs and special events.

The goal is to engage seniors in the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and to introduce them to the many simple ways they can improve their well-being.

Sharp is dedicated to improving the experience for seniors beyond the doctors office, saidDan McNamara, program coordinator for the Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center. The Sharp Experience is geared not only toward giving seniors quality health care, but also to help them maximize their health and have an exceptional experience in life.

Daphne Miller is the exercise instructor for seniors at the Senior Resource Center.

With a bachelors degree in gerontology and a minor in recreation, she hosts theGrossmont Mall Walkerseach Saturday at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., where, along with walking, she incorporates stretching, humming and even line dancing.

She notes that the benefits of moderate physical activity that burns about 150 calories a day or 30 minutes of accumulated activity each day can help decrease the risk of some of the main health issues facing seniors.

Improved balance, coordination and flexibility can, for example, reduce a seniors risk of falling and fracturing bones, said Miller. Increased oxygen to the brain helps to promote better cognitive functioning, and weight-bearing exercises can decrease the risk of osteoporosis.

Decreased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and arthritis also make the list, and when you add improved socialization from groups such as the Mall Walkers or other activities, the importance of an active senior lifestyle is clearly paramount to good health all around.

Retired nurse Donna Smith spent part of her career at Sharp Grossmont. She, her husband Charles, and their Yorkie Max are part of the Mall Walkers. Smith also volunteers at flu clinics and health fairs. Her profession, and now her age of 68, keep her health top of mind.

When I was working I couldn always find the time to be active, but I made it a priority after 40 because movement is so very important, said Smith. I didnt want to be retired and not be able to do what I want because of physical limitations.

She said doctors stress the importance of eating right, being proactive in your health care and staying active much more than they used to, especially to seniors.

This article features experts from Sharp Grossmont Hospital. For more health stories visit http://www.sharp.com/news.

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Physical activity can make living longer and stronger a realization - The East County Californian

Ikea, the global home furnishing brand, is urging people to improve their sleep in order to lead a healthy lifestyle.

The campaign, titled 'Let's Celebrate Sleep, Everyday' showcases how members of a family struggle to sleep due to light and sounds coming from the windows, uncomfortable mattresses and pillows and the phone buzzing late night.

The advertisement further highlights the importance of sleep in order to function efficiently, especially during the festive season.

The campaign will run across TV, print, digital, radio, OOH, Ikea Family (Ikeas customer loyalty program) workshops and BTL activities such as placing Sleep Pods at prominent malls in Hyderabad.

Ikea also released a radio campaign to create chatter around the importance of sleep on multiple radio stations in Hyderabad and one of the radio shows called the expert talk features Ikeas interiors expert Mia Olsson, who shares home furnishing insights with the callers.

Amitabh Pande, marketing head, Ikea India said: Our culture very well rewards making the most of our day, we try and pack in 48 hours worth of action in 24 hours. Interestingly, our constantly connected lives and our relentless FOMO just adds to it, making us take the most crucial aspect of being our bodies for granted. How can you celebrate and have a great time if youre not rested enough every night? So, this festive season, we at Ikea are requesting customers to make time for sleep and celebrate sleep every day."

// Featured in this article

IKEA

IKEA is a Swedish-founded Dutch-based multinational group, that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and home accessories. It has been the world's largest furniture r...

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Ikea urges Indians to adopt a healthy lifestyle by sleeping well - The Drum

Swedish direct selling company Oriflame, known for its skincare and wellness products, has been focusing on expanding its portfolio to wellness for the last few years. Now, moving on, it wants to position itself as a healthy lifestyle brand and focus on routine products that people use for their well-being, says its CEO and President Magnus Brannstrom. "We will expand in weight management, sports and fitness and subsequently there will be products like meal replacements, higher protein products for enhanced performance in sports and fitness," says Brannstrom. Alongside this, he said, they will continue expanding their existing skincare and wellness portfolio but refused to share the details of the new launches.

Brannstrom said the fundamentals remain the same - the importance of treating skin every day. He said, "We launch new products every month but usually concentrate on major launches in the fall and the spring."

The difference, he said, is that this time "is it is highly likely that you to see more customised products suited for India since the need for products for the oily skin is an increasing focus here."

While companies prefer to have similar products because of the benefit it brings in terms of price and performance, in skin, the companies need more variety. "In northern hemisphere, people want to be tanned, and in the southern hemisphere they want to be fair. Also, there are different skin needs in different parts of the world in terms of skin elasticity, colour segment and different colour preferences and with climate change this might change drastically." Currently, from their 1,000 cosmetic products, approximately 750 are global, and there are 250 products that are regional, specifically for the one part of the world. He said they are also launching a skincare application where consumers can get their skin assessed from the mobile app. This will essentially enable their consultants to give expert advice to consumers. The users will have to put their skin in front of the phone's camera and the app will analyse and help them determine the type of skincare routine and products they should use. "This will help consultants who are not skincare experts make them look professional. It will also help consumers get the right information."

The firm recently delisted from Nasdaq Stockholm. It was followed the buyback of the firm by Oriflame's founding families valued at nearly $950 million. The firm says its future sales growth will be from Mexico, Russia, Turkey, India, China and Indonesia. Oriflame currently has 30 lakh consultants in 60 countries.

Also read: GVK Group raises Rs 7,600 crore to reduce debt; acquires 23.5% stake in Mumbai airport

Also read: Unlike what the industry thinks, we are not against anyone, says TRAI chairman

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Oriflame to focus on wellness, position as healthy lifestyle brand: CEO Magnus Brannstrom - Business Today

(Photo : pixabay)

Currently, there are 158 million obese children around the world. With a calculated risk score for obesity in the next 10 years for 191 countries, it is estimated that more than 250 million more children and adolescents will be classed as obese by 2030, putting a lot of pressure on healthcare systems. This report was published by the World Obesity Federation's firstAtlas of Childhood Obesity.

Decrease in health

The report stated that children in developing countries like Asia, Africa, and Latin America were at risk because of the fast-changing lifestyles and the growing popularity and the aggressive marketing of fast food and junk food.

Dr. Tim Lobstein, the director of policy at the WOF and one of the authors of the report, said that there is a transition away from the traditional diets and ways of doing things. With the rise of technology, people are moving less and expending less energy. People are now becoming more sedentary and are adopting a Western-style diet that includes foods rich in oil sugar, starch, and fat.

The report also said that no county would meet the target that was agreed to at the World Health Organization summit in 2013, which mandated that childhood obesity should not be higher in 2025 than they were between 2010 and 2012.

Dr. Lobstein also said that he was surprised by the massive increase in the number of obese children forecast by the report. Childhood obesity is linked to obesity in adulthood, so this increase in obesity by 2030 will put a huge burden on the health systems that are given the link in chronic diseases.

Obesity in children

InAmericaalone, about 26.3% of five to nine-year-old children and 24.2% of 10 to 19-year-old teens would be obese in the next decade, giving that America has a 17% chance of meeting the WHO 2025 target because of the kinds of food that are available in the country.Fast foodsare more accessible than healthy foods, and they are cheaper too.

By 2030, America is expected to have 17 million obese children in the next 10 years, and this will be the largest number right after China and India. Lobstein said that aside from less active lifestyles, developing countries are reliant on food imports, which are usually highly processed and heavy on fat and sugar.

Lobstein also expressed his concern about the mindset of the younger generation, as he thought they would take an activist stance towards obesity and promote healthy lifestyles. Dr. Lobstein also added that there should not be a stigma against the individual who is considered obese because it is a social problem and not a private problem.

The World Health Organization iscampaigning towards healthy living, and they are encouraging everyone, especially children, to eat more fruits and vegetables, exercise at least 30 minutes a day, cut down your consumption of fatty and sugary foods, and get enough sleep.

Dr. Lobstein also encourages people to walk more, get involved in physical activities, and be watchful of their diet. Obesity is linked to a lot of health problems. As much as possible, start living a healthy lifestyle.

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A New Report Warns The Public of 250 Million Obese Kids By 2030 - Science Times

BarbaraGloudon

Friday, November 01, 2019

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We have shed so many tears already this year. The latest case to stir emotions is the terrifying incident which occurred on Monday afternoon at Clan Carthy Primary School in Kingston, when an unattended garbage truck got out of control injured an adult and crushed a seven-year old student to death.

The news reports in the past few days have shown the grieving parents, family and classmates of little Benjamin Bair. The Ministry of Education has deployed its grief counselling team to the school to offer whatever support is necessary to all who have been affected. Government officials have also announced the intention to revise policies to institute a higher level of safety for our children at school in particular when it comes to access by large vehicles which pose an even greater threat to children, many of whom are not even the height of the truck tyre.

I spoke with a friend who is a guidance counsellor at a nearby school and asked how do we help children to deal with grief? When they are so young, do they even understand what has happened? How do we explain and help them to make sense of tragedies such as this? He said the main thing is to allow the children to express themselves, whether by drawing a picture, writing a poem or a letter, and let them tell you how they feel. Give them the chance to talk about the situation when they feel ready to do so. Encourage and comfort them and allow them to take the time needed to work through the situation in their own time.

Everybody deals with grief in different ways. The five stages of grief were defined by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. For some of us, it is a long journey through those stages, and it can take years to truly accept a loss. Another friend said the worst thing for her was to have people tell her that it was time to move on from a loss. For them, they were ready, but I know how I feel.

For my counsellor friend, he says as difficult as it is to see the children crying and saddened by events, it is even harder for him when he comes across youngsters who have been through so much that they are unphased by violence and tragedy. He has taught children who casually relate tales of which family member has been killed or seriously injured in the same way they would tell him what they had for lunch. He wonders how they will fare out later in life. How will we, as a wider society, deal with the hurts and scars of past trauma?

Losing limbs

The other news that caught my attention this week was loss of a different kind. In an article by Desmond Allen in this paper's Monday edition, Dr Dalip Ragoobirsingh, director of The UWI Diabetes Education Programme, suggested that anecdotal evidence says there is one amputation per 1,500 diabetic patients in Jamaica and that the Caribbean is the amputation capital of the world.

We take the effects of diabetes far too lightly. We mix the sweet drinks and we eat the starchy foods that put us at risk and think that all is well. We literally want to have our cake and eat it too and not put on the weight. Professor Errol Morrison and the Diabetes Association of Jamaica have done a vast amount of work in highlighting the risks of this disease, but sugar continues to pose challenges for our people and our health system. I recommend to those with diabetes to get a copy of Monday Jamaica Observer and make note of the foot care tips that were published there. Knowledge is power. Take the power into your hands and save your feet too.

There has been a push for Jamaicans to embrace a healthy lifestyle as our levels of obesity grow like the numbers on the scale. Some people are getting the message, and it is good to see Jamaicans getting their exercise. If you wake early in the morning, all across the island, you will find people on the roads walking, jogging, and running to give themselves a chance for a healthier life.

An unfortunate situation is that exercise seekers are now having to focus on avoiding the two-footed tief dem who have been plaguing them. Still, they know that getting out there is a worthwhile endeavour and we congratulate them and encourage others to join them.

Next on the agenda is to take control of what goes on your fork. It can be rough to eat healthy when vegetables and fruits are so expensive. I must admit that I have had to shut mi eye and pass the lettuce and tomato when I hear the prices, but there are other choices that fit the pocket book. In any case, doctor bill is more expensive in the long run. Mek wi try save the limbs and lose the pounds instead.

Barbara Gloudon is a journalist, playwright and commentator. Send comments to the Observer or gloudonb@gmail.com

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Loss and living - Jamaica Observer