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February 18, 2009
Winter Weight Gain
It’s been a long winter and if you’re like the average person, you’ve likely noticed that your clothes are fitting a bit tighter. Why is it that we seem to gain weight in colder months?
We asked Jamie Stang, a nutrition expert at the University of Minnesota. She provides advice on what we can do to keep the pounds off.
Listen to Stang on our Public Health Moment podcast
February 12, 2009
Binge Drinking in the Military
Binge drinking is common among active-duty military personnel and is strongly associated with many health and social problems, including problems with job performance and alcohol-impaired driving, according to a new study released by the University of Minnesota and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Our study clearly shows that binge drinking is a significant public health problem in the military, which is dangerous to both the drinker and to those around them,� said Mandy Stahre, M.P.H., a doctoral candidate in alcohol epidemiology and first author of the study. “It also underscores the importance of implementing effective strategies to prevent underage and binge drinking, such as maintaining and enforcing the age 21 minimum legal drinking age and increasing alcohol excise taxes.�
Listen to more from Stahre on Public Health Scene
Go to the article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine
February 9, 2009
Eating on the Run
Young adults who take the time to sit down and share a meal with others rather than eating on the run are more likely to have a healthy diet, according to research led by Nicole Larson, a nutrition expert at the University of Minnesota.
Larson surveyed more than 1,600 men and women with an average age of 20 and a half years old.
Larson recommends that young adults schedule time for meals as they do for other important activities. She adds that there is a message for colleges and businesses, as well.
Listen to Larson on our Public Health Moment podcast
February 3, 2009
TV and Fast Food
Teens who watch TV more than five hours a day are prone to become fast-food junkies as adults, a University of Minnesota study suggests.
The connection? Too much time spent watching ads for fast food restaurants, snacks and other unhealthy food choices, says U of M researcher Daheia Barr-Anderson.
"Parents need to adhere to the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that children watch less than two hours of quality television per day," she said.
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