Children's Health: Do mothers react to more info about chemical risks? ♦ Pain often overlooked in premature infants ♦ Hope against disease targeting children

Kids with asthma that are exposed to secondhand smoke have twice as many hospitalizations The risk for hospitalization doubles for kids with asthma who are exposed to secondhand smoke, according to a study. The study strengthens the association that previous studies have shown which links secondhand smoke exposure with increased asthma prevalence, poorer asthma control and increased symptoms.

Pain often overlooked in premature infants Premature infants receiving intensive care are exposed to a great deal of pain, and this pain causes damage to the child. Despite this half of the infants admitted to neonatal intensive units will not receive any pain relief.

Hope against disease targeting children A research team has uncovered molecular changes that explain, at least in part, why motor neurons rather than others are affected by the illness. Unlike ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, which tend to manifest later in life, SMA strikes infants. Unlike ALS, SMA is a genetic disorder that causes a range of outcomes, with the milder form leaving some children confined to wheelchairs, and the more severe form causing paralysis and death before the second birthday

Weight loss surgery offers new hope to children, adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome Obesity is a leading cause of complications and death in children suffering from Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), yet there are few effective treatment options for these patients. In a new study, researchers found that bariatric surgery, specifically laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), resulted in substantial weight loss with no apparent adverse effect on growth in a small group of severely overweight patients with PWS. PWS is a rare genetic condition that causes a wide range of problems including a constant desire to consume food, which is driven by a permanent feeling of hunger.

Do mothers react to more info about chemical risks? Mothers who are pregnant or have young children would be expected to be more concerned about protecting their offspring from environmental risks that are reported most in the news, but a new study raises doubts about that conventional wisdom.

Weight Loss Research: ♦ Eating fruits and non-starchy vegetables is linked to less weight gain ♦ A high fat diet leads to overeating because of faulty brain signaling

Diet beverage drinkers compensate by eating unhealthy food A new study that examined the dietary habits of more than 22,000 US adults found that diet-beverage consumers may compensate for the absence of calories in their drinks by binging on extra food that is loaded with sugar, sodium, fat and cholesterol.

Nutritional deficiencies common before weight loss surgery Malnutrition is a known complication of weight loss surgery, but findings from a small study show many obese people may be malnourished before they undergo the procedure.

A high fat diet leads to overeating because of faulty brain signaling

Defective signaling in the brain can cause overeating of high fat foods in mice, leading to obesity, according to a new article. The body controls food intake by balancing a need for food to survive with a desire for food for pleasure. By shifting the balance between these systems, defective brain signaling can cause pleasure to take over, resulting in overeating and obesity.

Eating more fruits and non-starchy vegetables is associated with less weight gain

Increased consumption of fruits and non-starchy vegetables is inversely associated with weight change. The  study shows differences by type of fruit or vegetable, suggesting that characteristics of these foods influence the strength of their association with weight change.

Weight Loss Research: Weight loss surgery puts spark back into relationships ♦ Low-cost weight loss program has long-term result ♦ Earning a college degree before getting married protects against obesity

Road traffic noise linked to heightened risk of midriff bulge Road traffic noise is linked to a heightened risk of developing a midriff bulge, indicates new research.

Earning a college degree before, but not after, getting married protects against obesity People who earn a college degree before getting married are much less likely to become obese than those who graduate from college after getting married.

Trial creates six percent weight loss after breast cancer treatment Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer. A new study shows that female breast cancer survivors are able to lose weight through modest lifestyle changes.

Weight loss surgery puts spark back into relationships Bariatric surgery does not only benefit the health of patients who undergo this weight loss procedure. It also leads to greater intimacy between them and their life partners, and adds a spark to their sex life. It's all in all a shared journey that brings partners closer together.

Low-cost weight loss program has long-term results Clinically significant weight loss is defined as losing 5 percent or more of one's body weight, because weight-related medical conditions, such as diabetes, can improve with that level of weight loss. As America's obesity epidemic continues to grow, a new study shows that a low-cost, non-profit weight loss program offers the kind of long-term results that often elude dieters