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News & Views: Parenting Style Linked to Childhood Obesity
Posted on March 24, 2014 by Stephanie Tammen | Categories: MD Lesson3-1, MD Unit3, Metabolic Disease, News | | Add comment |

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Authoritarian parents are not very affectionate and may have strict rules without explanation. A recent Canadian study has linked this parenting style with a higher risk of obesity in their children. Children of authoritarian parents may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors, including behaviors that can lead to weight gain. These children may be “responding negatively to not being able to question things or discuss things” says one of the study’s authors.

This study is another in an existing set of data that support the idea that the authoritarian parenting study is linked with childhood obesity. Read more about the study here.

News & Views: Does The Western Culture Cause Diabetes?
Posted on February 12, 2014 by Stephanie Tammen | Categories: MD Lesson3-1, MD Unit3, Metabolic Disease, News | | Add comment |

Obesity and type 2 diabetes rates in the U.S. have grown substantially in recent decades, but until recently Eastern cultures have been immune. Unfortunately, many Asian cultures have succumbed to this alarming trend, and now have obesity and diabetes rates that mimic America’s. In China, rates of type 2 diabetes has surpassed rates in the U.S., perhaps due to the movement of Westernized cultureinto China. Many popular U.S. food chains are now present in the Asian superpower, and sedentary desk-jobs are replacing more active laborer positions. Read more about this shift at The New York Times.

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To combat the alarming obesity and diabetes trends, the Chinese central government is taking steps to improve the population’s diet through a new nutrition campaign, including dietary monitoring and intervention, as well as guidelines for food producers. Read about the measures being taken by China here.

News & Views: Is Obesity Simply The Result Of Too Many Calories?
Posted on by Stephanie Tammen | Categories: MD Lesson3-1, MD Unit3, Metabolic Disease | | Add comment |

What causes obesity? Is it that we are all eating too many calories, or does the food that we eat actually change the way fat is stored in the body? Perhaps changes in the modern environment are to blame, such as chemicals like BPA or the widespread use of lightbulbs at night. Chances are that the obesity epidemic has several causes, and there is not just one simple solution. Read more about this here: The Obesity Era.

News & Views: A Spoon Full of Broccoli Is the Medicine
Posted on November 22, 2013 by Katherine Malanson | Categories: MD Lesson3-1, Metabolic Disease, News | | Add comment |

While most doctors’ prescriptions tend to be for drugs, doctors in NYC are starting to write prescriptions for fresh fruits and veggies. The program connects low income patients with local farmer’s markets. The idea being that people fill prescriptions for drugs, why not prescribe healthy food. The program seems to be helping – 38% of participants saw a decreased BMI after participating. Read more at NPR’s coverage: No Bitter Pill: Doctors Prescribe Fruits and Veggies