And We Are Surprised Why?

Overweight Children Have Eating Patterns Different from Those of Normal Weight Children, Norwegian Study Finds

ScienceDaily (Nov. 9, 2010) — Overweight children reported more frequent intake of healthy foods such as fruit, vegetables, fish, brown bread and potatoes as well as low-energy cheese and yoghurt compared with normal weight children. This comes from a recent study from researchers at Telemark University College and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

The study showed that:
•Overweight children drank juice and artificially sweetened soft drinks more often, while the normal weight children drank carbonated drinks and ate unhealthy foods and processed foods such as burgers, sausages, biscuits, processed pizza and sweets.
•The results suggest that both parents and children have increased awareness of food choices when children are overweight.
•The study also showed that overweight children were less physically active and were more likely to have obese parents than normal weight children.
"It is positive that parents and children emphasise healthy food choices. However, it is important to note that the amount of healthy foods must be adapted to a child's activity level to limit further weight gain," said researcher Anne Lise Brantsæter at the NIPH.
"Obesity is a growing problem that can have unfortunate consequences for the children both physically and mentally. There are many contributing factors to obesity and it is important that both parents and children are given good guidance and support early on," added Brantsæter.

How was the study conducted?
The study of eating habits and obesity included 924 fourth graders (9-10 year olds) in the county of Telemark. Nearly half of all fourth graders in the county of Telemark participated when the survey was conducted in 2007. This study has been followed up with new measurements and questions in 2010, and the results from the latest study are now being analysed.
Children's eating habits were assessed by asking how often the child had eaten a variety of foods, both for meals and snacks. The researchers used this to identify eating patterns that reflect which foods are often eaten together. This way of studying diet provides a more comprehensive picture than investigating the intake of individual foods separately.
Public health nurses at the schools weighed and measured the children, while their parents answered questions about their own weight, education and occupation in addition to their children's eating habits and activity level.

The analysis takes into account other factors relevant to children's eating patterns and weight, i.e., parents' educational level, income and employment, and if the parents themselves were overweight.

Gross-McNuggets

This has to be the grossest thing I've ever seen. I knew they (meaning the processing companies who see McNuggets) were doing this BUT to see a picture of it makes me want to hurl. Visit the link posted below to see the picture.

"Say hello to mechanically separated chicken. It’s what all fast-food chicken is made from—things like chicken nuggets and patties. Also, the processed frozen chicken in the stores is made from it.
Basically, the entire chicken is smashed and pressed through a sieve—bones, eyes, guts, and all. it comes out looking like this.
There’s more: because it’s crawling with bacteria, it will be washed with ammonia, soaked in it, actually. Then, because it tastes gross, it will be reflavored artificially. Then, because it is weirdly pink, it will be dyed with artificial color.
But, hey, at least it tastes good, right?
High five, America!"


http://early-onset-of-night.tumblr.com/post/1206666159/say-hello-to-mechanically-separated-chicken-its

Monsanto sues Oakhurst Dairy over advertising

Submitted by Drew Kaplan on June 18, 2010
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Oakhurst Dairy Inc. is being sued by Monsanto Co., which alleges that Oakhurst’s marketing campaign that touts its milk as being free of artificial growth hormones is misleading. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Boston, demands that Oakhurst stop advertising that it doesn’t sell milk from hormone-treated cows. It also asks that the dairy stop putting labels on its milk containers reading “Our Farmers’ Pledge: No Artificial Growth Hormones.” Monsanto officials said Oakhurst’s ads and labels are deceptive and disparage Monsanto’s products with the inference that milk from untreated cows is better than milk from hormone-treated cows.
“We believe Oakhurst labels deceive consumers; they’re marketing a perception that one milk product is safer or of higher quality than other milk,” said Jennifer Garrett, director of technical services for Monsanto’s dairy business. “Numerous scientific and regulatory reviews throughout the world demonstrate that that’s unfounded. The milk is the same, and the amount of protein, fats, nutrients, etc. are all the same.”
Oakhurst President Stanley Bennett II said his dairy sells milk without artificial growth hormones because of consumer demands. Oakhurst about five years ago began buying milk only from farms that pledge in writing that they won’t use artificial hormones.
“On principle, it’s also a question of free speech,” Bennett said. “The world seems a little bit discombobulated when somebody attempts to prohibit you from trying to do the right thing.”
Artificial growth hormone is a genetically engineered veterinary drug given to cows to increase milk production. Another name for the drug is recombinant bovine somatotropin, or rBST.
Many people oppose the use of rBST, believing it is linked to breast cancer and premature puberty in children. But Monsanto and others argue that no such link exists. Canada and the European Union have banned the use of the hormone, but the Food and Drug Administration has approved it for use in the United States.
Monsanto, which is based in St. Louis and is the leading producer of rBST, had revenues of $4.7 billion in 2002. Oakhurst, based in Portland, had sales of $185 million, according to Bennett.
Monsanto spokesman Lee Quarles said Monsanto has not filed similar lawsuits against other dairies, but wouldn’t say whether more were planned. Monsanto filed similar suits against two dairies in Illinois about 10 years ago, and both were settled out of court under confidential terms, he said.
The suit against Oakhurst claims unfair competition, unfair business practices and interference with advantageous business relationships.
According to the suit, the business relationships between Monsanto and dairy producers who use the artificial growth hormone have suffered because the farmers will stop using the treatments.
Bennett said his company makes no claims on the science involved with growth hormones. “We’re in the business of marketing milk, not Monsanto’s drugs,” he said.
Earlier this year, Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe rejected a request from Monsanto that Maine abandon its Quality Trademark Seal program that indicates when milk is free of artificial growth hormones.
Monsanto argued that the seal, which was adopted in 1994, misleads consumers into thinking that hormone-free milk is superior to milk using an artificial growth hormone.

http://www.foxbghsuit.com/oakhurstdairy.htm

Cartoon time!

I laughed when I saw this because it's true . . . much of the appeal of junk food IS in it's packaging. I've fallen for it many times!

I worked at a Chair Massage event at PUMA in Westford, MA this morning and because it was a health fair they were passing out has these new snacks called 'CAT SNAX 2' that has a mix of healthy hoops (like cheerios SHOULD be), apple, Goji berry, Goldenraisin and almonds. My take is that is should be less hoops & more fruit but they are very filling in small doses. Hiking/biking food! Perhaps emergency snack food for when you're stuck in the car on a long drive.

Elimination Diet

I'm now at the 23rd week of lessons at IIN and I'm feeling the pressure to discover what is my 'weight' hang-up. Is it allergies? Is it blood type diet? Do I need to eat Vegan? So, I decided that after I get back from a long weekend in Maine I'm going to go on an elimination diet. Basically I will stop eating for a seven day period eggs, wheat, citrus (I have real doubts that my body has issue with citrus) sugar (real and fake sweeteners) and dairy.
For all intents and purposes I'll be eating beans, salads and fruit. After the seven days I will introduce each one of those eliminated foods back into my diet. We'll see how it goes . . . if I AM allergic to anything it will have a profound effect on my physiology after the seven days has passed and should be obvious. Basically I will get ill, fatigued or get headaches or body aches.
Fun, FUN!

'Real' Price of a Bargain Meal

For only 67 extra cents, you can get an overflowing amount of fries, a huge soda pop, and a super-duper burger. (I can say I've eaten fries to excess myself!) But this is no bargain! The effect that it has on your weight and lifestyle is buying more calories that your body can use. It may run you more than 7 bucks in the end. Researchers say that’s what each supersize meal costs, assuming the extra calories turn to fat, which in turn increases the amount of money you spend on food, gas, and medical care to sustain an ever-heavier body.