A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, Jan. 28, 2008:
A
Myspace Suicide
This New Yorker article profiles a St. Louis-area preteen girl
who killed herself following the exchange of some hostile messages through
MySpace.com. The article describes why some emotionally troubled kids
turn to social networking websites for solace. (New Yorker, 1/21/08, by
Collins)
Girls Reaching Puberty Sooner
Puberty among girls is starting at an earlier age than ever before, experts say, and is now considered normal beginning at age 8. Experts are unsure what has caused the shift, but say chemicals in the environment, stress and increasing rates of childhood obesity could be factors. Doctors say it is unclear whether earlier puberty will have long-term health effects, but it has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. (LA Times, 1/21/08, by Brink)
High Rates of Suicide Attempts Among Latinas
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
25 percent of Latinas ages 12 to 17 nationwide have thought about suicide
and 15 percent have attempted it, compared to approximately 10 percent
of their white and black peers. This Washington Post article describes
the stressors that affect Latina girls, leading them to contemplate or
carry out suicide. A study by Fordham University's Graduate School of
Social work notes that a Latina's relationship with her mother is the
biggest factor in determining how she copes with stress. (Washington Post,
1/21/08, by Sessions Stepp)
Study: Lack of Food Not a Cause of Childhood Obesity
The high rate of obesity in low-income children is not due
to a lack of food, says a study conducted by researchers at Iowa State
University. Previous studies had theorized that lack of nutritious food
and skipping meals, which lowers metabolism, can cause children to gain
weight. In reviewing a study of more than 1,000 children from low-income
households, researchers found that about 50 percent were overweight, but
only 8 percent were not getting enough to eat. (AP, 1/21/08)
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