A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, May 7:
Cavities on the Rise for Preschoolers
Roughly 28 percent of children ages 2 to 5 developed cavities in their
baby teeth from 1998 to 2004, an increase of 4 percent from the prior
five years, according to a study by the National Center for Health Statistics.
Dentists say that the number of cavities is probably related to an increase
in sugary foods and juices, as well as waiting too long to visit a dentist
for the first time. (Houston Chronicle, 4/30/08, by Stobbe)
Video
Game Revolutionizes P.E.
Many physical education programs across the country have decided
to use a popular video game that requires fast-paced dancing, to encourage
fitness. A study has found that the game, called Dance Dance Revolution,
can have significant health benefits for overweight children, including
improved blood pressure, overall fitness, and oxygen use. (NY Times, 4/30/07,
by Schiesel)
Anti-Obesity
Campaign with Shrek Concerns Some
Children's advocates from a media awareness group have protested
the use of Shrek, a popular animated character, in an anti-obesity campaign
sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services. The protesters
say that the Shrek films have too many advertising tie-ins with unhealthy
snack foods for him to serve as a good role model. (Daily Mail, 4/27/07)
States Try to Include More in Insurance Program
Several states, including California , are working to increase income
eligibility limits for the federally funded State Children's Health Insurance
Program (SCHIP). The expansions would offer coverage to families
with incomes above the current threshold of 200 percent of the federal
poverty level. Many states' plans are contingent upon an increase in federal
funding for SCHIP, which the Bush administration says should be reserved
for only the lowest income families. (AP, 4/30/07, by Freking)
JAMA Editor: Don't Mandate Cancer Vaccine
In this opinion piece, co-author Catherine DeAngelis, the editor
of the Journal of the American Medical Association, speaks against mandating
the vaccine for HPV, a virus that can cause cervical cancer. While she
said that the vaccine is beneficial from a public health standpoint, DeAngelis
expressed concern that the rush to mandate the drug raises ethical issues
and could be counterproductive. (WSJ, 5/1/07, by Goldstein)
Nutritionally Fortified Junk Food
Many schools have found a happy medium between student appetites
and federal nutrition guidelines by serving “faux junk food” – typically
unhealthful foods that have been made with nutritious ingredients or fortified
with vitamins. Schools officials say these attempts help ensure that students
will eat healthfully, but some nutritionists worry that the schools are
helping kids form a junk food habit that will inform eating habits for
life. (AP, 5/1/07, by Mohajer)
Is a Wheezing Child Asthmatic?
This article from a New York Times special section on common health problems
discusses the difficulty of diagnosing childhood asthma. There is no standard
test for the condition, which can force pediatricians to rely on questions
about family histories, exposure to allergens, and a history of coughing.
(NY Times, 5/1/07, by Villarosa)
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