Issue Date: October 3, 2004
Watch a kid's health, not just weight
The explosion in obesity rates has made us all keenly aware of the need to make changes in our collective behavior. We eat too much, exercise too little. This trend is not limited to adults; it has hit our kids hard as well. Obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in adolescents since 1980, with no end in sight.
Kathy Kater, author of "Real Kids Come in All Sizes," says that especially when it comes to kids we must make sure the message is about healthful living, not just weight. She warns that in our zeal to stem the obesity epidemic we shouldn't damage youngsters by reinforcing a negative body image. "These problems have become so common that it's currently abnormal if an adolescent girl feels good about her body," Kater writes. "Boys are increasingly affected as well. It's extremely difficult to change negative body esteem and eating behaviors once they are established, and the cost in health, self-confidence, quality of life and dollars is just too great."
Her book describes an approach to kids' health needs that doesn't inadvertently destroy their self-esteem. About the role the media play, Kater says: "The media are seen by children everywhere, and these images are tied into hints that looking a certain way [read: skinny/athletic] can get you what you want." She wants to change the focus from looking good to being healthy. Her approach is practical and realistic, and the book uses anecdotes reflective of situations families face.
At the Cooper Clinic, where I work, we emphasize the benefits of exercise independent of its effect on weight. That makes great sense for everyone.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., is a member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
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Student-break breaks
Are you a college student planning to head home for Thanksgiving or winter break? It pays to book travel early, and that means now. Several programs are standing by to help trim travel costs.
StudentUniverse.com is a one-stop shop for discount travel. Your student status entitles you to savings of 30% to 40% off published fares. The site also promises one-way tickets that are actually half the price of round-trip, ideal if you plan to fly home and drive back. (Sample one-way fares at press time: $68 from San Francisco to San Diego, and $123 from the ultimate college town, Boston, to Detroit.)
Savvy students also can sign up for a monthly newsletter of time-sensitive fares from SmarterLiving.com. And to make each flight count, don't overlook frequent-flier programs such as United Airlines' College Plus. It awards 10,000 bonus miles when you graduate, bringing that post-graduation jaunt to Europe closer within reach.
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The price of airport peace and quiet
| Annual membership fees |
| Continental, Presidents Club
|
$375 |
| American, Admirals Club
|
$400 |
| Northwest, WorldClubs
|
$450 |
| Delta, Crown Room Club
|
$475 |
| United, Red Carpet Club
|
$500
|
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Tired of crowding and chaos at major airports? Think about joining an airline club. For about the price of an airline ticket, you gain entry to a quiet haven before a flight.
What you get varies, but you can count on free beverages, snacks, newspapers, periodicals and local phone calls. Some clubs offer free alcoholic drinks and high-speed Internet access. Need to change reservations or a seat? There's usually an agent who offers personal service. And often you can bring in members of your immediate family or two guests.
Some airlines have reciprocal agreements. So if you're a Northwest member but flying on Delta, you'll have access to Delta's lounge. Delta even sells one-day passes to less-than-frequent fliers for $50.
There's also Priority Pass (www.prioritypass.com), which charges $99 a year. For every visit to the 450 lounges that accept it, you pay an extra $24.
But unless you fly frequently, airport lounges aren't worth the expense. Free drinks aside, it's a steep price to pay for a little peace and quiet.
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Oats, a champion health food
Nutritionists keep adding to oats' good reputation. In new research, Mohsen Meydani of Tufts University found that oats contain compounds, called avenanthramides, that may suppress the ability of blood cells to cling to artery walls, where they incite inflammation, plaque buildup and, eventually, a possible heart attack.
Previous research found that oats are rich in water-soluble fiber thought to reduce bad cholesterol and that oats help stabilize blood sugar.
All of this makes oats a health-food champ, as a cereal, in breads and cookies, as a thickener in stews and as a crispy topping on fruit desserts.
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