Disease Proof

• We’ve all seen these frat guys or good ole boys chugging insane amounts of beer and liquor and later vomiting their brains out. And now, a new study in Center for Disease Control Journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report reveals among all adults, young white males are the highest binge drinkers. Data shows binge drinking in whites is 17.5% and 24.3% of white men. When broken down by age group, 27.4% for men 18 to 24 years old and 24.4% for ages 25 to 34; via Health and Men.

• Not much of a shocker, but recent findings in the journal Clinical Cardiology show physical activity is not a significant part of a morbidly obese person’s day. Those with a higher body mass index (BMI) could be sedentary for over 99% of their day, only exerting themselves for a brief time. Participants of the study were inactive for an average of 23 hours and 52 minutes a day; from Booster Shots.

• This is health news and green news. According to a new study in the International Journal of Epidemiology, thin people are more likely to take a walk if they need to run a quick errand, but the overweight and obese will probably jump in the car for brief trips, burning more fuel and releases more emissions, which is bad for the environment and contributes to global warming; Reuters reports.

• Boxed breakfast cereals are a disaster! That’s why an Australian consumer group called The Parents Jury is slamming cereal manufacturers for loading their products with too much sugar and salt and saying snacks like cereal bars are very low in fiber and are often marketed to young children, claiming these products are excellent foods for growing kids; Bakery and Snacks investigates.

• Onto a better food, presented at this year’s Experimental Biology Conference, blueberries were found to help combat abdominal fat. In the study, rats eating a lot of blueberries lost belly fat. Excess abdominal fat has been closely associated to heart disease and diabetes. The rats also experienced lower cholesterol and better glucose control, even if their diet wasn’t heart-healthy; via WebMD Health News.

• Beware of lead. Research in the journal Environmental Health links high blood levels of lead to increased mortality in older women, especially heart disease risk. Experts followed 533 women, ages 65 to 87, for 12 years. Women with elevated concentrations of lead were 59% more likely to die of any cause and three times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than women with lower levels; Reuters reports.

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