The study suggests that obese children and teens from the ages of 10-17 have double the risk of having health problems like significant medical problems, mental health issues and learning disabilities. The researchers found that even overweight children ran risks 1.3 percent times above those of normal weight kids.

Researchers examined data from 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health which covered 43,300 children aged 10-to-17 fifteen percent of whom were considered overweight, and 16 percent were obese. After considering social and economic factors, they found obese children to be almost twice as likely as normal weight kids to suffer from a wide range of ailments and disorders, including physical and learning disabilities, ADHD, emotional and behavioural problems, joint and muscle problems, asthma, headaches, ear infections and allergies. They also had more missed school days and were more likely to repeat a grade.

Dr. Neal Halfon, professor of pediatrics, public health and public policy at UCLA said that they were surprised to see just how many conditions were associated with childhood obesity. ‘The findings should serve as a wake-up call to physicians, parents and teachers, who should be better informed of the risk for other health conditions associated with childhood obesity so that they can target interventions that can result in better health outcomes,’ he said.

Halfon said that the study result doesn’t show whether obesity contributes to these health problems or the other way around, but could likely be a mixture of both. ‘Obesity might be causing the co-morbidity, or perhaps the co-morbidity is causing obesity — or both might be caused by some other unmeasured third factor,’ he said. ‘For example, exposure to toxic stress might change the neuro-regulatory processes that affect impulse control seen in ADHD, as well as leptin sensitivity, which can contribute to weight gain,’ he noted.

The study will be published in the journal Academic Pediatrics.

 The hair is the literally crowning glory of any bride-to-be. The perfect ensemble needs to be finished with a hair to die for.Hair care expert Jas Arora  (of Sam n’ Jas salon in Vers0va) explains how brides-to-be can get awesome looking hair. 

How early before the wedding should one start visiting a salon regularly?

One should start preparing at least 2-3 months prior to the wedding for the best results.

What regimes would you give for to-be brides with a. Dry and frizzy hair b. Limp and lifeless hair c. Very curly and unmanageable hair?

Regular spa treatments should be taken at least twice a month, 2-3 months prior to the wedding. (a minimum of 4 spa sittings taken before the big day would yield good results). More sittings are required if the condition of the hair is very bad. As there are different types of creams available for different types of skin, there are also different types of spa treatments according to the hair condition eg: Treatments for Dry & Frizzy Hair, Limp & Lifeless Hair, Very Curly & Unmanageable Hair etc.

What would you advice a bride to-be with lots of dandruff?

Treatment for dandruff is very essential not only for the wedding day but thereafter too, since the bride is beginning a great new life. This problem has to be taken more seriously. To treat dandruff effectively one needs to understand the type of dandruff one has. There are mainly 2 types of dandruff -

Dry scalp dandruff (with itchy dry flakes) – Our skin & scalp continuously shed dead cells to produce new fresh cells keeping it healthy. This process quickens when the skin & scalp is dry and lacks moisture. and starts shedding the dead cells faster than normal. These dry flakes become dandruff. Applying warm coconut, almond or olive oil to the scalp (and not hair) and massaging very gently in circular movements for 15-20 min would help. To open up the pores, dip a thick towel in hot water, remove the excess water from it and cover your scalp for 5 min. Wash off with a gentle shampoo. Do not keep oil on the scalp for a long time as it attracts dust, pollution and sweat making the scalp dirty.
b. Oily Scalp dandruff – In case of a healthy scalp, the dead cells are shed easily. The oily scalp holds on to these dead cells which get infected resulting in dandruff. The best way to deal with it is keeping the scalp clean by washing it daily with a gentle shampoo. If one is using a medicated or any kind of anti-dandruff shampoo, it should be used only once or twice a week or the hair. Oiling is not recommended for such kind of scalp as it would aggravate the problem.

If the bride to-be wants to try a different hairstyle or colour before the wedding, what would you recommend?

It is recommended that she try a new hairstyle or colour at least 1 month before the wedding so that she can get used to the new style. Personally, I would not recommend a very drastic change in style. The ideal length for the wedding day for a bride would be medium length (3-4 inches below the shoulder) so that it can be styled nicely. Hair longer or shorter than this would be difficult to style.

One can try professional colour and highlights to increase the glamour quotient.

What other care can they take to get good looking hair faster?

Shampooing, conditioning and applying serum are the three must-dos to keep your hair healthy and shiny. Shampooing daily with a gentle shampoo is very necessary (If not daily, at least on alternate days). Shampoo should be used only on the scalp and you should let the lather clean your hair. Conditioning your hair after a shampoo is a must. It should be used only on the hair and not on the scalp. Serum adds that extra protection to your hair and protects it from the pollution and harmful sun-rays. It also gives a shine and makes the hair easy to manage.

It is advisable not to try any new products prior to the wedding. It is better to keep using tried & tested products which you know suit you.

If you travel a lot in the sun and pollution, do cover your hair.

Avoid using blow-dryers as much as possible, as they strip your hair of moisture.

In addition to all this, of course – a proper nutritious diet, adequate sleep, lots of water, regular exercise and a stress-free mind is a must for the bride to-be.

To conclude, if you haven’t been taking care of your hair well, the time before your wedding is the perfect time to start with good hair-care habits. The key is to continue with most of these even after your wedding, for happily ever after hair days!

Stress is often an outcome of shock, grief, disappointment or life-changes. When stress is left untreated, stress responses can become longterm, or chronic. Stress and health are closely linked. And homeopathy helps to rebalance the mind and emotions. It is effective in people of all ages — from children with emotional or behavioural problems to adults bogged down by stress, anxiety, marital discord, or job loss. Ignatia Amara, for example, is useful for stress associated with a sad event, or after shock, apprehension and emotional despondency. Natrum Muriaticum is, likewise, effective in stress, accompanied by intense fear. Piper Methysticum is useful for general or everyday stress.

There are a handful of practical measures that can help one to reduce and manage stress in conjunction with homeopathic treatment. They are: try to do something different, when stressed or anxious; practice relaxation techniques, or listen to soft music, and sing or dance along. Or help others, be with others, speak to or visit friends. Physical exercise — walking, swimming, working-out at the gym, cycling, or taking the stairs instead of the lift — is also useful. Likewise, a hobby can be relaxing and enjoyable. Most important: don’t take stress always. Learn to say no.

In a national survey, conducted by The Society of Homeopaths, UK, and published in the reputed journal, The Homeopath, 87 per cent of patients who complained of stress related mental and emotional problems reported positive changes after homeopathic treatment.

Published in the Times of India on 24 May 2011

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