Low self-esteem leads to obesity
Children with self-esteem problems are more likely to be obese as adults, a research team has found.
A study of 6,500 participants in the 1970 British Birth Cohort Study found that 10-year-olds with lower self esteem tended to be fatter as adults.
The affect was particularly true for girls, researchers from King’s College London reported.
One obesity expert said the results highlighted that early intervention was key to tackling obesity.
This is not about people with deep psychological problems, all the anxiety and low self-esteem were within the normal range
Professor David Collier, King’s College London
The children had their weight and height measured by a nurse at the age of 10 and they self-reported when they were 30.
Their emotional states were also noted, the researchers reported in the journal BMC Medicine.
Children with a lower self-esteem, those who felt less in control of their lives, and those who worried often were more likely to gain weight over the next 20 years, the results showed.
Professor David Collier, who led the research, said: “What’s novel about this study is that obesity has been regarded as a medical metabolic disorder – what we’ve found is that emotional problems are a risk factor for obesity.
“This is not about people with deep psychological problems, all the anxiety and low self-esteem were within the normal range.
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Swine flu questions answered
Q: What is the incubation time for swine flu?
A: The incubation period appears to be seven days – it takes a week to develop the illness after first coming into contact with it. The virus is spread directly from person to person through infected air droplets and also indirectly, from touching contaminated objects.
Q: Are there other conditions that swine flu could be mistaken for?
A: Absolutely. This is a problem we are facing by diagnosing patients without examining them. Obviously lots of conditions include a temperature and one or more of the other symptoms, so it would be easy to miss a bacterial tonsillitis, a chest infection in children or even a urine infection.
There are also normal respiratory viruses circulating at the moment, including flu, but not necessarily swine flu, that would have the same symptoms. From my own experience, what seems to be consistent among those who have tested positive, is the rapidly rising fever. Over a few hours patients go from a normal temperature to a fever well over 38C.
Q: Should women really put off conception?
A: There is no evidence to suggest you should put off conception. Some pregnant women who catch H1N1 may develop complications, for example pneumonia, that could put their own or the baby’s life at risk.
The risks appear to be greatest after the first three months of pregnancy. However, the majority of pregnant women who catch the virus will make an uncomplicated recovery.
Q: Should I take Tamiflu on holiday with me?
A: This would not be advised. The stocks are limited to provide enough for those who have symptoms and in a large number of cases the disease is mild enough not to need Tamiflu in an otherwise healthy patient.
Q: Does Tamiflu clash with any other medication?
A: It is not known to clash with any other specific medicines. It should be used cautiously in breastfeeding mothers and those with poor kidney function.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1202111/Your-latest-swine-flu-questions-answered-expert-GP.html#ixzz0MV5OxpJI
Categories: Latest Health News Tags: swine flu, swine flu outbreak
