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Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Shisha 450 times worse than cigarettes

August 30th, 2009

Smoking shisha could be as much as 450 times more harmful than cigarettes, UAE daily the National reported on Sunday, citing a study by Britain’s Centre for Tobacco Control Research.

The study found a half-hour shisha session was the equivalent of smoking four or five cigarettes, the newspaper said.

Shisha smokers had 40 to 70 parts of carbon monoxide per million parts of air (ppm) in their breath, the study showed, while light smokers typically had 10-20 ppm in their breath, the paper said.

Dr Hilary Wareing of the centre said at worst shisha could be 400 to 450 times as bad for an individual as cigarettes.

Maktoob

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Fight Arthritis: 10 Foods That Help and Hurt

June 14th, 2009

Today while browsing I saw a site with information about what is good and bad for arthritis, and thought I shaould share it with you,  Its not talking about the cure, but something which can help you relevice the pain.

Click here to visit the site

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Kuwait slaps ban on Hydroxycut diet pills

May 4th, 2009

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health announced Sunday withdrawal of all fat loss supplements that include Hydroxycut ingredient from pharmacies and stores nationwide. “The decision to withdraw, confiscate, and halt registration of, the Hydroxycut products comes in response to the warning of the US Food and Drug Administration against the hazards of this substance,” Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry for Drugs and Medial Equipment Affairs Dr Omar Al-Sayed Omar said. Hydroxycut is known as one of the most popular fat loss supplements used by professional and amateur gym goers. It is thought to be helpful in burning fat very fast.

However, Dr Omar warned users of drugs containing this substance against the health hazards involved. “The US Food and Drug Administration has received 23 reports liking Hydroxicut to liver and bile problems,” he told KUNA. It announced that one of the Hydroxicut users has died of liver failure resulting from the substance, Dr Omar pointed out, adding that the substance could also lead to more serious heart, kidney and nervous system complications. Meanwhile, the The maker of the widely sold Hydroxycut weight-loss supplements is recalling 14 products after reports of liver damage and one death, US health officials said on Friday. The Food and Drug Administration urged consumers to immediately stop using the recalled products, which are made by Iovate Health Sciences Inc and marketed for weight loss, boosting energy and other uses.

“The FDA urges consumers to discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risk. Adverse events are rare, but exist,” said Dr Linda Katz, interim chief medical officer in the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. The company agreed to voluntarily pull the 14 products even though the FDA has not seen reports of serious harm with all of them, Katz said. Agency officials are investigating which doses and ingredients may be harmful, she said. The recalled products contain a variety of ingredients including herbal extracts. They are sold as dietary supplements, which do not require the evidence of safety and effectiveness needed for medicines before they can be sold.

::Arabtimes::

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Some baby foods worse than junk food: survey

May 4th, 2009

Some baby foods contain as much sugar and saturated fats as chocolate biscuits or cheeseburgers, a British food pressure group said on Monday.

Publishing results of a survey of more than 100 foods for babies and toddlers, the Children’s Food Campaign said Farley’s rusks were 29 percent sugar and some Cow & Gate toddler biscuits contained trans fats, which have been linked to heart disease.

“The results of this survey are staggering,” said Christine Haigh, spokeswoman for the CFC.

“Many foods marketed for babies and young children are advertised as healthy. In reality, in terms of sugar and saturated fat content, some are worse than junk food.”

The CFC survey found that 100g of Farley’s Original Rusks, made by Heinz, contained 29g of sugar, more than that contained in the same weight of some chocolate digestive biscuits.

Heinz Toddler’s Own Mini Cheese Biscuits contained 7.3g of saturated fat per 100g, more than the 6.7g in an equal weight piece of a McDonald’s quarter pounder burger with cheese.

Cow & Gate, which makes a range of baby and toddler formula milks and foods, responded to the survey by halting production of its baby biscuits.

“In discussion with the Food Standards Agency we have already taken the decision to discontinue our baby biscuits, when we became aware of the presence of hydrogenated fat, which contains a very small amount of trans fats,” a spokeswoman said.

Heinz defended its Farley’s rusks as an “ideal weaning food for babies from around four months.”

“Farley’s Rusks have been enjoyed by generations of babies, and some adults too, for 120 years,” it said in a statement. “Enriched with vitamins and minerals, the unique Farley’s Rusk recipe has remained virtually unchanged.”

The CFC, part of food and farming campaign group Sustain, said it examined the nutritional content of 107 baby and toddler foods available in UK supermarkets in March.

It found only half the products were low in saturated fat, salt and sugar, as defined in Britain’s Food Standards Agency guidance.

Reported here

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UAE Resolves to Watch its Weight

April 21st, 2009

DUBAI – The Ministry of Health and UNICEF, as part of a national campaign to fight obesity among children in the UAE, will push for policies to regulate advertisement campaigns of the fast food industry and its labelling system.

According to the World Health Organisation, the UAE is among the most obese nations in the world, owing largely to sedentary lifestyles and over indulgence in junk food. The problem is alarming among children.

“We aim to identify all stakeholders and send them the message that each of them has a responsibility in working together … by involving communities, families, schools, the food industry and the media,” UNICEF’s Ayman Abu Laban said on Monday.

Speaking to Khaleej Times at the launch of the Fat Truth campaign, Dr. Abu Laban said, “We will be holding workshops and discussions addressing the food industry. Nobody should take advantage of the fact that children like chocolates and fast food items.”

The Gulf Area representative of UNICEF added, “Hopefully, there will be regulation on the ads targeting children and the nutritional information to be printed on labels and menus.”

The Minister of Health, Humaid Mohammed Obeid Al Qutami, said in response that the ministry would hold discussions with municipalities and representatives of the food industry on the consumption of fatty food. “First, we will have a phase of awareness.”

The CEO for Health Legislations and Policies at MoH, Dr. Mahmoud Fikri, said the ministries of health and education had formed a committee to monitor school canteens and follow up on overweight students and those at risk.

In the next three months, the campaign will organise various programmes in schools in cooperation with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority and Dubai Sports Council. From October, the campaign will focus on other emirates as well. Educational leaflets will be distributed in malls and clinics. A website (www.thefattruth.org), and media campaigns will be launched to increase awareness.

The UAE now ranks 10th in the list of overweight countries — not including South Pacific Island nations. According to WHO’s Global School Health Survey in 2005, 12.1 percent of UAE children are obese and over 20 percent are at risk.

Launched under the patronage of Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the national campaign seeks to involve all stakeholders in the health of children.

Khaleej times

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Indian doctors launch school health program

April 18th, 2009

Childhood obesity is an issue prompting increasing concern worldwide as it not only affects the emotional and psychological state of children, but has a long-term effect on people throughout their lives, Indian Ambassador Ajai Malhotra said.

The ambassador was addressing a ‘School Health Program 2009′ on ‘Childhood Obesity’, organized by the Indian Doctors Forum (IDF) at the Indian Community School for Girls in Salmiya on Thursday evening.

The IDF, in association with the Kuwait Medical Association, conducts school health programs once every two years in order to generate health awareness among students, teachers and parents in the Indian community. During the program, a team of doctors visits each and every Indian school in Kuwait on a monthly basis, offering lectures and workshops on various health-related subjects. This year, childhood obesity is the topic for the health program.

The growing number of child obesity cases today has raised the level of urgency regarding the issue and made tackling it even more critically important. It has also increased pressure on children, schools, teachers and parents to cope up with the incidence of the problem in children, the ambassador said.

For a child, the risk of becoming obese is determined by both genetic and environmental factors. But today’s sedentary lifestyle and over dependence on fast-food (junk food) heighten the risk of obesity,” the ambassador pointed out.
The ambassador congratulated the IDF for its commendable initiative in launching a discussion on childhood obesity since it is an issue that snowballs once it gains a foothold the society.

Mohammad A. Al-Dahes, the general director of the Ministry of Education’s Department of Private Education, inaugurated the program by lighting the traditional lamp. In his address as the guest of honor, he lauded the IDF’s community welfare activities, including free medical camps and medical seminars for the public held in coordination with Kuwait Medical Association.

The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “The IDF through its school health program, help in developing the overall personality of the child. Such an activity helps in educating and creating awareness among the students on health-related issues.

On the subject of childhood obesity, he said it is “a hot topic demanding the attention of all students, parents, teachers and the authorities. Obesity results in a poor quality of life and all efforts should be exerted to fight it. My department will extend every support and cooperation in this campaign,” Al-Dahes assured.

We at the Private Education Department have supported the IDF’s school health program in the past and, Inshallah, we will continue to support such noble causes,” he said.

Ambassador Malhotra also distributed a booklet entitled ‘Childhood Obesity,’ giving the first copy to ICSK Principal (Senior Girls) Julie George. IDF President Dr. Riaz Khan presided over the launch and presented a memento to the ambassador. Dr. Abhay Patwari, IDF vice president, delivered the welcome address and Dr. K V Johnny, the chairman of ICSK’s board of trustees, delivered a speech of congratulations on the event. Dr N Nampoory, the founder president of IDF, presented a memento to Al-Dahes and Dr
R Mishra, convener of the program proposed a vote of thanks.

Later, Dr. P.S.N. Menon, the head of the Armed Forces Hospital’s Paediatrics Department, delivered a PowerPoint presentation on childhood obesity.
A large number of doctors, teachers, students and parents attended the launch. Earlier, the principal, teachers and students of the ICSK accorded a traditional musical welcome, both Kuwaiti and Indian, to the dignitaries with the accompaniment of a live band.

Reported on Kuwait Times

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