Research: Belly Fat Not Linked To Visceral Fat

Does Sexting lead to Sex?

Does sexting lead to real-life sexual activity? A new study in the journal Pediatrics finds the answer may be yes when it comes to at-risk middle schoolers.

Researchers asked over 400 seventh-grade students who were involved in a sexual risk prevention trial to take a computer-based survey that included questions like: In the last 6 months, have you texted someone a sexual picture of yourself? and, have you texted someone a sexual message to flirt with them? The researchers then cross-referenced the data with information collected about the students sexual behaviors and sexual intent from kissing and touching to intercourse.

The results?

22% of the pre-teens and teens said they sexted with 17% sending texts only and 5% sending texts and photos. These adolescents were 4 to 7 times more likely to engage in other sexual behaviors. They also perceived more approval for sexual activity from peers, parents and the media and reported less confidence in their emotional capabilities.

The researchers say attention needs to be paid to teens electronic communication as early as middle school since sexting may be a sign of risky sexual behaviors that can lead to serious consequences including pregnancy and disease.

After "The Biggest Loser"

To most of us, "The Biggest Loser" is a TV show. To Kevin Hall, it's also a research project. The scientist at the National Institutes of Health saw the weight loss program as a way to see what happens when really big people diet and exercise a huge amount to lose a lot of weight.

The TV program doesn't tell us what happens after the show ends. So Hall used a computer model to project it. He says the biggest losers wouldn't need a monster regimen to keep the weight under control:

"They would have to have about a 20 percent calorie cut from where they started, with about 20 minutes a day of vigorous exercise."

And he says this is doable for a lot of people - including those not on the show.

The study is in the journal Obesity.

Twenty Seconds to Clean

We all trade germs. And germs lead to illnesses like colds and pneumonia. Washing your hands can help. Children trade even more germs than adults, so it's important that kids wash too, ideally with the help of an adult. Remember these three things when you wash - use soap, scrub all surfaces of your hands, and wash for 20 seconds.

Dr. Anna Bowen is a researcher with CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases.

"Key times include when people are handling food, eating, feeding another person such as a young child, and after toileting or changing a child's diaper - and after handling pets or pet foods."

If you're on the go, hand sanitizers help - but they're not as effective, so use them in addition to washing hands.

Surviving The Holidays

During the holidays, the fun goes on and the limits go off - which can explain why the weight goes up. The rest of the year, we don't usually eat and drink so much, and spend quite so much time partying and shopping, which can eat into time for exercising.

But the director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Dr. Griffin Rodgers, says bringing balance back into your life can help to continue the fun while preventing at least some of the weight. It just takes some planning:

"Don't let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Continue to get plenty of sleep and physical activity. And if you do overindulge in eating too much, don't be too hard on yourself. Get back on track at the next meal."

Simple Checklist Helps Identify Ovarian Cancer

A simple checklist may help women learn if they are at risk of ovarian cancer. Researchers surveyed 1,200 women, ages 40 and older, at a primary care clinic. They asked if they were experiencing certain symptoms on a frequent basis - abdominal pain, pelvic pain, difficultly eating, bloating, or feeling full quickly.

Robyn Andersen is a member of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

"If she is having these symptoms, and they're new to her, that's a great time to take them to the doctor, and to make sure that they are brought up at the visit. If they are not ovarian cancer, they're often other things that can be treated."

The doctor may need to do follow up tests.

The study in the Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

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