Research: Belly Fat Not Linked To Visceral Fat

Younger strokes

Strokes are more common among older people, but researchers are finding that the stroke age is growing younger. At the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Brett Kissela looked at data on first strokes in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area from July 1993 to June 1994, and in 1999 and 2005. Kissela says younger people are driving down the average:

"The average age of stroke declined just a little bit, but there were indeed higher rates of strokes in the youngest age groups, and that means people under age 55."

The study did not examine causes, but Kissela says risk factors for stroke - including diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol - are showing up in the younger people.

The study in the journal Neurology was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

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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