GO HEALTHY FOR GOOD

GO HEALTHY

for good

WITH DR NERIDA MCKIBBEN

WEIGHT OF THE WORLD

A recent study in Taranaki, New Zealand, assessed children and adolescents enrolled in a communitybased obesity program to measure healthrelated quality of life (HRQOL) and psychological wellbeing. The program was targeted at Maori families and those from the most disadvantaged households. Researchers found kids with obesity had a low HRQOL and a rate of emotional and/ or behavioural difficulties six times higher than children without obesity in a comparable population.—BMJ Open

DIABETES DECREASE

A drop in the number of young children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) could be related to the introduction of the rotavirus (RV) vaccination for Australian infants, according to a new study. Twenty years earlier, the same research team found a link between auto-immune T1D and RV infection. So when the oral RV vaccine was introduced in 2007 for infants at age 2 and 4 months, the researchers wondered if it might also reduce the risk of T1D. Their initial findings show a drop in the incidence of T1D for the first time since the 1980s.—JAMA

GAME ON!

Why would a professional sports club open its doors to unfit, middle-aged men? A pilot study of the Rugby Fans in TrainingNew Zealand (RUFIT-NZ) program was delivered by professional rugby clubs, inspired by a similar program in Scotland. Compared to controls, men who were randomised to the 12-week healthy lifestyle program showed improvements in body weight, heart rate, blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness and lifestyle behaviours. A full trial is now being planned. —BMC Public Health

NEED TO KNOW

In recent years, consumers have wanted to know what is in their food and food manufacturers are required to list ingredients on packaging. In addition, a country-specific food composition database is useful for nutritional research and for clinical practice. The New Zealand Food Composition Database (NZFCDB) is available online (foodcomposition.co.nz) and lists more than 2500 food items commonly consumed in NZ. It also has information on where to find specific nutrients in the NZ diet.—Food Chem

BRAIN BOOST

Higher intakes of veggies, fruit and fruit juice are associated with better brain function in later life. For 25 years, a Harvard study tracked 28,000 men with an average age of 51, assessing dietary intake at regular intervals and later enquiring about cognitive function. Those eating the most fruit and vegetables over the previous two decades, or drinking one serving of orange juice daily, were less likely to report poor cognitive function in later life.—neurology.org

Dr Nerida McKibben, a New Zealand ob/gyn surgeon and health communicator, passionately enables people to achieve their greatest health potential. Wanting everyone to live life to the fullest, she integrates wholistic principles into medical treatments. For more, go to www.hop.ec/gohealthyforgood