Obesity rates have started to decline and level off for many adolescents, but continue to increase for certain racial and ethnic minorities, according to a new UCSF-led study. The evidence of increasing racial disparities for obesity underscores the need for more tailored intervention programs and policies that target high-risk groups, the authors conclude.

Many people who experience stress literally feel it in the gut. A part of the nervous system known informally as the “brain-gut axis” is the reason, explains the August 2010 issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter. The brain interacts with the rest of the body through the nervous system, which has several major components. One of them is the enteric nervous system, which helps regulate digestion. In life-or-death situations, the brain triggers the “fight or flight” response.

Study reported by nursing education research journal developed curriculum and training for assessing best mental health practices for handling trauma victims, particularly children. The study was designed to develop and implement an innovative modular curriculum and training regimen for 10 disciplinary research teams located in differing locales, both urban and rural, across the United States.

Summer thunderstorms are great theater-sky-spanning fireworks followed by crackling, crashing booms. But thunderstorms are also linked to some negative effects on health, from breathing disturbances to heart problems, reports the August 2010 issue of the Harvard Health Letter.

According to recent findings of The Commonwealth Fund, well over 60 percent of baby boomers have been diagnosed with at least one chronic health condition. This means that approximately 20 million Americans ages 50 to 64 are living with conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Baby boomers are defined as people born between 1946 and 1964. During these years, the U.S. experienced a high rise in birthrates that had never been seen before, or since then. Today, baby boomers make up approximately 28 percent of the total U.S. population.

Studies show that physical therapy is more cost efficient and has long lasting effects for limiting or getting rid of back pain. The Austin-based spine experts at Texas Physical Therapy Specialists (TexPTS) can help decrease pain, reduce the need for prescription drugs, and prevent costly and painful surgery. The therapists at TexPTS are experts in the non-surgical treatment of bone and joint conditions. They can help patients recover using hands-on physical therapy and supervised, targeted exercise.

Obesity in America has risen to all-time highs and the American public is looking for a real solution. Leading authority on leptin and obesity, Byron J. Richards, has taken a strong stand on the epidemic in his recent article: Obesity Trend out of Control. His article states the causes and fixes to this epidemic.

Announcing a new Web site that provides powerful resources to help anyone seeking improved health and wellness. Learn how to improve the look and strength of your abdominal muscles and improve overall health. Get rid of abdominal fat and enhance your physical appearance with information provided on this new Web site.

Fruits and vegetables have been touted for two decades as potent cancer-fighting foods. Although new research has tarnished this image, they still pack a punch against high blood pressure, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, reports the June issue of the Harvard Health Letter.

Three antidepressants commonly used to treat the anxiety and depression that accompany a diagnosis of breast cancer negate the protective effect of tamoxifen, a drug widely used to fight breast cancer, reports the June issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter.