Should We Continue To Subsidize Sugar In The Food Stamps Program? : The Salt : NPR

However, since taxpayers foot the roughly $70 billion bill for SNAP each year, critics question whether it makes sense to support the purchase of sugary drinks, which have been shown to play a significant role in weight gain and the onset of Type 2 diabetes. “Low-income American adults now consume nearly two [sugar-sweetened beverage] servings a day, and for every one to two daily servings consumed, the lifetime risk of developing diabetes increases by 30 percent,” according to a paper published this year

Source: Should We Continue To Subsidize Sugar In The Food Stamps Program? : The Salt : NPR

Why French kids don’t get fat – and British ones do | The Spectator

The reason for the supersize difference in weight between British and French children is simple: the French are better parents. They are stricter and more mature. They don’t see their children as their friends; they are their offspring, to be educated, disciplined and controlled. The French aren’t afraid to say non.

Source: Why French kids don’t get fat – and British ones do | The Spectator

Fat Thanks to Eskinder K. for the tip!

Rise of obesity and diabetes could exacerbate future flu pandemics

Researchers are yet to fully understand why people with conditions such as diabetes and obesity are more likely to be hospitalised or die from flu but they think these conditions could alter the body’s immune response, reducing the ability to fight the virus.

“There’s been an incredible rate of increase of diabetes and obesity even in my lifetime,” said Dr Short. “This has significant implications on infectious diseases and the spread of infectious disease.”

Source: Rise of obesity and diabetes could exacerbate future flu pandemics

McDonald’s Commits To More Balanced Happy Meals By 2022 : The Salt : NPR

The company says by the end of 2022, at least 50 percent or more of the kids meal options listed on menus will meet new global Happy Meal nutrition criteria: Meals will have 600 calories or less; no more than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat; no more than 650 mg sodium; and no more than 10 percent of calories from added sugar.

Source: McDonald’s Commits To More Balanced Happy Meals By 2022 : The Salt : NPR

A 12 Diet Cokes-a-day habit like Trump’s is worth changing

Another recent study looked at the relationship between drinking diet soda and long-term waist circumference change among people 65 and older. The University of Texas Health Science Center researchers found that drinking diet soda was associated with escalating abdominal obesity, which in turn leads to an increased risk of heart disease.

Source: A 12 Diet Cokes-a-day habit like Trump’s is worth changing – CNN

11-year-old killed after 400-pound step-grandfather pins him down, prosecutors say | Fox News

An Ohio 11-year-old boy was killed after he was pinned down by his step-grandfather, who investigators said weighs up to 400 pounds.Authorities in Brown County said Donald Martin, Jr. 58, was arrested on Friday after the boy’s grandmother called 911 to report he wasn’t breathing.“He came home and threw a fit,” the grandmother of Dylan Davis told the dispatcher, according to Fox 8. “Police came here all the time for him and he threw a fit. My husband was holding him down, he got sick and then he just passed out. I don’t know.”

Source: 11-year-old killed after 400-pound step-grandfather pins him down, prosecutors say | Fox News

Low-fat diet could kill you, major study shows

Low-fat diets could raise the risk of early death by almost one quarter, a major study has found.

The Lancet study of 135,000 adults found those who cut back on fats had far shorter lives than those enjoying plenty of butter, cheese and meats.Researchers said the study was at odds with repeated health advice to cut down on fats.

Those doing so tended to eat far too much stodgy food like bread, pasta and rice, the experts said, while missing out on vital nutrients.

Participants eating the highest levels of carbohydrates – particularly refined sugars found in fizzy drinks and processed meals – faced a 28 per cent higher risk of early death.

Source: Low-fat diet could kill you, major study shows

Michelle Obama criticises Trump administration on school meals

Former first lady Michelle Obama is criticising a Trump administration decision to delay federal rules aimed at making school lunches healthier.

She told an annual health conference in Washington that more nutritious school lunches are important since millions of American children eat federally subsidised school breakfasts and lunches.

Without mentioning President Donald Trump, she said parents should stop and “think about why someone is OK with your kids eating crap.”In one of his first major actions, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said his department would delay an upcoming requirement to reduce the amount of sodium in US school meals.Purdue said he would also keep issuing waivers to a regulation requiring that more whole grains be served at schools.

Source: Michelle Obama criticises Trump administration on school meals