In obesity epidemic, what's one cookie?

Recent health Articles, Events, Jobs, and Resources.

CONTENTS

1. CHC News: Petition to extend tax relief for low income families
2. Article: Parity law requires comparabel mental health benefits
3. Article: DC rushing to fix problems with AIDS records at clinics
4. Article/Video: Nutrition experts battle industry groups over sugar
5. Article: In obesity epidemic, what's one cookie?
6. Article/Video: First lady talks obesity with school nutritionists
7. Article/Audio: Teen talks about her life after dropping out of school
8. Article: Migraines linked to higher risk of cardiovascular problems
9. Commentary: Marion Barry's battles are taking a toll
10. Editorial Sketch: "Say, ah…"
11. Factoid: Today in history: March 2, 1985
12. Video: Is the good life killing you?

ARTICLE SUMMARIES

1. CHC News: Petition to extend tax relief for low income families!
By Greg Bloom, Bread for the City, Beyond Bread, February 26, 2010

Summary: From Kathryn Baer, friend of Bread, comes word of her new effort to muster support for the new Child Tax Credit. This new policy, as part of the new economic recovery act, makes many more low-income families eligible for a tax credit. Because the credit is partially refundable, filers can get a check from IRS -- even though they owe no income tax. But this tax credit will expire at the end of the year unless it's extended. Since the tax credit broadly benefits the middle class, Congress is likely to extend it -- but it's possible that Congress could let the policy revert to the minimum income requirement established under the 2001 Bush tax cuts. Baer reports that the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says that 600,000 children would fall into poverty if this happens.  Bread encourages you to Sign the Petition to support a permanent extension of the current Child Tax Credit. For more info, read: District Moves To Modernize Unemployment Insurance, But Slowly by Kathryn Baer, Poverty & Policy, March 3, 2010; and Expiring Child Tax Credit Could Plunge 600,000 Kids into Poverty by Kathryn Baer, Poverty in America, Children In Poverty, February 26, 2010.  |  Read blog

2. Article: Parity law requires mental health benefits comparable to physical care benefits
By Sandra G. Boodman, Kaiser Health News, The Washington Post, March 2, 2010

Summary: Denise Camp was resigned to the double standard that had long applied to her medical bills, forcing her to skimp on other expenses so she could pay for mental health treatment. While visits to her internist for physical problems required a $20 co-pay, her weekly therapy sessions with a social worker cost $50 and trips to the psychiatrist who prescribed her medication were $75. A similar disparity applied to medicines: Drugs to treat the crippling depression that ended her engineering career cost her twice what she paid for an antibiotic. But recently, Camp's insurance coverage changed -- for the better. The 50-year-old Baltimore resident, who now runs a drop-in center for recovering psychiatric patients, is paying the same charge for physical and mental health treatments: a co-pay of $10 per visit and $25 for each prescription. Camp is among an estimated 140 million Americans, most of them covered by group insurance plans provided by employers, who are the beneficiaries of a sweeping new federal law designed to guarantee parity in insurance coverage. The law, which took effect for most plans Jan. 1, applies to groups of more than 50 employees and is designed to end what HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called needless and arbitrary limits on care. Higher deductibles, steeper co-pays, and other restrictions are no longer allowed for mental health and substance abuse treatment. (This story was produced through a collaboration between The Post and Kaiser Health News.)  |  Read article

3. Article: D.C. rushing to fix problems with AIDS records at clinics
By Sandhya Somashekhar, Debbie Cenziper and Susan Kinzie, The Washington Post, March 2, 2010

Summary: The District's troubled HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration is scrambling to correct dozens of billing and record-keeping deficiencies discovered at metro area medical clinics that draw federal AIDS funding. Federal monitors found that some of the programs didn't appear to be tracking fundamental information about AIDS patients, such as lab tests, medications, and infection levels. Monitors also said in their report that clinics might have paid their bills by improperly tapping federal funds set aside for low-income AIDS patients without insurance. If the lapses aren't corrected, monitors could ask for the federal money back. The problems come at a time when District leaders are struggling to overhaul DC's $100 million-a-year program for people with AIDS. HAHSTA awarded $25M to nonprofit groups that delivered substandard care or couldn't account for any work at all. Councilmember David Catania has held a series of hearings in recent months to address the problems. AIDS advocates say the lapses described by federal monitors vexed some clinics for years, despite oversight that should have been performed by HAHSTA. A consultant hired by the District found similar problems at more than 20 AIDS programs in the region in recent years.  |  Read article

4. Article/Video: Nutrition experts battle industry groups over sugar
By Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY, March 2, 2010

Summary: There's a heated debate going on over the health risks of consuming too much sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and other caloric sweeteners. Leading nutrition experts who believe that these sweeteners, including those used in soft drinks, tea, coffee, and other foods and beverages, add empty calories to people's diets and promote weight gain. Emerging scientific research indicates that consuming too much of these sweeteners may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and other health problems. Industry groups who represent sugar and high-fructose corn syrup say their products are natural and don't cause weight gain or health problems. They launched advertising and marketing campaigns. The American Heart Association is on the nutrition experts' side. The group recently issued a scientific statement saying that high intake of added sugars is implicated in many poor health conditions, including obesity, high blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease and stroke.  |  Read article/View video

5. Article: In Obesity Epidemic, What's One Cookie?
By Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times, March 1, 2010

Summary: Weight loss doesn't require daunting lifestyle changes, but small changes that add up. This hopeful message, is also misleading. Small caloric changes have almost no long-term effect on weight. When we skip a cookie or exercise a little more, the body's biological and behavioral adaptations kick in, significantly reducing the caloric benefits of our effort. But can small changes in diet and exercise at least keep children from gaining weight? While some obesity experts think so, mathematical models suggest otherwise. The small changes theory fails to take the body's adaptive mechanisms into account. The rise in children's obesity over the past few decades can't be explained by an extra 100-calorie soda each day, or fewer physical education classes. Skipping a cookie or walking to school would barely make a dent in a calorie imbalance that goes far beyond the ability of most individuals to address on a personal level. This doesn't mean small improvements are futile, but people need to take a realistic view of what they can accomplish. A person's weight remains stable as long as the number of calories consumed doesn't exceed the amount of calories the body spends, both on exercise and to maintain basic body functions. As the balance between calories going in and calories going out changes, we gain or lose weight. But bodies don't gain or lose weight indefinitely. A cascade of biological changes kicks in to help the body maintain a new weight. And the body is more resistant to weight loss than weight gain.  |  Read blog

6. Article/Video: First lady talks obesity with school nutritionists
USA TODAY, March 1, 2010

Summary: First lady Michelle Obama says the people who prepare meals for schools have more influence over what kids eat than parents do. She said that's because kids who participate in school meal programs eat about half their daily calories at school. Some 31 million kids participate in school-based lunch and breakfast programs. The first lady addressed the School Nutrition Association members Monday at their annual meeting in DC. The organization is a partner in Mrs. Obama's new campaign to tackle the problem of childhood obesity. Statistics say one in three kids in the U.S. is either overweight or obese.  |  Read article/View video

7. Article/Audio: Teen Mother Talks About Her Life After Dropping Out Of School
By Kavitha Cardoza, WAMU 88.5 FM, News, March 1, 2010

Summary: After years of decline, teen pregnancy rate is on the rise again across the country. In 2007, the last year for which statistics are available for DC, 1,075 babies were born to teenagers here. A baby is difficult for any new mother. For these teenagers it can be overwhelming. And although dropping out of high school will probably lead to a bleak future, many of these young mothers do exactly that. In the first of a three-part series on pregnant and parenting teens in DC, Cardoza caught up with one of the dropouts at her Southeast apartment.  |  Read article/Listen to audio

8. Article: Migraines may be linked to higher risk of cardiovascular problems
By Linda Searing, The Washington Post, Quick Study, March 2, 2010

Summary: Are cardiovascular problems more common in people who have migraines? Migraines may be a sign of higher risk.  |  Read article

9. Commentary: He's 'been through worse,' but Marion Barry's battles are taking a toll
By Courtland Milloy, The Washington Post, March 3, 2010

Summary: Councilmember Marion Barry prevailed despite drug addiction, drug bust, jail time, failure to file income taxes, marital infidelity, an arrest for alleged stalking, sex addiction, kidney failure, prostate cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. He has two years left in his term and the political support to win again if he runs. But his defense of his behavior made it obvious that the vote by Council colleagues to censure Barry for malfeasance has taken a toll. At 73, Barry should be enjoying life as a wise elder, not appearing to have failed once again to turn hindsight into insight, let alone foresight. Barry talked about why he keeps making the same mistakes and his penchant for morally questionable relationships with women. "Love is very fleeting with me and I don't know why," Barry said. "Whenever I get that feeling -- I call it my emotional buy-in -- I want to hold on to it so badly. The next thing I know my judgment is clouded. I'm seeing things that aren't there and not seeing things that should be obvious. And just like that, it's gone." The censure vote stemmed from a $15,000 personal service contract that he awarded to his then-girlfriend Donna Watts-Brighthaupt. Barry claims he lent her money as part of their personal relationship and didn't think twice when she repaid him with money from the government contract.  |  Read commentary

10. Editorial Sketch: "Say, Ah…"
By Tom Toles, The Washington Post, March 2, 2010

Summary: "Are you trying to shove health care down my throat??"  |  View sketch

11. Factoid: Today in History: March 2, 1985
Express, March 2, 2010, page 38

Summary: On March 2, 1985, the U.S. government approved a screening test for AIDS that detects antibodies to the virus, allowing possibly contaminated blood to be excluded from the blood supply.  |   View factoid

12. Video: Is the good life killing you?
Lifestyle Medicine Institute, Coronary Health Improvement Project

Summary: Is the good life killing you? Are you dying for a double cheeseburger and fries? Cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and type II diabetes were virtually unknown a hundred years ago. These killer diseases are now responsible for three out of four deaths. Today, obesity is the number health concern in North America. And obesity is now the top worry for children. Seventy percent of all deaths are now attributed to lifestyle choices. Do you know what's in your arteries? Make safe, simple, painless, deliberate lifestyle choices. Lifestyle diseases are preventable and reversible. The solution is to move more, and eat better!  |  View video

EVENTS

Mass Citizens' Arrest of the Insurance Companies
Tuesday, March 9th, 10:30 am
Dupont Circle
The insurance industry's lobby front group is back in DC to defend their criminal health care system and plot to kill health care reform. Reform groups are gathering a citizen's posse to hold them accountable for their crimes against Americans' health -- and make sure Congress passes reform now. Congress needs to listen to the people, not the insurance companies. We can't allow another year of 45,000 deaths and a million bankruptcies. Our health and our future are too important to let the insurance giants continue with business as usual. Stop corporate lobbyists -- sign up and get deputized! You can help in person or online. Join Health Care for America Now and their partner organizations. For more info, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

FREE Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP)
Thursday, March 11th, 10 am - 2 pm
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church
215 Rhode Island Avenue NW
KEEP is designed to raise awareness about kidney disease among high risk individuals and provide free testing and educational materials. Call (202) 244-7900 ext. 20 today to schedule your screening.

More Events...

JOBS

Staff Accountant, Regional Addiction Prevention, Inc.
Nonprofit seeks staff accountant. Temporary position (three to six months) could lead to permanent. Skills needed: Balance Sheet Account Reconciliations, Preparation of Work Papers for Auditors, Preparation of Journal Entries, Bank Reconciliations, Assist with Monthly Close, Preparation of Financial Statements, Close of Fiscal Year 2009, and other duties as assigned. Present system is Quickbooks Pro, looking to update system in the near future. Salary is $22 to 24/hour. E-mail resumes to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Health Quality Improvement Manager, DCPCA

Senior Policy Coordinator, DCPCA

Senior Grants Writer/Specialist, DCPCA

More Job Postings...

RESOURCES

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