A government task force that has focused on food marketing to children is releasing a report on September 19th in which it's expected to acknowledge the advertising self-regulation that's taking place at the nation's largest food companies.

"The actions they've already announced are expected to be a big part of the report: Set nutritional guidelines for the foods they will market to kids under 12 in shows targeted to children. Some have also agreed to limit or end host selling of snack or fatty foods by familiar TV characters, and encourage exercise and healthy diet both through programs in the community and storylines in shows."

The Food and Beverage Industry, by imposing its own regulations, is hoping to avoid government imposed regulations like the ones in Britain that ban all snack ads in and around children's television shows.

Youth Care's programs for troubled teens are set in a therapeutic boarding school environment that offers structure, therapy, and academics.

Labels: adolescence, food_companies, marketing

Dr. Thomas Inge has been performing bariatric surgery on adolescents for five years. Now, he's leading a study to determine the overall benefits and risks of this surgery on adolescents.

"While adult weight-loss surgery still is more common, an estimated 2,744 youngsters nationwide had the operations from 1996 through 2003, with the pace tripling between 2000 and 2003, according to an earlier study co-written by Inge."

Researchers will compare health factors like cholesterol levels and liver function both before and after the surgery. The findings will be compared to the results from a similar study that was conducted with adults. Read more online.

Labels: adolescence, health_factors, weight_loss_surgery

Teenagers skip fruits and vegetables when they are in middle school and then again in late adolescence, according to a new study by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

A research team led by Nicole Larson surveyed more than 2000 children in 1999 and then again in 2005. The team found that children in early adolescence tended to skip fruits and vegetables. There was also a second decrease in consumption of those foods in late adolescence.

The authors conclude that we need to develop "more effective interventions for increasing fruits and vegetable consumption during these critical developmental periods."

This study appeared in the February 2007 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Labels: adolescence, healthy eating, nutrition