My Overweight Child

The My Overweight Child blog will help you keep informed about the latest research, findings, and resources available to parents of overweight or obese kids. There are many knowledgeable people working on the increasingly dire problem of childhood obesity - and we want to give parents a place where they can check in regularly to see the latest studies and tips available to help you help your child lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

We invite you to add your comments - if you have feedback for the blog, would like some specific topics covered, or you just want to share your experience as a parent dealing with childhood obesity.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Low-Carb Diet May Help Lower Blood Pressure

A new study indicates that although people on low-carbohydrate diets lost about the same amount of weight as did those on low-fat diets, the low-carb groups were better able to lower their blood pressure.

Dr. William Yancy of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, studied two groups of dieters for 11 months.
The people in the low-carb group showed a 6 percent drop in blood pressure.
Those in the low-fat group had only a 1.5 percent decrease in blood pressure.
Both groups lost about the same amount of weight.

This study appeared in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Labels: low-carb diet, carbs

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

Friday, July 04, 2008

Low-carb Diets Do Not Cause Bone Loss

Low-carb diets do not lead to bone loss, according to a new study from the University of Illinois. In fact, people on diets that emphasized meats and dairy products lost less bone mass than those on a diet based on the government's food pyramid, which emphasizes grains.

A research team from the University of Illinois and Penn State University randomly assigned 130 people to either a high- or low-carb diet, and then measured their bone density every four months for a year. The scientists believed the low-carb diet would cause loss of calcium through urination, but instead the high-carb group showed a decline in bone loss and the low-carb group remained stable.

This study appears in the Journal of Nutrition.

Labels: carbs, bone_density

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Friday, March 21, 2008

Rediscover Pasta

Now that low-carb diets are decreasing in popularity, people are beginning to rediscover the many benefits of pasta. Once touted as something to be avoided, the right kind of pasta is an excellent addition to a healthy nutrition plan.

"On the plus side, pasta supplies a sustained energy release thanks to its low glycemic index. Foods with a low GI are broken down slowly in the body and release their carbohydrate (glucose) gradually into the bloodstream. As a result, they can help you feel full longer."

Whole-grain pasta also helps you consume more minerals, phytochemicals, and fiber. It's now possible to find pasta that has been fortified with Omega-3 fatty acids, which are believed to help prevent heart attacks. Read more at TheGlobeandMail.com.

Labels: healthy_eating, carbs

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments