The Fourth of July is a day to laze in the sun, picnic in the backyard, and watch fireworks.

Stay healthy and avoid some common summertime ailments by following these easy tips. WellSpan is here for you 24/7 if you need us, but we want you to spend the day enjoying time with family and friends, not tending to injuries or illnesses.

The food

Summertime picnics can be a dicey time for foodborne illnesses. Food must be prepared correctly (no undercooked chicken or burgers!) and stored correctly (cold foods must be kept cold!).

July is a great time for healthy eating, with widely available fresh produce, said Frances Hadley, WellSpan clinical dietitian. But be careful when preparing foods and storing them correctly.

Tips: Hadley recommends following four simple steps: clean (wash your hands and use clean food prep utensils), separate (keep raw meat and eggs separate from other ingredients), cook (make sure the internal temperature of meats and other foods reaches the proper level) and chill (never leave perishable food out for more than two hours, or one hour if its hotter than 90 degrees outside).

Uh oh: Symptoms of foodborne illness include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps or diarrhea. Older adults, young children, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women are most at risk.

When to seek help: Seek medical attention if you have bloody diarrhea, diarrhea that lasts more than three days, a fever over 102 degrees, frequent vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down, or signs of dehydration such as little or no urination or dizziness.

The sun

The weather looks like it will be in the upper 70s to low 80s on July 4, with the possibility of rain. But South Central Pennsylvania has had some significant heat waves so far this summer. Know how to manage the hot weather when it comes.

I love spending time outdoors on a summer day, gardening or hiking with my family and dogs. But I try to take precautions and make sure I dont overdo it, said Dr. Ryan Crim, WellSpan family physician.

Tips: Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, take advantage of the cooler morning and early evening for strenuous activity and find some shade, Crim recommends. Also, pace yourself, wear sunscreen that is SPF 15 or higher and broad spectrum or offers UVA/UVB protection, and drink plenty of fluids (dont wait until you are thirsty!). Keep pets in the shade and offer them lots of water, too, the physician adds.

Uh oh: Symptoms of heat-related illness include heavy sweating, clammy skin, fast pulse, nausea, cramps, dizziness, headache. Infants and young children, older adults, overweight people and people with underlying conditions are most at risk.

When to seek help: Your symptoms last more than an hour or worsen, you are vomiting, your temperature is 103 or higher or you pass out. Seek medical help immediately if that occurs, Crim said.

The fireworks

The boom, sizzle and color of fireworks are one of the best and most traditional parts of the Fourth of July. But leave the big ones to the pros.

Its common sense to be careful around fireworks but sometimes people get caught up in the excitement of the day, said Abbey LeCompte, a certified registered nurse practitioner with WellSpan Urgent Care . Be very cautious around any type of firework. Your vision and your limbs can be at risk. Even sparklers need special supervision when used by children.

Tips: Never allow young children to handle fireworks, never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol and wear protective eyewear or earplugs while using fireworks, LeCompte recommends. Also, never hold lighted fireworks in your hands and keep a bucket of water nearby and soak spent unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.

Uh oh: Sometimes fireworks malfunction and dont go off as planned. NEVER re-light them, LeCompte said. Instead, discard the malfunctioning fireworks into a bucket of water.

When to seek help: You have burns on your skin that are red, blistered or swollen, you have ringing or buzzing in your ears, your vision seems impaired or you feel like you have something in your eye. Dont wait to get help for burns or other fireworks injuries that seem serious.

Need medical help on a holiday or after-hours? Call 911 if you experience a severe injury or illness. For more minor issues, WellSpan Urgent Care is here for you. We also offer 24/7 virtual appointments.

See more here:
Avoid the uh oh, and have a safe July 4 - WellSpan Health

One of the awesome things about chickens is that cooking a whole one can make several meals worth of finger-lickin protein. However, whether fried, boiled, baked, or grilled, cooked chicken has a definite safe to eat window.

Youve heard of salmonella? Well, it doesnt only come from salmons. If thats news to you, then for the love of all things holy, read on before whacking that week-old KFC in the microwave.

As Vanilla Ice proved, nothing stays fresh forever. But the definition of fresh varies from person to person.

If, to you, fresh means safe to eat, the answer is 3 to 4 days. However, if you associate freshness with flavor and texture, Day 1 Fridge KFC probably tastes a lot fresher than Day 4 Fridge KFC. Both are safe by FDA standards, though.

If youre the kind of person that cant keep to such a tight schedule and needs to plan their reheated KFC and RuPaul nights well in advance, you can freeze that half-full bucket of the Colonels wings for a whole 6 months.

You can extend that to 6 months if you order a dozen pots of gravy to freeze them in.

Luckily for you, its super easy to tell if eating the chicken in your fridge is a one-way ticket to Diarrhea Town.

Even when sticking to the 1 to 4 days rule, chicken can sometimes go bad early for a whole bunch of reasons. If your cooked but cold poultry from Fridays BBQ is showing any of the following signs, its best to avoid chowing down on that sandwich you made for Mondays lunch:

We shouldnt have to say this, but we live in the age of the Tide Pod challenge:

Yes lol.

Chicken is a high-risk food for bacteria growth. Campylobacter, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens They all love hiding in chicken so they can f*ck up your week with food poisoning.

Note the word poisoning. Normally, diseases like salmonella arent fatal, but theyre not never fatal. The fire youre playing with if you choose to eat risky chicken could burn you more than spending 1 or 2 nights with your head over the toilet bowl.

Again, for the people who somehow still havent grasped that week-old nuggets make you poop liquid:

Obviously, sometimes you can accidentally eat bad chicken. As we already pointed out, chicken (as with all foods) sometimes can go bad within the usual safe to eat window. We also lied when we said it was super easy to tell when chicken is bad (sorry). It usually is, but not always. Sometimes you dont find out until youre throwing it back up.

If youre feeling any of the below after eating some cooked chicken from the fridge, theres a high chance youve got food poisoning:

The food poisoning risks with chicken may be high. But theyre worth it, because chicken is f*cking delicious.

While its never possible to totally eliminate the risk of food poisoning, theres a whole bunch of stuff you can do to keep it pretty low. Theres a reason human beings havent gone extinct from chicken-borne diseases. Yeah, its easy to contract them, but its equally easy to make sure you probably wont.

Still unsure about the leftover popcorn chicken thats been eyeing you from the top shelf of the fridge for the past few days? Heres a last minute rundown of everything weve learned.

Cooked chicken can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days and still be safe to eat. Raw chicken for half this time. If you want to keep your cooked chicken longer, it can be frozen for 4 to 6 months (depending on whether its in sauce).

Food poisoning is no joke, and chicken is a big food poisoning risk food (raw or cooked). If your cooked chicken is a weird color, slimy, smells bad, or has a weird texture, dont eat it.

Its also important to prep and cook your chicken thoroughly. Undercooked chicken is a surefire way to give yourself a hella queasy tummy, no matter how well you refrigerate it.

You can store chicken in an airtight and leak-proof container to keep it fresh. This also reduces the risk of cross-contamination by keeping juices away from other food.

More:
How Long Is Cooked Chicken Good for in the Fridge? A Rundown - Greatist

The family of a British schoolboy who died after suffering an allergic reaction from eating a plate of spaghetti described his tragic death as the worst day of their lives.

Cameron Wahid, seven, suffered a severe anaphylactic shock from eating pasta made with milk at a restaurant in the town of Ravello on the Amalfi Coast, where he was spending half-term with his family.

Restaurant staff were warned about their sons severe allergies, saying he could not have any cheese or dairy products, but the waitress did not understand their request and assured them it was safe.

READ MORE: Crack-smoking thug made girlfriend 'wish she wasn't alive' during 10 months of abuse and violence

He collapsed after eating the pasta dish containing dairy products in front of his mother Cassandra, 43, father Rizwan, 43, and little brother, Aidan.

A few minutes after getting back on their tour bus with other British tourists, Cameron went into shock before suffering a cardiac arrest in the main square.

Mrs Wahid, a nurse, managed to give her son an EpiPen, but it was too late, and the schoolboy died three days later on October 30, 2015, in a hospital in Naples.

Cameron always had a severe allergy to dairy, but his family said they were very careful about what he ate and we assured by waiting staff the food was safe.

They believe that his death was avoidable and they are still struggling to come to terms with his tragic passing.

Now, Cameron's parents are calling for lessons to be learned from his death and want to raise awareness of the seriousness of allergies.

Mr Wahid has started working as an ambassador with Allergy UK, the UKs leading charity providing support to people with allergies.

He said this week: Camerons allergy had always been severe, but we were so careful with him and scrupulous with what he ate.

Prior to his allergic reaction, we were assured by the waiting staff that the food was safe for him.

To see him going into anaphylactic shock and suffering like that was undoubtedly the worst experience of our lives.

He was such a lovely little boy, and always brightened up our days.

We feel his death was avoidable and we are still struggling to come to terms with him not being here anymore.

We know nothing will bring him back, but we want to help stop others from suffering the pain we continue to feel."

After Cameron's death, the family went on to fight a long legal battle against the La Margherita Villa Giuseppina restaurant.

Ester Di Lascio, a waitress at the eatery, was found guilty of culpable manslaughter by an Italian court in Salerno in September 2019.

Di Lascio was given a two-year suspended jail sentence.

She did not properly highlight the possible allergic reactions caused by ingredients in dishes on the restaurants menu, the court found.

The pasta Cameron ate was served with a tomato sauce that had been prepared with milk. The chef was later cleared of any wrongdoing.

The family, from East Grinstead in West Sussex, were awarded 288,000 (325,000) compensation by the court.

People need to know how serious allergies can be, and we will continue to work in raising much-needed awareness," added Mr Wahid.

We are grateful that the case is now at an end, and want to thank everyone for all the support we have had.

For us, everything has been about using the criminal trial process in Italy to ensure that justice was obtained for Cameron, which we have done, as well as to establish facts and ensure lessons are learned so that others dont have to suffer like we have.

Daniel Matchett, the specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, added: The past few years have been incredibly difficult for Camerons family, after having to see him die from an allergic reaction which could and should have been prevented.

Cassandra and Riz were always very careful with controlling Camerons allergies, and losing him has had such a devastating impact on them.

While they cannot turn back the clock and change what happened, Cassandra and Riz want to make people aware that allergies are potentially life-threatening to help ensure that no others go through what they have.

Read the rest here:
Family's heartbreak after boy, 7, dies after eating plate of spaghetti on holiday in Italy - Manchester Evening News

The family of a British schoolboy who died after suffering an allergic reaction from eating a plate of spaghetti while on holiday in Italy has described his tragic death as the worst day of their lives.

Cameron Wahid, seven, suffered a severe anaphylactic shock from eating pasta made with milk at a restaurant in the town of Ravello on the Amalfi Coast, where he was spending half-term with his family.

Restaurant staff were warned about their sons severe allergies, saying he could not have any cheese or dairy products, but the waitress did not understand their request and assured them it was safe.

He collapsed after eating the pasta dish containing dairy products in front of his mother Cassandra, 43, father Rizwan, 43, and little brother Aidan.

A few minutes after getting back on their tour bus with other British tourists, Cameron went into shock before suffering a cardiac arrest in the main square.

Mrs Wahid, who worked as a nurse at the time, managed to give her son an EpiPen, but it was too late, and the schoolboy died three days later on October 30, 2015, in a hospital around 35 miles away in Naples.

After his tragic death, the family went on to fight a long legal battle against the La Margherita Villa Giuseppina restaurant.

Ester Di Lascio, a waitress at the eatery, was found guilty of culpable manslaughter by an Italian court in Salerno in September 2019. Di Lascio was given a two-year suspended jail sentence.

She did not properly highlight the possible allergic reactions caused by ingredients in dishes on the restaurants menu, the court found.

The pasta Cameron ate was served with a tomato sauce that had been prepared with milk by chef Luigi Cioffi, who was later cleared of any wrongdoing.

The family from East Grinstead in West Sussex were initially awarded a sum of around 288,000 (AU$531,000) compensation by the court.

Cameron always had a severe allergy to dairy, but his family said they were very careful about what he ate and we assured by waiting staff the food was safe.

They added that his death was avoidable and they are still struggling to come to terms with his tragic passing.

Now, Camerons parents are calling for lessons to be learned from his death and want to raise awareness of the seriousness of allergies.

Mr Wahid has started working as an ambassador with Allergy UK, the UKs leading charity providing support to people with allergies.

He said this week: Camerons allergy had always been severe, but we were so careful with him and scrupulous with what he ate.

Prior to his allergic reaction, we were assured by the waiting staff that the food was safe for him.

To see him going into anaphylactic shock and suffering like that was undoubtedly the worst experience of our lives.

He was such a lovely little boy, and always brightened up our days.

We know nothing will bring him back

We feel his death was avoidable and we are still struggling to come to terms with him not being here anymore.

We know nothing will bring him back, but we want to help stop others from suffering the pain we continue to feel.

People need to know how serious allergies can be, and we will continue to work in raising much-needed awareness.

We are grateful that the case is now at an end, and want to thank everyone for all the support we have had.

For us, everything has been about using the criminal trial process in Italy to ensure that justice was obtained for Cameron, which we have done, as well as to establish facts and ensure lessons are learned so that others dont have to suffer like we have.

This comes after the family received an undisclosed sum of money to help access specialist support and overcome their ordeal.

Daniel Matchett, the specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said: The past few years have been incredibly difficult for Camerons family, after having to see him die from an allergic reaction which could and should have been prevented.

Cassandra and Riz were always very careful with controlling Camerons allergies, and losing him has had such a devastating impact on them.

While they cannot turn back the clock and change what happened, Cassandra and Riz want to make people aware that allergies are potentially life-threatening to help ensure that no others go through what they have.

Read more:
Parents of British schoolboy watched him die from allergy after eating spaghetti prepared with milk in Ravello, Italy - 7NEWS.com.au

The coronavirus pandemic has dominated the headlines and our daily lives for more than a year. Medical News Today has covered this fast-moving, complex story with live updates on the latest news, interviews with experts, and an ongoing investigation into the deep racial disparities that COVID-19 has helped unmask.

However, this has not stopped us from publishing hundreds of fascinating stories on a myriad of other topics.

In this final edition of the Recovery Room, we begin with the third edition in our series of articles that seeks to find out whats exciting cancer researchers. Together, these articles provide an essential insight into emerging treatments and diagnostic techniques. Youll find links to all three below.

We also look at food addiction, one of the most controversial topics in nutrition. Some people claim to be addicted to coffee, but, as another of our recent articles shows, this may not be a bad thing, as drinking any type of coffee reduces the risk of a range of liver diseases.

This weeks selected articles also include news of the discovery of an ancient strain of the bacteria that went on to cause the Black Death in medieval Europe, evidence of the physiological damage that homophobia causes, and MNTs evidence-backed guide to the healthiest herbs and spices.

We highlight this research below, along with several other recent stories that you may have missed amid all the COVID-19 fervor.

We begin with the second part ofMNTs report from the front lines of cancer research. Inpart one and part two, we spoke with scientists working on immunotherapies, magnetically responsive bacteria, personalized medicine, and more.

This week, we learn about the latest advances in chimeric antigen receptor technology T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, how artificial intelligence may make cancer surgery more precise, and how swimming microrobots may revolutionize targeted drug delivery.

The final article in the series is every bit as fascinating as parts one and two. If you enjoyed them, you might also find our recent feature on whats exciting dementia researchers interesting.

Learn more about the latest cancer research.

This week, Honest Nutrition tackled one of the most controversial topics in nutrition: Is it really possible to become addicted to food?

In it, we first look at the definition of food addiction and how it compares with addiction to other substances, such as illicit drugs. Then, we take a deep dive into the science of compulsive overeating, including its roots in the brains reward system, the foods most likely to stimulate it, and its underlying psychology.

Whether compulsive eating qualifies as a true addiction, which foods cause it, and whether it is a cause or symptom of obesity are all hotly debated, as you will see.

We also offer advice on how to give up unwanted eating behaviors, including where to seek help, and explain why small adjustments to behavior may be more effective than drastic changes.

Learn more about food addiction.

Scientists have discovered a new class of drugs that prevents the repair of damaged DNA. POLQ inhibitors can kill cancerous cells that have a BRCA mutation, but, crucially, they appear to leave healthy cells unharmed. The researchers are, therefore, hopeful that POLQ inhibitors will cause fewer side effects than their predecessors.

However, researchers have only demonstrated this in laboratory-based experiments using animals and miniature organs called organoids. Clinical trials are now necessary to determine whether the potential benefits of the new drugs still apply in humans.

Learn more about the new POLQ inhibitor drugs.

A new study involving nearly 500,000 participants has shown that drinking any kind of coffee including decaffeinated coffee reduces a persons risk of developing liver problems.

Drinking 34 cups per day provided the greatest protection against chronic liver disease, fatty liver disease, liver cancer, and death from chronic liver disease. The greatest reduction in risk occurred with coffee made from ground beans. However, this study does not examine the mechanisms behind how coffee benefits the liver, so researchers need to carry out more trials to find which molecules are responsible.

This article was one of our most popular this week, having had more than 68,000 page views so far.

Learn more about coffee and liver disease.

Do weight loss supplements actually work? According to a new systematic review of randomized controlled trials, there is no high quality evidence that they do. However, despite the study finding that none of the tested products were effective, the worldwide annual sales of weight loss supplements total $30 billion.

To learn more about how the researchers conducted the study, which weight loss supplements they reviewed, and the difference between statistical and clinical significance, click below.

Learn more about the effectiveness of weight loss supplements.

What are the best ways to reduce a persons cholesterol levels, and how long does it take? This was the topic of another popular article this week, which also looks at what cholesterol is, normal and high cholesterol levels, and how this substance affects health.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs can reduce the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad, cholesterol in 68 weeks, though it may sometimes take longer. Our editorial team also looks at which changes to a persons habits may gradually and consistently lower their LDL levels over time, including eating a balanced diet and becoming more active.

Learn more about ways to reduce cholesterol.

Are branded drugs better than cheaper generic drugs? MNT looked at the differences and weighed the evidence this week.

One analysis of reports found that generic drugs may not have the same clinical effect for cardiovascular conditions and associated them with a higher risk of hospital visits. However, this was only a correlation rather than proof that generic drugs played a role in the increased hospital visits. It may be that some of the people taking the generic drug in larger quantities were already predisposed to worse health outcomes.

Although more research is necessary to determine whether branded drugs are better than generic versions for certain conditions, the American College of Physicians says that doctors should prescribe the generic when it is available.

Learn more about the difference between generic and branded drugs.

The bacteria that caused the Black Death, Yersinia pestis, appeared in humans 2,000 years earlier than previously thought, according to new research that MNT reported on this week.

The remains of a 5,000-year-old hunter-gather found in present-day Latvia yielded the oldest strain of Y. pestis that scientists have yet discovered. The circumstances of his burial indicate that this strain was less contagious and deadly than the strain that afflicted Europe in the Middle Ages.

Researchers now hope that studying the genetic differences between this ancient strain of Y. pestis and the strains responsible for more recent outbreaks may help reveal how zoonotic diseases adapt to their hosts over time.

Learn more here.

What is the effect of homophobia on the physical health of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people who experience it? According to a new study involving LGB people, the effects include elevated heart rate and heart rate variability, increased systolic blood pressure, and higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. These effects may explain why LGB individuals suffer disproportionately from a variety of health problems.

The researchers simulated homophobia using an experimental scenario in which a prerecorded, unseen questioner interviewed 134 LGB volunteers. They led one group of the participants all of whom thought that they were watching the interviews live to believe that the interviewer held homophobic attitudes, while the other group believed that the interviewer held positive attitudes toward LGB people and LGB rights.

The first group experienced a more significant and long lasting increase in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and salivary cortisol levels.

Learn more about the effect of homophobia on physiological health.

Finally, this week, we published a new article looking at the herbs and spices that evidence shows may have health benefits for some people. The evidence that any of these herbs and spices can cure diseases is lacking, but it appears that they may help improve certain symptoms and contribute to a persons overall long-term health.

In the article, MNT weighs the evidence for the benefits of turmeric, ginger, cumin, peppermint, echinacea, cinnamon, chili powder, parsley, oregano, and cardamom. As well as being beneficial for health, these seasonings often make delicious additions to a wide range of recipes. To discover which herbs and spices may deliver which specific benefits, click below.

Learn more about the health benefits of these herbs and spices.

This is the final edition of the Recovery Room for now. We hope we have succeeded in providing a taste of the variety of topics that MNT covered over the past year.

Read more here:
The Recovery Room: News beyond the pandemic July 2 Medical News Today - Medical News Today

Over one-third of children and adolescents in the United States eat fast food on any given day, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Whats more, the percentage of calories children get from fast food which generally consists of foods that include burgers, fries, and pizza has also increased in the last few years, with 1 in 5 kids in the U.S. now classed as having obesity.

One factor that contributes to this growth is marketing.

Mounting research has found a strong link between rates of childhood obesity and increases in advertising for less nutritious foods, such as fast food.

The most recent Fast Food FACTS report published by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut is the latest to add to the literature.

The 2021 report analyzed data on how 274 fast-food restaurants spent their advertising budgets and how much children were exposed to these ad campaigns. The data also looked further into the 27 top fast-food advertisers and how they targeted young white, Hispanic, and Black consumers under the age of 18 years.

According to Nielsen 2019 data, which the study was based on, ad spending for fast food has increased by $400 million since 2012, reaching $5 billion in 2019. These fast-food ad campaigns were also specifically catered to the youth, and Black and Hispanic groups were disproportionately targeted.

On an annual basis, the research found the following statistics when ads were distributed into age groups:

On average, children and teens saw more than two ads per day promoting fast foods or businesses on TV.

The research also found that only 10% of these ads were broadcast on childrens programming, and less than 20% promoted kids meals.

Only one restaurant (McDonalds) allocated more than 1% of its spending on ads to promote more nutritious kids meals.

Moreover, programming that targeted Black and Hispanic youth promoted low cost, large-portion, value meal deals and bundles.

Among all the findings, according to Dr. Jennifer Harris, director of marketing initiatives at the Rudd Center and one of the study co-authors, the most surprising was that only 1% of fast-food advertising promoted restaurants more nutritious menu items.

That means that restaurants make a big deal about improving the nutritional quality of menu items when they talk about their corporate responsibility initiatives, but they still almost exclusively continue to advertise their unhealthy stuff to consumers, she told Medical News Today.

Among food and beverage marketing, 40% of the ads for 2- to 17-year-olds promoted fast food. Disparities in ads targeting various ethnicities or races also increased over the years.

Fast-food ad spending on Spanish-language TV amounted to $318 million in 2019. This shows an increase of 33% since 2012.

McDonalds, Subway, Wendys, Taco Bell, Dominos, Popeyes, Burger King, and Little Caesars were the top Hispanic-targeted brands in 2019.

The only kids meal advertised on Spanish-language TV in 2019 was McDonalds Happy Meals, but they were primarily aimed at Hispanic parents and not children.

No healthy items were promoted on Spanish-language TV in 2019.

Among Hispanic youth, preschoolers viewed more fast-food ads than older groups on Spanish-language TV, which was about an ad a day at 342.3 ads a year.

Hispanic children watched 251.3 fast-food ads a year, while teens saw 210.4 ads.

Meanwhile, 23 fast-food restaurants spent $99 million to advertise on Black-targeted TV in 2019.

Fast food (pizza, burgers, fried chicken, and similar foods), candy, sugary drinks, and unhealthy snacks comprised 86% of food ad spending on TV programming that targeted Black groups.

Taco Bell, Dominos, Burger King, Wendys, Arbys, McDonalds, and KFC were among the top Black-targeted brands.

Specifically, Black teens saw 1.92.5 times as many ads for these same restaurants compared with white teens.

Black preschoolers and Black children viewed an average of three ads per day, or approximately 1,000 fast-food ads on an annual basis in 2019. Black teens saw slightly fewer at 986.9 ads during the same period.

Black youth, on the whole, saw 755 more ads than their white counterparts in 2019, recording a 60% increase from figures in 2012.

Calling this disparity deplorable, Fatima Cody Stanford, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Obesity Communications, said this was one of the many barriers to improve health in the Black community.

It seems as though all forces are against our community to [compromise] our health and health-related quality of life.

This disproportionate exposure that Black children and teens received could partly indicate that fast-food businesses placed their ads during TV programming that was viewed more by Black youth than white youth, the study highlighted.

The studys authors also noted that Black youth were found to watch more television than their white counterparts. For Black preschoolers, this was on average 32% more hours of TV, for Black children 61% more, and for Black teens 58% more, respectively.

These results are consistent with a 2011 report from Northwestern University, IL, which states that children from marginalized groups spend 12 additional hours watching TV when compared with their white peers. An association has also been made between socioeconomic status and the time children spend watching TV.

The use of screen time as an entertainer means that parents do not need to dedicate monetary resources that may not be available, notes a 2011 study published in the Journal of Family Issues.

Screen time, which could be described as the amount of time allocated to using an electronic device with a screen, such as a TV, smartphone, computer, or video game console, has rapidly increased over the last few years and especially during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Screen time has also been identified as a risk factor for childhood obesity, as suggested by data from the most recent NHANES study in 20092012. The research found that children aged 24 years who watched more than 2 hours of TV per day were more likely to have obesity.

Correspondingly, living near a fast-food restaurant has been linked to higher obesity rates. Children who live at least half a block away from such eateries are between 2.5 and 4.4% less likely to have obesity than those who live closer.

This proves problematic as Black and Hispanic neighborhoods have been found to house more fast-food restaurants than white neighborhoods, as shown in a 2012 study.

Stanford said:

[The Rudd Center study] reinforces what we have known for some time. The fast-food industry preys on vulnerable [marginalized] youth. This is particularly concerning due to the disproportionate impact of obesity on communities of color here in the U.S.

Research has shown that children in the preoperational stage between the ages of 2 and 7 years and before they can understand concrete logic can be unfairly manipulated with messages from ads.

The American Psychological Association (APA) says that children under the age of 6 years cannot differentiate TV program content from TV advertisements, while those younger than 8 years cannot grasp the persuasive intent that comes with ads.

This makes such targeted campaigns exploitative when young children are involved.

All advertising to young children exploits their unique vulnerabilities since they do not have the cognitive abilities to defend against persuasive attempts, said Harris, pointing out that currently, McDonalds spends the most on advertising to young children.

That should stop, she added.

Children have also been found to recall content easily from the ads they watch. Studies in the 70s have shown a single ad or one-time exposure to be enough to get them to prefer a certain brand.

A 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) report also suggested that one-off or continuous exposure to food marketing may influence childrens thoughts and behaviors. This rang especially true for their preferences and consumption habits of unhealthy foods.

This influence can manifest as repetitive requests by children to parents, and therefore influence family purchasing decisions.

The fast-food ads analyzed between 2012 and 2019 were also found to be directing children to mobile apps and websites, calling on them to place digital orders. This creates a new problem area: online marketing to children.

Monitoring TV advertising may not be enough if other digital, nontraditional media platforms continue their unhealthy marketing practices to children.

Harris acknowledged that it is much harder to protect older children and adolescents when subjected to such marketing on multiple platforms.

[Its] everywhere in the media, online, including on their mobile devices, all around their neighborhoods, especially low income communities of color.

However, fast-food companies listen to consumers, and if consumers demand that companies change, they will.

In short, no.

Fast-food businesses have tried to voluntarily introduce healthier alternatives, sides, and drinks on their menus and have participated in marketing self-regulation programs to promote such choices. So far, only McDonalds and Burger King have taken part in these initiatives.

However, these have had little to no effect in convincing children to choose more nutritious options over regular, high calorie foods, as they have been found to emphasize the premiums that come with the meals, not the food itself.

This was reflected in a 2015 study published in the journal Plos One that sought to reveal what children recalled from fast-food advertising on TV.

The children rarely recalled the more nutritious items, such as apples and milk, from the kids ads and were just as likely to remember the premiums, such as toys. However, when they were shown adult ads in the same category, they noticed the food more.

The researchers concluded that this difference was because food was underemphasized in childrens ads.

This adds to research evidencing that childrens purchasing patterns are only mirroring what they see in ads.

Although this study has limitations, as it did not measure longer-term recalls, it raises concerns. There seems to be a need to evaluate all commercial advertising aimed at children.

Unfortunately, fast-food advertising looks a lot like it did 8 years ago. Most major restaurants are spending more than ever on advertising, and that advertising is even more targeted to Black and Hispanic youth today, said Harris.

The studys authors recommend the following changes:

Stanford said, Parents, professionals, advertisers, and the government need to take an active look at how their activities and practices may have a dramatic impact on the populations that are most at risk for chronic diseases such as obesity.

For widespread social change, she also underscored the importance of parents and professionals using their voices by speaking up on social media and advocating for optimal nutrition both to their local government and on Capitol Hill.

Follow this link:
Black and Hispanic youth unfairly targeted by fast food TV ads - Medical News Today

The experts have warned that only wearing masks and following other safety protocols can keep the common people safe from COVID-19.

Written by Satata Karmakar | Published : June 28, 2021 9:47 PM IST

Coronavirus cases have started receding in the country after wrecking havoc in its ferocious second wave. But, are we safe now? Is the country free from COVID-19? No, not yet. In a special warning amid the COVID-19 unlock, the central government's 29th meet of the Group of Ministers (GoM), on Monday said that the second wave of Covid-19 "still not over". The government body also advised people to follow Covid appropriate behaviour to keep themselves safe from getting infected by the deadly coronavirus. Addressing the rising concern over the efficacy of the vaccines in the country against the various COVID-19 strains, the GoM clarified that all anti-Covid vaccines, currently available in the country, are found effective against alpha, beta, gamma and delta variants of the coronavirus.

The GoM strongly reiterated the importance of Covid appropriate behaviour at a time when restrictions are being lifted across the country. Besides, a higher level of continued awareness building through sustained Information, Education and Communication (IEC)campaigns were highlighted. Dr V.K. Paul emphasized on the benefits of mask-wearing and hand hygiene while ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava also cautioned that the "second wave of Covid-19 has still not subsided", noting that 80 districts in the country still have high positivity rate.

Bhargava, who also holds charge of secretary (health research), advised against any laxity at this stage. Keeping aside rumours that Covid vaccines available in India will fail in protecting people from new variants, Bhargava clarified that all vaccines being administered in the country have been found effective against the alpha, beta, gamma and delta variants of the virus. The announcement, which really would help people getting relief from fear of being infected with the new variants of the virus, comes during the 29th meeting of the high-level GoM being chaired by union health and family welfare minister Harsh Vardhan through video conferencing.

In the meeting, Dr Sujeet K. Singh, Director (NCDC) presented a detailed report on the trajectory of Covid in the states and union territories (UTs) and a granular analysis based on epidemiological findings of the trajectory of the pandemic in each state pointing out critical parameters like the growth of cases, the concentration of cases in particular districts and other trends like fatality and the variants of Covid driving the infection in the affected states. Active cases continue to be concentrated mainly in Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha, which are reporting growth rate more than the national average. While 19 states are reporting fatality figures in single-digit (less than 10), four states of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are reporting more than a hundred deaths daily.

The health minister apprised the GoM members on the trajectory of Mucormycosis infections that have occurred in this second phase of Covid-19. A total of 40,845 cases have been reported of which 31,344 cases are rhinocerebral in nature. Fatality from the infections stands at 3,129. Of the total numbers, 34,940 patients had Covid, about 26,187 were co-morbid for diabetes while 21,523 of those infected were on steroids. As many as 13,083 patients were in the age group 18-45 (32 per cent), 17,464 were in the age group 45-60 (42 per cent) while 10,082 (24 per cent) patients were above 60 years of age.

Harsh Vardhan was joined by civil aviation minister Hardeep S. Puri, minister of state for home Nityanand Rai and minister of state for health and family welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey. Vinod K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog was also present virtually.

(With inputs from IANS)

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2nd COVID-19 Wave Not Over Yet, Get Vaccinated To Stay Safe: Harsh Vardhan Warns Amid Unlock - TheHealthSite