Fat moms have bigger babies
Moms-to-be who gain too much weight early into their pregnancy are nearly three times as likely to give birth to bigger and fatter babies, warns a University of Alberta researcher. A study of 172 expectant mothers found that women who gained excessive weight during the first half of pregnancy gave birth to heavier and longer babies with more body fat than babies of women who did not gain as much weight in their pregnancy. The results call for the need to educate expectant mothers about the dangers of early weight gain during pregnancy, said Margie Davenport, assistant professor of Physical Education.
Thoughts of death lead to humour
According to the Terror Management Theory, knowledge of one's own impermanence creates potentially disruptive existential anxiety, which the individual brings under control with two coping mechanisms, or anxiety buffers — rigid adherence to dominant cultural values, and self-esteem bolstering. Based on an experiment, the researchers conclude that humour helps the individual to tolerate latent anxiety that may otherwise be destabilising. In this connection, they point to previous studies indicating that humour is an integral component of resilience. The activation of conscious thoughts concerning death impair creative generation of humor. There is need for additional research to explore humor as a coping mechanism.
Fit teens lack suicidal tendencies
Being in good physical shape at 18 years of age can be linked with a reduced risk of attempted suicide later in life, says a study of researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. A new, extensive report from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare on child and adolescent health shows that the number of serious suicide attempts among 19-23 year olds with activity compensation has increased from 115 per year to 460 per year. The researcher showed that good physical fitness as a teenager can also be linked to decreased risk of severe depression later in life. One theory is that the brain becomes more resistant to different types of stress if you are physically active.
Peers’ feedback is influential
Teenagers are risk-takers — they're more likely than children or adults to experiment with illicit substances, have unprotected sex and drive recklessly. But research shows that teenagers have the knowledge and ability to make competent decisions about risk, just like adults. In a new report, psychological scientists laurence Steinberg and Jason Chein of Temple University and Dustin Albert of Duke University argue that some teens' risky behaviour reflects the unique effect of peer influence on the still-developing teenage brain. Teens spend a lot of time with their peers and the feedback they get from them may tune the brain's reward system to be more sensitive to the reward value.
Women — beware of salt!
A high-salt diet raises a woman's risk of breaking a bone after menopause, no matter what her bone density is, according to a new study that was presented Saturday at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The Japanese study found that older women who consumed the highest amount of sodium had more than four times the risk of a non-vertebral fracture, or fracture at any site other than the spine. That finding held true even after the researchers made adjustments for many other characteristics that could affect fracture risk, said the study's lead author, Kiyoko Nawata, PhD. A non-vertebral fracture can cause substantial disability and even death, many studies have found. Past research shows a connection between excess sodium intake and increased bone breakdown and decreased bone mineral density.