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Press releases Saturday 06 May 2006
Please remember to credit the BMJ as source when publicising an article and to tell your readers that they can read its full text on the journal's web site (http://bmj.com).
(1) ±Puppy fat± is a myth which puts children±s health at risk
(2) Some ethnic groups more susceptible to adverse drug reactions
(3)
Social mealtimes boost wellbeing of nursing home residents
BMJ Online First
(1) ±Puppy fat± is a myth which puts children±s health at risk
(Development of adiposity in adolescence: five year longitudinal study of an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample
of young people in Britain)
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/bmj.38807.594792.AE
The idea that ±puppy fat± in children disappears as they progress to adolescence is a myth which may put the future health of children at risk, says a paper published on bmj.com today.
And girls from some ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic groups are more likely to be overweight or obese, putting them at even more danger of long-term health problems, say the authors.
Previous studies have shown that adolescence is a key time, since excess weight during teenage years pre-disposes adults to continued weight problems - with all the associated health risks.
But today±s study, tracking 5863 children as they developed into young adults, shows that the problems are established before teenage years - since those with excess weight by the age of 11 continued with it during adolescence.
Researchers looked at annual measurements of weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumferences of children aged between 11/12 and 16/17 throughout 36 schools across South London, giving them a broad ethnic and social mix.
They found that overall, girls had higher rates of excess weight problems than boys. Black girls had particularly high levels, with an average of 38% being overweight or obese over the study period, compared to 28% for white girls or 20% for Asian girls.
For boys, however, ethnicity made little difference to excess weight levels.
The findings were less clear cut for economic status. 35% of the most deprived girls were overweight or obese compared with 28% of other girls, but other economic categories showed less consistency.
±Children who are obese when they enter secondary school will very likely leave it obese,± say the authors. More monitoring is crucial if rising tides of obesity are to be tackled effectively, they conclude.
Contact:
Jane Wardle, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Unit, University College London, UK Email:
j.wardle@ucl.ac.uk
BMJ Online First
(2) Some ethnic groups more susceptible to adverse drug reactions
(Ethnic differences in risks of adverse reactions to drugs used in cardiovascular medicine: systematic review and meta-analysis)
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/bmj.38803.528113.55
Some ethnic groups may be more susceptible to adverse drug reactions, finds a study published on bmj.com today.
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are an important cause of ill health and death. Several factors including genetic make up, age, sex, and even diet, can all alter a patient±s susceptibility to ADRs. But it is not known to what extent susceptibility to ADRs might depend on ethnic group, whether as a result of genetic or cultural factors.
Researchers searched the scientific literature and identified 24 studies that included data for adverse reactions to cardiovascular drugs for at least two ethnic groups. Differences in study quality were assessed to identify and minimise bias.
They found that the risk of angio-oedema (swelling) with blood pressure lowering drugs was three times greater in black patients than non-black patients. The risk of cough was also nearly three times higher in East Asian patients compared with white patients.
For clot-busting therapy, the risk of bleeding increased 1.5-fold in black compared with non-black patients.
Some ethnic groups may be more susceptible to adverse reactions during treatment with cardiovascular drugs, say the authors. These findings may help doctors present more accurate and relevant data to their patients when prescribing cardiovascular therapy. However, differences in study quality and inconsistent reporting of harms mean that these results need to be interpreted cautiously, they add.
Future studies must report both adverse reactions and racial and ethnic classifications more fully, if we are to discover how they are linked, they conclude.
Contact:
Robin Ferner, Director, West Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK Email:
r.e.ferner@bham.ac.uk
BMJ Online First
(3) Social mealtimes boost wellbeing of nursing home residents
(Effect of family style mealtimes on quality of life, physical performance, and body weight of nursing home residents: cluster
randomised controlled trial)
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/bmj.38825.401181.7C
Providing a convivial and social environment at mealtimes improves the quality of life and physical performance of nursing home residents, finds a study published on bmj.com today.
Residents of nursing homes not only face physical deterioration but also loss of independence, privacy, and a familiar environment. These factors lead to high levels of loneliness and depression and a low perceived quality of life.
Mealtimes in nursing homes provide an opportunity to integrate physical care with measures to improve quality of life. But in most nursing homes, meals are individually served on trays in a non-stimulating social environment.
Researchers in the Netherlands assessed the effect of eating together (family style mealtimes) on the quality of life of nursing home residents without dementia.
Their theory was that quality of life, physical performance, and body weight would remain stable among residents offered family style mealtimes but would decline in those receiving the usual pre-plated service.
A total of 282 residents in five Dutch nursing homes took part in the study. Each nursing home had a control ward and an intervention ward. The control wards maintained the pre-plated service, while the intervention wards introduced social family style mealtimes. All meals were similar in weight and nutrient content.
The intervention lasted for six months and results were adjusted for age, sex, and length of stay.
Family style mealtimes improved quality of life and prevented a decline in physical performance and body weight of residents.
These results support earlier research that found family style mealtimes improved the mood of nursing home residents with dementia. Although this study excluded residents with dementia, the authors believe that their conclusion may be extended to all nursing home residents.
This was a simple intervention that did not need extra staff, or increase workload or costs, say the authors. With motivated staff, this programme is easy to achieve on a low budget.
Contact:
Kristel Nijs, PhD Fellow, Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen, Netherlands Email:
kristel.nijs@wur.nl
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