Neck circumference may be a more reliable technique than body mass index (BMI) for assessing whether children are overweight or obese, according to a study published online in the journal Pediatrics. It was also more convenient and more accurate than BMI at identifying weight problems.
Using neck circumference as a gauge can be problematic with adults, but the possibility of a child having an excessively muscular neck that may skew results is not generally an issue.
Researchers are beginning to learn more about how fat on the body can lead to different degrees of health risks depending on the area of accumulation -- fat around the middle, in particular, is associated with raised risk for high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. There's a strong correlation between high neck circumference measurements and fat around the middle.
LOS ANGELES TIMES
Self-hypnosis training may help Tourette Children with Tourette syndrome found help for their tics via sessions of self-hypnosis, according to a new study published online in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.
Tourette syndrome is typically treated with medication, which can have mild to severe side effects such as anxiety, weight gain and sluggishness, but new non-drug treatments are showing promise.
During the study, 79 percent of the participants said their tic control had improved enough that they were satisfied with the technique.
Some similarities exist between self-hypnosis and habit reversal training techniques to reduce tics. Habit reversal training teaches people to become more aware of the urge to tic, then has them engage in a behavior that competes with the tic, such as rhythmic breathing.
