Latest news with #healthguidance
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Dr Xand on Visceral Fat
A tape measure can be a useful tool to help measure your waist circumference. The size of your waist can tell you how much fat sits around your TO MEASURE YOUR WAISTOn the side of your body, feel for your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone. Find the middle point between them. This will be roughly level with your belly the tape measure around this out naturally, do not hold your tummy in and take your measurement. Repeat it again for guidance says 'low risk' waist measurements consist of the following:For white European, black African, Middle Eastern and mixed originMen - 37 inches and belowWomen - 31.5 inches and belowFor African Caribbean, South Asian, Chinese and Japanese origin, the measurements may differ slightly. Men - 35.4 inches and belowWomen - 31.5 inches and belowRemember, these measurements are incredibly strict. Contact your GP if you're concerned. More information can be found on the British Heart Foundation website by clicking here., external
Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Don't feed babies ready-made pouches, NHS tells parents
The NHS is telling parents not to feed babies ready-made food pouches. New health service guidance warns mothers and fathers that newborns should only be fed processed, store-bought pouches and jars 'occasionally'. The NHS instead recommends a diet of home-made meals and no processed snacks after claims by nutritionists that ready-made baby food is less healthy. It is the first time the health service has ever mentioned processed baby food in its advice on infant nutrition. In the updated guidance, the NHS tells parents that preparing simple food at home for babies is 'often healthier and cheaper'. 'Although food jars, pouches, trays and pots can be convenient, you should not rely on them as an everyday food,' it reads. 'If you use them, only use them occasionally. 'Preparing food at home is often healthier and cheaper than shop-bought food.' 'Choose products with least sugar' Parents should also buy pre-made products with 'the least amount of sugar' and avoid feeding their babies snacks until they are at least 12 months old. The guidance goes on to say that infants should not be fed solid food until they are six months old, 'even if labels say it's suitable from four months'. It also advises parents that allowing infants to suck food from a pouch can cause tooth decay. They should instead 'always squeeze the contents from pouches onto a spoon to feed your baby' and also 'move on to mashed or finger foods from purees or blended foods as soon as possible'. For children aged 12 months or older, the NHS says parents should avoid buying processed snacks from shops. 'Try not to feed them shop-bought biscuits, rusks, biscotti, melty snacks and other packaged foods,' it reads. 'They can contain a lot of sugar and your baby doesn't need them in their diet.' It adds: 'Remember, your child does not need salt or sugar added to their food or cooking water. Children should not eat salty foods as it is not good for their kidneys, and sugar can cause tooth decay.' Research by University College London (UCL) found last year that toddlers received almost half their calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs). The study of 2,500 children found that consumption of such foods continued to rise as they got older. The most common highly processed foods eaten by toddlers were flavoured yogurts and wholegrain breakfast cereals. A BBC investigation earlier this year found the pouches were not meeting the nutritional needs of babies. Experts said habits formed in the early years were likely to continue into adulthood, fuelling Britain's obesity crisis. The Department of Health and Social Care said: 'Good nutrition is essential to giving babies the best start in life. We're updating the Better Health Start for Life website to reflect the growing variety of baby foods available and to give parents clear, consistent advice. 'Current laws already set strong standards for baby food and we support action against any products that don't meet them.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘My Father Told Me...': RFK Jr. Makes Wild Warning Undermining Expert Health Advice
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday said assessing health guidance is similar to researching baby strollers as a new mom, urging Americans to 'be skeptical of authority' while serving in a top Cabinet position. CNN's Kaitlan Collins asked Kennedy if he stood by his earlier comment that people should not be taking medical advice from him, even though his job involves communicating health guidance and recommendations based on his department's expertise. 'Yeah, absolutely,' Kennedy said. 'I'm somebody who is not a physician... and they should also be skeptical about any medical advice. They need to do their own research.' Kennedy added that when 'you're a mom, you do your own research on your baby carriage, on your baby bottles, on your baby formula,' suggesting a similar approach should be taken when assessing medical advice. When Collins pointed out that most mothers do not have medical degrees and would rather rely on their physicians, Kennedy claimed that health experts in a democracy 'are subject to all kinds of biases.' 'One of the responsibilities of living in a democracy is to do your own research and to make up your own mind,' he added. Kennedy also recalled a piece of advice from his father, suggesting it was relevant to their discussion. 'I would say, be skeptical of authority. My father told me that when I was a young kid, people in authority lie,' Kennedy said, baselessly claiming that 'critical thinking was shut down' during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kennedy, a prominent vaccine skeptic, was nominated to serve in one of the country's top jobs by President Donald Trump, raising eyebrows during a House subcommittee hearing last week with his answer to a question about whether he would vaccinate his children against measles if they were still young. 'I don't think people should be taking advice, medical advice from me,' he said. 'I think if I answer that question directly that it will seem like I'm giving advice to other people, and I don't want to be doing that,' he continued. Kennedy, though, has not held back from lending credence to debunked conspiracy theories, including falsely suggesting that vaccines are linked to autism. While his Making America Healthy Again report, released on Thursday, did not touch on that specific claim, it still hinted that the growth of the immunization schedule for children may be detrimental to them, even though childhood vaccination saves millions of lives every year. 'Vaccines benefit children by protecting them from infectious diseases. But as with any medicine, vaccines can have side effects that must be balanced against their benefits,' the report reads. 'Parents should be fully informed of the benefits and risks of vaccines.' RFK Jr.'s MAHA Report Goes After Vaccines, Prescription Meds, Food Supply RFK Jr.'s MAHA Report Raises Concerns About Vaccines, U.S. Foods And Prescription Drugs RFK Jr. Has A Meltdown After Democrat Asks Him 1 Simple Question
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
New Report Examines the Impact of Disinformation on Public Health Outcomes
'Disinformation is not simply incorrect information — it is deliberate, malicious, and deeply damaging.'— Clarisse Virgino MANILA, PHILIPPINES, May 22, 2025 / / -- In an era of widespread access to information, the growing influence of disinformation presents complex challenges for public health. A new analysis, The Silent Threat: How Disinformation Harms Public Health, explores the potential effects of misleading information on public trust and the delivery of health guidance, and recommends strategies for evidence-based responses. The report outlines how disinformation—defined as the intentional spread of false or misleading information—can create confusion and reduce adherence to health recommendations. It also suggests that when public health decisions appear to be shaped by factors other than scientific evidence, confidence in health systems can diminish, potentially affecting outcomes. 'Disinformation differs from simple misinformation in that it is intentional and designed to mislead,' said Clarisse Virgino, CAPHRA Philippines representative. 'It can gain traction particularly when there are inconsistencies in public health messaging or when individuals perceive a disconnect between official guidance and their personal experiences.' The analysis draws on examples such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where varying information and debates over policy led to public skepticism. Similar concerns are noted in areas such as tobacco harm reduction, where conflicting narratives may complicate decision-making for individuals seeking to understand their options. The report highlights that disinformation may disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, including marginalized communities that already encounter barriers to accessing healthcare and accurate information. These dynamics can exacerbate existing health inequities. The authors advocate for public health policy to remain firmly rooted in evidence and emphasize the importance of clear, consistent communication. They recommend that public health leaders focus on maintaining transparency and rebuilding trust as fundamental components of effective health promotion and protection. The report concludes by calling on public health authorities to prioritize the delivery of accurate information and to ensure that the needs and welfare of the population remain central to decision-making processes. To read the full position paper, please visit: N. E. Loucas Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
