When I was in school, it was pretty rare for my classmates to miss a day of school. If they did, they has either come down with the flu, broken a limb or were really good at faking it for their moms. Has much changed? I didn't think so, until I read this article. Apparently, obesity is now the leading cause for school absences. It's also the #1 predictor of absenteeism.

Why do you think this is? Those who did the original study aren't saying, but it's my feeling is that it's a mixture of things. First off, kids who have the unhealthy lifestyles that may lead to obesity are more likely to get sick. Secondly, kids who are obese are more like to get teased, and more likely to try to find a way to skip school.

Still, I think it's a problem that needs to be addressed, since education, like good nutrition, is so important for growing kids.

Sometimes it can be rather difficult to live a healthy lifestyle. Between work, school, kids, and -- oh yeah, how about having a life, setting aside time to exercise or even fix a healthier meal usually seems like an impossibility. That's why making these healthier changes in your life shouldn't be based on rash, drastic decisions. The "Crash Diet" is the perfect example. Not only is this approach to weight loss unhealthy, but it can actually lead to long-term weight gain. The same goes for an exercise program. If you're new to resistance training, for example, you would do well to ease your way into a routine. Don't make the mistake that I made when I was 14-years-old and first starting to lift weights; and that is to find some dinosaur-sized bodybuilder's workout in a muscle magazine and use it as a guide for your own workout. Take it from me, your arms and legs will feel like they could fall off your body at any given moment. You'll barely be able to move for days at a time, let alone have any desire whatsoever to ever work out again. My point is that the best approach to health and wellness it to take things slowly...baby steps, if you will.

Following this approach, and seemingly doing so quite effectively, are the participants of the America On the Move Foundation's Steptember celebration. AOMF is a non-profit focused on healthy living through small and manageable changes. The group promotes making two small changes in your lifestyle, both of which will have a positive impact on your overall health over time.

The first is to add 2,000 steps (approx. 1 mile) to to your day. This is probably easier to achieve that it may first seem. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Perhaps walk to your car in the off-site parking lot instead of hopping in the shuttle (besides, you don't really want to ride in the "Loser Cruiser," do you?). Or maybe you could even take a leisurely walk around your neighborhood. Whatever method you choose, just try to be consistent with doing it every day.

The second is to cut a mere 100 calories from your diet, which is the equivalent of a tablespoon of butter. Now, I realize that you probably don't actually woof down a tablespoon of butter a day But, you likely get this many calories from a myriad of other possible sources. These days, just about everything has over 100 calories in it, so just pick one of your regular treats and eliminate it from your diet. Cutting 100 calories may not seem like a lot, but over a year's time, this will result in the loss of a decent amount of weight.

For more information on AOMF's Stempber celebration, visit their site at: www.AmericaOnTheMove.org . Though the celebration has already started, you can hop on in at any time and join in on the fun. Need an even greater incentive that getting healthier and losing weight? Howe about winning an iPod? AOMF will give away a free iPod shuffle, and at the end of the month, participants are eligible to win a $500 gift certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods.

As records go, this isn't the one to beat: Mississippi recently became the first state in the nation to have 30% of its citizens qualify as obese. Health experts have several theories why Mississippi is now "the fattest state," including the fact that it's one of the poorest states in the country. People who have to stretch their food dollar often turn to cheap processed foods with poor nutrition.

State leaders are stepping up to the plate. Schools will now be requiring 150 minutes of gym class each week, which equals out to 30 minutes a day, for K-8 students. They'll also require 30 minutes per week of health education and are cleaning the junk food out of their vending machines. The hope is that students will take their new habits home with them; if they don't, Mississippi's future looks grim. By 2015, 50% of the state could be obese. Find out where your state stands here.

Remember when everyone thought that fruit smoothies were healthy? To be fair, it's not that they were unhealthy (they did have real fruit in them, which is a good start), they just weren't as healthy as people tended to believe. The reason why was the extremely high number of calories and carbohydrates they contained.

So, smoothies became a little less popular -- replaced, by some, by trendy coffee drinks from Starbucks and Seattle's Best. Buuuuut....people soon realized that those drinks had just as much sugar and calories as the smoothies, not to mention a whole lot more fat, too. From there, it seemed like everyone just decided to stick to bottled water. Like comedian George Carlin aptly pointed out in one of his bits, it was like all of a sudden everyone became thirsty. As popular as water was, and still is, it seems to have gotten a little boring. This brought on the flavored waters like Propel and Vitamin Water. The tricky part here is that these flavored water have sugar in them, as well as some calories (though not nearly as many as smoothies and fattening coffee drinks). Oh yeah, and then the New York Times did a piece on Aquafina and Dasani, pointing out that their bottled waters are nothing more than purified tap water. The drink craze continues; the search for something tasty, refreshing, and healthy -- a troika of unreasonable qualities?

Well, not necessarily. While bottled water is still the best health and refreshment option (regardless of whether it is purified tap water or actually from a spring, like Evian and Poland Spring), you still kind of miss out in the taste department. So, to help you along, here's a look at how three relatively healthy, refreshing and tasty drinks stack up.

Starbucks Orange Creme Frappuccino Light: With half the calories of the regular version, this drink is a pretty safe choice. Somewhat similar in flavor to those delicious Orange Julius' they sell at the mall, the major difference, however, is that they don't have enough sugar in them to drive your blood sugar through the roof.

Jamba Juice Peach Perfection Smoothie: As far as smoothies go, this one is not that bad. With three servings of three kinds of fruit (peach, strawberries, and mangoes), this one will only tax you with about 200 calories. But, you're also getting 4 grams of fiber, as well as a number of vitamins and minerals from the fruit itself.

Seattle's Best Cold Brewed Vanilla Latte: If you read a recent post of mine, you'll see that there is mounting evidence that drinking caffeinated beverages daily can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease. So, right off the bat, this drink is healthy in that regard. As far as calories go, the key to keeping it to a mere 80 is to ask for skim milk and to use Splenda or Equal rather than regular sugar.

I thought that as a country we have all been trying to reduce, reuse, recycle, live healthier, curb our carbon imprint on the earth etc. While many of us are indeed trying to make the world and our bodies better places, we just might be fighting a losing battle.

McDonald's phased out its controversial, and indulgent, supersized menu several years ago. This has caused many diners to cut back and realize that a gallon of Coke is not a necessity. However, the fast food chain is introducing yet another huge drink, just with a different name. Food items are now simply labeled as small, medium and large. But buyer beware, that large boasts a whopping 42 ounces and 400 calories when filled with a caloric drink like Coke. To put that in proportion a gallon is 64 ounces.

McDonald's is not the only restaurant to squeak around the rules regarding portions. While many chains are introducing healthier menu items, they are also sneaking in large sized drinks and sandwiches. However, with the emphasis on the healthy items, many diners are able to slurp away in peace on the giant sized food and drinks.

Regardless of what the label says, these portions are simply too much. At a time when obesity is a serious health threat these large sizes do nothing to help consumers.

Humans are not the only beings who are fighting the battle of the bulge. In the United Kingdom nearly half of all household dogs and cats are classified as overweight or obese. The problem has grown such that Joe Inglis, a TV vet, has launched a website specifically aimed at helping owners and their pets find solutions to the weight problem.

The website, called Pets Get Slim, has facts about pet obesity and hints to help curb food intake. Inglis is excited about the site, saying, "Whether your pet is obese or slightly overweight - it matters. A weight problem can affect a pet's quality of life and lead to straining of the joints, causing arthritis, as well as internal illnesses like diabetes, liver disease and heart disease."

Helping your pet get back in shape is not only healthy four your small best friend, but it can also help the family members get in shape. Taking the family dog for a walk rather than sitting in front of the television is a help for everybody. For more information, visit the site and check out more facts.

In the decades leading up to middle age, women are about as likely as men to suffer a stroke. But once they hit 45,a woman's stroke risk doubles when compared to a man of similar age. Stress, weight gain, and a rise in blood pressure and cholesterol are to blame, but why are women significantly more affected than men? Some studies have shown that women have a sudden increase in risk factors as they near middle age, and others think there might be a gap in medical care and that women are not being treated as aggressively as men. Whatever the reason, it's important for women and men to recognize their risk factors, as well as the signs and symptoms of a stroke.

Listen. You can't make this stuff up. According to an Australian news source, McDonald's is slapping a healthy heart logo on its products, even the famed-for-its-fat Big Mac. How could you happen, you ask? Well, it's all about money, apparently. McDonald's pays the Australian Heart Foundation $330,000 annually. I guess this is considered a donation of sorts. In return, McDonald's gets to use the heart foundation's healthy heart logo.

What has shocked and angered consumer advocates and medical professionals is that McDonald's is using the logo and other heart-related imagery (like sesame seeds arranged in a heart shape atop a burger bun) on advertisements for its entire product line, not just for the healthier offerings on the menu. (And, yes, there are a few: milk, juice, yogurt, salads and the like.) Critics say the company is deliberately manipulating consumer perceptions of its foods, implying that eating at McDonald's is heart-healthy. Dr. Rosanna Capolingua, president of the Australian Medical Association, says the advertisements are a "tragedy" and amount to subliminal advertising. The Australian Heart Foundation, she says, should step in and alter the terms of its contract with the fast-food giant.

Ironically, this whole episode is likely to hurt the Australian Heart Foundation more than it hurts McDonald's, cheapening its image through association.

Can obesity actually help heart disease be less severe??? According to this article, in some cases it can.

Talk about confusing and contradictory information! We know that obesity causes heart disease (the study doesn't dispute that), but apparently for overweight Type I diabetics once they have it their extra flab helps lessen how badly they suffer.

What?! Other than knowing that it happens, and that it seems more pronounced in women than men, experts have little more than guesses on how or why this phenomenon happens. One guess is that extra weight helps buffer fluctuations in blood sugar. But what they do know is that weight gain and obesity is still outrageously dangerous to a person's health -- with or without this news.


Via The Diabetes Blog

If you struggle to get enough sleep every night you may be hurting more than just your energy level -- you could be setting yourself up for obesity. Studies have shown that sleep loss reduces glycogen release from the liver, which triggers hunger. This explains the "freshman 15" phenomenon for college students, and I can say that I for one do feel hungrier on days I'm more tired (plus I crave comfort foods).

This just makes me believe even more than one of the best things you can do for your health, if you were only going to do one thing, would be to get enough quality sleep every night. Of course that's easier said than done, but it's worth the effort!

It's not new news that people around the world are getting fatter, but what is a little new is that as a result being overweight and obese is more socially acceptable today than it was years ago. An overweight person no longer sticks out in society -- a thin person is more likely to be noticed as out of the norm. That's sad! And although I would hope people of all shapes and sizes can be accepted for who they are, it seems the more we accept obesity as 'normal' the less we'll fight it. And since obesity = health risks it's something we should be fighting.

A recent study has proven what many parents have known all along: anything sporting a crinkly McDonald's wrapper is much more appetizing to young kids. The study gave children two choices of McDonald's menu items, one wrapped in the true packaging and the other in plain paper. The items varied from French fries and burgers to milk and carrots. Hands down children chose the Golden Arches packaging every time.

While this is not shocking, it is a bit of a let down for parents. At a time when childhood obesity is a growing problem, the concept of feeding our children healthy foods is imperative. It is no help when children would trade a healthy, homemade selection for something from the drive though at McDonald's.

The study does come at a good time for many parents. McDonald's is promising to curb its marketing to young kids, stating that fruit will be included in the Happy Meals so popular to young children. While I don't believe that will fix the problem, it does show some effort by the company to provide healthier options for kids.

A new study shows that obesity is socially contagious, and having obese parents, siblings or friends dramatically increases your chance of becoming obese yourself. The same is true in reverse as well -- thin people are more likely to have thin friends and family, and obese people who lose weight increase their friends' odds of losing weight as well.

So why is this? With parents and siblings, where you have the same genetic make-up and were raised with the same eating and exercise habits, I can see the connections. But what about friends? Perhaps people subconsciously seek out people who are the same size as them, who either make them feel ok about being overweight or who practice the same healthy habits that are conducive to being thin.

My friends are of all shapes and sizes and I would say they don't influence my size, but maybe that's why I'm neither skin thin nor overweight. What about you?

When it comes to clothes, black is supposed to be slimming. But, when it comes to tortillas (yes, you read that right...I said tortillas), it seems that blue may be the slimmer choice. That's because blue tortillas evidently have far less starch and a lower GI (glycemic index) rating than the more traditional white corn tortilla.

The glycemic index ranks foods based on their effect on blood sugar levels. The way it works is basically like this: If a food ranks high on the GI, it probably contains simple, fast-acting carbohydrates (think pasta, white rice, white bread, candy, etc.) that, over time, will lead to weight loss. By contrast, if a certain type of food ranks low on the GI, it likely contains slower-digesting, complex carbohydrates (or, it could simply not contain many carbohydrates at all). Examples of low GI foods included sweet potatoes, whole wheat bread, brown rice, and nuts. These types of carbs will provide your body with the energy it needs, but when eaten in moderation, will not lead to an increase in weight (that is of course, unless the food is full of unhealthy fats).

As for the blue tortilla, it turns out that the coloring itself is due to the presence of anthocyanins in the corn. These are the same heart healthy compounds found in many types of berries and in red wine. And, as mentioned earlier, the blue tortilla ranks much lower on the GI than its white corn tortilla counterpart.

When Maggie and Andy Sorrells vowed to stick by each other through thick and thin, they were serious. The couple, who once weighed a combined 1,000 pounds, has been through the very,very thick together. Both Maggie and Andy had lifelong weight issues before they met online and eventually married. At 6' 3", Andy weighed over 500 pounds at his heaviest. Maggie weighed over 400 pounds and was told by physicians that she might not live to be 30 if she didn't do something about her weight.

It took the two of them coming together to lose the weight. Maggie discovered Weigh Down, a faith based weight loss program, and found success through portion control and healthy eating habits. After watching her success, Andy joined her and the two of them are now at normal, healthy weights. Andy can now buy his clothing off the rack. Maggie no longer lives under the threat of heart disease. The two also have a two children to raise with their new lives.

It is always so so wonderful to read a success story, especially one that show such perseverance and spirit. For more on this amazing couple, check out this article.