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) Health & Exercise
About a year ago SELF magazine approached me to ask whether the UNC Eating Disorders Program would be interested in collaborating with the publication in developing and conducting a national survey of women designed to produce an unfiltered snapshot of disordered eating behaviors in American women.The first thoughts that went through my head were really images -- images of SELF covers with thin women, diet headlines, recipes, rapid weight loss promises. At the same time, they promised dissemination of accurate information to 50.8 million readers, which was many more than we could ever reach through academic outlets.So I remained open-minded and met with the editors of SELF in New York. The Conde Nast building, at first glance, was a caricature. If you've seen "The Devil Wears Prada," you get the picture: young women teetering in their heels and short skirts, makeup and perfect hair everywhere. More>> - (
) Weight loss fad catching on in Bollywood
Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) Weight loss is not restricted to overweight celebrities any more. The fad is catching on among Bollywood stars like Kareena Kapoor, Ayesha Takia and veterans like Om Puri too.For the last few weeks, Om Puri has been regularly visiting a health clinic. 'I had developed a paunch. When I saw myself in 'Don', I realised how hideous I was looking. I've been working on it. I've already lost about nine kilos, and I intend to knock off another nine in the next few months.' So what's his formula? 'Diet mainly, but I'm also taking medical help. Five years ago I underwent a back surgery, the same one that Shah Rukh Khan did. After that, I rapidly gained weight. I needed to lose weight because it was affecting my knees.' Actress Bipasha Basu, however, feels there's an unhealthy trend towards unchecked weight loss bordering on anorexia in the industry. More>>
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) Middle East Quartet Meets in London Friday, to Discuss Moscow Conference
The possibility of holding an international conference in Moscow sometime in June is expected to be one of the main issues the Quartet will discuss in London on Friday, with Israel under the impression that the Kremlin remains intent on going ahead with it, Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who has been promoting the idea, will attend the meeting, along with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and top officials from the other two members of the Quartet: the European Union and the United Nations.
Israel has not hidden from Moscow that it is not overly enthused about another Middle East conference, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert saying last month that "what we need to make peace in the Middle East is to sit the two sides together to talk, rather than going to international conventions. More>> - (
) Jets' Jenkins putting weight issues behind him
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Kris Jenkins really loves to eat. He's quick to acknowledge his passionate palate, and the proof is right there in a big, green No. 77 jersey."I'm a food person," the New York Jets' hefty defensive tackle said Thursday. "I think I've got like a second career whenever I retire as a food critic."
And people would certainly trust his dining suggestions. You don't get to 360 pounds without eating your share of savory and rib-sticking meals. Maybe Jenkins should consider a "Kookin' With Kris" show after he's done with football.
"No, man," he said with a laugh. "They don't want me in the kitchen burning it down."
Actually, Jenkins is a lot more health conscious these days. He's about 30 pounds lighter than he was at the end of last season with Carolina, when he tipped the scales at over 390. More>>
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) In print
You bite into a piece of candy and find a cricket leg. Eewwww. Or notice that raisin in a bowl of cereal has legs and wings. Bam, down the disposal it goes. Such filth in foods is supposedly illegal, but the Food and Drug Administration's actual tolerance is far from zero. FDA rules allow up to 60 insect fragments on average in a composite of six 100-gram chocolate samples. For peanut butter, it's OK to have up to 30 insect pieces per 100 grams. Grossed out yet?In the industrialized world, most people find the idea of eating insects repugnant. Processed foods containing bug bits tend to reflect poor sanitation. Because bugs can host disease-causing germs, insects tainting the food supply pose a health risk
Yet in many parts of the world, diners actually desire insects. Youngsters in central Africa may down ants or grubs while at play. More>>
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) A transformation
Cari Hartman 34, had eaten bad foods all her life and the weight piled on.Chronically overweight, she had aches and pains, a bad back, bad knees, and a myriad of other problems. She was frequently at the doctor's office, or on a table at the chiropractor.
She was attractive in spite of her excess weight. She dressed well. She had a good job as an inside sales representative for Gordon Foods. She had plenty of close friends.
But on March 29, 2005, Hartman's doctor made her get on the scale, something she hadn't done in years.
What she got was a wake-up call that sparked a lifestyle change. . More>>