Obesity a Threat to Adults With Autism, But There May Be Help

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• September 24, 2021
• Full Page

FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Eating well and exercising regularly can be a challenge for anyone. But for those with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disabilities, that challenge is exponentially greater.

Many young men and wo...

Weight Loss in Childhood May Protect Boys Against Future Infertility

• Steven Reinberg
• September 24, 2021
• Full Page

Obese boys who lose weight may avoid fertility problems in adulthood, a preliminary study suggests.

Even short-term weight loss might partially reverse weight-related alterations in reproductive function, the researchers said.

Childhood obesity can have serious ef...

New Tricks to Turn Your Fussy Eater Around

• Steven Reinberg
• September 24, 2021
• Full Page

If your children are picky eaters, bribing or pressuring them will probably backfire.

But there are other steps you can take to help them get over their fussiness, researchers report.

Australian scientists reviewed 80 studies to find out more about fussy eaters. <...

Diabetes Drug Might Help Women With Preeclampsia Prolong Their Pregnancy

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• September 23, 2021
• Full Page

THURSDAY, Sept. 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Metformin, a commonly prescribed diabetes drug, may help stave off preterm birth among women who develop pregnancy-related high blood pressure.

Preeclampsia is marked by a sudden spike in blood pressure, pro...

Childhood Trauma Linked With Higher Odds for Adult Neurological Ills

• Steven Reinberg
• September 23, 2021
• Full Page

Kids who suffer abuse, neglect or household dysfunction are more likely to have neurological problems like stroke or headaches as adults, researchers report.

"Traumatic events in childhood have been linked in previous studies to a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes,...

Witnessing Abuse of a Sibling Can Traumatize a Child

• Steven Reinberg
• September 22, 2021
• Full Page

Seeing a parent abuse a sibling can be as traumatizing as watching a parent hurt another parent, a new study finds.

And it can lead to depression, anxiety and anger, researchers say.

"When we hear about exposure to family violence, we usually think about someone b...

Intervening in Infancy Might Help Prevent Some Cases of Autism: Study

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• September 21, 2021
• Full Page

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Infants may show early signs of autism, but a diagnosis usually isn't made until age 3. Now, a new study suggests that jumpstarting therapy might stave off that diagnosis altogether.

Researchers say their p...

Neighborhood Gun Violence Means Worse Mental Health for Kids

• Steven Reinberg
• September 21, 2021
• Full Page

Living within a few blocks of a shooting increases the risk that a child will end up visiting the emergency department for mental health-related problems, researchers say.

The new study found significant increases in mental health-related ER visits in the two weeks after...

Child Obesity Rose Sharply During Pandemic

• Cara Murez
• September 17, 2021
• Full Page

Childhood obesity was a worrisome issue before the pandemic, and now it's alarmingly worse, new data shows.

A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found a "profound increase in weight gain for kids" that is "substantial and alarming," Dr. Alyson Goodman,...

Why Are More U.S. Babies Being Born With Syphilis?

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• September 16, 2021
• Full Page

The number of U.S. infants born with syphilis is climbing at an alarming pace, reaching a high not seen since the 1990s, according to new government figures.

Newborn syphilis, a potentially fatal condition, was at one time nearly eliminated in the United States. But the ...

Child Cancers Are Rare, But Here Are Signs to Look For

• September 11, 2021
• Full Page

Most parents want their children to live carefree lives, so a diagnosis of childhood cancer is devastating. Fortunately, pediatric cancers are rare.

Yet it doesn't hurt to be watchful for the warning signs, suggest experts in childhood cancer from Penn State Health....

Getting Kids Eyeglasses Boosts School Grades: Study

• Cara Murez
• September 10, 2021
• Full Page

New glasses are helping kids in Baltimore see more success in school.

A three-year clinical study found that students who got new eyeglasses through a school-based program had higher reading and math test scores.

"The glasses offered the biggest benefit to the very...

Kids Who Grew Up With Smokers Have Higher Odds for Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Robert Preidt
• August 19, 2021
• Full Page

While breathing in secondhand smoke is known to harm kids' lungs, new research suggests that children whose parents smoked are also more prone to developing rheumatoid arthritis later in life.

"Our findings give more depth and gravity to the negative health consequences ...

Only 1 in 10 Kids With ADHD Will Outgrow It

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• August 18, 2021
• Full Page

Struggling with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a child is heart-breaking enough, but now new research confirms what many have long suspected: These patients will often continue to be plagued by ADHD symptoms as adults.

Only about one in 10 kids with t...

Diabetes in Pregnancy Tied to Eye Issues in Kids

• Robert Preidt
• August 18, 2021
• Full Page

Children whose mothers had diabetes during pregnancy are at increased risk for severe forms of common eye problems such as far- and near-sightedness and astigmatism, a long-term study suggests.

Collectively, they're known as refractive errors, conditions in which the eye...

Your Metabolism Changes As You Age, Just Not When You Think

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• August 13, 2021
• Full Page

Everyone knows that your metabolism peaks in your teenage years, when you're fit and active and feeling your oats.

And everyone knows that a person's metabolism slows down in middle age, as bodies start to expand and sag, and become less energetic.

But that's all w...

'Preemie' Babies More Vulnerable to Autism Diagnosis Later: Study

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• August 11, 2021
• Full Page

Babies born prematurely, even just a couple weeks early, may be at increased risk of autism, a large new study suggests.

It's long been known that autism, a developmental brain disorder, is more common among children who were born preterm -- before the 37th week of pregn...

Pandemic Has Depression, Anxiety Rates Among Youth Climbing Worldwide

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• August 9, 2021
• Full Page

If you think the pandemic hasn't taken a toll on the mental health of young people, ponder these two facts from a new review: one in four are suffering from depression, while one in five are struggling with anxiety.

"Being socially isolated, kept away from their friends,...

Could Kids Swim Their Way to Better Vocabularies?

• Robert Preidt
• August 2, 2021
• Full Page

Kids may be able to swim their way to a deeper vocabulary.

That's the takeaway from a study in which researchers taught 48 kids ages 6 to 12 a few new words before they swam, did CrossFit-type exercises or coloring.

The swimmers did 13% better in follow up tests of...

Premature Delivery Raises Odds for Cerebral Palsy

• Robert Preidt
• July 30, 2021
• Full Page

Extremely premature babies have a much higher risk of cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions than full-term infants, a large Israeli study affirms.

Cerebral palsy -- the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and coordination -- is the mos...

Kids With Autism Have Unique Gut 'Microbiomes'

• Robert Preidt
• July 27, 2021
• Full Page

Children with autism differ socially and developmentally from their typically developing peers. Now, researchers say there are also differences in their array of healthy gut bacteria or "microbiome."

The findings may lead to earlier treatment for kids with an autism spec...

Most Parents Clueless About Overuse Dangers to Young Pitchers

• Robert Preidt
• July 22, 2021
• Full Page

Before you sign your young pitcher up to play baseball in multiple leagues, familiarize yourself with guidelines that can protect them against overuse injuries.

Sound obvious? A new survey shows it isn't, because most parents have no idea what those guidelines are.

Severe COVID in Kids: Rare, but Brain Issues Can Result

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• July 20, 2021
• Full Page

About one in 20 kids hospitalized with COVID-19 develop debilitating brain or nerve complications that could haunt some for a long time, a new British study reports.

Children with severe infections can suffer from brain inflammation, seizures, stroke, behavior changes, h...

How Your Kid's Education Could Make You Healthier

• Robert Preidt
• July 20, 2021
• Full Page

If you're a parent, here's another reason to encourage your kids to get a good education: Children's educational successes or failures can impact their parent's physical and mental health, new research suggests.

For the study, researchers at the University at Buffalo in ...

Remote Learning Hurt High School Students Academically, Emotionally

• Robert Preidt
• July 16, 2021
• Full Page

There were academic, social and emotional consequences for U.S. high school students who attended classes remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research shows.

The study included more than 6,500 students in Orange County Public Schools in Florida, who were surveyed ...

Pesticide Harmed Children's Brains: Lawsuits

• Robert Preidt
• July 13, 2021
• Full Page

Lawsuits claiming that the widely used bug killer chlorpyrifos caused brain damage in children were filed Monday in California.

Past research has shown that the pesticide harms the brains of fetuses and children, the Associated Press reported.

Chlorpyrifos...

Why Handwriting Still Beats Typing, Videos at Helping Folks Learn

• Cara Murez
• July 12, 2021
• Full Page

Want to learn something new? Pick up your pencil.

New research suggests that despite the ease of using a computer for typing notes or watching videos, people learn certain skills significantly better and faster when writing them by hand.

"The question out there for...

School-Based Mindfulness Program Gives Big Boost to Young Kids' Sleep

• Cara Murez
• July 8, 2021
• Full Page

Children tend to sleep less as they approach early adolescence, perhaps because of the pressures of homework and the presence of social media.

Now, new research suggests that loss of precious slumber is not inevitable.

The researchers found that a school-based pro...

Telehealth: Tips for Helping Kids With Autism Take Part

• July 5, 2021
• Full Page

Telehealth is increasing in popularity in the United States, partly due to the pandemic. But some children with autism have difficulty sitting through these virtual appointments.

Yet those visits can be a helpful part of a child's ongoing medical care, and their convenie...

Key to Good Sleep for Toddlers Starts in Infancy

• July 2, 2021
• Full Page

Introducing bedtime routines very early in life can improve sleep habits in the toddler years, according to a new study.

Almost 500 new mothers were first surveyed when their infants were 3 months old. They were questioned again when the children were 12 months,...

Gene-Based Embryo Selection: Are 'Designer Babies' on the Horizon?

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• July 1, 2021
• Full Page

The notion of parents picking out genetically perfect babies may seem like science fiction, but bioethicists warn in a new report that some companies have already started to offer couples going through in vitro fertilization (IVF) the means to pick better embryos through polyg...

What Drives Preschoolers' Curiosity to Learn?

• Cara Murez
• July 1, 2021
• Full Page

Want to hold a preschooler's interest in learning something new? Give them just enough information to make them want to know more, a new study suggests.

This creates the perfect mix of uncertainty and curiosity in children, said researchers from Rutgers University, in Ne...

More Evidence Spanking Kids Doesn't Work, Can Cause Harm

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• June 30, 2021
• Full Page

Is spanking good for parents? Is spanking good for kids? Is spanking good for anyone? No, no and no, according to a big new review of prior research.

"Zero studies found that physical punishment predicted better child behavior over time," said study co-author Elizabeth ...

Kids Born Through Fertility Treatments Have No Higher Cancer Risk

• Robert Preidt
• June 29, 2021
• Full Page

Good news for couples considering fertility treatments: Children born through assisted reproductive technology (ART) don't have an increased risk of cancer, researchers say.

In the new study, kids born through high-tech fertility treatments -- such as in vitro fertilizat...

High Curiosity in Infancy Carries Through to Toddler Years

• Cara Murez
• June 29, 2021
• Full Page

Using a bit of sleight of hand, researchers were able to demonstrate that babies who were the most intrigued with magic tricks became the most curious toddlers.

The children's early delight in the unexpected could be a sign of their future thinking skills, the researcher...

1 in 4 Parents Worries Their Young Child Isn't Reaching Milestones: Poll

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• June 28, 2021
• Full Page

As babies and toddlers grow, parents may feel excited about their little one learning to crawl, walk or talk.

But these same milestones can also raise concerns when parents fear their child may not be developing normally. Nearly a quarter of parents -- 23% -- who partici...

Spanish Spoken at Home? It Won't Slow Youngsters Learning English: Study

• Robert Preidt
• June 28, 2021
• Full Page

Being in a Spanish-speaking home doesn't hamper American kids' ability to learn English, new research shows.

The first-of-its-kind study included 126 U.S.-born 5-year-olds who were exposed to Spanish at home from birth, along with varying amounts of English.

Resea...

C-Section Babies Miss Out on Mom's 'Microbiome,' But Treatment Can Change That

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• June 23, 2021
• Full Page

When a baby is born, the mother's body provides a pathway into the world, but the journey also exposes them to beneficial bacteria that live in and on their mom. But that critical exchange doesn't happen during a cesarean section delivery.

Now, researchers report that sw...

Leaded Gas, Banned Decades Ago, Might Still Harm People Today

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• June 22, 2021
• Full Page

The good news: Levels of lead in the air that Londoners breathe are far lower today than they were in the 1980s, when leaded gas was an automotive staple.

The bad news: Decades-old lead particles still pollute the city's air, a stubborn and potentially hazardous leftove...

When Is Your Very Earliest Memory?

• Robert Preidt
• June 22, 2021
• Full Page

Your earliest memories may stretch back to a younger age than previously thought, new research suggests.

The study found that people can recall back to an average age of 2½ years old, which is a year earlier than suggested by previous studies.

The findings from th...

Sharing Bed With Baby: Dangerous, and It Won't Boost 'Attachment,' Study Shows

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• June 21, 2021
• Full Page

Whether to share your bed with your infant at night has been the subject of heated debate: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against it, recommending room-sharing but not bed-sharing, while others promote the practice as part of an idea called attachment parenti...

Dads of 'Preemie' Babies Can Be Hit by Depression

• Robert Preidt
• June 18, 2021
• Full Page

Postpartum depression strikes fathers of premature babies more often than previously thought, and it can linger longer in fathers than in mothers, a new study finds.

The researchers screened for depression in 431 parents of premature infants in a neonatal intensive care...

Treating Teachers' Depression Could Boost Young Students' Grades: Study

• Cara Murez
• June 16, 2021
• Full Page

When depression strikes teachers, they can suffer mightily, but a new study suggests their students' ability to learn might also be harmed.

Researchers found a correlation between teachers' depressive symptoms and math skills in early learners enrolled in Head Start prog...

Obesity in Teens Raises Adult Diabetes Risk, Even After Weight Loss

• June 16, 2021
• Full Page

In a finding that confirms what many suspect, a new study shows that teens who are overweight or obese may be more likely to develop type 2 diabetes or have a heart attack in their 30s and 40s.

These teens are also more likely to have other health issues down the road, r...

Big Rise in U.S. Teens Identifying As Gay, Bisexual

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• June 15, 2021
• Full Page

More teens in the United States are reporting their sexual identity as gay, lesbian or bisexual, nationwide surveys show.

Between 2015 and 2019, the percentage of 15- to 17-year-olds who said they identified as "non-heterosexual" rose from 8.3% to 11.7%, according to nat...

Dirty Air in Pregnancy Might Raise Baby's Obesity Risk

• Robert Preidt
• June 15, 2021
• Full Page

Children may have an increased risk of obesity if their mothers were exposed to high levels of air pollution during pregnancy, researchers say.

In a new study, 123 Hispanic mother-infant pairs were enrolled in an ongoing trial in the Los Angeles region. Before pregnancy,...

Big Rise in Suicide Attempts by U.S. Teen Girls During Pandemic

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• June 11, 2021
• Full Page

The suicide attempt rate has leapt by as much as half among teenage girls during the coronavirus pandemic, a new government study shows.

Emergency room visits for suspected suicide attempts among girls between the ages of 12 and 17 increased by 26% during summer 2020 and...

ADHD Meds May Help Keep Some Kids From Thoughts of Suicide

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• June 8, 2021
• Full Page

ADHD medications might help lessen the risk of suicide in children with serious behavioral issues, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that medications like Ritalin and Adderall, commonly prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), were linked to ...

Your Teen's Smartphone Could Be Key to Unhealthy Weight

• Ernie Mundell and Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporters
• June 8, 2021
• Full Page

Your teens' route to a healthy or unhealthy weight may be in their hands -- literally.

New research out of South Korea shows that teens who spend too much time on their smartphones are also more prone to eating habits that increase their odds for obesity.

One nutri...

Mom's Blood Pressure in Pregnancy Could Affect Child's Stroke Risk Decades Later

• Robert Preidt
• June 1, 2021
• Full Page

Expectant mothers' high blood pressure heightens kids' risk of stroke later in life, a Swedish study finds.

"Our findings indicate that hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are associated with increased risks of stroke and potentially heart disease in offspring up to ...