News summary

Obese toddler?s death “caused by genetics”

It has been claimed that a girl whose death was used to highlight the problems of obesity died because of a genetic defect. Last month the media took up an account in a Commons Health Committee report of the death of a three-year-old who died weighing six stone. The story sparked a debate about junk food, parental responsibility and exercise, but now scientists at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, which handled the case, say a genetic condition caused the girl to feel hungry all the time. They say the condition was only diagnosed after her death.
(BBC News Online)
www.bbc.co.uk

Fast food industry “may pay for gyms”

It appears that fast food chains will be asked to pay for new sports centres as an alternative to strict regulation of their wares. A leaked memo says firms will be asked to give millions of pounds, while the government will give pay £1 for every £3 contributed. A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport declined to comment on the leaked document, but said there would be “no deal” over obesity laws.
(BBC News Online)
www.bbc.co.uk

Diet “experiment” succeeds at the box office

An American film-maker who spent 30 days eating nothing but food from McDonald?s has had a success with a film about his experience. Morgan Spurlock?s Super Size Me is a chronicle of the deterioration of his health during the period of his diet, during which his weight “ballooned” and his cholesterol level rose sharply. Now his film, which cost $65,000 to make, has taken more than $6 million despite its limited release.
(CNN Online)
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Warning on excessive vitamin C

Prolonged exposure to high doses of vitamin C may make osteoarthritis worse, according to the results of a study in the US. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, suggest that the recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C is not exceeded. Dr Virginia Kraus and colleagues, who investigated the effects of 8 months’ exposure to low, medium, and high doses of vitamin C on the development of knee arthritis in guinea pigs, say their work highlights potential drawbacks to long-term, high-dose vitamin C intake.
(Reuters Health Online)
www.reutershealth.com

Snack makers try texting

Manufacturers of sweets and snacks are using text messages to target children. Under campaigns that have been run by companies including Masterfoods, the maker of Mars bars, Walkers Snacks, Coca-Cola and McDonald?s recipients of the messages are encouraged to return-text a number or a word to see if they have won a prize. The companies can then send promotional information, while retaining the sender?s number. Debra Shipley, Labour MP for Stourbridge, who is campaigning for the regulation of advertising aimed at children, says, “I?m shocked to hear of this cynical targeting of young people. It?s outrageous.”
(The Sunday Times)
www.timesonline.co.uk

Extent of “empty” calorie intake

Scientists say junk foods make up nearly one-third of calories in the US diet. Professor Gladys Block, of the University of California, Berkeley, describes the major contribution to the diet of “empty” calories as “alarming”. Her research indicates that sweets, desserts, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks account for nearly 25 per cent of calories consumed by Americans, while salty snacks and fruit-flavoured drinks make up another five per cent.
(CNN Online)
www.cnn.com

Health benefits to chocolate

Dark chocolate may be good for the heart, through its improving effect on blood vessel function. A US study shows that chocolate containing high levels of cocoa is rich in flavonoids, and senior researcher Mary Engler, of the University of California, says “Arteries that are able to dilate more have increased blood flow and this is especially important for the heart.”
(The Independent)
www.independent.co.uk

Research “may be flawed”

Two medical journals have carried calls for an investigation into the entire body of research by Dr Ranjit Chandra, who claims that multivitamin and mineral supplements significantly improve older peoples? ability to think and reason. Dr Chandra, who was for 27 a member of staff at Newfoundland’s Memorial University, has been asked to produce his raw data amid suggestions that his results are “too good”. The findings of his multivitamin study were published in Nutrition three years ago after peer review, but subsequently other have raised questions. Michael Meguid, editor of Nutrition, says Memorial Univesity needs to lead a thorough investigation into all of Dr Chandra’s work. Richard Smith, the editor of the British Medical Journal, which refused to publish Dr Chandra?s work on cognition says all of Chandra’s work needs to be investigated, but that the university may not be the one to do it.
(CBC Online) www.cbc.ca