Americans Underestimate Weight Gain

Even though the average adult weight rose in 2008-2009, most surveyed thought they'd dropped pounds

If you've ever stepped on the scales and been shocked at the number you see, then you're not alone: a large new study finds that Americans routinely underestimate the amount of extra pounds they pack on.

The finding could have real implications for the U.S. obesity epidemic, the researchers said.

The study's lead author, Catherine Wetmore, said in an institute news release. "If people aren't in touch with their weight and changes in their weight over time, they might not be motivated to lose weight." The study was based on national survey data involving 775,000 American adults from 2008 and 2009.

Wetmore's team notes that many adults thought they had actually lost weight when they hadn't. That's important to note, Wetmore said, because data that underestimate the growing obesity epidemic could have serious public health consequences.

For example, she said, "If we had relied on the reported data about weight change between 2008 and 2009, we would have undercounted approximately 4.4 million obese adults in the U.S."

Karen Congro, nutritionist and director of the Wellness for Life Program at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, New York City said, "I see this in the clinic every single day; people think they are a certain weight, and they are totally wrong. There is a disconnect between perception and reality when it comes to weight." "When it comes to weight, there is a lot of magical thinking going on."

In the surveys used in the study, participants were asked about their weight at the time of the survey, as well as how much they weighed one year ago.

The researchers report that, on average, American adults gained weight in 2008. However, even though the average reported weights rose between the two surveys, Americans polled typically thought they had lost weight in the past year.

Since the prevalence of obesity actually increased slightly between 2008 and 2009 (from 26 to 26.5 percent) and the average weight increased by about 1 pound, the researchers concluded that those surveyed were unclear about the change in their weight over the course of the year.

"We all know on some level that people can be dishonest about their weight," IHME professor Ali Mokdad said in the news release. "But now we know that they can be misreporting annual changes in their weight, to the extent of more than 2 pounds per year among adults over the age of 50, or more than 4 pounds per year among those with diabetes. On average, American adults were off by about a pound, which, over time, can really add up and have a significant health impact."

The researchers noted that women seemed more aware of fluctuations in their weight than men. Younger people were also better at judging fluctuations in their weight compared to older Americans.

The study's authors pointed out that not all participants thought they lost weight. They added that certain groups were more likely to report unintentional weight gain, including people under 40 years of age, smokers, minorities, and people with sedentary lifestyles and/or less-than-ideal diets.

Besides Diabetes and CVD, Obese Children Will Have 50% Higher Risk of Colon Cancer

The newest reason for doing everything possible to reduce childhood obesity names certain cancers as risks associated with a high BMI....



Obesity in childhood has a direct link with bladder and urinary tract (urothelial), and colorectal cancers in adulthood, warn Israeli researchers.

Childhood obesity is associated with all sorts of immediate health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, breathing and joint problems, along with an increased risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. This study set out to examine the relationship between childhood obesity and future diagnoses of urothelial, or bladder, and colorectal cancers.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University gathered the health information of 1.1 million males collected by the Israeli Defense Forces and then linked this medical data to the National Cancer Registry. They looked specifically at the rates of urothelial and colorectal cancer over a follow-up period of 18 years in those who were obese, meaning that they had a body mass index (BMI) in the 85thpercentile and above, at age 17. Adjustments were made for year of birth, level of education, and religiosity.

Those whose BMI placed them in the range of obesity in adolescence had a 1.42% greater chance of developing urothelial or colorectal cancers in adulthood.

While these results only tell us about the incidences of two specific types of cancer, Ari Shamiss, one of the doctors involved in the study, has indicated that he is currently researching connections between childhood obesity and other cancers in the hopes of uncovering other connections. "We still need to learn whether obesity is directly causing the high risk of cancer, and, perhaps most essentially, whether losing weight is effective -- and if so, how much and when -- in lowering it.

In conclusion, childhood obesity is associated with a 50% higher risk of urothelial or colorectal cancers.

"Overweight in Adolescence is Related to Increased Risk of Future Urothelial Cancer," published in the journal Obesity.

Robert Downey Jr., Halle Berry, Kristen Stewart All Have Foot Injuries

Ankle Injury

Production on "Iron Man 3" has been suspended after leading man Robert Downey Jr. injured his ankle while performing a stunt. "There will be a short delay in the production schedule while he recuperates," Marvel Studios said Wednesday in a statement regarding the incident which happened on the film's Wilmington, North Carolina, set.

With a budget said to be in the $200-million range, every day Downy Jr. is not working is major money down the drain. The silver lining: It's a Marvel production! With the success of "The Avengers," which has made nearly $1.5 BILLION worldwide, they can afford it. On set injuries are nothing new to Hollywood.



Hurt Head and Foot

Halle Berry reportedly suffered a minor head injury this summer while she was shooting a fight sequence for her upcoming film "The Hive." Her rep said she was taken to the hospital "as a precaution." Apparently Berry is a bit accident prone: She suffered a broken foot last year at her rented villa on a day off from production of the upcoming "Cloud Atlas."



Hand then Foot

Production in London came to a halt on "Snow White and the Huntsman" when Kristen Stewart injured her hand last year. Stewart also reportedly suffered a puncture wound to her foot during reshoots of the upcoming "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2."

Pointers For Protecting Feet From Skin Cancer

(ARA) - Walking on the beach, frolicking in the surf, participating in sports, strolling through a theme park while on vacation - your feet will carry you through a lot of fun this summer. But can paying attention to them help you avoid the most common form of cancer in America? Possibly, experts say. Each year, more than 1 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Yet only 32 percent of Americans use sunscreen to protect themselves from the sun's damaging rays, NCI says in its Cancer Trends Progress Report. Even when sunscreen is applied, the feet are often neglected.

"While skin cancers typically appear on areas of sun-exposed skin like the face, arms and hands, they can also occur on areas that get much less sun, such as the feet," says Dr. Joseph Caporusso, a podiatrist and president of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

"With flip-flops and sandals being common summer foot attire, more Americans than ever are exposing their feet to the sun's potential harmful rays." Sun exposure, however, isn't the whole story when it comes to skin cancers on the feet. More often, skin cancers of the feet can be linked to exposure to viruses or chemicals, chronic inflammation or irritation, or even inherited traits, according to APMA.

"Unfortunately, the skin on our feet is often overlooked during routine medical checkups," Caporusso notes. "Yet, foot health can be an indicator of overall health. It's important for everyone to have their feet checked regularly by podiatrist for any signs or symptoms of skin cancer."

APMA offers a few tips for protecting your feet this summer:
* Apply the same broad-spectrum sunscreen you use on the rest of your body to your feet, including the tops, on and between the toes, and even the soles of your feet. Reapply every two hours when you're out in the sun and more frequently if you spend a lot of time in and out of the water.

* Conduct regular self exams of your feet. Look for signs of problems, such as cracking or sores. Keep in mind that freckles and moles on the soles of the feet are very unusual, and may be a sign you should see a podiatrist.

* Be aware of the warning signs for malignant melanoma - the most deadly type of skin cancer. This type of cancer may occur on the skin of the feet and on occasion, beneath a toenail. Learn the ABCDEs of melanoma: Asymmetrical lesions, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter larger than a pencil eraser, and Evolving characteristics of any of the ABCD traits. If you notice a mole, freckle or lesion with any of these characteristics, have your health care provider take a look.

* Skin cancer of the feet can easily be mistaken for other, less serious problems. For example squamous cell carcinomas, the second-most-common type of skin cancer, may resemble a plantar wart, fungal infection, eczema, an ulcer or other common dermatological condition.

* Skin cancers in the lower legs, ankles and feet may look very different from those that occur in the rest of the body. Podiatrists are uniquely qualified among medical professionals to treat lower extremities, so their knowledge and training can help patients detect both benign and malignant skin tumors early.

Bunions Painful?

Prolonged changes to normal foot patterns can lead to the formation of bony protrusions commonly known as bunions.

Typically caused by tight fitting footwear, a bunion can be an eyesore, although the real sore is experienced on the great toe and sometimes the fifth toe (Tailor's Bunion). For early stages, preventing the bunion from enlargement is important.

Prevention can be achieved with orthotics that relieves pressure on the bunion.
Orthotics may be semi-rigid to rigid to meet the accommodations each person needs who are suffering from bunions. Orthotics are devices worn in your shoes that provide correction to your feet, helping them to function more efficiently.

Prescription orthotics may help relieve your pain by realigning and stabilizing the bones in your feet, restoring your natural walking pattern. They will also help alleviate pain from rubbing, which often leads to enlargement of the protrusion.

Patients should be advised to wear comfortable shoes that help support their feet. Taking preventative measures in the initial stages of the bunion’s existence is a great way to slow its growth.

Be sure to come by and see Dr. Weaver about getting your custom orthotics today and stop the unsightly growth of your bunion. The key to better health could be right under your toes.

Pedicures and Painful Nails

While having a pedicure at the local nail salon may seem like a luxury that you deserve, it’s a good idea to keep your eyes and ears open and to make sure that you keep your feet safe by following a few easy tips.

If you schedule your pedicure first thing in the morning, you may find that the foot bath is the cleanest it will be all day. If you can’t be the first customer, however, make sure that the technician cleans both the tub and the filter prior to your pedicure.

If at all possible, bring your own pedicure tools to the salon. Bacteria and fungus can easily be transferred from person to person on these tools, especially if the salon does not use proper sterilization techniques. Never allow technicians to use blades or knives to cut your calluses or to eliminate thick, dead skin. Only use pumice stones, foot files or exfoliating scrub. Once you soak your feet for a few minutes, this thickened skin can be easily sloughed off with these types of tools.

The pedicurist should trim your nails straight across. Do not let them dig into the sides of the nails or try to trim out ingrown nails. If you think you may have an ingrown toenail, see a podiatrist immediately.

Only healthy nails should be painted with colored polish. Make sure to change the polish frequently and to check your nails when the polish is off. Signs of fungus and other nail problems can often be hidden under nail polish, so be vigilant in checking your nails.

If your skin bleeds or gets nicked at the salon, make sure to carefully clean and disinfect that area and then watch for signs of infection. Call Dr. Weaver immediately if you have any signs of redness or skin irritation after your salon visit.

Missy Franklin says her huge feet are a big topic in London

Missy Franklin is getting lots of attention in London and it has nothing to do with her historic medal haul at the Aquatics Centre. Well, it has something to do with it.

The 17-year-old rising high school senior told NBC on Monday that her size 13 feet have been drawing attention from athletes around the Olympics. Host Michele Beadle joked that she'd put a stop to those having fun at the expense of Missy's trotters, but Missy, in her typical bubbly demeanor, said she doesn't mind. In fact, she's proud of her big feet.

And why wouldn't she be? Those feet helped her win four gold medals in London and played a part in her becoming America's Olympic sweetheart. Her dad says they're Missy's "built-in flippers."

Sometimes you see young female athletes with abnormal size become uncomfortable in their bodies. Missy has none of that. Given how gracefully she moves in and out of the pool with her 6-foot-1 frame (remember that "Call Me Maybe" clip?), it's no wonder.

"I think it's helped me so much," she told ThePostGame last year. "God has blessed me with an excellent swimmer's body."