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Childrens' self-control linked to lower weight

Exercising some self control and delaying gratification for longer periods among children at four years of age is linked with a lower body mass index (BMI) as adults 30 years later. Between 1968 and 1974, 653 four-year-olds completed a delay of gratification test, in which they were given one treat, such as a cookie, and were told that they would be given a second treat if they could wait to eat the first treat for an unspecified length of time (it ended up being 15 minutes). Follow-up studies found that delaying gratification for a longer time as a pre-schooler was tied to adolescent academic strength, social competence, playfulness, ability to handle stress, and higher scores, The Journal of Paediatrics reports. “Interventions can improve young children’s self-control, which may decrease children’s risk of becoming overweight and may have further positive effects on other outcomes (general health, financial stability etc),” says Tanya R, Schlam, from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, who led the study. To further assess the adult benefits of childhood self-control, Schlam and colleagues from Universities of Washington, Columbia and California, Berkeley, followed up with study participants (164 responded; 57 per cent female), who are now in their mid-30s, to assess their current BMI , which was cross-referenced with how they did on the delay of gratification test as children. The researchers found that each minute a child delayed gratification predicted a 0.2 decrease in adult BMI.

Net often wrong on tips on safe infant sleep 

Parents who search the Internet for advice on how to put their infants to sleep may often find misinformation, a new study suggests. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other experts have long had recommendations on how to cut the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. They say parents should always put infants on their backs to sleep - in a crib with a firm mattress, with no soft objects around them. 

Chemical in plastic bottles ups heart risk

The presence of high levels of urinary Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical used in plastic products like water bottles and baby-feeding bottles, may be linked to narrowing of arteries and risk of heart disease. A team led by David Melzer, professor, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, Exeter University, analysed data from 591 patients, who participated in the Metabonomics and Genomics Coronary Artery Disease (MaGiCAD) study in Cambridgeshire, UK, the journal Public Library of Science ONE reports. Patients were classified into severe, intermediate or normal coronary artery disease (CAD) categories based on narrowing of their coronary arteries. The study shows that the concentration of urinary BPA, a controversial chemical commonly used in food and drink containers, was significantly higher in those with severe CAD. The BPA is used in polycarbonate plastic products such as refillable drinks containers, compact disks, some plastic eating utensils and many other products in everyday use. Other studies related to BPA have found associations with altered testosterone, suggesting that the chemical may be more active in the body than previously thought.

Genetically-modified rice good source of vitamin A 

Genetically modified rice could be a good source of Vitamin A for children in countries where deficiency in the vitamin is common, says a new study. The study tested ‘Golden Rice’ against both spinach and supplements in providing Vitamin A to 68 children (six- to eight-year-old) in China.

Cocoa may reduce blood pressure a bit

Eating a daily dose of cocoa or dark chocolate — rich in plant compounds called flavanols — may lead to a slight drop in blood pressure for a short period of time, a fresh look at past research suggests. Pulling data from 20 studies published over the last decade, researchers found that people, who ate flavanol-rich cocoa products every day for a few weeks saw their blood pressure drop by about two or three points. — Agencies

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