The Human Imprint

May podcast

Female waists expand in the UK

The Telegraph reports that the average female waist in 1952 measured 28 inches and women burnt off 1,000 calories a day doing housework, Saga said. However more sedentary modern lifestyles mean that the average female waist today is 34 inches. Follow the link to read the full article.

Yemen on brink of food crisis

BBC News reports that Yemen is on the brink of a food crisis. Follow the link to read more.

Schmallenberg virus: further update on GB testing results

There are 258 UK farms reporting SBV: 36 in cattle and 222 in sheep. There are no new reported cases since the 14 May 2012. The numbers continue to hold steady.

Health benefits of curcumin

Curcumin, which is found in the spice turmeric, has been linked to a range of health benefits. Studies have already shown that it can beat cancer cells grown in a laboratory and benefits have been suggested in stroke and dementia patients as well. Now a trial at hospitals in Leicester will investigating giving curcumin alongside chemotherapy drugs. Follow the link for more details.

Source: BBC News

 

many believed dead after Nepal flash floods

The Independent reports that police said the death toll has reached 17 from flash flooding in western Nepal. Another 47 people are missing and presumed dead. The flooding was triggered by an avalanche that blocked the river about 125 miles north west of the capital, Katmandu.Follow the link to read more.

Australian school-based Obesity Prevention Program fails to reduce BMI

Ausfoodnews reports that an Australian school-based obesity prevention program for adolescent girls has failed to reduce body mass index (BMI) in the participants, according to a report published by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Researchers at the University of Newcastle, Australia, examined the effects of a 12-month group trial designed to prevent unhealthy weight gain in adolescent girls living in low-income communities. The study was funded by a grant from the Australian Research Council. The study included 357 adolescent girls between the ages of 12 to 14 years, and 148 girls received the program. The program included, among other things, enhanced school sport sessions, nutrition workshops, lunchtime physical activity sessions and text messaging for social support. After 12 months, changes in BMI were “in favour” of the program, but were not statistically different from those in the control group, according to the study results.

Follow the link for more details.

Drought and floods at once

It isn't just the UK that is having floods and drought at the same time. BBC News reports that severe flooding has forced thousands of families to flee their homes in Brazil's Amazon region. It comes as the worst drought in 30 years in the north-east of the country has led to water rationing there.

Schmallenberg virus spread continues to slow

There are now 256 UK farms reporting SBV: 36 in cattle and 220 in sheep. This is an increase of one farm in cattle and one in sheep. All farms are within the recognized risk counties in England. The decline in the numbers of reporting farms is in line with all EU Member States, where the sheep reports have declined as lambing in ‘at risk’ sheep (those at a critical time of gestation when infection can impact on the foetus) draws to an end. This is also in line with Defra’s own predictions considering UK farming practices and estimated time of infection occurring in the UK. We continue to expect to see cases in cattle into early summer.

Source: AHVLA

Eye damage in Asia

BBC News reports that a study suggests that up to 90% of school leavers in major Asian cities are suffering from myopia - short-sightedness.

"Researchers say the "extraordinary rise" in the problem is being caused by students working very hard in school and missing out on outdoor light. The scientists told the Lancet that up to one in five of these students could experience severe visual impairment and even blindness. In the UK, the average level of myopia is between 20% and 30%. According to Professor Ian Morgan, who led this study and is from the Australian National University, 20-30% was once the average among people in South East Asia as well. "What we've done is written a review of all the evidence which suggests that something extraordinary has happened in east Asia in the last two generations," he told BBC News."They've gone from something like 20% myopia in the population to well over 80%, heading for 90% in young adults, and as they get adult it will just spread through the population. It certainly poses a major health problem."

This is probably due to poor light when working and eye strain - check out the full article.