Monday, January 17, 2011

A Look at Weight Bias


During Healthy Weight Week, the issue of Weight Bias is addressed. The three videos reviewed look at this subject from the academic perspective, a personal view and government intervention. Though the videos discuss weight bias in relationship to overweight and obesity, the very thin often are a target of weight bias.

Weight Bias
Overweight and obese youth frequently are teased, harassed and mistreated because of their weight. Weight-related teasing ("weight bias") can have a damaging impact on both emotional and physical health. The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University (http://www.yaleruddcenter.org) created this video to help parents and teachers understand the severity and impacts of weight bias in school and at home and to present strategies to help combat this problem for overweight teens and pre-adolescents.

The video host is celebrity, model and activist Emme and features Rudd Center experts: Dr. Rebecca Puhl and Dr. Kelly Brownell. The obstacles overweight and obese youth encounter with weight bias is presented using expert commentary and dramatic representation.

Discrimination Against Overweight People
"My old suitemate inspired me to make this as my final project freshman year. When she broke out of her shell and felt good about herself, her personality really began to shine. Everyone we lived with started to see past her "big girl" exterior and opened up to her more. We had creative freedom wth our final project so I decided to look at various aspects of the discrimination against larger individuals."


Should Weight Discrimination Be Illegal?


One of the Winners of the
2010
"Love Your Body" Campaign
Sarah Neuser, Eagan, MN

The National Organization for Women Foundation ("NOW Foundation") sponsors the "Love Your Body" campaign. The posters chosen demonstrate beauty is not limited by body size, body type, ethnicity, age or physical appearance. 

Resouces:

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Healthy Weight Week
January 16 to 22, 2011

Today is the start of Healthy Weight Week. During Healthy Weight Week attention is focused on Lifelong Healthy Habits Self-Esteem; Weight Bias; Fad Diets and Gimmicks; Women’s Healthy Weight; Health at any Size and Professional Resources. The goals are to prevent eating disorders and weight problems.

What is Healthy Weight Week?

Frances M. "Francie" Berg, MS, LN is the founder of Healthy Weight Week. She is a licensed nutritionist, family wellness specialist and adjunct professor at the University of North Dakota School Of Medicine. Francie is the author of 12 books and the founder, editor and publisher of the Healthy Weight Journal (established in 1986).

Mission
"Healthy Weight Network (HWN) provides a critical link between research and practical application on weight and eating issues. Recognizing weight is a complex condition of increasing concern throughout the world, the HWN is committed to bringing together scientific information from many sources, reporting controversial issues in a clear, objective manner and the ongoing search for truth and understanding.

Recognizing weight is an easily exploitable health and social concern, the HWN is committed to exposing deception, reshaping detrimental social attitudes, and promoting health at any size. Our mission is to be a voice of integrity and insight in a field that has been much abused and neglected."


Francie M. Berg, MS, LN
Healthy Weight Network, 402 South 14th Street, Hettinger, ND 58639
email: fmberg@healthyweight.net; website: http://www.healthyweight.net/

Every Girl Is Beautiful / Self-Esteem PSA

Do You Think I'm Fat?
A Public Service Announcement from the
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).
For help visit http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/


Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Susan Weiner RD, MS, CDE
Nutrition Expert


Traveling the Internet and discovering the many talented dietitians is a wonderful experience.  I have learned about the numerous specialties, cultural diversity, advances in research, legislative news, current events, ADA campaigns, new recipes and I even made some new friends along the way.

This week my journey takes me to
Susan Weiner Nutrition
.

“Beans are an inexpensive meat substitute, which can save money
and add years to your life. They are high in fiber, rich in vitamins,
antioxidants, and phytochemicals. Beans are the
versatile way to add protein and fiber
to your diet without busting your food budget.”
- Susan Weiner RD, MS, CDE

Susan Weiner is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and Certified Dietitian and Nutritionist. She is currently in private practice in New York. 
Experiences

1. Contributing medical producer for dLife TV and serves as a member of dLifes medical advisory board.  dLife - For Your Diabetes Life is an educational resource for people with diabetes as well as professionals in the diabetes community. 
2. Nutritionist and certified diabetes educator for the diabetes program TheBestLife.com, Bob Greene’s health and weight loss website. She provides articles to the site and is available to answer the “ask the expert” diabetes questions. Susan contributed  consultation in The Best Life Guide to Managing Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes (Simon & Schuster 2009). This book launched TheBestLife.com website.
3. Well respected lecturer for many professional organizations including the American College of Sports Medicine.

4. Susan was the official sports nutritionist for the American Diabetes Association Walk America program; as well as the Sports Nutritionist for the Elite Runners Distance Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid New York.
5. Featured guest on numerous radio and television shows including  the “1010 wins radio winning womens breakfast series” and Fox News. She has been interviewed on  various nutrition and diet topics. 
6. A valued contributor to many books on a variety of nutrition topics (primarily weight management and diabetes). Susan has written articles and has been quoted in several publications including Men’s Health, New York Newsday, Woman’s Day, Better Homes and Gardens, Fitness Magazine, Sports Illustrated for Women, Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Supplement and the New York Daily News.
7. Adjunct professor of nutrition at Queens College in New York for over 13 years and taught at the Academy of Applied Personal Training Education at Hofstra University.
8. Consultant and spokesperson for several food companies. 
Education and Certification
Susan earned her Masters Degree in Applied Physiology and Nutrition from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. Her dual masters degree in “Applied Physiology and Nutrition” afforded her the opportunity to practice as a nutritionist and exercise physiologist. She is certified in “Adult Weight Management”, through the American Dietetic Association.

                       Professional Affiliations
*
The American Dietetics Association
*
The American Diabetes Association, Professional Section
*
New York State Dietetics Association
*
American College of Sports Medicine
*
American Association of Diabetes Educators
*
National Association of Eating Disorders

 To learn more about Susan Weiner Nutrition visit any of the following links.

January. National Birth Defects Prevention Month

Sponsor: The National Birth Defects Prevention Network 


Prevent Birth Defects

National Birth Defects Prevention Month is a time to raise awareness of birth defects and promote healthy pregnancies.

A birth defect is a problem that happens while a baby is developing in the mother’s body. One out of every 33 babies in the United States is born with a birth defect.

Many birth defects can be prevented. If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, these tips can help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby:

* Take a multivitamin with folic acid every day before and during pregnancy.

* See your doctor or midwife regularly as soon as you think you're pregnant and throughout your pregnancy.

* Make sure your vaccinations are up to date.

* Eat well and stay active.

* Avoid alcohol, smoking, and other drug use.

* Prevent infections from food and other sources.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Diet and exercise
Eat healthy and exercise regularly. Health problems are linked to weighing too much or too little before and during pregnancy. Your health is affected by what you eat and by your physical activity.

Here are a few important guidelines for healthy eating:

• Eat lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains such as whole wheat, oats, barley and brown rice. These are excellent sources of the vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber you need every day to feel your best.

• Eat less of the foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, such as meat, poultry and whole milk dairy foods (low-fat dairy is okay). Saturated fat and cholesterol are strongly linked to heart disease, cancer and obesity.

Regular physical activity helps control weight, strengthen your heart, and give you more energy. It also reduces depression and relieves stress. It’s a good idea to exercise at least 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes.

Alcohol and drugs

Drinking alcohol or taking any type of legal or street drugs during the early weeks of pregnancy can hurt your unborn baby. That’s when the brain and other organs are forming.

If you drink alcohol, so does your unborn baby. Alcohol abuse during pregnancy is a leading known cause of mental retardation. If you are considering a pregnancy, it’s best to stop drinking alcohol before you conceive.

Cocaine, crack, heroin, amphetamines and other street drugs can badly hurt your baby if you use them while you are pregnant. Your baby could suffer lifelong health problems. Get help to stop using drugs before you become pregnant and stay clean.


Wednesday, January 5, 2011

National Folic Acid Awareness Week
January 2 - 8, 2011

The National Council on Folic Acid (NCFA).
The mission of the National Council on Folic Acid (NCFA) is to improve health by promoting the benefits and consumption of folic acid.

National Folic Acid Awareness Week is January 2-8, 2011. The NCFA sees these seven days as a time to focus the attention on what folic acid is and why it is important to women of childbearing age.

Healthy Food Choices for Folic Acid

Messages from the NCFA

1. Educating all women, especially Latinas, that folic acid can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spine should be a priority in 2011.

2. Women of childbearing age should take a multivitamin with folic acid every day and eat foods fortified with folic acid, in addition to a healthy diet.

Nutritional habits
1. Although all enriched cereals and grain products in the U.S. are fortified with the B-vitamin folic acid, only one-third of U.S. women of childbearing age consume the recommended amount from their diet. Taking a multivitamin with folic acid everyday is a key way women can get the recommended amount of 400 mcg.

2. Be prepared before pregnancy. Women need folic acid, even if not planning to become pregnant, since 50% of all pregnancies are unplanned. Taking folic acid before pregnancy reduces the risk of birth defects of the brain and spine, called neural tube defects (NTDs), by up to 70%.

Message to the Hispanic community
Hispanic babies are 1.5 to 2 times more likely than others in the U.S. to be born with an NTD. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that Latinas in the U.S. consume the least amount of folic acid and have the least knowledge about folic acid among racial or ethnic groups.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Lifechangers: New Year's Diets to Trust

"Extra" Lifechangers Dietitians Keri Gans and Cher Pastore are breaking down new ways to lose weight for 2011 that actually can work!
 

Saturday, January 1, 2011

January 2011 Wellness News
Topics for Journalists, Writers,
Educators and Bloggers


Current  News, Resources and Events in Nutrition, Food, Health, Environment,
Safety and Disability Rights. Encourages awareness and inspires ideas for
Journalists, Educators, Consumers and Health Professionals.


Wellness News

January Highlights
1-8 Natl Lose Weight/Feel Great Week
2- 8
Natl Folic Acid Awareness Week 
9-15 Home Office Safety and Security Week
16-22
Healthy Weight Week (18th Annual)

20 Women’s Healthy Weight Day
17-23 Natl Fresh Squeezed Juice Week
18 Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day
24-28 Clean out Your Inbox Week

Dietitian Blog List