Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
RN's and Extreme Obesity
Extreme Obesity Considerable in Southern California Children
More than 6 percent of 2- to 19-year-olds in one health plan are extremely obese
By Jeff Muise
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, March 22 (HealthDay News) -- More than half a million Southern California children are estimated to be extremely obese, raising the prospect of health problems for the individuals as they age as well as an increasing public health burden, according to a study published online March 22 in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Corinna Koebnick, Ph.D., of Kaiser Permanente Southern California in Pasadena, and colleagues analyzed weight and height data on a population of 710,949 health plan members aged 2 to 19 years. The researchers determined the prevalence of extreme obesity, defined either as body mass index (BMI)-for-age ≥1.2 times 95th percentile or BMI ≥35 kg/m2.
The researchers found that 7.3 percent of boys and 5.5 percent of girls met the criteria for extreme obesity, with the highest prevalence found at 10 years of age in boys and at 12 and 18 years of age in girls. Prevalence also varied by ethnic/racial groups, with the highest prevalence in African-American girls (11.9 percent) and Hispanic boys (11.2 percent).
"These data suggest that >6 percent of boys and girls can be classified as extremely obese, translating to an estimated 560,000 children and adolescents in California. Extreme obesity occurs already at a young age, especially in boys, indicating that extreme childhood obesity is a serious issue for pediatric care," the authors write.
The research was supported by Kaiser Permanente Direct Community Benefit Funds.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Copyright © 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
More than 6 percent of 2- to 19-year-olds in one health plan are extremely obese
By Jeff Muise
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, March 22 (HealthDay News) -- More than half a million Southern California children are estimated to be extremely obese, raising the prospect of health problems for the individuals as they age as well as an increasing public health burden, according to a study published online March 22 in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Corinna Koebnick, Ph.D., of Kaiser Permanente Southern California in Pasadena, and colleagues analyzed weight and height data on a population of 710,949 health plan members aged 2 to 19 years. The researchers determined the prevalence of extreme obesity, defined either as body mass index (BMI)-for-age ≥1.2 times 95th percentile or BMI ≥35 kg/m2.
The researchers found that 7.3 percent of boys and 5.5 percent of girls met the criteria for extreme obesity, with the highest prevalence found at 10 years of age in boys and at 12 and 18 years of age in girls. Prevalence also varied by ethnic/racial groups, with the highest prevalence in African-American girls (11.9 percent) and Hispanic boys (11.2 percent).
"These data suggest that >6 percent of boys and girls can be classified as extremely obese, translating to an estimated 560,000 children and adolescents in California. Extreme obesity occurs already at a young age, especially in boys, indicating that extreme childhood obesity is a serious issue for pediatric care," the authors write.
The research was supported by Kaiser Permanente Direct Community Benefit Funds.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Copyright © 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Post the vote to end America
Too bad the people of American don't really know what happens in emergency rooms and hospitals across this beautiful country, we used to call "the Land of the Free."
After spending 9 hours in Washington, DC expressing my God-given, not government-granted right to free speech,I spent the following day working a twelve hour shift.
An 89 year old was waiting for major cardiac surgery. Bedridden for years, she couldn't even get routine pre-surgical chest x-rays. Whose paying for this? You and I as working citizens. She was brought to this country some years back by members of her family, also immigrants, never worked a day in her life and now reaps the rewards of a kind and generous nation. High risk surgery, probability of survival, minimal, but due to religious beliefs, treatment at any cost. Wonder how this will fly under Obamacare.
My second patient spoke only Greek (my first patient spoke a little English)and was waiting for a pacemaker upgrade. Having lived past the age of 75, would she have gotten the pacemaker in the first place, and why upgrade? Here's a couple of pain killers...so as your heart gets slower and slower, you can relieve the crushing chest pain you experience, as you DIE.
Patient number three was a knee-replacement...at 59 years of age. THE NERVE; probably only had pain for about a year. Soon it will be a year's wait just to see a doctor, to get the referral to see an orthopedist, to get a referral to a surgeon, if there are any left.
I have a frequent flyer who comes in with chest pain...if only he could keep the cocaine out of his nostrils. Medicaid. Three cardiac catheterizations (cost - about $10,000 each) in the last year. Does Obamacare cover that too?
These politicians don't know what they are they are talking about when they say Americans don't get health care when they don't have insurance. That is a fat lie. Everyone gets health care. Thousands of people die without insurance. Even more people with insurance die. Everyone dies. Insurance doesn't change anything.
I notice that post the vote, the congressional-rats are huddling in their sewer while Obama makes plans for his Apology Tour. And the American Public will foot the bill for that too.
This is not over. Health Care professionals, especially RN's who ARE the backbone and boots on the ground of care in America need to stand up and speak out. We will be crushed with this plan.
After spending 9 hours in Washington, DC expressing my God-given, not government-granted right to free speech,I spent the following day working a twelve hour shift.
An 89 year old was waiting for major cardiac surgery. Bedridden for years, she couldn't even get routine pre-surgical chest x-rays. Whose paying for this? You and I as working citizens. She was brought to this country some years back by members of her family, also immigrants, never worked a day in her life and now reaps the rewards of a kind and generous nation. High risk surgery, probability of survival, minimal, but due to religious beliefs, treatment at any cost. Wonder how this will fly under Obamacare.
My second patient spoke only Greek (my first patient spoke a little English)and was waiting for a pacemaker upgrade. Having lived past the age of 75, would she have gotten the pacemaker in the first place, and why upgrade? Here's a couple of pain killers...so as your heart gets slower and slower, you can relieve the crushing chest pain you experience, as you DIE.
Patient number three was a knee-replacement...at 59 years of age. THE NERVE; probably only had pain for about a year. Soon it will be a year's wait just to see a doctor, to get the referral to see an orthopedist, to get a referral to a surgeon, if there are any left.
I have a frequent flyer who comes in with chest pain...if only he could keep the cocaine out of his nostrils. Medicaid. Three cardiac catheterizations (cost - about $10,000 each) in the last year. Does Obamacare cover that too?
These politicians don't know what they are they are talking about when they say Americans don't get health care when they don't have insurance. That is a fat lie. Everyone gets health care. Thousands of people die without insurance. Even more people with insurance die. Everyone dies. Insurance doesn't change anything.
I notice that post the vote, the congressional-rats are huddling in their sewer while Obama makes plans for his Apology Tour. And the American Public will foot the bill for that too.
This is not over. Health Care professionals, especially RN's who ARE the backbone and boots on the ground of care in America need to stand up and speak out. We will be crushed with this plan.
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