According to a study in the journal Pediatrics, girls reaching puberty early are more common now, then a decade ago. The researchers believe that a main cause of early puberty in girls could be because of childhood obesity.

To read the article, click here.

Kids can reap great benefits from practicing yoga, according to a blog post on ehealths.net.
Not only can children enjoy the physical benefits of yoga - greater flexibility, strength, good posture and coordination -they will also experience stress and tension relief. The article goes on to explain that children's yogo focuses less on spirituality and more on storytelling, dancing and movement. To read the complete blog, click here.
 

Childhood obesity tops the list of children's health issues of concern to adults, above drug abuse and smoking. "Not enough opportunities for physical activity" took the number 10 spot on the list.

According to the May, 2010 poll of 2064 adults conducted by C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, those polled see the childhood obesity situation as "getting worse."
additionally, children’s stress moved from 8th on the top 10 list in 2009 to fifth in 2010.

The top 10 overall health concerns for U.S. children in 2010 and the percentage of adults who rate each as a “big problem” include:

1. Childhood obesity, 38 percent
2. Drug abuse, 30 percent
3. Smoking, 29 percent
4. Internet safety, 25 percent
5. Stress, 24 percent
6. Bullying, 23 percent
7. Teen pregnancy, 23 percent
8. Child abuse and neglect, 21 percent
9. Alcohol abuse, 20 percent
10. Not enough opportunities for physical activity, 20 percent

The top 3 issues differed based on race/ethnicity, however childhood obesity
remained in the top for all polled.

Whites:
   1. Childhood obesity,  37 percent
   2. Drug abuse, 26 percent
   3. Smoking and tobacco use, 25 percent

Blacks:
   1. Smoking and tobacco use, 40 percent
   2. Teen pregnancy, 36 percent
   3. Childhood obesity, 36 percent

Hispanics:
   1. Drug abuse, 46 percent
   2. Childhood obesity, 45 percent
   3. Smoking and tobacco use, 41 percent

For additional information on the study, click here http://www2.med.umich.edu/prmc/media/newsroom/details.cfm?ID=1682
 

The New York Times published an article on the growing problem of obesity and how it is concerning health officials.  Read it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/04/health/nutrition/04fat.html?_r=1