Author: directorsblog

Online Videos For Kids Rife With Junk Food Messaging

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By Dennis Thompson
THURSDAY, June 26, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Kids watching YouTube videos are being hammered with messages promoting junk food like candy, sugary drinks, fast food and sweet or salty snacks, a new study says. About 75% of 6- to 8-year-olds and 36% of 3- to 5-year-olds were fed promotions for junk food while watching YouTube or YouTube Kids videos they chose on their own mobile devices, researchers reported in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“More than half of food brands in these videos came from companies that participate in the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative, a U.S. food industry self-regulatory program,” said senior investigator Jennifer Harris, a senior research advisor at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health at the University of Connecticut.

“Despite these companies’ pledges to only advertise healthier choices to children, child-influencers frequently promoted their brands, including candy, sugary drinks and sweet and salty snacks,” she said in a news release.

For the study, researchers observed 101 kids as they watched YouTube videos in their homes for 30 minutes.
About 73% of food brand appearances promoted junk food, while only 3% of food-related messages highlighted healthy options, results show.

Most of this messaging occurred as part of brand appearances embedded within video content that purposely blurred food promotion with entertainment.

More than 60% of food brand appearances were embedded in the video content, with only 23% showing up during video previews and 17% in advertisements, researchers said.

Lifestyle videos contributed 77% of these appearances, and 71% showed an influencer or another character either consuming or preparing to consume the product, researchers said.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has called on companies and influencers to halt these common stealth marketing practices, particularly in videos aimed at young children, researchers noted.

“Very young children are being bombarded with unhealthy product promotion on YouTube and YouTube Kids, frequently embedded in their favorite videos as props or part of the storyline which disguises persuasive intent,” said lead researcher Frances Fleming-Milici, director of marketing initiatives at the Rudd Center.

“As children as young as age 3 spend more and more time on these platforms, policies must be enacted to protect them from this stealth marketing of products that harm their health,” she added in a news release.

Google bans food and beverage advertising on YouTube Kids and during “made-for-kids” videos, researchers said.

But more than a third of 3- to 8-year-olds watching YouTube Kids viewed food brands embedded in videos and thumbnail images, researchers said.

In addition, none of the videos embedded with a food or beverage brand disclosed that a food company had sponsored the content, as required by the FTC, researchers said.

More information
The University of California-Irvine has more on targeting children as consumers.

SOURCE: University of Connecticut, news release, June 25, 2025
HealthDay

Health Plan Scam Alert

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Be on the lookout for a phone scam directing members to contact APWU Health Plan at a fraudulent number, 1-888-356-9583. DO NOT CALL THIS NUMBER.
If you receive a call asking you to contact this number, please call APWU Health Plan:
1-800-222-2798
1-800-622-2511 (TTY)
Contact Us

If you receive a call from 1-978-792-4413, do not answer. This number is listed as a scam.

Biking Might Promote Healthy Brain Aging

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by: Dennis Thompson

Want to reduce your risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease?

Get on your bike and ride, a new study recommends.

Biking regularly for transportation appears to lower risk of dementia by 19% and Alzheimer’s by 22%, according to results published June 9 in JAMA Network Open.

The results also suggest that cycling might even help increase the size of a brain region important for memory, researchers noted.

“Cycling is a moderate- to high-intensity workout, and also requires balance,” said Dr. Liron Sinvani, director of geriatric services at Northwell Health in Manhasset, N.Y., who reviewed the findings. “It requires more complex brain function than walking, which is why maybe it was a better reducer of dementia risk.”

“It’s not about just doing exercise and making that part of your routine, but thinking about the way you live your life,” she added in a news release. “So instead of having to drive somewhere, taking that bike and using active travel modes to get around as part of your lifestyle becomes very important.”

For the study, researchers analyzed data on nearly 480,000 people participating in the UK Biobank, a long-term health study of people living in England, Scotland and Wales.

As part of the study, participants noted the forms of transport they used most often to get about, not including travel to and from work.

During an average follow-up of 13 years, more than 8,800 participants developed dementia and nearly 4,000 developed Alzheimer’s.

Results showed a lower risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s among those who cycled or included cycling among other forms of travel like walking, driving or using public transportation.

“Our findings suggest that promoting active travel strategies, particularly cycling, may be associated with lower dementia risk among middle-aged and older adults, which carries substantial public health benefits by encouraging accessible, sustainable practices for cognitive health preservation,” concluded the research team led by Liangkai Chen, an associate professor at Tongji Medical College at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.

MRI brain scans showed that cycling also was associated with a larger hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory formation and learning, researchers noted.

However, cycling’s benefits appeared to extend mostly to people without a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s, results showed.

People without the APOE E4 genetic variant had a 26% lower risk of dementia and 25% lower risk of Alzheimer’s.

Results were not statistically significant among APOE E4 carriers, but indicated less protection from cycling.

Interestingly, the results also indicate that driving offered some protection against dementia compared to taking the bus or subway.

“Even when using inactive travel like car or public transportation, it seemed like driving had a little bit better impact [on brain health] than public transportation,” Sinvani said in the news release.

However, researchers noted that this observational study could not draw a direct cause-and-effect link between cycling and healthy brain aging.

“What I tell my patients and family and friends whenever they ask me what they can do to reduce their risk of dementia, is whatever gets you outside doing stuff is what you should be doing,” she said. “I think we see that it’s not just the physical activity, but it’s also in the balance, and it really engages different parts of your brain.”

If you’re able to get on a bike, Sinvani said, do that. If you’re aren’t, use your feet.

“I think if it’s, ‘should I walk or take a bike?’ I would say take a bike, but if it’s ‘should I walk or just stay home?’ I would say definitely walk,” she said.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on how Physical Activity Boosts Brain Health | Physical Activity | CDC

SOURCES: Northwell Health, news release, June 9, 2025; JAMA Network Open, June 9, 2025
HealthDay

Coffee Could Be Key To Aging Gracefully

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by: Dennis Thompson

WEDNESDAY, June 4, 2025 (HealthDay News)
A morning cup of coffee might do more than momentarily boost your energy and spirits.

Full-test java also appears to help women age more gracefully, a new study says.

Middle-aged women who regularly drank caffeinated coffee were more likely to stay mentally sharp and physically functional as they aged, researchers reported Monday at a meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.

Each extra cup was tied to a 2% to 5% increased chance of aging gracefully, results show.

“The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee — not tea or decaf — may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function,” researcher Sara Mahdavi, a post-doctoral fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said in a news release.

For the study, researchers tracked more than 47,500 women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study, a long-term research project that has collected data since 1984.

The team compared the women’s caffeine intake to their healthy aging, which was defined as living to 70, being free from 11 major chronic illnesses, maintaining physical function, having good mental health and exhibiting no memory or thinking difficulties.
By 2016, more than 3,700 of the women met all the requirements for being considered a person who has aged gracefully, researchers said.

In middle age, these women typically consumed about 315 milligrams of caffeine daily, roughly three small cups or one and a half large cups of coffee, researchers said.

More than 80% of that caffeine came from coffee.

Each 80 milligrams of caffeine consumed daily increased a woman’s odds for healthy aging.
Caffeine intake also increased their odds of avoiding chronic illness, remaining physically strong and keeping their wits and memory, results show.

But not all sources of caffeine were the same.
Coffee alone was associated with healthy aging, with benefits accruing up to five small cups or two and a half large cups per day.

On the other hand, caffeinated colas tended to be linked to worse aging, researchers found.

Each additional small glass of soda was associated with a 20% to 26% lower likelihood of healthy aging, results show.

Decaf coffee and tea were not significantly associated one way or the other with aging, researchers noted.

“These results, while preliminary, suggest that small, consistent habits can shape long-term health,” Mahdavi said.

“Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and avoiding smoking.”

However, researchers warned that coffee should not be considered a fountain of youth.

“While this study adds to prior evidence suggesting coffee intake may be linked with healthy aging, the benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation,” Mahdavi added.

Researchers next plan to study how the compounds contained in coffee might act to influence a person’s aging.

Mahdavi presented the findings Monday at the American Nutrition Society’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fl.

Findings presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More information

Johns Hopkins Medicine has more on the health benefits of coffee.
SOURCE: American Society for Nutrition, news release, June 2, 2025
HealthDay

Improvements In Prostate Cancer Tracking Help Men Stay In Active Surveillance

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by: Dennis Thompson

Men in “watchful waiting” mode for their low-risk prostate cancer are staying healthier longer thanks to advanced imaging and treatments designed to keep their tumor at bay, a new study says.
Advanced MRI imaging and MRI-guided biopsies are providing a much clearer view of the prostate, allowing doctors to more easily track cancer changes over time, researchers wrote in The Journal of Urology.

Meanwhile, focal therapies are curbing the progress of prostate cancer by using heat, cold and electricity to kill tumor cells on the prostate, researchers said.

This combination is allowing men to remain in active surveillance longer without surgery or radiation therapy, which can cause long-lasting side effects like impotence and incontinence, researchers said.

“This represents a major advancement in the management of prostate cancer,” senior researcher Dr. Leonard Marks, chair of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said in a news release.
“By combining MRI-guided diagnosis with selective focal therapy, we can offer men a more personalized approach,” Marks said. “This strategy not only helps avoid unnecessary procedures, but also gives us a better way to predict who will benefit from extended surveillance, potentially improving quality of life and reducing side effects without compromising safety.”

About 60% of men with low-risk prostate cancer are in active surveillance, where doctors hold off on treatment until there are signs the tumor has progressed, according to the National Cancer Institute.

These low-risk prostate cancers grow so slowly that they may never cause symptoms, and men with these tumors are more likely to die from some other cause, experts say.
However, many men are queasy with the thought of having an untreated cancer, and they wind up opting for surgery or radiation even though the chances of unpleasant and lasting side effects are high, researchers said.

To improve men’s confidence in active surveillance, researchers tested whether using MRI-guided biopsy and focal therapy could make watchful waiting safer, more effective and easier for patients to stay on longer.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from 869 men in UCLA’s active surveillance program between 2010 and 2022. All patients had an MRI-guided biopsy at the start that showed low- to medium-risk prostate cancer.

Starting in 2016, some of the men also were offered focal therapy if their cancer was slightly higher-risk or had showed signs of progressing.

About a quarter of the men wound up undergoing focal therapy, which uses cold gases, lasers, ultrasound or electric shocks to kill off cancer cells.

MRI was highly accurate in identifying cancers that qualified for active surveillance, correctly predicting stable tumors in 90% to 95% of men with low-risk cancer and 70% of men with medium-risk cancer, results show.

In fact, the MRI was so accurate that there was a reduced need for repeat biopsies, researchers said.

Results also showed a decline in men leaving active surveillance due to anxiety, which could reflect growing confidence in MRI-based monitoring, researchers said.

“Although the numbers for the focal therapy group are small and the follow up was relatively brief, the near-term advantage of focal therapy in avoiding surgery or radiation is clear,” Marks said.

“This study offers some of the strongest evidence yet that active surveillance, when guided by modern imaging and minimally invasive treatments like focal therapy, can safely be expanded to more patients,” he concluded.

However, researchers said these techniques should be further tested in larger studies involving more hospitals.

More information

The Cleveland Clinic has more on focal therapy for prostate cancer.

SOURCE: UCLA, news release, May 8, 2025
Health Day

Antibiotics Might Increase Risk of Childhood Asthma, Allergies

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by: Dennis Thompson
WEDNESDAY, April 23, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Overuse of antibiotics might increase kids’ risk of developing asthma and allergies, by disrupting their gut bacteria during a crucial stage of child development, a new study says.

Exposure to antibiotics prior to age 2 is associated with a 24% increased risk of asthma and 33% increased risk of food allergies in later childhood, researchers reported recently in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

“Antibiotics play a critical role in combatting bacterial infections, but physicians should be judicious when prescribing antibiotics to children under 2, as frequent use may affect long-term health outcomes,” lead researcher Dr. Daniel Horton of the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research said in a news release.

For the study, researchers tracked the health of more than 1 million children in the U.K., comparing early antibiotic treatment to their later risk of allergies and asthma.

Previous research has suggested that early and repeated antibiotic use can disrupt the development of health gut bacteria as a child ages, researchers said in background notes. This, in turn, can influence their risk of allergic conditions.

Tracking the children through age 12, researchers found they were at higher risk of asthma and food allergies if they’d been exposed to antibiotics as babies.

Babies given antibiotics also had a 6% increased risk of seasonal allergies, researchers said.

“Antibiotics are important and sometimes life-saving medicines, but not all infections in young kids need to be treated with antibiotics,” Horton said. “Parents should continue to consult with their children’s doctors on the best course of care.”

However, researchers found no consistent impact from antibiotic use on the risk of autoimmune diseases like celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease, or on developmental conditions like ADHD or autism.

More information
Nemours Children’s Health has more on antibiotic overuse and children.

SOURCE: Rutgers University, news release, April 16, 2025

Health Day

Brisk Walking Lowers Risk of Heart Rhythm Disorders

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By Dennis Thompson

WEDNESDAY, April 16, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Long brisk walks might lower a person’s risk for heart rhythm problems, a new study says.

Folks who stride faster than 4 miles per hour have a 43% lower risk of developing an abnormal heart rhythm, compared with those who amble at a pace of less than 3 miles an hour, researchers reported April 15 in the journal Heart.

The time spent walking also influenced risk, with people who spent more time at an average or brisk pace enjoying a 27% lower risk of heart rhythm problems, researchers said.

“These new findings reinforce the promotion of faster walking pace in physical activity recommendations,” concluded the research team led by Jill Pell, chair of public health with the University of Glasgow in the U.K. “Walking at a brisk pace may have a role in … prevention of cardiac arrhythmias.”

For the study, researchers used data gathered as part of the UK Biobank health study on nearly 421,000 people, including nearly 82,000 who wore an accelerometer to track their walking pace.

Overall, about 41% of people had a brisk walking pace, 53% an average walking pace and slightly more than 6% a slow pace.

Results show that a brisk or average pace reduced the risk of any heart rhythm problem by 43% and 35%, respectively.

People with a brisk or average pace also had a 46% and 38% lower risk of atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm condition that greatly increases the risk of stroke, results show.

Researchers estimate that about 36% of the link between walking pace and heart rhythm problems is influenced by inflammation and metabolism.

That jibes with previous research, which found that brisk walking can lower obesity, help improve blood sugar control, prevent diabetes and reduce high blood pressure, researchers said.

“This study is the first to explore the pathways underpinning the association between walking pace and arrhythmias, and to provide evidence that metabolic and inflammatory factors may have a role,” researchers concluded. “Walking faster decreased the risk of obesity and inflammation, which, in turn, reduced the risk of arrhythmia.”

More information Harvard Medical School has more on walking for exercise.

SOURCE: BMJ, news release, April 15, 2025

Health Day

National Nutrition Month May Be Over, But Your Healthy Habits Shouldn’t Be!

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March’s National Nutrition Month may be done, but the focus on good nutrition shouldn’t end. Think of it as a kick-starter for lasting healthy eating and activity habits.

Maybe you tried a new recipe featuring more vegetables, paid closer attention to food labels, or even set a goal to drink more water. These are all positive steps, and the momentum you’ve built shouldn’t stop now!

Why Keep the Nutrition Focus Going?

Consistent healthy eating is key for well-being, energy, and disease prevention. It builds lasting habits that help us navigate daily life and impacts mood, sleep, immunity, and long-term health – not just weight.

How to Keep the Healthy Habits Alive:

So, how do we keep the National Nutrition Month spirit going strong? Here are a few ideas:

  • Continue Exploring New Recipes: Keep trying new healthy recipes and incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your meals.
  • Stay Mindful of Your Eating: Pay attention to your hunger and fullness cues. Avoid eating mindlessly in front of the TV or while working.
  • Set Realistic, Ongoing Goals: Instead of big, overwhelming goals, set small, achievable nutrition-related goals each week or month. This could be anything from packing a healthy lunch three times a week to trying a new fruit or vegetable.
  • Plan Ahead: Take some time each week to plan your meals and snacks, making it easier to make nutritious choices when you’re busy.
  • Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: There will be days when you indulge or make less-than-ideal food choices. Don’t let this derail your efforts. Focus on the overall progress you’re making and get back on track with your next meal.
  • Stay Informed: Continue to learn about nutrition from reliable sources. Read articles, follow registered dietitians on social media, or explore reputable websites.

The Takeaway:

National Nutrition Month serves as a valuable reminder of the power of food and its impact on our health. Let’s carry the awareness forward with consistent small steps towards lasting healthy habits.

Resources for Members Impacted by California Fires and Storms

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For our members and their families affected by the fires in the Los Angeles, California area, or the fires in parts of AR, OK, NY or Storm Damage in MO, AL, or MS, the Health Plan will: 

·         Relax plan requirements for care received through early April. 

·         For supplies and medications, the Health Plan will waive refill-too-soon limitations for members in the affected areas who cannot use the mail-order service for refills and lost or destroyed medications. 

·         High Option Teladoc coverage for members in CA: The Health Plan will expand Teladoc telehealth coverage for our High Option members by providing five virtual visits at zero cost, rather than the normal two through April 7, 2025. 

·         Members in CA who have our High Option or Consumer Driven Option can take advantage of an additional free Teladoc visit by calling 855-885-5032. Learn more at TeladocHealth.com/Disaster-Hotline through April 7, 2025. 

·         In-patient hospital stays will be paid at the in-network rate even if you are confined in an out-of-network facility.  

·         A toll-free emotional support helpline is available at 866-447-3573. This line will be open Monday – Friday from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. CST for two weeks from the date of the natural disaster. The service is free of charge and open to anyone. 

·         Another resource is Optumwellbeing.com, a public website where you can access resources to help you navigate difficult situations. The Critical Support Center section of the website includes a library of content grouped by topic (trauma, natural disasters, etc.) for you to access during a critical event. 

Our thoughts go out to all those affected. We will continue to monitor this situation closely. 

MS Patients May Benefit From Eating More Fish

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By: Dennis Thompson

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A diet rich in fish might slow the progression of multiple sclerosis in some patients, a new study says.

The nutrients found in fish can quell inflammation and protect brain cells, and this might be of particular benefit for MS patients, researchers reported in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

MS patients who ate larger amounts of lean or oily fish had a 34% lower risk of their symptoms growing worse, researchers found.

They also had about a 45% lower risk of scoring worse on a scale that measures MS disability, the results show.

“The results underscore the potential role of diet, particularly fish consumption, as a modifiable factor that could complement existing therapeutic strategies for MS,” concluded a team led by Anna Karin Hedström, a senior research specialist with the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.

MS occurs when a person’s immune system attacks myelin, the protective sheath that coats nerve fibers. The damage to nerve cells causes the brain to shrink as well as symptoms like muscle weakness, stiffness, spasms, vision problems, thinking declines and pain.

For the study, researchers analyzed data for more than 2,700 Swedish MS patients who participated in a nationwide study between April 2005 and June 2015.

Upon entering the study, participants reported on many of their lifestyle habits, including their consumption of fish.

Results showed that people who ate more fish had a lower risk of their MS disability and symptoms growing worse, compared to those who ate the least.

Likewise, people who increased their fish intake following diagnosis benefitted from it.

Compared to folks who ate little fish, MS patients who bumped up fish in their diet had a 20% to 59% lower risk of disability worsening within five years after diagnosis, depending on how much more they ate.

These results held true even after accounting for other risk factors like physical activity, weight, smoking, alcohol intake, and sun exposure.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish are known to have brain benefits, but “the beneficial effects observed from lean fish consumption suggest that other factors may also play a significant role,” researchers said.

Taurine, an amino acid found in abundance in fish and seafood, could be one reason why MS patients might benefit.

“Taurine is the most abundant free amino acid in the brain,” and a dietary supply of the amino acid is required to meet the body’s needs, researchers noted.

“Taurine has diverse cellular functions, including cytoprotective actions through antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, making it a potential therapeutic agent for neurological disorders,” researchers added.

More information
The National MS Society has more on living with MS.

SOURCE: BMJ, news release, Feb. 25, 2025

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