That's Fit

There's something about cell phones that make medical alarm bells ring. Do you remember the reports of cell phones causing cancer? How about the dangers of exploding cell phone batteries? Now there's a new risk factor -- researchers are saying that cell phone usage during pregnancy can cause hyperactivity and emotional or behavioral issues in children.

Over 13,000 mothers in Denmark were surveyed -- some didn't use a cell phone at all, others used one sporadically, and a third group used their cells often during pregnancy. Their results indicate that using a cell phone as little as two to three times a day during pregnancy can cause health issues -- hyperactivity, conduct issues, emotional issues, or difficult with relationships -- for the children. What's more, if the children used cell phones themselves before age 7 they were 80% more likely to have behavioral issues.

Artificial food coloring makes kids hyper, say British scientists who wish to ban six different colorings. The European Council doesn't plan on issuing any such ban, however, despite the wishes of several powerful consumer and health groups.

Researchers have concluded after the study of 300 kids that there's a link between the colorings, a certain preservative, and hyperactivity in children. The worrisome additives, found in sweets, cakes, and fizzy drinks are: tartrazine (E102), quinoline yellow (E104), sunset yellow (E110), ponceau (E124), allura red (E129), carmoisine (E122) and sodium benzoate (E211). While Britain's Food Standards Agency, a government watchdog group, has called for a voluntary ban on these colorings, an actual government policy may be a long way off.

Further study will be underway. Maybe more conclusive findings will lead to more action.

My son has ADHD. While I personally believe ADHD is widely over-diagnosed and over-medicated, it is real and, in some cases, medication is necessary. By and large, my son's symptoms are under control. He's old enough to understand the condition and he does a great job of managing his behavior and recognizing how he's feeling. But he has a tough time in the mornings -- he has more energy than his little body can handle at that time of day.

Healthology has a great primer on ADHD (the video doesn't seem to be working as of the time I'm publishing this post, however) that answers many of the common questions about the disorder. ADHD can be caused by a number of factors including exposure to lead, prematurity, complications during labor and delivery, pre-natal exposure to alcohol, and even some infectious diseases. Some recent studies have suggested that genetics may also play a role in ADHD. However, ADHD is not caused by too much sugar, bad parenting, or a lack of discipline.

As a parent of a child with ADHD, I found the article's information about how ADHD negatively effects self-esteem particularly helpful. According to the article, children with ADHD often feel frustrated and feel they can't do anything right. Early diagnosis, intervention, and helping a child to understand the disorder is so important.

Is your child hyperactive? Millions of kids are, an the debate continues to rage on the role of genetics, environment and lifestyle as the cause (or a combination of all three).

Genetic causes are the reason behind school difficulties and hyperactivity, according to a new report. While this is not surprising, I doubt that genetics is the only reason for these things. What do you think?

I generally agree that genetics plays an important factor in why some kids find it hard to focus in school (not for lack of effort) and are labeled "hyperactive" -- but is that the end of the story?

A new study of Norwegian teens shows that those who drank the highest number of sugary soft drinks per day had more mental health problems like hyperactivity and distress than those who drank less or no sugary soft drinks at all.

This study was based on teens, but the results would most likely be similar in other age groups. I know I'll definitely think twice the next time I'm tempted to use a soda as a last-resort mood lifter and energy boost; it really might be doing damage to my overall mental health in the long run.

The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, will also be powerful fuel for ongoing efforts to remove soda machines from schools.