It's not just a judgment call that bikinis make men stupid -- it's a scientific fact. Check out this month's issue of the Journal of Consumer Research for the skinny on this truth. Here's the gist of it.

Belgian researchers conducted tests on 358 young men and found that they made poor decisions after looking at images of women in bikinis, touching bras, and watching video clips of young women, dressed in bikinis, run across hills, fields, and beaches. Basically, men become more impulsive after exposure to sexual cues. Ever wonder why automakers place leggy models in front of high-priced cars at auto shows? This is why.

Other studies offer their support. In 2006, for example, it was determined that sexually-aroused men would do all sorts of things they might not otherwise do. Essentially, sex narrows a man's mind. When they think about sex, pretty much all they can do is think about sex. Whether or not women are blinded by sex remains to be seen -- most studies have been done on men only.

Don't let bikinis get the best of you this summer, guys, or you might end up looking like quite a boob.

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You know, I've never been all consumed with American Idol like lots of people. But I must admit I'll tune in here and there throughout the competition. It's decent entertainment, and I kind of think Simon Cowell is sexy. Nonetheless! I just tucked my healthy babies into bed and plopped down into mine with the old laptop to write about fitness with the television on here in my room.

American Idol is in the middle of their Idol Gives Back program, and they seem to be making a great case for helping children in the U.S. and abroad. Feeling fortunate that my two angels do not have to deal with any of the horrors some other children are suffering from.....I logged on to AmericanIdol.com and made a donation. Partly because of guilt, but mostly out of hope.

If you're a lucky parent like me or just someone who loves children, maybe you can call or log on and donate too. 1-877-IDOL-AID or AmericanIdol.com

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It used to be that people thought poorer children weren't getting enough healthy food in their diets to stay at a proper weight. Instead of getting vegetables and other necessary elements, they were relying on junk food. They also thought lack of money meant fewer meals. This can slow a metabolism causing obesity.

However, new research indicates that this theory is dead in the water. Authorities are now calling for more studies to pinpoint why these kids are struggling with weight. After all, upwards of 40 percent of obese 10-17 year-olds are from low-income families.

Over a thousand children were analyzed from previous data. Their "food security" was taken into account. That's a way to describe dietary needs for a healthy lifestyle. Mothers were polled on the serving size of meals, and whether or not her kids had skipped eating due to unavailability. Of the 1,031 children, half were overweight -- but only 8 percent weren't getting enough at mealtime. Government policy probably won't be influenced by this research until more conclusive data reveals solid connections between low-income households and child obesity.

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Although the monetary gap between those with money and those without remains significant around the world, at least those without are finding it easier to find food and health care due to not having enough money.

In a recent study by the Kaiser Foundation and the Pew Global Attitudes Project, 35 poor countries were studied to determine trends in food and health care availability.

In 23 of the 35 countries, fewer respondents reported they had not missed health care because of money, with the study reporting that improved national conditions were the reason for increased health care visibility for these poorer patients. The report concluded that "global health is a local phenomenon."

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It's hard to imagine that more than 17 million people will die annually from cancer in the year 2030, but that is what a cancer official with the United Nations predicted this week.

It's comforting for those concerned with secondhand smoke to know that public smoking bans are increasing all over the world, but that till won't make a huge and significant dent in cancer cases (although perhaps lung cancer cases). My take: the junk many of us eat and the pollution we are exposed to will be main cancer culprits in the future.

In what could be considered devastating, the same U.N. official stated that poor countries will suffer the most from this projected cancer increase due to limited health fiscal resources and a lack of treatments and associated therapy.

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According to a study done by Marcus Westin of Uppsala University, single parents have poorer health than married couples or couples living together. The results applied to both single moms and single dads, although single mothers were less likely to seek medical help when needed than single fathers (and both were less likely than their married counterparts). The studied seemed to show a strong link between the generally poorer health of single parents and the decreased social outlets they inevitably face as a result of being solely responsible for children. Marcus Westin believes that the solution lies in making it easier for single parents to get out and involved in civic and social activities.

That kind of makes sense, although I'm thinking stress probably has something to do with it too?

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A high school in urban New Jersey is continuing with its successful "Team Esteem" program that teaches teens about healthy eating and healthy shopping. Lessons include trips to the grocery store and tours through every section from dairy to meat to produce, and the students learn the basics like eating chicken without the skin to cut fat. Other parts of the program include cooking lessons, lectures and seminars on topics like eating disorders and rape, and a gym class with a variety of different activities including karate and cardio dance.

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This one hits home for me because I've always had a horrible time eating right on a tight grocery budget, but apparently it can be done:

Tip #1: Substitute frozen vegetables for fresh because they're cheaper and will keep longer. Okay...this might work sometimes, but not all frozen vegetables taste the same as fresh ones! The article's answer to this is to buy fresh produce when it's in season.

Tip#2: (I think this is a good one) Canned tuna and salmon make great add-ins for whole grain brown rice and pasta, and they're almost always inexpensive.

Tip#3: Substitute ground turkey for ground beef in your favorite meals.

Like anything, not all tips will work for all people. There's more in the article on eDiets.com, including some yummy and quick chicken and pasta recipes.

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The United States Department of Agriculture releases a series of pamphlets to poor people, detailing how they can get enough to eat, boost their nutrition, and apply for food stamps. A recent study found that these booklets are poorly written, aren't aimed at their target audience, and don't reach 40% of those who need them.

In 2004, 38 million people, including 13.9 million children, couldn't afford nutritionally balanced meals -- often because they either cut portion sizes, or simply weren't able to eat three meals a day. The ineffectiveness of these USDA pamphlets is an additional burden to escaping the food insecurity felt by those only tight budgets.

The study, conducted by the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, will be released in the January/February issue of the "American Journal of Health Promotion."

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