Kids in predominantly Caucasian countries get pretty good sleep, says a new study. Better than kids in Asian countries, anyway.

This study, led by researcher Jodi Mindell of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, is the first ever to look at sleep patterns in infants and toddlers cross-culturally. The results, says Mindell, are astonishing. Here are two of them.

• Mindell found significant variability in bedtimes and total sleep time. For example, 15.1 percent of children in Canada shared a room, compared to 94.5 percent in Thailand, and the percentage of parents who believed their child had a minor or severe sleep problem ranged from 11 percent in Thailand to 76 percent in China.
  
  

• Kids in Asian countries were more likely to have later bedtimes, shorter total sleep times, increased parental perception of sleep problems, and were more likely to share a room than children in Caucasian countries. But there were no significant differences in night wakings and naps.
  
  

Mindell says her findings present more questions than they do answers, like: Why the differences? Could it be different cultural practices? And what is the impact of these differences? Seems it's time for another study.

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Yes, Oprah Winfrey has gained weight. Again. But it's not her diet or a lack of exercise to blame for the 20 pounds she's recently acquired. It's her thyroid.

Oprah revealed on her show last week that she's been plagued by thyroid problems which have led to her run-down -- and heavier -- state.

"My body was turning on me," she wrote in the new issue of O magazine. "First hyperthyroidism, which sped up my metabolism and left me unable to sleep for days. (Most people lose weight. I didn't.) Then hypothyroidism, which slowed down my metabolism and made me want to sleep all the time."

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Martha told us just recently in her post Stay-slim secrets of Catherine Zeta-Jones that the beautifully slender actress is no friend of the diet craze and keeps her figure in tip-top shape with a healthy lifestyle that includes gym workouts, dancing, aerobics -- and sometimes even a little pasta.

Fast forward one week, and Zeta-Jones is now responding to questions about a recent weight loss that some say is linked to an eating disorder.

Do I look anorexic?" Zeta-Jones told PEOPLE on Saturday at the Savannah Film Festival. "How could I ever, ever be anorexic?"

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Bullying is not a new thing but there has been increased attention in the U.S. since the Columbine shootings and if ignored, it can be devastating. There are different kinds of bullying such as hitting and pushing which is physical bullying, name calling or teasing which is verbal bullying, social exclusions or intimidation which is emotional bullying, and phone or computer messages that are insulting or cyber bullying. Verbal bullying is the most common although boys are more likely to experience physical bullying and girls are more likely to experience social isolation.

Most bullying occurs where there is less adult supervision like school buses, cafeterias, hallways, bathrooms, locker rooms and playgrounds. Schools should have policies in place to deal with bullying and parents should listen closely to their children and report bullying. Some children however will not talk about it for fear of repercussions so some warning signs that parents should look for are unexplained cuts and bruising. Your child seems afraid to ride the bus and has lost interest in schoolwork or other activities at school. Your child may complain of headaches or stomach aches or other physical ailments and might have trouble sleeping or may experience bad dreams while sleeping. These signs are all worth exploring. Share your concerns with your child's teacher because they are the ones that can better observe how your child reacts with other children. If that conversation gets you no where, then make an appointment with the school principle or guidance counselor.

If your child is doing the bullying explain that bullying is a serious problem and that it will not be tolerated. Because bullying often stems from unhappiness or insecurity, try to find out if something is bothering your child. You may also have a greater impact if you express disappointment and not anger toward your child but be stern. Teach your child that they should respect all people no matter how different they are.

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