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Obesity costs global economy an estimated €2tn a year

November 20, 2014

Peter Singhatey Health, Medical, Reports, Research Health, obesity, People & Society, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey Leave a comment

Obesity costs global economy an estimated €2tn a year.

The global cost of obesity outweighs that of alcoholism, drug use or road accidents and closely rivals that of armed conflict and smoking, according to a new study.

The cost of obesity is estimated at $2 trillion – equivalent to 2.8 per cent of the world’s economic output, the study found. This makes it one of the top three global social burdens behind smoking and armed violence, war and terrorism..

The research, which was carried out by consultancy firm McKinsey, reveals that obesity is now responsible for about 5 per cent of all deaths a year worldwide.

More than 2.1 billion people – equivalent to nearly 30 per cent of the global population- are overweight or obese. That is almost two and a half times the number of adults and children who are undernourished.

A number of studies conducted in Ireland show that two out of three Irish adults, and one in four primary school children, are overweight or obese.

“Obesity is a major global economic problem caused by a multitude of factors. Today obesity is jostling with armed conflict and smoking in terms of having the greatest human-generated global economic impact,” the report said…

Anti-FGM campaign at UK airports seeks to stop mutilation of girls | Society | theguardian.com

May 11, 2014

Peter Singhatey Medical Africa, FGM, Gambia, peter singhateh, UK Leave a comment

Anti-FGM campaign at UK airports seeks to stop mutilation of girls | Society | theguardian.com.

“Police and UK border officials have been runnning a campaign at airports nationwide to intercept families who could have taken their children abroad for female genital mutilation.

The campaign, designed to raise awareness and promote a zero-tolerance approach to the crime, has been in operation over the last seven days at various airports, including Heathrow.

Police and border officials have stopped families suspected of possibly going abroad for FGM to be performed on young girls, as well as families returning to the UK after cutting of a child’s body might have taken place.

Keith Niven, detective chief superintendent at the Met’s command dealing with sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse, said: “FGM is illegal and constitutes child abuse. Many communities are familiar with the practice but not of its health risks, the fact that it is illegal within the UK, or that there is no religious basis to it…”

Why Black Women Die of Cancer – NYTimes.com

March 17, 2014

Peter Singhatey Medical, Research Black Americans, Cancer, Education, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Why Black Women Die of Cancer – NYTimes.com.

“SINCE the early 1970s, studies have shown that black Americans have a higher death rate from cancer than any other racial or ethnic group. This is especially true when it comes to breast cancer. A study published last week in the journal Cancer Epidemiology found that, in a survey of 41 of America’s largest cities, black women with breast cancer are on average 40 percent more likely to die than their white counterparts.

The principal reason for this disparity is the disconnect between the nation’s discovery and delivery enterprises — between what we know and what we do about sick Americans…”

Woman’s 10-litre a day Coke habit factor in death | Irish Examiner

February 13, 2013

Peter Singhatey Medical, World News Coca Cola, Health, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Woman’s 10-litre a day Coke habit factor in death | Irish Examiner.

A New Zealand woman’s 10-litre a day Coca Cola habit was a major factor in her death, a coroner found. And now the coroner is urging the soft drink giant to put health warnings on its caffeinated products…

Cannabis found to lower IQ of young

August 28, 2012

Peter Singhatey Medical Gambia, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey Leave a comment

Cannabis found to lower IQ of young.

Cannabis can lower the IQ of young teenagers and may cause permanent mental impairment, research has shown.

The most persistent users suffer an average eight-point decline in IQ between adolescence and adulthood, according to the study of more than 1,000 participants.

Scientists believe smoking cannabis from the age of puberty may disrupt developing and vulnerable brain circuits…

First HIV home test gets approval for use in USA via @independent_ie

July 4, 2012

Peter Singhatey Medical People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

First HIV home test gets approval for use in USA via @independent_ie.

US HEALTH regulators said they have approved OraSure Technologies Inc‘s in-home test for HIV, making it the first over-the-counter, self-administered test for the virus that causes AIDS.

The Food and Drug Administration gave its green light to the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, which within 20 to 40 minutes provides results from an oral fluid sample taken by swabbing the upper and lower gums inside the mouth.

Medical Daily: Drinking Alcohol May Significantly Enhance Problem Solving Skills

April 16, 2012

Peter Singhatey Medical, Uncategorized Africa, Gambia, People & Society, peter singhateh, West Africa 1 Comment

Medical Daily: Drinking Alcohol May Significantly Enhance Problem Solving Skills.

Drinking alcohol may enhance a person’s problem solving skills, according to a new study.

Scientists found that men who either drank two pints of beer or two glasses of wine before solving brain teasers not only got more questions right, they also were quicker in delivering correct answers, compared to men who answered the questions sober.