Gain Weight

Let me see if I understand. Medical researchers at Harvard University followed a couple of hundred thousand nurses for as long as 35 years and came to the remarkable conclusion that, though we all gain weight as we age, potatoes — french fries and potato chips, in particular — will cause us to gain more weight. And, in other ground-breaking news from the study, watching television also causes you to gain more weight. I am not sure where to go with this. Except to say that the real headline might be that desserts don't cause you to gain nearly as much weight as you think.

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has joined 42 other attorneys general asking the FDA to put a warning label on opiod pain killers explaining the health consequences babies face when their mothers take the drugs while pregnant. The states' leading attorneys sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asking the agency to put what is called a black box warning on pain killer bottles about the condition neonatal abstinence syndrome. Under the condition, babies suffer withdrawal symptoms after giving birth.

At a time when the number of overweight children is soaring, Weight Watchers is tightening their access to its program. The weight management program recently began requiring a doctor's note and a weight goal before enrolling children aged 10 to 16. The diet's food provisions may not be appropriate for children and might even cause them to rebel and gain more weight, says Weight Watchers chief scientist Karen Miller-Kovach. The 40-year-old program previously required medical permission only for children younger than 10. "While we have assumed forever that what works for adults is what's best for kids, now we have evidence that maybe that's not the case," Kovach says.

Mark Marini celebrated his 19th birthday yesterday with Maryland state troopers yelling in his face. "Pee Wee!," roared Tfc. Robert Mondor. "When was the last time you cleaned your ears? Did you use a Q-tip?" Mondor yelled into Marini's right ear as the young man lined up with other cadets in a cafeteria at the Maryland State Police Academy in Pikesville. Marini stood at attention. "Sir! Yes, sir!" he responded before proceeding through the chow line in choreographed steps. Marini is among 10 cadets who were integrated with 32 trooper candidates going through the first week of training at the academy.

So, is anyone out there resolving to gain weight in 1993? Become more sedentary, get less exercise, eat more saturated fat?Hmmmm, thought so. The new year looms, and most of us are in the planning stages of our next incarnation.Of course, some people never get past the planning stages. Others, those who can calculate the percentage of fat calories in a candy bar in their head, will check with a doctor and develop their own sensible eating-and-exercise regimen, but will die alone and friendless because they're absolutely unbearable.

SACRAMENTO -- It may taste great, but it isn't less filling.In fact, a new study has found that drinking alcoholic beverages not only adds calories, but makes the fat you already have burn away more slowly.This cheery news for bearers of beer bellies comes from a University of Zurich study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.Researchers put people on a diet that included about 3 ounces of pure alcohol per day -- the equivalent of six shots of whiskey or six beers -- and found that the alcohol reduced the subjects' fat-burning by about one-third.

Summer may be bad for your child's health. Research compiled by the National Summer Learning Association and released Monday found that kids are at risk for gaining weight and not eating healthfully during the summer vacation. When kids are unhealthy it affects their ability to learn, said the non-profit that promotes learning during the summers months. The group encourages parents to take a proactive role to make sure their kids are getting enough exercise and not snacking too much while on vacation.

To train for athletic competition, you have to exercise hard enough to make your muscles burn and hurt. But pain can also be a sign that you've injured yourself. In order to tell the difference, you must listen carefully to your body.All training for competition -- to become stronger and faster and improve endurance -- involves (1) stressing your muscles, (2) allowing enough time for them to recover and then (3) stressing them again. When you exercise vigorously, your muscles become damaged; they will feel sore anywhere from eight to 24 hours afterward.

When Carole Morison got into poultry farming 23 years ago, she and her husband built chicken houses on their Pocomoke farm to specifications set by their biggest customer — Perdue Inc. — and made upgrades the industry giant required over the years. That relationship abruptly ended two years ago, when Morison refused to spend $150,000 on a permanent enclosure requested by Salisbury-based Perdue, which in her view would be too costly and unhealthy for the chickens. Perdue subsequently dropped Morison as a grower.

Q. Several years ago my husband was suffering from psoriasis on his arms and legs. Medicine from the dermatologist was not very helpful. I bought some flaxseed oil capsules in the health food store. My husband was skeptical, but by the time he finished the first bottle, we could see improvement. He has continued with flaxseed oil and is still free of scabs. I don't know why it works, but others might want to know about it. A. Thanks for sharing your husband's experience. This oil, similar to fish oil, is rich in essential fatty acids, especially alpha linolenic and linoleic.