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- 04/08/25 - #364
04/08/25 - #364
Health Horizon. Herald Staff
April 08, 2025
Good morning. In today’s edition:
More Than 4 in 5 Australian Parents Concerned About Junk Food Marketing. Banning Unhealthy Food Advertising on TV Before 9pm and Removing Child-appealing Marketing Elements Like Cartoons From Unhealthy Food Packaging Are Popular Policies, Supported by More Than Half of Respondents
The Hidden Struggles of Weight Loss
Exercise as an Anti-ageing Intervention to Avoid Detrimental Impact of Mental Fatigue - Retired People Who Habitually Exercise Are More Able to Fight the Impacts of Mental Fatigue, and Outperformed Sedentary Adults in Physical and Cognitive Tests, New Research Suggests
Scientists Find Age-related Links Between Beverage Choices and Mental Health Risks. A Large Study Has Found That Different Types of Beverages Are Linked to the Likelihood of Developing Depression and Anxiety Disorders
…and lots more. Have a great day!
FOOD & NUTRITION
More Than 4 in 5 Australian Parents Concerned About Junk Food Marketing. Banning Unhealthy Food Advertising on TV Before 9pm and Removing Child-appealing Marketing Elements Like Cartoons From Unhealthy Food Packaging Are Popular Policies, Supported by More Than Half of Respondents
New research finds that many Australian parents worry about junk food ads aimed at kids. A study of almost 4,000 adults showed that 85% of caregivers believe these ads harm children.
A study from Deakin University, in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, showed strong support for government action. This action aims to shield kids from unhealthy food ads. More than 60% of Australians agree with banning such ads on TV before 9 p.m. and removing cartoon characters from junk food packaging.
Clara Gomez-Donoso, the lead researcher at Deakin University, pointed out that many people back these changes in various media. Professor Kathryn Backholer noted how these ads link to more overweight kids. Many of them also face preventable diseases.
As Australia's federal election on May 3 nears, public health leaders like Adj Prof Terry Slevin urge political candidates to focus on preventing obesity. They want the government to stop allowing food companies to target our kids with their ads.
Jane Martin from the Food for Health Alliance is urging the government to act quickly. She criticizes the food industry for putting profits over children's health. She urges stricter rules to limit junk food ads aimed at kids. This would help kids grow up healthier.
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WEIGHT LOSS
The Hidden Struggles of Weight Loss
Losing weight isn’t as simple as eating less and exercising more. Dr. Leonid Kim, a doctor who knows a lot about weight and health, explains why it’s tough for some people to lose weight and keep it off.
First, many things affect our weight that we can't easily control, like our body's natural balance and our surroundings. The food we crave and how much we eat can also be influenced by things we aren't fully aware of.
Genetics play a big role too. Have you noticed how some people can eat a lot and not gain weight? That's because our genes affect how our bodies handle food and where we store fat.
Our bodies also naturally resist losing weight. For thousands of years, humans needed to store energy because food wasn't always available. This means that when we lose weight, our bodies try to make us eat more by increasing our hunger signals and reducing signals that tell us we're full.
Counting calories is helpful, but it's not everything. Not all calories affect our bodies the same way. Protein calories might keep us full longer than calories from sweets.
Lastly, how society views being overweight can make things harder. People often wrongly think being overweight is a personal failing, rather than a complex health issue. This stigma can make people feel worse and even gain more weight.
Understanding these challenges can help us be more realistic about weight loss. It's important to focus on small changes that improve our health, not just the number on the scale.
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HEALTH
Exercise as an Anti-ageing Intervention to Avoid Detrimental Impact of Mental Fatigue - Retired People Who Habitually Exercise Are More Able to Fight the Impacts of Mental Fatigue, and Outperformed Sedentary Adults in Physical and Cognitive Tests, New Research Suggests
Staying sharp and active can get tougher as we get older. Good news! A new study shows that regular exercise can help older people stay alert and move better, even when they're tired.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham and the University of Extremadura found that older adults who stay active perform better on brain and body tests. In contrast, those who don't exercise much struggle more. They studied older adults. Some exercised regularly, while others did not. They wanted to see how mental tiredness affected each group.
They discovered that adults between 65 and 79 who don't exercise performed worse on these tests, especially when they felt mentally tired. But, active older adults aged 66-72 did well on the same tests whether they were tired or not.
Professor Chris Ring, who led the study, said that regular exercise helps older adults stay fit, think clearly, and handle tiredness better. He suggests three easy steps for older adults to do better when tasks get tough:
Exercise more often.
Do light brain and body exercises as a warm-up.
Try Brain Endurance Training (BET), which mixes thinking tasks and physical activity to help fight off tiredness.
This study highlights how important it is for older adults to stay active for their body and mind health.
Scientists Find Age-related Links Between Beverage Choices and Mental Health Risks. A Large Study Has Found That Different Types of Beverages Are Linked to the Likelihood of Developing Depression and Anxiety Disorders
A recent study found links between drink choices and the risk of depression and anxiety. The research, done by scientists in China, looked at data from over 188,000 adults from 37 to 73 years old.
The study showed that younger adults who drink a lot of sugary and diet drinks are more likely to get depression. Drinking fruit juices and coffee may lower the risk of mental health issues for everyone.
Specifically, people under 60 who drank sugary drinks every day had a 14% higher chance of getting depression. Those who chose diet drinks had a 23% higher risk. Drinking fruit juices or coffee can lower the risk of depression and anxiety.
For those over 60, the effects of sugary and diet drinks on mental health were not clear. But, like the younger group, more fruit juice and coffee linked to less depression and anxiety.
The researchers also looked at what happens if you switch one drink for another. For example, replacing a sugary drink with fruit juice or coffee significantly lowered the risks of depression and anxiety in younger adults.
This study shows a link between drinks and mental health. However, it can't prove that these drinks cause mental health problems. The results are a helpful reminder that what we choose to drink can play a part in our mental health.
✢ A Note From Hem Hero
The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.