Child & Teen Health

Beginner’s Guide to Developing an Exercise Routine

Exercise is one of NRC’s seven recommended ways to maximize your health. If you want to exercise but aren’t sure where to begin, we can help! If you feel like your daily life doesn’t allow you to get fit (not enough time, no money for a gym membership, etc.), we have some “work-arounds” that may help. Read More >

Adolescents, Celebrity Worship, and Cosmetic Surgery

A new study shows that media portrayals of celebrities influence how adolescents feel about their looks and influence their decisions to undergo cosmetic surgery. Young adults are not just mimicking the clothing and hairstyles of their favorite celebrities, but rather undergoing invasive procedures to feel better about how they look. Read More >

Artificial Sweeteners: Are They Helping You Lose Weight or Gain it?

Artificial sweeteners have become popular weight loss tools. However, research suggests that low-calorie sweeteners may not actually help people lose weight. Learn why diet soda isn’t necessarily helping your diet. Read More >

Are Bisphenol A (BPA) Plastic Products Safe?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used to make plastics. It is frequently used in sports equipment, water bottles, medical devices, as a coating or lining in food and beverage cans, and in credit card receipts. It leaches out of plastic into liquids and foods, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found measurable amounts of BPA in the bodies of 93% of the U.S. population studied. While early concerns about BPA’s health effects were based primarily on animal studies and research on cells, there is increasing evidence from studies in humans that BPA can cause serious harm, such as increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and sexual dysfunction. Read More >

Red Meat: The News is Not Good

Red meat has been found to increase cholesterol and risk of cardiovascular disease, but now new research is linking it to cancer and increased mortality. Read More >

Aspirin: Could It Reduce Your Risk for Cancer?

Often called a “wonder drug,” aspirin reduces aches and pains, fever, and swelling, and lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke. But few of us ever imagined that it might also lower our chances of developing several types of cancer and help keep cancer from spreading. Read More >

Can Children Get Exercise through Video Games (“Exergaming”)?

Today, “exergames” market themselves as a way to get off the couch, get active, and stay healthy. While the concept is exciting—and the games themselves can be a lot of fun—new research suggests that giving your family access to these games alone might not actually benefit their health. Read More >