The biggest difference between anorexia and bulimia is that people suffering from bulimia eat large amounts of food and then throw up. This is called binge and purge. Anorexics do not eat large amounts and throw up. Bulimics do.
source: http://www.mamashealth.com/anorexia.asp
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
anorexia and pregnancy
In order to have a healthy child, the average pregnant woman should gain between 25 and 35 pounds. Telling this to a person with anorexia is like telling a normal person to gain 100 pounds. If you are anorexic, you may have trouble conceiving a baby and carrying it to term. Irregular menstrual cycles and weak bones make it more difficult to conceive. If you are underweight and do not eat the proper variety of foods, you and your baby could be in danger.
Women with eating disorders have higher rates of miscarriages and your baby might be born prematurely which puts them at risk for many medical problems.
All pregnant women should receive proper prenatal care. Those recovering from anorexia or bulimia need special care. You should always take your prenatal vitamins and have regular prenatal visits. You should not exercise unless your doctor says it is okay and it is a good idea to enroll in a prenatal exercise class to be sure you are not overexerting yourself.
source: http://www.mamashealth.com/anorexia.asp
Women with eating disorders have higher rates of miscarriages and your baby might be born prematurely which puts them at risk for many medical problems.
All pregnant women should receive proper prenatal care. Those recovering from anorexia or bulimia need special care. You should always take your prenatal vitamins and have regular prenatal visits. You should not exercise unless your doctor says it is okay and it is a good idea to enroll in a prenatal exercise class to be sure you are not overexerting yourself.
source: http://www.mamashealth.com/anorexia.asp
Thursday, July 31, 2008
family member has anorexia?
A Family Member has an Eating Disorder
If you have a family member that with an Eating Disorder, they need a lot of support. Suggest that your family member see an eating disorder expert. Be prepared for denial, resistance, and even anger. A doctor and/or a counselor can help them battle their eating disorder.
Symptoms of Anorexia?
There are many symptoms for anorexia, some individuals may not experience all of they symptoms. The symptoms include: Body weight that is inconsistent with age, build and height (usually 15% below normal weight).
Some other symptoms of anorexia are:
Loss of at least 3 consecutive menstrual periods (in women).
Not wanting or refusing to eat in public
Anxiety
Weakness
Brittle skin
Shortness of breath
Obsessiveness about calorie intake
Medical Consequences of anorexia?
There are many medical risks associated with anorexia. They include: shrunken bones, mineral loss, low body temperature, irregular heartbeat, permanent failure of normal growth, development of osteoporosis and bulimia nervosa.
Continued use of laxatives is harmful to the body. It wears out the bowel muscle and causes it to decrease in function. Some laxatives contain harsh substances that may be reabsorbed into your system.
source: http://www.mamashealth.com/anorexia.asp
If you have a family member that with an Eating Disorder, they need a lot of support. Suggest that your family member see an eating disorder expert. Be prepared for denial, resistance, and even anger. A doctor and/or a counselor can help them battle their eating disorder.
Symptoms of Anorexia?
There are many symptoms for anorexia, some individuals may not experience all of they symptoms. The symptoms include: Body weight that is inconsistent with age, build and height (usually 15% below normal weight).
Some other symptoms of anorexia are:
Loss of at least 3 consecutive menstrual periods (in women).
Not wanting or refusing to eat in public
Anxiety
Weakness
Brittle skin
Shortness of breath
Obsessiveness about calorie intake
Medical Consequences of anorexia?
There are many medical risks associated with anorexia. They include: shrunken bones, mineral loss, low body temperature, irregular heartbeat, permanent failure of normal growth, development of osteoporosis and bulimia nervosa.
Continued use of laxatives is harmful to the body. It wears out the bowel muscle and causes it to decrease in function. Some laxatives contain harsh substances that may be reabsorbed into your system.
source: http://www.mamashealth.com/anorexia.asp
Monday, July 28, 2008
what is anorexia?
Anorexia is an eating disorder where people starve themselves. Anorexia usually begins in young people around the onset of puberty. Individuals suffering from anorexia have extreme weight loss. Weight loss is usually 15% below the person's normal body weight. People suffering from anorexia are very skinny but are convinced that they are overweight. Weight loss is obtained by many ways. Some of the common techniques used are excessive exercise, intake of laxatives and not eating.
Anorexics have an intense fear of becoming fat. Their dieting habits develop from this fear. Anorexia mainly affects adolescent girls.
People with anorexia continue to think they are overweight even after they become extremely thin, are very ill or near death. Often they will develop strange eating habits such as refusing to eat in front of other people. Sometimes the individuals will prepare big meals for others while refusing to eat any of it.
The disorder is thought to be most common among people of higher socioeconomic classes and people involved in activities where thinness is especially looked upon, such as dancing, theater, and distance running
source: http://www.mamashealth.com/anorexia.asp
Anorexics have an intense fear of becoming fat. Their dieting habits develop from this fear. Anorexia mainly affects adolescent girls.
People with anorexia continue to think they are overweight even after they become extremely thin, are very ill or near death. Often they will develop strange eating habits such as refusing to eat in front of other people. Sometimes the individuals will prepare big meals for others while refusing to eat any of it.
The disorder is thought to be most common among people of higher socioeconomic classes and people involved in activities where thinness is especially looked upon, such as dancing, theater, and distance running
source: http://www.mamashealth.com/anorexia.asp
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Slimming Electric Belts and Russian Bells - Are they Fitness Rip-Offs or Fitness Bargains?
Have you ever heard of a belt that can help you get skinny? One that claims it can get you in shape? And what about the latest fitness craze - using Russian weights to get extra-fit? Possible? Here's what we found in two of our latest investigations.
Claim: "Use your Flex Abdominal Toning Belt for just 30 minutes a day, five days a week and in just weeks, your abs could be firmer, stronger and more toned. Satisfaction Guaranteed!" There are many different Web sites all with similar claims, but, in a nutshell, the claim is that the product is FDA approved, it will tone and strengthen your abs in just weeks, and it was shown effective in a clinical study by Dr. John Porcari at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse in 2004.
Facts: The Food and Drug Administration does regulate electrical muscle stimulators; however, most of the stimulators are intended for use in physical therapy and rehab. This is what the FDA Web site says about EMS products: "The FDA has cleared many electrical muscle stimulators for prescription use in treating medical conditions. Doctors may use electrical muscle stimulators for patients who require muscle re-education, relaxation of muscle spasms, increased range of motion, prevention of muscle atrophy, and for treating other medical conditions which usually result from a stroke, a serious injury, or major surgery. Again, the effect of using these devices is primarily to help a patient recover from impaired muscle function due to a medical condition, not to increase muscle size enough to affect appearance." And yes, it is true that the Slendertone Flex has met FDA's regulatory requirements and been "cleared by FDA for toning, strengthening and firming abdominal muscles."
According to Fabio Comana, M.A., M.S., an exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise, "The technology transmits a repeated low-grade impulse to stimulate low-grade, repeated muscle contractions. This form of technology has been used in physical therapy for decades to treat muscle trauma. Any time a group of muscles performs more work, it should offer some benefits. If this is used on very de-conditioned individuals with weak abdominals, the muscles will be stimulated to contract and will get stronger as long as overload is applied [the muscle does more work than what it is accustomed to]."
Fiction: The following is taken directly from the FDA Web site: "Using these devices alone will not give you 'six-pack' abs. Applying electrical current to muscles may cause muscles to contract. Stimulating muscles repeatedly with electricity may eventually result in muscles that are strengthened and toned to some extent but will not, based on currently available data, create a major change in your appearance without the addition of diet and regular exercise." Also, according to the FDA, which has approved this device: "While an EMS device may be able to temporarily strengthen, tone or firm a muscle, no EMS devices have been cleared at this time for weight loss, girth reduction, or for obtaining 'rock hard' abs."
"Spot reduction is a myth, and people often confuse improved abdominal endurance and strength with getting a washboard stomach. We all have a washboard, but for most, it is covered with a layer (of varying size) of fat tissue that has to be shed in order to show the six-pack," says Comana. Additionally, Comana has several issues with the design and methodology of the only study conducted on Slendertone.
The price: About $200.
Concerns: Only one researcher is cited as having done studies on Slendertone Flex. Why are there not more studies cited, or have there been no other studies done by other researchers, asks Christina "Tina" A. Geithner, Ph.D., a professor of exercise science at Gonzaga University and spokesperson for the American College of Sports Medicine. "I'd consider this device a fad and a rip-off," says Geithner.
Comana believes that just focusing on six-pack abs is a mistake. "What about the obliques and back muscles? The reason one should strengthen the abs is to protect the spine, not to gain a six-pack. The abdominal muscles need to be strengthened in balance with the obliques and the back. We should train people to move efficiently, not train muscles in isolation," he adds.
Bottom Line: If you want to develop washboard abs, this belt will not do it for you. Try ab work, cardio and a healthy, calorie-lowering diet.
Russian Kettlebells
Claim: This cannonball with a suitcase-like handle is better than free weights for strength training, and kettlebells are the only workout you need.
Facts: Kettlebells can provide a challenging, effective workout for those who are bored with traditional free weights or simply looking for an alternative. The design of the kettlebell results in its center-of-mass being outside the grip because of the handle placement. This results in a far different - and greater - challenge than that experienced in most free-weight exercises and can provide a terrific challenge to the muscles of the forearm, shoulder and core, says Jonathan Ross, a spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise.
Kettlebells can help people strength train and get them prepared for more real-life situations. "Kettlebell exercises help with regular everyday functions such as lifting groceries, carrying a pile of magazines, gardening, throwing out the trash or lifting a child - moving irregular-size objects and controlling the momentum," says Tedd Keating, Ph.D., a professor of physical education and human performance at Manhattan College. "Kettlebells use a swinging, curvilinear pattern when performed, whereas free weights have a linear pattern. It's actually in the process of accelerating and decelerating the movement of the kettlebells that the strength and power gains are made," he adds.
A kettlebell is a compact and convenient piece of fitness equipment. Once you figure out the appropriate weight of kettlebell you need, all the exercises use that one kettlebell. So you don't need an entire set to do your strength-training program. As you get stronger, you simply do additional repetitions and increase movement speed, says Keating.
Fiction: Kettlebells will provide you with a better workout than free weights. Actually, kettlebells are simply different from free weights, not necessarily better. "It provides a different, unique challenge to your muscular system," says Keating. This is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to fitness - it's just another tool in your fitness toolbox. Keating does not recommend kettlebells as a stand-alone fitness program. There are many other components needed for an appropriate fitness regime (e.g., cardio, flexibility, etc.).
Price: $24.95 (10 pound) to $109.95 (100 pound)
by Charles Stuart Platkin
Concerns: Kettlebells can be unexpectedly heavy, and because the design adds an additional "unwieldy" component, that can be both helpful and dangerous. The kettlebells' greatest strengths are also their greatest weaknesses. "Many of the movements with the kettlebells are done rapidly - thus generating a significant need to control the momentum of the weight when accelerating and decelerating it," says Ross. Additionally, kettlebells can create an excessive challenge to the forearm muscles, putting the wrist at significantly greater risk of injury.
"The weight of the kettlebell is far outside the grip, thus dramatically increasing the torque on the wrist joint (imagine trying to swing a sledgehammer like a carpentry hammer). This property of the kettlebell - one of its most frequently stated attributes - needs to be respected and handled with care at the introduction of kettlebell training. A frequent mistake people make is to compare what it feels like to lift a 25-pound dumbbell overhead to lifting a 25-pound kettlebell. Given the different properties of the two, a far lighter kettlebell should be used," says Ross.
Bottom Line: Kettlebells can be very effective if used appropriately and very dangerous if not. "Their use should be undertaken by a competent professional well-versed in and espousing a respect for a variety of training methods and aware of the advantages and disadvantages of each," says Ross.
source: http://www.dietdetective.com/content/view/3401/3/
Claim: "Use your Flex Abdominal Toning Belt for just 30 minutes a day, five days a week and in just weeks, your abs could be firmer, stronger and more toned. Satisfaction Guaranteed!" There are many different Web sites all with similar claims, but, in a nutshell, the claim is that the product is FDA approved, it will tone and strengthen your abs in just weeks, and it was shown effective in a clinical study by Dr. John Porcari at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse in 2004.
Facts: The Food and Drug Administration does regulate electrical muscle stimulators; however, most of the stimulators are intended for use in physical therapy and rehab. This is what the FDA Web site says about EMS products: "The FDA has cleared many electrical muscle stimulators for prescription use in treating medical conditions. Doctors may use electrical muscle stimulators for patients who require muscle re-education, relaxation of muscle spasms, increased range of motion, prevention of muscle atrophy, and for treating other medical conditions which usually result from a stroke, a serious injury, or major surgery. Again, the effect of using these devices is primarily to help a patient recover from impaired muscle function due to a medical condition, not to increase muscle size enough to affect appearance." And yes, it is true that the Slendertone Flex has met FDA's regulatory requirements and been "cleared by FDA for toning, strengthening and firming abdominal muscles."
According to Fabio Comana, M.A., M.S., an exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise, "The technology transmits a repeated low-grade impulse to stimulate low-grade, repeated muscle contractions. This form of technology has been used in physical therapy for decades to treat muscle trauma. Any time a group of muscles performs more work, it should offer some benefits. If this is used on very de-conditioned individuals with weak abdominals, the muscles will be stimulated to contract and will get stronger as long as overload is applied [the muscle does more work than what it is accustomed to]."
Fiction: The following is taken directly from the FDA Web site: "Using these devices alone will not give you 'six-pack' abs. Applying electrical current to muscles may cause muscles to contract. Stimulating muscles repeatedly with electricity may eventually result in muscles that are strengthened and toned to some extent but will not, based on currently available data, create a major change in your appearance without the addition of diet and regular exercise." Also, according to the FDA, which has approved this device: "While an EMS device may be able to temporarily strengthen, tone or firm a muscle, no EMS devices have been cleared at this time for weight loss, girth reduction, or for obtaining 'rock hard' abs."
"Spot reduction is a myth, and people often confuse improved abdominal endurance and strength with getting a washboard stomach. We all have a washboard, but for most, it is covered with a layer (of varying size) of fat tissue that has to be shed in order to show the six-pack," says Comana. Additionally, Comana has several issues with the design and methodology of the only study conducted on Slendertone.
The price: About $200.
Concerns: Only one researcher is cited as having done studies on Slendertone Flex. Why are there not more studies cited, or have there been no other studies done by other researchers, asks Christina "Tina" A. Geithner, Ph.D., a professor of exercise science at Gonzaga University and spokesperson for the American College of Sports Medicine. "I'd consider this device a fad and a rip-off," says Geithner.
Comana believes that just focusing on six-pack abs is a mistake. "What about the obliques and back muscles? The reason one should strengthen the abs is to protect the spine, not to gain a six-pack. The abdominal muscles need to be strengthened in balance with the obliques and the back. We should train people to move efficiently, not train muscles in isolation," he adds.
Bottom Line: If you want to develop washboard abs, this belt will not do it for you. Try ab work, cardio and a healthy, calorie-lowering diet.
Russian Kettlebells
Claim: This cannonball with a suitcase-like handle is better than free weights for strength training, and kettlebells are the only workout you need.
Facts: Kettlebells can provide a challenging, effective workout for those who are bored with traditional free weights or simply looking for an alternative. The design of the kettlebell results in its center-of-mass being outside the grip because of the handle placement. This results in a far different - and greater - challenge than that experienced in most free-weight exercises and can provide a terrific challenge to the muscles of the forearm, shoulder and core, says Jonathan Ross, a spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise.
Kettlebells can help people strength train and get them prepared for more real-life situations. "Kettlebell exercises help with regular everyday functions such as lifting groceries, carrying a pile of magazines, gardening, throwing out the trash or lifting a child - moving irregular-size objects and controlling the momentum," says Tedd Keating, Ph.D., a professor of physical education and human performance at Manhattan College. "Kettlebells use a swinging, curvilinear pattern when performed, whereas free weights have a linear pattern. It's actually in the process of accelerating and decelerating the movement of the kettlebells that the strength and power gains are made," he adds.
A kettlebell is a compact and convenient piece of fitness equipment. Once you figure out the appropriate weight of kettlebell you need, all the exercises use that one kettlebell. So you don't need an entire set to do your strength-training program. As you get stronger, you simply do additional repetitions and increase movement speed, says Keating.
Fiction: Kettlebells will provide you with a better workout than free weights. Actually, kettlebells are simply different from free weights, not necessarily better. "It provides a different, unique challenge to your muscular system," says Keating. This is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to fitness - it's just another tool in your fitness toolbox. Keating does not recommend kettlebells as a stand-alone fitness program. There are many other components needed for an appropriate fitness regime (e.g., cardio, flexibility, etc.).
Price: $24.95 (10 pound) to $109.95 (100 pound)
by Charles Stuart Platkin
Concerns: Kettlebells can be unexpectedly heavy, and because the design adds an additional "unwieldy" component, that can be both helpful and dangerous. The kettlebells' greatest strengths are also their greatest weaknesses. "Many of the movements with the kettlebells are done rapidly - thus generating a significant need to control the momentum of the weight when accelerating and decelerating it," says Ross. Additionally, kettlebells can create an excessive challenge to the forearm muscles, putting the wrist at significantly greater risk of injury.
"The weight of the kettlebell is far outside the grip, thus dramatically increasing the torque on the wrist joint (imagine trying to swing a sledgehammer like a carpentry hammer). This property of the kettlebell - one of its most frequently stated attributes - needs to be respected and handled with care at the introduction of kettlebell training. A frequent mistake people make is to compare what it feels like to lift a 25-pound dumbbell overhead to lifting a 25-pound kettlebell. Given the different properties of the two, a far lighter kettlebell should be used," says Ross.
Bottom Line: Kettlebells can be very effective if used appropriately and very dangerous if not. "Their use should be undertaken by a competent professional well-versed in and espousing a respect for a variety of training methods and aware of the advantages and disadvantages of each," says Ross.
source: http://www.dietdetective.com/content/view/3401/3/
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Facts Of Women’s Health And Fitness
Health is our number one concern and at times we tend to listen and follow any and all kinds of advice in order to improve our overall health and fitness issues. The practice of following blindly other's advice on boxing workout can at times hurt us if we don't take the time to check on the information received.
Facts about Women's Health and Fitness
* A women's metabolism is generally (not always) slower than that of a man's due to which the struggle to stay slender and fit is greater in a woman most times.
* Due to a slower metabolism rate, women tend to have a poor blood circulation, which is usually manifested through cold feet and hands in all types of seasons.
* A women's hormonal balance is very different to that of a man due to which they often have huge mood swings; this usually occurs during the time one expects her monthly period.
* Due to the above facts women deal differently with stress than men often, developing eating disorders.
Easy Steps to Improve Women's Health and Fitness
* Exercise – highly recommended women exercises are those that increase body metabolism such as jogging and power walking. Increasing body metabolism one burns calories quicker and improves blood circulation as well.
* Diet – high in fiber; this helps with digestion, a problem most women face due to slow metabolism rate. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always of great help as well.
* Water and other liquids – women's health and fitness is proportional to the amount of liquids one intakes. It is advised to drink no less than 2 liters daily. Coffee and tea do not count as they contain caffeine.
Regular Check Ups
Women's health and fitness can be kept under control when regular check ups and boxing training are conducted. Do not skip a check up only because you think you feel good and therefore nothing can be wrong. Many diseases only show signs and symptoms in the late stages at which time it is harder to deal with and cure it.
A Helpful Tip
Don't take advice or follow someone else's diet or exercise or Boxing Fitness schedule unless that advice comes from a professional – women's health and fitness is very complex and unique to each and every individual woman.
Get to know and understand your body's functions and needs. Seek and follow only professional advice to obtain best results and maintain optimum health and fitness conditions at all times.
source: http://www.nmcm.org/family-health-fitness/the-facts-of-women%e2%80%99s-health-and-fitness/1430
Facts about Women's Health and Fitness
* A women's metabolism is generally (not always) slower than that of a man's due to which the struggle to stay slender and fit is greater in a woman most times.
* Due to a slower metabolism rate, women tend to have a poor blood circulation, which is usually manifested through cold feet and hands in all types of seasons.
* A women's hormonal balance is very different to that of a man due to which they often have huge mood swings; this usually occurs during the time one expects her monthly period.
* Due to the above facts women deal differently with stress than men often, developing eating disorders.
Easy Steps to Improve Women's Health and Fitness
* Exercise – highly recommended women exercises are those that increase body metabolism such as jogging and power walking. Increasing body metabolism one burns calories quicker and improves blood circulation as well.
* Diet – high in fiber; this helps with digestion, a problem most women face due to slow metabolism rate. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always of great help as well.
* Water and other liquids – women's health and fitness is proportional to the amount of liquids one intakes. It is advised to drink no less than 2 liters daily. Coffee and tea do not count as they contain caffeine.
Regular Check Ups
Women's health and fitness can be kept under control when regular check ups and boxing training are conducted. Do not skip a check up only because you think you feel good and therefore nothing can be wrong. Many diseases only show signs and symptoms in the late stages at which time it is harder to deal with and cure it.
A Helpful Tip
Don't take advice or follow someone else's diet or exercise or Boxing Fitness schedule unless that advice comes from a professional – women's health and fitness is very complex and unique to each and every individual woman.
Get to know and understand your body's functions and needs. Seek and follow only professional advice to obtain best results and maintain optimum health and fitness conditions at all times.
source: http://www.nmcm.org/family-health-fitness/the-facts-of-women%e2%80%99s-health-and-fitness/1430
Friday, July 18, 2008
Warning bells over children's phone use
By RUTH HILL
New health warnings on the dangers of children using cellphones has reignited debate on whether the devices are safe for regular use by young people.
Toronto's public health department has recommended children under eight should use a cellphone only in emergencies, and teenagers should limit calls to less than 10 minutes so as to limit exposure to electro-magnetic radiation.
The agency says research on the effects on children is "very limited" but many scientists feel they may be more susceptible to any harmful effects from radiofrequency waves. They have a smaller head and brain, thinner skull bones, skin and ears, and their brains and nerves are still developing.
Today's children have started using cellphones at a younger age, so their lifetime exposure will be greater, it says.
Toronto Public Health supervisor Loren Vanderlinden told the Toronto Star scientists were previously "pretty dismissive" of any risk but it appeared people who had been using their cellphones over time were at greater risk of certain types of brain tumours.
Similar advisory bodies in Britain and Germany recommend discouraging non-essential use of cellphones by under-16s "as a precautionary measure".
The New Zealand Health Ministry recommends people use hands-free kits, keep calls short and use phones in areas with good signal.
Some studies have suggested a possible link between very high cellphone use and brain tumours, though others show no connection.
Public opposition this year to a controversial cellphone tower proposal for Atawhai, Nelson, contributed to Telecom putting its plans on hold. The company had proposed to erect the tower next to a playcentre, prompting fears of exposure.
National Radiation Laboratory manager Jim Turnbull, who advises the Health Ministry on the issue, said yesterday the New Zealand exposure standard limits for wireless devices were designed to provide protection for all age groups.
It was possible, however, that children were more vulnerable to "subtle effects" not yet discovered, due to their more absorbent brain tissue and longer lifetime exposure.
New Zealand Cancer Society medical director Chris Atkinson said last night research on the health effects of cellphone use was inconclusive. But it was possible a link would be found between excessive use and negative health effects in the future.
It was wise to pay attention to "a sensible public health comment" from a city "as sensible" as Toronto, he said.
It was a good idea "for many reasons" for children not to overuse their cellphones.
Newlands mother Paula Wortman, whose 11-year-old daughter, Celia, has owned a cellphone for about two years, said she had not heard about possible health effects from cellphones - but she was unconcerned.
"I feel safer knowing she can get hold of us in an emergency."
source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4618342a10.html
New health warnings on the dangers of children using cellphones has reignited debate on whether the devices are safe for regular use by young people.
Toronto's public health department has recommended children under eight should use a cellphone only in emergencies, and teenagers should limit calls to less than 10 minutes so as to limit exposure to electro-magnetic radiation.
The agency says research on the effects on children is "very limited" but many scientists feel they may be more susceptible to any harmful effects from radiofrequency waves. They have a smaller head and brain, thinner skull bones, skin and ears, and their brains and nerves are still developing.
Today's children have started using cellphones at a younger age, so their lifetime exposure will be greater, it says.
Toronto Public Health supervisor Loren Vanderlinden told the Toronto Star scientists were previously "pretty dismissive" of any risk but it appeared people who had been using their cellphones over time were at greater risk of certain types of brain tumours.
Similar advisory bodies in Britain and Germany recommend discouraging non-essential use of cellphones by under-16s "as a precautionary measure".
The New Zealand Health Ministry recommends people use hands-free kits, keep calls short and use phones in areas with good signal.
Some studies have suggested a possible link between very high cellphone use and brain tumours, though others show no connection.
Public opposition this year to a controversial cellphone tower proposal for Atawhai, Nelson, contributed to Telecom putting its plans on hold. The company had proposed to erect the tower next to a playcentre, prompting fears of exposure.
National Radiation Laboratory manager Jim Turnbull, who advises the Health Ministry on the issue, said yesterday the New Zealand exposure standard limits for wireless devices were designed to provide protection for all age groups.
It was possible, however, that children were more vulnerable to "subtle effects" not yet discovered, due to their more absorbent brain tissue and longer lifetime exposure.
New Zealand Cancer Society medical director Chris Atkinson said last night research on the health effects of cellphone use was inconclusive. But it was possible a link would be found between excessive use and negative health effects in the future.
It was wise to pay attention to "a sensible public health comment" from a city "as sensible" as Toronto, he said.
It was a good idea "for many reasons" for children not to overuse their cellphones.
Newlands mother Paula Wortman, whose 11-year-old daughter, Celia, has owned a cellphone for about two years, said she had not heard about possible health effects from cellphones - but she was unconcerned.
"I feel safer knowing she can get hold of us in an emergency."
source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4618342a10.html
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