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Internet, alcohol, sleep tied to girls' weight
"Girls and young women who devote much time to the internet, get too little sleep or regularly drink alcohol are more likely than their peers to put on excess weight, a new study suggests.
The researchers, who followed more than 5000 girls between 14 and 21 years old for 1 year, found that the more spare time girls spent on the Internet, the more their body mass index (BMI) increased.
Similar patterns were seen when the researchers looked at alcohol consumption and sleep. In the latter case, lack of sleep was linked to greater gains in BMI -- a measure of weight in relation to height.
The findings, reported in The Journal of Paediatrics, add to evidence implicating each of these three habits in promoting weight gain.
The effect of each may be small, but over time the pounds can add up, according to the researchers, led by Dr Catherine Berkey of Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.
The study involved 5036 girls and young women who were surveyed regarding the number of recreational hours per week they spent on the Internet, which ranged from 1 to 5 hours, to 16-plus hours, as well as how long they typically slept each night (anywhere from 5 hours or less, to 9 hours or more) and how much alcohol they usually drank (ranging from none to two or more drinks per week).
In general, the researchers found, as Internet use climbed, so did BMI, particularly among girls younger than 18 years old.
When it came to sleep, those who clocked 5 hours or less tended to gain more weight than those who got a standard 8 hours. And girls and women who had 2 or more alcoholic drinks per week put on more pounds than those who drank the least.
The effects over 1 year were modest, Berkey's team points out. For example, a 19-year-old of average weight and height would gain 4 pounds if she were in the high-risk groups for Internet use, sleep and alcohol consumption.
However, the researchers add, over time that could translate into significant weight change.
Spending hours on the Internet likely contributes to weight gain by taking time away from physical activity, according to Berkey's team.
Lack of sleep may make people too tired to be active during the day; sleep deprivation also affects hormones and metabolism in a way that might promote weight gain.
Meanwhile, alcohol contains a significant amount of calories, and research suggests that people usually don't make an adjustment for liquid calories by eating or drinking less throughout the rest of the day."
DAMN it, no wonder I can't lose weight; I'm an internet addicted alcoholic posting on current at all hours of the night! "Girls and young women who devote much time to the internet, get too little sleep or regularly drink alcohol are more likely than thei... more -
Eight Drinks A Day Raises Total Cancer Risk By 90%
A report, published by the Cancer Institute NSW in Australia has found that alcohol might be more strongly linked to cancer than previous thought.
The authors of the study reviewed the findings of 634 previous studies to determine the link between alcohol consumption and the risk of various cancers. In total cancer risk was found to be 22% higher in people who consumed four alcoholic drinks a day compared to non-drinkers and 90% higher in those who consumed eight alcoholic drinks a day. Consumption of two alcoholic drinks a day appeared to have little or no effect on cancer risk.
The researchers found conclusive evidence that moderate to heavy alcohol consumption raised the risk of breast, colo-rectal, liver, and stomach cancers as well as cancer of the upper-digestive tract. The researchers also found that no link existed between alcohol and cancers of the bladder, endometrium and pancreas.
Cancers of the upper-digestive tract which includes the mouth, esophagus, larynx, and pharynx were four times more likely in those who consumed four alcoholic drinks a day and a massive 4-6 times greater in those who consumed eight times a day compared to non-drinkers.
Breast cancer risk was found to increased by around 10% with each additional alcoholic drink consumed, this equates to around a two times greater risk of breast cancer for someone consuming an average of eight alcoholic drinks per day. Around 10% of all breast cancers are thought to be attributable to alcohol.
Stomach cancer was only slightly associated with heavy alcohol consumption with eight drinks a day raising stomach cancer risk by around 30%.
Colo-rectal cancers did not appear to be associated with alcohol in women however heavy male drinkers are between 60 and 80% more likely to develop colo-rectal cancers than non-drinkers.
The results were the opposite for liver cancer with women drinkers appearing to be at a greater risk of liver cancer than men. Heavy male drinkers were about 60% more likely to develop liver cancer while females were around nine times more likely to develop the disease compared to non-drinkers. Around 35% of all liver cancers are thought to be alcohol related.
While some evidence existed for a link between alcohol and prostate, kidney, lung, cervical, and ovarian cancers, the evidence was not sufficient to draw definitive conclusions.
Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain the link between alcohol and cancer. Acetaldehyde, a product of alcohol metabolism, is a known carcinogen. Alcohol is also known to increase estrogen levels which may explain the breast cancer link. Alcohol also impairs the bodies ability to absorb folate resulting in a folate deficiency in many heavy drinkers. Low folate levels are thought to increase the risk of several forms of cancer.
Cancer is an extremely common disease, and is thought to become even more so as the world population continues to age. Around 35% of women and almost half of all men will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men while breast cancer is the most common in women.
It is thought as many as a third of all cancers are preventable through healthy lifestyle choices such as not smoking, consuming five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and being physically active. A report, published by the Cancer Institute NSW in Australia has found that alcohol might be more strongly linked to cancer than previ... more -
The end of the bender? Stars embrace sobriety
Apparently, more and more celebrities including Chris Martin and his wife Gwyneth Paltrow, Catherine Tate or David Walliams are staying away from alcohol these days. And the trend is not just celebrity-specific: politicians like France's Nicolas Sarkozy and George W Bush have joined the club of non-drinkers.
This seems to have a positive influence on the general population. According to the Office of National Satistics, the percentage of non-drinking women increased from 41 to 44 per cent between 1998 and 2006. For men, the numbers increased from 25 per cent in 1998 to 29 per cent.
Do you think this is the beginning of a post-alcohol era in which binge drinking celebrities like Amy Winehouse are an anomaly or is this just another trend that will be gone before it has properly arrived? Apparently, more and more celebrities including Chris Martin and his wife Gwyneth Paltrow, Catherine Tate or David Walliams are stayin... more -
Don't drink and drive, then post on Facebook
Two weeks after Joshua Lipton was charged in a drunken driving crash that seriously injured a woman, the 20-year-old college junior attended a Halloween party dressed as a prisoner. Pictures from the party showed him in a black-and-white striped shirt and an orange jumpsuit labeled "Jail Bird."
In the age of the Internet, it might not be hard to guess what happened to those pictures: Someone posted them on the social networking site Facebook. And that offered remarkable evidence for Jay Sullivan, the prosecutor handling Lipton's drunken-driving case.
Sullivan used the pictures to paint Lipton as an unrepentant partier who lived it up while his victim recovered in the hospital. A judge agreed, calling the pictures depraved when sentencing Lipton to two years in prison.
Two weeks after Joshua Lipton was charged in a drunken driving crash that seriously injured a woman, the 20-year-old college junior at... more -
Tobacco style health warnings for alcohol
Drinks manufacturers in the UK will be given until the end of the year to put the required warnings and advice on bottles and cans. If the target is not met, the Government will move to put a mandatory scheme in place. This would require health and unit information on all drinks containers.
The consultation, which is launched today (July 22), would see the industry's self-regulation code on retailing become mandatory. It would also mean restrictions on the way alcohol is sold in pubs, bars and nightclubs, including banning large glasses or measures, restricting promotions and mandatory point of sale information. Shop checkouts will also not be allowed to display alcohol-related promotions.
Figures will show that six per cent of all NHS admissions are in some way caused by drink, and the rate of visits to hospital over alcohol-related problems is rising by 10 per cent every year. The figures indicate the true impact alcohol has on the NHS from accidents, violence and disease. They include for the first time estimates of the number of cancers caused by alcohol consumption as well as heart disease and strokes.
Alcohol is thought to cause about 17,000 cases of cancer a year and £2billion of NHS money is spent every year treating patients with alcohol-related diseases. Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, believes “lifestyle” illnesses will put an increasing strain on the NHS unless people behave more responsibly.
Drinks manufacturers in the UK will be given until the end of the year to put the required warnings and advice on bottles and cans. If... more -
Drunken Spaniard admits to kicking Scottish grandfather to death
A Spaniard yesterday admitted beating and kicking to death a Scottish grandfather on holiday in the Canary Islands.
Hamed Mohamed Hamed, who comes from Melilla, the Spanish enclave on the north coast of Morocco, claimed he had been drunk and under the influence of drugs when he attacked Brian Hobbs, 52, of Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire.
He launched the attack at a bar in Fuerteventura only hours after he had arrived on the island in May 2006. Mr Hobbs had been drinking and was asleep at the time. The court heard Hamed had consumed 12 whiskies and taken cocaine before the attack and had claimed the killing would not have happened if he had not been drinking.
As Hamed admitted the crime, prosecutors accepted a plea deal and agreed to a 12-year jail term instead. Sentence will be passed in two weeks' time.
Mr Hobbs's widow, Barbara, was present in court. Mrs Hobbs had been unwell and her husband had nursed her for many months. He went on a short break without her and because of a fear of flying had been drinking heavily.
A statement read to the court at the beginning of the hearing emphasised that Mr Hobbs in no way provoked his attacker. The victim was asleep at a table when he was attacked "without any justification and without there being any argument or provocation", said the prosecutor's statement.
During the attack Mr Hobbs was punched and knocked to the ground where he was repeatedly kicked and beaten about the head.
(Angust Howarth, Scotsman) A Spaniard yesterday admitted beating and kicking to death a Scottish grandfather on holiday in the Canary Islands. ... more -
Women scotch the men-only whisky myth
The number of women joining Scotland's premier whisky connoisseurs' club is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Over the past three years, women have accounted for one in four of all new memberships at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. That compares with just one in 10 in previous years.
Experts say the rise has been prompted by a new generation of female drinkers prepared to experiment with new spirits and different flavours as well as a series of tasting events that combine whisky with food. Celebrities such as supermodel Kate Moss and radio presenter Zoë Ball have also been pictured consuming whisky.
Anne Griffiths, venue director at the Society, which has a total UK membership of 18,500, said the number of new female members was exceeding expectations and most were in professions such as business, medicine, academia and the law. The new generation of young, professional female whisky drinkers were also introducing their friends, colleagues and clients to the spirit, Griffiths said. "They like to try new things, like to sit down and nose whisky and taste it, and they are not afraid of saying whether they like it or not."
There was a definite trend towards younger whisky drinkers, Griffiths added. "My great-aunt used to have a whisky every day but that was a blend. Now women are enjoying malts, even the gutsy, peaty ones from Islay, which were always thought of as a man's drink."
Gemma Scott, a trade and consumer magazine editor from Glasgow, believes the Society's figures reflect a general trend. "For a very long time women were scared to drink whisky because it had such a masculine image. But times are changing and female drinkers are much more open to trying new things," Scott said. "In my opinion a woman drinking whisky looks far sexier than a woman drinking a sparkly pink cocktail with a straw in it."
(Excerpts / Jeremy Watson, Scotsman) The number of women joining Scotland's premier whisky connoisseurs' club is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Over the past three y... more -
Defeating Addiction
The world is full of addicts. They're everywhere. The old way of dealing with addiction was to throw the addict in jail and forget about them. In the modern world it's time we consider the more peaceful alternative which is treatment. 30-60-90 days can change a lifetime of bad behavior. At a cost that is far less then housing non-violent drug users in jails for years.
When he was just 10 years old, Don L. Sutton lived in a rundown house on 17th and Felix. At that age, his mother walked out on his family and he was being sexually molested frequently by another family member. He would have his first drink of alcohol five years later. It would be 22 years before he kicked his many addictions that all started with that first drink.
In Mr. Sutton’s new book, “Understanding Meth: The Epidemic,” he writes about his life as first an alcoholic, then a drug addict and drug dealer. He also describes his first use of meth and how it stemmed from that first drink he took at 15 years old.
“My whole life of alcoholism and drug addiction, all I continually did was try to get that higher high,” Mr. Sutton explains. “I went from alcohol to marijuana, from marijuana to cocaine, cocaine to heroin, heroin to LSD, LSD to meth.”
As his chase for the “higher high” continued, his life spiralled out of control. Soon, his addictions were a detriment to his family as both of his children suffered abuse and developed their own drug addictions.
In 1985, the Sutton family moved from St. Joseph to Portland, Ore. It was in Portland that he failed at attempting suicide in August 1987. After this experience, Mr. Sutton realized how insignificant his life was as an addict and the impact he had on those he loved. He decided he needed help right then and there.
“I was really sick and tired of being sick and tired,” Mr. Sutton says.
He checked into treatment for 33 days and now he has been clean and sober for 21 years.
His troubled life inspired him to write his book which has been featured on “The Late Show with David Letterman” and is part of Oprah’s Book Club. He plans on touring the country this year and giving every governor of every state a copy of his book. “Understanding Meth: The Epidemic” is his way of trying to spare people from the life he had.
“This book may not stop this epidemic, but if it saves on life it will be worth my time and effort. I’m not out to save the world. I’m out to save one person,” Mr. Sutton says.
He will be signing copies of his book tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Grace Evangelical Church in St. Joseph. For more information on the signing, call 279-2090. For more on Mr. Sutton’s book, visit www.understandingmeth.com. For more on meth prevention, visit www.saynotometh.com.
Do you have any experiences with addiction, or a friend or family member who has been successfully treated for addiction. Please comment below and let others know your point of view The world is full of addicts. They're everywhere. The old way of dealing with addiction was to throw the addict in jail and forget abo... more -
Absinthe is back!
"For 95 years, Americans wanting a taste of absinthe had to sneak it in from Europe or Mexico – and risk getting the high-proof herbal liquor confiscated by U.S. Customs.
In May 2007, government officials lifted the ban on the drink once blamed for causing hallucinations and psychosis. A year later, Virginia’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board approved one brand for sale in the state."
It is now available for at select ABC stores for $59.95.
So what is absinthe, anyway?
[Source: Wikipedia]
"Absinthe is a distilled, highly alcoholic (45%-75% ABV), anise-flavored spirit derived from herbs, including the flowers and leaves of the herb Artemisia absinthium, also called "wormwood". Absinthe is typically of a natural green color but is also produced in both clear and artificially colored styles. It is often called "the Green Fairy".
Although it is sometimes mistakenly called a liqueur, absinthe is not bottled with added sugar and is therefore classified as a liquor.[1] Absinthe is unusual among spirits in that it is bottled at a high proof but is normally diluted with water when it is drunk." "For 95 years, Americans wanting a taste of absinthe had to sneak it in from Europe or Mexico – and risk getting the high-proof herbal... more -
Happy hour drinking ban considered for UK
Happy hours in pubs and clubs could be banned in an attempt to promote responsible drinking, a government spokesperson has said.
The government is expected to publish the results of an independent review into the link between price promotion and alcohol abuse in the next few weeks. It will then begin consultation about new legislation to regulate the industry, which could include banning happy hours.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "The Government has made it clear that alcohol must be sold and marketed responsibly and that new legislation will be introduced if existing voluntary standards are not being met."
Drinks promotions and happy hours are currently regulated by individual pub companies.
A report by Alcohol Concern, published this week, showed current industry self-regulation was ineffective, and cut-price drinks deals were commonplace.
Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: "The drinks industry's claim to champion responsible retailing is badly let down by the significant number of premises who persistently sell alcohol at cut prices.
"Self-regulation has clearly failed and we desperately need mandatory codes and an industry watchdog to stamp out the poor practice and complacency that is characteristic of many of these venues."
Prof Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians and chairman of the Alcohol Heath Alliance, added: "Too many bars and clubs continue to put profit before their customers' health. This report shows the time has come for the government to step in to regulate an industry whose own efforts to tackle irresponsible alcohol sales have failed."
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), welcomed the government review, but warned new legislation should cover all alcohol retailers.
Mark Hastings, BBPA director of communications, said: "No-one in the industry would have any problem with the government seeking to regulate irresponsible drinks promotions but we would expect such regulations to be directed not only towards pubs, but supermarkets and corner shops too. It should not be one rule for pubs and one rule for everyone else."
Happy hours in pubs and clubs could be banned in an attempt to promote responsible drinking, a government spokesperson has said. ... more -
Gene for alcohol resistance found
UK scientists have identified two specific genes which allow alcohol to be 'flushed' from a person's bloodstream much quicker than average. This not only means that these people can handle their drink better, but also that they will be under less risk of the carcinogenic effects of alcohol, such as developing some cancers.
The team conducting the research have estimated that as many as 25% of Britons carry one or both of these 'drinkers' genes, and "may have only half the chance of developing mouth, throat and oesophageal cancers that are strongly associated with drinking."
I'm pretty sure I'm not in that 25%, lucky them is all I can say. UK scientists have identified two specific genes which allow alcohol to be 'flushed' from a person's bloodstream much quicker than ave... more -
The Louder the Music, The Drunker You Get!?
Customers of bars that play loud music drink more quickly and in fewer gulps, French researchers said on Friday.
Their study, published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, found that turning up the music spurred drinkers to down a glass of beer about three minutes more quickly.
"We have shown that environmental music played in a bar is associated with an increase in drinking," Nicolas Gueguen, a behavioral sciences researcher at the University of Southern Brittany in France, who led the study, said in a statement.
Louder music spurred more consumption, with the average number of drinks ordered by patrons rising to 3.4 drinks from 2.6 drinks, Gueguen found. The time taken to drink a beer fell to an average 11.45 minutes from 14.51 minutes.
They said it was not clear why louder music appeared to increase alcohol consumption but said it might make conversation more difficult, forcing people to drink more and talk less.
Customers of bars that play loud music drink more quickly and in fewer gulps, French researchers said on Friday. ... more -
Loud bar music makes people drink more, faster
Blame the DJ: loud bar music makes people drink more and drink faster, a study released Friday has found.
"Previous research had shown that fast music can cause fast drinking, and that music versus no music can cause a person to spend more time in a bar," said Nicolas Gueguen, a professor of behavioral sciences at the Universite de Bretagne-Sud in France, and corresponding author for the study.
"This is the first time that an experimental approach in a real context found the effects of loud music on alcohol consumption."
Gueguen and his colleagues discretely visited two bars over the course of three Saturday nights whose owners agreed to let them manipulate the sound levels.
They randomly selected 40 males aged 18 to 25 who ordered a glass of draft beer and monitored their consumption at different sound levels.
The authors offered two hypotheses for why louder music would lead to increased drinking within a decreased amount of time.
"One, in agreement with previous research on music, food and drink, high sound levels may have caused higher arousal, which led the subjects to drink faster and to order more drinks," Gueguen said.
"Two, loud music may have had a negative effect on social interaction in the bar, so that patrons drank more because they talked less."
The study will be published in the October issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
Blame the DJ: loud bar music makes people drink more and drink faster, a study released Friday has found. ... more -
Research Finds Causal Link Between Ending Drinking, Depression
Giving up your few drinks a day may lead to health issues, including depression, a new study says.
"Our research in an animal model establishes a causal link between abstinence from alcohol drinking and depression," study senior author Clyde W. Hodge, a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology in the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, said in a UNC news release. "In mice that voluntarily drank alcohol for 28 days, depression-like behavior was evident 14 days after termination of alcohol drinking. This suggests that people who stop drinking may experience negative mood states days or weeks after the alcohol has cleared their systems."
Giving up your few drinks a day may lead to health issues, including depression, a new study says. ... more -
NHS: Thousands of schoolchildren drink six pints a week
One in five 11 to 15-year-olds in England - 640,000 school pupils - had drunk alcohol in the past week, figures published by the NHS Information Centre show. One in five 11 to 15-year-olds in England - 640,000 school pupils - had drunk alcohol in the past week, figures published by the NHS I... more
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Classic Cocktails: Margarita - Art of the Drink 60
Leah returns to learn the classic recipe for a top-shelf Margarita!
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Man spends £487 a week on beer
An Australian man convicted of his seventh drink-driving charge was spending about A$1,000 (487 pounds) a week on beer -- enough to buy more than 2,500 small bottles a month, a newspaper said on Tuesday.
The heartbroken construction worker began drowning his sorrows after breaking up with his partner five years ago, the Northern Territory News said, quoting his defence lawyer as telling a court in Australia's remote, tropical north.
The magistrate declined to jail the father of four, Michael Leary, noting he had quit drinking since his latest arrest, but he banned Leary from buying or even holding a beer for 12 months.
The magistrate also poked fun at Leary's favourite beer, Melbourne Bitter, in a part of the country where drinkers can be as loyal to beer brands as they are to football teams.
''(That is) poor judgement on two counts there -- drinking that much and drinking Melbourne Bitter,'' magistrate Vince Luppino was quoted as saying.
(Reuters) An Australian man convicted of his seventh drink-driving charge was spending about A$1,000 (487 pounds) a week on beer -- enough to bu... more -
Australian man spent £487 a week on beer
An Australian man has been banned from buying or even holding a beer for 12 months after his seventh drink driving offence, when it was found that he was spending more than A$1,000 on beer a week (about £487), enough to buy 2,500 small bottles of his favoured drink - Melborne Bitter. The juge decided against a jail term after it became clear that the man had started drinking since a traumatic break-up and had stopped drinking since his latest offence. An Australian man has been banned from buying or even holding a beer for 12 months after his seventh drink driving offence, when it wa... more
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9 British women facing prostitution charges after Greek sex competition
Nine British women were facing prostitution charges after being arrested at the weekend for taking part in an oral sex competition in the Greek holiday island of Zakynthos, police said on Monday.
Six British and six Greek men, including two bar owners, were also charged in the incident, which took place at Laganas beach in the south of the Ionian island, which lies off the west coast of mainland Greece, police said.
The women, who came to the popular resort on holiday, had been paid to take part in the competition, which was video recorded and was to be posted on the Internet, police said.
The men were charged with encouraging obscene behaviour.
In recent years, Laganas has established itself as one of Greece's most popular destinations for twenty-something holidaymakers and is known for its wild party scene.
Around 15 million people -- a fifth of them British -- visit the eastern Mediterranean country each year, drawn by its soaring summer temperatures, azure waters and sandy beaches.
Ick. Yet another reason to be ashamed to be British. Why so grim, holiday ladies!?
Nine British women were facing prostitution charges after being arrested at the weekend for taking part in an oral sex competition in ... more -
Throat cancer rising fast in the UK, falling elsewhere
Cases of throat cancer are rising fast in the UK while falling in some European countries, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Gullet or oesophageal cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer deaths in England and Wales and accounts for more than 6,000 deaths annually.
Over the last twenty years cases have risen by 87 per cent in men and 40 per cent in women but it is not clear why.
Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson (he's had a busy day: http://current.com/items/89103394_young_drivers_to_be_b... highlighted the case of 32-year-old Ben Chandler, a soldier who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan who had problems swallowing and was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. He suffered a major bleed and went into cardiac arrest but survived and is now receiving treatment.
Sir Liam said cases of gullet cancer are 'sky high' in the UK compared to much of Europe. Cases are also high in Japan, China and India.
The causes of gullet cancer include smoking, drinking, lack of fresh fruit and vegetables and gastric reflux which is associated with obesity.
Smoking, drinking and poor diet: often the domain of the young. Are generations destined to be affected by this still-mysterious form of cancer?
Cases of throat cancer are rising fast in the UK while falling in some European countries, reports the Daily Telegraph. ... more
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