New York - The diagnosis of new cases of diabetes in adults increased by more than 90 percent over the past 10 years in the United States, according to a study released today.
The new report from the Centers of Disease and Prevention (CDC), which was published today in the Weekly Morbidity and Mortality of CDC (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, or MMWR), shows that in the last decade the incidence of diagnosed diabetes rose in 33 states of 4.8 per 1,000 persons during 1995-1997 to 9.1 per 1,000 during 2005-2007.
“The risk factors for type 2 diabetes include obesity and inactivity, and we know the South has a high prevalence of both obesity and physical inactivity when compared to the other regions in the United States,” said study author Karen Kirtland, a data analyst in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Diabetes Translation.
The study was based on information from the Surveillance System Behavioral Risk Factors (BRFSS), that collects incidence of diabetes in 43 states and two U.S. territories, though only 33 states have sufficient information to make a comparative analysis between the two periods.
“The message that we want to get out is to promote lifestyle interventions for people who are at risk for diabetes,” Kirtland said. “People who are at risk for the disease may be able to delay it or prevent it by losing weight, being physically active and making healthy food choices.”
During the 2005-2007 period, the states which recorded an increased number of new cases were California, with about 208,000; Texas with 156,000, and Florida with 139,000.
A recent study by the CDC, based in Atlanta, found that the prevalence of obesity in 2007 was higher in southern U.S. with a 27.3 per cent, followed by 26.5 percent in the states of the Midwest, a 24.4 per cent in the north-west and 23.1 percent in the west.
Also, rates of obesity in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee exceeded 30 percent.
Kirkland also stressed the importance of emphasis on prevention to reduce the number of cases of diabetes or delay the onset of the disease.
Through the Division of Applied Diabetes, CDC funded programs for the control and prevention of diabetes in 50 states and the District of Columbia and other U.S. territories
The National Education Program on Diabetes, which coordinated with the CDC and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), provides information about diabetes, treatment options and promotes early diagnosis.
New York - Joaquin Phoenix says he’s quitting acting – to become a singer.
On the red carpet at a charity benefit, a scruffy-looking Joaquin told a reporter his last movie would be, well, his last one.
Phoenix said, “I’m working on my music, I’m done. I’ve been through that.” Joaquin’s friend and brother-in-law Casey Affleck then said, “I don’t think he’s kidding, he’s got music and stuff.”
Joaquin was nominated for an Oscar for playing singer Johnny Cash in 2005’s Walk the Line.
New York - 20th Century Fox has signed on the Jonas Brothers to star in their first ever big screen movie.
The Jonas Brothers and little brother Frankie with all have a role in “Walter the Farting Dog”, a movie based on the bestselling children’s books by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray.
The brothers will play musicians whose great aunt, on the brink of death asks them to look after her fat dog that farts a lot. “By the time they’ve driven the dog home, everybody’s head is out the window of the family station wagon but Frankie, and only because he has a serious sinus problem and doesn’t notice the stench coming from Walter,” said Peter Farrelly who is directing with his brother Bobby.
In order to survive the journey Frankie and Walter get involved in family fun adventures while the Jonas Brothers play music. “Walter the Farting Dog’ will start shooting next spring.
New York - Following an independent, initial review of the study data, the National Cancer Institute and the Southwest Oncology Group have stopped the 35,000-man SELECT study (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial). Apparently the supplements were not effective together or on their own in this four-arm trial.
Details about the the reasons for stopping the trial are sketchy at present, but they include “two concerning, but not statistically significant, trends: there were slightly more cases of prostate cancer in men taking only vitamin E and slightly more cases of diabetes in men taking only selenium.”
Although trial participants are being told to cease using the supplements, they will continue to have their helath monitored for a further three years. In the words of Dr. Eric Klein of the Cleveland Clinic, “As we continue to monitor the health of these 35,000 men, this information may help us understand why two nutrients that showed strong initial evidence to be able to prevent prostate cancer did not do so.”
Los Angeles - This weekend, Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Hudson had to deal with the murder of her mother and brother.
Hudson’s sister’s astringed Husband, William Balfour, has been arrested in connection with the murders.
Missing from the Hudson home was Jennifer’s 7-year-old nephew Julian King.
Jennifer offered a $100,000 reward for the safe return of her nephew but CNN reported Monday afternoon that the boys body was discovered in a truck.
Hudson who was a contestant on American Idol, went on to win an Academy Award for her role in Dream Girls.
New York - Anne Hathaway has signed on to star in a romantic comedy called “The Fiancé” reports Variety.
The original script written by Dyanne Stempel and Jennifer Robinson is being re-written by “Tropic Thunder” scribe Etan Cohen.
Hathaway will play the role of a woman who calls off her wedding and breaks up with her fiancé in order to figure out who she really is. Her parents make it impossible for her to move on by trying to get the couple back together.
Burr Steers will be directing with “Hairspray” team Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot producing for Warner Bros.
“The Fiancé” has a production start date of March allowing Hathaway to complete this film before starting work on the sequel to “Get Smart”.
New York - The Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto can begin distributing products once again.
It’ll be the first time since the nationwide listeriosis outbreak in August.
The plant has received approval by the Canadian Food Inspection agency to begin shipping processed meats.
Maple Leaf Foods had to shut the plant August 20th because two of its production lines were found to be the source of the listeria bacteria which led to numerous cases of listeriosis, and some deaths.
New York - High School Musical 3’ hits theaters on October 24, and as always, the behind the scenes buzz is just as engrossing as this third installment of the HSM franchise. Troy and Gabriella continue their movie-magical relationship amidst bursting into song about valid teen concerns of “what happens after graduation?” Of course, as art imitates life, the actors Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens sustain their own real life romance.
‘HSM: Senior Year’ combines the song and dance numbers from before with an enhanced storyline, focusing even more on this Disney couple than ever before. For MTV’s October 21st recording of ‘TRL’ (Total Recall Live), five cast members of the musical showed up to promote the movie’s release. Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, and Monique Coleman joined Efron and Hudgens to answer questions from fans. Zac and Vanessa paralleled their movie personas to perform a few Waltz steps on the show after telling co-host Lyndsey Rodrigues about the higher concentration of dancing in the movie compared to the previous movies.
The finality of ‘Senior Year’ extending off screen as a conclusion to Disney’s High School Musical franchise has yet to be seen. Vanessa Hudgens has been busy with a summer concert tour for her album Identified, and filming the movie Bandslam (2009). Zac Efron has filmed ‘Me and Orson Welles’ (2009) this year, and has been cast in the remake of 1984’s ‘Footloose’. But with DVDs, concert tours, album sales, and other merchandise ready to fly off the shelves into the eager arms of tweens, teens, and parents alike, one may suspect this isn’t the last you’ll hear of High School Musical.
Los Angeles - Josh Holly, the hacker who posted racy photos of Miley Cyrus’ online, has been raided by the FBI.
Holly had 3 computers and 1 telephone (or cell phone) confiscated by the FBI.
According to reports, the 19-year-old hacked Cyrus’ email and stole the images. The intimate photos were intended for Cyrus’ then boyfriend, Nick Jonas.
There were photos of Miley Cyrus in provocative poses, showing her midriff and blowing kisses.
“I guess somebody ended up ratting me out,” Holly told Threat Level. “I was just kind of shaking. I was thrown way off guard. I’ve never had anything like this happen before to a point that I just didn’t know what to do. I was afraid to kick them out of my house.”
Cyrus apologized for the photos say they were “silly, inappropriate shots.”
New York - Recent studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between eating in the western way and being in a higher risk category for suffering from a heart attack. The common westerner eats a diet rich in fried foods, meats and animal fats, salt, and junk foods. These studies suggest that practicing western eating habits can raise you risk of having a heart attack 30% - 35%.
Not only did these studies show a greater risk of heart attack by those practicing western eating habits, but it also showed that people who ate a diet rich in fruits and vegetables ( more then meats, and fried food) had a 30% less chance of suffering from a heart attack. So, not only does a western diet chalk full of high fat foods cause an increased risk for heart attacks, but eating proportionatly more fruits and vegetables then junk food can actually decrease your risk factor for having a heart attack.
This study further showed no correlation between heart attack risk and the usual oriental diet, which is high is salt, soy, and tofu. Recently China has seen an increase in wealth, and with it came more… well just more of everything. This includes access to experience things that are western, like fast food. This has cause an increase in health problem of all kinds including heart attacks. Reverting back to the usual diet, or even better, converting to a diet high in fruit and vegetable consumption would greatly improve China’s health.