Understanding What Makes People Fat or Thin through Psychology

June 24th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

Humans by nature have limitations when it comes to control over certain body types.  How much fat people carry depends on their parents.  The process of metabolism depends on their genetic makeup.  But most of the time, it’s up to the choices that people make when it comes to what they eat.

Believe it or not psychology plays a huge role in how much people weigh.  Through the subconscious, a person can determine how much they eat, how much they workout and it even determines the right kind of weight range fit for them.  Such are the anorexics or the bulimics whose eating problems go beyond what they eat but delve more into the habits of eating.  But not many realize that this same reasoning can also be used to people who are obese.

There are a lot of reasons why people tend to eat more than they can.  Check out some of these common reasons why.

  • People tend to overeat to fill an emotional void in their life.  They can trace this void all the way back to their childhood days although it can also manifest in events happening at the present.  An example is when someone eats a lot after a divorce to recompense for the losing his or her partner.
  • Overeating may come as a result of a person being a victim of abuse.  For instance, a sexually abused person may tend to overeat to make her less attractive to protect them from not going through it again. Some victims may opt to eat more to feel comfortable.  This usually happens for a long period after any abuse.
  • People may overeat because of stress.  They would rather eat a lot than face whatever makes them stressful.  Although this is only a temporary fix, the moment the stressor appears again, then the process repeats itself.

Keeping it Healthy in Mind and Body

Overweight people stay the way they are because of the choices they make.  They may try diets, medications, working out and other means but it usually doesn’t work. This will only work if they try to work out the deeper issues going on inside of them before they can work on their physical selves.

If psychological problems behind obesity continue to prevail then any weight loss measure will fail.  These problems usually come with low self-esteem which is common in stopping weight loss efforts to work.  No matter how much people try to lose weight, the results don’t usually last.

But having low self-esteem may also mean that people tend to give up right away because they can’t see the results quickly enough hence the effort fails.  Even if weight loss is achieved and the psychological problem continues to linger then the weight loss will be temporary.

The immediate treatment of psychological problems is necessary in order to prevent something harmful like overeating.  It is only through improvement of the mind that the body follows because the groundwork has been laid towards achieving a healthy weight.

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Dealing with Physically-Challenged Toddlers

June 17th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

Children who suffer from physical challenges will begin to see how different they are from other people in greater degrees as they older. This is because toddlers begin to explore the world on their own. This may pose a unique parenting challenge. Below are some guidelines on how you can help.

It is important to first remember that a physical disability is not something that instantly diminishes the value of your child. Positively accepting his deficiency, regardless of its cause, is the first step in helping the toddler come to terms with his condition as well. Once you’ve accepted him fully, give him whatever love and support he will need as he grows older.

Toddlers have the tendency to be easily frustrated when they are unable to do something successfully. The same is true for physically-challenged toddlers. This is because at this stage, toddlers are unable to realize how different they are from other children. They simply go along whatever their instincts tell them in the course of everyday life.

When the challenge is something more outward, like missing a limb, toddlers are able to surprisingly compensate well. This is perhaps one of the extraordinary traits of children: with enough support, they are able to adapt well to their circumstances. A one-legged child may crawl awkwardly due to the inability to balance. Parents can help him as he crawls by using a crawling board. Other tools that help these toddlers develop are available online and in baby stores.

Obviously, physically-challenged toddlers face more difficulty than other toddlers. This is because whatever they lack will cause a far greater difficulty in learning what they normally would. This makes it far more difficult for parents to do what they normally would have done, like teaching a child about colors when he is unable to see them. In this situation, the use of other sensory impulses, like the sense of touch or the ability to speak, can be crucial in helping him learn.

Children simply need to be guided repeatedly into a specific direction in order to learn. Physically-challenged toddlers may make the process of repetition more difficult for parents. However, do not forget that this early stage is always likely to test any parent’s patience, regardless of their child having a disability or not.

However, remember to keep your expectations in check. Allow your child with physical challenges to take longer or learn in a manner different from other people. The best way is to find a method for learning that is most effective for the toddler.

A toddler is already a lot to handle; what more one with physical difficulties? In order to help manage this period in your life, do not be reluctant to reach out to support groups. These are places where other parents who also have their own physically-challenged toddler come to find support, comfort, and even advice on how to become other parents. Online support groups are also available, where parents can seek out advice from others. Online support groups offer the opportunity to do some things in privacy, such as crying about problems, but allow for some measure of public support as well.

A physically-challenged toddler needs all the love and support he can get. In this stage of curiosity, parents have the duty to ensure that their child is kept safe as he explores the world around him. Their environment must be kept safe for the child, even when he is without a parent when he explores the home or the school.

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Detox Supplements: Down Syndrome and Vitamin Therapy by Kent MacLeod

Down Syndrome and Vitamin Therapy51Q0MW3RJ4L._SL160_ Detox Supplements: Down Syndrome and Vitamin Therapy by Kent MacLeod

This book is an absolute necessity for parents and doctors alike.  It explains:

  • How and why antibiotics can cause harm to your child
  • Safety issues surrounding vaccinations
  • Reasons that children with Downs Syndrome should not undergo anesthesia unless absolutely necessary
  • The connection between Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Why a certain drug known to be a life-saver could be deadly to Down Syndrome children
  • Five ways to help your child’s digestion
  • Common nutrient or dietary deficiencies that could cause your child’s health to deteriorate

About the Author

Kent MacLeod is a world-renowned authority on nutrition and its influence on children with Down Syndrome.  He lectures across North America and Europe on this and other developmental disorders, focusing primarily on nutritional supplementation and its benefits for those suffering from these conditions.

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Overcoming Tantrums of a Physically Challenged Child

June 1st, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

All parents have to deal with disciplining their children. What exactly should be done to prevent temper tantrums by children?  The solution is out there but it is a different story altogether if your child is physically challenged.

Children throw tantrums most of the time especially as toddlers.  Every parent knows about the time when their child turns into the “terrible twos” and they start to throw these tantrums.  There is no guide book that parents can follow for discipline issues like tantrums.

When it comes to dealing with tantrums, the first thing that needs to be done is find out the reason for this behavior.  It could something as simple as reluctance to share toys, starvation, fatigue or they could be testing the threshold of their behavior.  The challenge for parents is to control the child’s irritation until they can solve the reason for the tantrum before the situation aggravates.

The causes of tantrums coming from physically challenged children are almost the same as other normal children of the same age.  A child that is physically challenged gets aggravated, exhausted, starved and also irritable.  The only difference is how the parents feel about their child.  Parents of physically challenged children tend to feel guilty about the state of their child, which means they allow their child to act the way they are.

Although this is a normal reaction for these parents, this doesn’t help the child or them.  All children are considered a blank slate.  They get their manners, values and sense of self from none other than their parents.  It is through the parents that these children learn to make their lives better, which includes discipline.

Parents should never get caught up in a tantrum attack by raising their blood pressure and end up causing humiliation in a public environment or wind up in a shouting match with their children.  Always remember to stay calm and try to ignore the tantrum.  This allows you to think clearly about the situation.

Give the child what he needs.  Try to have some snacks ready in your bag or pockets to prevent hypoglycemia attacks.  Any child who is fatigued will cry and try to fight sleep even if he needs sleep.  Let the child sleep.  Don’t listen to the child’s demands to be let out of bed because he’ll end up falling asleep.  Talk to your child calmly whenever you respond by leveling your voice.

The same should also be applied to a physically challenged child whenever he is at his threshold.  It needs to be known to the child that this is not the right way to behave.  Do a timeout corner. Allow the child to sit still in a corner for 2 to 4 minutes.  Try not to stare at the child directly but make sure you have him in view.  Repeat these steps a couple of times more, until the child no longer throws a fit. You can also apply this technique to an older physically challenged child.  Apply discipline during tantrum attacks right away.  Any delay will cause confusion.

Dealing with tantrums from a physically challenged child is no easy task.  It’s best to take precedence of any guilt or fear you might feel towards the child and instead remember how much love you have for this child.  Discipline is what your child needs to grow.

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Learning About ADHD

May 9th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

You are restless, unable to concentrate on the task before you, or unable to wait on anything for even the smallest amount of time. Could this be ADHD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

Before suspecting that you are suffering from ADHD, it is important to understand what it is. After all, people seem to use the term a lot, especially with hyperactive kids, with little to no understanding of what the condition truly means.

The most common symptoms are implied by what the acronym stands for. Usually, a person suffering from ADHD, regardless of age, is unable to focus on a single activity or object for a time, his mind often wandering about until his attention is called back to what he was previously preoccupied with.

Those who suffer from ADHD also have a tendency to perform excess physical movements as though they were fidgeting even when their bodies are at rest. They find it difficult to stay still or just sit, no matter how short the time. The only way for them to relieve themselves from their restlessness is to continue moving or to do something.

Unfortunately, those who suffer from attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder may be mistaken as simply misbehaving, unfocused, or ill-mannered. Because people are unable to comprehend the objective reasons for the way they act, they will as easily judge their behavior and label them as such. Other parents misconstrue the behavior of a child suffering from ADHD as simply an expression of how much excess energy the child has. This is particularly true when the child continues to maintain a group of friends or achieve good grades in school.

However, adults who were unfortunately not diagnosed with ADHD as children will find that the children they have in the future may suffer from this disease. It is only when the symptoms begin to seem all too familiar to them that they recognize the fact that they, too, suffered from ADHD. While they will feel some relief, they will also feel some regret over the years they spent dealing with a condition they did not know they had.

The reasons for the onset of ADHD differ, with some attributing it to hereditary factors. However, if a parent is misdiagnosed to have ADHD as a child, they may likely think that their child being diagnosed with ADHD is a mistake as well.

Other reasons for the occurrence of ADHD are hormonal imbalances, trauma to the brain due to some injury, the presence of toxins in the body, brain disorders, and some prenatal problems. The latter is a consideration because during pregnancy, the brain stem is one of the first parts of the body to develop. The mother’s exposure to alcohol, cigarette smoking, and use of illegal substances may affect the development of the brain stem and increase the likelihood of ADHD. The lack of nutrients provided for the fetus during pregnancy may also have an impact on retarding development and increasing the likelihood of ADHD.

There have been studies trying to relate a child’s food intake to some symptoms of ADHD. However, some medical specialists disagree. The only reason to believe the previous claim is that obviously, a hungry child will find less ability to concentrate than one who is better-fed.

The diagnosis for ADHD involves tests. Individuals are often subjected to a six-month observation period, through which the symptoms of ADHD must persist.

If for some reason you feel that your child’s behavior may be attributed to ADHD, do not hesitate to get in touch with a doctor. With proper diagnosis, you will be able to properly treat ADHD.

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Will You Have Another Autistic Child?

January 30th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

Although great strides have been made with medical science when it comes to autism, what exactly causes autism still remains a great mystery. Everyone has their own ideas but no one theory has been proven to be the one true theory yet.

It is thought that perhaps there is a gene that makes a person more likely to develop autism. It may be that many people have the gene but only those who encounter an unknown environmental factor develop the disease. It is fairly well accepted in the medical community that there is a genetic link to autism. Not all children who have a genetic link in their family are going to be autistic, though.

Parents who are currently taking care of one autistic child may worry about getting pregnant again. They may not be sure if they will have another baby with autism or if they have a chance of having a “normal” baby. Just because they have an autistic child does not mean that their next child is going to be autistic too.

The risk of having a second child with autism is about 7 times greater than the risk of another person in society having a child with autism. That’s about 1 in 20 compared to 1 in 150. The risk is higher, yes, but that doesn’t mean it will happen to you.

It is possible that parents with bi-polar disorder or poor social, emotional and communication skills are more likely to have an autistic child. It doesn’t have to be just the parents though; it could be other close relatives.

Autism is more common in children who have other disorders including Tourettes, Fragile X syndrome and epilepsy. Also, children whose father was over 40 when they were conceived are more likely to be autistic. This increases their risks to six times that of other children whose fathers were much younger when the children were conceived.

There is no way to tell based on family history or medical history if parents will have an autistic child. There are children who you would think would be born autistic based on their genetic make-up who aren’t and those who have no genetic traits but are still born with autism. Not all children who fit the pattern for risk factors will be born autistic.

Scientists are learning more and more about autism every day. Soon, there will better treatments and therapies that will be a lot more effective and maybe we will even be able to prevent autism.

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Understanding Arthritis

January 6th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

We all either have experienced or know a loved one who has experienced problems with arthritis. The main symptom of arthritis is joint pain which can range from moderate to severe. What is confusing is why arthritis affects some people and not others.

Scientists really don’t understand what makes some people susceptible to arthritis while others don’t have problems with it at all. It is not something you can catch from another person like the common cold. A joint disorder, arthritis comes on slowly and can get worse with time. There are many different kinds of arthritis, all with slightly different causes.

Arthritis is associated with many different risk factors, and the more arthritis risk factors you have, the higher the chances of you developing arthritis. These may not be the sole cause of your problem but they contribute.

As you get older, your risk of developing arthritis gets higher. This is largely because your joints are aging and wearing, which may increase your symptoms. The natural aging of your joints and the damage that occurs may cause arthritis to progress faster than it would otherwise. Arthritis is common among older adults for this reason.

If you are overweight, you are at additional risk for developing arthritis. The extra weight that you carry puts stress on your joints, particularly the weight-bearing joints, and causes damage over time. Losing weight by dieting and exercise will lower your risk for developing arthritis.

If you have a sports injury or something similar, you may be at additional risk for arthritis. Your likelihood of developing arthritis also increases if you’ve previously injured a joint. Take care of any injuries that occur and make sure they heal properly.

There may be a genetic factor with arthritis so you may be at extra risk if you have a family history of the disease. People who have arthritis in their family, especially a close family member, may develop arthritis. If your parents have arthritis, for instance, you’re at risk of developing the disease, although it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have arthritis. You can lower your risk of developing arthritis later on by taking care of your body right now.

People who participate in athletics and sports are more likely to develop arthritis. This is partially because they are more likely to have joint injuries and other damage to their bodies. The science really only shows a slight connection, though, so it is not safe to assume that all athletes will develop arthritis. If you exercise safely and don’t put too much stress on your body, you should be fine.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is what almost all of us associate with the word arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a more severe form with many of the same symptoms but caused by different factors. With Rheumatoid arthritis, the damage to the joints is caused by your immune system attacking your body from the inside.

If you have arthritis, there is no magic cure. You can find out as much as you can about your condition and possible treatments, though.

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