EarlyBird Study about factors in childhood responsible for diabetes & heart disease epidemics

Extracts from Early Bird website: The EarlyBird Study is a 12 year research programme that is observing the health and lifestyle of a cohort of normal healthy children. The aim is to help parents and teachers understand the preventable factors in childhood that are responsible for the current epidemics of diabetes and heart disease. EarlyBird is a cohort study, monitoring the causes and behaviour of insulin resistance in contemporary children. Insulin resistance, largely the result of obesity, is believed to underpin the high prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease that characterises modern society.

The study is generating some novel and sometimes counter-intuitive findings, which have nevertheless withstood the rigours of peer review – over 60 papers are now in print. It has now accumulated eleven annual data sets, and retains over three-quarters of the original cohort.

Key findings in summary:

Obese children – parents unaware and unconcerned - Today's parents are oblivious of their children's weight.
Children's activity not determined by environmental opportunity - Green spaces and sports centres do not influence the physical activity of children
Social inequalities no longer a major factor in obesity - All children today are at risk, regardless of family income or postcode
Obesity leads to inactivity, rather than the other way round - Time-lag analysis from one year to the next suggests obesity comes first
Healthy weight for life? Start at birth - Most excess weight is gained before the child ever starts school
Average pre-pubertal child no heavier than 25 years ago The rise in obesity is confined to a small group of children who are behaving differently from the majority who have not changed in a generation
Taller children are fatter. Children who gain excess weight are taller and more insulin resistant than their shorter peers.
Obese parents, in particular those of the same gender, key to childhood obesity - Daughters of obese mothers are 10 times more likely to be obese than the daughters of normal weight mothers, and the sons of obese fathers six times.
Girls at greater risk of type 2 diabetes than boys - Girls are intrinsically more insulin resistant than boys, which could explain why more girls get type 2 diabetes in childhood
Health risks of childhood obesity unrelated to parents. Although a child's height and weight are related to their parents', the health risks for obese children are much the same, whether or not the parent is obese.
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes essentially the same disorder of insulin resistance, differing only in tempo

here

Children with Disability Australia (CDA) is conducting a series of online forums regarding education

The latest CDA community forum in our online series on education and disability is now live on Facebook. You're invited to have your say on bullying. Bullying occurs in all schools and happens to many students. Research has identified that students with disability are particularly vulnerable to bullying. To join the discussion, follow these steps:

Click the following link to the CDA Forums page: https://www.facebook.com/CDISAUS/app_202980683107053
Click the 'like' button at the top of the screen.
Scroll to the bottom to add your comments to the Forum.

This is the third in CDA's series of six online forums and we will provide regular updates including information about upcoming online forums. The purpose is to give CDA members an opportunity to contribute to the areas that are important to our policy and advocacy work. This is a vital aspect of the work we do at CDA. We value your input and look forward to receiving your feedback. If you are unable to take part in the forum on Facebook but would like to contribute please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CDA - http://www.cda.org.au/

Equitable disability care for people in rural areas in Australia

Extract: It is when the client or patient moves from the acute health system to rehabilitation and disability care that the real service deficits in rural and remote areas became so telling. This situation is of course due to the shortage of infrastructure, relevant health professionals and local support services in rural and remote areas: precisely the same challenges as experienced by people seeking health and aged care in those areas.

Those at the Roundtable also agreed on a number of other matters. The whole situation is extraordinarily complex, particularly in rural and remote areas where, as described above, health, aged care and disability issues are so intertwined.

It surprised some people to hear that the services which are missing and which can do so much for a family caring for someone with a disability are not only - sometimes not mainly - the services provided by health professionals. Rather, they are the care provided by nonprofessional workers: the respite care of the appropriate type and at the appropriate time; the help with transport or meals; the assistance with painting or rubbish removal. (Hopefully Medicare Locals will hear these views and be provided with the wherewithal to help in such areas - demonstrating that they can and will be true primary health care organisations.)

Full article here.

The alcohol and pregnancy and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder resources for health professionals - Australia

Includes a booklet, a fact sheet and a wallet card. The booklet is the first revision of the Alcohol and pregnancy: health professionals making a difference (2007) booklet, and aims to support health professionals in their role in addressing women's alcohol use before and during pregnancy. The booklet provides information in relation to: women's alcohol use before and during pregnancy; the consequences related to alcohol consumption during pregnancy; strategies to Ask, Assess, Advise, Assist, and Arrange support for women; health professional resources related to alcohol use during pregnancy. Read more here.