Desirable weight goes up in new guidelines

Article Abstract:

The federal Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services have issued a new edition of dietary guidelines. The previous 1985 edition consisted of the following seven recommendations: eating a variety of foods; maintaining a healthy weight; choosing a low-fat diet; consuming plenty of vegetable, fruit, and grain products; using sugar moderately; using salt and sodium in moderation; and consuming alcoholic beverages in moderation, if at all. The new version is more specific than previous editions of the guidelines. A limit of one alcoholic drink per day is recommended for women, and a maximum of two alcoholic drinks per day is recommended for men. A 2,000-calorie per day diet should only contain 67 grams of fat and 22 grams of saturated fat. Dietary fat should account for only 30 percent of calories; fat currently accounts for 37 percent of daily calories in the average American diet. The tables of ideal weight developed by Metropolitan Life Insurance have been replaced with new tables listing a 'healthy' rather than 'desirable' weight. Weight is classified according to height and age group, with the lower limits applying to women and the upper limits applying to men. The healthy weights are greater than the ideal weights listed in earlier versions of the guidelines. In addition, weights for older persons are higher than for younger adults, because recent studies show that people can gain a little weight with age without added health risk. However, heart researchers argue that weight has a greater impact on health at an older age than a younger age. In addition, the location of fat on the body may be a more important issue than weight. The current guidelines recognized this, and describe a method for calculating the hip-to-waist ratio. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Standards, Laws, regulations and rules, Nutrition, Diet, Body weight, Nutritional requirements

---

Federal report on academic research funding

Article Abstract:

A task force formed by the US Department of Health and Human Services will look at ways the federal government can support the roles played by academic health centers. Academic health centers are hospitals and other clinics that are affiliated with medical schools. Physicians at these centers not only treat patients but do research and train medical students and residents. They also provide uncompensated care to the uninsured, something most managed care plans will not do. They may also run unprofitable services such as trauma units. The government provides billions of dollars annually to these centers and thus has a stake in their survival.

Analysis, Hospitals, University, University hospitals, Federal aid to medical centers, Government aid to medical centers

---

New era for acute stroke treatment

Article Abstract:

The ability to prevent death and disability from stroke with early diagnosis and treatment makes revision of stroke care imperative. A new drug can dissolve stroke-causing clots before brain damage occurs if it is administered within three hours of symptom onset. Hospitals will need to rapidly get stroke patients to the hospital, distinguish between strokes due to hemorrhage and strokes due to clots, and administer treatment. This requires a specially trained team and standing treatment orders. The public must also be taught to recognize stroke early and to seek care immediately.

Care and treatment, Innovations, Stroke (Disease), Stroke, Cardiovascular disease nursing

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: CDC ponders new HIV guidelines. Caring for all of those who fall in combat. Cerebral percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in second year of trials
• Abstracts: Chiropractic sports science: a new perspective. The basis for a successful practice is 'PR,' patient relations
• Abstracts: Maternal weight gain in low-income black and hispanic women: evaluation by use of weight-for-height near term
• Abstracts: Arteriographic findings in EDTA chelation therapy on peripheral arteriosclerosis. Effects and limitations of pentoxifylline therapy in various stages of peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremity
• Abstracts: The role of US in breast imaging. Indications for breast imaging in women under age 35 years. Color Doppler signals from breast tumors: work in progress

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.