Top Stories

The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

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By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

U-M Report: Obesity replaces smoking as new No. 1 health concern for kids

By Minehaha Forman | 07.14.08 | 1:45 pm

According to a report released today by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, childhood obesity is now the leading national health concern of parents for kids in 2008, higher than smoking and drug abuse.

Last year, childhood obesity ranked third among parents’ top 10 overall health concerns for kids.

“While recent studies have suggested that the childhood obesity epidemic may be leveling off, the results of this poll reveal that adults in the U.S. are still very much concerned about this issue,” said Matthew M. Davis, M.D., M.A.P.P., director of the National Poll on Children’s Health.

New to the 2008 list of health concerns are bullying, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and environmental toxins.

Continued -The list:

  • 1. Childhood obesity. Thirty-five percent of adults ranked childhood obesity as their top overall health concern for children.

  • 2. Drug abuse. It was more likely to be listed as a top health concern among adults with lower incomes.

  • 3. Smoking. Ranked No. 1 in 2007, smoking now holds the No. 3 position.

  • 4. Bullying.

  • 5. Internet safety.

  • 6. Child abuse and neglect.

  • 7. Teen pregnancy. Black adults continue to rate teen pregnancy as the top health concern for youth in their community, with 35 percent reporting it’s a major health concern.

  • 8. Alcohol abuse. In 2007, alcohol abuse was ranked fourth overall.

  • 9. (tie) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. ADHD was a much greater concern among adults with low-income households.

  • 9. Sexually transmitted infection.

  • 10. (tie) Chemicals in the environment. The issue of environmental toxins was added to this year’s list, largely due to concerns among Hispanic adults and adults with low-income households.

  • 10. Not enough opportunities for physical activity.

    • Comments

    • katkin

      Stop pussyfooting around child obesity Parents need to face up to their responsibilities to feed their kids right and keep them healthy. And get kids to face up to the fact they’re overweight! Heck, their self-esteem will be damaged more by weighing 300 pounds than by tactfully advising them to drop a few. This website has good advice:
      http://www.supernann…

    • Minehaha Forman

      Access to food Many parents without cars or without the money here in Detroit have a hard time getting fresh food. There are very few grocery stores in Detroit, and many are forced to shop and gas stations and liquor stores for food. Fresh fruit and veggies at the liquor store/gas station? I don’t think so.

    • katkin

      Stop pussyfooting around child obesity Parents need to face up to their responsibilities to feed their kids right and keep them healthy. And get kids to face up to the fact they're overweight! Heck, their self-esteem will be damaged more by weighing 300 pounds than by tactfully advising them to drop a few. This website has good advice:

      http://www.supernann…

    • LoRayne Apo-Joynt

      Parents need resources and role models It's easy to say that parents need to be more responsible, but if parents don't see good role models when growing up and they  live in urban food deserts, it's difficult for them to ensure their children eat right.

      Schools are another source of education on health, including food, but when schools are impoverished, mismanaged or teaching too closely to NCLB, they cannot provide the additional health education support that kids and children need.

      As a parent I'll also tell you that we've changed a lot as a culture; the mainstream media has amplified our fears about “stranger danger” to the point where many of us are afraid to let our kids out of our sight.  They can't freely run outside and play like we used to do as kids for fear of violence.

      Something has to give; it's not quite as simply as parents being more responsible.  The entire “village” is going to have to re-evaluate how to raise our children so that they are healthy and safe.

    • Minehaha Forman

      Access to food Many parents without cars or without the money here in Detroit have a hard time getting fresh food. There are very few grocery stores in Detroit, and many are forced to shop and gas stations and liquor stores for food. Fresh fruit and veggies at the liquor store/gas station? I don't think so.

    • LoRayne Apo-Joynt

      Parents need resources and role models It’s easy to say that parents need to be more responsible, but if parents don’t see good role models when growing up and they  live in urban food deserts, it’s difficult for them to ensure their children eat right.

      Schools are another source of education on health, including food, but when schools are impoverished, mismanaged or teaching too closely to NCLB, they cannot provide the additional health education support that kids and children need.

      As a parent I’ll also tell you that we’ve changed a lot as a culture; the mainstream media has amplified our fears about “stranger danger” to the point where many of us are afraid to let our kids out of our sight.  They can’t freely run outside and play like we used to do as kids for fear of violence.

      Something has to give; it’s not quite as simply as parents being more responsible.  The entire “village” is going to have to re-evaluate how to raise our children so that they are healthy and safe.

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