How Fleas Manage Their Spectacular Jumps, and Other Links
The flea can jump as high as 38 times its body length. They withstand 100 times the force of gravity.
The market for health products that rely on virtual reality (VR) — including robot-assisted surgery — was $670 million in 2010. Since 2006, the compound annual growth rate for VR products has been 10 percent.
Requiring fast-food restaurants in New York City to post calorie counts on menus did little to cut the number of calories children and teens consumed. Surprise: Calorie info didn’t make cheeseburgers and fries tastier than spinach salad.
I’ve seen the kids post at other sites. Do you think Mayor Bloomberg was surprised?
Impressive feat for the flea.
For a calorie count to affect a change in behavior you have to already be concerned care about the calories consumed but just lacked the necessary information. I don’t think anyone who consumes Big Macs thinks of them as health food. Nor do I believe that people who consume too many Big Macs and have a girth far greater than the average is ignorant of the cause.
Calories: Not shocking. I noticed that Panera posts their calories. Seeing that my tomato soup had more calories than the chicken soup didn’t change my order.
VR machines: Is that an investment tip? How long is 10% annual growth sustainable? My money’s on the video game market merging with the surgery tool makers. Docs will be learning surgery on the internet instead of on cadavers.
There needs to be more of an emphasis on healthy eating and other health promoting activities, beginning in the home and then reinforced in primary education. Calorie counts on menus do not solve the problem of overeating. Simply restricting or counting calories is not a healthy way to eat. Children need to understand the difference between healthy calories and empty calories. This can be accomplished through spending more time educating to this, incorporating the food pyramid into the learning and by using interactive play to reinforce the learning so that they know how to make healthier food choices. They need to be taught the long-term affects of bad food choices, overeating and obesity. Adults who are influential in the lives of children, need to demonstrate what “good” or “healthy” looks like. “Do as I say, not as I do” isn’t working. Hopefully, as health care access improves through health care reform, there will be an increased focus in America on health promotion. Since more people will be receiving primary care and preventative care, practitioners can utilize this opportunity to provide individualized diet education. Another action that would have a big impact would be for the government to regulate the cost of a variety of healthy foods, making healthy eating more affordable.
Good thoughts, Wendi.
Kids choosing cheesebergers and fries over spinach salad? Imagine that.