Our round-up of the health headlines on Tuesday 20 September 2011
Health warnings over eating too much sweet food still stand, but research reported in the Telegraph appears to show that sugar is vital in suppressing appetite that can lead to overeating.
Eating less and often could lower the chance of succumbing to the temptation of high-calorie foods, particularly for obese people, the researchers said. Author Professor Rajita Sinha, from Yale University in the USA, said: ‘The key seems to be eating healthy foods that maintain glucose levels. The brain needs its food.'
Healthy eating advice seems to be being ignored by more and more young people with the number of teenagers having weight-loss surgery on the NHS more than trebling in only three years, the Mail reports. Last year, 34 teenagers as young as 14 had gastric bands fitted at a cost of £7,000 a time – despite warnings that the procedure is not always effective.
The same age group, the Telegraph reports, are less happy with NHS care than older people.
Academics at the UCL Institute of Child Health have published surveys which show that about 80% of those aged between 16 and 24 were satisfied with emergency care, hospital treatment or services provided by GPs and dentists. By contrast, around 90% of older adults questioned were happy with the levels of care they received.
Concerned about taking the pee, a group of some of the UK's top urologists have written to the Times (behind paywall) calling for more investment in urinary cathertisation.
