How Open Minded Are You?

You Are 56% Open Minded

You are a very open minded person, but you're also well grounded. Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints. But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line. You're open to considering every possibility - but in the end, you stand true to yourself.

How Open Minded Are You?

Brazil Yogurt Is At It Again: Another Fat Campaign

Fat discrimination seems to be running rampant these days. And research supports this trend.

Yes, it's true, we're not as active as our ancestors. Yes, we all lead far more sedentary lives than centuries, or even decades ago. And yes, it's important to make mindful nutritional choices. But why in the age of genetics, are obese individuals still shamed about their appearance? Is the question really that the general public hasn't fully embraced the "Health at Every Size Movement."

Scientific research has shown that weight and body type are genotype-specific. This means that your weight range is tied to your genetic template - and it's very difficult to change. Still, many people think that those who are overweight and obese are just lazy, thoughtless and lack willpower. A recent study even noted that medical professionals viewed overweight patients as “awkward, unattractive, ugly, and unlikely to comply with treatment.”

Egads.

Back in 2007 the Brazilian yogurt company Marilia tried a "shame campaign" to sell their product. Many, myself included, actually found the photos of the plus size women lovely, not unappealing like the advert suggested. It was still a thoughtless and stigmatizing campaign.

This current advert is less playful and more hostile. A gun target image of a fat man and woman. "Goodbye Fat" is the tagline.

What do you think?


Daníelsdóttir, S., O’Brien, K., & Ciao, A. (2010). Anti-Fat Prejudice Reduction: A Review of Published Studies Obesity Facts, 3 (1), 47-58 DOI: 10.1159/000277067

Sleep Disorders Are No Laughing Matter...But You Can Laugh At This.

March 7 thru the 13th is Sleep Awareness Week. Good sleep is important for physical health. As for emotional health, studies suggest that mental health difficulties are often accompanied by sleep disturbances.

Don't let sleeping too little or sleeping too much interfere with your well-being. Contact your healthcare professional.

Though sleep disorders are no laughing matter, the video below is.





Lee, M., Choh, A., Demerath, E., Knutson, K., Duren, D., Sherwood, R., Sun, S., Chumlea, W., Towne, B., Siervogel, R., & Czerwinski, S. (2009). Sleep disturbance in relation to health-related quality of life in adults: The fels longitudinal study The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 13 (6), 576-583 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-009-0110-1

An Emotion Detector For Babies

Baby monitors of the future could translate infant cries, so that parents will know for certain whether their child is sleepy, hungry, needing a change or in pain. Japanese researchers have published a paper detailing their design for a statistical computer program that can analyze a baby's crying in the International Journal of Biometrics.

Studies done over the years have found that the pitch and frequency of a baby's cry can indicate a health problem. For example, a noisy, broken sounding cry can signal Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). A low cry with short utterances can suggest respiratory problems, increased tension or instability of neural control.

This is amazing, life saving technology. But I wonder if it will change they way we parent. I hope we don't lose the importance of also incorporating body language and non verbal cues of communication. But on the other hand, it could be a win-win, as Julien from Halfbakery says, if the translation of an infant's cry informs us that "Rock-a-bye baby sounds better in the key of C or that peas and carrots are not a winning combination".

Wang, X., Nagashima, T., Fukuta, K., Okada, Y., Sawai, M., Tanaka, H., & Uozumi, T. (2010). Statistical method for classifying cries of baby based on pattern recognition of power spectrum International Journal of Biometrics, 2 (2) DOI: 10.1504/IJBM.2010.031791

The Importance of Proper Media Coverage of Suicide

The way media reports suicide can do one of two things. They can unwittingly create a contagious trend or can educate and help others receive treatment.

Research has shown that how suicide is reported makes all the difference. Below is an excerpt from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.


What to Avoid

• Avoid detailed descriptions of the suicide, including specifics, method and location.
Reason: Detailed descriptions increase the risk of a vulnerable individual imitating the act.

• Avoid romanticizing someone who has died by suicide. Avoid featuring tributes by friends or relatives. Avoid first-person accounts from adolescents about their suicide attempts.
Reason: Positive attention given to someone who has died (or attempted to die) by suicide can lead vulnerable individuals who desire such attention to take their own lives.

• Avoid glamorizing the suicide of a celebrity.
Reason: Research indicates that celebrity suicides can promote copycat suicides among vulnerablepeople. Do not let the glamour of the celebrity obscure any mental health or substance abuse problems that may have contributed to the celebrity’s death.

• Avoid overstating the frequency of suicide.
Reason: Overstating the frequency of suicide (by, for example, referring to a “suicide epidemic”) may cause vulnerable individuals to think of it as an accepted or normal response to problems. Even in populations that have the highest suicide rates, suicides are rare.

• Avoid using the words “committed", “failed” or “successful” suicide.
Reason: The verb “committed” is usually associated with sins or crimes. Suicide is better understood in a behavioral health context than a criminal context. Consider using the phrase “died by suicide.” The phrases “successful suicide” or “failed suicide attempt” imply favorable or inadequate outcomes. Consider using “death by suicide” or “non-fatal suicide attempt.”


What to Do

• Always include a referral phone number and information about local crisis intervention services.

• Emphasize recent treatment advances for depression and other mental illness. Include stories of people whose treatment was life-saving or who overcame despair without attempting suicide.

• Interview a mental health professional who is knowledgeable about suicide and the role of treatment or screening for mental disorders as a preventive strategy.

• Emphasize actions that communities can take to prevent suicides.

• Include a sidebar listing warning signs, or risk and protective factors for suicide.


Resources

List of Suicide Hotlines

Suicide Symptoms and Warning Signs

Overcoming Suicidal Thinking

Protective Factors and Resources



Pirkis, J. (2009). Suicide and the media Psychiatry, 8 (7), 269-271 DOI: 10.1016/j.mppsy.2009.04.009