ABCE

It's September, and that means it's time for PCOS Awareness Month. We have a continuing series on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) that looks at various PCOS issues from a weight-neutral point of view. One of the most exciting treatments on the horizon for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is inositol, either myo-inositol or d-chiro-inositol, or a combination of both. We've discussed it before, but now there is a recent meta-analysis of the literature. New Review of Inositol for Fertility Here is a review of the best research we have so far on inositol for fertility issues in women with PCOS. There are other studies, but these studies met high enough standards for quality to be considered for this analysis. The good news is that the results so far are quite encouraging. The bad news is that it's clear we still need better-designed trials. Let's start with the bad news. There was little uniformity in the protocols. Some studies used myo-inositol, some studies us...

I know, I know, the sun worshippers of the world are latching onto their last precious rays of summer’s glory days. But I didn’t choose the Victorian/Morticia/Pug life…it chose me! Ha-ha! I am an autumn baby; late October, thanks. When the days begin to cool and the leaves begin to turn, I swear it is then that my soul truly awakens. Yes, Halloween is my favorite holiday, but I haven’t been able to really celebrate in years! That’s gotta change! I woke up this morning and was excited to try a new (to me) dandruff shampoo  from Biolage I had ordered online. The reviews swore it was the best thing ever! I also splurged, slightly, on a nice conditioner by Nexxus . I had a new pair of shoes, earrings, necklace, and a dress, too. I hadn’t put these things together in my mind yet, but as I was getting dressed, well, it all just worked out! You see, my work bff, and honestly the biggest cheerleader in my life (and that is a high bar, lemme tell ya!), came back to work today after a vacati...

At the end of May, I travelled to Queenstown, one of the loveliest towns in New Zealand, to attend the Critical Health Education Studies Conference .   It was a last minute decision; I hadn’t planned on attending. But Professor Richard Tinning (a distinguished Professor in the area of physical & health education), invited me to fill a vacancy on symposium he had organized on “Critical health education and the affect of physical education”. This invitation was an honour, and even though I knew I would have to self-fund the trip, I accepted. The symposium also included Darren Powell, lisahunter, and Michael Gard; all scholars I admire a great deal. I was pleasantly surprised by how much relevant scholarship was shared across the three days. Standout presentations came from Melinda Webber on the role of stereotype threat and cultural identity in the success of Māori as Māori and Gareth Treharne on the need for healthcare providers to be trained to meet the needs of trans New Zeala...

  General Thoughts: Skala Eressos is one of my favourite places on earth.  This review is going to skew heavily critical because I aim to give the most thorough examination that I can (from memory, at least) of the practicalities of traveling here in a larger body. That said,  I want to clarify that there’s no beach where I feel safer and more relaxed and there’s no town where holidays have felt easier and more truly restful.  I don’t feel like an outsider here.  Also, I feel like I’m making a concerted effort to contribute to a struggling local economy and community so ethically it feels collaborative and mutually beneficial rather then exploitative and uncomfortable.  Living in London means international travel is less expensive than it was from the States, and you’d think I’d be off seeing as many other places as I can (and certainly I have and will do more) rather than returning to the same place time and again – but Skala always pulls me back! It spoil...

Image from Consumer Reports article cited below As we head into the new school year and the holiday weekend, it is a good time to remind parents and guardians to double-check their car seat usage. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued new guidelines suggesting that parents keep their young children in rear-facing car seats until they reach the height or weight limits of that seat.  In other words, don't be so eager to get those children front-facing because children really are safer rear-facing.  In the past, AAP recommendations were age-based. Generally they recommended that children become front-facing at age two . But there is such a wide variation of size in children, even at the same age, that going only by age doesn't make sense. Also, research shows that rear-facing remains the safest position even for children older than two. Instead, parents should consult the height and weight limits of the car seat they use and use those to guide when to switch to fro...

Oh my sweet, lovely readers! It is not everyday that I have the pleasure of a halfway decently written troll email. Yeah, email! Novel! Ha-ha! This morning I had a message from our new “friend”, Duncan. Here, take a look: Prepare yourself for the science of internet trolls… Hello, I was wondering about the whole idea of fat pride. Is the idea just that you accept yourself for who you are and your weight? I looked up some statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and I found some interesting information. It said that obesity is linked to the following problems: All-causes of death (mortality) High blood pressure (Hypertension) Type 2 diabetes Coronary heart disease Stroke Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint) Sleep apnea and breathing problems Some cancers (endometrial, breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder, and liver) Mental illness such as clinical depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders Body pain and difficulty with physical funct...