Health Links, 3-12-12

The Tennessean is currently soliciting readers' ideas on how to combat childhood obesity.

School lunches have been the subject of recent intense fights between health advocates on one side and industry lobbyists and politicians from states that grow and produce less healthy foods on the other.

Despite recent controversy, it's still allowed in school lunches, and 70% of ground beef in the US contains what the meat industry refers to as "lean, finely textured beef" and what critics refer to as "pink slime," which is made mostly from connective tissue and has ammonia added to kill bacteria.

Here's a feature from the Tennessean about attempts to limit sugar intake.  Here are some corresponding public service announcements about sugary beverages.

Here's a long, but interesting, article about genetics and other factors that explain why weight gained can't be reduced to a simple equation computing calories consumed and calories burned.

Here's an explanation of how exercise benefits the brain

New technology may help people manage their weight, including new watch-like devices designed to track physical activity and food consumption

There are signs that obesity rates may finally be beginning to level off

A wide array of businesses are taking steps to help people eat healthier.  Wal-Mart has announced a new food labeling system.  And the Quaker Oats man is now skinnier.

Here's an update on Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign

Food writer Mark Bittman says people need to understand that potatoes are healthy but Pringles aren't

The average American ate literally a ton of food this past year

Life expectancy in the US has fallen significantly further behind international averages since 2000

Family Teaching Kitchens are currently being run by the United Way in Tennessee to help people learn how to cook healthier for their family.