NYC Bans Trans Fat
In a move aimed at improving the healthfulness of restaurant food, the New York City Board of Health recently voted to require that all of the city's restaurants remove artificial trans fats from foods by July 2008. The mandate gives restaurants until July 1, 2007, to switch to oils, margarines, and shortenings that have less than 0.5 g of trans fat per serving by July 1, 2008; all other food items sold in restaurants must meet the same mark. New York is the first city to make such a move. The new mandate was praised by the American Diabetes Association: “When you consider that many American adults—and their children—are eating out several times a week, it is even more difficult to avoid trans fats and maintain a healthy diet,” said Dr. Peter Sheehan, president of the American Diabetes Association's New York City Leadership Council. “For more than 700,000 New York City adults diagnosed with diabetes, the passage of this proposal eliminates a major source of artificial trans fats and should serve as a model for other cities to consider.” In testimony earlier last year before the New York City Board of Health, the New York State Restaurant Association said that although the measure is well intentioned, it will not achieve the health benefits being sought. The 18-month transition does not give restaurateurs enough time to find healthy alternatives, the group said. Many will end up returning to the use of oils high in saturated fats.
Obesity: No. 1 Child Health Issue
Being overweight is seen as the most important issue for children's health, according to the results of a poll commissioned by Research!America and the Endocrine Society. In the poll of 800 adults, 27% of respondents named obesity as the top health issue for children, followed by lack of health care or health insurance (16%) and poor nutrition or an unhealthy diet (9%). When it comes to taking action on the issue, 52% said obesity was a public health issue that society should help solve, whereas 46% said it was a private issue that people should deal with on their own. “Clearly, Americans recognize the obesity epidemic facing this country and our children,” said Endocrine Society president Dr. Leonard Wartofsky. “However, the poll shows that the public thinks we should address obesity as a public health issue to bolster the actions of individuals and families. Health care professionals and researchers need to help convey the importance of a stronger public health response to this epidemic.”
Genes and Metabolic Syndrome
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have received a grant of more than $1.6 million from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to study the genetic causes of metabolic syndrome. “To combat this complex disease, we need to establish genetic biomarkers, but we also need to understand lifestyle patterns and make necessary changes.” said lead investigator Ranjan Deka, Ph.D., professor of environmental health at the university. Data for the study will come from about 80 large families living in the islands of Croatia, a traditionally isolated society whose inhabitants have a very homogeneous genome. Dr. Deka and his team will collect blood samples, family medical histories, and other demographic information from about 1,200 subjects. Field work is set to begin in March.
Changes to HSA Rules
Legislation signed into law in December eases the use of health savings accounts. Previously, HSA participants could contribute only the amount they were required to pay out of pocket before their high-deductible health insurance policies kicked in. Under the new law, participants can contribute up to $2,700 for individual accounts and $5,450 for family accounts. The measure also allows employers to contribute more to the HSA accounts of non-highly compensated workers, and allows a one-time, tax-free rollover of individual retirement account funds into an HSA. “These provisions will help many Americans find more affordable and tax-preferred ways to pay for health care costs,” said James A. Klein, president of the American Benefits Council, an organization of large employers and health plan administrators.
Von Eschenbach Confirmed for FDA
Almost 9 months after he was nominated to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach was finally confirmed by the Senate in an 80–11 vote. Confirmation came after an 89–6 vote to limit debate on his nomination. The naysayers included Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), one of Dr. von Eschenbach's most vocal critics. Sen. Grassley and his staff have been investigating what they call an inappropriate approval of the antibiotic Ketek (telithromycin). Sen. Grassley maintains that Dr. von Eschenbach has stonewalled committee investigators.