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If your children are playing sports this fall, pay attention to six tips that could protect them from serious ankle injuries. Every fall season, foot and ankle surgeons see an increase in ankle injuries among young athletes. Football, soccer and basketball are the sports most likely to lead to sprains, broken bones and other problems, says Kansas City foot and ankle surgeon James Good, DPM.

Findings from survey results released by livestrong.com reveal that the vast majority of young Americans (66%) report that their parents or other family members have the most influence over the choices they make regarding their overall health. Similarly, two-thirds (67%) of the respondents also indicated that their parents or other family members influence their food choices a great deal or a lot.

The consumption of soft drinks is generally considered to be a contributing factor in childhood obesity. Because children spend a substantial amount of time at School, the School food environment plays a central part in shaping eating behaviors.

Finding excuses not to exercise is easy. The September issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource offers ways to overcome common barriers with some creativity, flexibility and a different mindset. Here's a sample: Excuse: I don't have time to exercise. -- Schedule exercise in your day as you would an appointment. If you wait to find time, it probably won't happen. -- Turn off the TV. Free up time by watching one less program.

If I had to choose my number one exercise pet peeve, it would be headphone cords. These tangling, dangling cords always seem to get in the way, wrapping around...

A report in the September Cell Metabolism, a publication of Cell Press, offers new evidence to explain why those who undergo gastric bypass surgery often show greater control of their diabetes symptoms within days. It also helps to explain why lap-band surgery doesn't offer the same instant gratification. By studying mice that have undergone both procedures, the researchers show that changes in the intestine are the key.

In advance of a debate on obesity in the Scottish Parliament today [Thursday 4 September], BMA Scotland called on politicians to take tough action to tackle childhood obesity. In a briefing paper sent to MSPs, the BMA outlined its five point plan for tackling chilhood obesity in Scotland. The paper also highlights the long term health consequences of obesity and calls on Ministers to take a cross governmental approach to address soaring levels of obesity in Scotland's children.

Although "Change!" is the common cry among today's Democratic and Republican candidates, like the George W. Bush Administration before, both the Barack Obama and John McCain campaigns have aligned themselves with the Food and Beverage Industries for their approaches to America's Child Obesity public health crisis.

Women who give birth at California hospitals serving mostly non-white, low-income women and children are less likely to breastfeed than women who give birth at other hospitals around the state, according to a report released from the University of California-Davis Human Lactation Center and the California WIC Association, the

"Factors Associated With Overweight Among Urban American Indian Adolescents: Findings From Project EAT," Ethnicity & Disease: The study looked at 246 American Indian boys and girls living in the St. Paul-Minneapolis region who participated in Project EAT, a population-based study of adolescent nutrition and weight.