PULSE.Byline: Mariko Thompson HEALTHY CHILDREN: Most people think of type 2 diabetes type 2 diabetes n. See diabetes mellitus. , cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis as diseases of middle and old age. But scientists are finding that the stage is often set in childhood for chronic illnesses. With more than 15 percent of American children overweight, type 2 diabetes is being diagnosed at increasingly younger ages. Researchers predict that heart disease will become more common among people in their 20s and 30s. In ``Growing Up Healthy'' (Atria Atria The heart has four chambers. The right and left atria are at the top of the heart and receive returning blood from the veins. The right and left ventricles are at the bottom of the heart and act as the body's main pumps. Books; $26), former ``Good Morning America'' host Joan Lunden Joan Lunden (born September 19, 1950) is an American broadcaster, most recently the host of the CBS reality series "Wickedly Perfect," and was a popular co-host of ABC's Good Morning America from 1980 through 1997. and pediatrician Myron Winick team up to help parents raise children with healthy eating habits. They start with pregnancy and move through each developmental stage, addressing questions about which foods are healthiest, how to handle finicky fin·ick·y adj. fin·ick·i·er, fin·ick·i·est Insisting capriciously on getting just what one wants; difficult to please; fastidious: a finicky eater. eaters and how to deal with the American love affair with fast food. Lunden, a mother of five, will discuss their new book at Borders Books, 1360 Westwood Blvd., Westwood, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. BALANCING ACT: Which b-word best describes you, ``busy'' or ``balanced''? Between work and family obligations, most of us feel like we spend each day racing against the clock. How can we possibly introduce balance to our lives when we're spread so thin? In ``Learn to Balance Your Life'' (Chronicle Books; $15.95), psychologists Michael and Jessica Hinz equate balance with focus. Have a vision of what's important to you and eliminate the distractions that fritter away fritter away Verb to waste: he did not fritter away his energy on trivialities [obsolete fitter to break into small pieces] Verb 1. your time. They start with an exercise that will help you identify your dreams and long-term goals Long-term goals Financial goals expected to be accomplished in five years or longer. . Then they hit other important aspects of life, including career (identify the energy drainers that make you less efficient), finances (look for pain-free ways to save money each month), relationships (pull out the date book instead of saying, ``Let's get together sometime''), home (conduct a comfort audit of each room) and health (bring a shopping list to the grocery store and limit impulse buying). Achieving balance takes consistent effort, but the payoff is extra time and a sense of control over the manageable aspects of life. A DIFFERENT JOURNEY: As actress Marlee Matlin points out in her foreword to this collection of eloquent essays, people with disabilities don't overcome them. ``Rather they have overcome the prejudices of society that all too often stereotypes people with disabilities in destructive ways,'' she writes in ``Reflections From a Different Journey'' (McGraw-Hill; $18.95). Editors Stanley D. Klein and John D. Kemp approached people with disabilities - cerebral palsy cerebral palsy (sərē`brəl pôl`zē), disability caused by brain damage before or during birth or in the first years, resulting in a loss of voluntary muscular control and coordination. , spina bifida, autism autism (ô`tĭzəm), developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. , blindness, obsessive compulsive disorder Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) Disorder characterized by persistent, intrusive, and senseless thoughts (obsessions) or compulsions to perform repetitive behaviors that interfere with normal functioning. Mentioned in: Tourette Syndrome and more - who serve as role models in their communities. The editors posed the question, ``What do you wish your parents had read or been told when you were growing up?'' The result from the 40 contributors is a moving book that addresses such important issues as acceptance, advocacy, expectations and sexuality. THEY NEED YOUR BLOOD: Carl's Jr. and Universal Pictures are co-sponsoring a blood drive with the American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. at Universal CityWalk's Cinema Plaza from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday. The blood drive is part of a promotional campaign between Carl's Jr. and the Universal Pictures film ``Van Helsing,'' about a monster hunter summoned to Transylvania. Blood-donation public service announcements featuring ``Van Helsing'' star Hugh Jackman will air throughout May. MOMS - WATCH YOUR BACK: New moms have a lot to think about besides their posture. But lifting a child out of a crib and pushing a stroller several times a day, every day, can take a toll on back health. To remind mothers of proper lifting and carrying techniques, the American Physical Therapy Association The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is a national professional organization representing more than 66,000 members. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education. provides a Mother's Day tip sheet at www.apta.org. Doing a half-kneel when lifting a child from the floor and carrying the child at the center of your body can save you from future muscular strains. CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1) no caption (book: ``Growing Up Healthy'') (2) no caption (book: ``Learn to Balance Your Life'') (3) no caption (book: ``Reflections from a Different Journey'') (4) Hugh Jackman |
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