Your health
Danny Ferrone is still running. You may remember him from a story in September 2006, after he had completed his first triathlon.
People run triathlons all the time, but Ferrone has cystic fibrosis, a disease that clogs his lungs with mucous. The 23-year-old Chicagoan made it his goal to raise money for a "real cure" while putting his body to the test. Since that first race, he's competed in a second triathlon and three marathons, including the heat-drenched Oct. 7 Chicago marathon. He now has his sights on a qualifying race for the 2008 Ironman triathlon in Hawaii.
Another update: So far, Ferrone has raised $55,000 for his Fight Forever Foundation, and he's interviewing scientists who applied for research grants.
"It's fun," he said. "I get to meet these people and see their labs, see what they're doing. It opens my eyes to the world I knew of , but never saw."
Skip the insoles
Using shock-absorbing insoles in your shoes won't prevent a pain in the back, according to a review of medical research by The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research.
Some people believe insoles absorb shock while keeping the foot more stable. But Cochrane researchers said they don't prevent back pain, and it's unclear whether they'll help someone who already suffers an aching back. Insoles may just shift the pain from the back to the legs, they said.
Teasing doesn't help:Œ
The same risk factors could lead a teen to become overweight or develop an eating disorder, according to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Researchers asked more than 2,500 adolescents about their eating habits, exercise, family meals, media messages and teasing. They found that when families teased kids about their weight, it doubled their risk of being overweight five years later. It also increased the chance they'd engage in extreme dieting, such as vomiting or using diet pills or laxatives.
Instead of playful teasing, parents should model and encourage healthy behaviors, researchers said.
-- Susan Stevens