INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (AP) -- A new study suggests sex researchers have been overestimating the prevalence of sexual problems in women for years -- perhaps because they have been looking at things from a man's point of view. The Kinsey Institute study estimated from a phone survey that a quarter of American women are significantly distressed about their sex lives -- far less than the 43 percent a 1999 study labeled as suffering from sexual dysfunction. Research on the topic has tended to focus on physical aspects of sex, such as orgasms and arousal. But the new study found that the best predictors of a woman's sexual satisfaction are her general emotional well-being and her emotional relationship with her partner.

"This study emphasizes the importance of non-physiological components of sexuality as well as the general importance of mental health," said John Bancroft, director of the Indiana University-based Kinsey Institute. Among other things, it found that 24.4 percent of those women reported "marked distress" about their sexual relationship, their own sexuality or both, within the previous month.

Beverly Whipple, president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, said researchers who have studied women in the past based their findings on what is important to men: desire, arousal and orgasm. "I don't think we should try to lock women into a male model of what's important. Women are not men; there's so much we don't know," she said. Patricia J. Aletky, a clinical psychologist with the Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology, noted that decades ago women were labeled "frigid" if they had little or no sexual desire.

Do Doctor Visits Leave You Confused?
Two Major Health Care Organizations Collaborate on Health Literacy

(ARA) - Ever feel a little confused after visiting your doctor? Or forget which pill you’re supposed to take, and when? You’re not alone. Surveys reveal that 90 million Americans -- half of all adults -- may struggle with understanding common health care information, such as prescription instructions, test results and insurance forms.

Known as "low health literacy" this limited understanding challenges people from all ages, races and income levels, and contributes to poor health outcomes. Individuals with low health literacy incur medical expenses that are up to four times greater than patients with adequate literacy skills, costing the health care system billions of dollars every year for unnecessary doctor visits and hospital stays.

Now, two major health care organizations are working together to tackle low health literacy. The American Medical Association Foundation and Pfizer, Inc. have formed a partnership to address low health literacy and provide solutions for physicians and patients.the surface. The AMA Foundation will develop and distribute health literacy informational kits to physicians and health care professionals. It will also provide grants to health literacy community service projects and link dozens of organizations across the country through the AMA Foundation’s Health Literacy Coalition.

Understanding health information is everyone’s right and improving health literacy is everyone’s responsibility. Low health literacy is a silent and pervasive epidemic that must be addressed. Please explore these related sites to learn how you can make a difference! For more information go to www.amafoundation.org/go/healthliteracy, www.pfizerhealthliteracy.com and www.health.gov/healthypeople.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Top

Weight Loss is in Your Metabolic Number New Metabolism Monitoring Device Can Tell You Yours

(ARA) - Losing weight in 2003 may be as easy as knowing one single number -- your metabolic number. Metabolism is the key component in the weight loss equation and now, you can know yours. “If you know how many calories your body is burning, then you know your calorie limit. Knowing this all-important number puts you in control of your weight loss goals,” says Heather Haugen, M.S., R.D., a registered dietitian.

Oxygen is the universal fuel of metabolism. By simply measuring the amount of oxygen your body is using, you can know how many calories your body is burning. The technique of measuring oxygen consumption to determine metabolism is not new -- it has been around for more than a hundred years. Called indirect calorimetry, methods of performing the measurement have been complicated, cumbersome and expensive, thereby preventing routine usage of the technique.

But now there is a device that makes it possible, for the first time, for the measurement to be made on a routine basis by weight loss and fitness professionals. The BodyGem by HealtheTech, www.healthetech.com, is a revolutionary metabolism measurement tool that can tell you how many calories your body is burning with a simple five to 10 minute breathing test.

Fitness, weight loss and wellness professionals nationwide are using the handheld device to measure the metabolisms of their customers and to personalize weight loss and fitness plans according to their unique physiologies. For more information about the BodyGem, visit www.healthetech.com or call 1-866-my metabolism.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Top

Brush Your Teeth the Natural Way

(ARA) - Pick up a box of toothpaste at the grocery store and what do you see listed under ingredients? Nothing. That’s because the Food and Drug Administration does not require toothpaste manufacturers to include this important consumer information on their packaging. Do you want to brush your teeth with sodium hydroxide or benzo sulphimide? Do you know what it is and what it does? Most of us are concerned with good health and maintaining a healthy diet, and understandably want to know what we’re putting into our mouths. Today many traditional toothpaste brands are offering toothpastes geared to prevent and control a number of oral health issues.

Consumers can now buy toothpastes with Fluoride to fight tooth decay, antibacterial agents (like Triclosan) to control plaque and desensitizing agents for sensitive teeth. Many of these agents are unnecessary and some are actually harmful. Many traditional types of toothpaste contain ingredients and additives that may increase the risk of cancer such as saccharin and FD&C Blue. In fact, if you look closely, most toothpaste packages contain a warning label.

In contrast, Kingfisher Natural Toothpaste clearly defines their ingredients and you can actually pronounce their names. Ingredients like fine chalk from the green hills of the English countryside, which is used for gentle abrasion and lemons from the south of Spain which are used as a flavor enhancer. Secondly, you will find that the toothpaste has not been tested on animals and is GMO free, two causes that its founder, Richard Austin, has campaigned for and strongly supports. You will get delicious taste, clean teeth, fresh breath and the knowledge that you’re doing right by your body and the environment. As Austin likes to say “think globally and brush regularly.” For more information about Kingfisher Natural Toothpaste, please visit their Web site at www.Kingfishertoothpaste.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Dear Flabby,

I recently lost 30 pounds and I'm feeling great, but my chest is a lot smaller. Any advice? Karen W.

Dear Karen,

Celebrate your new body. Better hard than lumpy I always say. Don't I repeat, don't get implants.

Top