Stephen C Schimpff's Blog – February 2010 Archive (3)

King Tut and Genomics

I wrote in The Future of Medicine that genomics was a revolutionary new technology in medicine and that it would lead to disruptive new megatrends in medical care. I was thinking about new approaches to disease prediction, developing targeted drugs, directing the approach to drug prescribing to assure efficacy yet few side effects, and rapid diagnosis.

Many of us enjoy genealogy as a hobby and to learn about our ancestors. Genomics can been used to study our own genealogy – where… Continue

Added by Stephen C Schimpff on February 28, 2010 at 5:06pm — 1 Comment

“Front of Package Food Labels – Public Health or Propaganda”

The current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association [JAMA, February 24, 2010, pages 771-772] has an interesting editorial of the title here by Drs Nestle and Ludwig about food labeling. “At no point in US history have food products displayed so may symbols and statements proclaiming nutrition and health benefits” is the opening sentence. In brief, the authors suggest that processed food companies have been aggressive in putting information on the front of their packages that… Continue

Added by Stephen C Schimpff on February 24, 2010 at 9:50am — No Comments

We Have Become An Obese Nation.

Fifty years ago about 55% of Americans were overweight as measured by body mass index [BMI which is based on the relationship of height to weight]. Broken down this was 32% “pre-obesity” or “overweight” [meaning BMI between 25.0 and 29.9] and 13% obese [BMI 30 or greater.] Today that 55% has increased to 68% with 34% now in the obese range! Obesity affects all ages and genders. Among adults, 72% of men and 64% of women are pre-obese and 32% and 36%, respectively, are obese. And very disturbing… Continue

Added by Stephen C Schimpff on February 21, 2010 at 5:46pm — No Comments