While there's a rise in childhood obesity, a new study has found that preschoolers don't indulge in much of activity, even when they're playing outside.

The study, by an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of South Carolina (USC), Michigan State University, and East Carolina University, looked at 3-, 4-, and 5-year olds enrolled in 24 community-based preschool programs.

Led by Professor Russell R. Pate (at USC), the researchers used information from the Children's Activity and Movement in Preschools Study (CHAMPS).

It was found that the preschoolers were inactive for much of their preschool day, with 89 percent of physical activity characterized as sedentary.

In fact, 56 percent of their activities were sedentary, even when they played outside, a time when children are expected to move around.

To top it all, teachers very rarely encouraged the children to be physically active.

However, when balls and other items were made available, especially outside, and when they had open spaces in which to play, the children were more likely to be active.

"The low levels of children's activity and the lack of adult encouragement point to a need for teachers to organize, model, and encourage physical activity," said William H. Brown, professor in the College of Education at USC and the study's lead author.

He added: "Because children's health and physical well-being are an important part of development, their physical activity needs to be increased in order to promote healthy lifestyles, particularly for preschoolers who are growing up in low-income families and who are at greater risk for poor health outcomes."

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When I was five years old, my father worked as a military officer. He was stationed at Kawait Island, in our native Philippines. In the 1940s the Americans had built the hospital there, which served as a quarantine station for foreign ships entering the ports. When the Americans left the Philippines after World War II, Kawait Island and the hospital, which was no longer functional, was left under the care of the Philippine government. A skeletal workforce, including my father, was stationed there to provide security.

It must have been lonely working on Kawait. tatay, as I called my father, would stay at the staff house near the told hospital during his three-day shifts. He had only the goats and chickens that roamed freely on the island to keep him company. The coast guard patrol boat would dock there once in a while, and some local fisherfolk would drop by for an afternoon nap.

I hadn't started school yet, so my father would sometimes take me along with him while he was working. I cherished those moments dearly. Although practically marooned on the island with no playmates. I was never short of toys because the ocean swept up a lot of stuff, mostly other people's junk which I found very interesting and useful.

Each morning upon waking, I would run to the shore to see what treasures the tide had bought during the night. My precious collection included a toy car with missing wheels, little plastic soldiers with no hands or feet and an assortment of rubber and plastic balls. I stored them in my treasure chest -- an ice cream canister that I had scooped out of the waves one morning.

One day I saw a beautiful white boat. It was made out of carved polystyrene material and had a transparent plastic sail. It was perfect.

I was mesmerized as I watched the wind blow the sailboat towards the shore. My heart thumped with excitement as I ran to retrieve it before it swept away again. As I held it in my hand, I vowed never to lose it. I proudly showed it to my tatay, who was happy enough to see my enjoying myself, although he warned me not to go into the water again without him.

One day I was floating my boat on the water, carefully staying near the shore where my father was watching when he remembered that he needed to take his medicine. He instructed me to come back to the shore for a moment before he rushed into a nearby hut that served as the staff kitchen to take his pill. I started towards the shore as I saw my father turn away. But when I reached out to get the boat, a soft wind caught its sail and pushed it away from me. I took a couple of steps towards it, but the current that my movement created kept propelling the boat further and further away.

I watched in horror as my boat floated out of my reach. I was determined not to lose it. In one huge step, I stretched my arm as far as it could go and strained to grab the boat, but I missed and plummeted into the ocean, not realizing how deep the water was and forgetting that I could not swim. I was enveloped in sea water. I paddled and kicked hard, trying to remain above the surface, but the water was just to deep, the current too strong and my body too weak to fight. I felt myself sinking to the bottom. I gasped for air, but only salty water filled by throat and nostrils. Then I passed out.

When my father emerged from the hut, he was horrified to see me thrashing in the water some distance from the shore. He dived in and swam as hard as he could to the spot where I had gone under. He repeatedly dived under the water, frantically searching for my body.

Then his hand brushed against my hair. He grabbed it and yanked my head out of the water. He pulled me to shore and started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. I came to soon enough and vomited a large amount of salty water. I opened my eyes to see my father crying. I had never before, and have never since, seen him cry so hard.

In the days that followed, I was so traumatized that I would not go near the water. My little boat was gone, but I did not miss it. One day my father, worried that the incident would scar me for life, took me to the water's edge and urged me to go in with him. Though scared, I went in because I trusted him. Afterall, he had saved me from drowning.

In the following weeks, my tatay taught me how to swim. When I was confident enough, he took me to the jetty on Kawait and challenged me to jump into the water. I knew that the water was deep, but I was not looking at it. I was looking at my father, who showed great faith and confidence in me.

He told me that I could do it, and in my heart I believed him. I plunged into the ocean and swam back to shore. I was exhilarated. As my tatey proudly looked on, I knew I had overcome my fear. I felt so grown up, like a real man.

I grew up loving the ocean like never before. More than that, I realized that obstacles and hardships are a normal part of life. They are meant to be overcome so that we can cherish the victories and make the most of the lessons learned.

I went onto earn a degree in fine arts. Today, as a professional painter, I have learned not to give up too easily. I continually aspire to stretch my creativity beyond my imagination , like swimming in the ocean with a great sense of freedom.

At these moments, I always remembered what my father said when he brought me to the jetty to jump into the water: "You can do it, son!"

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Ageing - its the bane of every woman's existence. No one wants unsightly wrinkles, sagging skin, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, dryness, dull skin and age spots. Unfortunately, we are surrounded by so many factors that contribute to skin ageing.One of the major culprit is free radicals, which are created by environmental stressors such as UV radiation from the Sun, environmental pollution and even cigarette smoke. While the skin is built with natural defences to cope with these free radicals, such an antioxidants Vitamin C and E, the levels of these antioxidants decrease as we age, so we have to boost the skin's ability to stay youthful.

Lately, many women have been turning to professional anti ageing spa treatment to fight against the signs of ageing. While these are designed to address a variety of ageing symptoms effectively, they are often expensive and may take a course of treatments to show effects.

A good skincare regimen that features wonder products such as Olay Total Effects can deliver similar effects to professional anti-ageing spa treatment. This is possible with its power packed formula of ingredients that target seven signs of ageing spa treatment, Practically, its like your own professional anti ageing spa treatment in a bottle.

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Have you ever thought that Chocolate can infact make us healthy? Sounds strange. Alright!! Lets read more........

It can lower Blood Pressure

Researchers at the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany gave 44 people with borderline or mild hypertension 30 calories a dayof dark or white chocolates. After about four months, the number of dark chocolate eaters diagnosed with hypertension dropped fro 86 percent to 68 percent. Most likely the results were thanks to the antioxidant effects of dark chocolate, the researchers say.

It can help you burn fat

Chocolate loving men who eat the sweet treat are in better health than those who don't like it, say docs at Imperial College London and Nestle. Over five days, a group of 22 healthy men( half liked chocolate; half did not) ate the same food, plus either chocolate or bread. Blood and urine tests showed the chocolate lovers processed fatty foods better and had lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Yes, indulging every once in a while may have long term heart benefits -- but when paired with a healthy diet. "You can't just eat chocolate while you sit on the couch and watch TV," says a researcher.

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Are England and France moving apart due to shifting tectonic plates? If so, what will happen to the Chunnel?

The Earth is made up of about 12 plates that range in thickness from around 200 kilometers for oceanic plates to 150 kilometers for continental ones. The plates are rigid and rest on a more fluid layer underneath.They slide over this fluid layer, jostling with one another, forming mountain ranges over time when they collide and earthquakes when they slide against one another. Most plates move at a rate of about two centimeters a year.

France and England are part of the Eurasian plates, so there is only one seamless plate underneath the English Channel. The nearest plate boundaries are several hundred kilometers away. So the Channel Tunnel, dubbed the Channel, 1 50-kilometer train channel beneath the English Channel, is quite safe.

Where do we get the phrase "Sleep Tight" from?

It comes from Shakespearean England via thousands of children's bedtimes. William Shakespeare first gave "Tightly" the meaning "effectively" or "well" in his 1598 play The Merry Wives of Windsor, where Falstaff asks a servant to deliver "these letters tightly".

By the 18th century, the word was also used as an adjective and it was in this form that it became part of the rhyming couplet "Good night. Sleep tight" probably dreamed up by an anonymous mother to wish her young child a pleasant sleep. The subsequent popularity of this rhyme means that the phrase lives on today, despite its exact meaning being largely forgotten.

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It’S the season of cheer. But, against the backdrop of spiraling global recession and a looming threat of terror, Christmas — the festive calendar’s most sought after date for its lights, love and radiance — is witnessing a lull.

“Indulgent merrymaking is making way for self-introspection and meaningful soulsearching,” opines author and ex-hotelier Advaita Kala, adding, “Post the Mumbai carnage I’ve decided to organise a reunion of my management batch. Having lost several of our friends, we’ve realised how essential it is to reach out to people whom we take for granted.”

Robbed of its effusive radiance, the yuletide season wears a subdued look as revelers huddle under the shadow of imminent terror. Waluscha Robinson, wife of c h o r e og rap h e r Marc Robinson, admits, “As a family, we’re tremendously insecure, especially about our children’s safety. We’ve decided to skip the traditional midnight mass at St. Andrews ground in Bandra as large congregations are potent terror targets. Ironically, we had enjoyed a sumptuous Christmas lunch at the Taj Mahal hotel last year, but this time we’re planning to keep it quiet at home.”

Maria Goretti, wife of actor Arshad Warsi says, “Being an actor, my husband’s away for 20 days a month. Being alone with my kids during the turbulence made me realise the value of my family. This Christmas, I just want to hold them close to me.” Festive splurging is low as one looks for more meaning to it all. Actress Malaika Arora Khan claims, “Usually, I go all out to buy gifts. This year, my friends and I are pooling resources for families of the terror victims.”

However, the overwhelming sense of despondency is giving way to reinforcing familial ties. “It’s been seven years since I saw my brother in India,” admits 36-year-old investment banker Sudhir Garg, a US citizen who’s headed home this season. “We fell out after my father’s death owing to property tussles. I’ve decided to surprise my brother with a year-end visit. Who knows what tomorrow holds?” feels Sudhir. Ad guru Prahlad Kakkar adds, “Frenzied party hopping is making way for intimate dinners. The age of materialism is under review as everything is transient now. Before I retreat to Lakshwadeep for New Year, I intend to meet all the people who’ve babysat me through the good and bad times. Christmas would be soulless without their love. It’s time to say, ‘thank you’.”

The gilded glitter of gourmet meals, luxurious holidays and extravagant spoils is assuming a backseat as the swish set minimises its festive finery. Like the festival of Eid, Christmas too is a quiet affair. “Christmas day parties just feel so superficial in the present reality,” observes socialite Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. Image consultant Dilip Cherian, whose annual Christmas lunch is the toast of the party circuit in the Capital holds, “Social dos are now about reinforcing personal relationships, and not forging business ties.” Model Nina Manuel claims house parties are the new rave, “Hopefully, the party meter will pick up as we learn to move ahead.”

Even New Year celebrations seem to be lack lustre. Tinsel town beauties Katrina Kaif, Rakhi Sawant and Neha Dhupa have all cancelled their Christmas and New Year performances. Slated to perform at Mumbai’s plush JW Marriott hotel for a whopping Rs 1 crore, Kaif has even gone on record to state, “At a time like this, it’s insensitive of me to celebrate. My spirit is very low.” Item girl Rakhi Sawant also declared, “I can't join in the revelry when my Mumbai is burning.”

Goan designer Wendell Rodericks, however, feels that the present crisis is a powerful reminder of the true message of Christmas. “I’ll decorate my house with diyas instead of bright lamps, streamers and baubles to reiterate that Christmas embodies peace and broth erly love. Prayers will replace parties for sure,” says Wendell. Waluscha adds, “For the sake of our children, we must put up a brave front. I’ve decorated my Christmas tree way in advance and the star of Bethleham is up at my home. I intend to evoke a message of eternal hope that Christmas is symbolic of. We must live in faith, not fear.”

Every great tragedy brings in its wake a life lesson. So, as we pick up the pieces, let’s come home to some loving this Christmas.

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The recent terror attacks gave grace under pressure a new definition. Many went way beyond their job brief to become heroes as they risked their lives to put others first. V. D. Zende, the announcer at the CST railway station, directed a trainload of passengers to a safe exit before terrorists tried to gun him down. The Taj GM, Karambir Singh Kang, led his guests to freedom as his own wife and children perished.

What is it about a crisis that brings people together, making leaders out of ordinary people? Marathi actor Sonali Khare, recalls how the staff made the situation bearable the night they were stuck at the Zodiac Grill, on the ground floor of the Taj with around 45 others. She says, “The staff was so sweet and hospitable throughout. My husband also tried to lighten the mood by joking constantly and opening wine bottles.” At one point, when her strapping sixfeet-tall husband wanted to try making an exit through the main door not far away, he was stopped by a short, young Taj employee. She recounts, “The girl, Gunita, insisted that she would be the one leading us out and risking the bullet. She refused to let us out till she got an all-clear from the security personnel of the hotel. She and the others went way beyond the call of duty.”

Sushant Kamath, of the Mumbai bar Bootlegger’s, talks about how complete strangers bonded as they caught the news on television and called their homes when gunshots shook the bar. He says, “The gunmen left from Café Leopold, firing all the time, before going to Nariman House nearby. We pulled down the shutters but could hear continuous firing all night long. We felt helpless, but angry. We wanted to stand up and fight.”

Delhi-based cosmetic dentist Aman Sapra recalls the day of the blasts in September this year. He found himself stuck in a cafe in Connaught Place along with several others. He says, “Some people’s cellphone batteries were dead and others loaned theirs so they could call their families.”

A Mumbai journalist recalls the 2006 Mumbai train blasts, when a lone voice of reason saved several lives in his compartment. He boarded the 5.54 p.m. Churchgate to Borivli train like any other day. However, there was a thud, followed by smoke billowing from the coach ahead that told them there was something wrong. Some people tried to jump off the train, but, “A man stopped us. He said we should wait till the train stopped or we could be injured.” When it finally stopped at Mahim, they discovered that many others had jumped to their death from the moving train.

Says corporate trainer Khushroo Pithawalla, who conducts team bonding workshops, “At these times, we go beyond our fears and insecurities. Complete involvement in what needs to be done in the moment is like a deep meditative state that people pursuing the spiritual path aspire for.”

He explains, recalling his flying days when he risked his life to save a friend in trouble, “The high level of attentiveness in these situations saved both of us.”

However, while teams can push each other to excel, it can work the other way too. Not too long ago, the celeb contestants of the show Big Boss did an “escape” by jumping the walls of the house. They later blamed it on the moment, and were willing to take the rap for the act.

According to a study on “imitative obesity”, the weight of those around you can subconsciously cause yours to yo-yo too. So, fat friends can cause someone to put on weight too, researchers suggested after surveying over 27,000 people from across Europe.

Advises Pithawalla, “A group that does not push each other towards self realization can never form strong bonds.” It’s performing well together in a crisis situation and beyond that bonds people, and creates memories for life.

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