Obesity not a critical risk factor
Diabetes, rather than obesity, puts people at greater risk of developing critical illness, and early death, according to a US study of more than 15,000 middle-aged people. The researchers found that obese people who don't have diabetes have no greater risk of acute organ failure, fatal or otherwise, than those who aren't obese, healthday.com reports. By contrast, people with diabetes are three times more likely to suffer acute organ failure and three times more likely to die from any cause than non-sufferers - regardless of weight. The study, published in Critical Care, concludes that obesity alone may not result in serious health problems.
Singaporeans' STDs on the rise
Sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection, are rising significantly among Singaporean teenagers - with the government partly blaming the gay community. Those aged 10 to 19 seeking treatment for sexually transmitted infections more than doubled to 678 last year from 256 in 2001, according to official statistics reported in the Straits Times. The age group now accounts for more than 6 per cent of all such infections, compared with less than 4 per cent five years ago. Counsellors say teenagers are now sexually active at a younger age and more are having unprotected sex with multiple partners, AFP reports.
Autistic kids linked to ageing dads
Children born to older fathers are significantly more likely to have autism, according to a study of more than 300,000 Israeli army recruits, which found that men aged 40 to 49 were six times more likely to have autistic children than men under 30 - regardless of the mother's age. Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York say the study provides the first clear evidence that paternal age is a factor for autism, a disorder associated with behavioural problems that has increased significantly during the past two decades, WebMD reports.
Height related to multiple births