Today, 18 percent of children and teens in the United States are obese. Public health officials have classified childhood obesity as an epidemic.

How does being overweight affect a child’s health?

Overweight children are at a much greater risk for health problems now and in the future than children who are within a healthy weight range. Serious weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, asthma, accelerated growth, hip or knee pain, depression, low self-esteem, sleep apnea, and liver and gallbladder problems are seen more frequently by pediatricians in overweight children.

The longer a child remains overweight, the greater the risk for serious long-term health problems. Have your pediatrician measure your child’s body mass index to determine whether your child is underweight, at a healthy weight, at risk of being overweight, or is already overweight or obese. Read More

A recent report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit research organization, revealed that there are higherthan- recommended levels of chromium-6 in the tap water being supplied to two-thirds of all Americans. EWG published an interactive map that lists its water testing results on a county-bycounty basis.

Chromium-6 is a cancer-causing chemical that occurs naturally in the environment and can be produced in high quantities by industrial projects. In addition to being a known carcinogen, chromium-6 can also cause burns, pneumonia and complications during childbirth. Read More 

Opportunity Commission (EEOC) finalized rules for employer-sponsored wellness programs under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). Some provisions of the rules become effective Jan. 1, 2017, for calendar year plans, while others are clarifications of existing requirements.

In general, the ADA and GINA prohibit discrimination based on disability and genetic information. The EEOC rules provide guidance on how employers can structure their wellness programs to comply with the ADA and GINA in a way that is consistent with the rules for wellness programs under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Read More

If you are an FMLA-covered employer, you should always consider whether an employee who requires time off of work due to a workrelated

injury or illness is eligible for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) (and/or possibly leave under a state law). Certain workers’ compensation (WC) leaves may also be covered under the FMLA. An employee’s FMLA leave may run concurrently with a WC absence when the injury is one that meets the criteria for a “serious health condition” under the FMLA (and the employee satisfies all other eligibility criteria). Read More