“Mom's weight-loss surgery can affect kids - Houston Chronicle” plus 4 more

Mom's weight-loss surgery can affect kids - Houston Chronicle
Duggar family to welcome 19th child - Honolulu Advertiser
U.S. lags in global survey of child well-being - Chicago Tribune
Pratt 'would divorce Montag over pregnancy' - Digital Spy
Job-related claims of pregnancy bias on the rise - McClatchy

Mom's weight-loss surgery can affect kids - Houston Chronicle

Posted: 02 Sep 2009 08:56 AM PDT

A woman who has weight-loss surgery before becoming pregnant may help break the cycle of obesity in her family, researchers say. A study published Tuesday in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that children of obese mothers who had weight-loss surgery before pregnancy have a lower risk of obesity and improved heart health compared with their siblings who were born before the mother had surgery.

The study confirms previous research that shows a woman's weight and her tendency to develop diabetes and heart disease can influence the development of her fetus, predisposing the child to the same metabolic problems. The study is further evidence that obese young women who are planning to have children should try to lose weight, through weight-loss surgery or behavioral changes.

"Our study confirms previous research showing that the interuterine environment may be more important than genes and the post-natal environment when it comes to the association between maternal obesity and childhood obesity," said the lead author of the paper, Dr. John Kral, of the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, in a news release. "Any medical or surgical treatment to reduce obesity and existing metabolic disorders before pregnancy can be an investment in the life of future offspring."

The researchers studied 49 women who had undergone weight-loss surgery and their 111 children, who were between ages 2 and 25. All of the women had children before and after their surgery. The study showed that the children born after their mother's surgery had reduced birth weight and waist circumference and were three times less likely to become severely obese compared with siblings born before the surgery. These children also had improved cardiovascular markers, such as reduced insulin resistance and lower cholesterol.

"For those women interested in both surgical treatment and having children, we believe surgery should come first," Kral said. "Preventing obesity and treating it effectively in young women could prevent further transmission to future generations."

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Duggar family to welcome 19th child - Honolulu Advertiser

Posted: 02 Sep 2009 09:25 AM PDT

No. 19 caught Michelle Duggar by surprise.

The 42-year-old mom of 18 noticed that she wasn't losing weight even though she and husband Jim Bob were on Weight Watchers and her 8-month-old baby was fussing while nursing. In the past, she found a fussy infant meant a change in breast milk that came with pregnancy. So she took a pregnancy test. "And lo and behold, I was just pleasantly surprised that this was positive," Duggar said yesterday.

The Duggars live in Tontitown, Ark., and are featured with their family on TLC's "18 Kids and Counting."

The announcement of the Duggars' 19th child comes as their oldest, 21-year-old Josh, is about to become a father himself. Married last year, Josh and wife, Anna, are expecting their first child, a girl, on Oct. 18.

The grandchild will be about five months older than her future aunt or uncle, due March 18.

Jackson's death file notes fatal injection

Michael Jackson's death certificate has been amended to reflect his cause of death as a homicide, specifying "injection by another" as the fatal injury.

The designation was not a surprise coroner's officials said last week that they believed Jackson's June 25 death was a homicide.

Investigators have said a mix of the powerful anesthetic propofol and another sedative killed the pop singer. The new record lists "acute propofol intoxication" as the main cause of death and "benzodiazepine effect" as another significant contributor.

Jackson is scheduled to be interred tomorrow at Forest Lawn Glendale.

The document does not mention Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician. He told detectives that he gave Jackson sedatives and the anesthetic propofol to help him sleep. No criminal charges have been filed.

Cosby 'In' with Detroit schools effort

Bill Cosby had heard about the tough-as-nails, uncompromising man tackling fraud and improving Detroit's public schools, and wanted to help.

So the 72-year-old actor, comedian and activist decided to loan the district his celebrity as Detroit tries to hold off plummeting enrollment amid a fiscal crisis that a few weeks ago spurred suggestions of a possible bankruptcy. Cosby said yesterday he has joined "I'm In," emergency financial manager Robert Bobb's $500,000 campaign to stop the flow of students leaving the district and maybe persuade parents who have sent their children elsewhere to give Detroit another shot.

Spector moving to another prison

Music legend and convicted murderer Phil Spector, who complained recently about his prison quarters but later said he wanted to stay put, is being moved to make room for inmates requiring outpatient mental health treatment, a corrections spokeswoman said yesterday.

Spector and other prisoners will be going to Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga. He is serving 19 years to life for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.

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U.S. lags in global survey of child well-being - Chicago Tribune

Posted: 02 Sep 2009 09:54 AM PDT

Pratt 'would divorce Montag over pregnancy' - Digital Spy

Posted: 02 Sep 2009 07:23 AM PDT

Rex Features

Spencer Pratt has joked that he will divorce wife Heidi Montag if she becomes pregnant in the near future.

The 26-year-old, who married his Hills co-star in April, told MTV News that he is not ready to start a family.

"What happens if she does [become pregnant]? I told her there's a divorce or adoption. If she's not down with the adoption, I think it's divorce," he said.

"I'm a baby. I'm not prepared. And I'm not sure the world wants a Spencer Pratt spawn."

He added: "Heidi is, like, trying to have a baby like it's going to buy a new pair of Louis Vuittons. She's really ready to start this family. She's not playing. And that's what I'm saying - you can't sneak a baby."

Pratt recently announced that he is planning to legally change his name to 'King Spencer Pratt'.

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Posted: 02 Sep 2009 11:48 AM PDT

By Cindy Krischer Goodman | Miami Herald

Samantha Stone, 29, would like to have a baby soon. But with the job market tenuous, being pregnant in the workplace has become much more risky.

Just look at the number of pregnant women who are blogging about job discrimination, filing lawsuits for unfair removal and turning to advocacy groups for relief after being targeted in job cuts.

Claims of pregnancy discrimination are on the rise, maternity leaves are a luxury and conducting a job search while pregnant is like trying to win the lottery.

Even more, many pregnant women are shocked to learn they have few workplace protections. Women swept into the layoff frenzy are discovering you can be fired while pregnant or on maternity leave.

In the tough economy, employers consider expecting mothers to be expendable employees, says Robert Weisberg, a Miami labor lawyer who represents victims of discrimination. ``In these times, pregnancy is viewed as a real liability.''

Weisberg says more employers consider new mothers less productive and don't want the disruption of maternity leave. ``Women are telling me they've been encouraged, coerced or told by their boss to have their baby and stay home.''

Read the complete story at miamiherald.com