In the last decade, there's been a boom in children running races that were once strictly for adults. Getting kids outside and active is obviously a good thing. But are the physical and mental demands of long-distance running safe for children? At what age is competition appropriate, and what do parents need to keep in mind? WUSTL pediatric sports medicine specialist Mark Halstead, who has been a distance runner for most of his adult life, offers advice.

References:

1. Aug. 30, 2009 — Girls Gotta Move in the Health.com

An obese eighth-grader's sudden death during a football conditioning lap has revived discussion about whether testing children's hearts before they engage in sports or strenuous activity is necessary. WUSTL cardiovascular professor Keith Mankowitz, who directs an athletes screening program, said some conditions go undetected during routine screening.

References:

1. Aug. 24, 2009 — Child athlete's death revives heart testing debate in the Associated Press

and 24 others.

A new study in The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry finds that as the drinking age has gone up, binge drinking has gone down -- except among college students. Includes comments by study leader WUSTL psychiatry professor Richard Grucza.

References:

1. June 30, 2009 — Patterns: Drinking Age Affects Bingeing, to a Point in the The New York Times

Since Facebook started giving out customized Web addresses last Friday, some 9.5 million people have rushed to grab their top choice. But for people signing up for these accounts, the battle over domain names is taking place in murky waters. WUSTL student Jeremy Fancer comments.

References:

1. June 18, 2009 — Keeping a True Identity Becomes a Battle Online in the The New York Times

and 3 others.

Parents' eating habits don't seem to influence their children's food choices as much as experts have thought, new research suggests. The findings suggest that other factors, such as peer influence and television viewing, may be more powerful influences. The results are something of a surprise, said Connie Diekman, director of university nutrition at WUSTL and past president of the American Dietetic Association.

References:

1. June 5, 2009 — Parental Eating Habits Don't Rub Off on Kids in the U.S. News & World Report online

and 10 others.

If at first you don't succeed, tell the world about it -- because Web culture has become obsessed with "failure videos," mostly on YouTube. Whatever the reason, the sharing of personal missteps has become a part of today's e-culture. WUSTL psychology professor Don Fitz comments.

References:

1. May 30, 2009 — The culture of failure in the The Boston Globe

Matthew Herper reports on the controversy surrounding the FDA and its policy for approving new schizophrenia drugs. Includes comments by WUSTL psychiatry professor John Newcomer.

References:

1. May 8, 2009 — Is The FDA Easing Up? in the Forbes

Advice for parents explaining to children what changes may need to take place when a family faces economic hardship. WUSTL senior consultant and author Karen Levin Coburn.

References:

1. March 25, 2009 — Break It to 'Em Gently: Telling Kids About Financial Woes in the The Wall Street Journal

On NPR's All Things Considered, WUSTL sports marketing expert Mike Lewis comments on the debate over the punishment for Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps following the publication of a photo that shows Phelps inhaling from a water pipe.

References:

1. Feb. 6, 2009 — Is Phelps Being Judged Differently? in the NPR All Things Considered

Sue Shellenbarger refers to advice offered by WUSTL senior consultant Karen Coburn, about how parents should talk to college-age kids about a downturn in family finances.

References:

1. Jan. 28, 2009 — Discussing Family Finances With a Student in the The Wall Street Journal online

WUSTL nutrition expert Connie Diekman comments on a New York proposal for an 18 percent tax on sugary sodas and juice drinks — an effort that state officials said would reduce obesity while raising more than $400 million a year for health programs.

References:

1. Dec. 17, 2008 — A Tax on Many Soft Drinks Sets Off a Spirited Debate in the The New York Times

A new WUSTL study strongly suggests that many children with bipolar disorder continue to have bouts with the condition as young adults.

References:

1. Oct. 9, 2008 — Bipolar Disorder in Children Lingers in the The Washington Post

and 5 others.

Article includes research from WUSTL psychologist Richard deCharms that shows lowering pressure on kids and fostering the enjoyment of learning leads to more educational success.

References:

1. Sept. 5, 2008 — Commentary: Pay to learn shortchanges kids in the Los Angeles Times

Heavy drinking by females in their teens and 20s may reduce their chances of motherhood later in life, new research has found. The study by WUSTL researchers was led by psychiatry professor Mary Waldron.

References:

1. Aug. 24, 2008 — Teens' risky drinking linked to infertility in the Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)

and 3 others.

Applying to selective colleges is stressful under the best of circumstances, but for twins and triplets the process can be particularly agonizing. One set of twins found happiness at WUSTL.

References:

1. July 27, 2008 — Is There a Better Half? in the The New York Times

One of the largest studies of its kind shows just how sluggish American children become once they hit the teen years: While 90 percent of 9-year-olds get a couple of hours of exercise most days, fewer than 3 percent of 15-year-olds do.
WUSTL nutrition expert Samuel Klein, director of WUSTL medical school's Human Nutritioin Center, said the research provides a more powerful snapshot than previous studies.

References:

1. July 16, 2008 — Study: When kids become teens, they get sluggish in the Associated Press Online

and 79 others.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry called for NBC to pull the series "The Baby Borrowers." The show includes five teenaged couples who take on the challenge of being caregiving adults for three days to first infants, then toddlers. The fact that teenagers who are not trained in childcare are being left with 6- to 11-month-old infants has outraged child psychology experts. WUSTL child psychiatry professor Joan Lubey comments.

References:

1. July 3, 2008 — Child Experts Call NBC to Pull Reality Show in the ABCnews.com

Several states are considering lowering the legal drinking age from 21 to 18. Evidence is accumulating that waiting until age 21 to drink dramatically cuts the risk of developing alcoholism. One study on women and alcohol dependence was led by WUSTL psychiatry professor Richard Grucza.

References:

1. June 6, 2008 — Should states lower the legal drinking age? in the Los Angeles Times

Interest in the baseball among black youths is a topic of concern for MLB as more of that demographic seems to be interested in football and basketball. WUSTL professor Gerald Early, an expert on black culture, attributes this to the lack of availability of baseball in many black communities.

References:

1. May 29, 2008 — Taking Them Out to the Ballgame in the The Washington Post

More students are being accepted from wait lists at elite schools this year because colleges found it harder to predict how many graduating seniors would join the freshman class. Some state colleges and smaller liberal-arts schools are also drawing more from their wait lists.

References:

1. May 21, 2008 — Elite Colleges Reach Deeper Into Wait Lists in the The Wall Street Journal