A round-up of today's other health news. in brief ...
Britain's "fattest teen" loses 12 stone
A 16-year-old girl who was labelled Britain’s fattest teen has lost more than 12 stone since September, according to the American “fat camp” where she is staying. Georgia Davis, from Aberdare, south Wales, who weighed 33 stone last year, was warned by doctors that her weight could kill her at any time.
She flew to Wellspring Academy, in North Carolina, to attend its weight-loss programme, which she has stuck to for the past seven months. A statement from the academy said: “Since her arrival on September 1st through her recent weigh-in, Georgia has lost 173lb [12.4 stone]. Georgia is also no longer diabetic and has seen her blood pressure and resting heart rate drop into the normal range for a teenager.”
Wellspring is sponsoring Georgia to stay at the academy for one year only and the academy said she was unable to get funding within the UK to extend her stay. “While Georgia has made dramatic progress, she still has 156lb [11.1 stone] to lose in order to reach her healthy weight.”
Georgia talked previously of how she began overeating at the age of five after her father died from emphysema. By the age of seven she weighed 11 stone.
Culture of fear bad for recession
A growing culture of fear triggered by widespread misconceptions about the risk posed by threats such as crime and terrorism is exacerbating the economic downturn and hindering recovery in Britain, according to research published last night.
The London-based Mental Health Foundation (MHF) study finds that a catalogue of fears are eroding confidence, diminishing the quality of life for millions of Britons and damaging mental health.
Fear is overriding logical thinking, while anxiety levels are rising as a result of financial uncertainty, the report concludes. It suggests individuals and institutions are avoiding risk, too afraid to invest, spend or lend, creating economic paralysis.
“The current financial crisis is having an adverse effect on the nation’s wellbeing,” says the report, Facing the Fear.