Health briefs/calendar 7/26/07

Heart Walk teams start recruiting members

The American Heart Association kicked off the Heart Walk on Tuesday. Team leaders were chosen and given the goal of recruiting 10 to 15 walkers or more per team. Each team has a fund-raising goal to meet before the Heart Walk. Walkers can create their own Web site with personal information. The American Heart Association Heart Walk will be held Sept. 29, rain or shine. Festivities begin at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. at the Osage Community Centre. For more information call (870) 476-2067, or register online at www.heartwalk.kintera.org/capegirardeaucounty.

Study: Obesity can spread in social circles

A new study suggests obesity can spread like an infectious disease and that your odds of becoming obese are much greater if your friends and family put on weight. By studying a social network of 12,067 people who have been closely tracked for the past three decades, researchers found that when one person became fat, those close to them gained as well. The strongest influence was seen among friends no matter where they lived. A person's chances of becoming obese went up 57 percent if a friend became obese. Among siblings, the risk of obesity increased by 40 percent and 37 percent among spouses.

-- From staff and wire reports

Calendar

Today

n Camp Super Nova: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Friday at HealthPoint Fitness Center, Jackson. The two-day camp is for children with special physical and developmental needs. For more information, call 243-2211.

• Newborn massage: 10 to 11 a.m. at Generations Family Resource Center. Teaches parents techniques and benefits of infant massage. For more information, call 651-5825.
• Nutrition Plus Club: 5:30 p.m. at the Fitness Plus. Monthly meeting led by a registered dietitian offering nutrition and health goals.

Friday

n Blood Drive: noon to 6 p.m. at the Osage Community Centre.

Monday

• Extreme Game Camp: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at HealthPoint Fitness, Jackson. Open to children ages 6 to 13 to learn sportsmanship. Bring sack lunch Monday and swimwear Tuesday. For more information, call 243-2211.

Wednesday

• Our New Baby class: 6 to 7 p.m. in the Generations Family Resource Center. Teaches holding, feeding and diapering techniques to 2-, 3- and 4-year olds for new siblings. Free. Pre-registration is required. Call 651-5825 or go to www.southeastmissourihospital.com.

n Starting Point informational meeting: 7 p.m. at HealthPoint. Learn about weight management program "Starting Point." For more details, call 986-4440.