OBESITY PANACEA

While we regularly post lengthy discussions on Obesity Panacea, there are many research updates, news stories, videos, etc. in the field of obesity, physical activity and nutrition that we come across on a daily basis that never grace the pages of the blog. Most of these mini-stories we share with our followers on Twitter, and we encourage those of you with active Twitter accounts to communicate with us there to get real-time updates of all the stuff we are discussing (Follow Peter and/or Follow Travis). For those of you who shy away from Twitter, enjoy below the best mini-stories that we came across during the prior week along with links to the original source so that you can follow the full story.

• SickKids hospital in Toronto to offer obesity surgery to teens with severe health conditions (The Globe and Mail)
• Ontario school bans parents from driving kids to school, now 98% of kids walk/cycle/skateboard instead (School Transportation News)
• Ottawa school lets balls back onto the playground! (For our thoughts on the original story, click here) (CBC) 
• Genes may limit the exercise-related improvements in endurance for some individuals, but that doesn't mean they aren't getting health benefits (USA Today)
• Health Check may be headed to fast food restaurants (Weighty Matters).  For the response from Health Check, scroll to the final comment from Carly Z on Marion Nestle's blog Food Politics.
• Consuming the same number of calories in liquid vs solid form results in less fullness and greater hunger post-meal (Obesity)
• Americans more accurate than Canadians when reporting their weight status (Obesity) 
• And be sure to check out my favourite Researchblogging.org posts in the areas of Health and Clinical Research in my weekly Editor's Selections. 

Have a great weekend, and if you're in the Ottawa area, be sure to check out all the free outdoor activities at Winterlude!