HEALTH BULLETIN .CO: October 2014

Friday, October 31, 2014

How many calories are in YOUR favourite drink? Study reveals most of us have no idea, amid calls for alcohol to be labelled like food

Survey found 75% have no idea how many calories in a glass of wine

Around 90% had no idea how many were in a pint of lager

Experts warn many of us are unwittingly becoming obese through booze

The average person gets 10% of their calories a day through alcohol

Two thirds of those polled backed calorie labels on alcohol

Research was conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health

For many of us, there's nothing better at the end of the day than that nice cold lager or soothing glass of wine.

But would you have that second or third glass if you knew how many calories you were knocking back?

New research has revealed the vast majority of us have no idea - and are unwittingly drinking ourselves fatter in the process.

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Most of us have no idea how many calories our favourite drinks contain. In a bid to highlight the fattening effect, the Royal Society of Public Health has decided to highlight these drink-food equivalents

The survey of 2,000 adults was carried out for the Royal Society for Public Health.

It found that three-quarters of the public did not know - or wrongly guessed - the calories in a large glass of wine.

Nine out of 10 had no idea what a pint of lager contained.

DRINK VS FOOD COMPARISONS

A PINT OF LAGER – 180 CALORIES – SMALL SLICE OF CHOCOLATE CAKE

LARGE WHITE WINE (250ml) – 185 CALORIES – 4 FISH FINGERS

PINA COLADA WITH RUM – 644 CALORIES – BIG MAC BURGER

ALCOPOP – 237 CALORIES – SLICE OF PIZZA

DOUBLE VODKA AND TONIC – 143 CALORIES – CHOCOLATE CUSTARD DONUT

This is despite the fact that adults who drink get approximately 10 per cent of their calories from alcohol.

As a result, two out of three people said they want calorie labels on alcohol.

Alcoholic beverages are currently not recognised as food and are therefore exempted, under existing European legislation, from normal food labelling.

Around 56 calories are contained in a unit of alcohol, which is a small glass of low-strength wine.

The recommended daily calorie intake for adults is approximately 2,500 calories for men and 2,000 for women.

However, as the new report points out, extra calories aren't just consumed at the time of drinking - there's the effect the day after, too, with 'carb cravings' and weaker willpower.

Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive of the RSPH, said: 'With 2 in 3 adults overweight or obese and given that adults who drink get approximately 10 per cent of their calories from alcohol, this move could make a major difference to waistlines of the nation.’

In a bid to highlight how many calories popular drinks contain, the RSPH has released a food comparison table.

It reveals that a pint of lager, which contains an average of 180 calories, is roughly equivalent to a small slice of chocolate cake.

A large 250ml glass of white wine is the same as four fish fingers, while an alcopop equates to a slice of pizza.

A pina colada, on the other hand, packs away the same number of calories as a Big Mac.

The RPSH gives exercise comparisons, too.

To burn off two pints of lager would take 30 minutes of running, while two double Baileys would need an hour of cycling to whittle away.

Two thirds of people polled for the survey agreed they wanted calorie labels on alcohol

British Beer and Pub Association 'not against' calorie labelling

At the more outrageous end of the scale, one frozen margarita would apparently take more than seven hours of sex to burn off.

As part of the poll, the RSPH also conducted an experiment in a pub - to find out if displaying calories on drinks menus changed drinking behaviour.

WHAT DID THE REPORT FIND?

Over 80 per cent of the public did not know - or incorrectly estimated - the calorie content of a large glass of wine, which is around 160 calories.

Almost 60 per cent did not know - and a further 30 per cent incorrectly estimated - the calories in a pint of lager, which is as much as 180 calories.

People presented with calorie information consumed on average 400 calories less than those unaware of the calorie content of their drinks, the researchers found.

The RSPH is now calling on the drinks industry and newly appointed EU Health Commissioner to introduce calorie labelling for alcoholic drinks.

The European Commission says it will make a decision by December on extending nutrition labelling including calories on alcoholic products.

Shirley Cramer said: ‘Calorie labelling has been successfully introduced for a wide range of food products and there is now a clear public appetite for this information to be extended to alcohol to help individuals make informed choices.

Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, told BBC Breakfast: 'Calorie labelling is a great idea and we know it does help some people improve their calorie intake, but for others of us, we don't notice it, so calorie labelling is one of a number of things that can be helpful.

'Alcohol itself is quite calorific, it is almost as calorific as fat, which people don't realise.

'Sometimes you think of drinks as not being part of your calorie intake when in fact they are. There isn't anything low calorie about alcohol at all.

'If you think, if you have a couple of glasses of wine with a meal that's like having an extra course.'

Are YOUR sexual fantasies normal? New study reveals what most of us think of (and the differences between men and women)

Study claims to scientifically define sexual deviation for the first time ever

Canadian researchers asked 1,500 men and women about their fantasies

Men were more likely to fantasise about an extra-marital affair

Women more likely to fantasise but not want action carried out in real life

A new study claims to define what exactly is classed as sexually deviant

Do you ever worry if what floats your boat sexually might be a little unusual? Or even downright bizarre?

If so, a new study claims to set everything straight - and define the demure from the deviant.

It's conclusion? Men hoping for sex with two women is 'normal' - for women, the general theme is more 50 Shades of Grey.

These were just two of the findings of a research project that claims to scientifically define sexual deviation for the first time ever.

Conducted in Montreal, Canada, the research was published today in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

The idea behind the research was that while 'deviant sexual fantasises' often conjure up images of being very unusual,

In a press statement, the authors said: 'Many theories about deviant sexual fantasies incorporate the concept of atypical fantasies, or paraphilias.'

Paraphilia is defined as the the experience of intense sexual arousal to atypical objects, situations, or individuals.

However the authors argue that 'scientific literature does not describe what these types of fantasies actually are'.

In the U.S., the psychiatric bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), mentions, 'anomalous' fantasies.

Even the World Health Organisation talks about 'unusual' fantasies in defining paraphilias.

But, the Canadian study authors questioned, what is an unusual sexual fantasy exactly?

Christian Joyal, lead author of the study, said: 'Clinically, we know what pathological sexual fantasies are.

'They involve non-consenting partners, they induce pain, or they are absolutely necessary in deriving satisfaction.

KEY FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

* The nature of sexual fantasies varies among the general population - meaning few can be considered statistically rare, unusual, or typical.

* Men have more fantasies and describe them more vividly than women

* Between 30 and 60 per cent of women - think of themes associated with submission (e.g. being tied up).

* Unlike men, 'women in general clearly distinguish between fantasy and desire'

* The majority of men would love their fantasies to come true

* Women tend to fantasise about their partner, while men generally fantasise more about extramarital relationships

*Men are more likely to think about watching their partner being with someone else or being with someone of the same sex themselves

'But apart from that, what exactly are abnormal or atypical fantasies?'

'Our main objective was to specify norms in sexual fantasies, an essential step in defining pathologies,' he explained.

'And as we suspected, there are a lot more common fantasies than atypical fantasies.'

To find out, they asked members of the general population - 'as simple as that,' said Professor Joyal.

Because most studies of this nature are conducted with university students, the researchers wanted to find adults willing to describe their sexual fantasies.

For the study, just over 1,500 adults in Quebec (a 50/50 split of men and women) completed a questionnaire describing their sexual fantasies.

They were also asked to describe their favourite fantasy in detail.

'The results were more than interesting,' said Professor Joyal. '

What surprised the researchers was that the nature of sexual fantasies varies among the general population - meaning few can be considered statistically rare, unusual, or typical.

'But not surprisingly, the study confirms that men have more fantasies and describe them more vividly than women,' he added.

The study also found that a significant proportion of women - between 30 and 60 per cent - think of themes associated with submission (e.g. being tied up).

Researchers men hoping for sex with two women is 'normal' - and they were more likely to think about to think about extramarital affairs than their female partner

'Importantly, unlike men, women in general clearly distinguish between fantasy and desire,' Professor Joyal said.

'Therefore, many women who express more extreme fantasies of submission (e.g. domination by a stranger) specify that they never want these fantasies to come true.

'The majority of men, however, would love their fantasies to come true', e.g. sex with more than one other person.

And while women tend to fantasise about their partner, men generally fantasise more about extramarital relationships compared to women.

SWINGERS ARE 'SPREADING STIS'

Swingers on the hunt for excitement are spreading sexually transmitted infections by taking part in drug-fuelled orgies, research claimed earlier this month.

A Dutch study found almost half of older swingers admitted taking illegal substances to boost their prowess in the bedroom and keep multiple partners satisfied.

As well as erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra, they are also using cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), GHB, laughing gas, cannabis, poppers, speed, LSD and lysergic acid to help them perform - at levels similar to gay men.

However, their unsafe sexual practices are putting them at increasing risk of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B, experts warn.

The researchers, writing in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections, say swingers should be targeted with the same health advice as other at-risk groups.

The study also noted: 'One of the most intriguing findings has to do with the significant number of unique male fantasies.'

By this, it was referring to watching their partner being with someone else, for example, or being with someone of the same sex.

'Evolutionary biological theories cannot explain these fantasies, which, among males, are typically desires,' said Professor Joyal.

'Overall, these findings allow us to shed light on certain social phenomena, such as the popularity of the book 'Fifty Shades of Grey' with women.'

He and his colleagues are now looking at whether people who like one thing - say, have submission fantasies - also like play the opposite role.

'These two themes are therefore not exclusive, quite the contrary - they also seem associated with a higher level of satisfaction,' he explained.

The study was undertaken by researchers at Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal and Institut Philippe-Pinel de Montréal, affiliated with University of Montreal.

As Facebook reinstates banned breastfeeding photograph FEMAIL asks: Is there one rule for celebrity mothers and another for normal women?

The case of Emma Bond has reignited the breast feeding in public debate

A picture of her breastfeeding her son was removed from Facebook

Many women experience negative reactions to breastfeeding in public

But response to most A-list photos showing the same thing often positive

Alyssa Milano, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Doutzen Kroes, Miranda Kerr and Natalia Vodianova, are all celebrities who have shared snaps

Earlier this week, actress Alyssa Milano posted a tender snap on her Instagram page of herself breastfeeding her one-month-old baby girl Elizabella.

The 41-year-old was the picture of maternal bliss in the black and white snap, joining the many other proud celebrity mothers who have chosen to share the intimate moment with friends and fans through social media.

The responses to this, like most A-list breastfeeding photographs, has been overwhelming positive. One follower wrote: 'Such a beautiful photo! Thank you for sharing this sweet moment with us, and thank you for helping to normalize breastfeeding!'

'Absolutely beautiful,' another chimed in while a third ventured to write: 'Oh and congratulations on the new baby! I assume you recently gave birth.'

Alyssa Milano was the picture of maternal bliss as she breastfed newborn daughter Elizabella in this photo shared via Twitter and Instagram on Monday

The issue of breastfeeding in public has been thrust back into the media spotlight after Emma Bond, 24, was upset after Facebook removed an image of her with baby Carene

Emma spoke on ITV's This Morning to discuss her story and the huge uproar both posting them and their removal by Facebook has caused

In real life situations however, mothers often find themselves experiencing a far more negative reaction than their famous counterparts.

A photograph of a mother breastfeeding her severely premature baby for the first time went viral earlier this week after it was removed from Facebook because it ‘breached nudity rules’.

Emma Bond, 24, posted the picture of herself with Carene, who was born 12 weeks early, on Sunday. It was visible only to those she had approved as online friends.

The mother of two was shocked when the site removed it the same day after an anonymous person – presumed to be one of her friends – reported it as offensive

Emma, like fellow mothers Alyssa Milano, Gwen Stefani, 45, and supermodels Doutzen Kroes, 29, Miranda Kerr, 31, and Natalia Vodianova, 32, had posted the picture to social media as a form of celebration.

Emma Bond talks about Facebook removing breastfeeding pic

Model Doutzen Kroes tweeted this picture of her nursing her son Phyllon Joy Gorré with the caption "Working mom;) feeding my precious baby between pictures..."

Former Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr tweeted this pic of herself breastfeeding son Flynn in 2011

This black and white shot of Natalia Vodianova breastfeeding has received over 50,000 likes on Instagram

Singer Gwen Stefani is one of many celebrities who have expressed their support of all women nursing their babies wherever they may be

Speaking on ITV's This Morning Emma said: 'I was upset that somebody on my Facebook would (complain) but I didn't think Facebook would remove it. I contacted them and said that if they removed it I would take it as far as I could. I didn’t think I would end up sitting here.

'I posted the image into a breastfeeding support group saying what had happened. And I think everyone decided to share it and support it and it went viral. Last time I checked 250,000 had 'liked' the photo.

'If a baby’s hungry, they are hungry. It’s time to move with the times, Everyone I know has Facebook and people post photos of babies in bed with them sleeping.

‘Because breasts are sexualised I think there’s a confusion and that’s where the controversy comes from, people find it hard to separate the two.'

So why the uprooar? And why do famous mothers seem to illicit such different reactions?

Professor Rosalind Bramwell, a health psychologist specialising in reproductive health at the University of Chester says on the noticeable difference in peoples reactions to celebrities breast feeding: 'We have some very complex views on celebrities in society.

'it might be that we see these stars as women who show their bodies anyway, whose bodies are somehow already public so it matters less when they show their breast.

'A lot of the uproar women experience comes down to how much of the breast can be seen. It seems to matter an awful lot how much you can see the nipple.

'It goes to show how we understand the female body; to show the breast is seen as a sexualised act rather than an act of nourishing an infant.'

Actress and model Jaime King breastfeeds her son James in this tender Instagram shot

Professor Louise Wallace of Coventry University told the MailOnline: 'There is wide range range in attitude to breast feeding in the UK. But in general it is not regarded as the norm.

'The norm seems to be to formula feed and there is lost of evidence of women experiencing stigma and negativity - either directly or indirectly - when they breastfeed in public.

'Even in front of other members of their own family inside their own home many mothers experience stigma over feeding.

'Studies suggest that 80 per cent of women give up breastfeeding before they want to and one of the strong reasons why that is that it is stigmatized and indeed sexualised.

'The breast is still viewed as a sexual organ in the this country rather than a means to give nutrition to infants.'

Professor Wallace admits that there seems to be a difference in how the public in general views celebrities breastfeeding and their reaction to encountering it in real life.

'These are highly visible and respected people in the public eye and people look up to them. The positive response they get to breastfeeding is well know.

'It has previously been harnessed for public health campaigns to try and encourage others to keep breastfeeding, and people continue to try and use the effect for good.'

WHAT PHOTOGRAPHS ARE DEEMED ACCEPTABLE TO POST ONLINE?

In April last year an American mother criticised Facebook for taking down pictures of women breastfeeding their children from a support page she created for other mothers. Kristy Kemp, of Sacramento, California, was also barred from the page for days after the images were shared, even though Facebook said it did not ban nursing pictures, MailOnline reported.

It follows a controversy on photo-sharing website Instagram in June which saw a mother’s account deactivated after she posted a pictured of her 19-month-old daughter showing off her belly button. The Daily Mail told how mother-of-four Courtney Adamo, 33, of north London, was sent an email by the Facebook-owned firm saying the image of Marlow ‘violated the community guidelines’.

And in March, mother Emily Slough, spoke of her outrage after a stranger took a picture of her breastfeeding her daughter in public and uploaded it to Facebook, branding her a 'tramp'. MailOnline reported how Mrs Slough, from Rugeley, Staffordshire, was photographed when she stopped to feed her eight-month-old, Matilda, on the steps of a restaurant and have some lunch.

Six years ago, the original decision by Facebook to ban mothers from posting 'inappropriate' photos of them breastfeeding their children caused protests by women's groups in the U.S.MailOnline reported how the campaign had picked up speed in 2008 when protesters organised a virtual 'nurse-in' on the site, as well as a demonstration outside Facebook's offices in California.

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