News in brief - July 14, 2008

U.S., Vietnam sign food, medical safety agreement - Food diaries, physical activity increase weight loss when dieting

U.S., Vietnam sign food, medical safety agreement

The Dept. of Health and Human Services and Vietnam's Ministry of Health signed in June a memorandum of understanding consenting to cooperate on public health issues arising from the movement of food, pharmaceuticals and medical devices between the two countries. The Food and Drug Administration also will assist with the inspection of clinical trials performed in that country.

"With this agreement, we're increasing our joint efforts to ensure the safety of goods our citizens consume on a daily basis," said Tevi Troy, PhD, HHS deputy secretary.

According to the State Dept., the two countries exchanged $12.53 billion in goods in 2007, although it's unclear how much of that is health or food related. Traditionally, unsafe goods have been kept out of the U.S. by being intercepted at the border, but officials have been working toward reducing the chance that they are ever manufactured in the first place.

Food diaries, physical activity increase weight loss when dieting

Patients who are participating in a long-term weight management program tend to lose more if they exercise and record what they eat, according to a study that was published the August American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Investigators with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore., signed up 1,685 individuals who were either obese or overweight and who also were taking drugs to lower their blood pressure or cholesterol.

Over a six-month period, these participants attended 20 group sessions that were focused on reducing the number of calories and the amount of salt consumed.

The study's investigators also attempted to have participants get more exercise and eat more fruits and vegetables.

Patients lost an average of 5.8 kilograms (12.8 pounds), and food diaries and physical activity seemed to cause much this weight loss.

These results are from the study's first phase. The study will continue for another two years.

Vote refines AMA stance on health reform
The AMA House of Delegates rejected attempts to rescind support of a U.S. House health reform bill and any new government-sponsored health insurance plan during the 2009 Interim Meeting.
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