News in brief - Oct 3, 2011

Tips for physicians on discussing young patients' weight

When doctors discuss the weight of young patients with parents, they should avoid using the terms "fat," "obese" and "extremely obese," says a study published online Sept. 26 in Pediatrics.

The survey of 445 parents assessed their perceptions of 10 common terms that describe excess body weight in youth. The study found the terms "weight" and "unhealthy weight" were rated as the most desirable words to describe youths' excess body weight (pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/09/21/peds.2010-3841/). Parents considered "unhealthy weight" and "weight problem" the most motivating terms to help their child shed pounds. They rated the terms "fat," "obese" and "extremely obese" as the most undesirable words.

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More Americans got flu shots in 2010-11 than previous season

An estimated 43% of Americans 6 months and older were immunized against influenza from August 2010 through May 2011, said a report issued Sept. 21 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The national immunization figure was 41% for the 2009-10 seasonal flu vaccine.

Among children 6 months to 17 years, the estimated national coverage was 51%, up from the 2009-10 rate of 44% (www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/coverage_1011estimates.htm).

There was little change in the vaccination coverage of adults 18 and older between the 2010-11 season and the 2009-10 season.

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