Health Highlights: Nov. 7, 2011

November 7, 2011 RSS Feed Print

Half of U.S. Students Sexually Harassed: Survey
Sleep Apnea, Obesity and Mental Issues Linked in Kids: Study

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Half of U.S. Students Sexually Harassed: Survey

A new survey finds that 48 percent of U.S. students in grades 7 through 12 experienced some form of sexual harassment from other students during the 2010-11 school year.

The sexual harassment occurred in various ways, including physical contact, malicious rumors, and via email, texting and social media. The American Association of University Women poll included 1,002 girls and 963 boys at public and private schools nationwide, the Associated Press reported.

At least one form of sexual harassment was reported by 56 percent of the girls and 40 percent of the boys.

Nearly one-third of the students who were victims of sexual harassment said it made them feel sick to their stomach, affected their study habits, or made them reluctant to go to school, the AP reported.

Only 9 percent of affected students reported the incident to a teacher, guidance counselor or other adult at school. Others talked to parents or friends, but half of the victims did nothing about the harassment.

-----

Sleep Apnea, Obesity and Mental Issues Linked in Kids: Study

There's a complex relationship between obesity, sleep apnea and learning and behavior (cognitive) problems in children and this interconnection worsens the effects of each problem, according to a new study.

University of Chicago researchers assessed the sleep, weight and cognitive functioning of 350 healthy, normally developing children ages 6 to 10, ABC News reported.

"Cognitive functioning in children is adversely affected by frequent health-related problems, such as obesity and sleep-disordered breathing," the researchers wrote. "Furthermore, poorer integrative mental processing may place a child at a bigger risk for adverse health outcomes."

On the flip side, "good cognitive abilities may be protective against increased body weight and sleep-disordered breathing," said lead author Karen Spruyt, ABC News reported. "If the brain can function optimally, it can help protect against the clinical manifestation of disease."

The study was published last week in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine