13 percent of those aged 50 and above but not yet retired say their health will worsen in retirement while 1 percent of the same age group say they expect to decrease the amount of exercise they get.

From those that have already retired, however, 39 percent say their health is indeed worse five years before they retired while 34 percent say they are getting less exercise.

These are the results of a poll conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health, and they are showing a disturbing trend of delusion and denial in pre-retiring baby boomers.

Health care futurist and author Jeff Goldsmith says “There is no question that one distinguishing feature of our generation is this extraordinary, almost genetic optimism. And the poll results look to me like a lot of that optimism was drawn from a deep well of self-delusion.”

There is one bit of good news from the poll, though: baby boomers are taking a much more proactive approach to their health.

72 percent of the pre-retirees say they have increased the amount of exercise they get, 68 percent say they have changed their diet and 83 percent say they are watching their weight.

Goldsmith, however, is taking these recent findings with a grain of salt.

“I mean a third of the generation is obese, and a third is overweight. And even though people talk a good game in terms of exercise, it’s not clear the numbers actually support it.”

Would you believe it if somebody told you that Medicare could save $15 billion over the next thirteen years by simply enrolling chronically obese adults in sixteen-week courses designed for weight loss?

This is what two Emory University public health analysts say in an article published in the September issue of Health Affairs.

The researchers say that “the majority of health care spending is due to increasing rates of weight-related health issues like diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure so by the time many people become Medicare eligible, they are already battling these health issues.”

This is the rationale behind the put forth a proposal to mandate programs for losing weight and developing healthy lifestyles would prevent at-risk individuals from developing full-blown diabetes.

“Without payment for preventive programs, the wellness benefit remains incomplete,” the researchers add.

But the proposal itself has hit quite a few political snags.

A number of judges have ruled on the proposal, possibly pushing the debate up to the U.S. Supreme court. And even if the Obama is calling on states to enact disease-preventing programs, this particular program will cost $600 million to implement – something that could cause it to be shot down by a Republican-led House.

And then there’s the problem of keeping the weight off. What’s to stop the enrollees from gaining back that weight after their six-week course is over?

Only time will tell if this measure will make it through or not.

The “D” word is something that a lot of Americans really don’t give much attention until they find themselves constantly monitoring their insulin levels and dodging death on a daily basis.

But what exactly will help raise the odds that the average American won’t get diabetes in the first place? One ten-year study involving 200,000 men and women spread over eight states aims to explore the health habits that affect diabetes risk the most.

“The question we were trying to raise is whether there are added benefits to each individual lifestyle improvement you make, and it looks like that answer is definitely yes,” says lead study author and Ph. D. Jared Reis.

And these are the common traits they found in those least likely to be diagnosed with diabetes:

• Normal weight or a body-mass index below 25
• Nonsmokers that have never smoked or had effectively stopped smoking for at least 10 years
• Physically active with at least 20 minutes of sweat-inducing exercise three times a week
• Healthy diets that are rich in fiber, low on trans fat, few refined carbohydrates and a high ratio of polyunsaturated (good) to saturated (bad) fats
• Little to no drink where alcohol is consumed in moderation if at all.

A lot of America’s children are growing up really fat, with unfortunate genetics, bodily disorders and/or poor living habits playing a role in affecting their weight.

But should the government step in when the obesity has the potential to be lethal?

Dr. Norman Fost of the University of Wisconsin’s Hospital Ethics Committee believes so.

“The goal of state action is not to fix obesity — it’s to prevent death in cases that are the worst of the worst, children who as best we can tell aren’t going to make it to adulthood.”

He goes on to emphasize that state action should be a last resort, with education, home health services, nutritionists and financial assistance being the first on the list.

“If all that fails, the child may be removed. Over the course of probably three to six months, you would work on diet, and you would hope to get the child on an exercise regime.”

David Orentlicher of the Indiana University’s Hall Center for Law and Health is more concerned about the role that family will eventually play in a child’s battle with obesity.

“Well, the only way they are going to make it safe is to work with the family and teach good practices, and since they are going to have to do that anyway, why take the child out?”

Orentlicher agrees, however, does not completely rule out state invention.

“When a child is taken away from his or her family, it’s very traumatic. So before you do that, you want to make sure you absolutely have to do it. It’s a matter of what’s best for the child,” he says.

Fortunately, though, if you select the right diet pills, losing weight can be a goal within your reach of achieving.

The Toronto Star recently released a report showing that 10,000 violations been reported in 2009 and 2010.

What is frightening here is that the operators of these pools and spas are not required to disclose the results – making it virtually impossible for the average Jane and Joe to know if a pool is safe or not.

In light of the report, the Toronto Board of Health Chairman John Filion to “crack down” on bad pools and hot tubs across the city, with around 1,150 violations in Willowdale alone.

“We need to do a more effective job at getting a much higher rate of compliance,” says Filion

Filion is also concerned by the impotence of inspectors when it comes to forcing compliance and accountability – one factor that makes it easier for repeat offenders to just ignore safety protocols.

“It’s like giving out speeding tickets without a fine,” Filion said.

One mother knows first-hand what safety violations can take away from a person.

“For the cost of $1.94, had the maintenance man put the screws in the grate, the grate wouldn’t have come off and Gregory would still be alive,” says Tammy Racette, whose son drowned after his legs were sucked into and help by an uncovered whirlpool drain.

Her son Gregory died in 1986, but Racette continues to be a prominent case for pool and spa safety.

People normally associate diabetes with eating too many carbs, but a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition could add two more foods to the list: red meat and processed meat.

Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and coauthor of the study, explains:

“We found that one serving per day of processed meat like a hot dog or sausage was associated with a 50 percent increased risk of diabetes.”

The study also shows that eating four ounces of red meat a day  (in the form of steaks, burgers and pork chops for example) will raise the risk of diabetes by 20% compared to those who eat four ounces of red meat in a week.

But how exactly do these meats increase the risk of developing diabetes?

First off is the high iron content. Too much iron can destroy insulin-producing beta cells by increasing the number of inflammatory chemicals present in the body, while excessive nitrates in processed meat are toxic to beta cells.

Second is that people who tend to indulge on red and processed meat have been statistically shown to be more obese, smoke more and maintain less-balanced diets – all of which increase the risks of developing diabetes.

Eye exams are important to maintaining our health. Our eyes are the primary means that we take in information from the world around us. From reading medicine labels, watching television shows, or even just watching out for cars when crossing the street, our eyes are essential. Unfortunately, our eyes have a tendency to degrade and grow weaker – hence the need for eye exams and subsequent corrective measures.

The problem is that eye exams can be very costly. Not everyone can afford to shell out that much money regularly, or even at all, considering the economic conditions of the moment. This brings us to a dilemma – how can you afford an eye exam, but how can you afford not to get one?

The solution is to get financial aid for free eye exams. It’s actually easier than you might think. The first thing to check is your insurance policy. Many policies offer this financial aid because an eye exam still costs less than the payout if you meet an accident. Sometimes it comes as default, sometimes it is a rider. Just review your policy carefully and contact your insurer if you are unsure.

You might want to ask at your place of work. Lots of employers offer medical benefits, and eye exams are usually covered. If it is for your children, they can ask their school nurses. School nurses and doctors often have access to large-scale assistance plans that are easy to avail of, once you get past all the forms. For example, the vision service plan Sight for Students provides eye exams and eyeglasses for children of 18 years of age and younger from families who cannot afford them.

The Lions Club is a long-standing social club that regularly provides assistance for eye examinations and the like. Though an international organization, it should not be too hard to find a local branch near you. To do so, visit their website and look for the club locator feature.

Vision USA, which is coordinated by the American Optometric Association, is worth checking out. They provide eye care to eligible people – often the uninsured, low-income workers plus their families.

If you have Medicare and have diabetes, you are entitled to a dilated eye exam, which is meant to spot signs of diabetic eye disease. Glaucoma is also something to check against, and you can get eye exams for such if you fulfill the conditions. Review your Medicare policy for more information.

Many states offer health insurance for children (SCHIP, State Children’s Health Insurance Program). These can greatly reduce costs for visits to the doctor, prescribed medications, hospital stays and so on. Of course, it only applies to children 18 years old and younger. This insurance usually includes dental care, eye care, and medical equipment costs.

As you can see (pun intended), it is easy to get financial aid for eye exams. You will need to put up with some red tape, but if it means getting access to the care that you need, then you can just be patient and work it out.

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