By Hazel Trice Edney www.finalcall.com

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - As a $4.5 million effort to curb tobacco use among Blacks over three years is coming to an end in April, the American Legacy Foundation, which granted the money to six Black organizations in 2004, says the fight against tobacco use in the Black community is escalating.

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet News

Almost no adolescents are meeting all four key obesity prevention behaviors eating five fruits and vegetables, spending less than two hours in front of the TV or computer, at least one hour of exercise and no sugar-sweetened drinks. Although some teens are meeting each goal separately, only 9 percent are eating the recommended servings of produce, according to a presentation today at the Pediatric Academic Society meeting in Toronto.

By Damon Adams, AMNews staff

In this era of patient safety, some are turning to legislation and others to litigation to change the makeup and authority of state medical boards. Those pushing for reforms believe the proposed changes will better protect the public and police the profession.

Lawmakers this year filed bills in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey and New Hampshire to add more public nonphysician members to the boards and give patients a greater voice in overseeing physicians. Board leaders said such legislation is part of a steady trend of placing more nonphysicians on boards, which some view as a way to keep physicians honest about regulating other doctors.

MITCHEL L. ZOLER (Philadelphia Bureau)

ORLANDO — The prevalence of morbid obesity has grown dramatically among American adolescents and children, according to an analysis of data collected by the most recent national health survey.