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By Angela Haupt April 20, 2012 RSS Feed Print Study: Many Americans Face Gaps in Health Insurance Coverage
One in four working-age Americans went without health insurance for at least some time in 2011. And the majority of those people—nearly 70 percent—lacked coverage for more than a year, according to a new study by the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund, an authority on health policy. When people don't have health insurance, they typically avoid basic medical services, like doctor visits and screenings. Nearly three quarters of women ages 40 to 64 with coverage, for example, had had a mammogram in the previous two years, compared to just 28 percent of women in that age group who had been without coverage for at least a year. "The longer people are without health insurance, the more estranged they become from the health system," Commonwealth Fund researchers wrote. President Barack Obama's new healthcare law is slated to guarantee health coverage to all Americans by 2014, likely closing or reducing coverage gaps, according to the study.
What Health Reform Means for You4 Health Reform Changes to Expect at Your Doctor's Office25 Healthful Snacks Under 200 Calories
Snacks are for diet champions. Those who are most successful at dropping weight—and keeping it off—typically have three meals and several healthy snacks a day, since going too long without eating can slow metabolism and throw blood sugar levels out of whack. But the trick is choosing wisely. What many people consider a "snack"—an energy bar, part of a bag of chips, or a side order at a fast-food restaurant—can actually contain 400 or more calories, making it more like a meal. A true snack, says Melanie Douglass, a registered dietitian and personal trainer based in Salt Lake City, is about 150 to 200 calories. Here are 25 healthful snack suggestions that fit the bill.
1. A cup of high-fiber cereal (like Kashi Heart to Heart) and a small handful of pumpkin seeds.
2. One ounce of nuts, which is about 24 almonds or 15 walnuts. Nuts are nutrient-packed but calorie-dense, so limit consumption to one or two handfuls a day.
3. One cup of bran flakes with half a cup of chocolate milk.
4. One handful of red grapes. Freeze them for five minutes to make them sweet and crisp. [Read more: 25 Healthful Snacks Under 200 Calories]
Celebrity Weight Loss: Tales of the ScalesGreek Yogurt Vs. Regular Yogurt: Which Is More Healthful?Obesity Facts: America's 10 Least Obese Cities
If you want to be skinny, surround yourself with skinny. A Gallup-Healthways poll released in March reveals that, overall, our nation's cities are getting fatter. But the 10 least-obese areas are bucking that trend, with an average obesity rate of 15.9 percent, well below the national average of 26.1, and half that of the country's fattest areas.
So what are places like San Francisco and Naples, Fla., doing right? They offer easy access to fresh fruits and veggies, as well as safe places to exercise, say experts. And their residents have health insurance and make enough money to buy wholesome food for themselves and for their families. What's more, says cardiologist James Pope, chief science officer of Healthways, a Tennessee-based provider of health and wellness programs offered through health insurers, "people are less likely to become obese if their friends and acquaintances are not obese." In other words, healthful living can be contagious.
And it's good to be a slim city. These areas report roughly 30 percent fewer cases of diabetes than do their obese counterparts. And people in fat cities are 58 percent more likely to have a heart attack, 34 percent more likely to have high blood pressure, 30 percent more likely to be depressed, and 23 percent more likely to have high cholesterol over the course of their lifetime, the new findings suggest. [Read more: Obesity Facts: America's 10 Least Obese Cities]
7 Mind-Blowing Benefits of ExerciseWhat Is the 'Best Diet' for You?Follow U.S. News Health on Twitter and find us on Facebook.
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