Table of Contents
FDA Consumer magazine
March-April 1999

If you are overweight, you are more likely to develop health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some cancers, and gallbladder disease. Other conditions, such as sleep apnea (interrupted breathing during sleep) and osteoarthritis (wearing away of the joints), also can occur in overweight people. But loss of as little as 10 to 20 pounds can help improve the harmful effects of being overweight. Want to get started on a weight-loss program? The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has tips on its Website at www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/pubs/health.htm. The site includes a handy chart that shows if you weigh in as healthy, moderately overweight, or severely overweight. You'll also find suggestions for additional reading, along with links to organizations that have educational materials on weight loss.

Healthfinder, a 2-year-old consumer health Website, now has a special site that presents 200 health information resources in Spanish. At www.healthfinder.gov/justforyou/, you'll find sections on cancer, diabetes, and infant mortality. The site also offers Spanish materials on pregnancy, children's health, and healthy lifestyles, along with special information for handicapped people, residents of rural and agricultural areas, and professionals. The Healthfinder site is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services.

FDA's Website also has a lengthy list of health publications available on-line in Spanish. Included at www.fda.gov/opacom/catalog/spanlist.html are materials on the importance of fiber, stroke, lead poisoning, arthritis, eating for a healthy heart, and using medicines properly.

How long will breast implants last? What kinds of illnesses have been associated with breast implants? Under what circumstances are silicone gel-filled implants available? These and just about any other questions you may have concerning breast implants are answered on FDA's Breast Implants Website. The site offers information on implant availability, surgical risks, special medical considerations, and how to report adverse reactions to FDA. Also included are a chronology of FDA activities related to breast implants, a bibliography of implant references, and sample patient product inserts for implants. Go to www.fda.gov/cdrh/breastimplants/indexbip.html.

Listeria. Salmonella. Campylobacter. You see these words in the news whenever an outbreak of food-borne illness occurs. But how do these potentially dangerous pathogens relate to everyday life? And how can consumers avoid them? The Gateway to Government Food Safety Information (www.FoodSafety.gov), brings together helpful food information from federal, state and local agencies. The site links to pages on food handling, reporting food safety problems, advice for specific products, as well as suggestions for women (including expectant mothers), seniors, and people with immune diseases. It offers a list of food hotlines and discusses food and water safety after floods and other natural disasters. There's also a page for kids, teens and educators.

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