Health notes for May 15, 2009

• By DEBRA LEMOINE
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: May 15, 2009 - Page: 1D

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More sitting time linked to early death, study says

Exercising for more than an hour each day may not make up for all the sitting done the rest of the day, according to a study by Pennington Biomedical Research Center researchers published this month in the journal, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

The study looked at 17,013 Canadians aged 18 to 90 for an average of 12 years.  They were asked to rate how much leisure activity they did and how sedentary they were throughout the day. Increased sitting time was linked to more deaths from cardiovascular disease but not cancer, according to an abstract of the study. The increased risk was present for people who were sedentary most of the day even if they exercised. The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute in Ottawa also participated in the study.

Foster parents sought

The Louisiana Department of Social Services is holding informational meetings for people interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents. More than 17,000 child abuse cases are reported annually in the state, and the agency needs more people to offer safe homes for these children, according to a statement from the department. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the Office of Community Services, 8585 Archives Ave., Suite No. 210, Baton Rouge. For more information on foster parenting and adoption, call (225) 922-2929 or go online at http://www.dss.state.la.us.

Center gets cancer grant

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center received a $55,000 grant for breast cancer screening and patient navigation programs from the Baton Rouge affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization. The grant will assist Mary Bird Perkins with 70 scheduled breast-cancer screening and diagnostic events through March 31, 2010, a statement from Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center says. The grant also includes patient navigation programs, such as an explanation of treatment options, appointment scheduling and transportation arrangements.