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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-04-15, Page 15Seaforth teen undergoes JohnMInar sun media It was the teasing and bullying that prompted 18 -year-old Audrey Chambers to do something about her weight. "I was bigger than the other kids," the Seaforth teen said. "In gymnastics, I couldn't jump as high as the other kids. In track and field, I couldn't get over the bar in high jump. It put me through a lot of bad times," she said yester- day. "I decided I didn't want it anymore:' Chambers was referred by her family doc- tor to a pilot research project at Children's Hospital in London that was testing treat- ments for overweight youth at risk of de- veloping 'I�pe 2 diabetes, the most common diabetes. Now, based on the success of that pilot — done in partnership with Bluewater Health in Sarnia -- researchers are enrolling youths in a larger study. "The intervention work ow, one of the things we want to look at is sustainabil- ity. Can we sustain this for several years?" said Dr. Cheril Clarson, one research leader. In the pilot, participants age 10 to 16 were encouraged to change their lifestyle and reg- ularly seen by a team that included a dieti- tian, social worker and fitness specialist. Half the participants were also prescribed Metformin, a drug that makes the body's in- sulin work better. There were health improvements in both groups, Clarson said. The youth taking the pills had a significant weight drop, while the other group's weight remained the same. "Metformin is not a magic pill, which is what everyone wants. It only works in con- junction with improved lifestyle," said Clar- son. One thing learned from the initial research is that family participation is vital to suc- cess. Local wind industry likely to grow quickly in Huron County "We have made in -roads with OEMs and we know what they're looking for," Meier says. "They want to know if we have sup- pliers to support that ... The economy is slow but energy is not going down. People will still need energy." Meier says the uniquely proprietary - based industry has exceptionally high quality standards and local companies would likely need certification before any work could begin. When Huron County companies begin manufacturing components of wind tur- bines or whole turbines, the local industry will start slow but is likely to grow quick- ly, Meier says. "Over the next five to seven years, the amount of wind turbines will go up world- wide," he says. In spite of some negative controversy surrounding the wind energy industry, Meier says the need for jobs will outweigh other concerns. "There has to be a comprimise," he says. "When 78 per cent of people in Canada, U.S. and Mexico, the NAFTA countries, are in favour of wind power, it shows you the magnitude of the volume of support," he says. Meier says he'd like to see turbines manufactured in Huron County not only for projects in Ontario, but internationally as well. "Our position is, right now we're pursu- ing wind but we want to see what other op- portunities are out there," he says, adding that manufacturing solar panel equipment or bio -digesters may also be options for lo- cal companies in the future. "If we don't find jobs for these 1,000 unemployed people, they'll either become poor or they'll pack up and leave," he says. Hardwood_fl..ring _ r,�iiii:✓/i� rnij//l5//iaviiriM/iiirf/////.bi//i///aJ� ra,-y / ,n �, .) Saturday, April 18 1 1 :00 AM Vi(:'.'riri;; from O:OO WI THE NEU TADT ARENA Thouoi ds and ThousnNo of Squint PIM of VERY Mph .M P MSI*D nod down OOUO MMJIAOWOOD floods* Yon Now lkond==illool Ifordwiood Mains LAIIATIL Moot Moho,. , OMS, Meow, MN, rsdrrsws, Whom own Workolwp. MOAT OVER CONCRETE. Cask SN.. MC, DON . IS% Mbytes P.mirm 4011a� X1'1 i1 � ucti s.coni All Must Go Sale Dayl s1'-aN4aa6 Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - Page A15 diabetes test treatments "You have to make long-term changes in lifestyle and you need family commitment for that," she said. Chambers was part of the group that re- ceived Metformin. The pilot involved monthly trips from her home in Seaforth, in Huron County, to the London Health Sciences Centre, where she was given advice on nutrition and exercise. "They gave me advice on how to change, what I could do better, what I don't have to push myself to do," she said. She found out the portions of food she was eating were too large and her choices added to her weight problems. "I ate a lot of Kraft Dinner and Mr. Noo- dies for lunches. I wasn't physically ac- tive because I didn't like sports. I was more of a bookworm. "I did walk a lot, but it didn't burn off all the food I was eat- ing," she said. As a result of the program, she said, she started eating more fruits and veg- etables and drinking more milk. She also learned nutritional informa- tion, such as to drink fruit juices that are 1(X) per cent fruit juice instead of other juice drinks that are high in sugar. "I honestly didn't know that," she said. Previously, she'd used her allowance to buy chocolate bars. With the encourage- ment of her parents, she switched to buying books. Her weight has dropped from about 230 lbs. at the start of the program to 178 lbs. "I am feeling a lot better about myself. I can't touch my toes still, but I have got a lot closer to it," she said. SPRING IS HERE! LEARN TO FLY lntroductory Flights. ,Only 5 Fly our Nem;; Diamond Katanal at The Goderich Airport Terminal Everyone • Welcome/ To register or for more information... Cali Daryl at 519-524-0147 email:flygoderich a©cabletv.on.ca Positioning Your Portfolio For Market Recovery Wednesday, April 29th 7:00 pm. 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