THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- American kids who are poor or members of ethnic minority groups are missing out on the youth sports that have long been touted for building strong bodies and strong character, a new study reports.The researchers found that youngsters who are poor, or from Black or Hispanic households, are less likely to take part in organized sports than their white peers.Across the United States, 54% of 6- to 17-year-olds took part in sports in 2020. That included 42% of Black children, 47% of Hispanic youngsters, 51% of Asian children and 60% of white kids, researchers from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) found."These disparities may place some children at risk for poor health during key periods of growth and development," said lead...

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Men are known to be more likely to develop cancer than women, and a new study suggests that this is largely due to biologic differences between the sexes.“After controlling for factors like smoking, alcohol use, diet, physical activity and common medical conditions [that increase cancer risk], the sex bias remained for most cancers,” said study author Sarah Jackson, a research fellow at the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.Exactly which biological differences are driving these disparities isn’t fully understood yet. "We’d… like to explore the contribution of sex hormones and genetics to cancer incidence in future research,” she said.For the study, researchers looked at differences in risk...

SUNDAY, Aug. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- As a new school year begins, many students return to their favorite sports or try something new.Encouraging kids to make physical activity part of their lives has lifelong benefits, said Dr. Theodore Shybut, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.Shybut offered some tips for getting children ready to start fall sports or any physical activities at any age. His advice comes at a time when many youngsters may be losing interest in organized sports.Shybut recommends giving the youngest kids opportunities to explore many activities to see what they like best. Create an environment in which a child feels encouraged to be active with routine free play at home, family walks or trying out...