iStockphoto Pregnant women with weight and blood-sugar levels even slightly above average may pose a risk to their pregnancies and the health of their newborns, a study suggests. The 2008 Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome study showed a possible link between mothers with elevated blood sugar — but below the level of gestational diabetes — and increased birth weight and elevated insulin in newborns. The new review of data from the HAPO study shows that blood-sugar levels and weight even just above average can boost newborns’ birth weights and insulin levels, and lower blood sugar. Having a larger-than-average baby can lead to infant injuries during delivery and more, risky Caesarean births. “My recommendation would be that every pregnant mother should have a chance to have dietary advice. It would pay off in the long run,” says Dr. Boyd Metzger , the principle investigator of the study and a professor of medicine-endocrinology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. However, many insurance plans don’t cover prenatal dietician visits, he says. Women who are slightly overweight with moderately elevated blood-sugar levels pose a higher risk than pregnant women who are obese with normal blood sugar, or those who have gestational diabetes (when blood-sugar levels rise to a certain point) and a normal weight, the study says. It included 23,316 women from nine countries and was published in April’s Diabetes Care . Babies born to mothers that are both obese and have gestational diabetes weigh an average of 340 grams, or about three-quarters of a pound, more than those born to mothers with normal weight and blood sugar, according to the study. Mothers who are overweight — but not obese — with above-normal blood sugar had babies weighing an average of 214 grams, or half a pound, more. Babies of mothers of normal weight who have gestational diabetes weigh an average of 164 grams — just under a third of a pound — more. And obese mothers with normal glucose level have babies that weigh an average of 174 grams more. Earlier studies have linked gestational diabetes and other ailments in mothers to health problems later on in the lives of their children, as WSJ reported last year . There is a potential link between mothers with higher blood-sugar levels and weight, and obesity and diabetes in the children, perhaps as early as childhood, Metzger tells the Health Blog.  But “the unsettled question is whether these milder levels of higher glucose or weight [in the mother] carry that risk,” says Metzger.

By Sarah This is going to be a whiny blog post. But before the whining commences, I have to say that things are going really well! As of last week, I have lost around seven pounds and two percent body fat. I am really pleased with the first month. I think my waist looks smaller and today I noticed my wrists look smaller! Could that be?! And now to whine…. I know the goal is to not feel like you’re on a diet, but instead to develop healthy habits that you can maintain your whole life. But I definitely feel like I am on a diet—and it stinks. It seems like I am not even myself. Do you know that SNL sketch about Debbie Downer? She bums everyone out and they play that noise like wah wahhhhh! That noise plagues me. My roommate asks if I want to have a beer with her and I have to consult my calendar to calculate how many more drinks I might potentially have this week. Wah wahhhh! My coworkers are going for tacos on Taco Thursday, and I stay at the office and eat the salad I brought for myself. Wah wahhhh! I can’t go out after a show and hang out with the band because I have to get up early to go to the gym. Wah wahhhh! I went to a Yankees game and brought along a turkey sandwich. I weigh my portions on the postage meter at work! What’s the point of getting in shape if you’re going to be a total loser? Now, I understand that I am being a baby. Of course some sacrifice is necessary, and the payoff will be huge—it’s already started! So how can I adjust my thinking (and eating) so that this doesn’t feel so difficult and unpleasant? I’m looking forward to discussing this with Marissa next time I see her. Until then I will certainly keep working hard and trying to have a good attitude!

The adolescent football player's brain is rattled an average of 650 times per season. That's just an average. There are positions on the football field where the numbers approach 1,000 hits to the head.  And while a small fraction of those hits actually lead to a diagnosable concussion, the concern is that sub-concussive damage – the menacing smaller blows that add up during practices and games – could be as bad, or worse, for the brain. With those sobering stats in mind, the Sports Legacy Institute Friday called for the adoption of a "Hit Count" – similar to the "Pitch Count" system used in baseball – for youth athletes participating in contact sports. "In baseball you have a pitch count because research showed that the more times you threw in a day or during the season, the more risk that you would wear out the elbow," said Chris Nowinski, president and CEO of the SLI, a sports research advocacy group. "Trauma to the head can wear out the brain. So if you're going to limit trauma for elbows, then you should also limit it for the brain." With a pitch count, the idea is to create a threshold of pitches to protect a player's elbow from excessive wear and tear. The same idea would hold for youth athletes participating in contact sports: A threshold for blows to the head which, when exhausted, would mean the end of the player's season. "The idea is to minimize the exposure that a child can have per season," said Nowinski. "We need urgently to reform sports and get to a different place so that there is a limit to how many times a six-year-old is hit in the head for sports." That six-year-old brain is fragile, developing. Concussive and sub-concussive blows have been shown in studies to stunt that development. And there is mounting evidence of potentially lethal consequences of brain blows for youth athletes. "We regulate a lot of things in kids’ lives and brain trauma should be one of them," said Nowinski. "There are kids getting hit a thousand times a season. Is that good for children's development?" SLI expects to begin a conversation about a threshold with scientists, coaches and other experts later this year. To begin with, SLI is proposing that players under 18 years-old amass no more than 1,000 hits exceeding 10g's to the head during a season – and no more than 2,000 during a year.  10g's or 10 times the force of gravity is about the force of a car getting rear-ended. The idea behind the hit count may sound simple, but implementation could pose a challenge. The idea of changing any sport, especially football, is bound to have detractors. But resistance to rule changes at the NFL level gradually waned, and Nowinski hopes that the same might happen at the youth level. "You've got the toughest men in the room [NFL players] saying there is no such thing as a tough brain," said Nowinski. "If the NFL is willing to do that, then we should do that for kids as well.” Filed under: Adolescent Health , Brain , Children’s Health , Concussion , Traumatic brain injury Tagged: Stephanie Smith -CNN Medical Producer

Super Bowl Sunday is days away, and for those of us less interested in the game, there’s still one reason to participate: the food. For this Giants-Patriots showdown, we’ve taken the focus away from the field and onto iconic dishes from each team’s hometown. Keep reading to see lightened-up recipes of traditional faves, from Boston cream pie to New York pizza. View Slideshow ›

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site. From pouring on the olive oil like the Greeks to slashing stress like the Scandinavians, what we can learn from the happiest, slimmest, longest-living cultures around the globe. The secret to a long, healthy life in America? According to longevity researchers, it may be to act like you live somewhere else. It seems like every year another country’s lifestyle is touted as the new magic bullet to cure us of obesity, heart disease, and premature death: for an unclogged heart, herd goats and down olive oil like a Mediterranean. Avoid breast cancer and live to 100 by dining on tofu, Japanese-style. Stay as happy as Norwegians by hunting elk and foraging for cowberries. The places we’re usually told to emulate are known as Blue Zones or Cold Spots. Blue Zones were pinpointed by explorer Dan Buettner and a team of longevity researchers and are described in his book The Blue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest . They’re areas in Italy, Japan, Greece, California, and Costa Rica where the people have traditionally stayed healthy and active to age 100 or older. Keep on reading for more great tips from around the globe.

Every day this week, CNN will introduce you to one member of the  2012 Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge team . Today meet Nancy Klinger, who says significant life changes have left her feeling lonely and searching for a goal. On November 15, 2011, I did something crazy by my standards: I sent in a video submission to be selected as a member of the 2012 CNN FitNation Triathlon Team ! My submission was titled "Triathlon for Emotional Health." The past few years have been emotionally challenging for me, starting sadly with the unexpected death of my sister and ending with a separation from my husband. In addition, my youngest child left for college and I found myself alone. My emotional state has been teetering toward depression and I decided that it was time for a jump start. The mind is like a seesaw and just a small change in thought one way or the other can make all the difference. I certainly did not think that I would even be considered, especially given all of the inspiring submissions, but just the act of taking a chance added some light to my life. My motivation for the physical component came from watching the CNN special on Tracking Diana Nyad. Wow. My inspiration for the emotional side comes from my children and from "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. To quote Randy, "You need to decide if you’re a Tigger or an Eeyore." On December 20, I received an initial call from CNN to let me know that I was being considered. Two friends were with me and from what I can recall, I went berserk! A couple of days later, I was informed via Skype that I had been selected. This time I was in shock and very subdued. I honestly can’t remember the last time that I was so happy and energized. What an incredible gift this was to receive, especially right before the holidays. I have been on Cloud Nine ever since. Thinking that things could just not get any better, I have spent some time viewing the video and written submissions from my teammates. They have done nothing but inspire me. We immediately started communicating with each other and I already consider them all friends. I can’t wait for a group hug when we get the chance to meet in early February. Although I am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in the triathlon, I am most looking forward to the process of getting healthy, both physically and emotionally, and setting goals. The icing on the cake is that the triathlon will be in Malibu, California. I went to college there at Pepperdine University. It was a long way from Minnesota and was a long time ago, when I took a chance. My experiences at Pepperdine turned out to be some of the best of my life and going back there will, in a way, take me full circle. I hope that at some point during our triathlon weekend in September, I can take my new friends/teammates to the Pepperdine Chapel on the Hill, look out on the Pacific and reflect upon our journey. Filed under: 2012 Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge , Nancy Klinger Tagged: Nancy Klinger – Fit Nation Participant

Tone your triceps with these moves from Tracy Anderson – Fitness Stuck at the mall? Healthier food-court options for last-minute shopping – Blisstree Meet celeb dancing queens who dropped pounds on the floor – Huff Po Engage your deepest core muscles for fast results around your middle – Prevention Get inspired by Bernice. She’s still doing yoga at 91 – Mind Body Green Stuck inside for cardio? Try one of these treadmill workouts – Carrots ‘n’ Cake

I’m one of those people who has to listen to music when working out. The snappy fast beats inspire me to push harder, especially up hills or in the last five minutes of my workout. If you can’t get through a cardio session without tunes, and your playlists are feeling a little blah, check out this list of the Top 100 Workout Songs compiled by Fitness magazine . You’re sure to find some new songs to add to your iPod. Keep reading to hear which tunes made it to the top of the list.

Working out on a full stomach is a recipe for disaster. I know after eating too much curry before a 55-minute kettlebell session. But heading into the gym or onto a running trail with an empty belly is no picnic either. In need of some appropriate snacking ideas I tapped my Equinox trainer Lauren for some suggestions on what to eat before and after my workouts. She recommends eating a high-carb snack with a moderate amount of protein that is low in fat. Foods like: Whole wheat toast with peanut butter Veggies and hummus Luna bar Lowfat yogurt and fresh fruit Piece of fruit and a handful of nuts Half an avocado on Ak-Mak (whole wheat cracker) After your sweat session, Lauren recommends snacking to help your body recover from your workout. Read on to learn what to nosh on!

A cup of coffee in the evening (decaf for me) isn’t the same without a biscotti for dipping. So many parties this time of year revolve around exchanging treats, but the treats you bring don’t need to be insulin rockets. I like baking biscotti to take to these functions or to give as gifts, and you would never know that the calorie count is under 60 per cookie. Last night I whipped up a batch using almonds and dried cherries, but just about any nut or dried fruit will do. Check out the recipe and nutritional stats.