Public health
Cholesterol check would help obesity fight
The number of obese children and adolescents living in the United States has tripled since 1980.
New recommendations from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute urging cholesterol checks for children between ages 9 and 11 in children are a necessary call to action.
As parents and physicians, we need to focus on how this change will improve the health and wellness of our children — and prevent the problem from becoming worse.
Pathologists receive the pediatrician’s request for the cholesterol test, interpret the results, determine diagnoses, may plot a course of treatment with the pediatrician, and monitor progress.
These recommendations provide the pediatrician, pathologist and parents with more information and a clearer picture of the child’s health over time.
Early detection may help to prevent heart disease in the future for these children.
Parents, pathologists and pediatricians can all agree on that.
Dr. Michele T. Stauffenberg, Lawrenceville
Constitution
Religious expression on license plates
Georgia has approved a provision that allows automobile owners to replace the county identification on their car tags with “In God We Trust.”
I have no qualms with this allowance of the expression of freedom of speech and expression of an individual’s religious preference.
However, I am concerned that this freedom of speech and religious expression is limited to those who favor a traditional Judeo-Christian religious preference.
Why is there no allowance or provision for those who would express a trust in Yahweh, Buddha or a host of other spiritual or religious beliefs (not to mention those who trust scientific discovery, as opposed to religious beliefs)
Edward J. Fahey, Springfield
crime
Police decoys may curb crime around Ga. Tech
Hardly a week goes by that there isn’t another report of a Georgia Tech student who was robbed on or near campus.
The problem persists, despite the best efforts of campus and Atlanta police departments.
Why not adopt a program similar to the one once used by the Detroit Police Department?
The police department started a prevention program entitled STRESS.
Initially, STRESS was very successful in reducing robberies.
Undercover police officers posed as citizens (including students) in high-crime areas.
Why not give it a try? Nothing else is working.
Jeff Christian, Peachtree City
-------------------
The Opinion pages provide a broad array of opinions on issues of the day, offering readers balance and breadth.
Letters to the editor should be no longer than 150 words and must include a daytime phone number for verification. They may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published in print or other formats. Email submissions are preferred. Email: letters@ajc.com.
How to submit an Opinion column: Submissions should be 600 words or less. Email columns to Opinion Editor Tom Sabulis at tsabulis@ajc.com. Columns submitted to the AJC may be published, republished and made available in the AJC or other databases and electronic formats.
