(October 22, 2008 - Insidermedicine) From Atlanta - According to the CDC, more children than ever are being diagnosed with allergies. It has been reported that about 3 million children in the U.S. have a food or digestive allergy, which represents an 18% increase over the past 10 years. The report also found that, in 2007, 29% of children with a food allergy also had asthma, compared to only 12% of children without food allergies.

From Washington - The FDA has approved transcranial magnetic stimulation for treating patients whose depression has not responded to anti-depressants. This non-invasive treatment uses a magnetic device to stimulate the brain by sending magnetic pulses through the skull, and does not carry the risks associated with other interventions such as surgically implanted electrodes. Currently, each TMS treatment session can cost between 200 and 300 dollars.

And finally, from Japan - According to research in the British Medical Journal, those who eat quickly until they are full are much more likely to be overweight. In a study of over 3,200 people, researchers found that those who ate their food quickly and until they felt full had a higher BMI and were 3 times more likely to be overweight than those who did not eat until they were full and ate more slowly. The researchers encourage healthy eating habits such as eating slowly, serving appropriate portion sizes, and eating as a family in a non-distracting environment.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.