Health Buzz: Virginity Pledges and Other Health News

Many of Those Who Take Virginity Pledges Have Premarital Sex 

Teenagers who promise to remain virgins until marriage are just as likely to have sex before that as those who don't take virginity pledges, according to a new study published in the January issue of Pediatrics . Previous research found that those who take virginity pledges are more likely to wait to have sex than those who don't take such pledges. But this study used a different statistical method from earlier studies, which allowed researchers to compare pledge takers with non-pledge takers who were likely to delay having sex; it also didn't cover teens who weren't likely to take virginity pledges, HealthDay reports.

The study included information from 934 high school students who had taken virginity pledges or had never had sex. "Virginity pledgers and similar nonpledgers don't differ in the rates of vaginal, oral, or anal sex or any other sexual behavior," study author Janet E. Rosenbaum, a postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told HealthDay. "Strikingly, pledgers are less likely than similar nonpledgers to use condoms and also less likely to use any form of birth control."

Is abstinence-only education best for preventing teen pregnancy? U.S. News explored the debate over educating teens about sex last year. Earlier this month, our writer Lindsay Lyon explained how parents can help kids dodge pregnancy and STDs.

Amid Economic Pain, Americans Cut Back on Cosmetic Surgery

People are cutting back on cosmetic surgery and other elective surgeries in response to the dismal economy, reversing the boom in tummy tucks, eyelifts, and breast implants, which have soared in popularity in recent years, particularly among younger people and the middle class, Nancy Shute reports. When polled in October, 62 percent of members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons said their business was down 20 percent or more from the year before. "I expect it's more than that in some areas, a 40 or 50 percent decrease," says Michael McGuire, president-elect of the ASPS. That's particularly true in areas like New York, California, and Florida, which led the surge in popularity. A small survey by the society in October found that 60 percent of respondents said the economy had had an impact on their plans for cosmetic surgery. That's not surprising, given that cosmetic procedures aren't covered by insurance.

Prior to the economic downturn, statistics showed that men were increasingly turning to noninvasive cosmetic treatments to improve their looks. But cosmetic procedures do carry some risk—as underscored by the death of rapper Kanye West's mother last year—so patients, especially teenagers, should be cautious. So should medical tourists, since cosmetic surgery overseas can carry special risks.

Chillproofing Your Exercise Routine for Winter

It's snowy. It's cold. It's windy. And in the past week, you've eaten your weight in holiday cookie dough. Clearly, between the extra food and the stress of visiting relatives, right now you need your exercise routine more than ever. But the snow, cold, and wind don't necessarily mean you have to head to the gym and fight the hordes waiting for the next available treadmill, either, Katherine Hobson reports.

As one environmental physiologist once said, "Man in the cold is not necessarily a cold man." In other words: Suck it up, cupcake, and get out the door. With proper preparation, clothing, and common sense, there's really no place on Earth where it's so cold that you absolutely must forsake your outdoor exercise routine. "If you have the right gear, you can do anything you want in the cold," says John Castellani, a research physiologist at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine and an expert on cold injuries and exercise.

Consider these five ways your workout can weather the recession. Also, U.S. News's annual 50 Ways to Improve Your Life guide includes several tips to help you stay fit in the new year. Among this year's suggestions: Ride your bike to work, add obstacles to your jog, and walk away your cravings.

—January W. Payne

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