B4U India

''Tanorexia'': College students'' latest addiction!

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:13:00 -0400

More than 25 percent students of a large university are addicted to tanning, a new study has found.

All the students having symptoms of tanning dependence also suffer symptoms similar to alcohol and drug-addicted individuals.

The study by researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center also found those with a tanning dependence tend to be more likely to be thin and smoke cigarettes than others.

For the study, the researchers set out to understand what proportion of college students report problems with tanning dependence and whether there are shared behaviours among those considered to be tanning dependent and those with other forms of addiction.

"Adolescents and young adults tend to put themselves at risk for later skin cancer by exposing themselves to high levels of ultraviolet radiation, so by understanding some possible reasons why, we hope to develop innovative interventions to help prevent these risky behaviors," explainedCarolyn Heckman, Ph.D., an associate member at Fox Chase Cancer Center.

They recruited 400 students and other volunteers at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia during the spring semester of 2006. Participants took part in an online survey utilizing items adapted from questionnaires used to measure traditional substance abuse and dependence.

The measures assess tolerance to tanning (the need to tan increasingly frequently), withdrawal from tanning (discomfort when not having tanned recently), and difficulty controlling the behaviour despite awareness of its negative impact such as freckles, wrinkles, pre-cancerous lesions, etc.

The survey included questions such as "Do you think you need to spend more and more time in the sun to maintain your perfect tan?", "Do you continue tanning so your tan will not fade?" and "Does this [your belief that tanning can cause skin cancer] keep you from spending time in the sun or going to tanning beds?"

Participants were queried about their level of intentional and incidental sun exposure, tanning booth use, and chemical sunless tanner use. The survey also asked about health-related behaviors such as body mass index, smoking, and exercise.

"The media and lay public may know tanning dependence as ''tanorexia,'' alluding to similarities to both substance addictions and body image disorders like anorexia. There is some evidence that UV tanning dependence may have biological underpinnings like other addictions such as the production of endorphins as in the ''runner''s high," said Heckman.

Heckman added: "We were surprised to find that 27 percent of those we surveyed were classified as tanning dependent. The finding that almost 40 percent of those surveyed had used tanning booths and that the mean age when tanning booths were first used was 17 is also alarming."

It was revealed that sun tanning was more closely related to tanning dependence than indoor tanning, though use of indoor tanning during warm weather also signalled tanning dependence.

Finally, the researchers said that those addicted to tanning were more likely to be thin and smoke cigarettes than others, suggesting meaningful avenues for further research into possible links among risky behaviours.

"Our ultimate goal is to find out more about the motivations for tanning so that we can develop interventions that would reduce tanning and hopefully skin cancer," concluded Heckman.

The study is published in the September/October issue of the American Journal of Health Behaviour. (ANI)

Digital Video Recorders do actually help save relationships!

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:12:00 -0400

Digital Video Recorders (DVR) save relationships, according to a new survey.

According to the NDS DVR Report, some 79percent of 1,000 DVR owners reported that the technology has improved their relationship.

The statistic was just one of many presented by NDS, a manufacturer of DVR technology, suggesting the machines are becoming increasingly integral in U.S. households.

For instance, DVRs were cited as the second most essential household technology item they can''t live without, second only to the mobile phone.

Among non-technological household items, DVR was beaten out only by washing machine and microwave oven.

"The results show how fast the DVR has become an indispensable part of many people''s lives in the U.S.," the Mirror quoted Steve Tranter, vice president, broadband and interactive delivery, NDS Americas, as telling Hollywood Reporter.

"It''s one of those technologies that, once you use it, it makes you wonder how you coped before,” he added. (ANI)

The Top 10 cheesiest pick up lines revealed

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:44:00 -0400

Trying to start a conversation with the stunning girl next door? Well, in that case say anything but: "your dad must be a thief because he stole the stars and put them in your eyes", for that''s the most cheesiest chat-up line, according to a new survey.

In the latest survey of more than 400 people worldwide, the cheesiest chat-up lines have been revealed along with the celebrities most likely to say them.

The person who''s most likely to say the top most embarrassing chat-up line (according to the poll) is reality TV veteran Calum Best, reports the Telegraph.

The participants reckoned that humour was the best way of chatting somebody up with over 50 per cent of those surveyed saying comedy lines work best on them, such as "Do you have any raisins? How about a date?" and "Are you Jamaican, because you''re Jamaican me crazy" among the most popular.

Though the list of cheesy chat up lines was dominated by reality TV stars, footballers and singers, one of the more unexpected votes went to Countdown''s Carol Vorderman, with people voting her most likely to use the line "If I were to rearranged the alphabet I would put U and I together."

Others on the list compiled by a maker of Dutch Edam cheese included Manchester United''s Cristiano Ronaldo who was voted as most likely to say "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" while Big Brother''s Sylvester Stallone lookalike Mario Marconi was tipped to say "I must be in heaven because I can see an angel."

Glamour model Jodie Marsh rounded off the top five with "Here''s 10p - go phone your mum and tell her you won''t be coming home tonight."

The UK''s 10 Cheesiest Chat Up Lines (and the celebrities voted most likely to use them) are:

1. "Your dad must be a thief because he stole the stars and put them in your eyes"- Calum Best

2. "If I were to rearrange the alphabet I would put U and I together"- Carol Vorderman

3. "I must be in heaven because I can see an angel" - Mario Marconi

4."Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" - Cristiano Ronaldo

5. "Here''s 10p - go phone your mum and tell her you won''t be coming home tonight" - Jodie Marsh

6. "You''re under arrest. The charge - trespassing in my dreams" - Rhys Ifans

7. "Is that a ladder in your tights or a stairway to heaven?" - Jonathan Ross

8. "You must be tired because you''ve been running through my mind all day" - Lee Sharpe

9. "If I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me?" - Peter Andre

10. "Do you have a map? Because I keep getting lost in your eyes" - Darius Danesh (ANI)

Sports lovers have better sex when their team is winning

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:30:00 -0400

Men, who are a big fan of sports, perform better under the sheets when their team is winning, revealed a poll.

The poll by website areyouromantic.com analysed the relation between sex in sports’ fans, reports the Daily Star.

It was found that nearly 30 per cent relish a romp more when their side is doing well.

However, 10 per cent said that their sex life takes a nosedive when their team loses.

The survey revealed that 25 per cent of fans would give up sex for a month if their team was guaranteed a major win. (ANI)

1 in 5 Brit employees don’t mind flirting with boss to get a raise!

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:30:00 -0400

London, Sept 2 (ANI): One in five Brit employees won’t mind flirting with their boss in a bid to get a pay raise or promotion, a new survey has revealed.

According to survey by an online dating agency Parship, men are more likely than their female colleagues to enter into a little sexual playfulness with women bosses.

While 19 per cent of women admitted that they will use their charms to get on, 25 per cent of men said that they were willing to try it.

On one hand, where over a third of men are actually attracted to their female superiors, finding them intelligent, self-confident, open-minded, and honest, with good communication skills, a sense of humour and a can-do attitude.

On the other hand only 17 per cent of women agreed that they fancy their male bosses, a few even described them as ruthless, domineering know-it-alls.

The survey showed that male employees were more in favour of an office romance with 57 per cent saying they would date a colleague.

However, only 15 per cent of women think it is okay.

"Perhaps women have learned through bitter experience that using one''s sex appeal to get ahead at work can backfire,” the Daily Star quoted psychologist Dr Nafsika Thalassis, Parship''s "singles coach", as saying.

"Women who flirt with the boss risk having their bluff called.

"They are more likely to realise that flirting to get ahead will be disapproved of by colleagues. Men are less concerned that flirting will result in being cornered by their boss.

"But they should be wary - hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

"The fun of flirting lies in its maybe-I-mean-it, maybe-I-don''t playfulness, but it is often better to conduct relationships with absolute clarity," she added.

Even single job displacement leads workers to social withdrawal

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:30:00 -0400

Workers who''re laid off are likely to withdraw themselves from social and community groups, a new study has found.

The research team from UCLA-University of Michigan, Ann Arbor has revealed that job displacement has a lasting impact on social participation of the workers.

Displaced workers were 35 pct less likely to be involved in their communities than their counterparts who had never experienced a job loss due to layoff, downsizing or restructuring, or a business closing or relocating.

Moreover, the isolation continued not just through the unemployment period, but for the rest of the workers'' lives.

"What we find is that even just one disruption in employment makes workers significantly less likely to participate in a whole range of social activities - from joining book clubs to participating in the PTA and supporting charities," said Jennie E. Brand, a UCLA sociologist and the study''s lead author.

"After being laid off or downsized, workers are less likely to give back to their community," she added.

During the study, Brand along with University of Michigan sociologist Sarah A. Burgard, Brand analysed at 4,373 participants in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, which has tracked a group of 1957 Wisconsin high school graduates for more than 45 years.

The study showed that youth and community groups experienced the strongest exodus followed by church and church groups, charitable organizations and leisurely activities, including country club attendance.

It also showed that workers who were displaced during their peak earning years, between 35 and 53 years, the effects were the strongest.

However, non-displaced workers were 1.2 to 1.5 times more likely to participate across all forms of social and community activities than workers who had been displaced.

This was the case for both ages examined by the researchers - 53 as well as at 64 years of age.

"Workers can be displaced early in their career, and they''re still less likely to be participating at age 60 than their counterparts who have never been displaced," Brand said.

The study showed that after finding a new job, displaced workers were more likely to strike up with professional organizations than with youth groups or community centres.

"Displaced workers may be more likely to keep up with professional groups than other groups because they''re trying to make up for lost ground with respect to their careers," said Brand.

However, employees who experienced the disruption during the tail end of their careers were less likely to withdraw than workers who were displaced earlier in their careers. (ANI)

Snuggling up in car to see sunset voted ‘Most Romantic Thing for Couples’

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:29:00 -0400

Cuddling in the car to watch the sun go down has been voted the most romantic thing for a couple to do.

According to a survey, more than half the Britons said that sunsets made them frisky.

Thirty four per cent of 1,000 people interviewed said candlelit dinners were most likely to lead to lovemaking.

While eight per cent opted for sharing a bubble bath.

“The range of stunning colours displayed in a sunset can create a feeling of shared calm and happiness,” The Sun quoted behavioural expert Judi James, as saying.

Unfortunately, only two per cent of those polled for Vauxhall Motors had actually seen a sunset in the UK in the past year. (ANI)

Office workers spend 600 hours of working life ogling colleagues!

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:21:00 -0400

Office workers in Britain spend around 600 hours ogling at a colleague they have a crush on, a new survey has revealed.

According to the study, office staffs spend almost 60,000 hours sitting at their office desk during their career, drink 32,000 cups of tea or coffee and make 110,000 phone calls, reports The Sun.

And two out of five employees end up in bed with their workmate, the study found.

They will also write 50,000 lists of things to do over the years, receive more than 320,000 emails and have 13 job interviews.

To reach the results, a total of 1,200 workers were polled. (ANI)