Obesity in America Is Three Times More Deadly Than We Thought

New research from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health shows that from 1986-2006 obesity accounted for 18 percent of deaths among white and black Americans aged 40 to 85—a far higher amount, the authors say, than past estimates that obesity is responsible for 5 percent of deaths in that demographic. 

The percentage of deaths from obesity on other ethnicities was not examined in the study. 

As for the effect of obesity in more detail: Black women are the worst-affected group, with 27 percent of black women aged 40-85 at risk of dying from obesity or being overweight. In white women, 21 percent are at risk. There are twice as many obese black women as there are white.

For men, 15 percent of white men and 5 percent of black men are at risk of dying from excess weight—though the report says that the comparatively low rate of death among black men is because higher rates of cigarette smoking and socioeconomic conditions somewhat skew the statistics.

Mark Zuckberg's Facebook page hacked to highlight flaw

Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page was hacked by a Palestinian programmer keen to highlight to the company the flaw he had found in their code.

The exploit allowed Khalil Shreateh to post on Zuckerberg’s wall (see below) even though he was not authorised to do so. Shreateh posted his message after he tried to alert Facebook about the flaw but was told that it was “not a bug”.

“Dear Mark Zuckerberg,” read Shreateh's message. “First sorry for breaking your privacy and post [sic] to your wall, I has no other choice to make after all the reports I sent to Facebook team.”

The reports sent by Shreateh were to Facebook’s a Whitehat program; a bounty scheme that offers rewards to programmers that flag up potential security bugs.

The minimum reward for a successful report is $500 and Facebook states that “there is no maximum reward: each bug is awarded a bounty based on its severity and creativity”. The company claims to have paid out more than $1 million so far.

BBA8: Beverly weeps as Angelo is evicted

Talk about so close yet so far! After making it to the top 7 in The Chase, South Africa’s Angelo has become the 22nd Housemate to be Evicted from The Chase.

Just like a tornado sweeping everything that is in its sight, the curse of the couples has swept through the Big Brother House and tonight it reared its ugly head once again. The final couple in the House Beverly and Angelo popularly called Bengelo has been torn apart, at least for the time being.

Angelo did not even get a chance to say goodbye to his lady love because the Eviction Nominees were called into the Rendezvous Room. As soon as IK announced him as the second Evicted Housemate of the night, Angelo walked out the Rendezvous Room and head to the Live Show stage for a heart to heart chat with the presenter.

His passionate relationship with Beverly has been one of the most polarising unions in The Chase. Their union has had its fair share of ups and downs but throughout it all it has always been evident that the duo genuinely care for each other.

As soon as the Live Eviction show wrapped up Beverly headed up stairs into the bedroom and cried under the covers.

VANGUARD

Hunter mistakes colleague for antelope, kills him

Mustapha, 30, was said to have mistaken his fellow hunter, Sunday Ijasa, for an antelope and released the bullet which instantly  claimed his life a couple of days ago at Igbara Odo Ekiti in Ekiti South-West Local Government Area of the state

According to the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr Victor Babayemi, in Ado Ekiti, weekend, the suspect was arrested following an allegation that he killed the deceased  while hunting at Igbara Odo Ekiti.

According to him, Mustapha was said to have  mistook the deceased for an antelope.

The police image maker added that there were inconsistencies in the statement made by the suspect after preliminary investigations conducted by the police.

Babayemi further said autopsy had been conducted on the corpse, while investigation is still on-going, 

Pastor’s wife, 3 children, 4 others perish in road crash

TRAGEDY struck, Saturday night, as at least eight persons including a Pastor’s wife, Pastor (Mrs) Hellen Samuel, her three children, Saviour, Ensigne and Purity, were reportedly killed in an auto crash in Katagbegi village of Niger State.

The accident occured when the bus owned by the Niger State Transport Authority they were travelling in ran into an articulated truck at a bad spot along Bida-Minna road.

The family of Pastor Abraham Samuel of the PotterPorchChurch, Minna and the other passengers in the bus were said to be travelling from Lagos to Minna when the crash occured at about 8pm, Saturday night.

The bus, according to eyewitness, was said to have caught fire shortly after the accident, thereby making rescue efforts difficult.

It was, however, gathered that only one passenger was rescued alive with serious burns.

Special Adviser to the Niger State Government on Emergency and Disaster Management, Mohammed Shaba, confirmed that the eight bodies had been recovered from the scene of the accident, even though the bus was believed to be carrying 18 passengers at the time of the accident.

Shaba said corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the Minna GeneralHospital.

The passengers were said to have been burnt in the vehicle because the local people that rushed for the rescue efforts lacked the capacity to curtail the fire.

Our correspondent who went to the church met the Pastor preaching during yesterdy’s church service after which he announced the demise of his wife and three children.

Members of the church screamed at the news but the Pastor remained calm with elders of the church around him.

According to Pastor Samuel who, however, maintained sober mood “My wife and the kids are resting.”

Imo gets 800 CVs from lobbyists for appointment

Scores of professional politicians and academics have rekindled their intensive lobbying for the impending appointment into Imo State Executive Council by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

As at the last count, no fewer than 800 curriculum vitae from lobbyists, including women groups, have exchanged hands in the state but it was not clear at press time, how many of these documents actually found their way to the Governor’s table.

Vanguard investigations revealed that a good percentage of the immediate past commissioners, special advisers and other appointees, who were unceremoniously eased out of office, are part of the people angling for the jobs.

Similarly, notable politicians from former Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigerian People’s Party and Congress for Progressive Change hat recently fused and formed All Progressives Congress, APC, also want a piece of the pie for themselves or their cronies, especially as they believe that Okorocha is one of their own.

Some of the very ambitious politicians have since made it a point of duty to join the Governor’s wife, Nkechi Okorocha, in her current tour of communities for the Women August Meeting.

Our Correspondent equally gathered that the scheming has become intensive and interesting as even non-indigenes of Imo State have since joined the fray.

A very reliable Government House source confirmed that the interest of the non-indigenes stemmed from a recent promise Okorocha made to visiting members of University of Ibadan Alumni Association, UIAA, when they paid him a courtesy call in Owerri.

Okorocha had, during the encounter, expressed delight that the composition of the Association’s leadership cut across the six geo-political zones of the country, adding that he would engage people from other states when reconstituting his cabinet.

Meanwhile, Imo has remained without a state executive council for about two months running, even as it was not very clear at press time when the Governor would reconstitute and announce membership of the statutory body.

Fifa certifies Calabar Stadium

Fifa has certified the U. J. Esuene Stadium as a safe venue to host next month's 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Malawi.

The Malawian FA confirmed through their chief executive officer, Suzgo Nyirenda, that they have received a letter from the world football governing body, assuring them of the safety of the match venue.

"In the letter, Fifa admits that our concerns are genuine," Nyirenda disclosed to the Malawian media.

Nyirenda however denied that their letter to Fifa had any mischievous end, insisting that they are not reluctant to make the trip to Calabar.

"It is not like we said we do not want to travel to Nigeria, we are just waiting for the Nigeria Football Federation to provide us the guarantee. Once they do that, we will travel to Nigeria," Nyirenda explained.

The Nigeria Football Federation sent a security plan to Fifa last week, following complaints from the Malawian FA concerning the security of the match venue.

Nigeria used the same venue for their World Cup qualifier against Kenya on March 23.