I am speechless that he actually did it, but not surprised. President Bush, as he promised to do, has used his veto power to stop legislation expanding embryonic stem cell research. This goes against the recommendations of top scientists, the majority of the citizens in this country and even some Republicans who believe this research is our best bet in finding cures to many diseases that cause great suffering and death. It would be safe to say the only groups pleased with this veto are evangelical Christians and conservative Republicans. And I am not so sure that all the people within those two groups are pleased.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to expand federally funded embryonic stem cell research. The vote was 63-37, four short of the 67 that would be needed to overturn the veto that could come on Wednesday. All but one Democrat voted for the bill, while 19 Republicans backed it and 36 opposed it. Nancy Reagan, widow of former President Ronald Reagan who died of Alzheimer's, has lobbied support from fellow Republicans.

Advocates and scientists state embryonic stem cell research is key to medical advances, and that only donated embryos that would otherwise be thrown away would be used. "There are some 400-thousand frozen embryos, and the choice is discarding them or using them to save lives. Embryonic stem cells have the flexibility for the potential of curing Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart disease and cancer," said Senator Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican.

President Bush, and the conservative base of the Republican party, oppose embryonic stem cell research on moral grounds that it is the taking of human life because embryos are destroyed in the process. For more opinions and news coverage, I direct you to Bush readies first veto, dashing hopes of millions, Bush to stem cell community: Drop dead and Bush Vetoes Stem Cell Bill As Promised.

A public physical activity program tested in Norway helped low-income residents lose weight and decrease their incidence of high blood pressure and diabetes. The intervention was tested over three years in a multi-ethnic neighborhood with high levels of inactivity, obesity and heart disease.

Designed by political leaders and health and welfare advocates, the program sought to raise the level of physical activity in simple easy steps. Activity was promoted using organized walks, and flyers encouraging the use of stairs for exercise, as well as free counseling for diet, nutrition and quitting smoking. These low-cost strategies proved effective in helping the residents lose weight, lower blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

A new study links adolescent obesity to less than optimal functioning and enlargement of the heart. Researchers from Italy and the U.S. examined 460 teens from American Indian communities as part of the Strong Heart Study.

The results found that 113 teens were overweight and 223 were obese. Roughly a third of these teens had high blood pressure, a combination predictive of future heart related death. Another third were also diagnosed with left ventricular hypertrophy, or an enlargement of the hearts main pumping chamber. Ten participants were diagnosed with diabetes. "This is only partially a medical problem, but a social and political problem," said researcher Dr. Giovanni de Simone from "Federico II" University Hospital School of Medicine, Naples. The researchers stressed the importance of preventing overweight teens from stepping over the line into obesity, where heart problems begin to flourish. Childhood intervention in the areas of diet and exercise is a first step.