Weight gain can be extremely frustrating, especially when you dont know whats causing it.

While diet typically plays the largest role in weight gain, other factors such as stress and lack of sleep may contribute as well.

Here are 9 causes of unintentional weight gain.

Many healthy foods, such as oats, frozen fruit, and yogurt, are minimally processed.

However, highly processed foods, including sugary cereals, fast food, and microwave dinners, pack a slew of harmful ingredients, as well as added sugars, preservatives, and unhealthy fats.

Whats more, numerous studies link highly processed food to weight gain, in addition to rising obesity rates in the United States and around the world (1).

For example, a 2019 study in 19,363 Canadian adults found that those who ate the most ultra-processed foods were 32% more likely to be obese than those who ate the least (2).

Highly processed foods are typically packed with calories yet devoid of essential nutrients, such as protein and fiber, which keep you feeling full.

In fact, in a 2-week study in 20 people, participants ate about 500 more calories per day on an ultra-processed diet than on an unprocessed diet (3).

Thus, you should consider cutting out processed meals and snacks, focusing instead on whole foods.

Regularly downing sugary foods and beverages, such as candy, cakes, soda, sports drinks, ice cream, iced tea, and sweetened coffee drinks, can easily enlarge your waistline.

Many studies link sugar intake not only to weight gain but also an increased risk of chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease (4).

In particular, sugary beverages are the largest source of added sugar in the United States and strongly associated with weight gain.

For instance, a review of 30 studies in 242,352 children and adults tied sweetened beverage intake to weight gain and obesity (5).

One study in 11,218 women revealed that drinking 1 sugary soda per day led to 2.2 pounds (1 kg) of weight gain over 2 years meaning that cutting out sweets might have the opposite effect (6).

You can try gradually reducing your sugar intake to ease the process.

Inactivity is a common contributor to weight gain and chronic diseases (7, 8, 9).

Working a desk job, watching TV, driving, and using a computer or phone are all sedentary activities.

A study in 464 people with obesity and excess weight found that their average daily sitting time was 6.2 hours on working days and 6 hours on non-working days. Work-related tasks were the largest contributor, followed by watching TV (10).

Making a few simple lifestyle changes, such as exercising and sitting less, can make a big difference.

For example, a 3-month study in 317 workers found that replacing just 1 hour of sitting with 1 hour of standing during the workday reduced total fat mass and waist circumference while increasing lean muscle mass (11).

Research has also shown that engaging in excessive screen time contributes significantly to unintentional weight gain (12, 13, 14).

Even small adjustments, such as taking a walk after dinner instead of watching TV, working out or walking during your lunch break, investing in a standing or treadmill desk, or riding your bike to work, can counter weight gain.

Yo-yo dieting refers to cycles of intentional weight loss followed by unintentional weight regain.

Notably, this pattern is linked to an increased risk of weight gain over time (15, 16).

In a study in 2,785 people, those who had dieted within the previous year had greater body weights and waist circumferences than those of non-dieters (17).

Other studies reveal that restrictive eating and dieting may lead to future weight gain due to your bodys physiological responses to such behaviors, such as changes in hunger and fullness hormones (18, 19, 20).

Plus, most people who lose weight through restrictive dieting gain back most or all of it within 5 years (15).

To keep weight off long term, you should focus on sustainable lifestyle changes. These include exercise, cutting out processed and sugary foods, and eating nutrient-dense, whole foods rich in fiber and protein.

Although many lifestyle factors contribute to unintentional weight gain, certain medical conditions may also play a role. These include:

Other conditions, such as diabetes and Cushings syndrome, are likewise associated with weight gain, so its important to get the right diagnosis from your medical practitioner.

Whats more, certain medications, including antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs, can lead to weight gain. Speak to a health professional if you believe youre gaining weight due to your medicine.

Sleep is essential for overall health and well-being. Insufficient sleep may trigger weight gain, among other negative effects (27).

A study in 92 women demonstrated that those who slept fewer than 6 hours daily had the highest body mass index (BMI) and the highest levels of visfatin (a protein secreted by fat cells), compared with women who slept 6 hours or more per day (28).

In a 2-week study in 10 adults with excess weight following a low-calorie diet, those who slept 5.5 hours per night lost 55% less body fat and 60% more muscle mass than those who slept 8.5 hours per night (29).

As such, increasing your sleep time may aid weight loss.

Some evidence associates 7 or more hours of sleep per night with a 33% greater likelihood of weight loss, compared with sleeping fewer than 7 hours (30).

If you have poor sleep quality, you can try limiting screen time before bed, reducing your caffeine intake, and going to sleep at a consistent time.

If you regularly eat processed foods, switching to a diet thats higher in whole foods is an easy and effective way to promote weight loss and improve many other aspects of your health.

In fact, the most important factor in weight loss is choosing whole, minimally processed foods.

One study divided 609 adults with excess weight into groups that followed either a low-fat or low-carb diet for 12 months (31).

Both groups were instructed to maximize their vegetable intake, restrict their intake of added sugars, trans fats, and refined carbohydrates, eat mostly whole, minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods, and prepare most meals at home.

The study found that people in both diet groups lost similar amounts of weight 12 pounds (5.4 kg) for the low-fat group and 13 pounds (5.9 kg) for the low-carb group. This demonstrated that diet quality, not macronutrient content, was the most important factor in their weight loss (31).

Incorporating whole foods into your diet doesnt have to be difficult. Start by slowly adding more nutrient-dense whole foods, such as vegetables, fruits, beans, eggs, nuts, and seeds, into your meals and snacks.

Chronic stress is a common problem that can affect your weight (32).

High levels of the stress hormone cortisol have been shown to increase hunger and your desire for highly palatable, calorie-dense foods, which can cause weight gain (33).

Whats more, studies indicate that people with obesity have higher cortisol levels than those without this condition (34).

Interestingly, stress management may promote weight loss.

In an 8-week study in 45 adults with obesity, those who engaged in relaxation techniques like deep breathing lost significantly more weight than those who only received standard dietary advice (35).

To reduce stress, try incorporating evidence-based relaxation practices into your routine. These include yoga, spending time in nature, and meditation (36, 37, 38).

Overeating remains a prominent cause of weight gain.

If you take in more calories than you burn per day, youll likely gain weight (39).

Mindless eating, frequent snacking, and making calorie-rich, nutrient-poor dietary choices all promote excessive calorie intake.

It can be difficult to determine your calorie needs on your own, so consult a registered dietitian if you struggle with overeating.

Some simple ways to avoid overeating include paying attention to hunger and fullness cues by eating mindfully, following a high-fiber, high-protein diet rich in plant foods, drinking water instead of calorie-rich beverages, and increasing your activity level.

Many factors can contribute to unintentional weight gain.

Poor sleep, sedentary activities, and eating too many processed or sugary foods are just some of the habits that may increase your risk of weight gain.

Yet, a few simple steps such as mindful eating, exercise, and focusing on whole foods can help you reach your weight loss goals and improve your overall health.

Read more:
9 Causes of Unintentional Weight Gain - Healthline

Brendan Romele can't remember a time when he was within a healthy weight range. Even as a kid, he was always the "bigger" guy in class. This fact never really bothered him until his late twenties, however, when his weight climbed to nearly 285 pounds. That's when he truly started feeling it: The extra weight that made his body behave like a much older man's.

Between the backaches and the shortness of breath, Romele decided it was time for a change. He also had his family history to consider: "My mother suffered from heart failure at an early age that almost cost her life, and my grandfather had diabetes," Romele says.

Romele started by investing in a good scalethe Fitbit Aria 2, which synced up wirelessly with his daily fitness tracker, allowing him to monitor his progress without manually entering it into the device's app. "Even though it was scary at first, I began to track my weight and body fat percentage," he says. "When I started, I was 285 pounds with 37 percent body fat, which is in the obese range."

Romele also tracked his step count using a wearable, the Fitbit Versa. He went on walks every day to make sure he hit at least 10,000 steps, and quickly realized that fitting in physical activity didn't have to mean hours and hours in the gym.

"These walks would often be at lunchtime where I would go with coworkers to pick up healthier lunch alternatives, even to places a little further to get those extra steps," he says. "I began to take advantage of Fitbit's [coaching program], too, which helped motivate me through guided workouts and eventually became a regular habit."

With his workouts building momentum, Romele moved on to overhauling his nutrition. He started tracking his food, and to his great surprise, he had been eating around 4,000 calories a day thanks to copious amounts of takeout. He decided to start cooking for himself. Just four weeks into his new routine, Romele had already dropped 20 pounds.

"As a very data and visually focused person, once I started to see the downward trend in my weight through app, and I wanted to keep it going," he says.

Beyond losing weight, Romele also eased his back pain and found his lung capacity increasing. He even added running a few miles a week into his usual 10,000 steps a day routine. By combining tracking his calories and working out more, Romele was able to drop 100 pounds and 20 percent of his body fat to hit his new weight of 185 in just one year.

"A lot of friends and coworkers have told me how they have been inspired by my journey and helped them to lead a healthier life, which is great because so many have inspired and encouraged me," he says. "I feel better, mentally and physically. I've noticed I have more energy compared to when I started."

For people looking to follow his lead, Romele advises them to first get over the dread of exercise. "What I came to realize is that any exercise is better than no exercise, even if it means going on daily walks or doing as little as ten squats," he says. "Be patient, and stick with it. A lot of people are in the old mindset of thinking diet means temporary, but it simply isn't. Don't try to change everything at oncetake it day by day."

Read more:
This Guy Used a Fitness Tracker and a Daily Step Goal to Lose 100 Pounds in a Year - menshealth.com

Heart disease is an umbrella term for a range of diseases that affect a persons heart. It can trigger deadly conditions such as a heart attack or heart failure. It is well understood that leading a healthy lifestyle can ward off the risk of developing the deadly health condition. Exercise plays an essential role in reducing the risk - what is the best exercise?

According to Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, the general consensus is that anything is better than nothing, and any activity that gets a persons heart rate up and makes them breathe a little harder will offer some protection against heart disease.

Rising evidence makes a strong case for high intensity interval training (HIIT) in particular, however. As Dr Lopez-Jimenez reports, increasing evidence suggests HIIT training provides added metabolic benefits.

According to Dr Lopez-Jimenez, HIIT training forms an essential part of cardiac rehabilitation programmes. The benefits even extend to people who have had heart disease and a heart attack.

He said: There is also some evidence that 30 minutes of even 20 minutes of high intensity interval training has more benefits than the same amount or even longer of just fast walking.

As he explained, most sets of exercise equipment come with a HIIT preset for or alternatively people can do it around their neighbourhood. It consists of doing bursts of intense exercise, followed by intermittent periods of slowing down. This temporarily ramps up a persons metabolism and this has been shown to provide innumerable health benefits such as giving longer diabetic control throughout the day, said Dr Lopez-Jimenez.

HIIT training will also benefit people who are struggling to lose weight, despite engaging in 30 to 40 minutes of exercise a day and eating a healthy, balanced diet. This will help to jumpstart the metabolism, he said.

What counts as interval training?

Interval training is simply alternating short bursts (approximately 30 seconds) of intense activity with longer intervals (three to four minutes) of less intense activity, explained Mayo Clinic. This could be incorporating short bursts of jogging into regular brisk walks, noted the heath body.

For people that have barriers to exercise such as planta fascitis, or a bad knee, being creative and finding things that they can do will also provide protective benefits for heart health, explained Dr Lopez-Jimenez.

Even if you are not a strong swimmer, if you have access to a pool and have bad knees you can tread in deep water and the harder you push the more resistance you have, he explained.

Adding: That is a great form of exercise that is very low impact.

What are the symptoms of heart disease?

According to the NHS, the common symptom of heart disease is chest pain (angina).

This can be a mild, uncomfortable feeling similar to indigestion.

However, a severe angina attack can cause a painful feeling of heaviness or tightness, usually in the centre of the chest, which may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach, explained the health body.

See the article here:
Heart disease: Best exercise to lower the risk of developing the deadly condition - Express

Mandira Bedis 100 days fitness challenge is all about variety training. (Source: Mandira Bedi/Instagram; designed by Gargi Singh)

Mandira Bedi has undertaken the 100 days fitness challenge and regularly shares updates of her workout routine, which also includes cross training, with her fans on social media. So on the 59th day of her challenge which was also Dussehra the actor and fitness aficionado shared a video which showed her doing a mix of squats, inchworm walk and skipping. The 47-year-old also shared her fitness monitor screen which revealed that the exercises helped her burn 401 active calories!

Heres what she posted:

The fitness enthusiast, who began with the challenge in August this year to show that nothing is impossible and its the hard work that can take you where you want to be, has also undertaken a 40-day challenge in the past.

The 40-days challenge was fantastic, but its time now to raise the bar. I am looking at 100-days. 100 days of healthy living. It is going to a minimum of 10,000 steps and 45-minutes of exercise every single day along with mindful eating, good healthy balanced diet, and it begins today. It is Sunday. Sunday is a good day to make a start like this. I would love if you would join me, is what she captioned the Instagram video about her 100-day challenge.

Take a look at the video:

By combining a variety of exercises and working different muscle groups, cross training helps in maintaining and building the bodys fitness levels. Besides, it helps keep the interest levels high.

One of the easiest ways to incorporate cross training is to alternate between activities such as running one day, climbing stairs on the next or cycling the very next. Combining and alternating between various exercises for 10 minutes each, much like Bedi, can help achieve the goals.

Individuals can exercise more frequently and for longer durations without excessively overloading vulnerable areas of the body such as knees, hips, back, shoulders, elbows and feet. People, who are particularly prone to lower-leg problems from running long distances should consider incorporating low-impact activities such as elliptical training, cycling and swimming into their regimen.

Without letting boredom seep in, cross training helps add variety to exercise programs. Research on exercise adherence indicates that many individuals drop out of exercise programs because they become bored or injured. This helps build long-term exercise adherence and discipline.

Cross training can include activities that develop muscular fitness, as well as aerobic conditioning. This means that while some muscles work, the others can rest and recover.

Depending on your current workout schedule and the amount of time you have, aim to cross train at least once or twice a week in place of your usual routine or as additional workouts.

With cross-training, you can do one form of exercise each day, or more than one in a day. You can easily tailor cross-training to your needs and interests; mix and match your sports and change your routine on a regular basis.

Read more from the original source:
Mandira Bedis Dussehra workout is all the fitness inspiration you need today - The Indian Express

Omoni Oboli is a Nollywood actress, scriptwriter, filmmaker, author, businesswoman, wife and mother.

But despite this long-running list of obligations, she manages to make time for her fitness and health which is evident in her toned figure.

She recently shared her secrets for staying healthy in spite of a busy schedule with Business Insider Sub Saharan Africa.

For Oboli, diet is the first thing to consider. In her words, One of the first things is your diet. You have to watch what you eat, how you eat, when you eat. You have to be disciplined.

Next, she stressed the importance of exercising, adding that this is more than just working out.

You have to exercise. For me, exercise is not necessarily about weight loss, it's about staying healthy. We just have too many body parts and you have to oil them, that's what exercise should be about. It should be a lifestyle. It should be about wanting to stay healthy", she stated.

ALSO READ: 5 important tips that will keep you on track with your fitness resolutions

Apart from making time for her health, Oboli also finds time for her hair. The proud 'naturalista' (a woman who rocks her natural hair that is not permed) shared her tips for growing and maintaining healthy natural hair like hers.

To have great natural hair, she recommends loving ones hair. Just take care of your hair and it will take care of you right back. Are you loving your hair? It's a living organism, it wants love. So if you are loving it, it will love you right back by growing, Omoni said.

She goes on to talk about washing, deep conditioning, hydration and henna (a one-of-a-kind ingredient that smooths, softens and strengthens natural hair).

In Obolis words, How often are you washing your hair? How often are you doing deep conditioning? Our hair is kinky so it can be quite tough to handle and if you don't deep condition, it breaks. It's not soft enough for you to manage. You have got to deep condition. I henna my hair quite a bit."

For naturalistas, I would say consider using henna once a month,once in six weeks or once in two months depending on your schedule and make sure you hydrate your hair a lot, in the morning, at night. Make sure you have a spray bottle of water and maybe a little bit of conditioner and spray on your hair so your hair stays hydrated and it's not dry because when its dry its brittle and it breaks. Once your hair breaks, you wont see growth. So just take care of it and it will take care of you right back, she concluded.

See the original post:
Here is Omoni Obolis secret to staying fit and healthy in spite of a busy schedule - Pulse Nigeria

IT used to be something most of us did every night without too much thought.

But now it seems we have become a nation obsessed with sleep from how much we are getting and when we get it, to the quality of it. More has been revealed about the importance of shut-eye on our long-term health.

7

Data recorded by FitBit shows the average amount of sleep we currently get in the UK is seven hours and 49 minutes a night, with an average bedtime of 11.27pm.

But busy lifestyles mean many struggle to nod off and stay rested.

Much like our diet, the type of person we are is often reflected in our sleeping habits.

Here, sleep psychologist and FitBit expert Hope Bastine tells JENNY FRANCIS what your kip says about you and how to get a good 40 winks.

7

What it is: Like those who binge-eat food, you are all or nothing when it comes to sleep. You often go through stints with much less than six hours a night, getting into bed late because you have binge-watched that box set or stayed out with friends until the early hours. But then it all catches up with you and you binge on sleep, bagging yourself way over ten hours.

Why you sleep like this: You are a free spirit and tend to go where the mood takes you, whether in life, or in bed. It is easy for you to get absorbed in what you are doing. Your mind works by telling you that balance in life is about doing something extremely unhealthy and balancing it by then doing something super-healthy which in reality, does not work. You are in need of routine.

How to sleep better:

1. Try to make your bedtime between the same two hours so you slowly start a new sleep routine.

2. Do not set yourself crazy sleep targets such as: I must get ten hours tonight. You cannot catch up on sleep.

7

What it is: Like an intermittent faster, every night you are awake or asleep, times are clustered together. While you might be in bed for seven hours, you will usually sleep for a solid five or so hours without the slightest interruption, but suddenly find yourself awake for a solid two hours at a random point in the night, unable to get back off.

Why do you sleep like this? You are able to switch off but not for long enough and this translates in your sleep patterns. You worry about things, which means while you can rest, your mind wakes you up after around five hours as you feel like there is something you need to remember.

How to sleep better:

1. An hour before you get ready for bed, write down all the big things on your mind from shopping lists to anything you are worried about. This will help clear your mind.

2. If you wake up in the night, get out of bed and do a relaxing activity with the lights low. Reading, writing, sewing, or light stretches. This will help calm you.

7

What it is: Like the person who eats little snacks throughout the day, you grab sleep when you can. It is not unusual for you to have a couple of naps a day, then sleep for a couple of hours in blocks at night. You sleep when you feel tired and are up and about when you are awake.

Why you sleep like this: You are a busy person, have your own sense of rhythm and are comfortable doing what feels right for you. But you could be missing out on vital amounts of shut-eye.

How to sleep better:

1. Start by making your sleep/nap chunks longer, for example two-hour naps at a time. This will be hard at first but once you manage to achieve this, keep upping it until you learn to sleep for longer.

2. Organise your schedule to be more in tune with your circadian (natural) rhythm. Make an effort to be active during the day to keep your body from thinking it needs sleep, and turn down the lights two hours before bedtime to make your body want to sleep when everyone else does.

7

What it is: Much like one of the biggest diet crazes of eating in an eight-hour window, you sleep near exactly to a 16:8 ratio. Awake and alert during the day, and in bed for around eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Why you sleep like this: You like routine and are well conditioned to the environment around you. You try not to over-think things and see sleep as something to enjoy rather than dread.

How to sleep better:

1. Continue to make the best of your energy levels throughout the day by getting regular exercise. This will keep your inner clock awake during the day and tired at night.

2. Stick to a wind-down routine before sleep every night, this can help you fall off even quicker.

7

What it is: Like the One Meal A Day diet, where you wait for the big eating event of the day, you wait for your chunk of sleep. You take ages to nod off, only to finally fall asleep only a few hours before you have to get up. Or you go off without any problems only to wake up at 3am, unable to go back to sleep until the alarm clock goes off.

Why you sleep like this: You are quite an anxious person, and probably suffer from tired-but-wired syndrome. It takes you a while to decompress. You cant switch off as you overthink the Ive got to go to sleep or Ill be tired scenario.

How to sleep better:

1. You need a pre-bed mental activity. Find what works for you, whether it is cooking, puzzles or reading to shut off your brain.

2. Pull back from self-medicating with caffeine and alcohol. Try to cut back on both as much as possible to help your mind reset.

7

What it is: Some nights you might enjoy a wonderful eight hours straight, some nights you will wake up throughout the night. Your sleep is completely unpredictable.

Why you sleep like this: You are a responsive soul and react to the content of your day and the environment you are in. You do not respond that well to change. When you have had a stressful day it leads to a restless night.

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How to sleep better:

1. Tune in to your body and acknowledge when you are stressed, emotional, excited or relaxed. You can work on trying to stop any anxiety or over-excitement in its tracks before you reach bedtime.

2. Start a nightly journal to write down what you have done that day, how you are feeling. And notice routines in your patterns.

More:
From binger to grazer, six different sleep diets and how you can improve your kip - The Sun

What is the secret of the Mediterranean diet, considered by nutrition experts to be one of the healthiest in the world? I'm still wondering about that after our recent trip to Italy.

On our arrival, our Italian-born guide Valeria, clued us in on some secrets of the area. If you want coffee, for example, she advised us to order "Americano coffee. Otherwise you will get espresso; and do not-a order cappuccino after 11 a.m. If you do, the Italians will look at you funny. Wine, yes. But not cappuccino."

Ah, wine ... yes. As we drove through the rolling green hills of vineyards in northern Italy, Valeria pointed out that every hill has a different name. "This is very important-a," she said, since the three ingredients needed to produce good wine are soil, climate, and location. (The best grapes are at the top of the hills, for example.) However, when it comes to making wine, "the heart-a and the passion are the same-a."

Italians have a passion for all their food and how it is produced, I learned. From the 4th generation Orlando Abrigo winery in the "Pied-eh-mont" (Piedmont) region of Italy to the producers of prosciutto-type ham in Parma, who tell us the only preservative they use is sea salt, the pride in their work was evident.

Still, I wonder, what is the secret of these vibrant Mediterranean people? Here's one clue: A recent analysis of 16 individual studies that involved more than a million people worldwide confirmed, once again, that our lifestyle _ the choices we make every day _ largely determines our risk for life threatening diseases like Type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

These researchers evaluated the effect of lifestyle choices such as exercise and sleep habits, alcohol intake and smoking on long term health. What they found: People who practiced the healthiest lifestyles reduced their risk for type 2 diabetes by 75%. And those with diabetes who had the healthiest lifestyles had a lower risk for heart disease and cancer than those with less healthful lifestyles.

On our trip, we saw very few Italians who were overweight although their diet is rich in pasta and cheese. They drink a fair share of wine with their meals. And we saw many people who smoke.

Walking, however, seems more popular than driving. And meals revolve around fresh ingredients in a more relaxed atmosphere than we sometimes see here at home. What gives?

Our last night in Italy was spent enjoying several courses of food and wine in the company of new friends, both American and Italian. I realized then that, in many respects, our hearts and our passions were the same, just as Valeria had said. Perhaps that is part of the secret? Stay tuned...

Follow this link:
Quinn on Nutrition: Secrets of the Mediterranean diet - News-Press Now

In October 2019 we received multiple inquiries from readers about the accuracy of reports claiming that a drag queen who performed at a public library in Houston, Texas, was a registered sex offender who had been convicted of sexually assaulting an eight year-old boy.

Back in March 2019, The New American website posted an article with the headline Drag Queen Who Read to Kids at Houston Library is Convicted Pedophile, which reported that A drag queen who read stories to children at a Houston public library last year is a convicted pedophile considered to be at risk of repeating his offense a fact uncovered by parents opposed to Drag Queen Storytime, not by library officials, law enforcement, or the supposed watchdog news media.

Houston television station KHOU had reported at the time that:

A registered child sex offender has been reading to children at Houston Public Library as part of its Drag Queen Storytime. A group called Mass Resistance, which has been trying to put an end to the program, contacted KHOU about the child sex offender A media spokesperson for the library confirmed one of the programs drag queens, Tatiana Mala Nina, is Alberto [sic] Garza, a 32-year-old child sex offender. In 2008, he was convicted of assaulting an 8-year-old boy.

It wasnt clear why the nearly seven-month-old story re-emerged on social media in early October 2019. But the revelation of Garzas sexual assault conviction has been used periodically as a rhetorical weapon by various online commentators who are opposed to Drag Queen Storytime, an initiative in which drag performers read books to children, usually in libraries.

The initiative has become popular in libraries in the United States and beyond in recent years, but its spread has also brought fierce opposition and protests, largely from Christian and/or conservative parents and activist groups.

Both KHOU and The New American were accurate in their descriptions of the basic facts of the March 2019 controversy involving Albert Garza, the 32-year-old drag queen who performs using the name Tatiana Mala Nia. (In an August 2017 interview, Garza described herself as a transgender female. On the basis of that self-identification, the most recent we found, this article will refer to her accordingly.)

Background

The following outline of the facts contains descriptions of sexual assault against a child which some readers might find disturbing.

In September 2009, a jury in the 232nd Criminal Court in Harris County, Texas, found Albert Alfonso Garza guilty of aggravated sexual assault namely that in June 2006, Garza performed oral sex on an eight-year-old boy. Under Texas law, the offense was a first-degree felony and carried a punishment of between five years and life imprisonment.

Judge Mary Lou Keel imposed a suspended 10-year sentence including five years of probation, meaning Garza avoided a prison term. Garzas probation was scheduled to end in September 2014, but for reasons that were not immediately clear at time of this publication, it was continued for an additional two years and finally ended in June 2016.

Garza appealed the conviction, arguing that prosecutors should not have been allowed to include as evidence testimony given by the boy asserting that Garza had also perpetrated two similar sexual assaults on him earlier in the summer of 2006. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Texas later summarized that testimony as follows:

Without providing any specific dates, the complainant testified that he was sexually assaulted sometime in the summer of 2006, when his family was visiting appellants family for a weekend of barbecuing and swimming. The complainant was in appellants [Garzas] bedroom when he asked appellant for permission to play a video game. Appellant consented, but only on the condition that the complainant first remove his clothes. After taking off his pants, the complainant testified that appellant performed oral sex on him for about five seconds. The complainant testified that appellant then exposed himself and asked that the complainant perform oral sex on him as well. The complainant complied for two or three seconds before ultimately feeling uncomfortable and leaving the room.

In December 2010, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals rejected Garzas appeal and upheld the trial courts judgement. As of October 2019, Garza was listed as a lifetime sex offender, with a risk level of moderate, on the Texas Sex Offender Registry.

Garza has performed as Tatiana Mala Nia (Bad Girl Tatiana) since 2012 at the latest. In September 2017, she was one of the performers in the inaugural Drag Queen Storytime program at the Freed-Montrose public library in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston. She took part in the same event at the same library on at least two subsequent occasions, in June and September of 2018.

In March 2019, the pro-family activist group Mass Resistance revealed the fact that Garza had been convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 2009. As a result of the backlash that followed, Drag Queen Storytimes organizers ended their involvement in the event, writing that What started as a fun community event shared between us, a couple of drag queens and kings, and a few families has become a national controversy. People are being threatened. People are being hurt. We believe in what were doing, but we dont believe in putting our friends, our families, or our children in danger.

Opponents of the event had begun demonstrating outside the library in 2018, and in January 2019 a right-wing radio personality was found to be carrying a concealed handgun when he was arrested on suspicion of trespassing after he refused to leave the library. Shortly afterwards, the event was moved from the Freed-Montrose public library to Kindred, a nearby church.

The events organizers stated that Garza was able to take part in Drag Queen Storytime because they only began performing background checks in October 2018, shortly after Garzas final appearance at the event. Houston Public Library does its own background checking on all volunteers, but according to KTRK-TV, Garza slipped through the cracks because she gave her name as Nicky Salazar and did not provide a date of birth or Social Security number. On March 15, 2019, Houston Public Library (HPL) apologized for the oversight in a press release:

We were made aware today that one participant for Drag Queen storytime who read at the September 29, 2018, Drag Queen Storytime has a criminal background that should have prevented him from participating in the program. We assure you that this participant will not be involved in any future HPL programs.

In our review of our process and of this participant, we discovered that we failed to complete a background check as required by our own guidelines. We deeply regret this oversight and the concern this may cause our customers. We realize this is a serious matter.

Every program sponsored by HPL is supervised by HPL staff, and all children are accompanied by a parent and/or guardian. No participant is ever alone with children, and we have not received any complaints about any inappropriate behavior by participants at storytimes.

We are taking the appropriate action to ensure that the status of every participant in every program throughout our system is verified. We will continue to review our process to ensure that this cannot happen again.

Once again, we apologize for our failure to adhere to our own process in this matter and to the hundreds of parents and caregivers who have enjoyed this program with their children.

More here:
Did a Convicted Sex Offender Read to Children at a Houston Public Library? - Snopes.com

The purpose of the Salem Public Library is to serve and meet the needs of the community. For more than 20 years, the library has had a program called Books on the Run. In this program, the library works with enrichment services to deliver books to Salem citizens who are homebound due to health problems or age. Library staff puts together a collection of books that suit ones desires, and then enrichment services delivers them. Within city limits, readers can receive deliveries once every two weeks. If interested, stop in the library to pick up an application.

Other events

October is Teentober at the library. To celebrate, the library is holding a teen photography contest. In the past, the contest has had good participation from teens and good responses from the community. Over the summer, the contest had over 40 entries. Teens can enter their photos beginning Oct. 1. The deadline is Oct. 18. Winning photos will be printed in The Salem News.

From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 9, the library will celebrate the premier of the new Disney movie, Frozen 2, with an Olaf Frozen Fun Party. Kids in kindergarten through sixth grade are welcome to enjoy stories, games, crafts and snacks. The event will be held in the north basement.

Book Talk is the fourth Tuesday of every month at 1 p.m. If that isnt the time for you, join the Thursday Night Book Club. They gather on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the north basement.

The Dent County Astronomers are coming 6-7 p.m. Dec. 5. They will be set up in the library parking lot and north basement to observe the moon and many of its features. Come check out the sky with the telescopes. The astronomers are great with people of all ages and backgrounds, so bring the whole family.

There is something fun to do at the library every day. Puzzles and coloring sheets are laid out each day for something relaxing to do. On a rainy or snowy day, you can visit the library to get involved in the Rainy STEM Fun. During this time, toys that get to kids to think like engineers are available to play with all day, including building blocks, legos, and more.

Salem Public Library is located at 403 N. Jackson in Salem. They are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday. On Thursday, they open at 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.; Saturdays you can visit from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 729-4331.

The rest is here:
Upcoming fall events at the library - The Salem News

Vailey Oehlke

Oehlke is director of libraries at Multnomah County Library.

Your public libraries are being threatened by corporate interests.

Multnomah County Library and other public libraries provide open access to books, materials, programs, technology and first-rate customer service. Public libraries are unique institutions because they exist solely to further the common good and to serve you regardless of how you look, what you believe, where you were born, what language you speak, who you love or any other way that you identify.

Public libraries are far more than buildings with books. As technology and the internet have transformed the way we live, work and connect with one another, libraries have also transformed to the digital age. Multnomah County Library offers more than 800,000 digital titles, including e-books, downloadable audiobooks, streaming videos and music. More than 300,000 of those titles are e-books.

Large publishers are now trying to restrict digital content lending at public libraries by excessively hiking prices for e-books and audiobooks. They also announced plans to require libraries to re-purchase digital content after a certain number of months or checkouts; and restricting libraries ability to buy new e-books.

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Macmillan Publishers, one of the nations biggest publishers representing authors including Oprah Winfrey, Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, and Rainbow Rowell, has announced an eight-week embargo on new e-books for libraries. This embargo means that for the first eight weeks after a book is released, libraries will only be able to purchase a single copy of new Macmillan e-books.

This new policy will hurt readers across Oregon, because all libraries, no matter the size of the community they serve, will be limited to one copy. That means one copy to share for the 800,000 living in Multnomah County and one copy for the 138 people living in the town of Agness, in southern Oregon.

These restrictive policies from publishers will shut out those in our communities who rely on public libraries for access to books and resources they couldnt afford otherwise. For many people, borrowing books in an e-format is critical because of an accessibility need. As one patron said, I love reading [e-books] with enlarged fonts and white text on a dark display, it is so much easier on my deteriorating eyes. Another said ...our family has first-hand experience with how necessary e-books are for people with dyslexia.

Like many industries, libraries have been disrupted by the technological revolution. Over the past five years, the popularity of e-books has exploded. What once began as a complementary collection to our core print collection has become an essential service for many. Multnomah County Library is now the sixth top-circulating library in the country for digital content, with 5,000 e-book checkouts every single day (1.7 million annually). E-book checkouts in Multnomah County have grown by 210% in the past five years.

Libraries purchase e-books at a price that is often four times the price of a retail copy. For example, the book Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell published by Hachette Book Group costs $15.99 for a retail copy on Amazon Kindle but libraries pay $65 per copy for a two-year license. Publishers require libraries to re-purchase e-books after a specific number of checkouts or every two years, no matter how many times theyve been checked out.

With these limitations in place, we estimate that Multnomah County Library will soon spend at least 25 percent of its e-book budget on re-licensing items already in the collection. These excessive costs will prevent the library from buying a broader range of titles or buying more copies of popular titles in order to reduce wait times.

Publishers unfair e-book practices not only hurt libraries and readers but also authors, who are now being forced to choose between making a living and supporting the mission of the public library. Libraries have a long history of supporting authors. Every day, patrons browse the shelves or the online catalog to find new books to enjoy; they get reading recommendations from library staff; and they attend author readings and programs. Libraries generate revenue for authors and publishers and serve as a free source of marketing in fact, there are more public libraries in the United States than McDonalds or Starbucks.

These harsh and unfair restrictions on public libraries are a troubling trend that we must stop.

This issue will impact public libraries big and small. Whether you are a patron of Multnomah County Library or one of the other numerous public libraries across Oregon, your voice matters. Please sign the American Library Association petition to stop Macmillans e-book embargo at ebooksforall.org.

The rest is here:
Opinion: Publishers are blocking your access to e-books at local libraries - OregonLive