Health Highlights: June 5, 2008

June 6 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:

Anxiety More Important Than Looks in Teen Eating Disorders

In teens with eating disorders, anxiety plays a bigger role than dissatisfaction with appearance, says a study by Finnish researchers.

They conducted two surveys, a year apart, of 372 students, ages 15 to 17, and found that 13 percent reported eating disorders in either the first or second survey and 5 percent reported eating disorders in both surveys, United Press International reported.

The researchers also found that students who reported suffering from anxiety earlier in adolescence were 20 times more likely to report ongoing eating disorders. Teens who said they were dissatisfied with their appearance only had recurring eating disorders if they also reported anxiety earlier in adolescence.

Teens with eating disorders were more likely than those without eating disorders (70 percent vs. 40 percent) to report one or more health problems such as insomnia, fatigue, headache, abdominal pain or dizziness, UPI reported.

The study was published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing.

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Dental Fillings With Mercury Pose Threat to Children, Fetuses: FDA

Dental fillings that contain mercury may be harmful to children and fetuses, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a warning posted on its Web site Wednesday.

The agency agreed to post the warning as part of a lawsuit settlement reached with several consumer advocates. The FDA also agreed that by July 2009, it would issue a more specific rule for fillings that contain mercury, FOXNews reported.

"Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses," says the warning on the FDA Web site.

"Pregnant women and persons who may have a health condition that makes them more sensitive to mercury exposure, including individuals with existing high levels of mercury bioburden, should not avoid seeking dental care but should discuss options with their health practitioner," the FDA advises.