Body Watch : No Wonder Kids Are Always Saying They’re Hungry

It makes sense that kids would carry on about junk food after watching their favorite Saturday television shows. Turns out kids take in 21 commercials in a single hour of viewing children’s programs. Forty-eight percent of those commercials (averaging 29 seconds each) are for food and restaurants; 91% of the foods advertised are high in fat, sugar or salt, researchers found after monitoring 95 hours of weekday afternoon and Saturday morning television shows.

The foods were rated by a registered dietitian as part of a study conducted by a pediatrician from UC San Diego and a family practitioner from Community Hospital in Santa Rosa.

How Does L.A. Measure Up in Condom Usage?

In other survey news, 250 condom users (ages 18-34) were interviewed in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, New York and Atlanta about their habits. Here are the L.A. stats from the 1995 Sheik/Ramses Condom Culture Report:

* 14% say they have sex 15 or more times per month. (L.A. is the least sexually active; Atlanta, the most.)

* 48% of Angelenos refer to condoms as “rubbers.” The runners-up are “protection,” 36%; “raincoat,” 14%, and “party hat,” 12%. At the bottom of the list: “Jimmy Hat.”

* 59% carry at least two condoms at all times.

* L.A. scores highest with 20% claiming that they used a condom before age 15.

* 40% bought their first condom; 30% were donated by a friend; 20% received it from a partner, 6% from a relative.

* 64% prefer to put on condoms in the dark.

Briefly . . .

“Prevention of Vascular Complications in Diabetes” is a free seminar on Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., at Encino Tarzana Regional Medical Center, 18321 Clark St., Tarzana. Call (800) 779-6636 for reservations . . . The Cancer Detection Center in the Moseley Salvatori Conference Center of the Good Samaritan Hospital, 637 S. Lucas Ave., Los Angeles, offers a free seminar on breast self-examination on Aug. 17. Call (213) 481-2511 . . . The Department of Neurology at County-USC Medical Center is seeking people older than 18 who are taking Tegretol or Dilantin to study the drug Neurontin, which controls the symptoms of epilepsy. Call (213) 226-7381 after noon Thursdays or Fridays . . .

A three-year health behavior study of 6,000 Chrysler Corp. employees and dependents found that smokers had a 31% higher annual claim cost than nonsmokers, overweight people used hospitals 143% more than people of average weight, and people with high blood pressure spent 24% more days in the hospital than those with normal blood pressure. The biggest difference was found in eating habits. Poor diets resulted in 41% more in medical costs compared to people with good eating habits . . . The number of ectopic pregnancies has increased sixfold in the past 20 years; sexually transmitted diseases are the main culprits . . . Of 1,100 gastroenterologists surveyed, 38% said they followed the American Cancer Society’s screening guidelines to detect colorectal cancer, 82% dieted on high fiber foods, 68% limited their consumption of dietary fat . . . Pharmacists, clergy and dentists were the top three most trusted professionals, according to a Gallup Poll.