<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/system/syndication/rss.xsl" media="screen"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><channel><title>Blogs</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog</link><description>Check out our forum to get the latest information on health and wellness in Illinois. Discuss various health-related topics and learn something new.</description><dc:language>en-US</dc:language><generator>Telligent Community 12</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog" /><item><title>High Cholesterol Raises Your Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/cholesterol-doubles-risk</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:bf9d0ba9-7c6d-419f-9860-60145c90a0f3</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>3</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/cholesterol-doubles-risk#comments</comments><description>&lt;a title="Lee esto en Espa&amp;ntilde;ol" href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/el-colesterol-alto-duplica-su-riesgo-de-enfermedad-cardiaca"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Millions of Americans have high cholesterol, which can clog blood vessels and lead to serious health problems. People with high total cholesterol are at higher risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in the U.S.
Along with fami...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/cholesterol-doubles-risk"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=923&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Cholesterol">Cholesterol</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Risk%2bfor%2bHeart%2bDisease">Risk for Heart Disease</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Heart%2bHealth%2b_2600_amp_3B00_%2bDiet">Heart Health &amp;amp; Diet</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Heart%2bDisease%2bDiet%2band%2bHealth">Heart Disease Diet and Health</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/High%2bCholesterol">High Cholesterol</category></item><item><title>ADHD and Back to School: Tips for Parents</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/adhd-back-to-school</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:08:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:33afcd1e-c265-4569-8406-995c117b5a25</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/adhd-back-to-school#comments</comments><description>&lt;a title="/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/vuelta-a-clases-con-tdah" href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/vuelta-a-clases-con-tdah"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;New school years offer new beginnings. A chance to learn and grow. But for many children, the first few days or weeks bring change, causing worry and stress.
Change is hard for many people, but it can be even more difficult for children with Attentio...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/adhd-back-to-school"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=1334&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/ADHD">ADHD</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Mental%2bHealth">Mental Health</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Healthy%2bMind">Healthy Mind</category></item><item><title>Living With High Blood Pressure</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/living-with-hypertension</link><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:22:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:1659418b-cf0f-42bd-b503-527ea304e797</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/living-with-hypertension#comments</comments><description>&lt;a title="/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/vivir-con-hipertension" href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/vivir-con-hipertension"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
Nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure&amp;nbsp;&amp;mdash; also known as hypertension. Only about one in four adults with high blood pressure have it under control. Are you one of them?
Learning to manage your blood pressure ca...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/living-with-hypertension"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=825&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Living%2bwith%2bHeart%2bDisease%2band%2bHigh%2bBlood%2bPressure">Living with Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Blood%2bPressure">Blood Pressure</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Hypertension">Hypertension</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Living%2bwith%2bHypertension">Living with Hypertension</category></item><item><title>What Is SPF and What Sunscreen Should I Use?</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/spf-and-sunscreen-to-use</link><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:20:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:62f4c44d-170a-4cb2-a301-bf13cb7bd1bf</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/spf-and-sunscreen-to-use#comments</comments><description>&lt;a title="/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/el-protector-solar-que-significa-spf" href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/el-protector-solar-que-significa-spf"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Before heading out for a BBQ, a day at the beach, or afternoon by the pool, don&amp;rsquo;t forget to apply sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun&amp;#39;s harmful ultraviolet rays.
You&amp;rsquo;ve probably seen them displayed in your local store: sunscreens ...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/spf-and-sunscreen-to-use"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=1342&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Skin%2bHealth">Skin Health</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Summer%2bSafety">Summer Safety</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category></item><item><title>Choose the Right Sunglasses to Protect Your Eyes</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/sunglasses-protect-eyes</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:51:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:548643d0-14e1-4f1c-bf0f-eb8f03104137</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/sunglasses-protect-eyes#comments</comments><description>&lt;a title="/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/cuales-lentes-de-sol-comprar-para-proteger-tu-vista" href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/cuales-lentes-de-sol-comprar-para-proteger-tu-vista"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Dark sunglasses are more than a stylish accessory. They protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage the retinas.
Sun protection for your eyes may not be the first thing you think about before you head outdoors, but it&amp;rsquo;s just as...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/sunglasses-protect-eyes"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=1343&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Eye%2bHealth">Eye Health</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Summer%2bSafety">Summer Safety</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category></item><item><title>Surprising Signs You Might Have a Thyroid Problem</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/too-tired-too-often-your-thyroid-may-be-to-blame</link><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:18:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:412577e6-d9ec-4af7-ad0e-cb746c04b2c4</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>1</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/too-tired-too-often-your-thyroid-may-be-to-blame#comments</comments><description>Thyroid disease is common, and many people don&amp;rsquo;t know they have it. That may be in part because some of the symptoms are surprising.
About 30 million people suffer from thyroid dysfunction. And more than half don&amp;rsquo;t know they have a proble...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/too-tired-too-often-your-thyroid-may-be-to-blame"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=93&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Nutrition">Nutrition</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Exercise">Exercise</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Thyroid">Thyroid</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category></item><item><title>Skin Cancer Facts: 3 Things Everyone Should Know</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/3-things-skin-cancer</link><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:37:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:5be9f083-26ca-49c0-809c-f104fb70d6c4</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/3-things-skin-cancer#comments</comments><description>Even though skin cancer is the most common cancer, many people don&amp;rsquo;t think they&amp;rsquo;re at risk. But everyone needs to protect their skin and pay attention to any changes.
Protect Your Skin
To protect your skin, you need to know the risks. Man...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/3-things-skin-cancer"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=1281&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Skin%2bHealth">Skin Health</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Cancer">Cancer</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Cancer%2bScreenings">Cancer Screenings</category></item><item><title>Back Pain Relief: Causes, Treatment and Prevention Tips</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/back-pain-not-alone</link><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:1c20d1ea-caed-4b5c-92a7-694b8065cabd</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>2</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/back-pain-not-alone#comments</comments><description>&lt;a title="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/dolor-de-espalda" href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/dolor-de-espalda"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;You may have a dull ache in your back that just won&amp;rsquo;t go away. Or you may feel a sharp, sudden pain that stops you in your tracks. Either way, you want the pain to stop.
Back pain can come from accidents, overuse and injuries like lifting somet...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/back-pain-not-alone"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=660&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2bConditions%2band%2bPrevention">Health Conditions and Prevention</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Back%2bPain">Back Pain</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Muscles%2band%2bBones">Muscles and Bones</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Joint%2band%2bBone%2bHealth">Joint and Bone Health</category></item><item><title>Diabetes and Vision Loss: Know the Connection, Protect Your Vision</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/diabetes-vision-know-connection-steps-prevent-problems</link><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:42:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:fd1416d9-7739-450b-812d-178554a53031</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/diabetes-vision-know-connection-steps-prevent-problems#comments</comments><description>&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/diabetes-y-la-perdida-de-la-vista-"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;People living with diabetes can have eye problems that lead to vision loss or blindness. And diabetic eye disease often has no early symptoms. That&amp;rsquo;s why an annual eye exam is critical for people with diabetes.
The longer you have diabetes, the...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/diabetes-vision-know-connection-steps-prevent-problems"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=501&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Vision">Vision</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2bConditions%2band%2bPrevention">Health Conditions and Prevention</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Managing%2bYour%2bDiabetes">Managing Your Diabetes</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Diabetes">Diabetes</category></item><item><title>Catch Up on Childhood Vaccines</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/catch-up-childhood-immunizations</link><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:44:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:ff50d798-b407-467e-8014-fe8fc7166ffe</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>1</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/catch-up-childhood-immunizations#comments</comments><description>&lt;a title="Lee esto en Espa&amp;ntilde;ol" href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/ponerse-al-dia-con-las-vacunas-infantiles-"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
Getting childhood vaccines on time matters. If children don&amp;rsquo;t have their vaccines, they are at higher risk of getting some serious diseases. They could also spread those diseases to their friends and family.
Don&amp;rsquo;t Delay
Now&amp;rsquo;s the t...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/catch-up-childhood-immunizations"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=1122&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Vaccines">Vaccines</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Preventive%2bCare%2bServices">Preventive Care Services</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Children_1920_s%2bHealth">Children’s Health</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Immunizations">Immunizations</category></item><item><title>Gestational Diabetes</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/gestational-diabetes</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:05:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:1cfcca67-1148-4518-bcda-e0b0b31374ff</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/gestational-diabetes#comments</comments><description>&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/diabetes-gestacional"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
When you&amp;rsquo;re an expecting mom-to-be, you&amp;rsquo;re likely focused on doing all you can to deliver a healthy baby. You probably watch the foods you eat, take your prenatal vitamins and try to get some exercise. So, if you&amp;rsquo;re healthy, why wo...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/gestational-diabetes"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=362&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Gestational%2bDiabetes">Gestational Diabetes</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Understanding%2bDiabetes">Understanding Diabetes</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Pregnancy">Pregnancy</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Diabetes">Diabetes</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Pregnancy%2bDiet%2band%2bHealth">Pregnancy Diet and Health</category></item><item><title>How Social Media Affects Mental Health + Tips to Manage It</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/social-media-mental-health</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 19:37:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:c00013bd-6c35-44a3-a599-6a7478d3c488</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/social-media-mental-health#comments</comments><description>Social media and digital tools have become constant companions in most people&amp;rsquo;s lives. There are some benefits. But research also shows the harm social media can have on mental health if not managed well.
Most people use social media daily. And...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/social-media-mental-health"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=1431&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Mental%2bHealth">Mental Health</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Behavioral%2bHealth">Behavioral Health</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Healthy%2bMind">Healthy Mind</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Teen%2bHealth">Teen Health</category></item><item><title>How You Can Help Your Child Maintain a Healthy Weight</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/childhood-obesity</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 19:25:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:75182046-b471-4014-8e2c-b09e37949573</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/childhood-obesity#comments</comments><description>&lt;a title="/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/ayuda-a-tus-hijos-a-evitar-los-riesgos-de-la-obesidad" href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/ayuda-a-tus-hijos-a-evitar-los-riesgos-de-la-obesidad"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
Helping kids stay active and eat healthy foods isn&amp;rsquo;t easy. But it&amp;rsquo;s important: Early extra pounds often start children on the path to future health problems.
Overweight children can also have health issues while they&amp;rsquo;re still young...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/childhood-obesity"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=1139&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Exercise">Exercise</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Healthy%2bEating">Healthy Eating</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Diabetes">Diabetes</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Childhood%2bObesity">Childhood Obesity</category></item><item><title>Follow 4 Simple Steps to Put Your Family on a Healthy Path</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/4-goals-family-fitness</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 15:39:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:70515e7e-f9a3-4cba-ad24-5ae3d138ed25</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>2</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/4-goals-family-fitness#comments</comments><description>&lt;a title="Lee esto en Espa&amp;ntilde;ol" href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/4-metas-familia-fitness"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;It&amp;rsquo;s never too early to teach kids about healthy habits. Setting good habits when they&amp;rsquo;re young puts them on the path toward a healthier life.
Many children are not off to a good start. About 1 in 5 American children are obese, says the C...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/4-goals-family-fitness"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=1242&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Exercise">Exercise</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Sleep">Sleep</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Children_1920_s%2bHealth">Children’s Health</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Childhood%2bObesity">Childhood Obesity</category></item><item><title>What is Anxiety Disorder?</title><link>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/anxiety-disorder</link><pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 16:32:52 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6e104328-2028-43b6-bb31-8401437dc51f:a40eb401-ca8e-4e1c-9068-71f4d54f6c7a</guid><dc:creator>BCBSIL Connect Team</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/anxiety-disorder#comments</comments><description>&lt;a title="/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/trastorno-de-ansiedad" href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/espanol/b/tusalud/posts/trastorno-de-ansiedad"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Life can feel stressful. In a recent poll by the &lt;a title="American Psychiatric Association" href="https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/annual-poll-adults-express-increasing-anxiousness" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;American Psychiatric Association&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;adults across the U.S. have reported increased feelings of anxiety. We all deal with many life stressors at once. Worries about &amp;nbsp;health, work, money, ca...(&lt;a href="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/anxiety-disorder"&gt;read more&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;img src="https://connect.bcbsil.com/aggbug?PostID=1429&amp;AppID=2&amp;AppType=Weblog&amp;ContentType=0" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Mental%2bHealth">Mental Health</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Behavioral%2bHealth">Behavioral Health</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Health%2band%2bWellness">Health and Wellness</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Healthy%2bMind">Healthy Mind</category><category domain="https://connect.bcbsil.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/archive/tags/Understanding%2bDepression%2band%2bAnxiety">Understanding Depression and Anxiety</category></item></channel></rss>