Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness News From Medical News Today

Women Can Quit Smoking And Control Weight Gain

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST

Many women don't quit smoking because they are afraid of gaining weight. That's because nicotine suppresses the appetite and boosts a smoker's metabolism. But a new meta-analysis (results of several studies) shows that women who quit smoking while receiving treatment for weight control are better able to control their weight gain and are more successful at quitting cigarettes.

In Fibroid Surgery Patient's Weight Not Linked To Success

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

Obese patients are no more likely to have post-operative complications than those of average weight when undergoing robotic surgery to remove uterine fibroids, according to a study at Henry Ford Hospital. Myomectomy is a procedure that removes uterine fibroids, leaving the uterus intact and preserving the ability for future pregnancies.

Study Says 43 Percent Of Americans Could Be Obese By 2018 - Costing $344 Billion Annually

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST

A study has found that, if left unchecked, 43 percent of Americans will be obese by 2018, costing the health care system $344 billion annually.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Worse For Toddlers, Obese Children

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST

Toddlers and obese children suffer more than other youth when exposed to secondhand smoke, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2009. "Secondhand smoke in children is not just bad for respiratory issues, as has been previously described by other researchers," said John Anthony Bauer, Ph.D.

Nutrigenomics Researchers Replicate Gene Interaction With Saturated Fat

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

Tufts University researchers have identified a gene-diet interaction that appears to influence body weight and have replicated their findings in three independent studies. Men and women carrying the CC genotype demonstrated higher body mass index (BMI) scores and a higher incidence of obesity, but only if they consumed a diet high in saturated fat. These associations were seen in the apolipoprotein A-II gene (APOA2) promoter.

To Eat Or Not To Eat? Mental Budgets Help Control Consumption

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

If you feel like you're in a losing battle with a triple-chocolate cake, a "mental budget" can help, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. "There are some behaviors that consumers try to limit but have trouble doing so," write authors Parthasarathy Krishnamurthy (University of Houston) and Sonja Prokopec (ESSEC Business School, France).

Obesity Rates Will Continue To Increase, Drive Health Care Costs In Pennsylvania Over Next Decade, According To New Study

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:00:00 PST

A new report released based on research by Emory University Health Care Economist Ken Thorpe, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), shows increasing obesity rates in Pennsylvania and across the country will result in higher health care spending for states and individuals.

Increased Obesity Hindering Success At Reducing Heart Disease Risk

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST

The dramatic increase in overweight and obesity in adult Americans over the past 20 years has undermined public health success at reducing risk for heart disease, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2009. In a new study, researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1988-2006, representing 8,264 adult men and women, 20 to 85 years old.

Students With A Lower Socioeconomic Background Benefit From Daily School Physical Activity

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST

German school students - especially those with low socioeconomic status (SES) - significantly improved their exercise capacity and body leanness after a year of daily physical activity classes, according to research presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2009. In a study of German school children with high SES and one with low SES students, researchers examined specific cardiac risk factors.

Some Obese People Perceive Body Size As OK, Dismiss Need To Lose Weight

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST

Some obese people misperceive that their body size is normal and think they don't need to lose weight, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2009. In the Dallas Heart Study of 5,893 people, researchers found that 8 percent of the 2,056 who were obese said they were satisfied with their body size or felt they could gain weight.

Playing Active Video Games Can Equal Moderate-intensity Exercise

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST

Active Wii sports™ video games and some Wii fit™ activities may increase adults' energy expenditure as much as moderately intense exercise, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2009. The study, funded by Nintendo™, demonstrated that about one-third of the virtual physical activities require an energy expenditure of 3.0 METs or above, considered moderate-intensity exercise.

The GFC Affects Your Health, Not Just Your Pocket

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST

One in four Australian adults has taken an action that puts their health at risk as a result of the global financial crisis (GFC), according to a new MBF Healthwatch poll. The results show that lack of job security was particularly hard on families, with almost one in five parents turning up to work ill and close to one in 10 parents sending sick children to school.

Link Between Fat Around Organs And Decreased Heart Function

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have shown that fat collection in different body locations, such as around the heart and the aorta and within the liver, are associated with certain decreased heart functions. The study, which appears on-line in Obesity, also found that measuring a person's body mass index (BMI) does not reliably predict the amount of undesired fat in and around these vital organs.

Study Aims To Find Fun, Effective Way To Combat Pediatric Obesity

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST

Childhood obesity is on the rise, and with it comes an increased risk for developing health problems such as type 2 diabetes. The best way to reduce the risk of serious weight-related health issues such as diabetes is to eat healthy and increase physical activity.

New Book Thinking In Circles About Obesity Presents A Novel Approach To Addressing The Weight Crisis

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST

Low-carb…low-fat…high-protein…high-fiber…Americans are food-savvy, label-conscious, calorie-aware - and still gaining weight in spite of all their good intentions. Worse still, today's children run the risk of a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Thinking in Circles About Obesity by Tarek Hamid brings a healthy portion of critical thinking, spiced with humor and lively graphics, to the obesity debate.

Family Physician Group Offered No-Cost Alternative To Funding From Coca-Cola

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST

Leading Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) nutrition and health researcher Walter Willett, M.D., Dr. P.H., has written a letter to the President-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) offering an alternative to the organization's decision, announced in October, to accept a six-figure grant from the Coca-Cola Company to develop web content on beverages and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

More Disabilities Today In 60-Year-Olds Than In Prior Generations

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST

In a development that could have significant ramifications for the nation's health care system, Baby Boomers may well be entering their 60s suffering far more disabilities than their counterparts did in previous generations, according to a new UCLA study. The findings, researchers say, may be due in part to changing American demographics.

GI Dynamics' EndoBarrier ™ Gastrointestinal Liner Demonstrates Significant HbA1c Reduction In Obese People Living With Type 2 Diabetes

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PST

GI Dynamics, a leader in non-surgical treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity, today announced data which demonstrate that obese patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes using the EndoBarrier™ Gastrointestinal Liner achieved near normalization of glycemic control in just one week, as compared to a sham control group. In addition, patients treated with EndoBarrier achieved a mean reduction of 2.4% in HbA1c glucose levels versus 0.8% for the sham arm at 24 weeks.

Use Of Performance Enhancers By Athletes More Likely To Lead To Abuse Of Alcohol, Other Drugs

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST

College athletes who use performance-enhancing substances may be at heightened risk of misusing alcohol and using recreational drugs as well, according to new research in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The study, of 234 male athletes at one university, found that those who used performance enhancers -- ranging from steroids to stimulants to weight-loss supplements -- were more likely to admit to heavy drinking and using drugs like marijuana and cocaine.

Study Suggests Westernized Diet Leads To Obesity Via Gut Microbes

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST

US researchers who transplanted human intestinal microbes into germ-free mice and then switched their diet from a low-fat plant-based one to a more Westernized diet, high in fat and sugars, found that within one day obesity-linked microbes were thriving in the gut and the mice eventually became obese. The study was the work of Dr Jeffrey I Gordon and colleagues and was published on 11 November in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Global Health Partner AB: Start-up Of Obesity Treatment Operations In Finland

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:00:00 PST

In collaboration with Eira Hospital in Helsinki, Global Health Partner (STO:GHP) has started up obesity treatment operations and the first bariatric surgery procedure has now been performed. Finland has the highest obesity prevalence in the Nordic countries. However, the number of bariatric surgery procedures has so far been very low.

What's The Skinny On Fat Removal? Dermatologists Believe Emerging Non-Invasive Technologies Shaping Up To Be The Next Big Thing

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST

For many people, diet and exercise help keep them looking and feeling healthy. But even those who work hard on staying in shape might have a hard time shaking stubborn love handles or lower belly fat, which can bulge through clothing like a neon sign. While the market for getting rid of unwanted fat has grown over the years to include stomach stapling and behavioral techniques, there is still a demand for procedures that can reduce areas of localized fat safely and effectively.

Dieters Can Experience Neurobiological Similarities Of Drug Addicts And Alcoholics

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have shown that intermittent access to foods rich in fat and sugar induces changes in the brain which are comparable to those observed in drug dependence. The findings, reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may explain how abstinence from these foods contributes to relapse eating among dieters as well as related eating disorders.

New Singapore Study To Prevent Obesity And Diabetes In Adultsfocuses On Expectant Moms, Babies

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

Three Singapore biomedical institutions have launched a major, long-term study of pregnant mothers and their fetuses as well as infant children to determine just how profoundly environmental factors early in life influence the onset of diseases such as obesity and diabetes in later years.

The Leading Risk Factor Of Left Atrial Enlargement During Aging Is Obesity

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST

Aside from aging itself, obesity appears to be the most powerful predictor of left atrial enlargement (LAE), upping one's risk of atrial fibrillation (the most common type of arrhythmia), stroke and death, according to findings published in the November 17, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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