 |
|
UNC researchers find MSG use linked to obesity
August 14, 2008CHAPEL HILL - People who use monosodium glutamate, or MSG, as a flavor enhancer in their food are more likely than people who don't use it to be overweight or obese even though they have the same amount of physical activity and total calorie intake, according to a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health study published this month in the journal Obesity.
Researchers at UNC and in China studied more than 750 Chinese men and women, aged between 40 and 59, in three rural villages in north and south China. The majority of study participants prepared their meals at home without commercially processed foods. About 82 percent of the participants used MSG in their food. Those users were divided into three groups, based on the amount of MSG they used. The third who used the most MSG were nearly three times more likely to be overweight than non-users.
"Animal studies have indicated for years that MSG might be associated with weight gain," said Ka He, M.D., assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the UNC School of Public Health. "Ours is the first study to show a link between MSG use and weight in humans."
Because MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in many processed foods, studying its potential effect on humans has been difficult. He and his colleagues chose study participants living in rural Chinese villages because they used very little commercially processed food, but many regularly used MSG in food preparation.
"We found that prevalence of overweight was significantly higher in MSG users than in non-users," He said. "We saw this risk even when we controlled for physical activity, total calorie intake and other possible explanations for the difference in body mass. The positive associations between MSG intake and overweight were consistent with data from animal studies."
As the percentage of overweight and obese people around the world continues to increase, He said, finding clues to the cause could be very important.
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other health organizations around the world have concluded that MSG is safe," He said, "but the question remains - is it healthy?"
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Because MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in many processed foods, studying its potential effect on humans has been difficult. He and his colleagues chose study participants living in rural Chinese villages because they used very little commercially processed food, but many regularly used MSG in food preparation.
"We found that prevalence of overweight was significantly higher in MSG users than in non-users," He said. "We saw this risk even when we controlled for physical activity, total calorie intake and other possible explanations for the difference in body mass. The positive associations between MSG intake and overweight were consistent with data from animal studies."
As the percentage of overweight and obese people around the world continues to increase, He said, finding clues to the cause could be very important.
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other health organizations around the world have concluded that MSG is safe," He said, "but the question remains - is it healthy?"
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Overweight Current Events and Overweight News RSSResearchers: Ban on fast food TV advertising would reverse childhood obesity trends
A ban on fast food advertisements in the United States could reduce the number of overweight children by as much as 18 percent, according to a new study being published this month in the Journal of Law and Economics.
26 percent of sleepless children become overweight
Between the ages of six months and six years old, close to 90 percent of children have at least one sleep-related problem. Among the most common issues are night terrors, teeth-grinding and bed-wetting.
Home-based diet and exercise intervention improves elderly cancer survivors' physical function
A home-based program to improve exercise and diet led to significant, clinically meaningful improvement in body weight and physical function among older long-term cancer survivors in preliminary findings from the RENEW (Reach-out to ENhancE Wellness) trial.
New CT technology shows anorexia impairs adolescent bone development
Children and teenagers with even mild cases of anorexia exhibit abnormal bone structure, according to a new study appearing in the December issue of Radiology and presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Decisions, decisions: Feedback influences decision making
Every day we are faced with a multitude of choices, but the majority of these fall into two categories: descriptive choice (based on what we are told) and experiential choice (based on our own personal experience).
Vitamin C lowers levels of heart disease biomarker, finds study, adds to debate of health benefits
A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, adds to the evidence that vitamin C supplements can lower concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), a central biomarker of inflammation that has been shown to be a powerful predictor of heart disease and diabetes.
UNC study: text messaging may help children fight off obesity
A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests that cell phone text messaging could be used to reduce children's chances of becoming overweight or obese later in life, by helping them monitor and modify their own behaviors now.
Melanin Production Discovered in Fat Tissue May Protect Some Individuals Against Chronic Diseases Associated with Obesity
A two-year study conducted by researchers at George Mason University, INOVA Fairfax Hospital and the National Cancer Institute may open the door to new therapies for combating chronic diseases associated with obesity, a condition that affected more than 33 percent of American adults in 2005-06 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Weight does not affect women's sexual behavior
Oregon and Hawaiian researchers have found that a woman's weight does not seem to affect sexual behavior. In fact, overweight women are more likely to report having sex with men than women considered to be of "normal weight."
Gaining too much weight during pregnancy nearly doubles risk of having a heavy baby
A study by the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research of more than 40,000 women and their babies found that women who gained more than 40 pounds during their pregnancies were nearly twice as likely to have a heavy baby.
More Overweight Current Events and Overweight News Articles
 | Reprogramming the Overweight Mind: 7 Steps to Taking Control of Your Subconscious (Includes Bonus Audio/Data CD) by Kelly Burris Please visit KellyBurris.com for clinical studies, THE Burris Life Coach Certification and more. If you do not know how your subconscious works it is running itself and your life. The question you need to ask yourself is...Am I happy with my subconscious running itself or do I need to take control of it? If you need to take control then this book and the clinically proven process contained... |
 | Rescuing the Emotional Lives of Overweight Children: What Our Kids Go Through - And How We Can Help by Sylvia Rimm, Eric Rimm Helping your child through a weight problem doesn't have to be a long, difficult process. In Rescuing the Emotional Lives of Overweight Children, Dr. Sylvia Rimm, one of America's most trusted family psychologists for more than 20 years, cuts to the heart of the issue with simple advice you can use today, even as you are still searching for ways to help your child lose weight. You will discover:... |
 | The Overweight Patient: A Psychological Approach to Understanding And Working With Obesity by Kathy Leach This practical guide approaches obesity and overeating from a psychological perspective, and offers sensitive methods to increase patients' sense of self-worth, self-knowledge, and motivation to lose weight. "The Overweight Patient" explores the underlying beliefs and behaviours that may contribute to obesity, including psychological needs, addiction, fear of deprivation, parental influences and... |
 | The 3-Week Family Fat Cure: You Don't Have to Be Overweight Just Because Your Parents Are by John E. Mayer Fat is a family issue - and clinical psychologist John Mayer says this is not because of genetics. This guide aims to explain why entire families that are overweight are increasingly becoming the norm in today's society, and discusses what can be done to break the cycle and end the pain for good. Successful with his own family, Mayer has developed a three-step programme that in just three weeks... |
 | Dieting, Overweight, and Obesity: Self-Regulation in a Food-Rich Environment by Wolfgang Stroebe "Dieting, Overweight, and Obesity: Self-Regulation in a Food-Rich Environment" examines why self-regulation of weight is so difficult for many people. The author explains the history of bodyweight standards, details the emotional and physical consequences of being overweight, and explores the various treatment and prevention plans for obesity.In reviewing the numerous psychological theories that... |
 | Awaken the Diet Within: From Overweight to Looking Great-If I Can Do It, So Can You by Julia Griggs Havey - AWAKEN THE DIET WITHIN was published in Warner hardcover in 1/03 and was featured in "USA TODAY, Glamour, and "Woman's Own. Julia Griggs Havey created in infomercial with Time-Life to promote her motivational weight loss program that will launch in April 2003.- After Julia submitted her remarkable story to "Woman's World in 1996, she became a role model for millions, appearing on "Sally Jessy... |
 | Underage and Overweight: America's Childhood Obesity Epidemic: What Every Family Needs to Know by Frances M. Ms, Ln Berg A groundbreaking study: Includes a 7-step plan for raising healthy-weight children.In 2001, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a press release to the American public containing some disturbing statistics: 14 percent of teenagers and 13 percent of children were overweight or obese. This skyrocketing figure is associated with increases in high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, as... |
 | Fat No More: The Answer for the Dangerously Overweight by Norman B. Ackerman This is the amazing story of the surgical solutions that many are seeking. Dr Ackerman, who has devoted two decades to helping those who fear there's no hope left, offers surgical answers to morbid obesity, from stomach stapling and intestinal bypass to lyposuction and more. This is the complete guide for those who choose these solutions and for those who provide them. Using the latest research,... |
 | Our Overweight Children: What Parents, Schools, and Communities Can Do to Control the Fatness Epidemic (California Studies in Food and Culture) by Sharron Dalton The United States is facing a health crisis of epidemic proportions: children are gaining weight younger and faster than ever before. With the prospect of becoming the most obese generation of adults in history, they are already turning up with an alarming assortment of "grown-up" maladies, from type 2 diabetes to high blood pressure. This book takes a clear-eyed look at what's behind the... |
 | Overweight: A Handbook for Teens and Parents by Tania Heller With respect to both physical activity and nutrition, lifestyles of most young Americans have changed dramatically over time. Decades ago, young people often walked miles to attend school, visit friends, or even see a doctor. There was no television to watch for hours on end. Instead of spending time chatting to friends on the internet, one would often have to pay an actual visit. Rather than... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |