Articles tagged with Obesity
A study by Risto Moisio and Mariam Beruchashvili finds that Weight Watchers meetings offer a spiritual and therapeutic model for members seeking well-being. The authors conclude that the social function of weekly meetings extends far beyond weight loss, providing a powerful service to its clientele.
A University of Michigan study analyzed 23-year patterns in weight-related activities among 17,314 young adults, revealing consistent disparities in health behaviors by gender, race, and socioeconomic status. The study found that young women exercised less than men, while black and Hispanic women had lower fruit and vegetable consumption.
A new study has found that obesity increases the risk of prostate cancer recurrence in both black and white men, with no racial difference observed. Researchers analyzed data from 1,415 patients and found a significant association between higher body mass index and increased risk of cancer recurrence.
A new UK-based study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that meal replacements aided substantial weight loss among obese patients, with Medically Supervised participants losing an average of 43.4 pounds over 19 weeks.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that carnitine supplementation improves glucose tolerance in obese rats by restoring their cells' fuel-burning capacity. This breakthrough offers potential therapy options for people with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and kidney disease.
A nationwide study found that food stamp users had a 1.15 point higher BMI than non-users, with an average increase of 5.8 pounds for women. The study also showed that people's BMI increased faster when they were on food stamps and increased more the longer they were in the program.
Research finds that debt can increase the risk of being medically obese, as it limits leisure time activities and affects food choices. The study of over 9000 people shows a significant association between debt and obesity, independent of income, education, and occupation.
A new study reveals that social stress can lead to the deposition of more fat in the abdominal cavity, accelerating the buildup of plaque in blood vessels and increasing the risk of heart disease. The study found that stressed monkeys developed more visceral fat, which promotes coronary artery atherosclerosis.
Patients with BMI under 18.5 kg/m2 had higher retransplantation rates due to graft failure, and were more likely to die from hemorrhagic complications or cerebrovascular accidents. Patients with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 experienced higher death rates due to infectious complications and cancer.
Research shows that individuals tend to overestimate their ability to control impulses, leading to a greater likelihood of indulging in impulsive or addictive behavior. The study found that people in a 'cold state' underestimate the influence of impulsive states on their behavior.
Researchers found specific tendencies and behaviors linked to disordered eating habits among overweight adolescents, including socio-environmental and psychological factors. Strong family relationships are also crucial in preventing disordered eating behaviors, particularly the lack of family connectedness.
A MSU researcher is studying how gastric bypass surgery affects the immune system's ability to defend the body after drastic weight loss. The study aims to understand potential adverse effects of morbid obesity on certain facets of immune defense.
A recent NIH study found that bariatric surgery for extreme obesity has a low risk of short-term complications and death rates. The study, LABS-1, followed 4,776 patients who underwent bariatric surgery for the first time and found that less than 1% died within 30 days.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute engineered mouse cells to produce brown fat, a natural energy-burning type of fat that counteracts obesity. Transplanted into adult mice, the synthetic brown fat precursors burned excess energy at a high rate.
Researchers discovered that a common allergy medication can reduce obesity and type 2 diabetes in mice by stabilizing mast cells. A separate study found regulatory T cells play a crucial role in controlling inflammation in fat tissue, suggesting a new connection between immune function and metabolic conditions.
Healthy women pregnant with twins should gain between 37-54 pounds for optimal growth before birth and healthier mothers throughout pregnancy. The new guidelines are based on a woman's prepregnancy body mass index and aim to reduce premature, low-birth-weight births and neonatal morbidity.
A team of researchers has identified a protein that breaks down an appetite-suppressing peptide, leading to reduced food intake in mice. Mice lacking the protein were leaner and less likely to become obese on high-fat diets.
Researchers at Yale University have made a groundbreaking discovery that reducing levels of an enzyme in the brain decreases appetites and increases energy levels. The study found that blocking this enzyme leads to weight loss and a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes in mice, providing new hope for treating metabolic disorders.
A new Canadian study reveals that cardiovascular disease is on the rise in younger Canadians, with increased rates of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. The study found that people of lower socioeconomic status are disproportionately affected, facing greater health risks and burdening healthcare resources.
Researchers identified a potential biological mechanism for reduced effectiveness of oral contraceptives in obese women, as it takes twice as long to reach the necessary blood concentration levels. The study's findings have important implications for approximately 30% of adult Americans who are obese and rely on birth control pills.
Ben-Gurion University researchers have identified a key signaling pathway in intra-abdominal fat that contributes to obesity-related disorders. The study found that this pathway is activated in response to fat accumulation in the abdomen, correlating with increased cardio-metabolic risk and whole-body insulin resistance.
Men who walk or bike to work are less likely to be overweight or obese and have healthier triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and insulin levels. Active commuting is also associated with improved fitness and reduced environmental impact.
A study published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery found that taking probiotics after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery can help obese patients shed more pounds. Probiotics also helped improve levels of vitamin B-12, which are often deficient after gastric-bypass surgery.
A study published in the Journal of Dental Research found that salivary bacterial populations were significantly different in overweight women compared to healthy individuals. The presence of certain bacterial species, such as Selenomonas noxia, was linked to an increased risk of obesity.
Researchers found significant differences in salivary bacteria populations between overweight women and non-overweight women, with a single species Selenomanas noxia linked to over 98% of cases. The study suggests oral bacteria may be related to obesity pathology.
A new study identifies a genomic fragment that reduces the effect of a type 2 diabetes risk gene in mice. The researchers found that this fragment, known as a 'jumping gene,' diminishes the activity of the risk gene Zfp69. In overweight individuals with diabetes, the human equivalent of this gene is highly active.
A new gene variant linked to increased risk of obesity has been discovered, affecting the central nervous system and leading to a 10-15% higher likelihood of being obese. The study examined data from eight studies involving genes and body weight, analyzing over two million genome regions.
A M.D. Anderson study found a strong relationship between high body mass index in early adulthood and an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer at a younger age. Excess weight before diagnosis was also associated with poor outcomes, including reduced overall survival time.
A new study found that underweight people have the highest risk of dying, followed by extremely obese individuals. In contrast, overweight people had a lower risk of dying compared to their normal-weight counterparts.
A recent study suggests that weight-loss surgery could be associated with reduced cancer risk in obese women, with a 42% decrease in first-time cancers over 10 years. However, the surgery had no effect on cancer incidence in men. The findings indicate that bariatric surgery may have broader benefits for women's cancer prevention.
A study published in JAMA found that young adults who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Being overweight at an older age is also associated with a lower overall survival rate for patients with pancreatic cancer.
Research by Dr. Janet D. Latner and Dr. Alice D. Boyes investigated associations between body mass index (BMI) and relationship quality among 57 couples in New Zealand. Heavier women reported lower quality relationships, partnering with less desirable men and perceiving themselves as less attractive.
Researchers found that drinking fat-free milk increased feelings of fullness, satisfaction, and led to a decrease in calorie intake at lunch. Fat free milk provides essential nutrients including calcium and vitamin D, which may play a role in the satiety benefits.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover how obesity triggers diabetes by activating ER stress, leading to abnormal glucose production in the liver. CRTC2 plays a key role in this process, with ATF6a competing for its binding site.
A Canadian study found that living in areas with more fast-food outlets and convenience stores than supermarkets has been associated with obesity. The proximity of these unhealthy environments is a significant risk factor for weight gain.
Dr. Jeffrey Friedman of Rockefeller University identified leptin as the 'satiety factor' behind obesity and type 2 diabetes, shedding light on chemical and genetic factors involved in the condition. The discovery has opened possibilities for future pharmaceutical treatments, influencing research worldwide.
Researchers at Penn found that people ignore crucial information when making decisions, leading to miscalculations of body weight and calories. The 'Unit Bias' heuristic causes participants to focus solely on certain dimensions, neglecting others.
Researchers investigated calcium supplementation's effect on obese patients' weight loss, found no benefits. Red yeast rice capsules improved LDL cholesterol levels in statin-intolerant patients without muscle pain side effects. Colonoscopy-related adverse events were low but increased with age and specific comorbid conditions.
Conventional body fat measurements overestimate obesity in African-Americans compared to Caucasians of the same age and weight. The study suggests that muscle mass may be higher in Blacks, which could explain the discrepancy.
A new study found that laparoscopic gastric banding surgery can significantly improve and even reverse the metabolic syndrome in teenagers, reducing their risk factors for heart disease and diabetes. The procedure resulted in statistically significant decreases in body mass index, waist circumference, and blood levels of inflammation.
Researchers found that adults, particularly young women, have functional brown adipose tissue, which burns calories and generates heat. Three ounces of brown fat can burn hundreds of calories per day.
A study by The Endocrine Society found that exenatide, an injectable medication, helps nondiabetic obese individuals lose over three times more weight than those receiving a placebo. This is the first study to assess the effect of exenatide on body weight in nondiabetic obese individuals.
A new study found that vitamin D levels before a low-calorie diet predict weight loss success. Higher baseline vitamin D levels also predicted greater loss of abdominal fat.
A new study finds that blocking the muscle growth-limiting hormone myostatin can decrease body fat and promote resistance to atherosclerosis in mice. The results show significant reductions in obesity-related biomarkers, including fasting blood sugar, insulin levels, and cholesterol levels.
A new study found that obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can lose a substantial amount of weight with simple weight-loss advice from a physician and regular follow-up. This weight loss was clinically significant, with 43.2% of patients losing at least 5% of their body weight.
A new study suggests that natural hormone angiotensin 1-7 may help treat the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors increasing heart disease and diabetes risk. Angiotensin 1-7 lowered fasting insulin levels and improved triglycerides and blood sugar in fructose-fed rats.
Research found that OSA is common among non-obese patients, especially those in their 50s and 60s. The study also showed that moderate to severe OSA was more prevalent in males with larger neck sizes.
A study published in Obesity Surgery found that severely obese individuals exhibit little habituation to food cues, resulting in impaired satiation and increased food consumption. This impairment may contribute to poor weight loss outcomes after bariatric surgery.
Researchers correct inaccuracies surrounding high fructose corn syrup's role in obesity and nutrition. They argue that the sweetener is essentially identical to sugar in terms of metabolism and calories.
A study by American Academy of Sleep Medicine finds that short sleep duration significantly increases the risk of obesity, particularly in black Americans, who have a 35% greater risk than whites. The study analyzed data from over 29,000 individuals and found that black Americans had a higher prevalence of both short sleep and obesity.
Research indicates that both long and short sleepers are at higher risk for developing diabetes. The adjusted odds ratio was 1.24 for short sleep (five hours per night or less) and 1.48 for long sleep (nine or more hours per night).
A study by National Jewish Health researchers found that obesity is not associated with more severe asthma, but may reduce response to corticosteroid medications. Obese patients may require alternative treatment options.
A groundbreaking new study is exploring the effectiveness of a high-protein diet in preventing type 2 diabetes in overweight adolescents. The research, funded by the MBF Foundation, will investigate whether a lower-carbohydrate and increased protein diet can delay or prevent the progression to insulin resistance.
Researchers found that private insurance patients had better weight loss outcomes and lower complication rates compared to Medicare patients. Duodenal switch surgery may be more effective than gastric bypass surgery for certain obesity-related medical problems, such as diabetes and high cholesterol.
Scientists discover that restoring leptin sensitivity to a specific area of POMC neurons in the brain's hypothalamus can cure severe diabetes and increase activity levels in mice. The findings suggest a new therapeutic pathway for treating insulin-resistant diabetes, potentially stimulating exercise willpower.
Researchers found elevated aldosterone levels in overweight male teens, associated with early signs of heart damage and thickened heart walls. Early intervention could prevent cardiovascular disease in these young people.
A new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology suggests that obesity is an independent predictor of inadequate bowel preparation at colonoscopy. Patients with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) are more likely to require more rigorous bowel preparation regimens.
Patients with both obesity and diabetes face a significantly worse prognosis, with effective treatment being
A study suggests that obese women should not aim to gain excessive weight during pregnancy, challenging previous guidelines. Instead, a well-balanced and nutritionally monitored program can provide better health outcomes for both mother and baby.
Timothy J. Bartness receives a multi-million dollar NIH award to further investigate the biological mechanisms of obesity. The MERIT award will aid in increasing understanding of the communication loop between fat cells and the brain.