Research on body mass index and health risk. Covers BMI and mortality, weight loss and survival, waist size, and abdominal fat.
A study of 264,230 individuals found that UK adults who are overweight or obese retain their weight over time, associated with an increased risk of health complications and death. The researchers also found greater levels of socioeconomic deprivation linked to increasing severity of obesity.
A study published in the Journal of Endocrinology found an association between higher body weight and greater menstrual blood loss, potentially due to delayed womb lining repair. The research used a combined approach of human and mouse studies, suggesting obesity may contribute to heavier periods through increased inflammation.
Researchers found associations between lifestyle factors and COVID-19 infection risk, including maintaining healthy weight and high HDL cholesterol levels. These factors may help lower the risk of COVID-19 infection.
A new study analyzing data from over 175,000 people found that excess body weight is associated with higher health care costs for individuals across various BMI levels. The researchers estimated that adult obesity results in $170 billion in excess annual costs per year in the US.
A new study from the University of Bergen found that positive self-image and self-esteem protect against weight gain in adolescence. The study, which followed 1225 Norwegian adolescents over two years, revealed that body dissatisfaction and a desire to change one's body can impair self-rated health and self-esteem.
Children who attended a comprehensive preschool program had lower body mass indexes and reduced obesity rates compared to those who did not attend the program. The study found that women participants were particularly less likely to be obese.
A recent study found that hospitalized COVID-19 patients with obesity have a significantly higher rate of ICU admissions and longer duration of ICU stay. Individuals with severe obesity were twice as likely to require ICU care, while the risk of death was not significantly higher in those with obesity.
Semaglutide treatment leads to reduced excess body fat and increased lean body mass in adults with obesity. The medication has the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke by improving body composition. The STEP 1 trial found that semaglutide significantly improved body weight loss and reduced visceral fat.
A pooled data analysis of 31 clinical trials found that wearable fitness trackers and step counters significantly helped people with weight-related health conditions lose weight. Those using research-grade step counters/accelerometers lost an average of 4.4 kg, while commercial fitness trackers produced a 3 kg loss.
A new study published in Neurology suggests that health problems like high blood pressure and obesity in one's 20s can lead to cognitive decline decades later. Researchers analyzed data from over 15,000 participants and found that cardiovascular risk factors were strongly associated with thinking skills decline.
A study of hundreds of women found that accelerated abdominal fat gain during menopause is associated with increased heart disease risk, regardless of weight changes. Measuring waist circumference may be an early indicator of this risk beyond traditional BMI calculations.
A recent study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine suggests that inconsistent sleep schedules in toddlers are associated with higher body mass index (BMI) percentiles. Researchers found that children from households living at or below poverty levels had more inconsistent sleep onset times, leading to higher BMI percentages.
A new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that Chinese adults are more likely to face high blood pressure and other health risks as a result of higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. The research analyzed data from over 126,000 participants and discovered that C...
A Swedish study found that lifestyle interventions during pregnancy, including physical activity and a healthy diet, led to epigenetic alterations in newborn babies. These changes were associated with increased muscle mass at birth and potentially benefited the children's body composition and growth later in life.
A new study suggests that starting adulthood with a normal weight and gradually gaining pounds later in life can increase the probability of survival. In contrast, those who start as obese or stay at an unhealthy weight throughout their lives tend to have the lowest survival rates.
A University of Alberta study finds that weight loss before knee replacement surgery does not lead to better outcomes for patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis. The research calls into question the use of body mass index (BMI) as a determinant of patient outcomes, highlighting the need to reconsider recommendations about BMI.
A new study found a six-fold increase in idiopathic intracranial hypertension cases over 15 years, corresponding with rising obesity rates and low socioeconomic status in women. Treatment is often weight loss, while surgery may be required in rare cases.
A large observational study published in Diabetologia found that obesity is associated with a higher risk of microvascular complications in people with type 2 diabetes. The study suggests that maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) before and after a diabetes diagnosis can help prevent these complications. Furthermore, the researc...
Researchers used a brain machine interface to enable mice to guide a cursor using only their brain activity. The study found that visual cortical areas in the mouse brain were involved during the task, including the parietal cortex, which may act as a way station between sensory and motor areas.
A new study found that higher BMI is more dangerous for men than women, while a higher waist-to-hip ratio raises colorectal cancer risk in women. Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of this deadly cancer.
A study using AI to analyze abdominal CT images found that visceral fat area is independently associated with future heart attacks and strokes. The analysis, which outperformed traditional BMI measures, may lead to more accurate cardiovascular risk assessments.
A 25-year follow-up study found that obese women have an increased risk of hip fracture before age 70, especially those with below-average bone density. Women at the borderline between normal weight and overweight had the lowest risk all the way until old age.
A new study found that consuming dried fruit is linked to better diet quality and health markers, including lower body mass index and waist circumference. However, it's essential to choose unsweetened versions and monitor portion sizes due to the higher calorie content.
India's metropolitan cities face a devastating diabetes crisis, with over half of men (55%) and two-thirds of women (65%) projected to develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetime. Obesity is a major factor, with obese individuals facing significantly reduced life expectancy without diabetes.
A large long-term study found that hormonal contraceptives may lower the risk of severe asthma bouts in women of reproductive age. However, the protective effect is relatively small and does not include progestogen-only Pill.
A study published in BMC Medicine found that vegans had a 43% higher risk of total fractures compared to meat-eaters, with higher risks of hip, leg, and vertebrae fractures. Vegetarians also had a higher risk of hip fractures.
A new study from UT Southwestern finds that being overweight or obese, even in younger patients under age 50, increases the risk of severe COVID-19 complications. The study analyzed data from over 7,600 patients and found that those with severe obesity had a 36% greater risk of dying compared to normal weight individuals.
A new global analysis has revealed that poor nutrition in school years may have created a 20cm height gap across nations. The study assessed the height and weight of over 65 million children aged five to 19 years old in 193 countries, finding an eight-year growth gap for girls and six-year growth gap for boys.
A large longitudinal study found that exposure to air pollution during early childhood may lead to an increase in body mass index (BMI), while living in areas with greater green space and a more favorable built environment mix may be associated with a decrease in BMI. The study analyzed data from nearly 80,000 children and suggested th...
A nationwide cohort study found that severely obese individuals who underwent gastric bypass or sleeve procedure had a lower risk of additional myocardial infarctions and improved survival rates. The study suggests that metabolic surgery may have a positive impact on cardiometabolic risk factors beyond weight loss.
A new study has found that non-obese Vietnamese Americans are 60% more likely to have diabetes than non-obese, non-Hispanic White Americans. Only 9% of Vietnamese Americans with diabetes were obese, compared to half of all non-Hispanic White Americans.
A recent study published in The BMJ found that excess belly fat is associated with a higher risk of early death from any cause. In contrast, larger hips and thighs were linked to a lower risk of premature mortality. This suggests that measuring central fatness may be a more reliable indicator of risk than body mass index.
A new study found that early-onset type 2 diabetes is significantly more common among South Asian and African-Caribbean individuals than white individuals in the UK. The prevalence of T2D varies by ethnicity, with SA and AC groups having a higher proportion of early-onset cases.
A study published in Diabetologia suggests that regular heat exposure through hot baths is associated with improved glycated haemoglobin levels and reduced body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes. The research found daily hot-tub bathing to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure.
A new study found that a Mediterranean-like diet partially modified the association between obesity and cardiovascular mortality. Higher body mass was associated with increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, but adherence to healthy diets like Mediterranean-style eating reduced this risk.
A study of 26,000 heart transplants found that patients receiving hearts from severely obese donors had similar short-term and long-term outcomes as those receiving hearts from non-obese donors. The research has the potential to expand the critically low donor pool by increasing the number of obese donors.
A new study found that people with obesity who gain weight tend to perceive their body size as smaller than it actually is. Despite improvements in accuracy over time for those maintaining a stable weight, the degree of body image distortion remained significant in weight gainers.
A UK-based survey of nearly 3,000 adults found that healthcare professionals using preferred terms like 'weight', 'unhealthy weight', and 'overweight' reduce negative emotions. Parents also prefer this terminology, but use of other terms elicits strong feelings of anger and disgust.
A PET brain imaging study found that low aromatase levels in the amygdala are associated with higher BMI and lower self-control. The results suggest a novel method for characterizing estrogen's role in obesity and impairments in self-regulation.
Research shows that people with obesity are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease and mechanical ventilation. The study analyzed ICU patients and found a clear correlation between BMI and disease severity, with those with severe obesity facing the highest risk.
A new study published at ESC Congress 2020 suggests that body mass index (BMI) is a more powerful risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes than genetic predisposition. Researchers found that individuals with a higher BMI were more likely to develop diabetes, regardless of their genetic risk level.
A new study found that obesity-related illnesses frequently occur in people with a BMI over 30, yet only 9% had obesity recorded as a cause of death. Researchers argue that obesity is not being accurately documented on medical certificates, highlighting the need for further studies.
A PET imaging study found that low aromatase enzyme activity in the brain's amygdala is associated with higher BMI and lower self-control. Estrogen production in the amygdala may regulate feeding behavior, influencing BMI.
A study published in the European Respiratory Journal found that children with accelerated weight gain before age four have higher lung function at age seven, but also exhibit airflow limitation. The research suggests that early childhood growth patterns can be a useful tool for identifying respiratory health issues.
Research from Queen Mary University of London finds that childhood and adolescent obesity is projected to contribute up to 14 per cent of overall risk of Multiple Sclerosis in 2035. High body mass index (BMI) is also associated with an increased risk, particularly in the USA and Australia.
A new study by Boston University School of Public Health found that weight changes between early adulthood and midlife are crucial in determining a person's risk of early death. Participants whose BMI decreased from obese to overweight range had half the risk of dying compared to those who remained obese throughout their lives.
Pregnant obese women are at higher risk of early and late-onset hypertensive disorders, with the risk increasing with higher body mass indexes (BMI). The study found a strong association between maternal obesity and both early- and late-onset hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Research published in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry suggests that obesity in pregnant women can affect the developing brain, particularly in areas responsible for decision-making and behavior. The study used fetal brain activity measurements to identify potential links between maternal BMI and changes in brain connectivity.
The new clinical practice guideline published in CMAJ recommends a holistic approach to obesity management, focusing on root causes and patient-centered outcomes. The guideline targets primary health care professionals, policy-makers, and people living with obesity.
A recent study by Boston University School of Public Health found that losing weight between young adulthood and midlife can lower the risk of developing arthritis. The researchers estimated that nearly a quarter of arthritis cases in the US are attributable to excess weight, corresponding to approximately 2.7 million people.
A study found that African Americans with higher body mass index (BMI) were more likely to develop severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and require intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Obesity was identified as a significant determinant of disease severity in this population.
A new study found that 20% of middle-aged UK South Asians have a very severe vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to health problems such as osteomalacia. The study also identified factors like geographic location and BMI as contributors to the deficiency, highlighting the need for targeted public health campaigns.
Research published at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2020 Scientific Sessions found that weight loss is not always the best strategy to enhance aerobic fitness in young women. In fact, a lower body mass index (BMI) may be aerobically counterproductive for many women under 30, who still have high aerobic ...
A study found that smokers, even those with a lower body mass index (BMI), have a higher risk of depositing fat in organs and tissues compared to non-smokers. This excess fat can disrupt normal functions and increase health complications such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
The study analyzed 150 patients' cranial CT scans and identified three types of angular arteries, with the artery's depth varying by age. The findings suggest that injecting hyaluronic acid into elderly patients requires special caution to avoid damaging the artery, which can be exposed due to fat volume loss.
A recent study published in Obesity found that children who are relatively tall for their age have a significantly higher risk of developing obesity. The study examined the health records of over 2.8 million children and found that taller individuals were more likely to have a higher body mass index than shorter children.
A new study has identified environmental factors contributing to childhood obesity, including exposure to smoking and air pollution. Areas with higher walkability were found to have lower BMI levels in children.
A study funded by NIH analyzed nearly 900 women with irregular menstrual periods and identified two PCOS subtypes, each associated with distinct groups of gene variants. The reproductive subtype had higher levels of luteinizing hormone and lower BMI, while the metabolic group had a higher BMI and insulin levels.
A large-scale study found that vegetarian diets are associated with lower body mass index (BMI) and greater dietary fiber consumption, leading to earlier feelings of fullness. Additionally, vegans were found to be more introverted than meat-eaters, while no correlation was found between plant-based diets and depressive moods.
Exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age reduces body mass index by up to 1.53 kg/m2 in high-risk individuals. The World Health Organization's recommendation is reinforced, suggesting a longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding may have the greatest benefits for obesity prevention.