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Get fit for a fit gut

Research suggests that higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with greater gut microbiota diversity, independent of body fat percentage. The study found that exercise at a high intensity improved gut microbiota diversity in cancer survivors.

SourceThe Physiological Society·JournalExperimental Physiology·DateFeb 14, 2019

Our genes affect where fat is stored in our bodies

A recent study from Uppsala University found that genetic factors play a significant role in determining where fat is stored in the body. The researchers identified nearly 100 genes that affect distribution of adipose tissue to different compartments, with women showing stronger associations than men.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 21, 2019

How exercise reduces belly fat in humans

A 12-week exercise intervention reduced visceral abdominal fat in obese adults, but tocilizumab treatment abolished this effect and increased cholesterol levels. Exercise promotes better health and reduces the risk of cardio-metabolic diseases by reducing abdominal fat mass.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateDec 27, 2018

Patients' own cells and materials used to create personalized tissue implants of any kind

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a personalized tissue implant technology that uses patients' own cells and materials, allowing for the creation of any type of tissue implant with minimal immune response risk. This breakthrough has the potential to regenerate damaged or diseased organs with high efficiency.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateNov 12, 2018

Changes in breakfast and dinner timings can reduce body fat

A 10-week pilot study found that participants who delayed their breakfast by 90 minutes and had their dinner earlier lost more than twice as much body fat compared to those in the control group. This reduction was partly due to decreased food intake, with 57% of participants reporting a decrease in eating opportunities.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalJournal of Nutritional Science·DateAug 29, 2018

How sleep loss may contribute to adverse weight gain

A new study from Uppsala University found that one night of sleep loss can cause tissue-specific changes in gene expression and metabolism, leading to increased fat accumulation and muscle loss. This may explain why shift work and chronic sleep loss increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

SourceUppsala University·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 23, 2018

Pulse wave analysis provides reliable information on heart health in young people

Researchers developed a non-invasive method to measure arterial stiffness and peripheral arterial tone in adolescents aged 16-19. The study found that aortic pulse wave velocity is highly reproducible but augmentation index shows poorer reproducibility, especially among those with higher fitness levels or lower body fat.

SourceUniversity of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto·JournalClinical Physiology and Functional Imaging·DateJun 28, 2018

Study finds 90 percent of American men overfat

A recent study published in Frontiers in Public Health found that up to 90% of adult males and 50% of children in the US may be overfat. The condition is linked to various health problems, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·DateJul 24, 2017

Study uncovers link between male hormones and metabolic disease in polycystic ovary syndrome

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have discovered that increased male hormones, particularly AKR1C3 enzyme activity in fat tissue, drive PCOS women's risk to develop diabetes and fatty liver disease. Abdominal fat tissue is a major source of high levels of male hormones in women with PCOS.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJun 22, 2017

Imaging from UK biobank participants shows that people with higher internal organ fat and thigh muscle fat spend more nights in hospital

A study published at European Congress on Obesity found that people with higher levels of visceral fat (internal fat around organs) and thigh muscle fat spend more nights in hospital. Visceral fat was significantly associated with healthcare burden, while thigh muscle fat infiltration had mixed results.

Study compares different measures of body fat for predicting kidney function decline

A new study found that higher body fat was linked with increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Waist circumference and BMI were shown to provide similar information on risk as more direct measures of different types of body fat, indicating these simple measures may be reliable for assessing an individual's risk.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateMay 18, 2017

New appetite control mechanism found in brain

Researchers at Hiroshima University have identified a molecule, NPGL, that increases appetite during fasting and decreases it during gorging. This discovery suggests that the body has an evolved mechanism to maintain weight at a constant level, regardless of diet or energy intake.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalEndocrinology·DateApr 28, 2017