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Does losing weight make an athlete better?

A study found that reducing body fat percentage improves long-distance running and cross-country skiing performance, but converting body fat into muscle tissue is a more effective way for female athletes to optimize their body composition. Training and dietary habits that promote muscle growth outweigh the benefits of weight loss.

SourceUniversity of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto·JournalInternational Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance·DateDec 9, 2025

National study finds where you live influences your body weight

A national study led by Curtin University found that Australian's location significantly affects their body weight. The research tracked individuals across 14 years and discovered that people tend to adapt to the typical weight profile of their new community., Local food environments, walkability, and access to green space are key fact...

SourceCurtin University·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·TypeSurvey·DateDec 2, 2025

Strong evidence supports skin-to-skin contact after birth as standard care

A new Cochrane review found that immediate skin-to-skin contact between newborns and their mothers significantly improves exclusive breastfeeding rates, optimal body temperature, breathing, and heart rate. The review suggests that skin-to-skin contact should be the global standard of care for all babies after birth.

SourceCochrane·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·TypeSystematic review·DateOct 21, 2025

Body composition and cardiometabolic risk in children

A repeated cross-sectional study shows that cardiometabolic risk factors in Spanish children have improved over the last 30 years, with decreases in excess weight, lipid parameters, and blood pressure. The study provides valuable insights into the evolution of cardiometabolic risk in children.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateOct 2, 2025

Study first to show if nesting heat affects sea turtle hatchling ‘IQ’

A new study by Florida Atlantic University researchers found that heat does not significantly affect the cognitive ability of sea turtle hatchlings. However, higher incubation temperatures negatively impact their physical traits, including shorter incubation durations, lower hatching success, and more frequent scute anomalies. The stud...

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalEndangered Species Research·TypeObservational study·DateSep 30, 2025

New study shows ongoing support helps people keep weight off after dieting

A new study published in JAMA Network Open shows that regular phone support after losing weight is crucial for maintaining weight loss. Participants who received monthly phone calls maintained an average of 8% weight loss from their starting weight, with about 60% keeping off at least 5% of their initial weight.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 22, 2025

Landmark multi-center trial: Transcendental Meditation cuts diabetes risk and supports weight loss in Black women

A landmark clinical trial found that Transcendental Meditation significantly reduced diabetes risk factors and supported weight loss in older Black women at high risk for heart disease. Meditation improved blood sugar control, insulin resistance, cholesterol, and weight.

SourceMaharishi International University·JournalJournal of Women s Health·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 28, 2025

Teens with higher blood levels of PFAS regain more weight after bariatric surgery, study finds

A new study found that adolescents with higher blood levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) prior to bariatric surgery regained more weight and had greater increases in waist circumference up to five years after surgery. Researchers believe PFAS exposure disrupts endocrine and metabolic processes, leading to weight regain.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalObesity·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 14, 2025

Tirzepatide reduces food intake and appetite, and affects brain functioning, more than a placebo and liraglutide

Researchers found that tirzepatide significantly reduced body weight, food intake, and measures of appetite compared to a placebo and liraglutide. Functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed reduced activity in hunger-sensitive brain areas while viewing high-fat foods.

SourcePennington Biomedical Research Center·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 9, 2025

Association of grandmaternal and maternal age difference at delivery with maternal pregnancy cardiometabolic disorders

A study found that a grandmaternal age difference of ≤-9 years significantly increases the risk of pregnancy cardiometabolic disorders. The researchers analyzed data from 2,235 grandmother-mother pairs and discovered a nonlinear association between age differences and CMDs.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalHealthcare and Rehabilitation·TypeObservational study·DateJun 24, 2025

Intensive weight loss programme improves eating disorder symptoms in people with Type 2 Diabetes at risk of eating disorders, Oxford study finds

A University of Oxford study found that an intensive low-energy diet programme significantly improved eating disorder symptoms in people with type 2 diabetes and excess weight at risk of developing eating disorders. The programme showed benefits persisting six months after completion.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalThe Lancet Psychiatry·DateJun 10, 2025

Adopting a healthy diet may have cardiometabolic benefits regardless of weight loss

A new study found that nearly one-third of individuals adopting healthy diets didn't lose weight but still experienced significant improvements in cardiometabolic markers, including increased HDL cholesterol and reduced visceral fat. The research suggests a healthy diet can have benefits beyond weight loss.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 5, 2025

Prenatal cannabis use and neonatal outcomes

A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that prenatal cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. The research also suggests a potential link between cannabis use during pregnancy and smaller-than-average newborns.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateMay 5, 2025

4:3 Intermittent fasting shows modestly greater weight loss than daily caloric restriction

A randomized clinical trial found that 4:3 intermittent fasting resulted in modestly greater weight loss over 12 months compared to daily caloric restriction. The study showed improved cardiometabolic outcomes, including lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, suggesting that fasting may be a more effective approach for weight loss.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateMar 31, 2025

Calorie-free sweeteners can disrupt the brain’s appetite signals

A study found that consuming sucralose alters brain activity related to hunger and increases appetite, especially in people with obesity. The sugar substitute changes how the hypothalamus communicates with other brain regions, including those involved in motivation, potentially leading to cravings and eating behavior changes.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalNature Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 26, 2025

Body image perceptions take shape from early childhood, psychologists reveal

Researchers at Durham University found that children as young as seven years old adjust their perception of body weight after seeing pictures of low or high weight bodies. The study suggests that media influences can impact both children's and adults' body perceptions, shaping their ideas about what constitutes a healthy weight.

SourceDurham University·JournalJournal of Experimental Child Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 5, 2025

Does the brain produce estrogen to control appetite?

New research found that neuroestrogens produced in the brain help suppress appetite, as confirmed by experiments where aromatase expression was restored specifically in the brain. This suggests a link between neuroestrogen levels and body weight regulation.

SourceWiley·JournalFEBS Journal·DateFeb 19, 2025