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Losing more than 15 percent of body weight significantly boosts vitamin D levels in overweight women

A year-long study of 439 overweight-to-obese postmenopausal women found that losing more than 15% of their body weight significantly increases circulating vitamin D levels. This effect is independent of dietary intake and is not linear, with more substantial increases found in those who lose greater amounts of weight.

SourceFred Hutchinson Cancer Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateMay 25, 2011

Diet-exercise combo best for obese seniors

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that combining diet and exercise improves physical performance by 21% in obese seniors, compared to 12% with weight loss alone and 15% with exercise alone. This combination also leads to significant improvements in strength, balance, and quality of life.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 30, 2011

Moderate sleep and less stress may help with weight loss

A Kaiser Permanente study found that people who slept 6-8 hours a night and reported lower stress levels lost more weight. The study involved nearly 500 participants who were trying to lose at least 10 pounds, and those with the lowest stress levels and adequate sleep were most likely to succeed.

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateMar 29, 2011

Weight-loss surgery successful in treating overweight adolescents

A new study published in Clinical Obesity reveals that bariatric surgery can result in significant weight loss in severely obese adolescents. The existing evidence suggests that bariatric surgery in older children results in significant weight loss and improvements in comorbidities and quality of life.

SourceWiley·JournalClinical Obesity·DateMar 4, 2011

Big breakfast bunkum

A new study published in Nutrition Journal found that consuming a large breakfast does not lead to increased calorie burn throughout the day. In fact, researchers discovered that individuals who had bigger breakfasts tended to consume fewer calories during lunch and dinner, offsetting the extra calories consumed at breakfast.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalNutrition Journal·DateJan 16, 2011

Family, friends, social ties influence weight status in young adults

A recent study published in Obesity found that young adults with social connections to overweight friends and family members are more likely to have higher weight status. Researchers also discovered that these individuals who had close relationships with people trying to lose weight themselves were more motivated to do the same.

SourceLifespan·JournalObesity·DateJan 11, 2011

Go ahead, drink your milk

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found no link between dairy consumption and increased risk of heart disease, stroke, or total mortality. The research also revealed that drinking three glasses of milk per day may lead to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

SourceGlobal Dairy Platform·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateDec 14, 2010

Lose the weight, not the potatoes

A 12-week study of 86 overweight participants found that all three groups lost weight when consuming five to seven servings of potatoes per week. The results suggest that potatoes, when prepared in a healthy manner, do not contribute to weight gain and can be part of a weight loss program.

Sleep loss limits fat loss

A recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that sleep loss limits fat loss. When dieters got adequate sleep, they lost more than half of their weight as fat, but when they cut back on sleep, only one-fourth of their weight loss came from fat.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateOct 4, 2010

New approach to underweight COPD patients

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg developed a new equation to calculate energy requirements for underweight COPD patients, leading to more accurate nutritional approaches. The study found that this method can help patients stop losing weight and even gain weight.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalInternational Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease·DateOct 4, 2010

JCI table of contents: Sept. 27, 2010

Researchers discovered that Maf protein promotes osteoblast differentiation in mice, reducing bone formation and increasing fat cell generation with age. Additionally, studies found defective immune cells in patients with type 1 diabetes and suggested these cells could be a viable target for treatment.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 27, 2010

A proven tool for losing weight: Reading food labels

Reading food labels can improve weight loss chances for middle-aged Americans, with women and overweight/obese individuals seeing better success rates. The analysis also highlights the value of standardized nutrition facts on packaged foods and calls for posting nutritional information in restaurants and vending machines.

SourceWashington State University·JournalJournal of Consumer Affairs·DateSep 14, 2010

Reading food labels, combined with exercise, can lead to weight loss

A new study published in the Journal of Consumer Affairs suggests that observing food labels and exercising regularly can lead to significant weight loss. The research found that women between the ages of 37-50 are more likely to read food labels, which increases their chances of losing weight.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Consumer Affairs·DateSep 8, 2010

Americans struggle with long-term weight loss

Only one in six Americans who have ever been overweight or obese successfully maintains their weight loss, according to a new study. The researchers found that women, adults aged 75-84, and non-Hispanic whites were more likely to achieve long-term weight management.

SourcePenn State·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateSep 3, 2010

Scientists discover new protein that gets to the roots of obesity and osteoporosis

Researchers have identified a critical regulatory switch in mesenchymal stem cell lineage allocation, which could lead to the development of new treatments for obesity and osteoporosis. The 'Sprouty' protein has been shown to regulate body fat and bone mass, with potential applications for weight loss and bone density improvement.

'Tough love' no good for obesity interventions

Researchers found that obese people preferred public health interventions perceived as non-judgmental and empowering. Participants were less likely to view stigmatizing or shaming approaches as effective. Non-commercial techniques, such as personalised care planning and long-term support systems, were also supported.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Public Health·DateJul 14, 2010