Body Mass Index News and Research

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Working mums and overweight kids: is there a link?

New research from the University of Bristol shows that children aged between 5 and 7, whose mothers work full time, are more likely to be overweight at age 16.

22 Nov 2007

Doctors may be missing cancers in obese men due to misleading PSA scores

Doctors may be missing cancers in obese men because the telltale blood marker used to detect the disease can be falsely interpreted as low in this population, according to a new study led by Duke Prostate Center researchers.

21 Nov 2007

Sports reduces risk of blood clots

According to a new study published in Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, regular participation in sports reduces the risk of developing blood clots by 39 percent in women and 22 percent in men.

21 Nov 2007

PSA test in obese men can produce false results

Scientists in the United States suggest a blood test widely used to screen for prostate cancer can be misleading in the case of men who are obese.

20 Nov 2007

Patients taking anti-obesity drugs will only see "modest" weight loss

The study, which looked at the long-term effectiveness of anti-obesity medications, found that three drugs recommended for long-term use - orlistat, sibutramine and rimonabant, reduced weight by less than 5kg (11 pounds). This equated to a loss of less than 5% of total body weight.

19 Nov 2007

Stable family life a key factor to avoiding a number of serious health problems in young girls

For many young girls, a stable family life is one key factor to avoiding a number of serious health problems.

16 Nov 2007

Greater support and less marital conflict leads to later onset of puberty in girls

Early puberty in girls has been found to negatively affect these teenagers' health in areas such as mood disorders, substance abuse, adolescent pregnancy, and cancers of the reproductive system.

16 Nov 2007

Prescription medication dosages often incorrect for obese patients

As if severely overweight people didn't already have enough health concerns, experts are raising another red flag - the possibility that some of their prescription medications, especially antibiotics, may not be prescribed at the appropriate dosage and could be ineffective.

16 Nov 2007

Experts say obese women should be refused fertility treatment

A fertility organisation in Britain is saying that severely obese women should be barred from having National Health Service fertility treatment until they have lost weight.

15 Nov 2007

Childhood obesity could be tackled with just positive parenting

Strategies for decreasing a child's risk for obesity often focus on improving eating habits and maintaining a high level of physical activity.

14 Nov 2007

Obesity is an independant risk factor for prostate cancer-related death

Men who are overweight or obese when diagnosed with prostate cancer are at greater risk of death after treatment, according to a new study in the December 15, 2007 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

13 Nov 2007

Study looks at link between weight and causes of death

The association between weight and causes of death can vary considerably, with obesity associated with a significantly increased mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), underweight associated with increased mortality from primarily non-cancer, non-CVD causes, and overweight associated with increased mortality from diabetes and kidney disease combined, but with reduced mortality from other non-cancer non-CVD causes of death, according to a study in the November 7 issue of JAMA.

6 Nov 2007

Risk of disability increasing in older obese population in the U.S.

The older obese population in the U.S. appear to be experiencing more impairments in functional abilities related to movement, although there have been improvements in the cardiovascular health of this population, according to a study in the November 7 issue of JAMA.

6 Nov 2007

UK study looks at obesity in women

The study shows that overweight and obese women in the UK are at a higher risk of developing and dying from cancer.

6 Nov 2007

Fear of gaining weight and smoking cessation in women

Is a fear of getting fatter partly to blame for the fact that nearly one in five American women still smokes, and many don't try to quit"

6 Nov 2007

Effects of weight gain and subsequent weight loss on endothelial function

When lean healthy young adults gained about 9 pounds, the functioning of their blood vessel lining became impaired -- but shedding the weight restored proper functioning, according to a Mayo Clinic research report.

6 Nov 2007

Childhood BMI rebound influences heart disease late in life

The earlier in life children reach their lowest body mass index (BMI) signals potential heart disease risk factors and may become evident as early as age 7, researchers reported at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2007.

6 Nov 2007

Breastfeeding babies offers them long-term heart-health benefits

Breastfed babies are less likely to have certain cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in adulthood than their bottle-fed counterparts, researchers reported at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2007.

6 Nov 2007

Don't slack off on exercise if you want to avoid packing on the pounds as you age

Don't slack off on exercise if you want to avoid packing on the pounds as you age.

6 Nov 2007

U-M study finds shorter sleep duration for 9- to 12-year-old kids is associated with increased risk for being overweight

Diets high in fat and sugar may not be the only things contributing to American children's expanding waistlines. Research findings from the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital suggest that kids who aren't getting enough sleep also may be at an increased risk for being overweight.

5 Nov 2007