Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Obesity related health complications more dangerous than risks associated with bariatric surgery

Bariatric weight-loss surgery may sound dangerous and complicated, but a Geisinger physician warns that the real danger may be a life of obesity.

30 Jan 2010

Food labels can help in making heart-healthy food choices

February is American Heart Month -- and a good time to make simple changes in your diet to reduce your risk for heart disease.

30 Jan 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

Rajiv Shah's appointment as USAID administrator "comes at a crucial time of challenge and opportunity for the Agency to improve the nutritional well-being of impoverished societies," write the authors of a Lancet Comment that examines the U.S. Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative. Though the initiative "sends a clear message to the world about U.S. intent to partner with poor nations to achieve their national food and nutrition goals … the Initiative's nutrition plan, unlike its detailed agricultural blueprint, currently lacks a comprehensive set of aims, activities, research needs, and programme benchmarks," the authors write.

29 Jan 2010

Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing: Research news

Bridging a Cultural Healthcare Gap—Like other new immigrant groups, Korean Americans' health risks—diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer—increase after arriving in the U.S. Unfortunately, too many also miss out on needed healthcare services until they are seriously, often chronically ill.

29 Jan 2010

New methods to help elderly dementia patients regain their eating skills

A pioneering international study involving academics from the University of Sheffield has shown for the first time that it is possible to improve the eating skills and nutritional status of older people with dementia.

29 Jan 2010

Level of key immune cells in kidney transplant patients may predict risk of skin cancer

Measuring certain types of immune cells may predict the high risk of skin cancer after kidney transplantation, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).

29 Jan 2010

SCI indicates increased risk of declining kidney function in type 2 diabetics

In patients with type 2 diabetes, silent cerebral infarction (SCI)—small areas of brain damage caused by injury to small blood vessels—signals an increased risk of progressive kidney disease and kidney failure, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).

29 Jan 2010

Ongoing parenting is necessary to improve children's food choices

Many parents become passive when it comes to their children's food choices. The growing epidemic of obesity in America is a strong indicator of this lapse in parenting. With the variety of resources available from the USDA My Pyramid program to local schools' curriculums, Dr. Sasson ("Dr. Sass") Moulavi, M.D., is surprised by parents' neglect when it comes to allowing poor food choices for children.

29 Jan 2010

UNICEF and IZA launch “Zinc Saves Kids” campaign

UNICEF and the International Zinc Association (IZA) announced today the launch of the “Zinc Saves Kids” campaign. The initiative will raise funds to support UNICEF’s zinc supplementation programs for children in developing countries.

28 Jan 2010

NBTY announces record results for fiscal first quarter

NBTY, Inc. (NYSE: NTY), a leading global manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements, today announced record results for the fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2009.

28 Jan 2010

Florida State University research team to develop way of measuring zinc levels in the human body

A team of Florida State University researchers will use a five-year, $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a way to measure levels of the trace metal zinc in the human body.

28 Jan 2010

GUMC invites Washington-area residents for Spring 2010 Mini-Medical School Program

Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) is inviting Washington-area residents to find out what it takes to become a doctor—minus the long hours and late nights. Georgetown's eight-week Spring 2010 Mini-Medical School Program, open to the public and members of the media, begins Tuesday, March 9, 2010.

28 Jan 2010

Real-time data provide baseline information on sodium contents of processed foods

Sodium is essential for myriad biological processes including fluid balance and muscle contraction. However, too much sodium can have harmful effects such as increasing blood pressure.

28 Jan 2010

New technique could reduce animal use in gene study

A new method of priming early embryos to form embryonic stem (ES) cells has allowed ES cells to be derived from mice used in diabetes research for the first time.

28 Jan 2010

MedPage Today publishes most read medical stories

Which medical news stories are physicians reading to stay informed about key developments? MedPage Today publishes the Most Read Stories for the Past Week.

28 Jan 2010

Alli boosts weight loss and reduces excess visceral fat

New studies show that overweight and obese people using alli® (orlistat 60 mg) with a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet can significantly reduce weight, visceral fat, and waist circumference and therefore may reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke.

28 Jan 2010

Regular exercise and drinking tea may reduce depression in breast cancer patients

Breast cancer patients who exercise and drink tea on a regular basis may be less likely to suffer from depression than other patients, according to a new study led by Xiao Ou Shu, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Xiaoli Chen, M.D., a post-doctoral fellow, was first author of the study published in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

28 Jan 2010

International congress reflects emerging importance of abdominal obesity

Clinical and basic science researchers from around the world will convene in Hong Kong from January 28 to 30 for the First International Congress on Abdominal Obesity: "Bridging the Gap between Cardiology and Diabetology."

28 Jan 2010

Safe natural extracts reduce hunger and help control appetite

Klaumwell Research Labs, LLC, U.S., a subsidiary of Italian multinational Medestea Internazionale, announced positive results from a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study published in the prestigious, peer-reviewed International Journal of Obesity which demonstrates the efficacy of key ingredients contained in a new appetite control spray. Fullfast™ is a clinically tested dietary supplement that helps reduce excessive feelings of hunger.

28 Jan 2010

Research shows even mild to moderate kidney disease may diminish child's quality of life

Challenging prevailing wisdom that only children with end-stage kidney disease suffer physical, social, emotional and educational setbacks from their disease, research led by Johns Hopkins Children's Center shows that even mild to moderate kidney disease may seriously diminish a child's quality of life.

28 Jan 2010