Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

Study: ‘Obesity paradox’ not present among people with new cases of cardiovascular disease

Although obesity is a well-known risk factor for getting cardiovascular disease, a controversial body of research suggests that obesity may actually be associated with improved survival among people who have cardiovascular disease.

8 Dec 2017

WHO applauds South African parliament for passing sugary drinks tax bill

The South African Parliament has taken a brave and powerful step towards promoting the health of the country’s citizens and reducing diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, by passing a bill yesterday to implement a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, according to Dr Rufaro Chatora, WHO’s Representative to South Africa.

8 Dec 2017

Childhood asthma linked to high maternal sugar intake during pregnancy

New research published today in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society reports that children born to mothers who drank a lot of sugary drinks during pregnancy may be at an increased risk of developing asthma during childhood.

8 Dec 2017

Prenatal and early-life consumption of sugary drinks may increase risk of mid-childhood asthma

Children between the ages of 7 and 9 may be at greater risk for developing asthma if they consumed high amounts of fructose in early childhood or their mothers drank a lot of sugar-sweetened beverages while pregnant, according to new research published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

8 Dec 2017

Hot flashes may increase risk of developing diabetes, study suggests

Hot flashes, undoubtedly the most common symptom of menopause, are not just uncomfortable and inconvenient, but numerous studies demonstrate they may increase the risk of serious health problems, including heart disease.

6 Dec 2017

Lithium in drinking water can slow Alzheimer's disease mortality rates, study finds

Rates of diabetes and obesity, which are important risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, also decrease if there is a particular amount of lithium in the water, says the study, published recently in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

6 Dec 2017

Specific protein negatively affects pancreatic cells and leads to cancer growth

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and is currently very difficult to treat. However, the last few years have seen advances in the scientific understanding of how this cancer develops at a molecular level.

6 Dec 2017

Intensive weight management program can help people with type 2 diabetes achieve remission

Type 2 diabetes can be reversed following an intensive weight management program, according a randomized trial in adults who have had the condition for up to 6 years, published in The Lancet.

6 Dec 2017

Binge eating can act as barrier to achieving weight-loss success

Someone who binge eats consumes an objectively large amount of food while feeling a loss of control over eating. When episodes occur weekly for several months, the action moves into the realm of binge-eating disorder.

5 Dec 2017

Researchers identify way to prevent fat cells from growing larger

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a way to prevent fat cells from growing larger, a process that leads to weight gain and obesity. By activating a pathway in fat cells in mice, the researchers found they could feed the animals a high-fat diet without making them obese.

5 Dec 2017

Nearly 6% of cancers worldwide caused by diabetes and high BMI, study finds

Diabetes and high BMI (a BMI over 25 kg/m2) were the cause of 5.6% of new cancer cases worldwide in 2012 – equivalent to 792600 cases, according to the first study to quantify the proportion of cancers attributable to diabetes and high BMI published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal.

5 Dec 2017

Weight gain does not offer mortality benefit for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, findings show

Researchers call it the obesity paradox: the phenomenon, observed in studies of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other chronic conditions, where patients who are obese have a lower risk of death than those who weigh less.

4 Dec 2017

Study aims to assess causal link between BMI and risk of death

The harmful effects of being overweight have been underestimated, according to a new study that analyzed body mass index, health and mortality data in around 60,000 parents and their children, to establish how obesity actually influences risk of death.

1 Dec 2017

Genetics may affect how the body responds to a particular diet

We can add one more thing to the list of traits affected by genetics: how our bodies respond to a particular diet.

1 Dec 2017

People who have high BMI more likely to develop dementia, study shows

People who have a high body mass index are more likely to develop dementia than those with a normal weight, according to a new UCL-led study.

30 Nov 2017

Study reveals link of male-pattern baldness and premature graying with early heart disease

New research presented at the 69th Annual Conference of the Cardiological Society of India (CSI) indicated that premature greying and male-pattern baldness are linked to a greater than fivefold risk of heart disease before the age of 40. The study also suggested obesity is linked to a fourfold risk of early heart disease.

30 Nov 2017

Studies provide insights into potential effects of weight on individuals with rheumatoid arthritis

New research provides insights on the potential effects of weight on the health of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

30 Nov 2017

Easy-to-use omics toolkit sets the stage for new era of biology and precision medicine

Most complex diseases, such as obesity, longevity, and diabetes, are largely influenced by genetic factors. But at the same time, they are also modulated by environmental stimuli, such as diet and physical activity.

29 Nov 2017

Losing weight via exercise alone may not protect your knees, study says

A new MRI study presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) stated that obese people who lose a significant amount of weight can slow down the degeneration of their knee cartilage, but only through exercise and diet or only by diet.

29 Nov 2017

CGMs may help minimize burden of hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes

Continuous glucose monitors can protect individuals who have had type 1 diabetes for years and are at risk of experiencing dangerously low blood sugar by increasing their awareness of the symptoms, according to a study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

29 Nov 2017