Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

Study identifies brain circuit that balances hunger-driven and pleasure-driven eating

People eat either because they are hungry or for pleasure, even in the absence of hunger. While hunger-driven eating is fundamental for survival, pleasure-driven feeding may accelerate the onset of obesity and associated metabolic disorders.

9 Aug 2024

Polycystic ovary syndrome linked to greater risk of disordered eating in women

Women with the common reproductive and metabolic condition polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) face a greater risk of developing bulimia, binge eating disorder and disordered eating, according to new research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

8 Aug 2024

Consuming foods with erythritol increases risk of cardiovascular events, study shows

New Cleveland Clinic research shows that consuming foods with erythritol, a popular artificial sweetener, increases risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.

8 Aug 2024

How little Denmark got homegrown giant Novo Nordisk to lower ozempic prices

On May 13, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) published an open letter to Novo Nordisk on the front page of a leading Danish newspaper, urging the hometown company to live up to its altruistic standards by lowering U.S. prices for its blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drugs.

8 Aug 2024

Coronary atherosclerosis prevalent even in low-risk adults with normal cholesterol levels

Researchers found that coronary atherosclerosis is prevalent in asymptomatic, middle-aged US adults without traditional ASCVD risk factors, and increases with higher levels of LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and apoB.

8 Aug 2024

Alarming rise in sugary drink consumption among youth

A new global analysis of the dietary habits of children and adolescents from 185 countries revealed that youth, on average, consumed nearly 23% more sugar-sweetened beverages in 2018 compared to 1990. Overall, intakes were similar in boys and girls, but higher in teens, urban residents, and children of parents with lower levels of education. Researchers from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University published the findings on August 7th, 2024 in The BMJ.

7 Aug 2024

Study reveals key brain cells help resist food temptations in favor of exercise

Hypocretin/orexin neurons (HONs) are crucial for resisting temptation and choosing exercise over highly palatable foods. This finding highlights potential targets for promoting physical activity and combating obesity.

7 Aug 2024

UK dietitians exhibit significant weight stigma towards themselves and others

In a survey-based study, UK dietitians exhibited significant weight stigma, both towards themselves and towards others.

7 Aug 2024

Examining social and structural factors influencing obesity risk

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States. It has been increasing among adults of all races and ethnicities over the last two decades; however, obesity is higher among Non-Hispanic Black adults, Hispanic adults, and American Indian or Alaska Native adults, than their White and Asian counterparts, according to the National Institutes of Health.

6 Aug 2024

Study finds no link between gestational diabetes and breast cancer risk

Women who develop gestational diabetes are not more likely to go on to be diagnosed with breast cancer, according to a study of almost three-quarters of a million mothers to be presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) (Madrid, 9-13 September).

6 Aug 2024

The real cost of processed foods: How Western diets are harming global health

A recent study in Nature Medicine reviews the adverse effects of Western diets on human health, highlighting increased risks of chronic diseases and gut dysbiosis. Researchers call for global awareness and promotion of healthier dietary patterns.

6 Aug 2024

Brain chemical orexin plays key role in choosing exercise over treats

Should I go and exercise, or would I rather go to the café and enjoy a delectable strawberry milkshake? Until now, what exactly happens in our brain when we make this decision has been a mystery to science, but researchers at ETH Zurich have found the solution.

6 Aug 2024

Urologist weighs in on why men avoid doctor visits

Data has consistently shown that men are reluctant to seek medical care despite the fact they generally face higher mortality rates and shorter life expectancies than women across most causes of death.

6 Aug 2024

Menopause myths: Separating fact from fiction

Many women approach menopause with anxiety about the future. You've probably heard your grandmother, mother, or aunts lament about menopause, aka "the change," as a stressful time full of hot flashes, weight gain, and plummeting sex drive.

6 Aug 2024

Higher BMI in early adulthood linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk

Higher BMI in early adulthood significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in later life, emphasizing the critical need for obesity prevention and weight management during this period.

6 Aug 2024

Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes reduce child and adolescent BMI

Study reveals that city-level sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes significantly reduce body mass index (BMI) percentiles in children and adolescents. The findings support SSB taxation as a viable strategy to combat childhood obesity.

5 Aug 2024

Dr. Carrie Elks receives $1.4 million NIDDK grant to explore fat cell communication and insulin resistance

The National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK, awarded Pennington Biomedical researcher Dr. Carrie Elks a grant of $1.4 million to explore insulin resistance and inflammation in fat cells.

5 Aug 2024