Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

FDA grants Orphan Drug Designation to Medgenics’ INFRADURE Biopump

Medgenics, Inc., the developer of Biopump, a novel technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins in patients using their own tissue, today announced that its INFRADURE Biopump has received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) for the treatment of hepatitis D.

21 Jun 2012

Hypertension-associated hospitalizations of children on the increase

The number of children hospitalized with hypertension in the USA increased dramatically between 1997 and 2006, with associated increases in healthcare costs, say researchers.

20 Jun 2012

HCHD program educates entire family to tackle obesity in children

Obesity is a growing problem among children, but the Harris County Hospital District has put in place a program that educates entire families.

20 Jun 2012

Lack of time, training among top barriers to counseling in primary care setting

Lack of time, knowledge and training in health promotion and lack of success with changing patient behavior were among the top barriers to including effective physical activity counseling in the primary care setting, according to research by The University of Texas School of Public Health, part of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

20 Jun 2012

Bariatric surgery improves kidney function in severely obese patients with CKD

Severely obese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) saw significant improvements in kidney function within one year of bariatric surgery, according to a new study presented here at the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

20 Jun 2012

Bariatric procedure increases risk of alcohol use disorders two years after surgery

Adults who had a common bariatric surgery to lose weight had a significantly higher risk of alcohol use disorders (AUD) two years after surgery, according to a study by a National Institutes of Health research consortium.

20 Jun 2012

Skin disease shares common inflammatory pathway with metabolic disorder

Psoriasis is an independent risk for Type 2 Diabetes, according to a new study by researchers with the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, with the greatest risk seen in patients with severe psoriasis.

19 Jun 2012

Childhood obesity, bullying, drug abuse and child abuse need to be addressed by presidential candidates

During this presidential election season, there will be plenty of debate between the candidates on the issues. But when it comes to childhood health concerns, a new poll shows many adults agree on the top priorities they want to see the candidates address: childhood obesity and bullying.

19 Jun 2012

Bariatric surgery may increase risk for alcohol use disorders

Among patients who underwent bariatric surgery, there was a higher prevalence of alcohol use disorders in the second year after surgery, and specifically after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, compared with the years immediately before and following surgery, according to a study in the June 20 issue of JAMA.

19 Jun 2012

Commensal bacteria essential to fight off viral infections

Healthy humans harbor an enormous and diverse group of bacteria and other bugs that live within their intestines. These microbial partners provide beneficial aid in multiple ways - from helping digest food to the development of a healthy immune system.

19 Jun 2012

Bioactive compounds in peaches, plums and nectarines can fight-off diabetes, cardiovascular disease

Peaches, plums and nectarines have bioactive compounds that can potentially fight-off obesity-related diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to new studies by Texas AgriLife Research.

19 Jun 2012

movin' mania, a community wide effort to address childhood obesity

Bon Secours Virginia Health System has launched movin' mania, a community wide effort to address childhood obesity, the leading health concern for children today. The health system gathered community partners and hundreds of area school children for a kickoff rally Thursday at the Science Museum of Virginia.

18 Jun 2012

Zealand Pharma, Protagonist partner to develop novel disulfide-rich peptides

Zealand Pharma A/S, a Danish biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel peptide drugs, has signed a collaboration agreement with Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc., a privately-owned US incorporated biotechnology company.

18 Jun 2012

Addition of physical activity intervention to usual care does not reduce depressive symptoms

Current clinical guidance recommends physical activity to alleviate the symptoms of depression. However, new research published in the BMJ, suggests that adding a physical activity intervention to usual care did not reduce symptoms of depression more than usual care alone, even though it increased levels of physical activity.

16 Jun 2012

New model can eradicate childhood obesity in private sector

Sanofi US and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a non-profit organization founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, today announced a new model for the private sector to combat childhood obesity.

16 Jun 2012

Study identifies new genetic factor associated with lean diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is popularly associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. However, just as there are obese people without type 2 diabetes, there are lean people with the disease.

15 Jun 2012

Roundup: Iowa redesign of mental health services raises concerns; Mich. lawmakers opposed to abortion restrictions are 'silenced'

State leaders hope their mental health redesign will bring better services to (rural areas of Iowa), but many front-line administrators doubt they'll see significant improvements soon. In fact, some worry that services could erode over the next year as money and some financial responsibilities are shifted from the counties to the state. Some long-term improvements are possible, they say, but cash likely will run short in the next few months.

15 Jun 2012

Research examines link between metabolic syndrome and cognitive disorders

No effective treatments are currently available for the prevention or cure of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most frequent form of dementia in the elderly. The most recognized risk factors, advancing age and having the apolipoprotein E Ɛ4 gene, cannot be modified or treated. Increasingly, scientists are looking toward other risk factors to identify preventive and therapeutic strategies.

15 Jun 2012

Top five prostate wellness tips

David Samadi, MD, Vice-Chair of Urology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, knows that many men put off caring for their health, even when they have a family. But just a loving nudge from his family can help keep Dad on track for long-term prostate health, prostate cancer prevention, and prostate cancer awareness.

15 Jun 2012

Relationship between obesity prevalence and growth of supermarket economy

An international team of researchers' study of the spatial patterns of the spread of obesity suggests America's bulging waistlines may have more to do with collective behavior than genetics or individual choices. The team, led by City College of New York physicist Hern-n Makse, found correlations between the epidemic's geography and food marketing and distribution patterns.

15 Jun 2012