Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

Gut bacteria and state of immune system influence personality

Researchers at McMaster University discovered that the "cross-talk" between bacteria in our gut and our brain plays an important role in the development of psychiatric illness, intestinal diseases and probably other health problems as well including obesity.

24 Mar 2011

High sugar, high fat diets during pregnancy may cause infants to become junk food junkies

A new research report published online in The FASEB Journal suggests that pregnant mothers who eat high sugar and high fat diets have babies who are likely to become junk food junkies themselves. According to the report, which used rats, this happens because the high fat and high sugar diet leads to changes in the fetal brain's reward pathway, altering food preferences.

24 Mar 2011

Roundup: Calif. lawmakers mull bill to tighten hospital security; abortion measures continue to advance in various states

A California legislative committee gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a bill that would tighten security at hospitals and increase their requirements for reporting violent acts to the state.

24 Mar 2011

New research can lead to better OA treatment

Arthritis researchers from North America and Europe will convene in Chicago this week to present new osteoarthritis research that could lead to better ways to detect, treat, prevent and cure osteoarthritis, which affects 27 million Americans.

24 Mar 2011

Specific plant oil may reduce belly fat in humans

Scientists have known for years that belly fat leads to serious medical problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found a plant oil that may be able to reduce belly fat in humans.

24 Mar 2011

Obese teens have inflammation, insulin resistance, and high homocysteine levels despite feeling healthy

Obese teens may feel healthy, but blood tests show they have inflammation, insulin resistance, and high homocysteine levels, researchers report at the American Heart Association's Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism/Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention 2011 Scientific Sessions.

23 Mar 2011

Organochloride pesticide exposure can alter semen quality in young people

Two in 10 young people in South East Spain have poor sperm density, which involves requiring more time to accomplish fertilization. The most common means of exposure to pesticides is food and other household products.

23 Mar 2011

Greater allowances for overweight bus passengers in U.S.

Because of the growing waistlines of many American bus passengers, the U.S. government may have to rewrite bus safety rules. The Federal Transit Authority (FTA) wants to raise the assumed average weight per bus passenger from 150 pounds to 175 pounds and add an extra quarter of a square foot of floor space per passenger. The agency says the proposals “acknowledge the expanding girth of the average passenger.”

22 Mar 2011

Breast cancer updates

Many survivors of breast cancer cite stress as a link to the cancer despite no scientific proof of a connection. Experts believe that the root cause here are the lifestyle-related issues - such as smoking and obesity - where there is a clear link to the cancer.

22 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 22, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about California's health insurance rates and looming insolvency for the U.S. Disability Fund.

22 Mar 2011

Experts to showcase nursing education, practical innovations at Las Vegas national conference

Motivating and educating nurses to help them excel in their daily practice is the focus of this year's National Conference for Nurse Practitioners: The Conference for Primary and Acute Care Clinicians, May 11-14, 2011, at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, NV.

22 Mar 2011

Researchers can grow and manipulate personalized gut microbes in laboratory

Each of us carries a unique collection of trillions of friendly microbes in our intestines that helps break down food our bodies otherwise couldn't digest.

22 Mar 2011

Research shows being obese for longer period may increase risk of mortality

Monash University researchers have found the number of years individuals live with obesity is directly associated with the risk of mortality.

22 Mar 2011

City Of Hope opens new center for diabetes research and care

City of Hope has established a new Diabetes Research Center that will expand its pioneering investigations into diabetes, endocrinology and metabolic diseases, create an infrastructure to support translational research and enhance clinical care for diabetes and its related complications.

22 Mar 2011

Doubts raised over Lap-Band surgery in the long term: Study

This surgery is based on the principle of placing a silicone band around the top portion of the stomach to restrict food intake. It has become an increasingly popular option in the battle against obesity, but some experts have worried about its safety.

21 Mar 2011

Bowel cancer incidence set to rise: Research

According to the latest research from the Cancer Council, the incidence of bowel cancer in Australia is set to rise to 21,000 cases a year in the next decade. The report shows that one in five cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, due to a lack of screening. This research is being used to renew the Federal Government’s full funding and implementation of the national bowel cancer screening program. Funding for the program is due to expire at the end of June.

21 Mar 2011