Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

McDonald’s menus to include calorie counts in Britain

In an advancement against rising rates of obesity nearly 1,200 McDonald's restaurants in the U.K. will this week begin displaying the calorie count of each food and drink item on their wall-mounted menu boards.

5 Sep 2011

Stroke in the young on the rise: Study

A new study has revealed that more children and young adults in the U.S. are having strokes. Researchers speculate that unhealthy lifestyles could be a likely contributor.

5 Sep 2011

Inflammation boosts activity of two proteins that can normalize blood sugar in diabetics

Increased low-grade inflammation in the body resulting from obesity is widely viewed as contributing to type 2 diabetes. Going against this long-held belief, researchers from Children's Hospital Boston report that two proteins activated by inflammation are actually crucial for maintaining good blood sugar levels - and that boosting the activity of these proteins can normalize blood sugar in severely obese and diabetic mice.

5 Sep 2011

Study describes new class of anti-diabetic compound that targets unique molecular switch

In a joint study, scientists from The Scripps Research Institute and Harvard University's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have established a new class of anti-diabetic compound that targets a unique molecular switch.

5 Sep 2011

Natural environment linked to reduced obesity

New research from North Carolina finds that people who live in counties with better weather and more natural features like hills and lakes are more active and thinner than their counterparts, even when researchers take other factors into consideration.

3 Sep 2011

Stroke hospitalization rates in adolescents and young adults increase up to 37%

Ischemic stroke hospitalization rates in adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 44 increased up to 37% between 1995 and 2008 according to a study conducted by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

2 Sep 2011

Scientists discover genetic cause of extreme thinness

Scientists have discovered a genetic cause of extreme thinness for the first time, in a study published today in the journal Nature.

2 Sep 2011

Increased fat mass linked to high-intensity back pain

Increased back pain among people who are overweight or obese is specifically related to increased body fat content, reports a study in the September 15 issue of Spine.

2 Sep 2011

Eating potatoes good for lowering blood pressure, also no weight gain

A new study refutes previous knowledge that potatoes lead to excessive weight gain. The study claims that eating ‘spuds’ daily can help lower your blood pressure; and moreover, there is also no weight gain involved.

2 Sep 2011

Bowel cancer, coffee and diabetes: Two new studies

Australian researchers have identified a link between type 2 diabetes in men and a significantly increased risk of bowel cancer, triggering calls for diabetics to have regular checks.

31 Aug 2011

Americans ‘gulping’ down sweetened beverages: Study

According to health experts half of Americans drink a soda or sugary beverage each day. One in 20 people drinks the equivalent of more than four cans of soda each day. This is in spite of the health officials’ recommendation to limit sweetened beverages to less than half a can.

31 Aug 2011

Inadequate sleep linked to high blood pressure: Study

In the study, men with the lowest level of the deeper stages of slumber, known as slow-wave sleep, had an 80 percent higher chance of developing high blood pressure than men with the highest level of this restorative sleep. The link held regardless of other factors, such as obesity or how long the men slept.

31 Aug 2011

Aerobic exercise best for belly fat reduction: Study

A new study has shown that the best type of exercise to burn unhealthy belly fat is aerobic exercise. The results showed that people who did aerobics for eight months lost about 2.5 square inches of belly fat, as measured on a CT scan. That's about 1.5 times as much as people who did a combination of aerobic exercise and weight lifting, and about 20 times as much as those who only lifted weights.

31 Aug 2011

Women who eat fast have higher risk for obesity: Study

Researchers at Otago University say that more than a third of middle-aged New Zealand women eat fast and this tendency could be leading to increased weight gain. The advice “eat slowly, eat less” has been around for decades but, unlike many dieting myths, this one seems to hold water.

31 Aug 2011

Study: Obesity's impact on incidence of hot flashes may depend on age

A recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) found that among women aged 60 and above, heavier women have fewer hot flashes than their leaner counterparts. The inverse association between body size and hot flashes was observed only among the older women.

31 Aug 2011

Simple tips for children's shoe shopping

As parents and children begin the back to school shopping ritual that includes fashionable shoes, the Ontario Society of Chiropodists (OSC) stresses that fit is more important than looks. Well-fitting shoes reduce the incidence of foot and ankle injuries and encourages physical activity, helping to increase self esteem through sport.

31 Aug 2011

IntraPace to launch new lifestyle management portal and support network at IFSO 2011 congress

IntraPace, Inc., the developer of the innovative abiliti implantable obesity management system, announced today that it will launch its new lifestyle management portal and support network this week at the XVI World Congress of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) in Hamburg, Germany.

30 Aug 2011

Viewpoints: Spotlight on insurance industry; local health costs rising; obesity debate

The GOP candidate's positions are not a vision of the future for the U.S. but of a discredited past. ... Perry's proposed fixes for the healthcare system - tort reform, individual ownership of health insurance, portability of plans for people who move or change jobs - would do nothing to slow the growth of healthcare costs or reduce the number of uninsured Americans.

30 Aug 2011

Study indicates large gap in use of proven therapies for heart attack or stroke

A global study in 17 countries led by McMaster University researchers has found too few patients are using drugs proven to give significant benefits in warding off a heart attack or stroke.

30 Aug 2011