Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

A special type of Dwarfism protects against cancer & diabetes: Study

Researchers have found that some individuals living in remote villages in Ecuador have a mutation that could throw light on human longevity and ways to increase it. These villagers, all dwarfs with heights less than three and a half feet, have a rare condition called Laron syndrome or Laron dwarfism.

20 Feb 2011

CDC maps least and most active Americans

A new government commissioned study has found that Colorado has one of the most active populations in the country and Kentucky has one of the least active. This study is the third in a series of county-focused reports by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The first two looked at diabetes and obesity rates, says Ann Albright, director of the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation.

20 Feb 2011

In the Gulf states rates of heart disease are rising with the economy

Rapid improvement in the socio-economic conditions of the Gulf states has been followed by lifestyle changes now contributing to high rates of cardiovascular disease. Professor Hani Najm, President of the Saudi Heart Association whose annual conference begins 21 February 2011, describes risk factor prevalence rates as "extremely high", particularly in the cities of Saudi Arabia.

20 Feb 2011

FDA recognizes safety and efficacy of True Results LAP-BAND device

The True Results team of gastric band surgeons and medical weight loss experts is pleased the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recognized the long-standing safety and effectiveness record of the LAP-BAND System.

19 Feb 2011

Opeds: Leavitt on HHS secretary's power; entitlements and fed budget; health threat of Wisc. 'showdown'

If I may, as a former HHS secretary, offer a suggestion to the current secretary, it would be this: Use these expanded discretionary powers to grant states and the private sector more flexibility and more autonomy.

19 Feb 2011

Research suggests weight loss greatly improves knee pain related to OA

Knee pain related to osteoarthritis is a common complaint among obese individuals and retired professional athletes, especially former NFL players, but researchers presenting their work at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day program say they have a simple solution: lose weight.

19 Feb 2011

Kentucky, Virginia LapBand centers install Crospon's EndoFLIP system

Crospon, an Irish medical device developer based in Galway, has announced that its EndoFLIP system is now being used in two leading LapBand centers in Kentucky and Virginia.

19 Feb 2011

Total knee arthroplasty takes more time to perform in overweight, obese patients

Knee replacement surgery takes far more time to conduct in overweight and obese patients than in normal weight patients, according to recent research at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

18 Feb 2011

MU study finds behavior strategies increase physical activity levels in healthy adults

Most people know that exercise is important to maintain and improve health; however, sedentary lifestyles and obesity rates are at all-time highs and have become major national issues.

18 Feb 2011

New study: Asthma may have relationship with airway microbiota composition

Asthma may have a surprising relationship with the composition of the species of bacteria that inhabit bronchial airways, a finding that could suggest new treatment or even potential cures for the common inflammatory disease, according to a new UCSF-led study.

18 Feb 2011

Research: Urban children spend more time playing outdoors

Young children living in urban public housing spend more time playing outdoors than other urban children, according to researchers at Rice University, Columbia University and Princeton University.

18 Feb 2011

West Virginia receives $186,000 AstraZeneca grant to expand Cardiovascular Health program

The AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation program, Connections for Cardiovascular Health, today announced a grant of more than $186,000 to West Virginia Health Right, Inc. in Charleston to expand the Pathways to Cardiovascular Health program.

17 Feb 2011

New study: Fast food meal consumption can affect inflammatory responses in blood vessels

The effect of a high-fat meal on blood vessel walls can vary among individuals depending on factors such as their waist size and triglyceride levels, suggests new research at UC Davis.

17 Feb 2011

Study analyses number of mortality rates among Spanish women with breast cancer

Pioneering Spanish provinces in terms of early prevention of breast cancer, such as Navarre and the Basque Country, record lower death rates, although the trend is towards the figures levelling out all over Spain. These are the results of a study carried out by Spanish researchers, which analyses the number of women who died between 1975 and 2005.

17 Feb 2011

Registration opens for The Endocrine Society's 2011 annual meeting in Boston

Media registration opens today for The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting & EXPO taking place in Boston, MA on June 4-7, 2011. ENDO 2011 promises to be an engaging and informative opportunity for journalists to learn about the latest research in obesity, endocrine disrupters, diabetes, growth hormones, sex hormones, thyroid cancer and much more.

17 Feb 2011

CHIS releases latest data on health and well-being of state's residents

The California Health Interview Survey, the nation's largest state health survey and a primary source of information on California's diverse population, released its latest data today on more than 100 topics affecting the health and well-being of the state's residents.

17 Feb 2011

Allergan receives FDA approval for expanded use of LAP-BAND System in obese adults

Allergan, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the expanded use of the LAP-BAND System, Allergan's gastric band, for adults with obesity who have failed more conservative weight reduction alternatives, such as diet and exercise and pharmacotherapy, and have a Body Mass Index of 30-40 and at least one obesity related comorbid condition.

16 Feb 2011

Ban called for allegedly carcinogenic caramel component in sodas

A consumer advocacy group has urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this Wednesday to ban some chemically enhanced caramel food colorings used in widely consumed cola drinks as they could cause cancer.

16 Feb 2011

New research shows regular walking can reduce risk of breast, bowel and other cancers

As winter sets in, most of us are probably not as active as we usually are during warmer months. Winter is a time of stillness, reflection and rest. However, we still need to exercise, even if it's at a slower pace. Walking offers us a chance to move our bodies, keeping our systems running smoothly without the over exertion of other high powered activities such as jogging or competitive sports.

16 Feb 2011

Mental health of obese children needs primary focus

The mental health of obese children should be a primary focus of researchers studying childhood obesity, according to Christine Calamaro, PhD, CRNP, assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.

16 Feb 2011