Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

Lifestyle changes are best defense against heart attack

When it comes to heart health, whether or not your job is stressful isn't what you should be worried about, according to doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Diet, exercise and risk factors like high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity are what contribute to a person's chance of having a heart attack.

23 Jan 2010

NJHA honors professionals and organizations for sustainable healthcare

Several individuals and organizations were honored at the 91st Annual Meeting of the New Jersey Hospital Association today at the Hyatt Regency Princeton.

23 Jan 2010

NCMHD awards Weill Cornell Medical College $8M for establishing CEDREC in New York City

Weill Cornell Medical College has established a new research center to improve medical care in ethnically diverse and medically underserved communities in New York City.

23 Jan 2010

Tips to combat childhood obesity

You've heard the alarming statistic before: one-third of U.S. children and teens are overweight or obese, increasing their risk of developing health problems such as diabetes.

23 Jan 2010

The American Journal of Pathology: Highlights from February 2010 issue

A group led by Dr. Peter Lloyd Jones at the University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland; the University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO; and the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA has demonstrated that tenascin-C affects proto-oncogene function in breast cancer. Their report can be found in the February 2010 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

22 Jan 2010

Findings may provide new insights into diabetes; suggest novel targets for drug intervention

The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) makes cameo appearances throughout the body, but its leading role is as the opening act in the stress response, jump-starting the process along the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have found that CRF also plays a part in the pancreas, where it increases insulin secretion and promotes the division of the insulin-producing beta cells.

22 Jan 2010

Mice study shows obesity can increase risk of developing liver cancer

Obesity comes with plenty of health risks, but there's one that's perhaps not so well known: an increased risk of developing cancer, and especially certain types of cancer like liver cancer. Now, a group of researchers reporting in the January 22nd issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication, have confirmed in mice that obesity does indeed act as a "bona fide tumor promoter." They also have good evidence to explain how that happens.

22 Jan 2010

Association between vitamin D and risk of colorectal cancer identified

High blood levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of colon cancer, finds a large European study published on bmj.com today. The risk was cut by as much as 40% in people with the highest levels compared with those in the lowest.

22 Jan 2010

Reducing dietary salt can offer significant health benefits

Reducing salt in the American diet by as little as one-half teaspoon (or three grams) per day could prevent nearly 100,000 heart attacks and 92,000 deaths each year, according to a new study. Such benefits are on par with the benefits from reductions in smoking and could save the United States about $24 billion in healthcare costs, the researchers add.

21 Jan 2010

Five questions for successful weight loss

The American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) works with physicians so they’re better prepared to deal with society’s obesity epidemic. Even though people focus on weight loss more in January than any other month, successful weight loss is a year-round long-term initiative that goes far beyond just diet and exercise. The ASBP has highlighted five questions everyone who needs to lose weight should ask their physician.

21 Jan 2010

PHS offers interactive exercise program for school children to combat childhood obesity

ProMedica Health System (PHS) is offering high school students an opportunity to create a children's exercise program for a chance to win $5,000 for college.

21 Jan 2010

Obesity in pregnant women is associated with increased risk of birth defects

In recent years, there has been a large increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese women of childbearing age, with approximately 51% of non-pregnant women ages 20 to 39 being classified as overweight or obese.

21 Jan 2010

Study shows nutrition has a direct influence on the immune system

Bonn researchers have discovered an elementary mechanism which regulates vital immune functions in healthy people. In situations of hunger which mean stress for the body's cells, the body releases more antimicrobial peptides in order to protect itself. The scientists will publish their results in the journal Nature.

21 Jan 2010

Blue Cross Blue Shield accepts grant proposals from elementary schools to reduce childhood obesity

Childhood obesity in America is a major public health issue. Blue Cross Blue Shield, committed to building a healthier Michigan, is partnering with schools across the state to get kids moving and eating healthier.

21 Jan 2010

Lantheus Medical Imaging announces the launch of ABLAVAR

Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., a worldwide leader in diagnostic imaging, today announced the launch of ABLAVAR™ (gadofosveset trisodium), a unique, injectable MRA imaging agent used to evaluate aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) in adults with known or suspected peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

20 Jan 2010

OAC calls for health insurance coverage of USPTF recommended childhood obesity treatments

In light of the recent recommendation of the United States Preventative Task Force (USPTF), the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is calling for all employers and insurers to add health insurance coverage of the recommended childhood obesity treatments.

20 Jan 2010

Health Canada approves Novartis' Afinitor to treat patients with mRCC

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. (Novartis) announced today that Afinitor(R) (everolimus), a once-daily oral cancer treatment, has been approved by Health Canada for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), also known as advanced kidney cancer, after failure of initial treatment with VEGF-receptor targeted therapies Sutent(R) (sunitinib) or Nexavar(R) (sorafenib).

20 Jan 2010

PROLOR Biotech's hGH-CTP Phase I study data to be presented at the BIO CEO & Investor Conference

PROLOR Biotech, Inc., today announced that final data from a randomized, dose-escalating Phase I clinical study of its longer-acting version of human growth hormone (hGH-CTP) will be featured in an oral presentation by PROLOR management at the 12th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference to be held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on February 8-9, 2010.

20 Jan 2010

Impact of life style factors on natural and medically assisted reproduction

The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) has published a position statement on the impact of the life style factors obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption on natural and medically assisted reproduction.

20 Jan 2010

New technique could bring immense benefits for patients with irregular heart rhythm

Scientists at the University of Leicester are 'painting' the colours of the heart in an innovative project that has potential to bring benefits for millions of people with irregular heart rhythm.

20 Jan 2010