Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

Report finds hundreds of billions of dollars of waste in U.S. healthcare system

The U.S. health care system wastes between $505 billion and $850 billion every year, according to a new report from Thomson Reuters, the parent company of the Reuters news service.

26 Oct 2009

Athletes may face future health problems despite their rigorous exercise routines, says study

For today's athletes, size and strength can mean the difference between championships, scholarships and million-dollar paydays. But new research comparing the signs of metabolic syndrome in professional baseball and football players, presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's 74th Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego, reveals that the larger professional athletes - specifically football linemen - may encounter future health problems despite their rigorous exercise routines.

26 Oct 2009

DVD series "Start Fitness Now: Beating Type 2 Diabetes" released

NBC's "Biggest Loser" trainer Kim Lyons announces the newest addition to her fitness empire- 3 title DVD series Start Fitness Now: Beating Type 2 Diabetes and online support forum; produced and distributed by Watch It Now Entertainment.

26 Oct 2009

Rates of binge eating among adult women identical across race but not among college age women

Existing research shows that rates of binge eating among adult women is virtually identical across race. However, among college age women, it's a different story: Caucasian women are more apt to exhibit binge eating behaviors than African American women, according to a study presented at this month's annual scientific meeting of the Obesity Society.

26 Oct 2009

Orexigen Therapeutics announces new data from COR-I, COR-II and COR-Diabetes trials for Contrave

Orexigen® ( )Therapeutics, Inc today announced new data from the COR-I, COR-II and COR-Diabetes trials for Contrave® (bupropion SR/ naltrexone SR) to expand on top-line results announced in July. Contrave is the first of the Company's two late stage candidates for the treatment of obesity.

26 Oct 2009

Exercise and lifestyle changes are key to improve heart health

Exercise is a wonderful way of boosting heart health, but it's proving to be a tough sell in Ontario South Asian communities, Dr. Milan Gupta told the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2009, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

26 Oct 2009

Obese patients less likely to achieve cholesterol and blood pressure control

Obese patients taking medications to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels are less likely to reach recommended targets for these cardiovascular disease risk factors than their normal weight counterparts, according to new research presented at the 2009 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress hosted by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

26 Oct 2009

DaVita to demonstrate clinical outcomes, patient care and nutrition through 43 abstracts

DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), in conjunction with DaVita Clinical Research®, today announced that company representatives will deliver 43 abstracts—40 posters and three oral presentations—at this year’s American Society of Nephrology’s (ASN) Renal Week to be held in San Diego, Calif., from Oct. 27 – Nov. 1, 2009.

24 Oct 2009

Researchers elucidate the effect of nutritional parameters in long-term PPI therapy

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common esophageal disorder, and frequently encountered in the primary care setting. Accumulating evidence has confirmed the excellent efficacy and safety of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in patients with all grades of GERD, making these agents the mainstay of treatment.

24 Oct 2009

Curriculum to increase science literacy and generate enthusiasm for life sciences among high school students

A new curriculum called The Great Diseases will bring real-world biomedical research to students in three Boston high schools. The result of a collaboration between scientists from Tufts University School of Medicine and teachers from the Boston Public Schools, the curriculum presents current threats to global health through laboratory learning, multimedia, and case-based studies

24 Oct 2009

Researchers find link between hepatic steatosis and carotid lesions

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is often caused by abdominal obesity, which is also one of the main causes of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. The latter, in turn, is an important cardiovascular risk factor, and has been found to be associated with the presence of carotid atherosclerotic lesions.

24 Oct 2009

FEMA finds Senomyx' S6973 sucrose enhancer safe

Senomyx, Inc., a leading company focused on using proprietary technologies to discover and develop novel flavor ingredients for the food, beverage and ingredient supply industries, announced today that it has been notified by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) that its sucrose enhancer, S6973, has been determined to be Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) under the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, administered by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

24 Oct 2009

Recent releases in Global Health

"The spread of dengue virus throughout the tropics represents a major, rapidly growing public health problem with an estimated 2.5 billion people at risk of dengue fever and the life-threatening disease, severe dengue," write the authors of a Lancet Infectious Diseases review that examines what is known about the virus and progress in the development of a dengue vaccine (Webster et. al, 11/09).

24 Oct 2009

Learn to recognise stroke symptoms and take action: World Stroke Organization

The theme of this year's World Stroke Day on 29th October is "What can I do?". As the World Stroke Organization says, everyone can do something: learn to recognise symptoms and take action, learn to recognise the risk factors and take action.

24 Oct 2009

Low adiponectin levels may increase sepsis related complications

A new Canadian study has found that lower-than-normal levels of a naturally-occurring fat hormone may increase the risk of death from sepsis-an overwhelming infection of the blood which claims thousands of lives each year.

24 Oct 2009

PPA reaches historic milestone; helps the six millionth person

After visiting more than 3,000 cities in all 50 states, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) has reached a historic milestone today by helping the six millionth person at an event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

24 Oct 2009

Wellness and prevention mostly absent in health reform bills

"Despite Americans' poor lifestyle choices and the chronic problems they spawn, the health-care reform proposals being considered in Congress contain relatively little to promote wellness," The Tennessean reports.

24 Oct 2009

Dr. Anthony Falcon: We're facing a catastrophic situation on the border

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jessica Marcy talks with Dr. Antonio Falcon, a physician in the border town of Rio Grande City, Texas. He explained his concern "about several health threats facing border communities, including tuberculosis, diabetes, obesity and the H1N1 virus that causes swine flu."

24 Oct 2009

EnteroMedics reports financial results for 2009 third quarter

EnteroMedics Inc., the developer of medical devices using neuroblocking technology to treat obesity and other gastrointestinal disorders, today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

23 Oct 2009

Medgenics signs $7 million agreement to develop the Biopump technology for Factor VIII

Medgenics is pleased to announce that it has signed a preclinical development and option agreement with a major international biopharmaceutical company that is a market leader in the field of hemophilia.

23 Oct 2009