Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

Outdated physical education syllabus is failing school children

An outdated physical education syllabus is failing the fitness of our school children according to Olympic and physical education expert Sheila Wigmore from Sheffield Hallam University.

From Sheffield Hallam University 9 Jan 2007

Blood levels of vitamin folate in women of childbearing age decreasing

From 1999 through 2004 there was an 8% to 16% decline in the level of the vitamin folate in the blood of U.S. women of childbearing age, according to a study published in the Jan. 5 issue of CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports (Stobbe, AP/Houston Chronicle, 1/4).

7 Jan 2007

Era of beer belly pride long gone

Four out of five men with beer bellies could die young, and they might not realise it.

3 Jan 2007

High uric acid levels indicate risk for cognitive problems in old age

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins and Yale university medical schools have found that a simple blood test to measure uric acid, a measure of kidney function, might reveal a risk factor for cognitive problems in old age.

2 Jan 2007

Research offers hope for alcoholics

Scientists at Melbourne's Howard Florey Institute have discovered a system in the brain that stops an alcoholic's craving for alcohol, as well as prevent relapse once they have recovered from alcohol addiction.

12 Dec 2006

U.S. residents slightly healthier than in 2005

U.S. residents overall are slightly healthier than they were last year, but the rate of improvement has leveled off since 2000, according to a report released on Tuesday by the UnitedHealth Foundation, the Washington Times reports.

5 Dec 2006

Dancing on the streets - just what the doctor ordered!

It seems plans are afoot to provide dance classes on the National Health Service in Britain in an attempt to improve the country's fitness levels and halt a looming national obesity crisis.

4 Dec 2006

West Virginia pilot project would create incentive program for Medicaid beneficiaries to live healthier

The New York Times on Friday examined new revisions to the West Virginia Medicaid program that will "reward 'responsible' patients with significant extra benefits or -- as critics describe it -- punish those who do not join weight-loss or anti-smoking programs, or who miss too many appointments, by denying important services" to help reduce costs.

2 Dec 2006

A good reason for women to be overweight?

If new research is to be believed, overweight and obese women have a lower risk of breast cancer prior to menopause.

29 Nov 2006

Fat children sleep better when they exercise

Researchers in the United States say that doing some form of aerobic exercise during the daytime might improve the sleep-related breathing problems experienced by many children who are overweight or obese.

28 Nov 2006

Hospital-acquired infections in most cases are the result of poor hygiene

Hospital-acquired infections in most cases are the result of poor hygiene within the facilities and not of how sick patients were at the time of admission, according to three studies published on Monday in the American Journal of Medical Quality, the Washington Post reports.

23 Nov 2006

Adolescent girls who live near parks more physically active

Adolescent girls who live within half a mile of a public park are significantly more physically active than other girls, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers have found.

20 Nov 2006

Risk to childhood cancer survivors for late-occurring strokes

Children who are successfully treated for brain tumors or leukemia are more likely to have strokes later in life, according to new research from UT Southwestern Medical Center.

20 Nov 2006

When it comes to economic prosperity, obesity is as damaging as malnutrition

According to a World Bank expert, obesity could damage economic output as severely as malnutrition in the poorest countries.

16 Nov 2006

Link between common lifestyle factors, immune system and cancer

The immune system is fickle, and easily influenced by more than just viruses and bacteria. It can be swayed by the seemingly unexpected, such as by what we eat, for example, and affected by surprising sources.

13 Nov 2006

Children being set up for heart disease later on in life

A new study by Canadian researchers says that clogged arteries show up in children, and fatty diets and a lack of exercise are setting children up for heart problems later on in life.

13 Nov 2006

Diets and heart health - no difference between low carb and low fat

A new study has shown that when it comes to diet programs and heart health, there is little to choose between low carbohydrate diets such as the popular Atkins plan and typical low-fat diets.

8 Nov 2006

Brits to trial stem cell treatment for heart attack victims

In an experimental treatment which aims to prevent heart failure and death following a heart attack, doctors in Britain will trial a treatment which uses a patients own stem cells.

8 Nov 2006

Tubby tummies in kids increase the risk of serious disease later on

A new study by American researchers has found that between 1988 and 2004 abdominal obesity increased more than 65 percent among boys and almost 70 percent among girls.

7 Nov 2006

Compound in red wine counters effects of a high-calorie diet

The results of an international study suggests that a compound found in red wine gave mice longer and healthier lives and also countered some of the effects of a high-calorie diet.

1 Nov 2006