Obesity
Saturated fat intake may influence a person’s expression of genetic obesity risk
Limiting saturated fat could help people whose genetic make-up increases their chance of being obese. In a new study, researchers from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA) at Tufts University identified 63 gene variants related to obesity and used them to calculate a genetic risk score for obesity for […]
Do your stomach bacteria protect you from obesity?
The germ Helicobacter pylori is the cause of most stomach ulcers, but new research in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics suggests that treating the bacteria is linked to weight gain. It is estimated that 50% of the global population may be infected with H. pylori; however, only 20% of infected people experience symptoms. New evidence suggests […]
Where one lives matters in relationship between obesity, life satisfaction
A new study suggests that how one compares weight-wise with others in his or her community plays a key role in determining how satisfied the person is with his or her life. “The most interesting finding for us was that, in U.S. counties where obesity is particularly prevalent, being obese has very little negative effect […]
Chronic insufficient sleep increases obesity, overall body fat in children
One of the most comprehensive studies of the potential link between reduced sleep and childhood obesity finds compelling evidence that children who consistently received less than the recommended hours of sleep during infancy and early childhood had increases in both obesity and in adiposity or overall body fat at age 7. The study from MassGeneral […]
Closing the Gap in Childhood Obesity Forum: A Recap and Call to Action
May 13, 2014, 12:00AM PT in Fitnovatives Blog | A cross-sector cadre of national and regional stakeholders that share the goal of reversing childhood obesity recently converged in New Jersey, the home state of the philanthropic behemoth Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). RWJF has invested $ 500 million to reverse childhood obesity […]
Long-term childhood poverty contributes to young adult obesity rates
A new study from the University of Houston Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) finds childhood poverty reaches into the lives of white, Hispanic and African-American young adult women, contributing to their propensity to be overweight and obese. “We know that having a low socioeconomic status during childhood contributes to children being overweight or […]
Obesity drug failing patients due to lack of education about side-effects
A new study, published today in the Journal of Health Psychology, found that patients who gained weight 18 months after taking Orlistat attributed their weight-loss failure either to the side effects which have prevented them from sticking to the medication or felt that the medication simply had not worked. The team from the University of […]
Mealtime TV viewing during pregnancy may set stage for childhood obesity
Turning the TV off during mealtimes to help prevent childhood obesity may need to start even before a child is born, according to a study to be presented Tuesday, May 6, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Researchers found that pregnant women who watched television while eating were […]
Motivational interviewing can positively impact childhood obesity
Pediatricians and dietitians who used motivational interviewing techniques to counsel families about their young child’s weight were successful in reducing children’s body mass index (BMI) percentile 3.1 more points than comparison children over a 2-year period, according to a study to be presented Sunday, May 4, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in […]
Concept of ‘healthy’ obesity challenged
Obese individuals who have no signs of cardiovascular disease show a much higher prevalence of early plaque buildup in the arteries compared to healthy normal weight individuals, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study challenges the idea of “healthy” obesity, and researchers recommend all obese individuals […]