By Hugh C. McBride
As the news spread that researchers had discovered an "obesity gene," responses ranged from relief ("I knew this wasn't because I wasn't working hard enough") to remorse ("Great - now there's no chance I'll ever lose this weight").
Surprising Findings About 'Brown Fat' May Lead to New Obesity Treatments
Researchers with Harvard Medical School's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have made a significant discovery about the body's ability to burn fat cells - a finding that some experts believe may lead to revolutionary changes in the fight against overweight and obesity.
According to an Aug. 21, 2008 article on the ScienceDaily website, a team under the leadership of Dana-Farber professor Bruce M. Spiegelman, Ph.D., was able to trigger in laboratory mice the production of a type of fat that burns rather than stores calories:
The Link Between Obesity and Abnormal Sleep Patterns
Overweight adults who experience excessive fatigue may not be tiring out simply because of the extra weight they are carrying around. Several studies have linked obesity with abnormal sleep patterns and disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea.
Though researchers have yet to determine causality (does the extra weight cause the poor sleep patterns, or vice versa?), there is an abundance of evidence pointing to the fact that overweight adults are disproportionately exposed to the health risks associated with getting abnormal amounts of sleep.
The Price of Obesity
With obesity at epidemic proportions around the globe, an unprecedented number of individuals may now find themselves at greater risk of developing a wide range of additional health problems. Asthma, type-2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers are just a few of the myriad diseases and conditions that health care professionals and research scientists have associated with elevated body mass index.
Health Changes in Diabetic Patients in the Four Week Diabetes Program at Structure House Submitted by Marlene Lesson on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 19:56.
One hundred sixty-five (165) individuals have completed four weeks on the specialized diabetes program in addition to the core weight loss program at Structure House. The diabetes component includes specialized classes related to diabetes and nutrition, exercise and diabetes, mind-body classes focusing in the impact of stress on diabetes, weekly educational sessions with a nurse addressing health issues associated with diabetes and a weekly appointment with an endocrinologist specializing in diabetes management. In
Weight-loss Dieting Lowers Inflammation, Could Lower Disease Risk
A growing number of research studies point to chronic inflammation in the body as a risk factor for several diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, and for death. A recent study looked at the effects of weight-loss dieting and physical activity on inflammation. It found that eating to lose weight decreased inflammation.
Obesity Threatens to Tarnish the "Golden Years"
By Hugh C. McBride
Dr. Mike Magee isn't a mathematician, but when he looks at the health outlook of people in the United States, he sees an equation as simple as it is stark: Aging + Obesity = Serious Consequences.
In an article on the "Health Politics" online news and information service that he founded, Magee describes the confluence of aging and obesity as "two intersecting and compounding megatrends" that threaten the health of millions of adults. And he isn't alone in his concerns about America's aging population.
Medical & Health
What Causes Overweight and Obesity
Energy Balance
For most people, overweight and obesity are caused by not having energy balance. Weight is balanced by the amount of energy or calories you get from food and drinks (this is called energy IN) equaling the energy your body uses for things like breathing, digesting, and being physically active (this is called energy OUT).
