Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

PBS special report on health care reform

With President Obama scheduled to give a major address on healthcare to a joint session of Congress this Wednesday, the hallmark PBS programs NOW ON PBS, TAVIS SMILEY and NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT are collaborating to provide a timely and much-needed in-depth look at health care reform in America and the latest government proposals to address the issue.

9 Sep 2009

Nutrisystem D program helps overweight type 2 diabetic people lose weight

Results from a clinical study conducted at the Temple University School of Medicine and published today in the journal Postgraduate Medicine(1), show that a pre-packaged, portion controlled meal plan helped overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes lose significantly more weight and reduce their A1C test scores (a 90-day measure of blood sugar control) by almost a full point greater than those following a standard hospital-based diabetes support and education program, according to the findings.

9 Sep 2009

Obesity, alcohol and smoking linked to second breast cancer occurrence

It is well known that survivors of breast cancer have a much higher risk of developing a second breast cancer than women in the general population have of developing a first breast cancer. However, little is known about what lifestyle factors may make survivors more vulnerable to a second cancer.

9 Sep 2009

Web-based clinical support tool for gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy patients

Building on the success and popularity of REALIZE mySUCCESS(R) for REALIZE(TM) Band patients, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. announced today it will expand availability of the Web-based clinical support tool to gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy patients.

9 Sep 2009

Recipients of Charles C. Shepard Award announced

Jill Van Den Bos, a healthcare consultant in Milliman's Denver Health practice, and her colleagues from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been named recipients of the prestigious Charles C. Shepard Award.

8 Sep 2009

Valentx raises funds to develop less-invasive treatment for morbid obesity

ValenTx, Inc., announced today the closing of a $22 million Series B Preferred Stock financing. The round was led by SV Life Sciences and joined by Covidien Ventures, as well as all the Company’s existing venture capital investors: Sapient Capital, EDF Ventures, Kaiser Permanente Ventures, Affinity Capital Partners, and TGap Ventures.

8 Sep 2009

New book on weight loss and fitness released

Modern American society is filled with easily accessible fatty foods, a growing obesity epidemic and a general lack of healthy living. In his new book, "Lose Weight, Feel Great: How I Lost Over 60lbs. with the Help of a Personal Trainer" (published by AuthorHouse), author Kevin Given tells of his personal struggles with obesity, how he lost over 60 pounds with the help of a personal trainer, and how others can change their lifestyles and bodies as well.

8 Sep 2009

Fourth-quarter and fiscal year end 2009 results announced by Palatin Technologies

Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Amex: PTN) today announced results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2009. For the year ended June 30, 2009, total revenues were $11.4 million, compared to $11.5 million for year ended June 30, 2008. Palatin's net loss for the year ended June 30, 2009 was $4.8 million, or $(0.06) per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $14.4 million, or $(0.17) per basic and diluted share, for the year ended June 30, 2008.

8 Sep 2009

Rise in primary liver cancer cases attributed to increased alcohol consumption

Cases of primary liver cancer have tripled in the last 30 years according to statistics published today by Cancer Research UK.

7 Sep 2009

Practitioners struggle to effectively manage child obesity

New research, led by Dr Katrina Turner from the University's Department of Community Based Medicine, has assessed primary care practitioners' views and experiences of treating childhood obesity.

7 Sep 2009

Five Clinical Research Units established

With the establishment of five new Clinical Research Units the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) hopes to give a further boost to clinical research in Germany and drive progress in the scientific investigation and possibilities for the treatment of disease.

7 Sep 2009

Better health system needed to identify and manage childhood obesity

A new study has revealed GPs and pediatricians believe their capacity to effectively identify and manage childhood obesity is limited, due to barriers such as time constraints. 65 per cent of the doctors also perceived a shortfall in public sector dietitians to assist them in managing overweight and obese children, according to the study in Nutrition & Dietetics, published by Wiley-Blackwell.

7 Sep 2009

OSI Pharmaceuticals initiates two clinical trials with OSI-906 oral insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor inhibitor

OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIP) announced today the initiation of two clinical trials with OSI-906, the Company’s potential first-in-class, oral insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor. The first study is a Phase III, multi-center study that will evaluate the use of OSI-906 for patients with locally advanced or metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC).

4 Sep 2009

Eating at irregular times influences weight gain

Eat less, exercise more. Now there is new evidence to support adding another "must" to the weight-loss mantra: eat at the right time of day.

4 Sep 2009

Americans' health perceptions contradict national statistics

We think we’re healthier than we actually are, suggests a new survey from market research leader Mintel. Surveying Americans about their health, Mintel found people’s perceptions strongly contradict national statistics about obesity, illness and wellness.

4 Sep 2009

New treatment for vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell patients

GlycoMimetics, Inc. (GMI), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is developing a new class of glycobiology-based therapies for a broad range of indications, today announced that a pilot study of the company’s lead candidate, GMI-1070, is underway in sickle cell patients. The first patients in this pilot study were treated at Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland in California.

4 Sep 2009

Reliable and relevant information needed to rein in the costs of federal health-care programs, says study

For economists and policy-makers to understand the true value of the costs and savings of preventive health programs for chronic disease, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) should incorporate long-term clinical outcomes data and look beyond the 10-year window when making cost estimates, says a team of University of Chicago researchers in today's issue of Health Affairs.

3 Sep 2009

Low HDL-cholesterol and high triglycerides linked to increased risk of CHD

Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and raised triglycerides, affecting millions of patients worldwide, are strongly linked to significantly increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) even in patients who achieve or surpass current low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets.

3 Sep 2009

Health Information Resource Center recognizes SHPS, presents nine awards

SHPS, a leading provider of health improvement and health benefits solutions, received nine awards for its healthcare communications in the 2009 National Health Information Awards(SM) program.

3 Sep 2009

Green to Grow calls for support of the California Toxics-Free Babies and Toddlers Act

Green to Grow (www.greentogrow.com), a leading Los Angeles-based manufacturer of BPA-free baby bottles that provide a safe alternative to polycarbonate products containing Bisphenol A (BPA) - a chemical currently banned in Canada, Minnesota, Connecticut and under scrutiny in several European nations - is urging the public and California Assembly members to support the Toxics-Free Babies and Toddlers Act (SB 797).

3 Sep 2009