Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

Gene variant boosts risk of fatty liver disease

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that individuals who carry a specific form of the gene PNPLA3 have more fat in their livers and a greater risk of developing liver inflammation.

25 Sep 2008

Oversize waistlines are a potent risk factor for heart disease in women

A heart expert at Johns Hopkins is calling for all women with a waistline measuring more than 35 inches to get an annual check-up and detailed risk assessment for heart problems because excess abdominal fat, even in the mildly obese and overweight, leads more than a third of women to underestimate their lifetime risk of having a heart attack, stroke or chest pain (angina).

24 Sep 2008

Major study aims for new approaches to cardiovascular disease management

The Consortium for Southeastern Hypertension Control (COSEHC), headquartered at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, is launching a major five-year study designed to update current guidelines for treating cardiovascular diseases, improve disease management and reduce heart attacks and strokes in the Southeast.

24 Sep 2008

Funding dispute affects plans to develop office of minority health in Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Enquirer on Sunday examined a dispute over funding to establish a local Office of Minority Health. In March, City Manager Milton Dohoney recommended that the Cincinnati City Council approve an ordinance that would have allowed the City of Cincinnati Health Department to apply for and accept a $69,023 grant from HHS to establish the center. He said the city would supply $17,489 in matching funds.

24 Sep 2008

Obesity linked to repeated miscarriages

Research carried out by specialists in Britain has found that women who have experienced a number of miscarriages are more likely to continue to miscarry if they are obese - they say obesity significantly increases the risk of further miscarriages.

23 Sep 2008

Huckabee discusses need to focus on preventable health problems

Former Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Tuesday during the "State of Our Health" conference in Columbia, S.C., said that the U.S. must seek to decrease rates of obesity and other preventable health problems to help reduce health care costs, the AP/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

22 Sep 2008

Studies look at Hispanics' access to U.S. health care system

Three studies published online on Wednesday in the American Journal of Public Health look at how poverty, language and health insurance coverage affect access to care among foreign-born U.S. residents, particularly Hispanics, HealthDay/U.S. News & World Report reports.

22 Sep 2008

High salt levels in food banished by seaweed

High salt levels in processed food could be a thing of the past, thanks to new research which has found that a certain type of seaweed can be used as a natural, health boosting alternative that doesn't affect the taste or adversely affect the shelf life of the food.

From Sheffield Hallam University 21 Sep 2008

Gastric bypass surgery does not always guarantee a significant weight loss

According to a new report gastric bypass surgery is not always a great success story.

17 Sep 2008

Experts say thousands at risk for heart disease go unchecked

Australian experts say thousands at risk for heart disease go unchecked and are not getting the drugs which protect them.

15 Sep 2008

BioServe introduces customizable DNA panels for genetic research

BioServe has announced a more affordable pricing plan for its vast bank of DNA with comprehensive, de-identified, covariate data that includes age, gender, diet, body mass index (BMI), and race. In addition, each sample has data on the complete diagnostic and treatment history of the donor.

14 Sep 2008

Clean teeth could save your life!

The researchers from the University of Otago, Dunedin, have discovered a new link between gum disease and heart disease which adds to a substantial body of research linking gum disease with heart disease and stroke.

11 Sep 2008

TV junk food marketing targeting children

University of Sydney researchers have found that advertisements for junk foodthat usecompetitions and give-aways are 18 times more common during the 20 most popular children's programs compared to popular adult programs.

10 Sep 2008

Researchers find cause of severe metabolic disorders

A healthy body stores fat in the form of so-called triglycerides in specialized fatty tissue as an energy reserve.

9 Sep 2008

Mother's stress may contribute to her young children being overweight

A mother's stress may contribute to her young children being overweight in low income households with sufficient food, according to a new Iowa State University study published in the September issue of Pediatrics, the professional journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

9 Sep 2008

Bariatric surgery cost-effective for treating obesity

Health insurers can offset the cost of laparoscopic or traditional bariatric surgery as a weight-loss treatment for obese patients within two to four years as a result of savings on other medical costs, according to a study published this month in the American Journal of Managed Care, the Wall Street Journal reports.

9 Sep 2008

Honolulu Advertiser examines diabetes prevalence among native Hawaiians, Asian-American/Pacific islanders

Native Hawaiians have higher rates of diabetes than other Asian-American/Pacific Islanders and are more likely to die at earlier ages from the disease and its complications than whites, the Honolulu Advertiser reports.

9 Sep 2008

Physical activity can blunt the effect of obesity genes

People who are concerned that they may have a genetic susceptibility for obesity will find some relief from new research conducted in the U.S.

9 Sep 2008

Parents vastly overestimate how much their children exercise

New research from the UK is suggesting that parents vastly overestimate the amount of time their children spend exercising and the true levels are around six times lower than national data suggests.

9 Sep 2008

Discovery of new link between gum disease and heart disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. However, many people with cardiovascular disease have none of the common risk factors such as smoking, obesity and high cholesterol. Now, researchers have discovered a new link between gum disease and heart disease that may help find ways to save lives, scientists heard today (Tuesday 9 September 2008) at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting being held this week at Trinity College, Dublin.

8 Sep 2008