Childhood Obesity
News Articles on the Web
Obesity news courtesy of Science Daily News
Obese 3-year-olds show early warning signs for future heart disease ... read more
March 10, 2010
A new study finds that obese children as young as 3 years old have elevated levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation that in adults is considered an early warning sign for possible future heart disease.
Surprising findings about Hepatitis C and insulin resistance ... read more
March 10, 2010
Scientists have known for several years that Hepatitis C, a common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer, also makes people three to four times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. In studying the insulin resistance of 29 people with Hepatitis C, Australian researchers have confirmed that they have high insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. However, almost all insulin resistance was in muscle, with little or none in the liver, a very surprising finding given that Hepatitis C is a liver disease.
Women who drink moderately appear to gain less weight than nondrinkers ... read more
March 9, 2010
Normal-weight women who drink a light to moderate amount of alcohol appear to gain less weight and have a lower risk of becoming overweight and obese than nondrinkers, according to a new article.
Obesity as protection against metabolic syndrome, not its cause ... read more
March 9, 2010
The collection of symptoms that is the metabolic syndrome -- insulin resistance, high cholesterol, fatty liver, and a greater risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke -- are all related to obesity, but, according to a new review not in the way you probably think they are.
Unhealthy foods become less popular with increasing costs ... read more
March 9, 2010
Adults tend to eat less pizza and drink less soda as the price of these items increases, and their body weight and overall calorie intake also appear to decrease, according to a new study.
High weight associated with risk of colorectal tumors without microsatellite instability ... read more
March 9, 2010
The increased risk of colorectal cancer associated with obesity may be largely restricted to tumors that have no or low microsatellite instability, a common condition in most colorectal cancers, according to a new study.
Obesity linked to poor colon cancer prognosis ... read more
March 9, 2010
Obese patients with colon cancer are at greater risk for death or recurrent disease compared to those who are within a normal weight range, according to a new study.
Low-income women living in small cities have higher chance of obesity, study finds ... read more
March 9, 2010
A recent study found that the availability of supermarkets -- rather than the lack of them -- increased the risk of obesity for low-income women living in small cities. This suggests that policies to increase healthful eating behaviors might need to be tailored based on geographic location. The findings showed that limited availability of grocery stores did not contribute to an increased risk of obesity in metropolitan or rural areas.
Intestinal bacteria drive obesity and metabolic disease in immune-altered mice ... read more
March 8, 2010
Mice lacking a gene called TLR5 have an altered ability to recognize and control bacteria in their intestines, leading them to develop obesity and insulin resistance, which is often referred to as "pre-diabetes." The bacteria appear to influence appetite and metabolism rather than how well calories are absorbed. Obesity and insulin resistance can be transferred from TLR5-deficient mice via intestinal bacteria.
Studies on nutrients, gene expression could lead to tailored diets for disease prevention ... read more
March 7, 2010
A new research article examines the potential for nutrigenomics, a field that studies the effects of food on gene expression. The researchers discussed the possibility of using food to prevent an individual's genes from expressing disease. They said nutrigenomics could completely change the future of public health and the food and culinary industries.
Eliminating junk foods at schools may help prevent childhood obesity ... read more
March 7, 2010
New policies that eliminate sugary beverages and junk foods from schools may help slow childhood obesity, according to a new study.
Low levels of vitamin D linked to muscle fat, decreased strength in young people ... read more
March 6, 2010
A ground-breaking study found an astonishing 59 percent of study subjects had too little vitamin D in their blood. Nearly a quarter of the group had serious deficiencies of this important vitamin. Since vitamin D insufficiency is linked to increased body fat, decreased muscle strength and a range of disorders, this is a serious health issue.
Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages daily linked to diabetes ... read more
March 6, 2010
More Americans now drink sugar-sweetened sodas, sport drinks and fruit drinks daily, and this increase in consumption has led to more diabetes and heart disease over the past decade, researchers report.
Extremes of sleep related to increased fat around organs ... read more
March 5, 2010
Not getting enough sleep does more damage than just leaving you with puffy eyes. It can cause fat to accumulate around your organs -- more dangerous, researchers say, than those pesky love handles and jiggly thighs.
With just one enzyme missing, mice show 'global' metabolic improvements ... read more
March 4, 2010
When researchers created mice lacking an enzyme that breaks down and releases stored triglycerides, they expected to see animals with better lipid profiles. But according to a new study, they got more than they bargained for. The triacylglycerol hydrolase (TGH)-deficient mice showed global metabolic benefits, with essentially no downside.
Mother's milk kick-starts liver to produce molecule that turns on heat-generating brown fat ... read more
March 3, 2010
In newborn mice, at least, mother's milk appears to have some rather immediate and potentially far-reaching metabolic consequences. The milk intake kick-starts the liver to produce a molecule that then turns on heat-generating brown fat.
People with prediabetes not taking adequate precautions to avoid diabetes ... read more
March 3, 2010
Although it is known that diabetes can be prevented or delayed among adults at high risk through modest weight loss and increased physical activity, a new study reveals that only about half of US adults with prediabetes reported that in the past year they tried to lose weight or exercise more.
Pregnancy weight gain may increase a woman's risk of gestational diabetes ... read more
March 3, 2010
Women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, may increase their risk of developing diabetes later in their pregnancy, according to a new study.
Exercise counters negative effects of weight regain, researchers find ... read more
March 3, 2010
Losing weight can improve health and reduce disease risk, but many people have difficulty keeping the weight off. Now, researchers have found that exercising during weight regain can maintain improvements in metabolic health and disease risk. In the study, individuals who didn't exercise during weight regain experienced significant deterioration in metabolic health, while those who exercised maintained improvements in almost all areas.
Scientists identify key protein from mitochondria in energy regulation ... read more
March 3, 2010
Scientists have discovered a new mechanism that governs this pathway and in the process identified a novel potential therapeutic target for controlling fat metabolism.
Kids lose pounds, gain fitness in Houston study ... read more
March 3, 2010
Innovative, kid-friendly strategies for losing weight and gaining nutrition savvy -- plus physical fitness skills -- are emerging from recent scientific studies.
Weight-loss diets may reverse atherosclerosis in obese, overweight people ... read more
March 2, 2010
A low-carbohydrate diet, a low-fat diet and the Mediterranean diet were equally effective in helping obese people to reverse carotid atherosclerosis after losing moderate amounts of weight and improving their blood pressure, in a new study.
Obesity associated with depression and vice versa ... read more
March 2, 2010
Obesity appears to be associated with an increased risk of depression, and depression also appears associated with an increased risk of developing obesity, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies.
An apple a day? Study shows soluble fiber boosts immune system ... read more
March 2, 2010
A new study touts the benefits of soluble fiber -- found in oats, apples, and nuts, for starters -- saying that it reduces the inflammation associated with obesity-related diseases and strengthens the immune system.
Breaking down barriers to prevent childhood obesity ... read more
March 2, 2010
Many children enrolled in the Head Start early childhood education program are from low-income families and are at higher risk of obesity as a result. While Head Start has been shown to go above and beyond federal food and exercise requirements for its children, researchers have found some barriers exist that could threaten that momentum.
Childhood obesity prevention should begin early in life, possibly before birth ... read more
March 1, 2010
Risk factors for childhood obesity may be evident before birth and are more likely to occur in African-American and Hispanic children than in Caucasian children. Researchers studied 1,826 mother-child pairs from pregnancy through the child's first five years of life.
Dietary factors influence ovarian cancer survival rates ... read more
March 1, 2010
Often diagnosed in late stages, ovarian cancer has an asymptomatic onset and a relatively low five-year survival rate of about 45 percent. Consequently investigation linked to survivorship is critical. Researchers have now evaluated possible diet associations with ovarian cancer survival. They determined that there is a strong relationship between healthy eating and prolonged survival.
Different fat types can help or hinder obese girls' bone health ... read more
March 1, 2010
Obese teenage girls with a greater ratio of visceral fat (fat around internal organs) to subcutaneous fat (fat found just beneath the skin) are likely to have lower bone density than peers with a lower ratio of visceral to subcutaneous fat, according to a new study.
Obesity and physical inactivity poses arthritis risk, especially for women ... read more
February 26, 2010
Researchers have noted a higher prevalence of arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitations in the US versus the Canadian population. The authors attribute the higher prevalence of arthritis and AAL to a greater level of obesity and physical inactivity in Americans, particularly women.
Taxing unhealthy foods may encourage healthier eating habits ... read more
February 25, 2010
A recent study found that taxing unhealthy food reduces the amount of calories purchased more than subsidizing healthy foods.
Total fat, trans fat linked to higher incidence of ischemic stroke ... read more
February 25, 2010
Post-menopausal women who ate the most daily dietary fat had a 40 percent higher incidence of ischemic stroke compared to those who consumed the least. In addition, high trans fat consumption was associated with a 30 percent increase in the incidence of stroke caused by blockages in the brain.
Changes during menopause increases risk of heart disease and stroke ... read more
February 24, 2010
Around the time of menopause, studies have shown the threat for heart disease intensifies drastically and detecting cardiovascular disease in women is very difficult.
Stress hormone, depression trigger obesity in girls, study finds ... read more
February 24, 2010
Depression raises stress hormone levels in adolescent boys and girls but may lead to obesity only in girls, according to researchers. Early treatment of depression could help reduce stress and control obesity -- a major health issue.
Overweight middle-aged adults at greater risk for cognitive decline in later life ... read more
February 24, 2010
The adverse affects of being overweight are not limited to physical function but also extend to neurological function, according to new research.
Physical activity in schools can improve children's fitness ... read more
February 23, 2010
A structured physical activity program at school can improve children's fitness and decrease body fat, a new study shows.
Tiny tongue of a fruit fly could offer big clues in fight against obesity, researcher says ... read more
February 22, 2010
The tiny tongue of a fruit fly could provide big answers to questions about human eating habits, possibly even leading to new ways to treat obesity, according to a new study.
Obesity -- mild or severe -- raises kidney stone risk ... read more
February 18, 2010
Obesity in general nearly doubles the risk of developing kidney stones, but the degree of obesity doesn't appear to increase or decrease the risk one way or the other, a new study shows.
Inflammation marker related to obesity is elevated in patients with pancreatic cancer ... read more
February 18, 2010
The levels of an inflammatory chemokine were significantly elevated in patients with pancreatic cancer who were extremely obese, according to new research.
Later introduction of baby foods related to lower risk of obesity later in life ... read more
February 17, 2010
The introduction of complementary feeding at a later age is protective against overweight in adulthood.
High-fat ketogenic diet to control seizures is safe over long term, study suggests ... read more
February 17, 2010
Current and former patients treated with the high-fat ketogenic diet to control multiple, daily and severe seizures can be reassured by the news that not only is the diet effective, but it also appears to have no long-lasting side effects, say scientists.
Childhood obesity a risk for premature death ... read more
February 17, 2010
A new study shows how childhood obesity, together with other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, affects premature death.
Fat behaves differently in patients with polycistic ovary syndrome ... read more
February 17, 2010
Fat tissue in women with polycystic ovary syndrome produces an inadequate amount of the hormone that regulates how fats and glucose are processed, promoting increased insulin resistance and inflammation, glucose intolerance and greater risk of diabetes and heart disease, according to a study.
Self-control impaired in type 2 diabetics, research suggests ... read more
February 17, 2010
Type 2 diabetes, an increasingly common complication of obesity, is associated with poor impulse control. Researchers suggest that neurological changes result in this inability to resist temptation, which may in turn exacerbate diabetes.
Most patients gain weight after knee replacement surgery ... read more
February 16, 2010
You'd think folks who've had knee replacement surgery -- finally able to walk and exercise without pain -- would lose weight instead of put on pounds, but surprisingly that's not the case.
Outcomes after bariatric surgery revisions ... read more
February 16, 2010
Revisional bariatric surgery appears to be associated with a higher risk of complications than the initial procedure, according to a new article.
White rye bread healthier than whole wheat? ... read more
February 15, 2010
Wholegrain bread is good and good for you, as most people know. But it is not only the fiber-rich bran, the outer shell of the grain, that is healthful. On the contrary, new research shows that bread baked with white rye flour, which is flour made from the inner, white part of the rye kernel, leads to better insulin and blood sugar levels compared with wheat bread with rye bran. White rye flour thus leads to much better values than both regular wheat flour and rye bran. At the same time, much of the bread that is sold in stores today in most countries is in fact baked with wheat flour and bran from various grains.
New study examines the impact on children of food product placements in the movies ... read more
February 15, 2010
New research sheds light on the significant potential negative impact that food product placements in the movies could be having on children.
The biggest loser: Maternal obesity puts a load on her offspring that lasts a lifetime ... read more
February 13, 2010
As if there are not enough reasons for obese people to lose weight, a new research report adds several more. In a study involving rats, researchers found that obesity in mothers causes cellular programming in utero that predisposes offspring to inflammation-related disorders (such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease and more) from birth, regardless of whether or not the offspring are obese themselves.