News Archives |
Medical Weight Loss NewsSick FatFri. Sep 05, 2008 
Fat tissue in obese people does not function the way it does in lean people leading researchers at Temple University School of Medicine to believe they have found a more complete explanation of the link between obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. According to Lead author Guenther Boden, M.D, fat cells from obese people exhibit more inflammation than those in lean people and the part of the cell responsible for making proteins is significantly more stressed. Because of this stress, the endoplasmic reticulum which is the cell structure responsible for protein synthesis, produces additional proteins implicated in developing insulin resistance. With Insulin resistance, muscle, fat, and liver cells do not use insulin properly. Insulin helps these cells take in glucose and convert it to energy, but when the cells are resistant to insulin, excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream. This build up of glucose plays a major role in the development and progression of obesity-related conditions The National Institutes of Health recently reported that each time a body mass index (BMI) over 25 is raised by one point, the risk for diabetes increases 25 percent and the risk for heart disease increases 10 percent. Reducing weight reduces stress on the endoplasmic reticulum which lowers the risk of developing insulin resistance and related conditions. SOURCE: Dynamic Medicine Hunger increases as we ageFri. Aug 29, 2008 
The rate at which our body's appetite controlling cells are destroyed is increased by eating carbohydrates and sugars and may be responsible for our tendency to eat more and become fatter as we age. Free radicals, which occur naturally in our bodies, attack the appetite suppressing cells and create an imbalance between our need for food and the messaging system that tells us when we have had enough. "The more carbs and sugars you eat, the more your appetite-control cells are damaged, and potentially you consume more," says Dr Zane Andrews, a neuroendocrinologist at Monash University. Highly reactive free radicals cause cellular damage when they react with cellular components such as membranes or DNA. This damage can lead to death of the cells. According to Dr. Andrews, meals rich in carbohydrates and sugars cause more significant cellular damage. "People in the age group of 25 to 50 are most at risk. The neurons that tell people in the crucial age range not to over-eat are being killed-off," says Dr. Andrews. In most people, feelings of hunger are triggered by the release of the hormone ghrelin that occurs when the stomach is empty. A set of neurons called POMC activate when we are full providing the signal to stop eating. However, free radicals attack the POMC causing them to degenerate over time. This makes it more difficult for people to judge fullness accurately. Carbohydrate rich diets have become more prevalent in modern societies in recent years and the resulting damage to appetite-suppressing cells may contribute to the escalating problem of adult-onset obesity currently experienced by most industrialized nations. SOURCE: Nature Group identification affects junk food eatingTue. Aug 26, 2008 
Decisions regarding healthy eating may be less influenced by role models we want to be similar to, than by people we don't want to be confused with, say researchers Jonah Berger from the University of Pennsylvania and Lindsay Rand from Stanford University. Berger and Rand found study participants reduced unhealthy behaviors when the behaviors were linked with groups that participants did not want to be associated with. To demonstrate this, the researchers associated behaviors such as junk food eating and binge drinking with groups considered by freshman college students to be undesirable or what the researchers termed "outgroups." In a series of experiments, behaviors associated with "outgroups" decreased in study participants while remaining unchanged in students unaware of the association. The study authors suggest this effect highlights the importance of identity in health behavior and suggest promising directions for future health promotion appeals. "Decisions are not only based on risks and benefits, but also the identity that a given choice communicates to others. Consequently, shifting perceptions of the identity associated with a risky behavior can help make better health a reality" write Berger and Rand. They go on to say, "We suggest that public health campaigns will be more successful if they attend to how behaviors act as markers or signals of identity," the authors write. SOURCE: Journal of Consumer Research Addiction drug may work for obesityTue. Aug 26, 2008 
A drug currently under investigation for its effectiveness in treating cocaine and methamphetamine addiction may hold hope for severely obese people say US scientists. Vigabatrin (VYE-gab-a-trin), an anticonvulsant medication most commonly used for preventing epileptic seizures, is currently under evaluation for its effectiveness against some addictive disorders. Scientists at the DOE's Brookhaven Laboratory found that administering vigabatrin to rats genetically bred for obesity, resulted in a 19 percent loss of total body weight after two months of treatment. Amy DeMarco, and senior scientist Stephen Dewey, suggest that the drug made the animals feel full. The Brokhaven team has researched vigabatrin for over 20 years and, after finding a strong link between obesity and addiction, believes examining the effectiveness of the drug as a potential obesity treatment is particularly relevant given today's obesity rates. Dewey said that the fact the results occurred in the genetically obese animals offers hope that this drug could potentially treat severe obesity. He adds, "This would appear to be true even if the obesity results from binge eating, as this disorder is characterized by eating patterns that are similar to drug- taking patterns in those with cocaine dependency" SOURCE: Synapse Fattening things come in small packagesMon. Aug 25, 2008 
Buying things in small packages as a way to regulate calorie intake may result in eating more calories than you intended say researchers. People appear to consume more high-calorie snacks packaged in small servings than when the snacks are in a large bag. Additionally, having snacks available in small packages may increase the likelihood of people eating them in the first place. People believe that small packages help control temptation and assist with self restraint. However, it appears that people are less likely to open larger packets than smaller ones and tend to eat less from larger packs. A key component to limiting consumption is activation of what the researchers call "dietary concerns." Weighing and measuring subjects in front of a mirror and having them complete questionnaires on body satisfaction, drive for thinness, and concern for dieting before being exposed to situations where snacking was common, tended to limit consumption. "The increasing availability of single-serve and multi-packs may not serve consumers in the long-run, but-because they are considered to be innocent pleasures-may turn out to be sneaky small sins," conclude the authors. They suggest relying more on personal responsibility and monitoring internal cues of sufficiency instead of using package size take maintain control. SOURCE: Journal of Consumer Research Poor Coordination may lead to obesityThu. Aug 14, 2008 
Clumsy people may have more to worry about than just breaking things. Poor physical control and coordination may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity later in life say Swedish researchers. From a sample of over 11 thousand participants in the British National Child Development Study, researchers tested children at ages 7 and 11 for hand control, coordination and clumsiness. At age 33, body mass index (BMI) was recorded for adults who had participated in the study as children. A BMI of 30 was considered obese. Poorly coordinated children were more likely to become obese adults according to the results of the study. Authors of the study, Walter Osika and Scott Montgomery from Orebro University Hospital in Sweden said, "Some early life exposures [such as maternal smoking during pregnancy] or personal characteristics may impair the development of physical control and coordination, as well as increasing the risk of obesity in later life." The researchers go on to say, "Rather than being explained by a single factor, an accumulation throughout life of many associated cultural, personal, and economic exposures is likely to underlie the risks for obesity and some elements of associated neurological function." SOURCE: BMJ Weight Loss after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes improves controlThu. Aug 14, 2008 
Losing weight soon after a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes provides better control of blood pressure and blood sugar say doctors at Kaiser Permanente. What's more, control appeared to persist even if the lost weight was regained. Observing 2500 type 2 diabetics for four years, the researchers found that those participants who lost weight soon after diagnosis were twice as likely to achieve and maintain control of blood pressure and blood sugar than those who did not lose weight. "Our study shows that early weight loss can reduce the risk factors that so often lead to diabetes complications and death," says Dr. Adrianne Feldstein, MD, MS, the lead investigator of the study. "We've known for a long time that weight loss is an important component in diabetes treatment and prevention. Now it appears there may be a critical window of opportunity following diagnosis in which some lasting gains can be achieved if people are willing to take immediate steps toward lifestyle changes." Why timing matters is not completely clear. The researchers suggest that weight loss may increase sensitivity to insulin or simply the change in lifestyle to achieve weight loss may be responsible. Whatever the case, reducing the long term type 2 diabetes complications of heart disease, blindness, nerve and kidney damage, amputations, and death make weight loss a critical first step for anyone with this diagnosis. SOURCE: Diabetes Care Neighborhood environment associated with weightWed. Aug 13, 2008 
Living in a community with a high density of fast food outlets, few parks and recreational areas, and few sidewalks increases the likelihood of residents being overweight and obese say researchers at the Oregon Research Institute. Researchers surveyed health information from 1200 residents between the ages of 50 and 75, in 120 Portland neighborhoods. They associated the reported health and lifestyle habits of respondents with the characteristics of their communities which included land use, fast food outlet density, public transportation, and the presence of recreational space. The study confirmed that a significant association exists between environmental factors and the rates of overweight and obesity in those areas. Areas that reduced barriers to healthy eating and exercise had lower rates of obesity while those that increased accessibility to unhealthy foods and lacked recreational areas were associated with higher obesity rates among residents. According to researcher Fuzhong Li, Ph.D., "34% of U.S. adults aged 20 and over are obese. Part of the rise in this disease may be attributed to our surroundings; for example, increased accessibility to unhealthy foods. The built environment is also creating barriers for our ability to exercise. Many neighborhood areas lack parks and other recreational facilities and suburbs are often designed to discourage neighborhood walking. Simply focusing on encouraging people to change their lifestyles, to eat better and to get more exercise, is insufficient. Measures are also needed to improve features of the built environment, which are often modifiable (e.g., via changes in city zoning, development policies), to support people in making such changes." SOURCE: American Journal of Preventive Medicine Less activity and more television problematic for immigrant Hispanic childrenFri. Aug 08, 2008 
Immigrant children are less active than their US-born counterparts say researchers who suggest the need for lifestyle interventions targeting ethnic minority groups. With childhood obesity continuing to rank as a major health risk in the United States, researchers from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services were prompted to analyze national child health survey data for greater insight into the issue. They found that more than 11 percent of U.S children were physically inactive, but this figure doubled when restricted to immigrant Hispanic children. Similarly, 67 percent of immigrant Hispanic children did not participate in sport compared to 42 percent of children in the general population. When compared with native white children, the odds of physical inactivity and lack of sports participation were both 2 times higher for immigrant Hispanic children with foreign-born parents, and the odds of television watching over 3 hours per day were 1.5 times higher. K. Singh, Ph.D., of the Health Resources and Services Administration and author of the study says, "Given the health benefits of physical activity, continued higher physical inactivity and lower activity levels in immigrant children are likely to reduce their overall health advantage over U.S.-born populations during adulthood." He continues with the recommendation, "To reduce disparities in childhood physical activity, health education programs designed to promote physical activity should target not only children from socially disadvantaged households and neighborhoods but also children in immigrant families." SOURCE: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine Close contact and more activity avoids weight regainThu. Aug 07, 2008 
Effective maintenance of weight loss may require more than the recommended 30 minutes of moderate exercise on at least 5 days a week suggest researchers from the University of Pittsburgh. Dieters may need to exercise 55 minutes a day on at least five days a week as well as limit calories to sustain long-term weight loss. Observing 201 overweight and obese women over a two year period, the researchers tracked progress during the initial six month weight loss phase of restricted calorie diets, physical activity, and group education meetings, and continued monitoring the women for eighteen months into the maintenance period. They found that the women had an 8 to 10% initial weight loss in six months but had difficulty maintaining it. Weight loss was reduced to an average 5% of initial weight at the end of two years.
About 25% of the women were able to maintain the 10% weight loss for two years. These women were more active; exercising five times a week for about 55 minutes, maintained contact with the intervention team by telephone, adopted healthier eating behaviors, and ate less fat than those who regained weight. SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine |