Weight Loss, Dieting & Obesity Blog

Blog of Weight Loss, Dieting & Obesity Research - Archive #0130.

Researchers uncover 'obesity gene' involved in weight gain response to high-fat diet

February 24, 2009 - Ohio State University / Hepatology

Scientists have determined that a specific gene plays a role in the weight-gain response to a high-fat diet. The finding in an animal study suggests that blocking this gene could one day be a therapeutic strategy to reduce diet-related obesity and associated disorders, such as diabetes and liver damage, in humans

Being overweight just as risky to health as being a smoker

February 24, 2009 - EurekAlert / British Medical Journal

Obese adolescents have the same risk of premature death in adulthood as people who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day, while those who are overweight have the same risk as less heavy smokers

Simple techniques can help avoid overindulgence

February 23, 2009 - EurekAlert / Journal of Consumer Research

Some people overindulge on junk foods or needless shopping sprees when they feel depressed. Others lose control the minute they feel happy. Is there a way to avoid such extreme actions? A new study demonstrates simple techniques that can help people act in their long-term interests rather than indulging in immediate pleasures

Unhealthy lifestyle more than doubles stroke risk

February 19, 2009 - EurekAlert / British Medical Journal

People who lead unhealthy lifestyles are more than twice as likely to suffer a stroke than those who eat and drink sensibly, don't smoke, and take regular exercise

Number of fast-food restaurants in neighborhood associated with stroke risk

February 19, 2009 - 2009 International Stroke Conference / Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association

Research suggests the more fast-food restaurants in a neighborhood, the higher the stroke risk for area residents. The study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between eating fast foods and increased stroke risk. Areas with a high number of fast-food restaurants should have stroke prevention programs, researchers said.

High-fat diets inflame fat tissue around blood vessels, contribute to heart disease

February 18, 2009 - University of Cincinnati / Circulation Research

A study shows that high-fat diets, even if consumed for a short amount of time, can inflame fat tissue surrounding blood vessels, possibly contributing to cardiovascular disease.

Weight loss improves fatty liver disease

February 16, 2009 - Saint Louis University / Hepatology

Recent study findings will allow doctors to give patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, specific weight loss goals that are likely to improve their health

Fructose-sweetened drinks increase nonfasting triglycerides in obese adults

February 12, 2009 - EurekAlert / Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism

Obese people who drink fructose-sweetened beverages with their meals have an increased rise of triglycerides following the meal, according to new research from the Monell Center. This effect was especially pronounced in insulin-resistant subjects, worsening their already adverse metabolic profiles and potentially increasing their risk for heart disease and other metabolic disorders

Omega-3 fatty acids prevent medical complications of obesity

February 12, 2009 - EurekAlert / FASEB Journal

According to a recent study, diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids protect the liver from damage caused by obesity and the insulin resistance it provokes. This research should give doctors and nutritionists valuable information when recommending weight-loss diets and help explain why some obese patients are more likely to suffer some complications associated with obesity.

High-tech tests allow anthropologists to track ancient hominids across the landscape

February 12, 2009 - EurekAlert / 2009 AAAS Annual Meeting

Dazzling new scientific techniques are allowing archaeologists to track the movements and menus of extinct hominids through the seasons and years as they ate their way across the African landscape, helping to illuminate the evolution of human diets