Weight Loss, Dieting & Obesity Blog

Blog of Weight Loss, Dieting & Obesity Research - Archive #0150.

Extending the life of an appetite-suppressing peptide

July 20, 2009 - EurekAlert / Journal of Clinical Investigation

The peptide alpha-MSH works in the brain to suppress appetite. New research indicates that the protein PRCP breaks down the active form of alpha-MSH in mice, generating a slightly smaller peptide that does not suppress food intake. As administration of PRCP inhibitors to both normal and obese mice reduced their food intake, the researchers suggest that PRCP might be a potential drug target for the treatment of obesity and obesity-related disorders

Researchers find that eating high levels of fructose impairs memory in rats

July 16, 2009 - EurekAlert / Georgia State University

Researchers at Georgia State University have found that diets high in fructose -- a type of sugar found in most processed foods and beverages -- impaired the spatial memory of adult rats

Obesity raises risk of complications in pregnancy

July 16, 2009 - EurekAlert / British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Expectant mothers who are obese are much more likely to suffer from minor complications such as heart burn and chest infections during pregnancy, a study suggests. Research found that obese mothers-to-be were nearly 10 times more likely to suffer from chest infections, and more than twice as likely to suffer from headaches and heartburn, compared with pregnant women of a healthy weight

Parents fail to recognize their children's burgeoning weight

July 15, 2009 - EurekAlert / Research Australia

Despite constant warnings about childhood obesity, too many Australian parents are still oblivious to the fact their children are overweight

Study explains potential failure of oral contraceptives with obese women

July 14, 2009 - EurekAlert / Contraception

Researchers have identified a potential biological mechanism that could explain why oral contraceptives may be less effective at preventing pregnancy in obese women, as some epidemiological studies have indicated

Obesity contributes to rapid cartilage loss

July 14, 2009 - EurekAlert / Radiology

Obesity, among other factors, is strongly associated with an increased risk of rapid cartilage loss, according to a new study

Probiotics help gastric-bypass patients lose weight more quickly, Stanford study shows

July 13, 2009 - EurekAlert / Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery

New research suggests that the use of a dietary supplement after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery can help obese patients to more quickly lose weight and to avoid deficiency of a critical B vitamin

Study finds citrus-derived flavonoid prevents obesity

July 13, 2009 - EurekAlert / Diabetes

A flavonoid derived from citrus fruit has shown tremendous promise for preventing weight gain and other signs of metabolic syndrome which can lead to type 2 diabetes and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The study looked at a flavonoid (plant-based bioactive molecule) called naringenin

Stanford study of flies raises doubts about fasting leading to longer lives

July 13, 2009 - EurekAlert / PLoS Biology

Many studies indicate that caloric restriction extends life spans in fruit flies, mice and, most recently, rhesus monkeys, apparently by slowing the aging process. But virtually all these studies have been performed in sterile environments, on animals raised under relatively pathogen-free conditions. So researchers decided to see if reduced caloric intake also helps creatures cope with infection

Childhood obesity link to parents

July 13, 2009 - EurekAlert / International Journal of Obesity

The relationships between children and their parent of the same gender in the earliest years of life could be the key to understanding why some young people become obese and others do not, new research conducted by the EarlyBird Diabetes Study has shown