Rapid Infant Weight Gain Linked to Childhood Obesity

Babies who gain weight quickly during the first six months of life may be more prone to obesity as toddlers, Harvard researchers report. “We need to start our preventive methods when children are much younger,” said study author Dr. Elsie M. Taveras. “Even in the first couple of weeks of life, we can start guiding parents about how to prevent rapid weight gain in their infants.” While... Read more

U.S. program aims to help babies beat obesity odds

Elena Nieves hardly looks like a poster girl for an obesity program for pregnant moms. The 5-foot-8 (1.7-meter) 23-year-old recently lost more than 50 pounds (23 kg) and looks healthy. But 15 weeks into her third pregnancy, she was gaining the weight back — too fast. “I found out I was pregnant in December. I didn’t go to the doctor until mid-January and I had already gained 15 pounds... Read more

Stress May Raise Diabetes Risk for Obese Black Women

Stress may play a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes in obese black women, U.S. researchers say. “Much attention has been given to the role of obesity in the development of type 2 diabetes, but stress may be as important in this at-risk population,” study co-author Anastasia Georgiades, of Duke University in Durham, N.C., said in a news release. The study included 62 healthy,... Read more

Low-carb? Low-fat? Study finds calories count more

Low-fat, low-carb or high-protein? The kind of diet doesn’t matter, scientists say. All that really counts is cutting calories and sticking with it, according to a federal study that followed people for two years. However, participants had trouble staying with a single approach that long and the weight loss was modest for most. As the world grapples with rising obesity, millions have turned to... Read more

Obesity can complicate teen pregnancy

Obesity has been linked to higher odds of several pregnancy complications, and a new study shows that the risks apply to teenagers as well as adults. In a study of teenage first-time mothers who gave birth at one urban hospital, researchers found that obese girls were at greater risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy or requiring a cesarean section during delivery. In the past, some of the main... Read more

Obesity Caught Like Common Cold

Yet another claim that a common and contagious virus is linked to some cases of obesity is in the news today. Studies on humans show that 33 per cent of obese adults had contracted an adenovirus called AD-36 at some point in their lives, according to an article in the UK’s Daily Express, whereas only 11 per cent of lean men and women have had the virus. The research, to be presented in a BBC... Read more

Study: Exercise Won’t Cure Obesity

Physical activity has many proven benefits. It strengthens bones and muscles, improves mental health and mood, lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, breast cancer and colon cancer. Exercise is also good for your brain. It may not be a cure-all for obesity, however. Though better nutrition coupled with exercise has long been the... Read more

The best way to measure body fat

If your pants feel tighter than usual, you might begin to suspect that you’ve gained a couple of pounds. But at what point should you begin to worry that the weight gain is serious? Could you be one of the approximately two-thirds of American adults who are either overweight or obese, with an increased risk for conditions like diabetes and heart disease? While no single measurement is perfect,... Read more

Obesity Linked to Ovarian Cancer

Obese postmenopausal women who have never used hormone replacement therapy may face an increased risk of ovarian cancer, compared to normal-weight women, a new study suggests. Interestingly, obese women who have used hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for symptoms of menopause may not face increased risk for this type of malignancy. The study findings are published in the Feb. 15 issue of the journal... Read more

Fast food + nearby schools = fat kids

Youth who study just a short walk from a fast-food outlet eat fewer fruit and vegetables, drink more soda and are more likely to be obese than students at other schools, according to research published Tuesday. The study, which involved more than 500,000 adolescents at middle schools and high schools in California, lends new fuel to a growing backlash against the fast-food industry as studies suggest... Read more

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