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

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

Medicare Drug Plan ‘Doughnut Hole’ Could Impact Seniors’ Health

American seniors who reach the no-coverage “doughnut hole” in the Medicare Part D drug plan are less likely to use prescription drugs than those with an employer-based plan, a new study finds. The finding raises concerns about health consequences and increased costs from hospitalizations and doctor visits resulting from this lack of drug coverage, say researchers at the University of Pittsburgh... Read more

Seniors Who Exercise Help Their Health

Sedentary seniors can improve their motor function and decrease their risk for insulin resistance by starting an exercise program that includes both aerobics and resistance training, new Canadian research suggests. “For a long time, the standard recommendation for people of moderate age — those under 65 — has been 150 minutes a week of aerobic type activity,” noted study co-author... 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

Preschool Lunch Doesn’t Always Pack Nutritious Punch

When parents pack their preschoolers’ lunches, they may be sacrificing nutrition by giving the children food they like. That’s one of the conclusions of a new study in the January issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The study also found that 71 percent of packed lunches didn’t have enough fruits and vegetables, and that one in four preschool tots didn’t... Read more

Diabetes Epidemic Now Poses Challenges for Nursing Homes

More and more people with diabetes are living to older ages, thanks to medical advances. But the long-term facilities, such as nursing homes, that care for aging Americans may not be ready for the additional challenges that come with treating patients with diabetes. “We need to spend appropriate time to think of a way to successfully provide care for people with diabetes as they enter their elder... Read more

Vitamin D deficiency common in diabetic kids

Children and teenagers with type 1 diabetes may have a particularly high rate of deficiency in bone-building vitamin D, a small study suggests. The findings, say researchers, underscore the importance of adequate vitamin D intake for children with type 1 diabetes — who, studies suggest, are already at particular risk for bone loss as they grow older. Among 128 children and teens with the disease,... Read more

Children of Centenarians Face Lower Heart Risks

Longevity runs in families, the saying goes, and new research shows there may be genetic and physiological reasons for the phenomenon. The children of people who live to 100 and beyond are themselves much less likely to develop cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, and even diabetes, researchers found. But they aren’t impervious to non-cardiovascular health problems, such... Read more

Fast Heart Rate Warns of Obesity, Diabetes

A too-fast heartbeat in early adulthood is a warning sign for increased risk of cardiovascular problems decades later on, a Japanese study suggests. The study of 614 residents of a rural farming community in southwestern Japan found that a heart rate greater than 80 beats a minute during a first examination in 1979 predicted the development of obesity and diabetes, which contribute to heart problems. The... Read more