Atkins Diet Tougher on Heart After Weight Loss
In the “maintenance” phase that occurs after initial weight loss, the popular Ornish and South Beach diets seem to be easier on the heart than the high-fat, low-carbohydrate Atkins regimen, a new study finds. Unlike numerous studies that have evaluated diets to see which might be better at achieving weight loss, this study, funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, looked at what... 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
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
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
Obesity may raise headache risk
Being overweight or obese may increase the likelihood of having severe headaches and migraines, new study findings suggest. An increased prevalence of headache may be associated with being underweight as well. In analyses of 7,601 adult men and women, Dr. Earl S. Ford and colleagues at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, report that being overweight or obese increased the... Read more