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
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
Tonsillectomy linked to excess weight gain in kids
Children who undergo the surgical removal of their tonsils (tonsillectomy) with or without the removal of their adenoids (adenoidectomy) are at increased risk for becoming overweight in the years after surgery, according to a report in the journal Pediatrics. Prior research has linked tonsillectomy to accelerated weight gain, but whether it is a risk factor for becoming overweight was unclear, note... 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
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
Weight affects white, Hispanic kids’ mental health
A new study adds to evidence that overweight teenagers are more prone to depression and anxiety, but suggests the effects vary by race and ethnicity. Researchers found that among more than 35,000 U.S. teenagers in a national health survey, white and Hispanic teens who were overweight were more likely to have symptoms of depression or anxiety than their thinner counterparts. However, this was not true... 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