An anti-obesity drug currently in clinical trials may have worrying side effects, according to new research. The drug is actually a signaling molecule normally found in the body, called FGF21. However, high doses have harmful effects in mouse models, causing severe loss of bone mass. An endocrine hormone used in clinical trials as an anti-obesity… [Continue Reading]
Genes Drive Us Toward Preference for Fatty Foods
February 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Our tastes and food preferences are influenced by our genetic background, according to a new research study. Scientists have found that certain variations in a certain gene, involved in signalling, correlate with a preference for high-fat foods. The work may explain why some people have more trouble than others in sticking to a healthy diet,… [Continue Reading]
Banning Junk Food Advertising to Children Could Make Big Difference in Obesity, Experts Say
January 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Advertising junk food to children is often cited as a major obstacle in the fight against obesity. New evidence suggests that a national ban would lead to a reduction in consumption of low quality foods. A study of the diets of children in Quebec, where junk food advertising was illegal, suggests the ban resulted in… [Continue Reading]
Poor Sleep Changes Regulation of Appetite
January 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A lack of sleep changes the way we respond to food and regulate our appetite, a new study has found. After one night of sleep loss, the individuals in the study reported they were hungrier, and their brains responded differently to images of food. The work suggests that sleeping properly may be essential for the… [Continue Reading]
Study Casts Doubt on Link Between Junk Food at School and Childhood Obesity
January 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
It’s a popularly held belief that having easy access to junk food in school is linked to the epidemic of childhood obesity. A new study casts doubt on that idea, however. Researchers followed a group of individuals throughout their childhood, and find no association between the availability of junk food in middle school and the… [Continue Reading]
Drug Could Be Effective Against Heatstroke
January 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A drug originally discovered for its role in building muscle and increasing endurance even without exercise has been found to be effective in treating heatstroke. The drug, called AICAR, causes the two effects by completely different molecular pathways in the body, and could be used to save lives when the body overheats. We’ve all seen… [Continue Reading]
Improvements to Health Stay For Some People, Even If Weight Comes Back
December 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Although a cycle of losing and regaining weight isn’t healthy, for some people, losing weight still brings health benefits. In a study of a group of people losing weight, some individuals maintain healthier cholesterol levels and other measures of health. Long-term healthy dietary interventions frequently induce a rapid weight decline, mainly in the first four… [Continue Reading]
Myths and Truths About Obesity and Pregnancy
December 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Although the diets of obese women can be high in calories, they can still be deficient in essential vitamins and minerals. This can be a major problem during pregnancy. However, obese women have a lower risk of pre-term labour. A new review article outlines the facts about pregnancy and obesity, that women should discuss with… [Continue Reading]
Low Calorie Diet Linked to Youthful Brain Protein
December 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
New research suggests that a calorie-restricted diet is linked to the production of a protein associated with a more youthful brain state. Researchers hope to learn how to regulate the protein without severe diets, in order to improve health and reduce diseases of aging. Overeating may cause brain aging while eating less turns on a… [Continue Reading]
Snacks May Impede Weight Loss in Women
December 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
While eating regularly can form the basis of a healthy diet, many women have a mid-morning snack rather mindlessly, rather than because they are really hungry, new research shows. Women trying to lose weight were more successful if they did not snack before lunch, according to a new study that examines eating habits. Women dieters… [Continue Reading]