Researchers have shed light on how consuming fructose can be particularly dangerous for those affected by obesity. New work has found that increasing intake of fructose is linked to fatty liver disease, changing the way the liver is able to properly metabolize sugar. Obese people who consume increased amounts of fructose, a type of sugar… [Continue Reading]
Fast-Food Advertising Linked to Obesity Risk
May 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Children who are exposed to fast food advertising are more likely to become overweight, a new research report indicates. Familiarity with the ads was associated with unhealthy body weights, although frequency of eating at the advertised restaurants was not. The work suggests that exposure to the advertising has complex effects on eating behavior. There is… [Continue Reading]
Structure of Fat-Sensing Protein Receptor Discovered
April 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The hormone leptin regulates appetite and fat deposition in the human body. Scientists have now determined the structure of its receptor, the protein that leptin binds to signal to cells that there is sufficient fat in the body. The work could allow research to develop ways to modify the signaling pathway to treat eating disorders… [Continue Reading]
Being Overweight or Underweight Brings Risks for Pregnant Women
April 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Having an abnormally high or low body weight brings a number of risks for a woman’s health during pregnancy, new research underlines. While obesity is linked to conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and premature labor, being abnormally thin increases the risk of having an underweight baby and having insufficient amniotic fluid. Obese women… [Continue Reading]
Maternal Obesity Linked to Autism and Developmental Disabilities
April 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A study of over a thousand mothers has shown that maternal obesity has a major impact on the health of their children. Obese mothers have an increased risk of having children who will suffer from developmental disorders, such as autism. A major study of the relationships between maternal metabolic conditions and the risk that a… [Continue Reading]
Gene Variants Discovered That Are Linked to Childhood Obesity
April 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
An international consortium of researchers has discovered two key genetic differences that are linked to childhood obesity. The two genes have never before been linked to the condition, and suggests that children carrying the variants are at greater risk. Genetics researchers have identified at least two new gene variants that increase the risk of common… [Continue Reading]
Differences in Brain Function in Obese Individuals Revealed by Imaging
April 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Some people have major problems controlling their intake of sweet or fatty foods, which can lead to obesity, and new research is helping to explain why. Researchers have studied brain activity while people make food choices, anticipate a sweet or fatty food item, or consume a treat. The results of the work indicate that the… [Continue Reading]
DNA Structural Changes in Babies May Change with Maternal Diet During Early Pregnancy
April 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Animal models suggest that dieting during early pregnancy- even around the time of conception- may have long-lasting effects on baby’s health. The work has found that changes in diet cause distinct changes in the structure in DNA that help regulate the function of genes related to glucose metabolism. If you’re expecting, this might make you… [Continue Reading]
Obesity in Women Linked to Increased Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence
March 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Being overweight or obese is the cause of numerous health problems, and researchers have now found that it is also a risk factor for the recurrence of breast cancer. In the study, women who were diagnosed with the disease and who were overweight or obese had a higher risk of death and cancer recurrence than… [Continue Reading]
Genetic Differences May Explain Weakness for Fatty Foods
March 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Differences in taste may help explain why some people have so much difficulty reducing the amount of fatty foods their diet. A new study has found that variants of the proteins that may function as fat receptors in the mouth correlate with ethnic differences in the amount of fat in the diet. While high-fat foods… [Continue Reading]