Newly identified group of nerve cells in the brain regulates bodyweight
Obesity is a global health problem that affects many people. In recent years, very promising anti-obesity drugs have been developed. Despite these successes, there are patients who do not respond to these drugs or suffer from side effects. Therefore, there is still an unmet need for therapies. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism […]
Need 10,000 Daily Steps to Prevent Obesity? It May Depend on Genetics
The daily step count needed to reduce the risk of obesity may be largely dependent on genetics, a retrospective cohort study indicated. Among U.S. adults without obesity in the All of Us Research Program, incidence of obesity over a median follow-up of 5.4 years was 13% for those in the lowest quartile of BMI polygenic […]
Maternal obesity may promote liver cancer
Obesity, which could reach 50% of the population in certain developed countries by 2030, is a major public health concern. It not only affects the health of those who suffer from it, but could also have serious consequences for their offspring. Scientists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) have […]
Waist-to-height ratio detects fat obesity in children and adolescents significantly better than BMI
An inexpensive measure of obesity in children and adolescents that could replace body mass index (BMI) has been identified in a new study as waist circumference-to-height ratio. This measure detected excess fat mass and distinguished fat mass from muscle mass in children and adolescents more accurately than BMI. The study was conducted in collaboration between […]
Obesity Associated With Faster MS Disease Progression
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Obesity in multiple sclerosis (MS) was tied to faster worsening of disability and an increased risk of physical, psychological, and cognitive decline, a prospective cohort study showed. Compared with normal weight, obesity was associated with a faster increase in scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), which ranges from […]
Bariatric Surgery Tied to Long-Term Cognitive Benefits
Gastric bypass surgery in people with severe obesity was associated with sustained improvements in cognitive function, inflammation, and comorbidities, according to results of a cohort study in the Netherlands. At 2 years post-surgery, neuropsychological tests showed improvements of 20% or higher in global cognition (43% of patients), ability to shift attention (40%), episodic memory (32%), […]
How obesity dismantles our mitochondria
The number of people with obesity has nearly tripled since 1975, resulting in a worldwide epidemic. While lifestyle factors like diet and exercise play a role in the development and progression of obesity, scientists have come to understand that obesity is also associated with intrinsic metabolic abnormalities. Now, researchers from University of California San Diego […]
Role of ‘hunger hormone’ receptor in obesity-realted chronic inflammation
Texas A&M AgriLife Research study may lead to novel obesity treatment New study provides insights on role of ‘hunger hormone’ receptor in obesity-realted chronic inflammation A team comprised primarily of Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists has made an important discovery that could lead to a novel treatment for obesity and obesity-associated diseases or conditions. Details […]
How fruit bats got a sweet tooth without sour health
A high-sugar diet is bad news for humans, leading to diabetes, obesity and even cancer. Yet fruit bats survive and even thrive by eating up to twice their body weight in sugary fruit every day. Now, UC San Francisco scientists have discovered how fruit bats may have evolved to consume so much sugar, with potential […]
Light exercise could be the key to reversing childhood obesity linked to sedentariness
Increased sedentary time as a child through adolescence is directly linked to childhood obesity, but new research has found light physical activity may completely reverse the adverse process. The study — conducted in collaboration with between University of Exeter, University of Eastern Finland, University of Bristol, and University of Colorado and published in Nature Communications […]