Obesity higher among poor kids
Bradenton Herald/ChiTrib - Fri Dec 29
35 percent of low-income children obese or overweight 3-year-olds in Chicago and other major U.S. cities are overweight or obese, according to a new study that supports the notion that the struggle with obesity often begins in early childhood. Hispanic children were most at risk, with 45 percent either overweight or obese.
Trans fat ban won't curb obesity
Madison Capital Times - Fri Dec 29
Although the recent New York ban on the use of trans fats might help to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, it won't be a panacea. Trans fat raises one's bad cholesterol more so than any other type of fat. But what it's being replaced with is a different kind of fat.
Food from cloned animals safe to eat: FDA
Reuters - Thu Dec 28
Milk and meat from some cloned animals are safe to eat, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday in a draft ruling that brings the controversial technology closer to American grocery carts. If given final approval, the ruling would allow for the sale of food made from cloned cattle, pigs and goats, but not sheep, in the United States for the first time.
Poor lung function tied to higher stroke risk
Reuters - Thu Dec 28
The chances of having a stroke are modestly increased in people with impaired lung function, even if they have never smoked nor had respiratory symptoms, researchers report. However, that finding only applies to whites, it seems, not to blacks.
Most Americans Want Public Policies to Prevent Obesity
Forbes - Thu Dec 28
A large majority of Americans say they support changes in public policy to stem the rising tide of obesity among adults, a new survey shows. "There is a lot of support for employer and health policies aimed at preventing obesity," said lead researcher Bernard Fuemmeler, an assistant professor in the department of community and family medicine at Duke University Medical Center, in Durham, N.C.
As Minds Age, What’s Next? Brain Calisthenics
NY Times- Wed Dec 27
Science is not sure yet, but across the country, brain health programs are springing up, offering the possibility of a cognitive fountain of youth. From “brain gyms” on the Internet to “brain-healthy” foods and activities at assisted living centers, the programs are aimed at baby boomers anxious about entering their golden years and at their parents trying to stave off memory loss or dementia.
Living near busy street ups breathing problems
Reuters - Wed Dec 27
The closer people live to a main road, the more likely they are to suffer from respiratory symptoms such as breathlessness and wheezing, a new study from Switzerland shows.
Big bellies tied to greater heart disease risk
Reuters - Wed Dec 27
The more your belly sticks out, the greater your risk of developing heart disease, a new study shows. "The message is really obesity in the abdomen matters even more than obesity overall," Dr. Carlos Iribarren of Kaiser Permanente of Northern California in Oakland, the study's lead author, told Reuters Health.
China fears disasters, grain cut from global warming
Reuters - Wed Dec 27
Global warming threatens to intensify natural disasters and water shortages across China, driving down the country's food output, the Chinese government has warned, even as its seeks to tame energy consumption.
When faith and medicine collide
Reuters - Wed Dec 27
Any nurse can walk into a bad situation. The one Luanne Linnard-Palmer can't forget came as she readied a little boy for a blood transfusion only to be told by his mother "You know you're damning his soul to hell!" The child's mother was a Jehovah's Witness, a faith that rejects blood transfusions. Her son had sickle cell anemia and had become extremely weak.
U.S. wants polar bears listed as "endangered": report
Reuters- Wed Dec 27
U.S. President George W. Bush's administration is proposing to list the polar bear as an endangered species because of warming temperatures in the animal's habitat, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday. The proposal, described by an Interior Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity, marks the first time the administration has identified climate change as the driving force behind the potential demise of a species, the paper said.
Heartburn drugs raise risk of hip fractures: study
Reuters - Wed Dec 27
Long-term use of popular anti-heartburn drugs that block stomach acid production increases the risk of hip fractures in adults over 50, perhaps because the drugs inhibit calcium absorption, researchers said on Tuesday.
Hard-working and stressed-out, Americans add pounds
Naples Sun-Times - Wed Dec 27
If you wonder why you have gained weight since you started your last job, also ponder how much stress it has brought to your life. No need to prove that in the United States both stress and obesity are mounting. This nation's workers put in more hours on the job than the labor force of any other industrial nation, where the trend has been just the opposite. As workers have no time for recreation, family or friends, why feel surprised that stress-related conditions are increasing?
Single Gene Could Lead to Long Life, Better Mental Function
Scientific American - Tue Dec 26
A variation of a gene that controls the size of cholesterol molecules in the bloodstream is common among elderly Ashkenazim who remain mentally sharp. A gene variant found in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent who remain mentally sharp likely leads to a longer life. If you live to 100, as roughly one in every 10,000 people do, you will likely want both your mind and body intact. Researchers have now discovered a gene that accomplishes just that, apparently protecting the brain as well as prolonging life.
A Fellow Mammal Leaves the Planet
NY Times - Tue Dec 26
Robert L. Pitman has spent 30 years studying the world’s whales, dolphins and other aquatic mammals. He returned to San Deigo, Calif., last week after a fruitless six-week expedition in which teams of five observers on two vessels scoured the Yangtze River from the Three Gorges Dam to Shanghai, seeking the last members of the rarest cetacean species of all, a white, nearly blind dolphin called the baiji, Lipotes vexillifer. The dolphin is now considered, at best, “functionally extinct.”
Smoking, Drinking, Obesity Cost W8 Tril.
The Korea Times - Mon Dec 25
South Koreans are spending an increasing amount of money to combat diseases linked to smoking, drinking and obesity. A research team led by Dr. Jeong Young-ho at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs estimated that Koreans spend 7.92 trillion annually to treat these diseases.
Optimists may have longer lives
Reuters - Friday Dec 22
Optimists may enjoy longer lives than people with a dimmer outlook on the future, a long-term study suggests. Researchers found that of nearly 7,000 adults followed since their college days in the 1960s, those who were optimistic in their youth had a lower risk of dying over the next 40 years than their more pessimistic peers.
New insight gained into devastating brain ailment
Reuters - Friday Dec 22
A chemical designed by doctors in Los Angeles could give unprecedented insight into the ravages of Alzheimer's disease and provide a new way to test for treatments. Previously the only way to determine if a person suffers from the devastating brain ailment has been to remove some brain tissue or with an autopsy.
Epilepsy drug treats sleep-related eating disorder
Reuters - Friday Dec 22
Topamax, usually prescribed to prevent epileptic seizures, is also an effective treatment for so-called sleep-related eating disorder..or SRED, "is a behavioral disorder combining the repetitive nocturnal awakenings of a sleep disorder with the driven, compulsive eating of a daytime eating disorder."
No word yet on whether link between microbes & obesity can be broken
USA Today - Friday Dec 22
According to the experts who've done the studies, USA TODAY's Elizabeth Weise writes today, "there are different colonies of bacteria in the intestines of the obese than there are in the innards of the slim." The researchers think that the microbes in obese people may be "more efficient at extracting calories from food" than microbes in the slim.
Does a bug in our gut make us fat?
LA Times - Thu Dec 21
Obese people have higher levels of unusually efficient bacteria in their guts than lean people do, offering a possible explanation for why they get fat.. Humans need bacteria in their guts to help convert otherwise indigestible foods into a form that is digestible, and the bacteria in obese people are better at the process
Scientists Find Link Between Obesity and Intestinal Bacteria
VOA - Thu Dec 21
U.S. scientists have found a surprising relationship between obesity and the kind of food digesting bacteria we have in our intestines. As VOA's David McAlary reports, the findings suggest that the microbes living in our guts might influence how prone we are to being overweight and might offer new solutions to the growing obesity epidemic worldwide.
Japanese man survived 3 weeks without food
MSNBC/AP - Thu Dec 21
A man who went missing in western Japan survived in chilly weather without food and water for over three weeks by falling into a state similar to hibernation, doctors said. Mitsutaka Uchikoshi had almost no pulse, his organs had all but shut down and his body temperature was 71 degrees F.
Device may help apnea patients with memory loss
International Herald Tribune - Wed Dec 20
People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a breathing disorder that can lead to serious health problems, can benefit greatly from a device that helps them breathe regularly in bed. But the contraption is not terribly popular because it can be uncomfortable.
The Challenge of Global Health
Foreign Affairs - Wed Dec 20
Less than a decade ago, the biggest problem in global health seemed to be the lack of resources available to combat the multiple scourges ravaging the world's poor and sick. Today.. (giving increased but lack of coordination creates) a grave danger that the current age of generosity could not only fall short of expectations but actually make things worse on the ground.
Bill seeks to ban trans fats from Massachusetts
Reuters - Wed Dec 20
A lawmaker introduced a bill on Tuesday that would make Massachusetts the first U.S. state to ban artificial trans fats from restaurants, closely following New York City's ban of the artery-clogging oils.
The Smoky Bomb Threat
N.Y. Times - Tue Dec 19
The exotic murder-by-polonium of the former K.G.B. spy.. also throws into question most of the previous analyses of “dirty bombs,” terrorist attacks using radioactive isotopes wrapped in explosives (or using other dispersion techniques) to spread radioactive material..
No letup in California's anti-cigarette politics
Reuters - Tue Dec 19
California lawmakers will take up a bill that would add a $1.90 tax to each pack of cigarettes sold in the state, an effort that may gain political momentum if the new U.S. Congress puts the spotlight on health care.. California lawmakers will also consider at least two other bills aimed at smokers and, by extension, tobacco companies.
Sudoku anyone? Limber brain keeps seniors sharp
Reuters - Tue Dec 19
In an indication that the brain like the body needs exercise in old age, researchers report older people given training in mental functions stayed sharper for years afterward... training involved formal sessions using such things as mnemonics that teach people to remember by using acronyms and rhymes.
Alcoholics facing long-term brain damage
Scotsman.com - Mon Dec 18
Long-term alcoholics are running the risk of permanent brain damage, according a study published today. Research has shown that while the brain can regenerate following damage caused by drink, it struggles more after longer periods.
Brain can repair alcohol's damage
Reuters - Mon Dec 18
Excessive drinking can damage brain cells but the brain can repair some of the harm, a team of international researchers said on Monday. But they warned alcoholics should get sober as quickly as possible because the longer they continue to drink heavily, the less likely their brains will be able to regenerate.
Suburban sprawl may create heavier kids
Reuters - Mon Dec 18
U.S. children who live in expansive suburbs may start to pay for it with expansive waistlines, new research suggests. Using data from a national health survey, researchers found that teenagers living in sprawling suburbs were more than twice as likely to be overweight as teens in more compact urban areas.
Italy issues new code to stop ultra-skinny models
Reuters - Mon Dec 18
Italy's government and its fashion chiefs issued a manifesto on Saturday to crack down on the use of ultra-thin teenagers on the catwalk, requiring models to show proof of their good health or be barred from fashion shows. The charter also bans the use of models who are under the age of 16..
Scientists identify gene mutation in autism
Reuters - Sun Dec 17
French scientists have identified genetic mutations in a small number of children with autism which could provide insight into the biological basis of the disorder. They sequenced a gene called SHANK3 in more than 200 people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
Penguins offer evidence of global warming
Reuters - Sat Dec 16
The first Adelie penguin chicks of the season -- black fluffballs small enough to hold in the hand -- started hatching this month, and the simple fact that there are more of them in the south and fewer of them further north is a sign of global warming, scientists say.
Fluid displacement may contribute to sleep apnea
Scientific American - Fri Dec 15
When fluid in tissues is displaced from the lower body into the upper body, the circumference of the neck grows, which may hinder the flow of air, Canadian researchers report. These findings may help explain why the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increased in patients with diseases characterized by "fluid overload," like heart failure and kidney failure, for example.
Researchers reverse diabetes in mice
Reuters - Fri Dec 15
Nerve cells in the pancreas may be a cause of type-1 diabetes in mice -- a finding that could provide new ways to treat the disease in humans. Canadian and U.S. scientists said defective nerve endings may attract immune system proteins that mistakenly attack the pancreas.
Over 250 sick after eating at Indiana Olive Garden
Reuters - Fri Dec 15
More than 250 people have reported becoming sick after eating at an Olive Garden restaurant in Indianapolis, Indiana, a county health official said on Friday, a day after an outbreak of E.coli at Taco Bell restaurants was declared over. The news makes Olive Garden at least the third U.S. restaurant chain this month to be linked to widespread customer illnesses..
High IQ link to being vegetarian
BBC - Fri Dec 15
Intelligent children are more likely to become vegetarians later in life, a study says. A Southampton University team found those who were vegetarian by 30 had recorded five IQ points more on average at the age of 10.
Oceans may rise over 4 1/2 feet by 2100
Reuters - Thu Dec 14
The world's oceans may rise up to 140 cms (4 ft 7 in) by 2100 due to global warming, a faster than expected increase that could threaten low-lying coasts from Florida to Bangladesh.
Virgin process can produce stem cells, study says
Reuters - Thu Dec 14
Mouse embryos created through a "virgin birth" process called parthenogenesis show that egg cells can be a source of valued embryonic stem cells... The cells can be closely matched to the immune system of the recipient, making them a potential source for transplants.
Recreational workouts may ward off breast cancer
Reuters - Thu Dec 14
Getting plenty of recreational activity may reduce women's risk of developing breast cancer after menopause, and exercise appears to have the most powerful preventive effect on the most aggressive type of tumor.
Young people who cook at home eat better
Reuters - Thu Dec 14
Young adults who frequently make their own meals have much healthier diets than their peers who never set foot in the kitchen, a new study shows. Those who were preparing foods more often at home had a much higher likelihood of reaching dietary guidelines.
Many families consumed by health care costs
SeattlePI.com/Scripps - Wed Dec 13
Health care costs now eat up more than 10 percent of the family income of nearly 50 million Americans under 65, according to a new study by government researchers.
More Americans facing high healthcare costs
Reuters - Wed Dec 13
A growing number of Americans are devoting a large share of their paychecks to healthcare, and some are skipping medical care because of it... In 2003, 48.8 million Americans younger than 65 lived in a household that spent more than 10 percent of the family income on healthcare - up by 11.7 million from 1996.
Most Americans misjudge long-term care needs: AARP
Reuters - Wed Dec 13
Most Americans over the age of 42 misjudge their need for long-term medical care and the costs entailed, a dangerous ignorance, the senior lobby AARP said.. With the 77 million-strong baby boom generation nearing retirement age, use of nursing homes, assisted living and home-care workers is likely to increase significantly.
Low-protein diet might reduce cancer risk
Reuters - Wed Dec 13
Researchers studying a group of vegetarians who'd maintained a diet relatively low in protein and calories found that they had lower blood levels of several hormones and other substances that have been tied to certain cancers.
Smoking-damaged arteries heal after quitting
Reuters - Wed Dec 13
Early signs of heart disease in young adult smokers may quickly dissipate soon after they kick the habit, a new study from Japan shows. Smoking disrupts the normal function of the lining of arteries, known as the endothelium, which must contract and relax to regulate blood flow.
Spend big on wrinkle creams? Don't bother: study
Reuters - Wed Dec 13
Luxury-price products don't work any better than drugstore brands, according to the study by Consumer Reports magazine, which ranked Olay Regenerist, priced at about $19, as the most effective in reducing wrinkles.
Future of nationwide children's study is hazy
DesertNews.com - Wed Dec 13
The future of the highly publicized National Children's Study, created by Congress in 2000, is at a crossroads. The president's 2007 budget proposal not only didn't fund the study but actually directed it to be closed down... Congress hasn't actually committed a penny yet in future funding.
Health system not yet ready for disaster: study
Reuters - Tue Dec 12
Half of all U.S. states would run out of hospital beds within the first two weeks of a moderate flu pandemic and 47 states would run out if a bad one hit.. The report from the Trust for America's Health shows the U.S. is still poorly prepared for a pandemic, biological attack or similar disaster, despite five years of government warnings and emphasis on the issue.
Sleep apnea treatment may reverse memory problems
Reuters - Tue Dec 12
The results of a preliminary study suggest that memory deficits that are common among people with sleep apnea can improve when they are treated with positive airway pressure. Sleep apnea occurs when breathing passages become obstructed during sleep, often when soft tissues around the larynx and throat collapse inward.
Whole grains and fish may protect against asthma
Reuters - Tue Dec 12
Children who eat goodly amounts of whole grain products and fish seem to have a reduced risk of developing asthma, according to findings published in the medical journal Thorax.
Stress? What stress? Run it off, cry it out, sleep it away
Miami Herald - Tue Dec 12
A nice trend these days is one-stop shopping for stress relief. South Miami Hospital, for example, has a Behavioral and Collaborative Medicine Program that deals with both medical and behavioral anti-stress approaches from yoga and tai chi to massage and art therapy.
Move it AND Lose it
Caspar Star Tribune - Tue Dec 12
Quit riding Rationalization Railroad just because you bought the tickets Halloween night. Free-will let's you get off at any stop. The good news: Most of us won't pack on the estimated 5-to-8 pounds of December bulge previously touted, but...
Want to avoid cruise sickness? Wash your hands ... again and again and again
South Florida Sun-Sentinel - Tue Dec 12
If you go, be sure to wash your hands often. Don't touch door handles, handrails or other communal surfaces and then touch your mouth or nose. Make use of the alcohol-based hand sanitizers throughout the ship, especially in the buffet lines and food-service areas..
Two more reasons to exercise, studies find
Reuters - Mon Dec 11
Here are two more reasons to exercise: It may help prevent breast cancer and can be a safer way to lose weight than dieting... according to one report from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota
Actresses attack trend for ultra-skinny stars
Reuters - Mon Dec 11
Two British actresses have weighed into the debate over ultra-thin models and celebrities, criticizing what they say is a trend that could have a damaging impact on young girls. Oscar-nominated Kate Winslet...
Obese men, girls see unusual testosterone levels
Reuters - Mon Dec 11
Obese men often experience a sharp decline in testosterone levels while obese girls show much higher levels of the sex hormone than girls of normal weight.. Two separate studies published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism could indicate increased health risks for both.
Controlling cravings is step toward better health
Memphis Comm. App./Cox News Svc - Mon Dec 11
Lisa Schwebel has a monster of an appetite for cookies. "It's my fix," says the part-time sales representative, who eats chocolate chip cookies at least once a day... Schwebel is like many people who are consumed by the tastes and pleasures of foods such as sugar and chocolate.
Recipe for better sex: What to eat to add spice
MSNBC/Forbes - Sun Dec 10
Like many aspects of health, our sex drive is affected by what we put into our bodies. Certain foods affect the body in different ways. Depending on what you consume, wining and dining a date can induce more sleep than romance.
Brain Food
Daily Colonial/GWU - Fri Dec 8
During finals week, food could be both the first and last thing on your mind. Being completely concentrated takes more than motivation, energy and willpower. Food is a must to achieve success during finals week. When hungry, you’re more likely to feel cranky or irritable, distracting brain activity.
Bird flu has deadly friends: health experts
Reuters - Fri Dec 8
Bird flu may be the tip of the iceberg. Experts meeting in Mali say the deadly H5N1 virus is just one of a plethora of diseases threatening animals and people around the world as global warming, intensive farming, increased travel and trade help dangerous microbes breed and spread.
Solvay, Bristol obesity drug advances in trials
Reuters - Fri Dec 8
A new anti-obesity drug that works in the same way as Sanofi-Aventis's Acomplia has advanced in clinical trials, triggering a $25 million payment to Belgian drugs from its partner Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., chemicals and plastics maker Solvay.
Sanofi sees FDA response on Acomplia by April 26
Reuters - Fri Dec 8
Sanofi-Aventis expects to get a decision from U.S. regulators by April 26 on whether it may sell anti-obesity pill and potential blockbuster Acomplia in the world's largest drug market, following a six-month review.
Italy moves to stop ultra-skinny models
Reuters - Thu Dec 7
Italy's government and its fashion chiefs are working on a manifesto to crack down on the use of ultra-thin teenagers on the catwalk, as pressure grows on the fashion world to promote healthier looks.
Ebola has killed 5,000 gorillas, study suggests
Reuters - Thu Dec 7
The Ebola virus may have killed more than 5,000 gorillas in West Africa -- enough to send them into extinction if people continue to hunt them, too, researchers said... The virus is spreading from one group of the already endangered animals to another, the international team of experts report in this week's issue of the journal Science. And it appears to be spreading faster than it is among humans.
Scientists say malaria fuels AIDS spread in Africa
Reuters - Thu Dec 7
Malaria may be helping spread the AIDS virus across Africa, the continent hardest hit by the incurable disease, scientists said... The way the two diseases interact greatly expands the prevalence of both among people in sub-Saharan Africa, a team of scientists said in a study in the journal Science.
Japan scientists find gene linked to heavy smoking
Reuters - Wed Dec 6
A team of Japanese scientists have found a gene closely linked to nicotine addiction, which could lead to more effective ways for smokers to kick the habit, a Japanese daily said on Wednesday.
Clinton urges end to HIV/AIDS stigma in Vietnam
Reuters - Wed Dec 6
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton urged young Vietnamese... to talk more about HIV and AIDS to reduce fear and ignorance of the disease and discourage discrimination.
When to use bird flu vaccine a "tricky issue"
Reuters - Wed Dec 6
A vaccine against the killer H5N1 bird flu virus could be licensed for human use in a year... Drug companies are racing to find a cure for the avian influenza virus which has killed 154 people since 2003 and fanned fears of a global human pandemic. At least a dozen manufacturers have clinical trials underway or planned.
Energise yourself
(Malaysia) thestar.com - Wed Dec 6
The alarm goes off. You groan as yet another working day forges ahead. You jump out, get ready and hit the office. Then it’s work, work, work before you clock out. If you’re lucky, you find time for a workout at the gym, grab some food at the mamak stall and head home. A few minutes of telly and you’re dozing off. If you have kids, you attend to the pesky things and tuck them in before you call it quits. You’re pooped.
Small diet changes can add up to big results
(Delaware) The News Journal - Tue Dec 5
It doesn't take a lot of time or money to reduce your calorie intake -- and trim down your waistline. When it comes to making healthy choices in our diet, we Americans tend to eat out of both sides of our mouth.
Seeking a Stable Weight? Maybe You Should Bring Home the Bacon
washingtonpost.com - Tue Dec 5
Hunger pangs are hard to resist. So the recent findings that a little extra lean protein at breakfast will last you until lunch could provide the boost to help you maintain your weight during the upcoming holidays.. Of all the macronutrients that we eat, "protein blunts your hunger the most and is the most satiating.."
Once middle age disease, diabetes hits more children
Reuters - Tue Dec 5
Diabetes is striking growing numbers of children around the world as parents and doctors fail to diagnose a disease which until recently was associated mostly with middle-aged and elderly people, experts said on Tuesday.
NY eateries face new rules on trans fats, calories
Reuters - Tue Dec 5
New York City's board of health on Tuesday voted to phase out most artificial trans fats from restaurants, forcing doughnut shops and fast-food stands to remove artery-clogging oils from their cooking.
Thin is not in when it comes to pregnancy
Reuters - Tue Dec 5
Women who are underweight before they become pregnant are at heightened risk for suffering a miscarriage in the first trimester, a UK study shows, but taking vitamin supplements and eating fresh fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk.
Minnesota deemed healthiest state, Louisiana worst
Reuters - Tue Dec 5
Minnesota was deemed the healthiest U.S. state for the fourth year in a row, while Louisiana slumped into last place as the least healthy in annual state-by-state rankings released by on Tuesday.
World to see 380 million diabetics by 2025: experts
Reuters - Mon Dec 4
The global diabetes epidemic is projected to affect 7 percent of the world's adult population by 2025 as developing countries embrace bad health habits associated with affluence. The stark picture painted by the rapid worldwide spread of the disease -- expected to affect 380 million people in 20 years time -- was illustrated by a new "Diabetes Atlas," launched at the World Diabetes Congress in Cape Town.
Organic group slams junk-food family restaurants
Reuters - Thu Nov 30
The menus of popular family restaurant chains like Nando's and Pizza Hut are still full of junk food, despite schools' attempts to promote healthy eating among children, according to a survey by the Soil Association. Not one of the 10 chains surveyed by Britain's leading organic food body came close to meeting new school meal standards set by the government.
Pfizer says obesity, melanoma drugs hold promise
Reuters - Thu Nov 30
Pfizer Inc. said two of its experimental obesity drugs significantly reduced body weight at magnitudes comparable to Sanofi-Aventis' potent drug, Acomplia... patients taking two different doses of one medicine -- called CP-945,598 -- lost 4 percent to 5 percent of their body weight compared with patients given placebos in mid-stage trials. Another obesity drug, which works through a different mechanism called MTP inhibition, produced an average weight loss of 6 percent, company officials said.
Cancer survivors urged to maintain healthy weight
Reuters - Thu Nov 30
Staying slim and fit is especially important for cancer survivors, because obesity raises the risk of cancer coming back, the American Cancer Society said in new guidelines issued on Wednesday. The recommendations, updating advice issued in 2001 and 2003, were published in the society's "CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians."
Tax junk food to reduce child obesity, MLAs urge
Vancouver Sun - Thu Nov 30
B.C. residents could see a seven-per-cent hike in the cost of soft drinks, candy and items listed as "not recommended" under provincial food guidelines if the government adopts recommendations made by its standing legislative committee on health.
Late Night Eating Clue to Obesity
Korea Tines - Thu Nov 30
Obese patients enjoy late night food more than excessive eating, according to a survey by local hospital Thursday. In the survey, about 40 percent of obese patients had the habit of eating after 7 p.m., taking in more than 50 percent of the recommended daily calories at once.
The Truth About Obesity Surgery
CBS - Thu Nov 30
It's estimated that 5 percent to 10 percent of the United States population is morbidly obese and 60 percent is overweight. As the country's weight problem gets more attention, people who are overweight are going to more extreme measures to take off the pounds. In this segment of the "Overweight in America" series, The Early Show took a look at the increasingly popular weight-loss surgeries.
Dawn Of A New Diet Pill?
CBS - Wed Nov 29
After many years of research, scientists are making progress with an entirely new kind of obesity pill that's already on the market overseas. Dr. Lou Aronne, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center in New York City and clinical associate professor of medicine at Weill-Cornell University Medical College, has taken part in testing these drugs.
Universal AIDS tests will pay off, experts say
Reuters - Wed Nov 29
Routine, universal testing for the AIDS virus as recommended by a federal agency will likely cost the United States $900 million, but will pay off in terms of lives and money, experts said on Wednesday. They said the federal government will need to allocate more money to programs that pay for treating uninsured HIV patients, and said cities, states and groups that run clinics will have to hire more staff.
New clue to red wine's heart-protecting effect
Reuters - Wed Nov 29
Scientists in the UK have identified "oligomeric procyanidins" as the likely ingredient in red wine's polyphenols that contributes to heart health and longevity. And some red wines contain more procyanidins than others. In the journal Nature, Dr. Roger Corder, from Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry in London... note that not everyone agrees that red wine actually possess heart-healthy properties, which they say may be due to the complexity and variability in the constituents in different wines.
Talk therapy may be best for depressed seniors
Reuters - Wed Nov 29
Talk therapy may beat medication for older adults' depression, particularly when therapists work along with the patient's primary care doctor, a research review suggests. The review involved eight previous clinical trials, which found that psychological counseling was more effective, compared with the "usual care;" from family doctors for older adults with depression.
Mali's traditional healers unlock herbal cures
Reuters - Wed Nov 29
Bourama Soumaoro's pharmacy looks much like any other, packets of pills in glass cabinets and jars of powder to fight everything from toothache to dysentery. But nowhere in the doctor's small shop in Mali's capital Bamako is there a chemically manufactured drug.
OBESITY Plus Keeps Information Lean
CCNMatthews - Wed Nov 29
New online offers tool for practitioners fighting epidemic. The federally-funded Canadian Obesity Network (CON) is pleased to announce the launch of the Online Best Evidence Service In Tackling ObesitY Plus (OBESITY+), an exciting new knowledge tool for health providers with an interest in obesity.
Wealth brings new health threats
Monsters & Critics - Tue Nov 28
As the level of development worldwide increases, the greatest threats to health will shift from infectious diseases to non-communicable health problems like smoking-related illness, obesity and depression, according to updated data from the World Health Organization. However, even given optimistic development projections, AIDS will continue to take a toll.
Smokers must quit, not just cut down, study finds
Reuters - Tue Nov 28
Smokers eager to cut the risk of dying early from tobacco-related illnesses must quit completely, because cutting down -- even by half -- is not enough. Dr. Kjell Bjartveit, former director of the National Health Screening Service, in Oslo said the conclusions came from a 20-year study of 51,000 men and women in Norway.
Older dieters need to exercise too
Reuters - Mon Nov 27
For older adults who want to shed pounds, exercise may be even more important than cutting calories, new research suggests. In a study of 34 adults in their 50s and 60s, researchers found that both dieters and exercisers lost weight. The exercise group, however, did so while maintaining their muscle mass, strength and fitness levels, whereas dieters showed declines in all these measures.
Researchers Find Clues To Human Obesity In Dragonfly's Metabolic Disease
All Headline News - Sun November 26
In a recent research study conducted at Penn State University, researchers found clues about human obesity from dragonfly's metabolic disease. The findings of the research revealed that parasite-infected dragonflies suffer the same metabolic disorders that have led to an epidemic of obesity and type-2 diabetes in humans.
Fertility industry booms online
Reuters - Sat Nov 25
More and more people have literally found life on the Internet as the estimated $3 billion fertility industry moves increasingly online. But as with all online commercial ventures, shopping on the Web can carry risks.
Obesity Linked to Lack of Sleep
Keep the Doctor Away - Sat Nov 25
A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology has found that middle-aged women are much more likely to remain lean if they sleep well over a prolonged period. Those only catching a few hours sleep per night, by contrast, have an increased risk of putting on unwanted weight.
Study identifies possible master heart stem cell
Reuters - Thu Nov 23
Scientists studying mice said they have found what may be a master cardiac stem cell -- able to change into the three major cell types in a mammal's heart -- in a finding that could help guide heart repair in people.
China HIV cases up nearly 30 percent
Reuters - Tue Nov 21
The number of reported HIV/AIDS cases in China has grown by nearly 30 per cent this year, state media said on Wednesday, warning the virus seemed to be spreading from high-risk groups to the general public.
The European Youth Heart Study — Physical Activity Is a Medical Necessity
MedScape - Mon Nov 20
For their cardiovascular health, children should be involved in physical activity of at least moderate intensity for at least 1 hour per day, and they may need as much as 90 minutes of daily activity to prevent insulin resistance, according to a new European study.
Scientists probe omega-3 DHA as anti-obesity agent
NutraIngredients.com - Mon Nov 20
Fish oil, and other omega-3-rich sources have previously been shown to decrease body fat in rodents, but the mechanism behind such observations and whether doses smaller than those usually found in humans could also exert an effect of the development of fat cells, and therefore play a potential role in weight management.
Annan urges action on biological weapon threat
Reuters - Mon Nov 20
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for stronger efforts to protect the world against biological weapons, which he said pose a growing threat due to advances in science and technology.
Positive emotions could mean less chance of illness
The Tartan - Mon Nov 20
Seeing a glass of water as half-empty or half-full has become somewhat of a cliched piece of folklore today. Regardless of how much of it you drink each day, the way you look at a glass of water could say a lot about how healthy you are, or will be later on in life.
Superfoods, anti-ageing products will be hot
Reuters - Fri Nov 17
Amazonian superfoods and anti-ageing elixirs are likely to set the trend on supermarket shelves next year. Exotic drinks and beauty products based on indigenous resources from the Amazon and personal grooming items for older men are among the top 10 growth areas... Many of the forecast trends are based on growing consumer calls for ethical and environmentally friendly products..
U.N. talks keep Kyoto on track, but scant progress
Reuters - Fri Nov 17
Environment ministers agreed on Friday to review the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol in 2008 but some delegates criticised a lack of firm action on global warming. After two weeks of talks in Nairobi, about 70 ministers said they would review the protocol, which runs to 2012, in what could be a prelude to widening the pact by 35 rich nations to include outsiders such as China and India.
Report calls for "activity-friendly" communities
Reuters - Fri Nov 17
Sidewalks, parks and neighborhood stores could be part of the solution to the ever-expanding U.S. waistline, according to a new report. Writing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers offer a top-10 list of ways to turn sedentary cities and suburbs into "activity-friendly" communities.
Why fast food makes you get fat
PakTribune - Fri Nov 17
The nutritional make up of fast food encourages people to gorge on it unintentionally, increasing their risk of obesity, research suggests. Experts at the Medical Research Council found most fast food is very dense in calories - you only need a small amount to bump up your calorific intake. "Energy dense" foods can fool people into consuming more calories than the body needs.
Ministers focus fight against obesity on junk food
Reuters - Thu Nov 16
European and Central Asian ministers agreed on Thursday to try to make healthy food cheaper and curb junk food adverts aimed at children in a bid to reverse a galloping obesity trend. Ministers attending a U.N. World Health Organisation (WHO) obesity conference in Istanbul also agreed to reduce fat and sugar in manufactured food and improve urban planning to make cycling and walking easier.
Nibbles: Europeans approve anti-obesity charter
Calorie Lab - Thu Nov 16
The charter focuses on concrete goals like making healthy foods more available and improving roads so more people can bike or walk. The nations hope to reverse the trend of obesity by 2015. One of the more contentious issues had to do with limiting marketing of fatty and sugar foods to children.
Europeans OK anti-obesity charter
Houston Chronicle - Thu Nov 16
European health ministers from 53 countries approved the world's first charter to fight obesity on Thursday, vowing greater action against the epidemic of expanding waistlines across the continent.
Obesity could hit economies as hard as malnutrition
Reuters - Wed Nov 15
Obesity could knock economic output as severely as malnutrition, which shaves as much as 3 percent off production in the poorest countries, a World Bank specialist said on Wednesday. The World Health Organization estimates obesity has tripled in the past two decades and that one in 10 children and one in five adults will be obese in Europe and Central Asia by 2010 unless action is taken.
Study: Link between inflammation, obesity
UPI - Thu Nov 16
Houston researchers have identified a molecular link between obesity and inflammation -- inflammation has been linked to several diseases. Research presented this week at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions shows that a high-fat diet draws inflammatory cells into fat tissue, which prevents the tissue from storing the fats we eat.
Dogs and Climate Change: The human environment and non-human life
American Chronicle - Wed Nov 15
Do we ever stop to realize that the only regular contact we have with non-human life is our dog? Living in the urban, concrete jungle, we see the world from our cars, work in office cubicle factories, get our food packaged in supermarkets, and 99% of our possessions are purchased. We cannot exist without electricity and money. Our regular interaction with 'nature' is running from the door to the car, mowing the lawn and paying admission to a park.
Strong grip, staying fit helps men live long
Reuters - Tue Nov 14
A strong grip, a good education, a wife, and not becoming overweight are among the keys to a long life for middle-aged men who'd like to grow old in good health, a study said on Tuesday. Nine factors were good predictors of which middle-aged men would live healthily into their 80s and beyond, concluded a 40-year study of nearly 6,000 Japanese-American men living in the U.S. state of Hawaii.
Soy and fish protect from cancer: study
Reuters
- Tue Nov 14
People who ate soy regularly as children have a lower risk of breast cancer, researchers reported on Tuesday. And men who eat fish several times a week have a lower risk of colon cancer, a second team of researchers told a meeting in Boston of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Schools, Insurers Try Fighting Childhood Obesity With Activity
WISC-TV
- Tue Nov 14
The winter months can pack on the pounds for adults and children alike as during those times, people are eating more and exercising less. A new study by the National Institutes of Health shows that 75 percent of all weight is gained between November and January. That fact compounds the larger problem of obesity and childhood obesity, experts said.
Election outcome boosts embryonic stem cell work
Reuters - Mon Nov 13
The religious protesters are gone and expansion plans are back on track at a top Kansas City stem-cell research lab after Missouri voters endorsed the controversial field in last week's elections. With some $2 billion in private funding, and a team of international scientists already at work...
New Diets in Town: The Flavor Point Diet
Ivanhoe - Mon Nov 13
We've all heard of low-fat, low-carbohydrate, and high-protein diets. But author and Yale professor David L. Katz, M.D., says too many flavors in one meal triggers your brain to want more food.
The DNA Diet
Ivanhoe - Mon Nov 13
Most of us have tried dieting at some time or another. In fact; more than 70 million Americans are currently on a diet. Sure, the best way to lose weight is eating less and exercising more, but diets are a $70 billion industry. One of the latest fad diets is based on your DNA. Does it work?
The perils of ignoring climate change
Adelaide Now - Sat Nov 11
GLOBAL warming and climate change are now scientific realities... even sceptics conceding that the world, indeed mankind, is embroiled in a phenomenon triggered by human advancement which has the potential to dictate economic, technological and ultimately political development for the rest of this century and beyond.
Jet Lag Or Irregular Shifts May Shorten Life Span
Medical News Today - Fri Nov 10
Elderly mice subjected to changes similar to those of jet lag and working irregular shifts had shorter life spans than other elderly mice, say researchers from the University of Virginia, USA... researchers wanted to see how old and young mice responded to changes in their usual day and night rhythms (circadian rhythm).
High blood sugar levels add to heart, stroke deaths
Reuters Health - Thu Nov 9
High blood sugar levels cause about three million deaths worldwide each year linked to heart disease and strokes as well as diabetes... Scientists calculate in addition to the 960,000 diabetes deaths worldwide each year, raised blood sugar levels are linked to 1.5 million deaths from heart disease and 700,000 from strokes.
Food groups urged to enlist in war on obesity
Financial Times UK - Thu Nov 9
Food and drinks companies can avoid draconian regulation if they voluntarily cut down on fat and salt in their products, give clear nutritional information and reduce advertising to children, the European Commission said on Thursday...
Energy Drinks and Food Bars: Power or Hype
Business Wire - Wed Nov 7
Energy drinks and nutrition bars often make big promises. Some say they’ll increase energy and alertness... HealthAmerica suggests that once you cut through the hype, chances are that what they mostly offer is a stiff dose of sugar and caffeine.
Your Dad Had More Testosterone Than You
MSNBC/Newsweek - Fri Nov 3
Over the last two decades, American men have made a number of major lifestyle changes... Now, a new study published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism suggests that today's men are also changing on the inside: sporting significantly lower testosterone levels than their counterparts 10 or 20 years ago.
Reducing body temperature extends life span of mice
Reuters Health - Thu Nov 2
Lowering the body temperature of mice extended their life span by up to 20 percent.. but scientists said it was impractical to do this with people. Researchers previously found that the life span of warm-blooded animals could be lengthened by cutting calories consumed.
Wine Extract Keeps Fat Mice Healthy
Chicago Tribune - Wed Nov 1
Obese mice on a high-fat diet got the benefits of being thin -- living healthier, longer lives -- without the pain of dieting when they consumed huge doses of red wine extract, according to a landmark new study. It's far too early to know if this would work in people...
One for the Ages: A Prescription That May Extend Life
NY Times - Tue Oct 31
As a result of a simple lifestyle intervention, Rudy and primates like him seem poised to live very long, very vital lives. This approach, called calorie restriction, involves eating about 30 percent fewer calories than normal while still getting adequate amounts of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Aside from direct genetic manipulation, calorie restriction is the only strategy known to extend life consistently in a variety of animal species.
Korean centenarians' secret of longevity: Eat vegetables, sleep well and be surrounded by your loved ones
Seniorscopie.com/Korea Times - Tue Oct 31
The Korean centenarians eat mainly vegetables, sleep well and, most important, are surrounded by their relatives, according to a study by Lee Mee-sook, food and nutrition professor at Hannam University.
KFC to remove trans fat from chicken, wedges
Louisville Courier-Journal - Tue Oct 31
Artery-clogging trans fat will be eliminated from the fried chicken and potato wedges at all of KFC's domestic restaurants by April, but some Louisville-area customers are trying the menu changes now as part of a test.
Monsanto's soybeans will help cut KFC's trans fats
St. Louis Post Dispatch
KFC to slash menu's use of trans fat
L.A. Times
KFC no chicken, will cut trans fat
Chicago Tribune
The Colonel Is Phasing Out Trans Fat From the Menu
New York Times
Exercise Reduces Common Colds
Ivanhoe Newswire - Fri Oct 27
The number of colds women get as they age may depend on how much they exercise. New research from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle reveals postmenopausal women who exercised regularly for a year had about half the risk of colds compared to those who did not exercise regularly. Study investigators looked at 115 overweight and obese, sedentary postmenopausal women. One group exercised moderately for 45 minutes five days a week for a year. The other group went to a 45 minute stretching session once a week.
Taking care of health can restore vigor
Baltimore Sun
- Fri Oct 27
The job description of little boys includes running around, screaming and fidgeting. But by the time those boys reach midlife, a sea change has often happened. They're falling asleep in front of the TV at 7 p.m. and laboring up stairs they would have bounded up in their prime. Myriad components factor into this gradual drop-off in verve, including changes in hormones, sleep, nutrition, heart and lungs. Some of these changes are nonnegotiable. But there's much that guys can do to restore some of their lost vigor.
Protecting the Health of the Public
NEJM
- Thu Oct 26
Soon after rofecoxib had been withdrawn from the market... the Senate Finance Committee and editorials in the lay and medical press raised serious questions about drug safety in the United States. In response, an FDA appointed panel which has just released its findings and recommendations.
Expanding waistlines add to pain at the pump
MSNBC/AP
- Wed Oct 25
U.S. obesity linked to extra gasoline consumption, researchers say. Want to spend less at the pump? Lose some weight. That’s the implication of a new study that says Americans are burning nearly 1 billion more gallons of gasoline each year than they did in 1960 because of their expanding waistlines. Simply put, more weight in the car means lower gas mileage.
Habits more important than genes
ChinaView/Xinhua
- Tue Oct 17
Summing up their secrets for a long life, centenarians in China's largest commercial city Shanghai are adamant that good living habits are more important than genes. By the end of the year there will be more than 800 people in Shanghai who are 100 years old or older, up a sprightly 200 on 2005, according to the Society for Senior Citizens of Shanghai.
Caffeine more disruptive for daytime sleep
Reuters Health - Fri Oct 13
Caffeine has a stronger disruptive effect on daytime, catch-up sleep after a night of sleep deprivation than it does on a normal night's sleep, a new study shows... using caffeine before sleeping at an abnormal circadian phase, such as during night work, might have more adverse consequences on sleep quality than before sleeping at a normal circadian time.
Prevention's Anti-Aging Guide: How To Take Off 10 Years Or More And Look And Feel Better - Part 2
Lakeland Ledger, NYT Syndication - Fri Oct 13
In part-two of our story, scientists studying aging, exercise, nutrition, and related fields offer more moves to peel off the years. Picks so powerful, the researchers have adopted them in their own lives.
Prevention's Anti-Aging Guide: How To Take Off 10 Years Or More And Look And Feel Better - Part 1
Lakeland Ledger, NYT Syndication - Thu Oct 12
esearch is unlocking the secrets to living longer and better. And 70 percent of the factors influencing life expectancy are due to good choices and good luck -- not good genes. In part-two of our story, scientists studying aging, exercise, nutrition, and related fields offer more moves to peel off the years.
Heart Failure Patients with OSA May Not Feel Sleepy,
Researchers Call for Increased Sleep Interventions in Patients with Type II Diabetes
National Sleep Foundation Alert - Tuesday Oct 10
Also includes articles "Sleep in the Newzzz..."
"Become a Community Sleep Awareness Partner and Save Big!"
"Narcolepsy, Sleepiness Linked with Psychosocial Problems in Children"
Longevity of Life may be related to Lower Levels of Thyroid Hormone
Best Syndication - Tue Oct 10
A study of rodents showed a potential link between lower the level of thyroid hormone how long they lived. Thyroid hormone is known to speed up the metabolism and regulate metabolic rate. The study also found that the higher the thyroid hormone, the shorter the life of a rodent. The researchers, Mario Pinto and Rochelle Buffenstein from City College of New York conducted this study.
New function for protein links plant’s circadian rhythm to its light-detection mechanism
Rockefeller University Newswire - Fri Oct 6
They may not sleep — or dream — but plants do have day-night cycles just like animals. Their internal timekeepers tell them how long the days are, helping the plants control photosynthesis and flowering. Now, new research from Nam-Hai Chua’s laboratory at Rockefeller University has identified a new function for the protein SPA1, showing its involvement in adjusting a plant’s internal clock to the external light environment.
Children need hour of exercise
BBC - Fri Oct 6
One in four children in England is obese.. Nursery children need an hour of physical exercise each day to burn off their energy and stave off the threat of obesity... A Glasgow University team monitored a study group of 545 children who had the recommended adult level of exercise - 30 minutes, three times a week. But that activity was not enough to affect the children's body mass index.
Keeping CiRCADiAN rhythm
University of Calgary - Gauntlet - Thu Oct 5
Long haired, Birkenstock- wearing people ranting about the benefits of pesticide-free food. Chickens running free on a farm, instead of being cooped up in cells as they await their destiny. While these are some of the images consistent with the word "organic," Toronto's 5th Projekt are attempting to redefine the meaning within the subculture.
Old but Not Frail: A Matter of Heart and Head
New York Times - Thu Oct 5
Mary Wittenberg, the 44-year-old president of New York Road Runners, is a fast, strong and experienced runner. But she races best, she says, when she runs just behind 71 year old Witold Bialokur. He can run 10 kilometers, or 6.2 miles, in less than 44 minutes and he is so smooth and controlled.
Asian-American Women Live Longest
Ivanhoe Newswire
- Wed Oct 4
Women in Japan are recognized for having the longest lifespan in the world. But Asian-American women may live even longer. In 2001, the average life expectancy for women living in Japan was 84. Matthew Edlund, M.D., of the Center for Circadian Medicine in Sarasota, Fla., said Asian-American women live longer because their lifestyles reflect moderation. He suggested people try to remember the acronym "FAR" when practicing healthy lifestyles.
1 in 3 American youngsters are physically unfit
Reuters - Tue Oct 3
About a third of American youngsters age 12 to 19 fail treadmill tests measuring heart and respiratory health, and fatness and sedentary lifestyles are likely culprits...
Energy drinks and food bars: Power or hype?
Bradenton Herald - Sat Sep 30
Energy drinks and nutrition bars often make big promises. Some say they'll increase energy and alertness, others offer extra nutrition, and some even claim to boost your athletic performance or powers of concentration. But once you cut through the hype and look past the flashy packaging on energy products, chances are what you're mostly getting is a stiff dose of sugar and caffeine....The truth is, the best energy boost comes from healthy living. People who eat well, drink water, and get enough physical activity and rest will have plenty of energy - the natural way.
New York proposes trans fat ban in restaurants
Reuters - Wed September 27, 2006
New York City's Health Department on Tuesday proposed a near ban on the use of artificial trans fat at restaurants, likening its health danger to that of lead paint.. The proposal would limit the use of the artery-clogging fat, which is often used in fast foods, to 0.5 grams per serving. The proposal comes after a year-long city campaign to educate restaurants on the effects of such fats and encourage them to stop their use..
Too much testosterone kills brain cells
Reuters - Sep 27
Too much testosterone can kill brain cells, researchers said on Tuesday in a finding that may help explain why steroid abuse can cause behavior changes like aggressiveness and suicidal tendencies.
Study shows how gene creates early risers
Reuters - Tue Sep 26
Scientists are closer to understanding how a particular gene mutation causes some people to be extreme morning larks -- findings that could eventually aid in understanding various sleep disorders.
Americans puzzled by food labels
Reuters - Tue Sep 26
Most Americans read food labels to help them decide what to buy but few people actually understand what they're reading or consuming, according to two U.S. studies... patients who were overweight and who had chronic illnesses where understanding labels might be particularly important.
Subsidizing Obesity - Why We're a Fatter America
DoctorEdlund.com - Sat Sep 16
Web Commentary on how the U.S. government continues footing the bill for farm and industrial interests with dubious goals that only increase our waistlines.
Report: Effort to Combat Childhood Obesity Failing
NPR - Fri Sep 15
A new report issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) suggests that national efforts to combat childhood obesity are failing. Currently, one-third of American children and youth are either obese or at risk of becoming obese, according to the report. That percentage is increasing, and so is the number of sedentary teens.
Diabetes that develops early more likely to worsen
Reuters - Fri Sep 15
People who develop type 2 diabetes when they're younger than 50 years of age are more likely to experience a worsening of their disease than those diagnosed at an older age, according to research presented in Copenhagen Friday at the 42nd annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes
India faces diabetes crisis
Asia News channel - Fri Sep 15
Rising incomes and huge servings of bad food -- from deep-fried samosas to pizza and burgers -- have sparked a surge in diabetes cases in India that threatens the health care system, experts say.
Ranks of Obese Adults Grew in All States from 1995-2005
WebMD Medical News - Thu Sep 14
Mississippi has America's highest percentage of obese adults and Colorado has the lowest percentage, says the CDC. The CDC reports that six in 10 U.S. adults are overweight or obese, including nearly a quarter who are obese.
Eight Americas: Investigating Mortality Disparities across Races, Counties, and Race-Counties in the United States
Harvard Initiative for Global Health
The gap between the highest and lowest life expectancies for race-county combinations the United States is over 35 years. We divided the race-county combinations of the US population into eight distinct groups, referred to as the "eight Americas," to explore the causes disparities that can inform specific public health intervention policies and programs.
