http://www.medindia.net/healthnews/acai-berry-does-it-really-work-news.asp Medindia largest health website in india. en-us Copyright 2013. All Rights Reserved. Wed, 22 May 2013 00:52:32 GMT http://www.medindia.net/news/mothers-diet-during-pregnancy-determines-likelihood-of-obesity-and-heart-disease-in-future-life-119255-1.htm A new report has indicated that the diet consumed by the mother during pregnancy determines the risk of obesity, heart disease and asthma in her offspring. The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) said that pregnant women need t be aware that their diet and lifestyle could impact the long-term health of their babies. A BNF taskforce analyzed the impact of maternal health and diet on unborn babies. The findings indicated that chronic conditions such as heart disease, obesity and asthma might actually start from the womb itself....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/mothers-diet-during-pregnancy-determines-likelihood-of-obesity-and-heart-disease-in-future-life-119255-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/men-with-adhd-in-childhood-have-high-obesity-risk-119254-1.htm New research is suggesting that men who suffered from attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as children are twice as likely to be obese in adulthood as compared to men who did not suffer from ADHD as kids. The study included 111 men who had been diagnosed with ADHD during childhood. The researchers followed these men at ages 18, 25 and 41 and found that 41% of them were obese by the time they entered adulthood. An average BMI of 30.1 was observed in the obese men at the age of 41 years as compared to a BMI of 27....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/men-with-adhd-in-childhood-have-high-obesity-risk-119254-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/gym-class-reduces-probability-of-obesity-119237-1.htm The amount of time that schoolchildren spent in the gym class was found to reduce the probability of obesity, finds study from Cornell University. The study represents some of the first evidence of a causal effect of PE on youth obesity, and is forthcoming in the iJournal of Health Economics/i. The research offers support for the recommendations of organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control, Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, all of which ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/gym-class-reduces-probability-of-obesity-119237-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/lower-risk-of-obesity-with-far-away-fast-food-restuarants-119092-1.htm African-American adults living closer to fast food restaurants had a higher body mass index than those who lived away from them, a new research shows. A new study published online in the iAmerican Journal of Public Health/i indicates higher BMI associates with residential proximity to a fast food restaurant, and among lower-income African-Americans, the density, or number, of fast food restaurants within two miles of the home. The study was led by Lorraine Reitzel, Ph.D., assistant ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/lower-risk-of-obesity-with-far-away-fast-food-restuarants-119092-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/perus-effort-to-reduce-childhood-obesity-119079-1.htm Peru's president made a new effort to reduce childhood obesity by encouraging healthier eating habits, by signing a new law. The law regulates advertising for fatty foods and fizzy soft drinks in schools, the first step in a plan to ban some junk food altogether. Business groups, worried about their revenue, have reacted angrily to the plans. But President Ollanta Humala told them: "We cannot view our children as simply a market to generate sales and maximize profits." One feature ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/perus-effort-to-reduce-childhood-obesity-119079-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-ups-dementia-risk-118758-1.htm Obesity fuels a big rise in the number of people with dementia in the future, say researchers. According to data presented at the European Congress on Obesity, stemming the rise in obesity will cut down the risk of dementia, the BBC reported. The Alzheimer's Society charity has suggested that regular exercise and a healthy weight are important for reducing the risk. One study conducted on 8,500 Swedish twins showed that people with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30- who are ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-ups-dementia-risk-118758-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-says-smartphone-app-helps-fight-obesity-118748-1.htm A new smartphone application was found to be an useful slimming aid for the overweight, according to experts. The app, designed by British doctors, aims at promoting "food memory" so that people recall what they have eaten and are encouraged not to snack on high-calorie treats. The app has three parts: -- before eating food or drinking a beverage, the user snaps a picture of what is about to be consumed. -- after finishing the meal or drink, the user then looks at the picture ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-says-smartphone-app-helps-fight-obesity-118748-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/high-school-obesity-rates-may-influence-childbearing-risk-118714-1.htm The risk of childbearing may depend on the number of obese children in their schools for young women in the high school, a study suggests. "We did find that obese females are at lower risk of having a child while in high school," said Jennifer Buher Kane, recent Penn State Ph. D. recipient and current postdoctoral fellow at Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina. "But that relative risk depends a lot on the type of school they attend." Health officials tend to focus on the ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/high-school-obesity-rates-may-influence-childbearing-risk-118714-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/size-of-food-items-in-cafes-and-supermarkets-to-be-slashed-to-tackle-obesity-118516-1.htm The British government is considering new plans under which supermarkets, food manufacturers and cafes could be asked to reduce the size of items with high fat content, including doughnuts and biscuits. The plans are part of the government's 'Responsibility Deal' and could be implemented as early as in July with food manufacturers being asked to take an active role in educating the virtues of healthy eating. The government hopes that the new plans will encourage customers to buy low-fat options ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/size-of-food-items-in-cafes-and-supermarkets-to-be-slashed-to-tackle-obesity-118516-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/new-jab-can-control-diabetes-and-also-fight-obesity-118448-1.htm For many diabetes patients, a simple once-a-day jab could be a lifeline, which will not only help control their condition but also fight obesity. The 1.90 pounds-a-day breakthrough treatment is far cheaper than using other similar drugs and could save the NHS at least 70 million pounds over the next five years, the Daily Express reported. Doctors can prescribe Lyxumia to patients following approval by the European Medicines Agency. They have hailed the treatment as a major new tool ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/new-jab-can-control-diabetes-and-also-fight-obesity-118448-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/novel-brown-fat-cell-helps-fight-obesity-118437-1.htm Newly discovered brown fat cell has the unique property of being able to burn energy and turn it into heat, say researchers. According to Sven Enerback, who heads the country's leading research group in the study of fat cells and metabolism, this is an interesting discovery. "We already know that those of us who have more brown fat tissue have a smaller risk of developing type 2 diabetes. With these new results, we should eventually be able to develop methods for stimulating the brown fat ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/novel-brown-fat-cell-helps-fight-obesity-118437-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-says-young-obesity-doubles-death-risk-before-55-118174-1.htm According to a recent study, men who are obese in their early 20s are twice to die before reaching the age of 55. Writing in the journal BMJ Open, a team of researchers reported on a 33-year study of 6,500 Danish men who were 22 years old in 1955. Of the group, 1.5 percent or 97 were obese when they registered -- which means they had a weight-to-height ratio (body mass index or BMI) of 30 or more, said the study authors. Most of the group, 83 percent or 5,407, were within the "normal" ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-says-young-obesity-doubles-death-risk-before-55-118174-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-and-regular-alcohol-consumption-linked-to-high-risk-of-liver-disease-118029-1.htm A new study conducted in Britain and which has been presented at the International Liver Congress suggests that the combination of obesity and regular consumption of alcohol increases the risk of liver disease. Researchers at University College of London Institute of Liver and Digestive Health observed more than 107,000 women who had low or high BMI and low or high consumption of alcohol, from 0 to 15 units in a week. The researchers found that those who were obese but did not drink were 1.7 ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-and-regular-alcohol-consumption-linked-to-high-risk-of-liver-disease-118029-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-can-be-combated-by-roundworm-infection-118023-1.htm Infection with roundworms can not only combat obesity but also ameliorate related metabolic disorders in a mouse model, researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, have shown. Their research is published ahead of print online in the journal iInfection and Immunity/i. Gastrointestinal nematodes infect approximately 2 billion people worldwide, and some researchers believe up until the 20th century almost everyone had worms. In developed countries there is ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-can-be-combated-by-roundworm-infection-118023-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/facebook-interests-could-help-map-obesity-117885-1.htm Areas with a higher percentage of Facebook users with active lifestyle interests tend to have lower rates of obesity, at the same time higher the percentage of people in a city with Facebook interests suggesting television-related interests tend to have increased rates of obesity, finds survey. Together, the conclusions suggest that knowledge of people's online interests within geographic areas may help public health researchers predict, track and map obesity rates down to the neighborhood ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/facebook-interests-could-help-map-obesity-117885-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/vitamin-e-can-fight-obesity-117852-1.htm A potential new way to fight obesity-related illness with vitamin E has been uncovered in a research led by investigators at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. The collaborators, from Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Cornell University, discovered the essential nutrient vitamin E can alleviate symptoms of liver disease brought on by obesity. "The implications of our findings could have a direct impact on the lives of the approximately ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/vitamin-e-can-fight-obesity-117852-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/link-between-obesity-and-prostate-cancer-117835-1.htm Obese men with precancerous lesions are at greater risk for subsequently developing prostate cancer, shows study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers (and) Prevention. "Our study is focused on a large group of men who have had a prostate biopsy that is benign but are still at a very high risk for prostate cancer," said Andrew Rundle, Dr.P.H., associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York, N.Y. "Studies conducted in the past ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/link-between-obesity-and-prostate-cancer-117835-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/berries-protect-against-mental-decline-117805-1.htm Eating berries may promote autophagy - the brain's natural housekeeping mechanism, finds study. The protective effect of berries against inflammation has been documented in many studies. Diets supplemented with blueberries and strawberries have also been shown to improve behavior and cognitive functions in stressed young rats. To evaluate the protective effects of berries on brain function, specifically the ability of the brain to clear toxic accumulation, researchers from the Human ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/berries-protect-against-mental-decline-117805-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/steps-urged-for-preventing-obesity-in-young-children-117721-1.htm Available data from the US indicates that more than 12 percent of preschoolers are obese, which means they have a body mass index above the 95th percentile. Among Black and Hispanic children, the figure rises to 16 percent. These early growth patterns often continue through childhood and adolescence, increasing children's health risks, which can affect almost every system in the body, from cardiovascular to mental health. Childhood obesity often occurs in the context of family obesity. Evidence ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/steps-urged-for-preventing-obesity-in-young-children-117721-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/teenage-motherhood-linked-to-obesity-in-later-life-117681-1.htm A new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggests that teen moms were more likely to become obese when they grew up. The study was conducted by researchers at University of Michigan Health System who used data from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, focusing on factors such as race, education and socio-economic indicators. The researchers found that women who gave birth between 13 and 19 years of age had a 32 percent greater risk of being obese ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/teenage-motherhood-linked-to-obesity-in-later-life-117681-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/vibrating-fork-helps-combat-obesity-117542-1.htm An electronic fork that vibrates when you eat quickly makes its debut, its French inventors claim that it can help combat obesity and digestive problems. Those who contribute at least (Dollor) 89 on the crowd funding website will get a HAPIfork, which comes in blue, green and pink, ahead of its planned general release to consumers in the United States and Europe later this year. "While our product is still a prototype, we're thrilled by the global response so far," said Fabrice Boutain, founder ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/vibrating-fork-helps-combat-obesity-117542-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/to-beat-obesity-we-must-know-what-really-makes-us-fat-117514-1.htm If we are to make any progress in tackling the obesity crisis, we have to know clearly what makes us fat. The science of obesity: what do we really know about what makes us fat? If we are to make any progress in tackling the obesity crisis, we have to look again at what really makes us fat, claims an article published in this week's iBMJ/i. Gary Taubes, co-founder of the Nutrition Science Initiative, argues that our understanding of the cause of obesity may be incorrect, and that ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/to-beat-obesity-we-must-know-what-really-makes-us-fat-117514-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/researchers-discover-three-regions-in-human-genome-that-influence-obesity-in-people-of-african-ancestry-117456-1.htm Three new regions of the human genome that play a part in obesity have been identified by researchers who are taking part in the largest genetic search for 'obesity genes' in people of African ancestry. University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences Department of Epidemiology and Population Health researcher Kira Taylor, PhD, and her team today (April 14, 2013), published their findings in iNature Genetics/i. The study involved more than 70,000 men and women ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/researchers-discover-three-regions-in-human-genome-that-influence-obesity-in-people-of-african-ancestry-117456-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-shows-how-obesity-and-heart-disease-lead-to-high-blood-pressure-117331-1.htm Scientists have discovered a protein that acts as a communication hub for controlling blood pressure, and suggested that abnormal activation of this protein may be a mechanism that links heart disease and obesity to high blood pressure. "Our study identifies the protein called mTORC1 in the hypothalamus as a key player in the control of blood pressure. Targeting mTORC1 pathways may, therefore, be a promising strategy for the management of cardiovascular risk factors," said Kamal Rahmouni, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-shows-how-obesity-and-heart-disease-lead-to-high-blood-pressure-117331-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-in-marmosets-linked-to-early-introduction-of-solid-foods-117318-1.htm Scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute have found that baby marmoset monkeys that began eating solid food earlier than their peers were significantly more likely to be obese at 1 year of age. This early life obesity resulted in metabolic damage such as insulin resistance and poor blood sugar control, a companion study showed. Marmosets on track for obesity appeared to be more efficient in their feeding behavior....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-in-marmosets-linked-to-early-introduction-of-solid-foods-117318-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/researchers-identify-genes-behind-severe-childhood-obesity-117169-1.htm Four new genetic variants associated with severe childhood obesity were identified by a genome wide study. The researchers also found an increased burden of rare structural variations in severely obese children. The team found that structural variations can delete sections of DNA that help to maintain protein receptors known to be involved in the regulation of weight. These receptors are promising targets for the development of new drugs against obesity. As one of the major health issues ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/researchers-identify-genes-behind-severe-childhood-obesity-117169-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/large-scale-study-identifies-7-new-gene-loci-linked-to-obesity-117116-1.htm Seven new gene loci associated with obesity were identified by a team of researchers. They were also able to show that the genetic mechanisms that cause extreme obesity are similar to those that cause milder forms of overweight and obesity. A total of more than 260,000 people were included in the study of the links between genes and obesity. The aim of the study was to identify new genes that increase the risk of obesity, but also to compare genetic factors that cause extreme obesity with those that are linked to rest of the BMI range....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/large-scale-study-identifies-7-new-gene-loci-linked-to-obesity-117116-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-ups-risk-of-kidney-disease-116866-1.htm Being obese in early adulthood may double the risk of chronic kidney disease in older age, reveals study. Larger waist-to-hip ratios ("apple-shaped" bodies) during middle age are also linked with chronic kidney disease at age 60 to 64 years. The findings emphasize the importance of excess weight as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Because many populations across the globe continue to gain excess weight, Richard Silverwood, PhD, Dorothea Nitsch, MD (London School ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-ups-risk-of-kidney-disease-116866-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/poor-sleep-patterns-trigger-diabetes-obesity-116815-1.htm Poor sleep could lead to serious health consequences, including diabetes and obesity, warns study. "We should acknowledge the unforeseen importance of our 24-hour rhythms for health," said Claudia Coomans, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Department of Molecular Cell Biology in the Laboratory of Neurophysiology at Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden, Netherlands. "To quote Seneca 'We should live according to nature (secundum naturam vivere).'" To make this ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/poor-sleep-patterns-trigger-diabetes-obesity-116815-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/white-blood-cell-enzyme-inhibitor-imbalance-causes-inflammation-and-obesity-116796-1.htm A link between obesity and chronic inflammation in fat tissues has been suggested in many recent studies. Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) have discovered that an imbalance between an enzyme called neutrophil elastase and its inhibitor causes inflammation, obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease. The enzyme is produced by white blood cells called neutrophils, which play an important role in the body's immune defense against bacteria. The ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/white-blood-cell-enzyme-inhibitor-imbalance-causes-inflammation-and-obesity-116796-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/mexican-soccer-launches-campaign-against-obesity-116792-1.htm Mexico's soccer club has launched the nation's first campaign to fight against obesity. The Liga Mx soccer league, the federal health department and other institutions launched Tuesday their 2013 Measure Yourself and Get Active campaign to promote physical exercise in a country that is the world's worst for child obesity and second-worst for obesity in adults. "Soccer has a responsibility because we are the image and example, and we must use that position to send a message to everyone who is watching us....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/mexican-soccer-launches-campaign-against-obesity-116792-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/erectile-disorder-drug-could-treat-obesity-116715-1.htm Sildenafil - a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction could serve as a weight loss aid, say researchers. According to the research, this is because sildenafil inhibits the breakdown of cyclic GMP, which has been well known as a messenger molecule used by the body to control blood pressure and flow, and has now been shown to play an important role determining which type of fat-white or brown-the body stores. "There is a growing need for novel treatments against obesity," Alexander Pfeifer, M....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/erectile-disorder-drug-could-treat-obesity-116715-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/childhood-obesity-could-be-cured-by-guided-self-help-116702-1.htm To help children lose weight, it is known that family-based treatment that combines nutrition and exercise education, along with behavior modification, is a good approach. But clinic-based weight-control programs for childhood obesity are not accessible to many families, due to issues such as cost or time commitment. Initial studies at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine indicate that a self-help treatment program for overweight children and their parents, guided by clinical experts, may be an effective solution....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/childhood-obesity-could-be-cured-by-guided-self-help-116702-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/himalaya-a-booming-herbal-healthcare-company-in-india-116694-1.htm Don't dare call India's biggest herbal healthcare group a maker of "alternative medicine" even though its raw materials are plants and it bases its products on texts dating back millennia. "It's high time people took us very seriously and did not view us as an alternative form of medicine," says Philipe Haydon, the India chief executive of the Himalaya group from his office in tech and healthcare hub Bangalore. "This is not a feel-good product. This will save a man's life," he says, taking a box from a stack next to his desk....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/himalaya-a-booming-herbal-healthcare-company-in-india-116694-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-linked-to-microorganisms-116367-1.htm A breath test profile of microorganisms living in the gut may give clue if a person is to developing obesity, say researchers. The study, published online Thursday by The Endocrine Society's iJournal of Clinical Endocrinology (and) Metabolism/i, shows that people whose breath has high concentrations of both hydrogen and methane gasses are more likely to have a higher body mass index and higher percentage of body fat. "This is the first large-scale human study to show an association ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-linked-to-microorganisms-116367-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/newborns-on-high-carb-diet-may-be-predisposed-towards-obesity-later-in-life-116240-1.htm Providing a diet rich in carbohydrates immediately after the birth of a baby could program it to obesity even if calorie intake is reduced in adulthood, a new study reveals. The study suggested that human babies might be less prone to obesity if given solid foods later. This is the first time that we have shown in our rat model of obesity that there is a resistance to the reversal of this programming effect in adult life, explained Mulchand S. Patel, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/newborns-on-high-carb-diet-may-be-predisposed-towards-obesity-later-in-life-116240-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/role-of-sugar-in-fueling-obesity-116198-1.htm A leading healthcare professional from America has revealed that sugar is the real culprit behind increasing obesity rates. Contrary to what we think that fat is all to blame for rising obesity among children and adults, it is time to consider the sugar present in cereals and fizzy drinks which amount to massive weight gain. Dr Robert Lustig, a leading Pediatrician, has compared sugar to controlled drugs, which is extremely toxic and addictive too. "We need to wean ourselves off. We need to de-sweeten our lives....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/role-of-sugar-in-fueling-obesity-116198-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-alone-not-put-to-blame-for-risk-of-complications-in-knee-replacement-surgeries-116157-1.htm Two research studies collectively state that obesity alone may not be responsible for an increase in the risk of complications in total knee replacement patients. However, TKR replacement patients may face significantly longer hospital stays and related costs. Total knee replacement in obese patients previously has been associated with increased post-operative complications and lower clinical function scores in multiple research studies. In the study, "The Effect of Obesity on Direct Medical ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-alone-not-put-to-blame-for-risk-of-complications-in-knee-replacement-surgeries-116157-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/wide-spread-use-of-a-banned-herbal-compound-increases-the-risk-of-kidney-problems-116091-1.htm A recent review article published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates that the easy availability of a widely banned Chinese herb, poses a potential threat globally. The compound, aristolochic acid (AA) a main ingredient of the herb has been long associated with renal problems. The compound, which is mainly used in alternative medicines in Asian region has been linked to increased risk for urothelial cancer following an epidemic of progressive renal failure in the early 1990s. Researchers ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/wide-spread-use-of-a-banned-herbal-compound-increases-the-risk-of-kidney-problems-116091-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/deaths-due-to-obesity-related-diseases-linked-to-over-consumption-of-sweetened-drinks-116086-1.htm In a recent study, researchers from Harvard linked 180,000 deaths globally to over-consumption of drinks with high sugar content. The study was presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting. Researchers analyzed the data collected worldwide as part of the World Health Organization's 2010 Global Burden of Diseases Study. It is well known that excess consumption of sugary drinks leads to obesity thereby leading to obesity related diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Gitanjali ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/deaths-due-to-obesity-related-diseases-linked-to-over-consumption-of-sweetened-drinks-116086-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/new-attempt-to-treat-obesity-and-diabetes-identifies-hormone-mix-that-reduces-appetite-obesity-116057-1.htm In an attempt to treat obesity and diabetes, scientists have identified a new formula that uses the joint effect of two hormones, important in metabolism, to reduce appetite. The new research was presented Tuesday at the Society for Endocrinology annual conference in Harrogate, Britain. This early study from an internationally-renowned team at Imperial College London provides 'first in human' evidence that a combined therapy using the hormones glucagon and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) may ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/new-attempt-to-treat-obesity-and-diabetes-identifies-hormone-mix-that-reduces-appetite-obesity-116057-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/millions-of-people-in-asia-potentially-exposed-to-health-risks-of-popular-herbal-medicines-scientists-116036-1.htm Millions of people may be exposed to risk of developing kidney failure and bladder cancer by taking herbal medicines that are widely available in Asia, warns scientists from King's College London. The medicines are used for a wide range of conditions including slimming, asthma and arthritis. They are derived from a botanical compound containing aristolochic acids. These products are now banned in the USA and many European countries but the herbs containing this toxic acid can still be bought in ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/millions-of-people-in-asia-potentially-exposed-to-health-risks-of-popular-herbal-medicines-scientists-116036-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/skimmed-milk-does-not-curb-toddler-obesity-115989-1.htm Drinking skimmed or semi-skimmed milk does not prevent toddlers from gaining excess weight, finds study. Researchers trawled through data from a long-term probe into the health of 10,700 children born in 2001. Parents or caregivers were asked about milk consumption when the infant was two and were questioned again two years later, when the child was again weighed and measured. Overweight or obesity was widespread: 30.1 percent of the children at two years fell into this category, rising to 32....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/skimmed-milk-does-not-curb-toddler-obesity-115989-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/childhood-obesity-risk-may-not-be-reduced-by-breastfeeding-115721-1.htm A new study published in the journal of the American Medical Association contradicts the common assumption that breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity. The study involved 17,046 mothers and their infants. They were randomly divided into two groups and one group was introduced to interventional program promoting breastfeeding. Richard M. Martin, Ph.D., from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, and his colleagues noticed that 43% of the mothers who were introduced to the intervention ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/childhood-obesity-risk-may-not-be-reduced-by-breastfeeding-115721-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/maternal-obesity-ups-wheezing-risk-115482-1.htm Children of obese mothers are four times more likely to have frequent wheezing, compared to children of mothers weighing a normal weight, states study. Researchers from the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL) assessed whether obesity in mothers increases the risk of their children having frequent wheezing, a symptom associated with susceptibility to asthma during infancy that manifests as sharp, whistling sounds when breathing. During an asthma attack, the muscles ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/maternal-obesity-ups-wheezing-risk-115482-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/gene-that-causes-obesity-in-mice-discovered-by-researchers-115397-1.htm Deleting a specific gene in mice prevents them from becoming obese even on a high fat diet discovers researchers. The finding has made them believe that this may be replicated in humans. "When fed a diet that induces obesity these mice don't get fat," said Prof. James McManaman, Ph.D., lead author of the study and vice-chairman of research for Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "It may be possible to duplicate this in humans using existing technology that targets this specific gene....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/gene-that-causes-obesity-in-mice-discovered-by-researchers-115397-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/john-hopkins-researchers-losing-weight-sooner-more-beneficial-on-reversing-heart-damage-from-obesity-115393-1.htm The impact of dieting and losing weight benefits the heart health of the young, but not the older ones finds John Hopkins researchers in a study on obese mice. The researchers found that poor heart function in young obese mice can be reversed when the animals lose weight from a low-calorie diet. However, older mice, who had been obese for a longer period of time, did not regain better heart function after they were on the same low-calorie diet. "Our research indicates that the longer mice ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/john-hopkins-researchers-losing-weight-sooner-more-beneficial-on-reversing-heart-damage-from-obesity-115393-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-makes-fat-cells-act-as-if-they-are-infected-researchers-observe-115351-1.htm The inflammation of fat tissue forms a part of a spiraling series of events that eventually lead to the development of type 2 diabetes in some obese people. But researchers have not understood what triggers the inflammation, or why. In iCell Metabolism/i this month (cover), scientists from The Methodist Hospital report fat cells themselves are at least partly to blame -- high calorie diets cause the cells to make major histocompatibility complex II, a group of proteins usually expressed ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-makes-fat-cells-act-as-if-they-are-infected-researchers-observe-115351-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-gene-may-increase-risk-of-deadly-skin-cancer-115299-1.htm Obesity could be a precursor to one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer after researchers at University of Leeds found that a gene that is linked with obesity also increase the risk of malignant melanoma. The researchers analyzed the DNAs of more than 73,000 people, of whom over 13,000 were melanoma patients, and found that those who carried a modification in the FTO gene had a greater risk of developing melanoma compared to others. "This is the first time, to our knowledge, that this major ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-gene-may-increase-risk-of-deadly-skin-cancer-115299-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/lack-of-house-work-increasing-obesity-rates-among-women-115084-1.htm University of South Carolina researchers have hit on an unusual reason for the growing rates of obesity among women, lack of house work. The researchers said that women in 2010 spent just over half of the total time that women from 1965 spent doing house work and were 22 pounds heavier than their 1965 counterparts. The researchers analyzed the activity logs kept by some stay-at-home women from 1965 and found that they spent around 25.7 hours a week doing house hold chores such as mopping, vacuuming, cooking and washing compared to 13....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/lack-of-house-work-increasing-obesity-rates-among-women-115084-1.htm