Low carb diets may have harmful effects on brain function

The study out of Tufts University focused on women aged 22 to 55 engaging in low carb diets similar to the Atkins Diet. Participants were found to have significantly diminished memory scores than the control groups consuming a normal diet. Their scores were lower when tested for reaction time and visual spatial memory. The decline was short lived however as memory scores returned to normal upon resumption of a regular balanced diet.

The nation's obesity epidemic has reached alarming levels despite decades of fad dieting, ignoring American's simultaneous trend toward decreasing amounts of physical activity. Americans today burn 700 calories less per day than they did during the 1960's. Treadmill desks offer a unique solution compared with fad dieting. They offer employees the chance to burn significant amounts of calories during the day, enhance their health and at the same time enhance cognitive function.

"Study after study is showing that supplements and diets are at best ineffective at attaining long term overall health and many pose potential harmful side effects as well, yet proven methods such as walking garner slight attention," states Steve Bordley, President of TrekDesk, a treadmill desk manufacturer. TrekDesk, a full sized height adjustable workstation, fits any existing treadmill. Featuring a 72 x 34 inch surface area, there is sufficient space for any desk related task. Workers simply place their computer, phone, files, reading materials, pens and paper and coffee (yes, it has cup holders) and start walking.

It is that simple. Consistent daily walking is very effective in both long term weight loss and also offers significant increases in brain function. A study by the University of Illinois recently showed that memory can be increased by as much as 15% in just 6 months, due to increased blood flow to the brain and that the production of small blood vessels in the brain can be boosted as much as 43%. "A variety of studies have already proven that walking greatly reduces the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimers later in life as well as offering protection from major diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and diabetes," stated Bordley, "weight loss is an important additional bonus."

So why aren't more people walking? A recent study by America on the Move found Americans do not exercise regularly due to time constraints, their second reason cited was will power. TrekDesk answers both concerns. it is automatic and does not take any additional time out of an employees day. Just start walking and working. At day's end an employee has burned between 800-1400 calories, stimulated the lymphatic system to ward off disease and earned a paycheck while doing it.

Source: Medical News Today

Weight-loss pill Lorcaserin passes early test

In recently released phase 2 trials, the drug, known as lorcaserin, resulted in substantial weight loss in obese men and women. "Lorcaserin is a completely novel mechanism and we think it can bring very robust weight loss. But, also, the safety profile of the compound is excellent," said Dominic P. Behan, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Arena Pharmaceuticals in San Diego, which makes the drug and sponsored a study published in the Dec. 4 issue of the journal Obesity.

"We demonstrated a highly statistically significant, progressive weight loss. This study involved no diet or exercise and the weight loss was rapid and we saw the weight loss in as little as two weeks," he added. A phase 3 trial is under way and, if all goes well, Arena Pharmaceuticals may file a new drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at the end of 2009, Behan said.

With some two-thirds of Americans either overweight or obese, the need for an effective weight loss tool is tremendous. Excess weight can lead to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, arthritis and type 2 diabetes. "Obesity is an epidemic," said Dr. Stuart Weiss, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at New York University's Langone Medical Center in New York City. "Diabetes trails behind obesity by a short few years and the numbers of patients that are developing diabetes is staggering."

Diet and exercise are proven antidotes for excess weight, but few people are able to sustain such changes and, even if they lose weight, will regain it.
Some weight-loss drugs are already on the market -- such as Xenical and Meridia -- but have certain side effects. The drug Fen-phen, a combination of fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine, worked for many but was withdrawn from the market in 1997 when it was linked with increased rates of heart valve problems in patients.

Fen-phen acted on serotonin receptors both in the brain and in the heart and therein lay the problem, Behan said.
"The challenge was to design a compound that was purely selective for the receptor involved, namely the 2c receptor [located in the hypothalamus region of the brain and involved in weight loss] and avoiding the 2b receptor [located in the heart]," Behan said.

The result was lorcaserin, which targets the 5-HT2C serotonin receptor only.
For the phase 2 trial, 469 men and women with a body mass index ranging from 30 to 45 were randomly assigned to one of four groups: 10 milligrams (mg) of lorcaserin once a day, 15 mg once a day, 10 mg twice a day, or a placebo.
Participants taking lorcaserin at 10 mg, 15 mg and 20 mg a day lost 4 pounds, 5.7 pounds and 7.9 pounds, respectively, over the 12-week period. Those in the placebo group lost less than a pound.

In the 10 mg, 15 mg and 20 mg groups, respectively, 12.8 percent, 19.5 percent and 31.2 percent of participants lost 5 percent or more of their starting body weight, versus only 2.3 percent of patients on the placebo.
Participants taking the two higher doses of lorcaserin also shaved inches off their waist and dropped their cholesterol levels. Also, their echocardiograms -- ultrasound images of the heart -- were normal.

"It [lorcaserin] certainly looks a bit better [than other weight-loss medications]," Weiss said. "We don't have much out there. They're really just modest medications and they don't do much at all."

Source: iVillage

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass elevates the risk of kidney stone formation

According to a pair of studies. The two studies—one from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and a second led by researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC—had relatively short follow-up periods of 1 year and 6 months, respectively. Owing to their brevity, neither study found an increased incidence of stones among the patients undergoing the surgery, but both found significant increases in oxalate secretion.

Both also found a supersaturation of calcium oxalate in a number of patients relatively soon after the surgical procedure. "The take-home message from our study is that morbidly obese patients should be counseled regarding the increased risks for kidney stones postoperatively," Bryan Hinck, a former research assistant for senior author Manoj Monga, MD, at the University of Minnesota, told Urology Times. "Not that this should dissuade them from the surgery, but rather inform them of the importance of compliant follow-up."

Hinck is currently a medical student at Rosalind Franklin University's Chicago Medical School.
"Based on our findings, patients who have gastric bypass are at increased risk for forming stones," added Bhavin N. Patel, MD, a Wake Forest urology resident who worked on that group's study with Dean G. Assimos, MD, and colleagues. "Indeed, some are at increased risk of nephropathy and perhaps irreversible kidney damage."

Source: Urology Times

Holiday challenges are greater for people who have undergone weight loss surgery.

For most of us, the holidays are a non-stop food fest that challenges our resolve to eat healthy. From office parties and cookie exchanges to holiday parties and tasty gifts, the temptations are all around. Holiday challenges are even greater for people who have undergone weight loss surgery. “Because people who have undergone weight loss surgery can only eat a half cup of food at a time, they have to focus on portion control,” said Gregory Barnes, M.D., weight loss surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth.

Portion restrictions, along with the need to avoid drinking any liquids within 30 minutes of eating, require some special eat-smart strategies for enjoying the holidays. “Although the holidays may challenge their commitment, I believe that weight loss surgery patients can stick with their goals and remain on track if they’ll do some advanced planning,” said Dr. Barnes.

Try these tips for not just surviving, but actually enjoying holiday parties and food:- Eat something healthy before a party so you don’t arrive hungry.

- Consider bringing a healthy tray of vegetables and dip or other healthy dish to your family gathering or a holiday party.
- Because you’re limited to only a half cup-sized portion, be very selective at a buffet. Look for non-fried, healthy options, and keep in mind that a bite or two of a dessert can often satisfy your craving.
- Grab your drink and focus on socializing since you will need to wait before eating.
- Stand away from the table or buffet so you’ll be less tempted.

More than any other time of year, the holidays are a time when a support system is critical for success. “Our weight loss patients need to find a friend or group that can hold them accountable and keep them focused on their goals at this time of year,” said Dr. Barnes. “Having support is one of the most effective ways to achieve all the benefits of weight loss surgery.”

Source: Baylor All Saints

FDA warning consumers nationwide not to purchase any of the following tainted weight loss products

- Fatloss Slimming
- 2 Day Diet
- 3x Slimming Power
- Japan Lingzhi 24 Hours Diet
- 5x Imelda Perfect Slimming
- 3 Day Diet
- 7 Day Herbal Slim
- 8 Factor Diet

- 7 Diet Day/Night Formula

- 999 Fitness Essence
- Extrim Plus
- GMP
- Imelda Perfect Slim
- Lida DaiDaihua
- Miaozi Slim Capsules
- Perfect Slim
- Perfect Slim 5x
- Phyto Shape
- ProSlim Plus
- Royal Slimming Formula
- Slim 3 in 1
- Slim Express 360
- Slimtech
- Somotrim
- Superslim
- TripleSlim
- Zhen de Shou
- Venom Hyperdrive 3.0

After analysing these products the FDA found they contained undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients, in some case in amounts that exceeded FDA-recommended levels, thereby putting consumers' health at risk.

The director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Dr Janet Woodcock said: "These tainted weight loss products pose a great risk to public health because they contain undeclared ingredients and, in some cases, contain prescription drugs in amounts that greatly exceed their maximum recommended dosages.""Consumers have no way of knowing that these products contain powerful drugs that could cause serious health consequences. Therefore FDA is taking this action to protect the health of the American public," she added.Among the undeclared ingredients they found were:

Sibutramine: this can cause high blood pressure, palpitations, tachycardia, seizures, heart, attack, and stroke. It can also interact with other medications to cause adverse reactions. Its safety for use by children under 16 or pregnant or breastfeeding women is unknown.

Rimonabant: an appetite suppressant that has been evaluated but not approved by the FDA for sale in the US. This drug is approved for sale in Europe, where is has been implicated in 5 deaths and 720 reported adverse reactions in the last two years. The drug has also been linked to increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts.

Phenytoin: an anti-seizure drug.
Phenolphthalein: a suspected carcinogen that is used to test for acidity in chemical experiments. Some of the products are advertised as containing only "herbal" or "natural" ingredients, but in reality contain potentially harmful substances that are not listed on product labels or advertisements.

The FDA warns that:"These products have not been approved by the FDA, are illegal and may be potentially harmful to unsuspecting consumers."If you have bought or own any of these products you should stop taking them and talk to your doctor immediately said the FDA, who also advises consumers to talk to a healthcare professional before buying any weight loss products.The federal agency has inspected a number of firms selling or connected with the selling of these illegal products and is seeking to recall the products.

The FDA may proceed with a number of enforcement actions, escalating from warning letters to seizures, injunctions and criminal prosecution. Whether you are a consumer or healthcare professional, you can report serious adverse events or side effects, or problems with product quality to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program in any of the following ways:

- Going online at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm
- Faxing to the fax number: (800) FDA-0178.-- Calling phone number: (800) FDA-1088.-- Writing to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787.
- Filling in postage-paid FDA form 3500 available at: http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm and then mailing to above address.Click here for more information about these weight loss products and consumer-directed questions and answers.

Source: Medical News Today

Weight-Loss: Eat from a salad plate, not a dinner plate

"If people could cut down on their portion sizes, this would be the single greatest way to combat the creeping obesity epidemic," said Madelyn Fernstrom, founding director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Weight Management Center.
"It's such a simple concept, but it's hard to do. There's so much hidden fat in food, it's hard to know what a serving size is.


"It may seem like cutting back on one's portions wouldn't have much impact - until you realize that just "100 calories a day more than you need adds up to 10 pounds in one year," said Miriam Pappo, clinical nutrition manager at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. "That's only one or two tablespoons of salad dressing."

In a recent study, 120 healthy adults were divided into two groups, with equal numbers of men and women in each. Both groups were educated about healthy eating and given a target of consuming 1,700 calories daily for the men and 1,365 calories for the women. They were also told to eat 55 percent carbohydrates, 25 percent protein and 20 percent fat. One group, however, was given prepackaged portions of meat and rice for daily consumption, and was told to include two large salads, fruit and two glasses of skim milk a day. The other group was allowed to choose its own portion sizes.

  

After two months, the "prepackaged" women had lost 12 pounds, as against eight pounds for the self-selected-portion women. The men who ate prepackaged portions lost 16 pounds versus 11 pounds for the other group.

What we can learn from this, Fernstrom said, is that prepackaged frozen meals might be a good weight-loss option.

If you like your meals home-cooked, you can save the containers from frozen meals to measure your portion sizes.In addition, she said, eat from a salad plate, not a dinner plate, which is unnaturally large to hold a proper portion. The food on your plate, Pappo said, should be half vegetables and a quarter each protein and starchy food.

Source: Empowered Doctor

Weight-loss food is often as fattening as standard fare and not worth buying

One healthy-option exception is low-fat supermarket sausages, which contain half as many calories, 81% less fat and 80% less saturated fat. But a range of food from Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco, M&S and Waitrose was found to offer little or no benefit over standard versions, Which? said. Kellogg's Special K, marketed as a slimming cereal, had the same amount of calories (171 per 30g) as Cornflakes and even more than Branflakes.

Weight Watchers white bread (68 kcal per 29 g slice) was so similar to Warburtons (69kcal per 29 g slice) and Asda Danish (63 kcal per 25 g slice), that Which? recommended consumers bought the one they preferred.

Nikki Ratcliff, head of services research at Which?, said: "If you're looking for a New Year quick-fix to shed a few pounds, weight-loss products aren't the answer."

But a Kellogg's spokeswoman said: "Consumers aren't stupid. The reason Special K is one of the UK's biggest selling cereals is because it works. Bran Flakes and Corn Flakes are an equally good choice if you're following a low calorie and low fat diet - which we've been saying for years."

Source: Nursing in Practice

Gastric banding with one small incision

Gastric banding is an important weapon in the war chest of the bariatric surgeon - but it typically requires five incisions and a considerable recovery time. But a new technique just coming into use needs just a single incision to accomplish the task of gastric banding, that is, tying off the top portion of the stomach so that food flow is restricted and slowed down. When the small, top part of the stomach is full, it signals the brain, which tells the body it's no longer hungry.

This can lead to large reductions in weight for the morbidly obese, who are the only category of patients allowed to undergo the surgery.



With the new procedure, a single incision is made in the navel. Therefore, it's not surprising that the new surgery is called single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS). Laparoscopic refers to a device with a video camera attached that's inserted through the incision to allow the doctor to see inside the abdominal cavity.

"SILS is an important new option that holds the potential of less pain, fewer scars and quicker recovery," explained Shawn Garber, chief of bariatric surgery at Mercy Medical Center on Long Island, who also heads the New York Bariatric Group. "And most patients report that they can barely notice the single incision hidden in the bellybutton."

The procedure is completed using a special camera to see around obstructions and special graspers with a curved tip.

"There's a current revolution in minimally invasive surgery: Can we make laparoscopic surgery better by decreasing the number of incisions?" said Dr. Daniel Scott, associate professor of surgery and director of the Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. "The theory behind this, not yet proven, is that fewer scars are better cosmetically and for pain control. The pain may be less because you alleviate additional cuts, and therefore the recovery may be hastened."

Source: Empowered Doctor

The Qnexa phase 3 obesity program

A pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of novel therapeutic products, today announced positive results from the EQUATE study (OB-301), a 28-week, phase 3 obesity trial conducted at 32 sites with Qnexa™, an investigational drug. The EQUATE study met the primary endpoint by demonstrating superior weight loss with both the full-dose and mid-dose of Qnexa, as compared to the individual components and placebo.

Subjects treated with full-dose and mid-dose Qnexa had an average weight loss of 9.2%and 8.5% respectively, as compared to weight loss of 1.7% reported in the placebo group. Average weight loss was 19.8 pounds and 18.2 pounds in the treatment arms as compared to 3.3 pounds in the placebo group. Qnexa was well-tolerated, with no drug-related serious adverse events in the study.

"The results from the EQUATE trial once again confirmed our belief in Qnexa. In addition to hitting the primary endpoints of the study with the full-dose, we were also able to show excellent results with the mid-dose of Qnexa," commented Leland Wilson, president and chief executive officer of VIVUS. "The EQUATE study is the first of three studies in the Qnexa phase 3 obesity program. Data from the EQUIP and CONQUER studies, which combined enrolled over 3,750 subjects, is expected in mid-2009."

Read more

Seven new genetic variants found that make people put on weight

Two large scientific studies have found seven new genetic variants that make people put on weight, to add to two genes that were already linked to obesity in the general population. Both research teams - one led by deCode Genetics, an Icelandic biotechnology company, and the other an international academic consortium - published their findings yesterday in the journal Nature Genetics. The discoveries will be important for the global fight against obesity, one of the greatest public health problems of the 21st century.

The most significant feature of the newly identified genes is that almost all of them are active in the brain, implying that they affect appetite rather than the biochemical processes of energy or fat metabolism. "This suggests that, as we work to develop better means of combating obesity, including using these discoveries as the first step in developing new drugs, we need to focus on the regulation of appetite at least as much as on the metabolic factors of how the body uses and stores energy," said Kari Stefansson, chief executive of deCode. Samples from a total of more than 100,000 people were analysed in the two "genome-wide association studies", which used the latest DNA-reading technology to associate genetic variations with body mass index.

Body mass index is the most commonly used measure of obesity.
Family and twin studies have shown that genetic factors account for 40-70 per cent of population variation in body mass index. Yet the first gene contributing to obesity in the general population, as opposed to people with rare metabolic disorders, was not discovered until 2007. Each of the newly identified genetic variations has only a modest effect: someone who carries all seven would typically be 1.5kg to 2kg heavier than an average adult.

That meant that dozens, or even hundreds, more genetic variations probably contributed small amounts to obesity, said Joel Hirschhorn, of Children's Hospital Boston, who led the academic consortium. Mark McCarthy, of Oxford University, another member of the consortium, said: "It may seem surprising that we know so little about the biology of such an important medical and social issue.

"We are finding that common diseases have complex causes and it is only by understanding the biology that we can start to make rational attempts to treat and prevent conditions such as obesity," he added.

Source: FT.com

Low-carb, no-carb diets have the strongest potential for negative impact on thinking and cognition

Low-carbohydrate diet might help you shed those extra pounds, but it can have an adverse impact on your cognition skills, says a new study. Tufts University researchers found that when dieters eliminated carbohydrates from their meals, they performed more poorly on memory-based tasks. "This study demonstrates that the food you eat can have an immediate impact on cognitive behaviour," said Holly A. Taylor, professor of psychology at Tufts and corresponding author of the study.

"The popular low-carb, no-carb diets have the strongest potential for negative impact on thinking and cognition," Taylor added. While the brain uses glucose as its primary fuel, it has no way of storing it. Rather, the body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which is carried to the brain through the blood stream and used immediately by nerve cells for energy. Reduced carbohydrate intake should thus reduce the brain's source of energy.

The study included 19 women ages 22 to 55 who were allowed to select the diet plan they preferred. Nine women chose a low-carbohydrate diet and 10 selected the low-calorie diet. They were asked to complete five testing sessions that assessed cognitive skills, including attention, long-term and short-term memory, and visual attention, and spatial memory.

The first session was held before participants began their diets, the next two sessions occurred during the first week of the diet, which corresponded to the week when low-carb dieters eliminated carbohydrates.

The final two sessions occurred in week two and week three of the diets, after carbohydrates had been reintroduced for those on the low-carb diet.
Low-carb dieters showed a gradual decrease on the memory-related tasks compared with the low-calorie dieters. Reaction time for those on the low-carb diet was slower and their visuospatial memory was not as good as those on the low-calorie diet.

However, low-carb dieters actually responded better than low-calorie dieters during the attention vigilance task. "The data suggest that after a week of severe carbohydrate restriction, memory performance, particularly on difficult tasks, is impaired," Taylor said. The study appears in the February 2009 edition of the journal Appetite.

Source: MedIndia

Insufficient vitamin D can stunt growth and foster weight gain during puberty

According to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Even in sun-drenched California, where scientists from the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and the University of Southern California conducted their study, vitamin D deficiency was found to cause higher body mass and shorter stature in girls at the peak of their growing spurt.

While lack of vitamin D is common in adults and has been linked to diseases such as osteoporosis, cancer and obesity, until this study, little was known about the consequences of insufficient vitamin D in young people.

The research team measured vitamin D in girls aged 16 to 22 using a simple blood test (25-hydroxy vitamin D). They also assessed body fat and height to determine how vitamin D deficiency could affect young women's health. "The high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in young people living in a sun-rich area was surprising," says study lead author, Richard Kremer, co-director of the Musculoskeletal Axis of the MUHC. "We found young women with vitamin D insufficiency were significantly heavier, with a higher body mass index and increased abdominal fat, than young women with normal levels.

" Vitamin D fosters growth, healthier weight The researchers examined 90 Caucasian and Hispanic girls and discovered that young women with normal vitamin D levels were on average taller than peers deficient in vitamin D. Yet in contrast to what's been previously reported in older women, their investigation found no association between lack of vitamin D and bone strength. "Although vitamin D is now frequently measured in older adults, due to a higher level of awareness in this population, it is rarely measured in young people - especially healthy adolescents," says Dr. Kremer.

"Clinicians need to identify vitamin D levels in younger adults who are at risk by using a simple and useful blood test," says the co-author, Dr. Vicente Gilsanz, head of musculoskeletal imaging at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles of the University of Southern California. "Because lack of vitamin D can cause fat accumulation and increased risk for chronic disorders later in life, further investigation is needed to determine whether vitamin D supplements could have potential benefits in the healthy development of young people," added Dr. Gilsanz.

Source: Medical News Today

60-minute workout on a treadmill affects the release of two key appetite hormones, ghrelin and peptide YY

While 90 minutes of weight lifting affects the level of only ghrelin, according to a new study. Taken together, the research shows that aerobic exercise is better at suppressing appetite than non-aerobic exercise and provides a possible explanation for how that happens.

This line of research may eventually lead to more effective ways to use exercise to help control weight, according to the senior author, David J. Stensel of Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.

The study, “The influence of resistance and aerobic exercise on hunger, circulating levels of acylated ghrelin and peptide YY in healthy males,” appears in the online edition of the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, published by The American Physiological Society. The authors are David R. Broom, James A. King and David J. Stensel of Loughborough University, and Rachel L. Batterham of University College, London.

Treadmill versus weight lifting
There are several hormones that help regulate appetite, but the researchers looked at two of the major ones, ghrelin and peptide YY. Ghrelin is the only hormone known to stimulate appetite. Peptide YY suppresses appetite.

Ghrelin was discovered by researchers in Japan only about 10 years ago and was originally identified for its role as a growth hormone. Only later did its role in stimulating appetite become known. Peptide YY was discovered less than 25 years ago.

In this experiment, 11 male university students did three eight-hour sessions. During one session they ran for 60 minutes on a treadmill, and then rested for seven hours. During another session they did 90 minutes of weight lifting, and then rested for six hours and 30 minutes. During another session, the participants did not exercise at all.

During each of the sessions, the participants filled out surveys in which they rated how hungry they felt at various points. They also received two meals during each session. The researchers measured ghrelin and peptide YY levels at multiple points along the way.

They found that the treadmill (aerobic) session caused ghrelin levels to drop and peptide YY levels to increase, indicating the hormones were suppressing appetite. However, a weight-lifting (non-aerobic) session produced a mixed result. Ghrelin levels dropped, indicating appetite suppression, but peptide YY levels did not change significantly.

Based on the hunger ratings the participants filled out, both aerobic and resistance exercise suppressed hunger, but aerobic exercise produced a greater suppression of hunger. The changes the researchers observed were short term for both types of exercise, lasting about two hours, including the time spent exercising, Stensel reported.

“The finding that hunger is suppressed during and immediately after vigorous treadmill running is consistent with previous studies indicating that strenuous aerobic exercise transiently suppresses appetite,” Stensel said. “The findings suggest a similar, although slightly attenuated response, for weight lifting exercise.”

Focus on active ghrelin
Previous studies have been inconclusive about whether exercise decreases ghrelin levels, but this study may help explain those mixed results, according to the researchers.

Ghrelin comes in two forms, acylated and non-acylated. The researchers measured acylated ghrelin, also called active ghrelin, because it can cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the appetite center in the brain. Stensel suggests that future research concentrate on active ghrelin.

While the study showed that exercise suppresses appetite hormones, the next step is to establish whether this change actually causes the suppression of eating.

Source: Newswise

People who carry an obesity gene eat up to 100 extra calories per meal

When 100 schoolchildren aged from four to 10 were given an identical meal, those with the gene ate more of the calorie-dense foods (cheese, crisps, chocolate) containing more fat and sugar and less of the healthy foods (grapes, cucumber) than those without.

The scientists, from the University of Dundee, found the gene made no difference to the rate at which the children burnt energy or to their level of physical exercise.

There was also no evidence that it affected how much they needed to eat to feel satisfied. The results are published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The study was led by Professor Colin Palmer, who was part of a group of British scientists who identified the obesity gene, FTO, in 2007.

They found people carrying one copy of a variant of the gene (49 per cent) had a 30 per cent increased risk of obesity. Individuals carrying two copies (14 per cent) had a 70 per cent increased risk.

Source: The Independent

Food that will help to boost the rate at which calories are burned

If you're struggling to shift a few extra pounds, you might want to add afew of these metabolism-boosting items to your shopping list.

GREEN TEA
If the celebrities, such as Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow, swear by it for weight loss, then who is going to argue? It's long been believed that green tea extract may boost the metabolism - and it does a good job of enhancing the mood, too. No wonder sales of green tea have soared in recent years.

APPLES AND PEARS
These fruit contain a fibre called pectin, which is thought to limit how much fat your cells can absorb. They have the added benefit of suppressing the appetite, too.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
Long heralded as a health tonic, it's thought that apple cider vinegar may also be an aid in the battle against the bulge by burning fat. There is even an apple cider vinegar diet that involves taking one to three teaspoons of the vinegar or apple cider vinegar pills before each meal.

CAYENNE PEPPER
This is a super fat-burning spice and eating it with lean protein foods, such as chicken or turkey, could boost your metabolism for hours afterwards.

CINNAMON
Studies show that just a pinch of the sweet-smelling spice will force your body to metabolise sugar at 20 times the normal rate. Try sprinkling it on your morning porridge or cereal, or on top of a cafe latte.

CITRUS FRUITS
A US medical study found that participants who ate half a vitamin C- packed grapefruit with each meal in a 12-week period lost an average of 3.6lbs. The research indicates that the unique chemical properties in this vitamin C-packed citrus fruit reduce insulin levels, which may promote weight loss. Others claim that oranges, lemons, limes and tomatoes are great for boosting metabolism.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
These are a must for slimmers. The best sources of these fat-busting beauties are pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds and oily fish. The essential oils are said to stimulate the removal of stored body fat and have powerful moodenhancing qualities.

GARLIC
Already shown to be an effective blood thinner, garlic may also have the ability to break down fat. Garlic can be taken in capsule form or added to pasta, stir fries and soups.

GINGER
Some researchers believe that the spice will increase your internal body heat, boost the circulation of blood and removal of toxins, as well as elevating metabolism and improving digestion. You could add ginger to stir fries or even soups.

HOT PEPPERS
The fiery pepper is claimed to speed up metabolism and cool your food cravings, researchers in Canada have found. It's believed that capsaicin - a chemical found in jalapeno and cayenne peppers - temporarily stimulates the body to release more stress hormones, which can speed up the rate at which calories are burned.

LOW-FAT DAIRY
Research in America revealed that people on a reduced-calorie diet who included three to four servings of low-fat dairy foods, such as yoghurt and cottage cheese, lost significantly more weight than those who ate a low-dairy diet containing the same number of calories. It's believed that the combination of lean protein and calcium can increase fat metabolism and maintain muscle mass.

SOYA BEANS
This versatile foodstuff contains a potent fat blocking compound called lecithin, in addition to protein and essential minerals. Try a handful of roasted soya beans as a healthy snack. Or you can buy soya bean milk and use instead of dairy milk.

TURKEY
Many studies show that protein can help to boost metabolism. It's proven that the higher the lean muscle to fat ratio in your body the more efficient you'll be at burning calories. And, after all, lean meats are a body builder's favourite.

WATER
A German study found that metabolic rates increased by up to 30 per cent when participants drank 500ml of water. It has been found that many people confuse hunger pangs with a need to drink more water. So there are double the reasons for drinking water to aid weight loss.

Source: News Now

Bariatric Surgery: surgeons don't choose just anyone

If you're obese and have tried every diet imaginable, sticking to it faithfully, and still can't lose the excess poundage, you might be a candidate for weight-loss surgery. To qualify, a prospective patient must satisfy certain criteria. First, a person's body mass index, or BMI, must be at least 40 - or he or she must weigh at least 100 pounds more than his or her ideal weight.

Those with a BMI of 40 or more are considered morbidly obese. If you have a body mass index of 35-39, you're classified as severely obese. A doctor will still perform weight-loss surgery on you, but only if you have at least one serious medical condition accompanying your weight problem. These conditions include diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, depression and high cholesterol.

Second, you need to be a person who makes healthy lifestyle choices. These include not smoking, not drinking to excess, and avoiding drug abuse. People who are used to making good lifestyle decisions have the best chances for success with weight-loss surgery.

Third, you as a prospective patient must demonstrate commitment and willpower in your life. You must be able to adhere to a diet no matter what, and stick to an exercise regimen come what may. These accompaniments to weight-loss surgery are permanent lifestyle changes that must be adopted as lifelong habits if the surgery is to be successful.

Only with these qualifications will a bariatric surgeon accept a patient for weight-loss surgery.

Source: Empowered Doctor

Obesity during childhood may cause the function and structure of the thyroid to change

The thyroid gland controls metabolism by setting the rate at which a person produces energy from their body's stores.Dr Giorgio Radetti, from the Regional Hospital of Bolzano in Italy, revealed that his team appears to have uncovered a link between alterations in thyroid function and structure and obesity.

The researchers studied 186 overweight and obese children for nearly three years and found changes in thyroid structure which they believe may be due to obesity.Dr Radetti said: 'We found an association between body mass index and thyroid hormone levels, which suggests that fat excess may have a role in thyroid tissue modification.'Obesity has previously been linked with a range of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and several forms of cancer.

Source: NetDoctor.co.uk

Having an imperfect body may come with some substantial benefits

The hormones that make women physically stronger, more competitive and better able to deal with stress also tend to redistribute fat from the hips to the waist, according to Elizabeth Cashdan, an anthropologist at the University of Utah. So in societies and situations where women are under pressure to procure resources, they may be less likely to have the classic hourglass figure.

Cashdan’s hypothesis aims to explain a peculiar observation. Women around the world tend to have larger waist-to-hip ratios—more cylindrical rather than hourglass-shaped bodies—than is considered optimal.Medical studies have shown that a curvy waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7 or lower is associated with higher fertility and lower rates of chronic disease. Studies have also shown that men prefer a ratio of 0.7 or lower when looking for a mate.

The preference makes perfect sense, according to evolutionary psychologists, because the low ratio is a reliable signal of a healthy, fertile woman.But in data that Cashdan compiled from 33 non-Western populations and four European populations, the average waist-to-hip ratio for women is above 0.8. If 0.7 is the magic number both in terms of health and male mate choice, why are most women significantly higher?That’s where the hormones come in.Androgens, a class of hormones that includes testosterone, increase waist-to-hip ratios in women by increasing visceral fat, which is carried around the waist. But on the upside, increased androgen levels are also associated with increased strength, stamina, and competitiveness.

Cortisol, a hormone that helps the body deal with stressful situations, also increases fat carried around the waist.“The hormonal profile associated with high WHR (waist-to-hip ratio) … may favor success in resource competition, particularly under stressful circumstances,” writes Cashdan. “The androgenic effects—stamina, initiative, risk-proneness, assertiveness, dominance—should be particularly useful where a woman must depend on her own resources to support herself and her family.”In other words, trading the benefits of a thin waist for better ability to collect resources may be a good deal in certain societies and situations. And there is evidence that male mate preferences may reflect this trade-off, according to Cashdan.

In Japan, Greece and Portugal, where women tend to be less economically independent, men place a higher value on a thin waist than men in Britain or Denmark, where there tends to be more sexual equality. And in some non-Western societies where food is scarce and women bear the responsibility for finding it, men actually prefer larger waist-to-hip ratios.“Waist-to-hip ratio may indeed be a useful signal to men, then, but whether men prefer a WHR associated with lower or higher androgen/estrogen ratios (or value them equally) should depend on the degree to which they want their mates to be strong, tough, economically successful and politically competitive,” Cashdan writes.“And from a woman's perspective, men's preferences are not the only thing that matters.”

Source: Newswise

Complications of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease appeared to improve after bariatric surgery

According to a study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
"Even today, the effect of weight loss after bariatric surgery on the liver, particularly NAFLD, remains unclear. There is a lack of well-defined trials exploring this relationship," said lead author Gagan K. Sood, MD, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.

"Our team assessed and quantified this effect and found encouraging news: a majority of patients experience complete resolution of NAFLD after bariatric surgery, and the risk of progression of inflammatory changes and fibrosis seems to be minimal."

For the meta-analysis, 15 studies were selected for final data extraction. The mean age of the participants at the time of weight loss surgery ranged from 35.6 to 49 years. Mean body mass index (BMI) at the time of weight loss surgery ranged from 43.9 to 56 kg/m2 and the mean BMI at follow-up liver biopsies ranged from 28.6 to 39 kg/m2. Percentage reduction in mean BMI values ranged from 19.11 to 41.76.

The pooled proportion of patients with improvement or resolution in steatosis was 91.6%, steatohepatitis was 81.3%, fibrosis was 65.5%, and complete resolution of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was 69.5%.

The authors noted that the results may require confirmation from large, multicentre trials using uniform histopathological criteria for liver biopsy specimens.

Source: Doctor's Guide