Diet drug Meridia study renews calls for U.S. ban. Prohibited in Europe, drug shows high heart risks, little weight loss benefit. Final data from the so-called SCOUT study funded by Abbott Laboratories, showed Meridia increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients who already have heart disease.
Atkins Diet Increases All-Cause Mortality: researchers found that all-cause mortality rates were increased in both men and women who were eating a low-carbohydrate Atkins diet based on animal protein.
Jillian Michaels- This impressive online weight loss program was designed by the world-class fitness trainer from the popular TV shows Losing it with Jillian and The Biggest Loser. The program focuses on what works in the long term: motivation to lose weight the right way and keep it off. Her inexpensive diet and exercise plans are personalized to your comfort level as you get in shape and lose weight. Jillian Michaels has created quite a buzz and she deserves it. Her program is free to try.
Are Your Bills Making You Fat? According to financial guru Suze Orman, climbing out of debt could help trim your waistline too. They don't call it "belt tightening" for nothing.
Your muffin top may kill you. One of the largest studies to examine the dangers of abdominal fat suggests men and women with larger waistlines have twice the risk of dying over a decade compared to those with the smaller stomachs.
Childhood obesity may be behind mystery of ever-earlier puberty in girls. Researchers suggest the epidemic of childhood obesity may be a cause of girls' early puberty because fat cells can trigger the production of the female hormone estrogen. The researchers did find that breast development at age 7 was more common among heavier girls.
Number of Obese Adults Keeps Rising, CDC Says.As of 2009, almost 3 in every 10 adults (26.7 percent) is now statistically obese, up from 25.6 percent in 2007, according to a new government report released Tuesday. The report, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), also found that between 2007-2009, the number of U.S. states where at least 30 percent of the adult population is obese had tripled to nine from three. Ten years ago, no state had an obesity prevalence of 30 percent or more, according to the new report.
Danish study suggests that men who are obese by age 20 die eight years earlier on average than their non-obese peers, scientists said Tuesday. The research concluded that the risk of premature death in already obese men increased 10 percent for every point surpassing the healthy BMI of 25.
FDA to review first of 3 new weight loss drugs. Vivus Inc.'s pill Qnexa, Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s Lorcaserin is set for an FDA panel review in September, and Orexigen Therapeutics Inc.'s Contrave will be the subject of a December review.
Biking for as little as five minutes a day can help women minimize weight gain as they enter middle age, especially if they're overweight to begin with, a new study suggests
Why your brain is hardwired for fattening foods. Researchers offer ways to kick your sweet tooth to the curb. The main culprit is a system of interconnected neurons ("Reward Pathways") that evolved over millions of years to encourage our prehistoric ancestors to undertake primary activities such as eating. High-calorie food was scarce and crucial for survival, so the brain learned to flood itself with chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin.
Heavy health burden: Fat but not my fault: Weight gain from illness, medication spurs sudden shame.
Sleep and Weight Gain: Sleeping fewer than seven hours a night corresponded with a greater risk of weight gain and obesity. The risk also increased for every hour of lost sleep, according to published studies.
Obesity impedes sexual health. According to new study, obese women were 29 percent less likely to have had a sex partner in the previous 12 months, compared with women of normal weight. Obese men were 69 percent less likely to report having more than one sexual partner in the same period and two and a half times likelier to report erection problems than non-obese counterparts. Obese men under 30 were also far likelier to have a sexually-transmitted disease.
Obese Women More Likely to Have Unsafe Sex. A new study finds that unintended pregnancy or abortion were four times higher among obese women than among normal weight women under 30 years of age. Obese women were 70 percent less likely to use the pill, and eight times more likely to use less effective methods, such as withdrawal.
The Truth About HGH for Weight Loss. HGH therapy linked to a small decrease in fat and increase in lean mass, but no change in body weight. Researchers concluded that HGH is not an effective treatment in obese people, and said more studies were needed.
Obama's Plan to End Childhood Obesity Epidemic. The goal of the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity led by First Lady Michelle Obama is to reduce childhood obesity from 20% to 5% by 2030.
Obese teen girls likelier to have sex early. South Carolina researchers found that obese girls were almost three times as likely to have had sex before age 13 and 30 percent more likely to have had sex with more than three partners during their teen years, according to the study presented at the annual meeting of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Belly fat linked to dementia, study shows. Belly fat is known to increase the risk of heart disease, and now scientists say it may increase the risk of dementia. Among 733 middle-aged participants in their study, more fat around the abdomen was associated with less total brain volume.
Obese Kids May Be More Likely to Snore. The incidence of snoring among obese children was 12.5 percent, more than two times higher than that of overweight children 5.8 percent and three times higher than that of normal weight children 4.6 percent.
Oregon has lowest rate of child obesity according to a new government study, which found big gaps between regions and rising obesity rates in many states from 2003 to 2007. Nearly half of all children nationwide are now overweight (32 percent) or obese (16 percent), with rates of childhood obesity much higher in Southern states than in other regions.
Group of Retired Generals call obesity a "National Security Threat" and call for improving school lunch programs to combat growing problem. By 2030 the defense department will not be able to fill quotas for Soldiers, Marines and Airmen due to lack of fitness in youth.
Losing 10 pounds could boost your immune system. Excess fat around the abdominal muscles can turn the body's defense system against you, leading to heart disease and other health problems. Australian researchers found that losing just 10 pounds could straighten out your immune system.
Genetic links found between menstruation onset and BMI. Interesting news for women on obesity.
Sobering Article. Journal of Adolescent Health reports obese/overweight teens at greatly increased suicide attempt risk.
Canadian researchers study biggest challenge of obesity treatment: avoiding weight regain.
Study shows that obesity in pregnant women can limit effectiveness of ultrasounds. Anomalies may not be detected.
Best Fish to Eat List. Including eco-best, eco-ok, and eco-worst. From the Environmental Defense Fund.
Sleep may help you stay thin, a new study finds. More evidence from Euro researchers that poor sleep patterns, insomnia tied to weight gain.
USDA says participation in WIC (Women's Infants Children government program of public assistance -food stamps) not major factor in childhood obesity but positive program changes in the works.
The National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) : tracks over 5,000 individuals who have lost significant amounts of weight and kept it off for long periods of time.
MSN Health and Weight Loss News
Taxing Soda? Debate over whether to tax high sugar beverages to pay for health care.
Fitness Fables. Is no pain, no gain really true when it comes to exercise? Does the amount you sweat really correlate to the amount of fat you're losing? Experts take a look at these and other fitness fables.
Lose Weight With Morning Exercise. Walk the dog, join a health club, get into running. Whatever you do, you've got to move your body as much as possible if you want to lose weight.
Fighting 40s Flab. Metabolism is really only a small part of why it's harder to lose weight after 40. Age and life tend to conspire against.
His and Hers Fitness. When it comes to working out, men and women are from different planets.
Ideal Weight or Happy Weight? Struggling with extra weight and feeling frustrated? Learn about the many health benefits from losing just 10% of your body weight.
Copyright 2001-2010 Chase Freedom Inc. "Chase Freedom" is a registered trademark of Chase Freedom Inc. All diet reviews are opinion and unscientific and should not be substituted for the advice of a doctor or registered dietitian. We do endorse and maintain affiliate status with weight loss companies and programs that conform to our opinion that sensible weight loss is best. This opinion includes the following traits: inexpensive, based on traditional strategies of diet and exercise, and independent. Companies and programs include eDiets, Nutrisystem, Jillian Michaels, Denise Austin, Sonoma Diet, Joy's Life Diet, South Beach Diet, Fitness Model Program, Dietwatch, Diet-To-Go among others.
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