Medical Weight Loss Blog

This blog gives fast and easy to read summaries of the latest news in the field of weight loss. This come from various sources, including scientific journals, which is interpreted and written so that anyone can understand it. You will also get updates on additions and changes to the web site.

Click on the orange RSS button to get started. You can also visit the News Archives to see older articles.

Jun 28, 2010, Asthma and Fast Food

"The increasing prevalence of asthma and allergy might be related to diet, particularly in Western countries. A study was undertaken to assess the association between dietary factors, asthma and allergy in a large international study...high burger consumption was associated with higher lifetime asthma prevalence...Diet is associated with wheeze and asthma but not with allergic sensitisation in children. These results provide further evidence that adherence to the 'Mediterranean diet' may provide some protection against wheeze and asthma in childhood."

Click for more info

May 27, 2010, Xenical (Alli) Now Carries a Liver Injury Warning

On May 26th, the FDA decided to require packaging of prescription Xenical (OTC version Alli) to carry a warning that it can cause liver injury. This is based on case reports and appears to be a rare side effect. Talk to your doctor for more information if you are taking or considering Xenical, Alli, or orlistat.

Click for more info

May 16, 2010, Cellulite | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Cellulite plagues neary every woman, no matter what her body weight is. How its skin dimpling is produced and what proven treatments may help are explained. Avoid sham therapies and increase your understanding by going through this page.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cellulite | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com"

May 16, 2010, Mesotherapy with Isoproterenol | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Isoproterenol used in mesotherapy: How it works. Risks and benefits.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Mesotherapy with Isoproterenol | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com"

Apr 13, 2010, Do Fat People Receive Worse Health Care?

Some overweight people feel that they are judged by their doctors because of their obesity and that they may thus not receive as good quality care as the patients who are not overweight. Researchers studied this very question using performance measures from Medicare and Veterans Affairs data. It turns out that they do not receive worse care and that their doctors actually adhere to these performance measures more than for their normal weight patients.

"Among samples of patients from the Medicare and VHA populations, there was no evidence across 8 performance measures that obese or overweight patients received inferior care when compared with normal-weight patients. Being obese or overweight was associated with a marginally higher rate of recommended care on several measures."

Click for more info

Apr 2, 2010, Being Overweight Increases Your Chance of Developing Liver Disease and Alcohol Doesn’t Help

Researchers found that in women, the “risk of liver cirrhosis increased by 28% for every 5 unit increase in BMI above 22.5,” and that 17% “of all hospital admissions or deaths from liver cirrhosis” were the result of excess body weight. Alcohol intake also increased the chances of developing liver disease. Another study done on men showed that higher BMIs and alcohol were both risk factors for developing liver disease. These researchers found that excess body fat and alcohol intake worked together to synergistically damage the liver above the effects of either alone.

Click for more info

Mar 25, 2010, Women and Exercise to Prevent Weigt Gain

In an analysis of the Women's Health Study, researchers concluded that "Among women consuming a usual diet, physical activity was associated with less weight gain only among women whose BMI was lower than 25. Women successful in maintaining normal weight and gaining fewer than 2.3 kg over 13 years averaged approximately 60 minutes a day of moderate-intensity activity throughout the study."

The Institute of Medicine recommends about 1 hour of moderate-intensity exercise per day while the US government, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Heart Association recommend less that half that much exercise as a minimum. These researchers confirm that the Institute of Medicine's recommendation is more effective.

One caveat is that the beneficial effects were seen in women who had BMIs that were not considered overweight or obese and that these women were also more likely to be the ones who exercised more. It may be that participation at higher levels of physical activity are just markers of being in better overall shape to begin with.

Click for more info

Mar 14, 2010, Leptin | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Leptin is made by fat cells. High amounts decrease appetite. A defect can cause people to overeat.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Leptin | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com"

Mar 14, 2010, Leptin Receptor | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Activation of the leptin receptor decreaes appetite. A defect can cause people to overeat.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Leptin Receptor | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com"

Mar 14, 2010, Alcohol Prevents Weight Gain ... In Light to Moderate Amounts

In a study of nearly 20,000 basically healthy women with normal BMIs, researchers looked at the effect of alcohol consumption and weight gain.

They concluded: "Compared with nondrinkers, initially normal-weight women who consumed a light to moderate amount of alcohol gained less weight and had a lower risk of becoming overweight and/or obese during 12.9 years of follow-up."

Click for more info