Medical Weight Loss Blog

Jun 28, Asthma and Fast Food

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:35:38 GMT

"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."

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

Thu, 27 May 2010 17:17:12 GMT

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.

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

Sun, 16 May 2010 23:03:20 GMT

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.

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

Sun, 16 May 2010 21:23:23 GMT

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

Apr 13, Do Fat People Receive Worse Health Care?

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:21:56 GMT

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."

Apr 2, Being Overweight Increases Your Chance of Developing Liver Disease and Alcohol Doesnt Help

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:51:39 GMT

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.

Mar 25, Women and Exercise to Prevent Weigt Gain

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:48:34 GMT

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.

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

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:51:43 GMT

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

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

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:42:12 GMT

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

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

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:18:40 GMT

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."

Jan 29, Obesity is Leveling Out in the US

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:10:09 GMT

In 2007-2008, 32.3 of men and 35.5 of women were considered obese. Although these numbers are slightly up, it appears that the rate of increase in the percentage of obese American is slowing down.

"The increases in the prevalence of obesity previously observed do not appear to be continuing at the same rate over the past 10 years, particularly for women and possibly for men."

Jan 25, Several New weight Loss Studies

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:26:30 GMT

In today's issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, there were multiple studies that relate to exercise and weight loss. Below are the study titles and the authors' conclusions.

Effects of the DASH Diet Alone and in Combination With Exercise and Weight Loss on Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Men and Women With High Blood Pressure: The ENCORE Study
"For overweight or obese persons with above-normal BP, the addition of exercise and weight loss to the DASH diet resulted in even larger BP reductions, greater improvements in vascular and autonomic function, and reduced left ventricular mass."

A Randomized Trial of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet vs Orlistat Plus a Low-Fat Diet for Weight Loss
"In a sample of medical outpatients, an LCKD led to similar improvements as O + LFD for weight, serum lipid, and glycemic parameters and was more effective for lowering blood pressure."

Nonsurgical Weight Loss for Extreme Obesity in Primary Care Settings
"Primary care practices can initiate effective medical management for extreme obesity; future efforts must target improving retention and weight loss maintenance."

Effects of Exercise Programs to Prevent Decline in Health-Related Quality of Life in Highly Deconditioned Institutionalized Elderly Persons
"Adapted exercise programs can slow down the decline in health-related quality of life among heterogeneous, institutionalized elderly persons."

Resistance Training and Executive Functions
"Twelve months of once-weekly or twice-weekly resistance training benefited the executive cognitive function of selective attention and conflict resolution among senior women."

Exercise Effects on Bone Mineral Density, Falls, Coronary Risk Factors, and Health Care Costs in Older Women
"Compared with a general wellness program, our 18-month exercise program significantly improved BMD and fall risk, but not predicted CHD risk, in elderly women. This benefit occurred at no increase in direct costs."

Physical Activity and Incident Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Persons
"Moderate or high physical activity is associated with a reduced incidence of cognitive impairment after 2 years in a large population-based cohort of elderly subjects."

Physical Activity at Midlife in Relation to Successful Survival in Women at Age 70 Years or Older
"These data provide evidence that higher levels of midlife physical activity are associated with exceptional health status among women who survive to older ages and corroborate the potential role of physical activity in improving overall health."

Jan 10, Lorcaserin | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:07:04 GMT

Lorcaserin is a new weight loss drug by Arena Pharmaceuticals that could cause an up to 18 pound weight loss with almost no side effects. It is pending FDA approval as of January 2010.

Dec 15, Cut TV Time in Half and Knock Off a Few Pounds

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:13:40 GMT

In a study done on overweight or obese people, the amount of TV watching was measured for 3 weeks. In the next three weeks, that amount was cut in half for each person by using locks on the TV power cords that were programmed to monitor the amount of "on time" for the TV. On average, cutting TV time in half resulted in a daily calorie deficit of 244 calories. This came from increased activity and less eating. These people also lost about 1.5 lbs in those 3 weeks.

This was a small study, and the scientific statistics were not quite strong enough to prove that halving TV watching time will result in the numbers mentioned above. However, the statistical trend is encouraging. I believe that if this study was repeated with enough people, then there would be enough statistical power to prove there is an association.

Dec 3, Answer a Few Simple Questions and Predict Your Risk for Diabetes

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:14:46 GMT

A new study uses 6 easy questions to predict your risk of having diabetes. They ask your age, your sex, if family members have diabetes, about high blood pressure, your BMI, and physical activity. Click on the link below to find out more and calculate your score.

Nov 25, Sibutramine (Meridia) Linked to Increased Cardiovascular Events

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:20:21 GMT

The SCOUT study found that the number of combined heart attacks, strokes, resuscitated cardiac arrest, and death were greater for those taking sibutramine (brand name Meridia) than those taking a placebo sugar pill. There were about 10,000 people in the study. All were overweight or obese, over 55 years old, and had both type 2 diabetes and an underlying cardiovascular disease risk factor. People with recent heart attacks, recent strokes, or uncontrolled heart failure were not included in the study.

Diabetes itself places people at risk for cardiovascular diseases, and the people in this study had to also have another risk factor. My interpretation is that for overweight or obese diabetics with additional risk of cardiovascular disease, sibutramine can increase the chance of having a heart attack or stroke or dying.

Nov 18, Three New Weight Loss Drugs are Coming Down the Pipeline

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:04:43 GMT

Despite the difficulty several major drug companies have had in producing good obesity drugs, three companies have products that have been in phase III trials.

Lorcaserin by Arena Pharmaceuticals has some similarities of an older drug linked to heat-valve problems. However, it is supposed to be safer and not have the same heart-valve problems.

Orexigen Therapeutics has a drug called Contrave, and it is actually a combination of two already used drugs. One (naltrexone) is use to help with narcotic addiction and the other (bupropion) is an antidepressant.

Vivus has a product called Qnexa which is a combination of phentermine and topiramate.

For more information about weight loss drugs, including most of the ones in the combination medicines mentioned here, check out the Weight Loss Drug page.

Nov 11, Eat Less Fat to Feel Happier

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:57:06 GMT

In a study that compared a low calorie, a low carb, and a low fat diet, participants lost on average about 30 lbs after one year. Several psychological assessment tools were used to evaluate the moods of the study participatnts. Initally, everyone's mood improved. However, after one year, the moods of the low carb dieters returned to baseline while the moods of the low fat dieters seemed to improve somewhat.

Sep 28, The Bigger the Waistline, the Bigger the Wheeze

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:57:29 GMT

In a study of over 80,000 female schools teachers in California, researchers have found an association with the degree of obesity and a womans risk for asthma. The percent of women with asthma according to their BMIs is as follows: 11 (BMI 30-34.9), 13 (BMI 35-39.9), and 18 (BMI ≥ 40).

However, this study found that these womens waist sizes correlated even better with their risk of asthma than their BMIs. Using a cutoff of 88 cm (35.2 in), more women with a larger waist size had asthma regardless of whether they had normal or higher BMIs.

Aug 9, Acai Berry | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:07:49 GMT

Acai is a species of palm tree from South America. The tree's scientific name is Euterpe oleracea Mart. There has been a lot of promotion about its weight loss potential. However, there is absolutly no scientific evidence to support this claim.

Aug 8, Being Overweight in Early Adulthood Increases Your Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:08:03 GMT

Researchers in Texas looked at data from patients with cancer of the pancreas and compared their weights to a sample of people without pancreatic cancer. (Most of the patients were white males and until further studies are done, this should be kept in mind when extrapolating it to women or other races.) Having a BMI of 25-30 from age 14 to 39 or having a BMI of more than 30 from age 20 to 39 resulted in doubling of the risk for pancreatic cancer by the time these patients reached about 60 years old. There was also an association with an earlier onset of cancer and decreased survival after diagnosis. Excessive amounts of fat tissue influences diseases like diabetes and affects the body's use of the hormones insulin and glucagon, both of which are made by the pancreas. Chronic alterations in the stimulation of the pancreas may play a role in increased pancreatic cancer.

Jul 26, Obesity May be Associated with an Increased Risk of Developing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) from the Swine Flu (H1N1).

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:05:44 GMT

As of July 6, 2009, 33,902 cases of Swine Flu (H1N1) have been reported in the United States, and 170 of them have resulted in death. A serious complication of H1N1 flu is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The University of Michigan Health System has reported 10 cases of ARDS related to H1N1. Nine of those ten people were obese (i.e. BMI of 30 or more) and seven of them were extremely obese (i.e. BMI of 40 or more). Three of the ARDS patients died. It appears that the more overweight one is, the prone he/she may be to developing ARDS from the H1N1 Swine flu.

Jun 28, Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery Decreases a Woman's Risk of Cancer

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:08:49 GMT

Swedish researchers followed over 2000 obese women (BMI > 38) for 11 years who had weight loss surgery. They lost an average of over 40 lbs each. Compared to obese women of the same BMIs who did not have surgery, those who did were at less risk of cancer. The decreased risk of developing cancer was not correlated with the amount of weight these women lost. Unfortunately, men in the study did not see the same benefits.

Jun 24, Fat Virus | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:52:05 GMT

The term infectobesity refers to the idea that infections cause people to be overweight. These infections can come from a fat virus. Only two have positive scientific evidence. They are SMAM-1 and Adenovirus 36 (Ad-36).

Jun 12, Infants Who Gain Weight Too Quickly Have Problems as Adults

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:48:31 GMT

It may seem like that initial baby fat will not make much difference when your child is 20 years old, but a new study found an association with rapid early weight gain and obesity in adulthood. The study examined 213 adults aged 18-24 years old and checked their medical records for weight gain in their first year of life. It included only full-term infants (i.e. no premature babies). Researchers found that infants who gained weight rapidly were more likely to have more body fat, have a larger waist size, and be more resistant to insulin.

Parents should not try to stave their babies, and appropriate weight gain needs to be monitored by your pediatrician. However, this study highlights the fact that early development affects our health later in life. Childhood obesity is on the rise and comes into play as early as the first three months of infancy. These adults are at greater risk for diabetes as well as heart and blood vessel disease. Your pediatrician can guide you on how much weight your child should gain. This is one of many reasons it is important to go to scheduled well-child visits.

May 31, Different Ethnic Groups Adhere Better to Different Aspects of a Healthy Diet

Sun, 31 May 2009 02:43:13 GMT

The DASH diet is designed to be a heart healthy diet and decreases high blood pressure if one can stick to it. According to the plan, different nutrients and types of food should compose certain amount of total food intake.

A study called the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) looked at how well different ethnic groups adhered to different aspects of the diet. Sadly, only 30 of participants met any of the goals. Of these, it seemed that certain ethnic groups did better and worse at achieving specific nutrient targets.

Compared to whites, Chinese Americans did better with eating the goal amounts of cholesterol and protein, but they did worse with magnesium and potassium intake. African Americans and Latinos did better with fiber intake but worse with calcium.

May 2, Hydroxycut Recalled

Sat, 02 May 2009 01:52:54 GMT

There have been 23 cases of liver damage linked to Hydroxycut products. The company that makes it has agreed to withdraw their affects products from the market. The FDA is urging people to stop using Hydroxycut products that they have already purchased. As of now, the ingredients responsible for the liver damage have not been identified. Follow the link below for more information.

Mar 27, More Caution on Weight Loss Supplements

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:24:21 GMT

In December 2008, the FDA issued a warning that some weight loss supplements actually contained amounts of weight loss drugs mixed into their products. (You can check out our blog and news archive for more.) The FDA has now added some more supplements and drugs to that list.

"The FDA has identified additional weight loss products (Herbal Xenicol, Slimbionic, and Xsvelten) and new undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients (fenproporex, fluoxetine, furosemide, and cetilistat)."

Mar 20, Live and Die by Your BMI

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:01:43 GMT

Often studies are published that confirm what we already know, but having more solid evidence allows us to put more faith in scientific data. One of these studies was published in Lancet. It looked at 57 studies that comprised a total of nearly 1 million people. When looking at deaths after the first five years of follow-up, researchers found that people with BMIs of 22.5 to 25 seemed to have the lowest death rates.

For every 5 points increase in BMI past 25, there was a 30 increase in the risk of dying. People with BMIs of 30-35 lost 2 to 4 years of life, and people with BMIs between 40 and 45 lost 8 to 10 years of life.

Having a BMI less than 22.5 was also associated with an increase in the risk of dying. However, many people with these lower BMIs were also smokers, and it was felt that smoking was a large contributor to their risk of dying.

Mar 8, Different Combos of Fat and Protien Diets Produce The Same Results

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:02:15 GMT

Researchers compared four different types of diets: 1) High fat & high protein 2) High fat & average protein 3) Low fat & high protein, and 4) Low fat & average protein. People prepared meals at home from a designated menu and were offered weight loss counseling.

At the end of 2 years, changes in weight and waist size were all the same. However, based on food journals and lab tests for protein, it seems that the study subjects actually ended up eating more similar diets than was originally planned.

Feb 7, Cutting Calories Improves Memory

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 03:48:49 GMT

Some animal research has suggested that calorie restriction improves memory. Scientists conducted a study that compared calorie restriction to using omega-3 fatty acid (i.e. fish oil) supplements and placebo. At the end of three months, the calorie restriction group had an improvement in their memory scores, while the omega-3 fatty acid and placebo groups had no change. The low calorie group also ended up with lower insulin and inflammation levels. This may be what helped with memory function. However, this was a small study on only 50 women. The results will need to be replicated on a larger scale and include both sexes.

Feb 1, Losing Weight Improves Urinary Incontinence

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:28:21 GMT

There are two types of urinary incontinence. There is urge incontinence, which is also called overactive bladder. The bladder spasms and causes unwanted urination. The other type is stress incontinence. When there is increased pressure in the pelvis and abdomen (like with a cough), the pressure pushes on the bladder and causes urine to leak. A study on the effects of weight loss on both types was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. After 6 months, women who participated in a weight loss program lost an average of about 17 lbs. The number of episodes of stress incontinence dropped by 57.6. Women in a control group lost only about 3 lbs, and their stress incontinence dropped by only 32.7. The group that lost weight also had a greater decrease in urge incontinence, but after statistical analysis, this result did not show a difference between the two groups. In summary, losing weight helps stress incontinence, and it may have a small benefit for urge incontinence.

Jan 24, Agouti Gene | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:04:10 GMT

The agouti - related protein seems to play a role in the regulation of appetite. There are elevated levels in obese individuals. It most likely interacts with the MC4R receptor.

Jan 8, FTO Gene | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:57:17 GMT

The FTO gene has been shown to be associated with obesity in white European populations and their decedents.

Jan 1, Happy New Year!

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:42:00 GMT

Happy New Year to all the readers of the Medical Weight Loss Blog. People are making their new year's resolutions. Once again, losing weight is at the top of the list (see link below). For scientifically accurate information about weight loss, refer to www.medical-weight-loss-guide.com when embarking on new weight loss plans. Good luck to everyone in 2009!

Dec 23, FDA Warning on Some Weight Loss Products

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:38:15 GMT

The FDA has determined that some weight loss products marketed as "dietary supplements" may have undeclared amounts of active pharmaceutical ingredients. These ingredients may include "sibutramine (a controlled substance), rimonabant (a drug not approved for marketing in the United States), phenytoin (an anti-seizure medication), and phenolphthalein (a solution used in chemical experiments and a suspected cancer causing agent). Some of the amounts of active pharmaceutical ingredients far exceeded the FDA-recommended levels, putting consumers' health at risk." A list of the possibly tainted products is as follows: 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
Click on the link below to read the full FDA news release.

Dec 22, Paying People to Lose Weight Works .....At First

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:16:24 GMT

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked to see if people were more likely to lose weight if money was at stake. This is a concept called behavioral economics. They compared two financial reward systems to a control group. The first system was a lottery were as long as participants were losing an appropriate amount of weight, they had the chance to win money. In the second system, people "invested" money and had the chance to make a return on their investment depending on how well they were losing weight. What the researchers found was that after 16 weeks, the two financial incentive groups lost more weight than the control group. However, after three months, these people had regained a substantial amount of their weight lost. After 8 months, the weight loss between the financial incentive groups and the control group was nearly the same. One caveat of this study is that it was done on mostly white males. How financial incentives would work with other social groups and in women may differ. It does hint that paying people to lose weight may work, but research into long term financial incentives needs to be done.

Nov 29, Apple Cider Vinegar | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:59:34 GMT

Apple Cider Vinegar for weight loss: There are no studies on apple cider vinegar and weight loss, but there may be some health consequences to taking it.

Nov 22, Bariatric Surgery Again Proved Safer with Experienced Hospitals and Surgeons

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:46:36 GMT

It is already known that the more procedures that are performed by bariatric surgeons and having them performed at hospitals that host a large volume of these procedures is associated with better patient outcomes. Researchers in Pennsylvania examined data from 1999-2003 on bariatric surgery patients in their home state. They confirmed the finding that more experience leads to better outcomes. A procedure done in a hospital that performs less than 100 surgeries per year results in twice the risk of dying in the hospital or 30 days later compared to hospitals that perform more than 100 procedures per year. Similarly surgeons' experience levels also correlated with better outcomes. Compared to those who do more than 100 surgeries per year, those that did 50-100 and less than 50 per year had mortality rates of 2.7 and 3.6 times more, respectively. Keep in mind that the risk of dying is small in the first place. These researchers also found that being male or African American also increased risk of dying within 30 days after leaving the hospital. In 2004 in Pennsylvania, institutions began to become accredited as Bariatric Centers of Excellence. This accreditation could be something to look for in choosing a facility. The criteia are:
- Institutional requirements for bariatric equipment
- A registry to monitor patient outcomes
- Designated bariatric surgical wards
- Immediate availability of critical care and other specialists
- Surgical leadership
- Clinical pathways
- Continued nursing education
- Minimum volume requirements

Nov 16, Lap Band vs. Gastric Bypass

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 19:06:15 GMT

Researchers examined studies comparing the lap band procedure to gastric bypass. These are the two most common weight loss surgeries, the lap band being most common in Europe and gastric bypass winning out in the US. Overall, there are not that many great studies comparing the two. Only 14 studies could be found, and only one of those was a randomized controlled trial, which is considered the highest quality type of clinical research. The average patient in these studies was 40 years old, and 80 were female. The average time for follow-up was less than one and a half years, which makes them unable to evaluate the strue long term side effects. All that being said, the studies did agree that people lose more weight with the gastric bypass procedure than with the lap band. More patients were cured of their obesity related diseases (diabetes, sleep apnea, etc.) with gastric bypass. Statistically, for every fourth person who opted for gastric bypass, one of them would be cured from a disease that the lap band would not have cured. More people surveyed were happier with gastric bypass than those who had the lap band. These studies seem to favor gastric bypass over lap banding. However, as the the researchers point out, there are several caveats. There needs to be more long term studies. People who have gastric bypass may have more potential for compilations down the road, especially because they cause less absorption of nutrients. There also needs to be more high quality studies comparing the two.

Nov 14, Your Waistline Can Predict Your Risk of Dying

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:58:55 GMT

The BMI is generally used to measure how obese or overweight a person is. Less used are waist size and waist to hip ratio. These too are associated with adverse health effects. Researchers looked at data from 359,387 people from Europe. They found that a higher BMI was associated with a higher risk of death. They also found out that waist size was associated with a greater risk of dying. For men whose waists are 5 cm (2 inches) larger than others, there was a 17 greater risk of death. It was 13 for women. When the researchers just looked at people with normal weights, the risk of dying from having a larger waist was nearly two times that of having a normal waist size. They also found that a larger waist with a lower BMI was worse than the same waist size at a higher BMI. This makes sense because a person who is lean and muscular will have a higher BMI but smaller waist.

Nov 13, A Gene that Controls the Pleasure of Eating

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:33:32 GMT

When we eat food, a chemical signal called dopamine is release in a part of our brains called the dorsal striatum. People who are obese have fewer dopamine D2 receptors than thin people. The theory is that dopamine triggers a reward center in the brain, and since obese people have fewer D2 receptors, they need to eat more to get the same sense of reward. Researchers published a study in the journal Science in which they looked a blood flow to certain parts of the brain while study subjects (all female) ate either a milkshake or a "tasteless substitute". They watched blood flow on MRIs in parts of the brain including the dorsal and ventral striatum. In addition, these scientists checked for a gene called TaqIA. This gene come in two forms, A1 and A2. A person with an A1 from one or both parents is more likely to be obese. They found that those who had higher BMIs had less blood flow to the striatal areas, suggesting that there are fewer D2 receptors there. The A1 form of TaqIA was also associated. In the end, this study indicates that the A1 form of TaqIA may cause a reduced amount of D2 receptors in the reward centers of the brain which in turn means people need to eat more to get the same sense of reward from food as people who have only the A2 form of the gene. The researchers also point out that this could extend to other types of addictions.

Nov 12, About Us | Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:29:33 GMT

Explains what the Medical Weight Loss Guide site is about. Gives Its mission and purpose.

Nov 6, Pfizer Stops Work on an Obesity Drug

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:05:43 GMT

CP-945,598 is a chemical that works on the endocannabanoid system. Its function is similar to another weight loss drug, Rimonabant (European brand name Acomplia). Rimonabant and CP-945,598 block the cannabanoid type 1 (CB1) recptor. When this receptor is activated, it causes increased food intake in animals. CP-945,598 was in phase 3 development when Pfizer decided to discontinue work on it. The company believes that CP-945,598 "has the potential to be a safe and effective treatment for weight management," but in light of regulatory issues and Pfizer's portfolio refocusing, they are no longer perusing this compound as an obesity medication.

Nov 2, RSS Added to the Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:35:11 GMT

In order to help you stay up to date with the latest information about losing weight, RSS has been added to the Medical-Weight-Loss-Guide.com web site. To see older news, visit the news archives page. Don't know what RSS is? Then just, scroll to the bottom of the navigation tabs on the left and next to the RSS button, you will find a link that explains it all. In addition to recent news, you will also be kept informed of updates to this site.