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Increased food intake alone explains the increase in body weight

New research that uses an innovative approach to study, for the first time, the relative contributions of food and exercise habits to the development of the obesity epidemic has concluded that the rise in obesity in the United States since the 1970s was virtually all due to increased energy intake. How much of the obesity epidemic has been caused by excess calorie intake and how much by reductions in physical activity has been long debated........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 5/8/2009 5:15:00 AM)

Reducing Health Risks for Women and Children

Diet and nutrition counseling for virtually all overweight and obese women of childbearing age can reduce health risks linked to excess weight for mothers and children alike, as per a newly released position paper from the American Dietetic Association and the American Society of Nutrition. The position, reported in the recent issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, represents the associations' official stance on obesity,........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 4/29/2009 5:27:34 AM)

Childhood obesity, diabetes and related conditions

Factors identified early in childhood could predict obesity in the teen years and beyond, and scientists continue to assess methods to prevent and treat excess weight gain and its consequences in children and teens, as per several reports reported in the recent issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The issuea theme issue on childhood obesity and diabetesis being published in conjunction........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 4/7/2009 5:22:11 AM)

Tricks to resist temptation

Here's good news for dieters who face food challenges in the break room every day: A newly released study in the Journal of Consumer Research shows that our resistance gets a boost after we've just been exposed to similar temptations. "The threat of overconsumption is a real one for a number of of us. It is all too easy to eat or spend too much, and a number of others struggle with their desire to smoke or to drink alcohol or to take another........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 3/31/2009 3:30:17 PM)

Sweaty Betty - The best shop for your gym clothes

You can really enjoy your workouts if you slip into the Sweaty Betty attire before your sessions. You will be surprised if you find out the number of women who prefer Sweaty Betty for the gym clothes. My long lasting hunt for comfortable and trendy workout clothes ended when I came across the Sweaty Betty over the internet. Sweaty Betty has surprisingly great and wide range of women's sports wear starting from yoga, sweat, snow and beach........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 3/22/2009 1:46:38 PM)

Lose Weight Digitally With Paint Shop Pro

Almost everyone would like to change some aspect or another of his or her appearance but trimming a bit of weight always makes the top of the list "Paint Shop Pro", and for that matter many other digital graphics programs, provides an interesting and versatile set of tools that allow the operator to modify a subject's facial and body features Here's where you can learn about "Paint Shop Pro" and it's........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 2/26/2009 10:22:30 PM)

Tea kettles: No longer only in Canada

When I started working in the test kitchen of Canadian Living magazine in the early nineties, I remember being surprised to learn that tea kettles, although common kitchen items in Canada, were relatively scarce is US kitchens. The rationale at the time was that Americans were more likely to drink coffee than tea so they didn"t give up counter space to an appliance they would use only rarely According to this poll and lengthy list of........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/31/2009 9:33:53 AM)

Peanut Butter Recall

I am sure some of you have been following the peanut butter recall associated with a recent Salmonella outbreak, which has affected over 400 people across America in just the past few months........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/29/2009 12:13:52 AM)

Diastolic dysfunction and reduced capacity for exercise

Patients with abnormal diastolic function (when the heart is relaxed and expanded) in the left ventricle of the heart have a substantially lower maximum capacity for exercise, as per a research studyin the January 21 issue of JAMA A number of factors, including age, female sex, body mass index and co-existing medical conditions are known to be linked to a decrease in exercise capacity. Identifying potentially reversible mechanisms underlying........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/20/2009 7:05:01 PM)

The Best Dim Sum in Toronto

The dim sum experience in Toronto is a tale of two cities - the Spadina and Dundas haunts in the heart of Chinatown and the suburban dining halls sprawled north of the 401. Either way, the much loved Cantonese brunch of little dishes is best shared with big mouths and lots of gossip. Expect plenty of noise and so-so service where getting your number called after a wait for a table feels like you"ve won a medal.........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/6/2009 9:33:46 PM)

Gene misbehaves when you eat a high fat diet

New evidence in mice bolsters the notion that a version of a gene earlier shown to protect lean people against weight gain and insulin resistance can have the opposite effect in those who eat a high-fat diet and are heavier, reveals a report in the January 7th issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication. The findings suggest that the 12 percent of people who carry the so-called Ala12 version of the gene that serves as a........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/6/2009 9:13:55 PM)

A review of Giada's Kitchen by Giada De Laurentiis

Made for lazy afternoons; Spiced Americanos with Cinnamon Whipped Cream. From the book Giada''s Kitchen: New Italian Favorites.As the parents of two children under the age of three, I will admit that my husband and I do not frequent restaurants as often as we''d used to. We do still enjoy a meal out now and again, but I have to say that we do not mind the change from eating out to eating in. In fact, we''re all too happy to entertain at........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 11/9/2008 6:51:56 PM)

Overweight children at significant risk for pre-diabetes

A study by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) found that overweight Hispanic children are at significant risk for pre-diabetes, a condition marked by higher than normal blood glucose levels that are not yet high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. The persistence of pre-diabetes during growth is associated with progression in risk towards future diabetes, according to the study, which will be published in an upcoming........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 8/13/2008 1:06:16 AM)

Fingerfood

How to balance your snack with your Dom Perignon? The answer is a charming little plate with a ring that fits right on your finger. Now you can balance your glass and your hors d''ouevres, and look positively in control the whole time. Genius!........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 7/20/2008 4:18:00 PM)

People only eat 1 when the chips are brown

Dr. Don Henne isn't wasting his degree when he's standing by the deep fryer waiting for potato slices to turn brown. He's conducting research that will help the potato industry and consumers. Henne, an assistant research scientist in the Texas AgriLife Research plant pathology program in Amarillo, is one of a number of who are trying to find answers about zebra chip. Zebra chip is the latest disease to plague the potato industry,........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 7/16/2008 8:28:36 PM)

Weight gain increases risk of chronic kidney disease

Healthy individuals who gain weight, even to a weight still considered normal, are at risk for developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), as per a research studyappearing in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The study suggests that CKD should be added to the list of conditions that are linked to weight gain, including diabetes and hypertension. Research has shown that obesity is associated with........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 6/19/2008 9:11:06 PM)

A Foamy Drink, and the Future of Food

What the Long, Strange Trip of Tejate, a Maize-based Mexican Drink, reveals about a Worldwide Agricultural System at a Crossroads. Michael Pollan's recent bestseller The Omnivore's Dilemma revealed to millions of readers the centrality, and dangers, of commodity corn in the modern industrialized agriculture system as developed in the United States. The "modern varieties" of corn, which are low in diversity, are now taking over the very........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 5/21/2008 9:43:21 PM)

Sonoma Valley's Chocolate and Wine Bar

What a great idea! Although it's been open for more than a year, I just learned of California's first chocolate tasting bar, Wine Country Chocolates. As befits a chocolatier in wine country, Wine Country Chocolates makes their own chocolates, many with wine as an ingredient. Offerings include such items as Cab-infused ganache truffles and wine bottle-shaped molded treats, all made without preservatives or additives. Patrons can also dip........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 5/18/2008 5:59:25 PM)

Macadamia nuts for healthy heart

Macadamia nuts included in a heart healthy diet reduced low-density cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and should be included among nuts with qualified health claims, according to researchers. "We looked at macadamia nuts because they are not currently included in the health claim for tree nuts, while other tree nuts are currently recommended as part of a heart healthy diet," says Dr. Amy E. Griel, a recent Penn State Ph.D. recipient in........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 4/13/2008 9:35:20 PM)

Are you what you eat? Maybe not

If identical twins eat and exercise equally, must they have the same body weight" By analyzing the fundamental equations of body weight change, NIH researchers Carson Chow and Kevin Hall find that identical twins with identical lifestyles can have different body weights and different amounts of body fat. The study, published March 28th in the open-access journal PLoS Computational Biology, uses a branch of mathematics called dynamical........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 3/27/2008 9:58:28 PM)

Weight bias is as prevalent as racial discrimination

New Haven, Conn.Discrimination against overweight peopleespecially womenis as common as racial discrimination, as per a research studyby the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale University. These results show the need to treat weight discrimination as a legitimate form of prejudice, comparable to other characteristics like race or gender that already receive legal protection, said Rebecca Puhl, research scientist and lead author. ........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 3/27/2008 9:32:29 PM)

High prevalence of eating disorders in narcoleptics

The majority of patients with narcolepsy/cataplexy experience a number of symptoms of eating disorders, with an irresistible craving for food and binge eating as the most prominent features, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of the journal SLEEP. The study, authored by Hal Droogleever Fortuyn, MD, and Sebastiaan Overeem, MD, of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center in The Netherlands, focused on 60 patients with........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 3/2/2008 8:50:49 PM)

How Do Dietary Guides Match Up?

Since advice about what to eat for optimal health has evolved over time with advances in nutrition science, dietary recommendations are sometimes seen as contradictory. However, a review of three leading dietary guides by scientists at the National Cancer Institute found their essential recommendations are consistent despite the different methodologies used to create the guides. The NCI scientists compared recommendations and nutrient values........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 3/2/2008 8:38:24 PM)

Artificial sweeteners linked to weight gain

Want to lose weight" It might help to pour that diet soda down the drain. Scientists have laboratory evidence that the widespread use of no-calorie sweeteners may actually make it harder for people to control their intake and body weight. The findings are reported in the recent issue of Behavioral Neuroscience, which is published by the American Psychological Association (APA). Psychology experts at Purdue Universitys Ingestive Behavior........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 2/10/2008 9:46:26 PM)

Diet and lifestyle critical to recovery

Diet and lifestyle may play a much more significant role in a persons ability to respond favourably to certain drugs, including some cancer therapies, than previously understood, say scientists. Writing in Nature Genetics, University of Manchester scientists have shown how the nutrients in the environment are critical to the fitness of cells that carry genetic mutations caused by diseases. The findings for the first time provide a........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/17/2008 10:13:27 PM)

Health benefit of oats

The first issue of Volume 2 (January/February 2008) explores the results of the Oats at 10 Years study, marking the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration claim that oats, as part of an overall heart healthy diet, could lower the risk of heart disease. The article, written by Mark B. Andon, PhD, and James W. Anderson, MD, looks at the history of the first food-specific health claim, theorizing that foods containing whole-oat........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/10/2008 10:46:05 PM)

Trying to stay on a strict diet?

Repetition commonly makes people enjoy things less. Such satiation causes our favorites to lose their sheen, makes it hard to follow a diet, and pushes us to escalate our spending on novelty. Life has even been called a hedonic treadmill where we must find better and better experiences just to stay happy. However, new research from the recent issue of the Journal of Consumer Research finds that paying attention to details can help us avoid........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/8/2008 9:20:01 PM)

Why exertion leads to exhaustion

Researchers have found an explanation for runners who struggle to increase their pace, cyclists who cant pedal any faster and swimmers who cant speed up their strokes. Scientists from the University of Exeter and Kansas State University have discovered the dramatic changes that occur in our muscles when we push ourselves during exercise. We all have a sustainable level of exercise intensity, known as the critical power. This level can........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 12/20/2007 9:56:54 PM)

Children with low self-control more likely to become overweight

Young children who do not display an ability to regulate their behavior or to delay gratification in exchange for a larger reward appear predisposed to gain extra weight by their pre-teen years, as per two reports reported in the recent issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. "Obesity in childhood and adolescence appears to track into adulthood, increasing the risk of developing........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 4/7/2009 5:24:37 AM)

Exercise to Prevent Breast Cancer?

A new federally funded University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine study aims to learn whether women at high risk of breast cancer can use exercise to meaningfully reduce their risk of getting the disease. Building on evidence that reducing estrogen in the body reduces cancer risk, and that elite female athletes experience a drop in estrogen levels that often cause them to stop ovulating and menstruating, the WISER Sister trial will........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 4/2/2009 10:12:57 PM)

Morbidly Obese Sedentary most of the time

A newly released study appearing in Clinical Cardiology examines the average fitness level of the morbidly obese (body mass indexes between 40.0 and 49.9). The findings show that the tested population was sedentary for more than 99 percent of the day and, on average, walked less than 2,500 steps per day - far below healthy living guidelines of 10,000 steps per day. The results provide important links between obesity, poor fitness and........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 3/25/2009 9:42:25 PM)

How To Make A Choco Taco

Choco Tacos can be hard to track down. The preeminent dessert taco makes cameos at select ice cream trucks and gas stations, but other times, you think, "did I dream that?"Since nobody should have to suppress a Choco Taco craving, or embark on a roadtrip to the magical Taco Bells that still stock them, follow these steps to make them at home.(thanks Erin)........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 2/26/2009 10:22:39 PM)

Network Star's JAG Gets New Gig

Those of us who have watched Next Food Network Star the past few years have long lamented the disappointing finale of season 3. JAG (Joshua Adam Garcia) was sure to be a runaway star, much in the mold of Guy Fieri who won season 2. Well, that didn"t happen but all who watched NFNS 3 knew that JAG was far too talented not to be a cheflebrity Food Network"s loss is Tampa"s gain as JAG is heading up the kitchen at POSH 27, an exciting new........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 2/18/2009 11:25:31 PM)

Regular physical activity linked to better quality of life

Survivors of early-stage lung cancer who take part in regular physical activity have a better quality of life, as per a research studyin the recent issue of the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, available online now. Patients who are more physically active report better mood, more vigor, and greater physical functioning, the study shows. "The take-home message is that early-stage lung cancer survivors appears to........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 2/4/2009 6:29:49 AM)

Two Hundred Sit-Ups

If you are serious about increasing your core strength, follow this six week training program and you will soon be on your way to completing two hundred consecutive sit-ups.Think there"s no way you could do this? All you need is a good plan, plenty of discipline and about 30 minutes a week to achieve this goal.There"s also One Hundred Push-Ups.........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/31/2009 9:33:45 AM)

How to get a man's attention

We all know the saying: ”the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”, but how do you get him to listen According to this British gravy mix commercial, the stomach route works pretty well then, too........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/29/2009 12:13:45 AM)

Kitchen math that is worth the effort

$Kitchen math that is worth the effort$

At this time of year, I know that many people (myself included) are trying to make amends for indulgent food choices we made during the holidays Although this writer"s approach to healthy eating requires math, I think it"s an interesting approach since it helps people to evaluate not just the calories of a food but the potential nutrient value, too Here"s an excerpt from her article that summarizes how to evaluate foods to determine........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/18/2009 8:56:08 PM)

Overweight siblings of children with type 2 diabetes

Overweight siblings of children with type 2 diabetes are four times more likely to have abnormal glucose levels in comparison to other overweight children. Because abnormal glucose levels may indicate risk for diabetes or diabetes itself, these children could benefit from screening tests and diabetes prevention education. Scientists from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia published their findings today in the online edition of the........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 12/9/2008 9:19:24 PM)

MyFoodAdvisor: What to eat?

Regarding some medical conditions (diabetes, kidney and heart disease), it’s even more important to know what we actually eat. So The American Diabetes Association came up with a useful tool, MyFoodAdvisor, that can help patients to know more about nutrients, recipes and dishes........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 9/16/2008 9:58:24 PM)

Poor weight loss after gastric bypass surgery

Individuals with diabetes and those whose stomach pouches are larger appear less likely to successfully lose weight after gastric bypass surgery, according to a report in the recent issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is the most common bariatric procedure in North America, according to background information in the article. During the procedure, surgeons create a smaller stomach........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 9/15/2008 9:39:46 PM)

Bariatric patients have 65% lower chance of complications at top hospitals

Bariatric surgery patients treated at highly rated hospitals have, on average, a 65 percent lower chance of experiencing serious complications in comparison to patients who undergo surgery at poorly rated hospitals as per a research studyreleased recently by HealthGrades, the nations leading independent healthcare ratings organization. As part of the study, the quality ratings of hospitals performing bariatric surgery in 17 states became........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 7/30/2008 12:02:28 AM)

United States Of Obesity 2008

Percentage of obese adult population in the USA.........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 7/8/2008 4:24:22 PM)

Making more bone and less fat

A small protein may have a big role in helping you make more bone and less fat, researchers say. "The pathways are parallel, and the idea is if you can somehow disrupt the fat production pathway, you will get more bone," says Dr. Xingming Shi, bone biologist at the Medical College of Georgia Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics. He's found the short-acting protein GILZ appears to make this desirable shift and wants to better........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 7/1/2008 9:56:21 PM)

Gene linked to adult-onset obesity

Scientists at the University of Minnesota have discovered a gene that may provide a clue as to why obesity rates increase with age. The research was published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Scientists in the lab of Kevin Wickman, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, removed a single gene from mice as part of a research study that's ongoing to understand........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 6/10/2008 9:22:03 PM)

Too much or too little weight gain poses risks

Women who gain more or less than recommended amounts of weight during pregnancy are likely to increase the risk of problems for both themselves and their child, as per a new report by the RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center. The report, which was supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in partnership with the........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 5/7/2008 6:46:21 PM)

Silver Nanoparticles' Potential For Improving Food Safety

Byron Brehm-Stecher, assistant professor in food science and human nutrition, has some big ideas for his work with tiny particles. His latest research project will allow him to study the potential of using silver nanoparticles to improve the safety of the world's food supply. Eventhough the particles can't be added directly to foods, the ultimate goal of this project is to develop food-related applications such as microbe-resistant fabrics........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 4/10/2008 9:22:44 PM)

The lean gene

Your friend can eat whatever she wants and still fit into her prom dress, but you gain five pounds if you just look at that chocolate cake. Before you sign up for Weight Watchers and that gym membership, though, you may want to look at some recent research from Tel Aviv University and save yourself a few hundred dollars. A womans waistline may have less to do with rigorous exercise and abstaining from sweets than it does with the genes of........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 4/1/2008 9:51:10 PM)

Normal weight obesity: An emerging risk factor

More than half of American adults considered to have normal body weight in America have high body fat percentages -- greater than 20 percent for men and 30 percent for women -- as well as heart and metabolic disturbances, new Mayo Clinic research shows. The finding conflicts with the widely held belief that maintaining a normal weight automatically guards against disorders such as high levels of circulating blood fats and a tendency to develop........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 3/27/2008 9:17:22 PM)

Overweight But Active

Overweight but active men responded dramatically better in comparison to their inactive counterparts in a first-of-its kind study from Indiana University that examined the vascular response to exercise in overweight men. Vascular function is important because of its relationship to cardiovascular disease. The active cohort saw an average 24 percent improvement in their vascular function, in comparison to the 32 percent decrease observed........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 3/18/2008 8:32:44 PM)

Link Between Obesity, Carbs and Esophageal Cancer

Cases of esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma) in the U.S. have risen in recent decades from 300,000 cases in 1973 to 2.1 million in 2001 at age-adjusted rates. A new study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology shows that these rates in the U.S. closely mirrored trends of increased carbohydrate intake and obesity from 1973-2001. The study illustrates what may be a public heath concern as the composition of U.S. diets changes and........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 2/25/2008 9:28:12 PM)

Cool Food: Pastel

A Brazilian snack with crunch, the pastel is a tasty treat that's far too good to be ignored. It's too bad that it's not readily available on every street corner like we see in Sao Paulo, Brazil, because it's fantastic. A deep-fried shell of pastry dough envelopes tasty fillings such as a palm mix, shrimp, or a ground beef center peppered with onions and flavor........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 2/12/2008 7:47:27 PM)

Whole grain diets lower risk of chronic disease

Diets with high amounts of whole grains may help achieve significant weight loss, and also reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as per a team of Penn State scientists at University Park and the College of Medicine. "Consumption of whole grains has been linked to a lower body weight and lower blood pressure," said co-author Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutritional sciences at Penn........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 2/6/2008 5:26:28 AM)

Lipoic acid could reduce atherosclerosis, weight gain

A new study done with mice has discovered that supplements of lipoic acid can inhibit formation of arterial lesions, lower triglycerides, and reduce blood vessel inflammation and weight gain all key issues for addressing cardiovascular disease. Eventhough the results cannot be directly extrapolated beyond the laboratory, scientists report that they strongly suggest that lipoic acid supplementation may be useful as an inexpensive but........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/14/2008 3:31:58 PM)

Help teens maintain normal weight

Adolescents who participate in physical education at school are more likely to maintain a normal weight as young adults, as per a research studyby scientists at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. For each weekday of physical education at school the odds of being an overweight adult decreased by 5 percent. Participation in all five days of physical education decreased the odds of being an overweight adult by 28 percent. The........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/7/2008 11:17:40 PM)

Obesity linked to decreased seatbelt use

Obese people are less likely to use their seatbelts than the rest of the population, adding to the public health risks linked to this rapidly growing problem. The connection was made by Vanderbilt University psychology expert David Schlundt and colleagues at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. We observed that when weight goes up, seatbelt use goes down, Schlundt, associate professor of psychology and assistant professor of........Go to the Weight-watch-blog (Added on 1/2/2008 8:29:50 PM)

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