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Health News Results - 54

Biggest Weight Gain Now Comes Early in Adulthood

The obesity epidemic isn't slowing down anytime soon, and new research delivers even worse news: Most American adults have not only gained more weight, but they gained most of it earlier in life.

The statistics were grim: More than half of Americans in the representative sample had gained 5% or more body weight during a 10-year period. More than one-third of Americans had gained 10% or mo...

Malnutrition Can Also Trigger Diabetes, Affecting Millions Worldwide

A form of diabetes caused by malnutrition is significantly different from type 1 or type 2 diabetes and should be considered a distinct form of the disease, a new study says.

The findings may prove crucial in developing effective treatme...

Weight-Loss Surgery May Greatly Lower Odds for Many Cancers

Dropping a load of pounds through weight-loss surgery can significantly decrease your risk of developing or dying from cancer, according to three new studies.

Obese folks who underwent bariatric surgery were at least two times less likely to develop certain types of cancer and more than three times less likely to die of cancer than heavy people who didn't get the procedure, according to a...

'Motivational' Talks Won't Help Dieters Lose Weight: Study

It takes a lot of will to successfully lose weight, but a new research review suggests that "motivational" conversations with a health provider may make little difference.

The review looked at studies that tested the effects of

Good Sleep May Help Babies Avoid Obesity as They Grow

You've probably heard that getting better sleep can be good for your waistline. The same appears to be true for your baby.

Newborns who get more sleep and wake up less during the night are less likely to become overweight in infancy, according to a just-published study.

"While an association between insufficient sleep and weight gain is well-established in adults and older children,...

Even With Mild COVID, Obesity May Mean Worse Symptoms

Obese people have a tougher time fighting COVID-19, even if they have a milder form of the virus, a new study finds.

Researchers looked at more than 500 patients who tested positive for COVID but didn't require hospitalization. Teens and adults who were overweight or obese had more symptoms, including cough and shortness of breath, than those of normal weight.

"Even when infected wi...

Climate Change Could Bring Rising Obesity Rates

You can add obesity and its related health risks to the long list of threats posed by climate change, researchers report.

In a new review, researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia outlined the association between climate change and obesity.

As global temperatures increase, people may become less physically active and less able to burn excess fat, putting them at incr...

Whole Grains Every Day: Key to Your Health and Waistline

Whole grains can help older adults maintain a thinner waist, lower blood pressure and lower blood sugar, new research suggests.

Just three servings a day may do the trick, the authors said.

One serving is a slice of whole-grain bread, a half-cup of rolled oat cereal, or a half-cup of brown rice.

Researchers noted that their study -- partially funded by the General Mills Bell ...

For Losing Weight, Calorie Counting Tops Fasting Diets

Intermittent fasting diets are all the rage, but new clinical trial results indicate they don't work any better than simple calorie cutting.

People who simply cut their daily calories by 25% lost the most weight and fat tissue in three weeks of dieting, compared with two groups following different intermittent fasting regimens, an international team of researchers reported.

There al...

In Girls as Young as 7, Weight May Predict Odds for Eating Disorder

Could there be a way to tell years in advance which girls are more likely to develop eating disorders?

New research from Denmark suggests that childhood body mass index (BMI) may offer important clues. BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight.

The new research linked lower BMI as early as age 7 with a higher risk of anorexia, an eating disorder in which people sever...

A Woman's Weight Might Affect Her Odds for Miscarriage

Overweight and underweight women have a higher risk of repeated miscarriages than those whose weight is average, a new study finds.

Miscarriage is the most common complication of early pregnancy, occurring in 15% to 20% of all pregnancies. Recurrent miscarriage (two or more consecutive early miscarriages) is often attributed to numerous medical factors and lifestyle influences, but the ca...

In Breast Cancer Survivors, Obesity Raises Odds for Cancer's Return

Most people know obesity can lead to diabetes or heart disease, but excess weight can play a role in cancer, too, researchers say.

A new study found that breast cancer survivors who are overweight have a statistically significant increased risk of developing a second primary cancer - one not connected to their previous cancer.

The risk likely owes to shared risk factors between the ...

Bingeing, Stress Snacking: How the Pandemic Is Changing Eating Habits

Americans' eating habits have changed for the worse during the COVID-19 pandemic, including an increase in eating disorders, researchers say.

For their study, the University of Minnesota team analyzed information gathered between April and May of 2020 from participants in a study called Project EAT.

The analysis found a link between the pandemic and several unhealthy eating habits. ...

Americans Are Eating Less Healthily Everywhere, Except at School

Taking a deep dive into how Americans eat, a new dietary analysis finds that no matter where people get their food, bad nutrition rules the day, with one key exception: schools.

The conclusion is based on surveys conducted among 61,000 adults and children between 2003 and 2018. Respondents' answers revealed that the quality of much of the food they've been getting from restaurants, grocer...

Pandemic Has Many Kids Struggling With Weight Issues

Kids and teens are already struggling to learn outside the classroom during the pandemic, but lockdowns and quarantines are also making it hard for them to control their weight, child health experts say.

Lost routines, economic insecurity and grief are making things more challenging for children who struggle with their weight, whether it's with obesity or anorexia, according to doctors at...

Working Off Your Quarantine Weight Gain

Life in lockdown has led many to overeat and gain weight, a phenomenon referred to as the "COVID-15."

But some small changes can get you back into shape, a weight management specialist suggests.

"COVID-19 changed how we eat, what we eat and how we spend our day," said Dr. Peter Jian, an assistant professor of family and community medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine ...

What Difference Do Calorie Counts on Menus Make?

Calorie labeling requirements for menus in U.S. restaurant chains could save tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars in health care and other costs, a new study claims.

Researchers created a model to assess what would happen if the labeling rule led to moderate calorie reductions among 1 million Americans, aged 35 to 80.

Between 2018, when the law went into effect...

Eating Before Bedtime Might Pack on the Pounds

If you have a late dinner and then head to bed, beware: You may gain weight while you sleep, a new study suggests.

That's most likely because your metabolism slows, boosting blood sugar and other chemicals that contribute to weight gain and type 2 diabetes, researchers say.

"It's not just what you eat, but when you eat that may be a factor in promoting conditions like obes...

1 in 10 Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients With Diabetes Dies: Study

Ten percent of COVID-19 patients with diabetes die within a week of entering the hospital and 20% need a ventilator to breathe by that point, a new French study found.

Researchers analyzed data on more than 1,300 COVID-19 patients with diabetes, average age 70, who were hospitalized in France during March. Of those, 89% had type 2 diabetes, 3% had type 1, and the rest had...

Extra Pounds Could Bring More Painful Joints

Carrying excess pounds can be painful, literally. A new study finds that being overweight or obese ups the risk of pain in people with musculoskeletal disorders.

"Pain, osteoarthritis and weight share a complicated relationship," said study author Dr. Diana Higgins. She's a researcher with the VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine.

"Overall, th...

Lost Pregnancies, Diabetes May Be Linked

The more pregnancies losses a woman has, the greater her risk of developing diabetes, a new study suggests.

Researchers examined data on nearly 25,000 Danish women who were born between 1957 and 1997 and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 1977 to 2017.

The women were compared with a control group of nearly 248,000 women with the same ages and educational levels who didn'...

Certain Health Conditions Up Risks for Severe COVID-19

New research suggests that having an underlying health condition might be one of the most significant risk factors for developing a severe case of COVID-19.

Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took a look at a group of U.S. adult COVID-19 patients and found roughly three-quarters of those who wound up in the hospital had at least one underlying health iss...

Fitness Key to Long-Term Weight Loss Success

The more fit you are when you start a weight-loss program, the more weight you could lose, a new study says.

"This research could help us improve the design of our weight-loss programs and suggests that adults with very poor fitness may benefit from additional exercise support during a weight-loss program to achieve higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and improve l...

Small Babies Have High Risk for Heart-Lung Weakness as Adults: Study

Being small at birth after a full-term pregnancy could leave you gasping for breath later on in life.

Swedish researchers report that babies with low birth weights are more likely to have poor heart-lung (cardiorespiratory) fitness when they reach adulthood.

Cardiorespiratory fitness -- the ability to supply oxygen to muscles during prolonged physical activity -- is key for ...

Super-Cooled Injections Might Ice Away 'Deep Fat'

The Harvard-associated lab that created the "CoolSculpting" process of reducing fat says it's on the trail of the next advance in nonsurgical slimming.

CoolSculpting freezes fat cells by applying an ice-cold gel pad to the skin, causing cells to die off and either be flushed away or absorbed by the body, said lead researcher Dr. Lilit Garibyan, an investigator at the Wellman Center for ...

Getting Active Helps Kids' Hearts, Even in the Obese

Regular exercise reduces heart risk factors in overweight and obese kids, researchers report.

Their study included 175 inactive boys and girls, aged 8 to 11, who took part in afterschool programs.

All of them did homework for about a half-hour and had a healthy snack. Some were randomly selected to do instructor-led physical activity such as jumping rope and playing tag for ...

More Americans Trying to Lose Weight, But Few Succeeding

Americans are more motivated to lose weight than ever before, with increasing numbers eating less, exercising, drinking water and trying out new diets.

And it's all for naught.

Folks are heavier than ever despite all this effort, reports a new study.

The proportion of people who've tried to lose weight during the previous year increased to 42% in 2015-2016, up...

More TV, Smartphone Time Means More Sugary Drinks for Teens

Teens who stay glued to screens, be it televisions or electronic devices, are not only getting less exercise -- they're more likely to down too many sugary, caffeinated drinks, according to a new study.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 32,400 U.S. students in grades 8 and 10. They found that more than 27% exceeded recommended sugar intake and 21% exceeded recommended c...

Aging Population, Unhealthy Habits Underlie Expected Cancer Surge

Due to population growth and aging, the number of cancer cases worldwide is expected to jump 60% by 2040 -- but unhealthy lifestyle habits are likely to make the surge even larger.

That's the conclusion from the new edition of the Cancer Atlas, unveiled Wednesday at the World Cancer Leaders' Summit in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. It notes that unhealthy habits such as smoking, p...

You've Lost the Weight -- Now Keep It Off to Keep Diabetes at Bay

The health of people with type 2 diabetes often improves dramatically with a 5% to 10% weight loss -- but to sustain the benefits, you need to keep the weight off, new research claims.

After losing weight with a yearlong intervention, blood sugar and blood pressure levels go down and cholesterol results improve. People who kept at least 75% of that weight off for another t...

High Lead Levels in Pregnancy Linked to Obesity in Kids Years Later

Children whose moms had high levels of lead in their blood during pregnancy are more likely than others to carry excess weight by age 8, new research reveals.

The conclusion stems from a look at blood tests of more than 1,440 mothers within three days after delivery. Their lead levels were then compared to their offspring's weight fluctuations during childhood.

The study cou...

It Takes Less Weight to Trigger Diabetes in Minorities Than Whites

One of the biggest risk factors for type 2 diabetes is excess weight. But you don't have to be overweight to have the disease -- and new research revealed that some racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to have diabetes at lower weights.

"Patients who belong to one of the high-prevalence racial or ethnic groups may be at risk for diabetes or prediabetes even if the...

Scientists Discover New Way Fat Harms Your Arteries

Scientists may have found a way that obesity directly damages the arteries and contributes to heart disease -- a discovery that they say could eventually lead to new treatments.

The British researchers found that in heart disease patients who are obese, body fat surrounding the arteries tends to secrete high amounts of a protein called WNT5A. The protein, in turn, appears to have "tox...

Heart-Healthy Habits Good For Your Brain

Want to reduce your risk of dementia? Take care of your heart.

That's the takeaway from a new study that suggests good heart health in middle age could lower your odds for problems with thinking and memory later in life.

The study included nearly 7,900 British adults who did not have heart disease or dementia at age 50. Over an average 25-year followup, 347 cases of dementia...

Could Heavier Folks Be at Lower Risk for ALS?

It's not often that anything good is associated with obesity. Yet heavy folks and those who bulk up as they age may have less risk for the deadly disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study finds.

The Norwegian study found that over several decades, people who packed on the most weight had a 37% lower risk of ALS compared to those who maintained their figure or got th...

Heart Disease Is Lasting Threat to Breast Cancer Survivors

Postmenopausal women who survive breast cancer may have a higher risk for developing heart disease, a new study says.

Heart problems can appear more than five years after radiation treatment for breast cancer, and the added risk persists for as much as 30 years, according to Brazilian researchers.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in older women.

"Heart d...

The Scoop on Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt and Snow Cones

Cold, sweet ice cream cones are a favorite summertime treat -- but don't overdo it.

They're high in calories and less nutritious than you probably think. That goes for frozen yogurt and flavored snow cones too, according to Suzy Weems, a professor of family and consumer sciences at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Many people think ice cream is a good source of vitamin D an...

Heavy Teen Boys May Face Higher Heart Disease Risk as Adults

Just a few extra pounds during adolescence may translate into higher odds for heart disease in adulthood, a new study of young men suggests.

It included about 1.7 million Swedish men who began military service at ages 18 or 19 between 1969 and 2005. They were followed for up to 46 years.

During the follow-up, nearly 4,500 were diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, an uncommon heart...

Philadelphia's Soda Tax Tied to Big Drop in Sales

Soda taxes appear to be an effective weapon in the war on obesity and type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.

In January 2017, Philadelphia began taxing sugary and artificially sweetened drinks, and in that year their sales in chain food stores dropped 38%. But it's too soon to know if better health will be the result, experts say.

Lead researcher Christina Roberto, an a...

Weight Before Pregnancy Most Important to Risk for Complications

Expectant mothers and doctors have focused a lot on how much a woman gains during pregnancy, but new research suggests how much a woman weighs before getting pregnant may be far more important.

The study found that the more a woman weighed at the start of her pregnancy, the more likely she was to experience complications such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational d...

How Much Does Your Kid Weigh? Chances Are, You're Underestimating

Parents and doctors often overlook how overweight kids are, which could leave youngsters at increased risk for health problems linked to excess weight, British researchers say.

They reviewed 87 studies that included nearly 25,000 children, age 19 and younger, and their parents.

The researchers found that 55% of parents underestimated how much excess weight their children...

Preschool Is Prime Time to Teach Healthy Lifestyle Habits

Teaching preschoolers about healthy habits can reduce their risk of obesity and heart disease later in life, new research suggests.

The New York City study included 562 youngsters in 15 preschools in Harlem, which has a largely black and Hispanic population. The two groups are known to have an increased risk of heart disease.

At the study's start, the 3- to 5-year-olds answe...

Weight-Loss Surgery Just as Successful for Teens With Down Syndrome

Young people with Down syndrome or other cognitive impairments are just as successful in shedding excess pounds after weight-loss surgery as their peers, a new study finds.

Researchers reviewed outcomes for 63 young people, aged 13 to 24, who had bariatric surgery at Children's National Health System in Washington, D.C. All were severely obese, and all had been diagnosed with cogniti...

Will You Get Fat? Genetic Test May Tell

As obesity becomes epidemic among Americans, many could over- or underestimate their odds for piling on the pounds. But a new genetic "score" might take the guesswork out of all of that, researchers say.

Using information on more than 2 million gene variants linked to body weight, the scientists created a so-called polygenic score that may help quantify a person's obesity risk.

...

Newborn's 'Microbiome' Could Give Clues to Weight Later

A newborn's first stool holds telltale clues about his risk for becoming an overweight 3-year-old, according to a European study.

The clues come from the population of bacteria (microbiome) in the baby's gut.

Finnish researchers used genetic sequencing to analyze the first stool produced by 212 newborns and another sample at age 1. Called meconium, a baby's first stool is c...

Want to Stay Trim? Don't Eat in the Evening, Study Finds

Maybe you rush around with work and activities during the day, then settle in for a large, relaxing meal in the evening. But new research says the later in the day you eat, the more weight you're likely to pack on.

That's the takeaway from a week-long study involving 31 overweight and obese patients, mostly women.

"We evaluated meal and sleep timing in patients with overweig...

How to Help Your Kids Achieve a Healthy Weight

Obesity can lead to physical, social and emotional struggles for kids, so parents need to help their children maintain a healthy weight, experts say.

"Children with obesity are more likely than their classmates to be teased or bullied and to suffer from low self-esteem, social isolation and depression," said Dr. Alka Sood, a family medicine physician with Penn State Health Medical Gro...

Early-Onset Menstruation Linked to Later High Blood Pressure Risk

Older women who started menstruating at an early age have an increased risk of high blood pressure, new research suggests.

For the study, scientists analyzed data from nearly 7,900 women in China. The investigators found that early-onset menstruation was linked to a much higher chance for high blood pressure in late adulthood, even after taking into account factors such as social and...

Heavier People May Be More Likely to Survive a Stroke

While it's long been understood that being overweight or obese raises the odds of stroke, new research indicates those carrying extra weight are far less likely to die after having such a "brain attack."

For the study, scientists analyzed more than 1,000 people who had a so-called ischemic stroke, in which a clot blocks blood flow to the brain. The researchers found that severely ob...

Brief Morning Exercise Helps Ease Blood Pressure Throughout the Day

A half-hour of morning exercise can help control blood pressure in overweight and obese people for the entire day, a new study finds.

And for women in particular, adding frequent short breaks from sitting through the day can offer additional benefit, the Australian researchers said.

"For both men and women, the magnitude of reduction in average systolic blood pressure follow...