Canola oil reduces fat
In a new study, canola oil has been shown to reduce abdominal fat. A known risk factor for cardiovascular disease abdominal fat is also associated with increased risk for metabolic syndrome; canola oil is high in monounsaturated fat which is known to decrease abdominal fat. The researchers had participants adhere to using canola oil in their diets, and found that fat was not just redistributed in the body, but lost all together. Normally it is difficult to focus weight loss on particular areas, however monounsaturated fat seems to target abdominal fat, the mechanism for which is not yet fully understood.
The researchers tested the effect of canola oil in 101 participants over a period of four weeks. A range of different diet types were compared across all individuals. Canola oil was incorporated into the test diets so as to not exceed the participants’ daily needs. The researchers point out that further studies should be conducted in order to examine the long term effects of a diet high in monounsaturated fats, whose source could indeed be canola oil.
Read MoreChildhood obesity increases during the summer holidays
A new study published in Obesity has found that children are more likely to gain weight during their summer holidays than during the school year. Researchers examined the measurements from 18,000 kindergarteners over a period of two years, finding that rates of obesity increase in the summer and not at all during the school year. The results raise questions as to whether policy makers are doing enough to help children maintain healthy weights when they are not in school. Furthermore, they show that if efforts to curb the obesity epidemic are only made in school, it may not have the desired outcome, as many changes occur during the summer anyway.
The researchers hope that in the future school-based interventions will do more to positively shape out-of-school behaviours of children, as well as maintain improvements such as the changes to school meals and the amount of physical activity that occurs. Overall, the researchers are appealing to parents, teachers and public health advocates to increase the awareness of these significant findings, so that more can be done to limit the increase in childhood obesity.
Read MoreGenes identified that burn more calories
A new study has identified a pathway in muscle tissue that increases the rate at which we burn calories. The study is one of the first to actively look at the relationship between genetic variants and energy expenditure. Dr Paolo Piaggi, from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, one of the authors of the study, explained that as obesity research continues, the area of genetic traits must be further explored to identify potential causes of, and treatments for, the disease.
Skeletal muscle biopsies were taken from 219 healthy donors and weight change was measured over 7 years. The researchers found that the expression of the THNSL2 gene in skeletal muscle had the strongest association with low energy expenditure and weight gain. They also found that the production of a cytokine (a type of chemical signaller) was heavily involved with energy expenditure. This has helped further research into the inflammatory process that underpins obesity. Overall, the research helps to further our understanding about how two people with similar diets may vary in weight, this study extends current research covering genetic traits and obesity, and even identifies a potential target for a treatment in THNSL2
Read MoreDifferences in obesity between children with and without autism
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are more likely to become obese, and stay obese, than their peers without an ASD, a new study has shown. It has been shown before that children with ASD are more likely to become obese, however this study showed that during their adolescent years, the rate of obesity amongst children with ASD lowered, whilst the rate in children with ASD stayed the same. The researchers analysed data from 43,777 children aged between 10 and 17, factors such as race and socioeconomic status were taken into account and controlled for. They were expecting to see the rate of obesity increasing amongst the ASD group, and the rate staying the same in the non-ASD group, instead the ASD group rate stayed the same, whilst the non-ASD group rate lowered.
Obesity in childhood can have long-term effects for those with ASD and the researchers believe that many factors should be considered when looking at why children with ASD maintain their obesity. Some of these factors are alluded to by the last author, Dr Linda Bandini: the need for routine, behavioural rigidity, use of food as a reward, mealtime stress and parental stress. Furthermore, when it comes to exercise, many children take part in competitive sports, however this is uncommon for children with ASD. The researchers hope that further research will be undertaken, such as interviews with adolescents and caregivers, in order to better understand the behavioural factors that may contribute to the prevalence of obesity in the ASD population. Furthermore, children with ASD often have complex medical needs, and if these are not taken into account it can be very difficult to treat them, therefore more focus must be placed on understanding their needs and how this might affect them.
Read MoreGPs should not be afraid to recommend weight loss programmes
A recent study published in The Lancet has described how many doctors do not address some patient’s weight due to lack of time, fear of causing offence, and doubting that interventions will be effective. This is in spite of official guidelines recommending that doctors screen for obesity and direct patients to appropriate weight loss programmes. This trial, led by Oxford University, included 137 GPs and 1,882 people attending consultations that were unrelated to weight loss. The patients were split into 2 groups; the first being offered a 12-week weight management programme and follow-up appointments, whilst the second group were told by their GP that weight loss would be beneficial to their health and offered further follow-up appointments.
After follow-up it was found that the group who were offered a full programme lost on average 1.43kg more than those who were just given advice at the original consultation. Overall, patients were enthusiastic about the suggestion for help, in fact 81% across both groups found the post-consultation intervention appropriate and useful. Individuals across both groups had taken action, but is was found that five times more people in the ‘programme’ group had taken effective action. On average, people consult their doctor five times per year; this study highlights an effective way to address weight concerns in patients on a large scale, and – due to the fact that many of the patients felt it was appropriate at the time – doctors should not feel intimidated by approaching the subject.
Read MoreWeight discrimination doubles health risk
A new study based at Harvard University has analysed the effect of weight discrimination over a 10 year period. Using a long-term national study in the USA, the researchers approached respondents who reported regularly experiencing discrimination because of their weight, this included, discourteous treatment, being called names, and being made to feel inferior as well as other feelings. They found that those experiencing regular discrimination had twice the risk of allostatic load, the cumulative dysfunction of bodily systems from chronic stress. Stress such as this is likely to lead to heart disease, diabetes, chronic inflammation and other diseases.
This effect is added to the fact that these people are already overweight and already experiencing negative health effects as a result. The researchers are hoping to highlight that the way we treat people who are overweight is incredibly important and can have more of an effect than we realise. Further to this they urge people to be more sensitive and understanding, especially when an individual is clearly trying to lose weight. The authors are hoping to use this data to inform public health campaigns in order to support individuals with obesity and help them lose weight.
Read MoreAbility to successfully diet dependent on brain structure
A new research paper published in Cognitive Neuroscience. Thas examined the connections between executive control and the reward system in the brain to better understand why some people are more successful at dieting than others. It found that in some people, the white matter pathway connecting the two systems is ‘improved’, making it easier to diet.
It was already known to the researchers that chronic dieters have depleted cognitive control and over-reward with high-calorie foods. Therefore they used functional magnetic resonance imaging to get a real-time demonstration of the activity in the executive control and reward systems in 36 chronic dieters, who were all obese. The participants were shown images of food and control images, and it was found that dieters showed more activity in response to the food cues, further to this it was shown that those with lower body fat percentages showed greater white matter integrity between the two systems. The authors concluded that individuals with reduced integrity of white matter may have difficulty overriding their reward mechanisms. They urge other scientists to continue this research in order to establish whether repetitive dieting can cause changes in the white matter of the brain.
Read MoreHormone involved in maturation of fat cells discovered
Researchers at Stanford University have identified a hormone that is involved with the maturation of fat cells. These findings help us understand why some stem cells differentiate into fat cells. The hormone itself is called Adamts1. It is produced by mature fat cells and is the switch for stem cells to begin the process of turning into fat cells; high-fat diets and glucocorticoid medications increase the production of Adamts1. The researchers firstly identified Adamts1 and then conducted experiments in both mice and humans. It was found that when mice and humans were fed a high fat diet, most of the increase in fat was seen in the visceral tissue, where there was a decreased amount of Adamts1.
The study’s findings suggest that there are many other hormones involved with the production and differentiation of fat cells, furthermore the researchers believe that stress must play an important role in this process. It remains to be seen whether Adamts1 could be used as a target for obesity medication, and more research must be undertaken in order to fully understand its role within the body
Read MoreNew anti-obesity target identified
Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida have identified a protein that promotes fat accumulation in animal models. The protein works by slowing the breakdown of fat and promoting storage, the results have been published in the International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology. The researchers found that by deleting a protein called IP6K1 resulted in a higher energy expenditure and protected animal models from diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.
A process called lipolysis precedes the expenditure of fat energy, and this is when fat is broken down to smaller products. The team found that by deleting IP6K1 the interfered with the protein interactions, causing lipolysis, and therefore this process, was enhanced. They then looked at introducing chemicals that would inhibit IP6K1, and found that an inhibitor known as TNP slowed the initiation of diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. The researchers are hoping to further this research to better understand the mechanisms behind both the protein and the inhibitor.
Read MoreObesity linked conditions in children projected to rise
Researchers have estimated that by 2025, almost 268 million children will be overweight, with 91 million obese in a new study. This is assuming that no large scale interventions prove effective at changing current trends. The researchers have also anticipated that obesity related conditions will sharply rise in children. By 2025, 12 million children will have impaired glucose tolerance, 4 million will have T2DM, 27 million will have hypertension and 28 million will have a build-up of fat in the liver.
Member states of the WHO have adopted resolutions aiming to achieve ‘no increase in obesity levels’ by 2025 for infants, adolescents and adults. The figures in this study are based on current trends and therefore the researchers are urging governments, health planners and service providers, to address these problems and take strong action against them. In conclusion, the researchers stated that the 2025 targets are unlikely to be met and service providers must plan for a significant increase in obesity-linked comorbidities as well.
Read MoreRise in obesity relates to rise in high-risk pregnancies
A review by an international team of doctors, based at the Center for Reproductive Health at MetroHealth has been undertaken to further our understanding of the worldwide impact of obesity on pregnancy. The team focused on the clinical management of obesity in pregnancy and how to reduce risks to mother and child. There are no standard guidelines on this management, however all pregnant women are recommended to follow a healthy diet and to consider at least half an hour of moderate physical activity per day. However, the team identified obese pregnant women as representing a relatively new high risk population that will call for the development of additional tools to reduce these risks.
The team suggest that clinicians working with overweight and obese women of childbearing age must offer pre-conception weight management to improve overall metabolic health and decrease the risks of early pregnancy loss. Furthermore, women should be instructed on how to maintain a healthy weight once pregnant. The study also suggested that clinicians should regularly screen for foetal abnormalities as well as for maternal complications such as gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. The team also believe that the post-partum period is one of the most important when it comes to weight management, as it may decrease the risks in the next pregnancy. However, overall the team are looking to delve deeper into the complications of maternal obesity in pregnancy, so they can develop more effective management plans.
If you would be interested in learning more about the affect of obesity on reproductive health, follow this link.
Read MoreSleep deprivation increases weight in children
Sleep deprived pre-schoolers consume about 20% more calories than when they follow their regular sleep patterns. This is the conclusion from a study carried out at the University of Colorado and published in the Journal of Sleep Research. The children were all regular afternoon nappers, but kept awake for 3 more hours more than usual on the test days. It was found that they consumed 25% more sugar and 26% more carbohydrates than when they were given the full amount of sleep. On these ‘recovery days’ they returned to baseline sugar and carbohydrate consumption, however, they still consumed 14% more calories and 23% more fat.
The results help shed light on how sleep loss can affect weight gain. Furthermore, in the USA, it is estimated that about 30% of pre-schoolers do not get enough sleep. With rising levels of childhood obesity, this study helps to show how a variety of factors can contribute to the problem. Interestingly, in the study, parents were given no instructions regarding the kind or amount of food and drink to give to their children, and fed them the same as they would on any normal day. Although the study size was small, with five girls and five boys, the researchers are hoping to repeat their results in a larger sample and to continue their research using different diets and objectively measure activity in children.
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