Obesity increases the incidence, rate, and severity of knee dislocations
A study of more than 19,000 knee dislocations in the US between 2000 and 2012 has shown the devastating impact that obesity is having on traumatic injuries. The study, from Brown University, was conducted due to the correlation of increasing rates of obesity and rates of knee dislocations. The authors have also noted how low-impact causes, that result in dislocation, are now on the rise. In order to understand what was causing these changes, the researchers used data from a twelve-year period and found that people with obesity made up an increasing portion of knee dislocation patients – rising from 8 percent in 2000 to 19 percent in 2012.
The team also found that vascular injury was more common in patients with obesity; this is particularly worrying as vascular compromise can easily lead to amputation if left untreated or undiscovered. The authors of the study commented that this was also disturbing as many low impact knee dislocations are traditionally thought to not result in vascular compromise, this study highlights the importance of double checking for clinicians who are treating overweight or patients with obesity specifically. Whilst the data itself ends in 2012 the authors are quite sure that the trends have continued and hope that more notice of these injuries and their severity will be taken.
Read More
Obese older adults that have undergone cardiac surgery at higher risk of poor functioning
Obese older adults, that have undergone cardiac surgery, are known to have an increased number of post-operative complications. A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania has analysed the impact of these complications on overweight and obese people’s activities of daily living (ADLs) – such as eating, bathing, dressing and using the toilet. In total, data from 1,731 individuals were examined, all of whom had undergone cardiac surgery. It was found that 34 percent of these were obese and 66 percent were not, these participants were then followed over a period of two years.
The researchers found that 22 percent of participants with obesity who had had heart surgery were less able to perform their ADLs within two years, whereas 17 percent of overweight or normal weight individuals had similar problems. Further to this 10.5 percent of participants with obesity had died within 2 years, whereas 13.8 percent of non-obese participants passed away. Using these findings, the researchers concluded that obese adults with a history of heart surgery would live with greater degrees of functional impairment within two years, especially if they are under 80. The relationship between obesity and ADLs was found to be far more complex above the age of 80 and the team are hoping to continue their research into this area.
Read More
Focus on teeth to keep children healthy
New research from the Sahlgrenska Academy in the University of Gothenburg has called for people to use dental health as a means of keeping children at a normal weight. The team hope that by talking about eating behaviours rather than weight itself, it could be possible to tackle the main issue from a different angle. The research used data from a number of sub-studies enabling the authors to assess a range of variables. Using data from 271 pre-school and primary children, the researchers were able to compare the presence of cariogenic bacteria in saliva to the weight of an individual. They found that children with a higher number of dental caries were more likely to be overweight or obese.
They also found that children who were counselled on a ‘balanced diet’ also had improved mental health throughout the course of the studies. The research went on to show that self-esteem is linked to healthier eating habits, even as long as two years later. One of the main authors, Louis Arvidsson, hopes that the results from this study will help parents when it comes to choosing what kind of food is made available to children, and what kind of behaviours are instilled in those children from a young age.
Read More
Engineered protein lowers weight in rodents and primates
Researchers from Amgen Inc. have engineered a novel protein that has demonstrated the ability to lower the weight of mice, rats and primates; the subsequent paper has been published in Science Translational Medicine. The authors based their research on the observation that obese mammals have elevated serum concentrations of the protein GDF15, when compared to normal weight controls. GDF15 itself has a short half-life, so the team were keen to not only alter the effects of the protein, but to also make it last longer in the body. A new fusion protein was generated and by modifying the protein the team were able to delay gastric emptying and alter food preferences, thereby reducing body weight.
The team noted that the effects from the altered protein were similar to those that are observed post bariatric surgery in obese patients. It is thought that GDF15 activates a population of nerve cells called AP neurons that make up a portion of the communication between the gut and the brain. However, the team are keen to point out that much more research is needed into the use of the protein before it is considered as a potential therapeutic agent.
Read More
Black tea promotes weight loss
A group of researchers from the University of California – Los Angeles have demonstrated that black tea may be helpful in promoting weight loss by altering the bacteria found in your gut. Using mice models, the researchers were able to change the ratio of intestinal bacteria so that obesity associated bacteria were replaced with lean mass associated bacteria. Previous studies have highlighted polyphenols in green tea, which get absorbed and alter energy metabolism in the liver, this study has shown that black tea polyphenols, which are too large to be absorbed also stimulate growth in the gut bacteria.
During the study the mice were split into groups and fed varying diets and green and black tea extracts, samples were then collected from their intestines and livers (to measure fat deposits). In mice that had been given the black tea extract there was an increase in a bacteria called Pseduobutyrivibrio, which may explain the differences between the effects of green and black tea. The researchers are hoping to continue this body of work and further examine how we can alter our gut microbiome.
Read More
Recommendations for weight management in women
A group of researchers from the Mayo Clinic have led a review of weight gain risks and challenges faced by women in midlife; this has led them to propose a series of recommendations for this patient group. They found that the average weight gain for women in their 50s and 60s was 1.5 pounds per year, with much of that weight being abdominal, which is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. The researchers were particularly interested in this group due to the challenges of maintaining a healthy weight that these women face. Mood changes, sleep disturbance, hot flushes and many other symptoms of the menopause can disrupt what may have been a previously healthy life.
They recommend that primary care providers screen this patient group for overweight, and establish behavioural interventions (including psychological support) early. Further to this, management of menopausal symptoms is of importance as it enables women to focus on health lifestyle changes, this could be done using hormone replacement therapy. By targeting the lifestyle habits during midlife, further negative health consequences can be avoided in the future.
Read More
Weight loss at any age results in cost savings
A study from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health has suggested that helping an adult lose weight leads to significant cost savings. The peak for these savings is when the individual is 50 years old. These costs include direct medical costs as well as productivity losses over their lifetime, further to this weight loss from obesity to overweight, or overweight to a healthy weight both show savings. However, finishing at a healthy weight is associated with a larger saving.
For the study itself the researchers developed a computational simulation to represent the adult population of the USA, this also showed the lifetime costs and health effects for an individual with obesity, overweight, and a healthy weight. The simulation also took into account medical costs to insurance companies, as well as direct medical costs and productivity loss due to sick days. Many previous simulations have only taken into account one or two chronic diseases that are a consequence of obesity, this study included a range in order to make the predictions more accurate. It is hoped that the results of this study can be used to inform policymakers about the specific costs of obesity and therefore design more effective interventions that can be targeted at particular patient groups.
Read More
Tailoring obesity treatment by slowing stomach emptying
Liraglutide is a medication that is already used to treat Type 2 Diabetes and obesity. A recent study has shown that injections with the drug over a three month period are associated with a marked slowing of stomach emptying, and could therefore be used as an effective weight loss therapy. The authors found that the degree of stomach emptying delay was significantly associated with the amount of weight lost for that individual. For the study, 40 individuals with BMIs greater than 30 kg/m2 were randomised into a treatment group and a placebo group, measurements were then taken on a weekly basis for 16 weeks.
Using this information, it may be possible to measure the degree of stomach emptying delay and use the figure as a predictor of weight loss, thereby helping to tailor specific programmes. Individualised treatment based on the unique response of the patient will ensure that they are receiving the best therapies whilst also reducing the chances of using treatments that aren’t likely to help.
Read More
Night shifts increase chance of obesity
A recent meta-analysis has found that night shift work is associated with a 29% increased risk of overweight and obesity. The analysis itself involved 28 studies and has been published in Obesity Reviews. It recommended that people should modify working schedules as much as possible to avoid prolonged and permanent night shift work. The authors have also suggested that the risk of overweight is increased due to the disruption of the body’s natural cycles (known as circadian rhythms), for example, melatonin plays a key role in synchronising your internal clock. It also regulates the release of various hormones that are metabolically active and therefore influence your weight. Circadian disruption itself is a consequence of exposure to light at night, which can suppress the amount of melatonin that you produce.
It was also highlighted in the study that night shift workers had a higher frequency of developing abdominal obesity than other obesity types. The authors are hoping to carry out more accurate and detailed measurement on shift work patterns in the future.
Read More
An all-round approach to weight management
Obesity not only has effects on an individual’s health, but it takes its toll on health systems as a whole. Each year budgets are increasing to help support the services that treat, and prevent, obesity and obesity related illnesses. A multi-pronged strategy is required to combat obesity and its effects. In a recent study in Australia, researchers have sought to identify those most at risk of the disease; the study included more than 1.3 million pregnant women, and is being described as the largest study and most comprehensive of its kind. The country itself has committed $20 billion to maximise the effectiveness of studies such as these and to implement the recommendations that they propose.
Experts are also hoping to use these funds to create a ‘co-ordinated national approach’ to respond to the epidemic. This approach would include a prevention strategy, stronger regulation and legislation, recognition of obesity as a chronic disease, and more education and upskilling for healthcare workers. One area that they are particularly keen to promote is education within the sphere of health practitioners, so that these workers are aware of the best treatment strategies for their patients. If an effective national approach can be developed in Australia, many countries may follow suit in order to tackle the growing problem of obesity.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/obesity-wider-seats-larger-beds-bigger-budgets/news-story/a90b5924660af2fbc80f074b9c4141a8
Energy dense foods can increase cancer risk
There is a proven link between obesity and cancer risk, however few studies have examined the link between energy density of food and cancer risk. In a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, researchers analysed dietary energy density (DED) in the diets of post-menopausal women. DED itself is a measure of the calories per gram of weight that a food has and it is also a measure of food quality. Therefore, foods such as fruits and vegetables are low-DED foods, where processed foods such as hamburgers are high-DED as you require more to get nutrients out of them.
In total, data on 90,000 women was obtained and it was found that high DED foods were linked with a 10% increase in obesity-related cancer. This increased risk was limited to women who were of a normal weight at the start of the study. The findings show that weight management itself may not be adequate in preventing obesity related cancers, if women continue to consume a diet pattern of high DED. The exact mechanism of the link of DED and cancers is unknown, but the researchers hypothesise that it is due to metabolic dysregulation, however more research is required to be sure.
Read More
Early weight gain in pregnancy can lead to childhood obesity
A recent large study, published in Obesity, has shown that weight gain in early pregnancy has a great impact on infant size and childhood obesity. The study examined 16,218 pregnant mothers in China in all three trimesters. It found that weight gain in the first trimester, regardless of weight gain later, had the greatest impact on infant size; in fact infants born to women with weight gain that exceeds the 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines were 2.5 times more likely to be born large. It has been known for some time that weight gain in pregnancy can lead to larger babies, but this is the first study of its kind to examine in-depth timings to gestational weight gain and its effect.
The study authors hope that women who are pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant, can use these findings to help regulate their health and subsequently their child’s health throughout their pregnancy. Especially since this early period of pregnancy is an ideal time to initiate lifestyle interventions. The study itself is one of the largest and most well-defined studies of its kind and experts are hoping that similar research will be undertaken to further our knowledge in this area.
Read More