What’s wrong with GPs’ obesity guidance – and what actually works?
General practitioners (GPs) often dispense vague and unproductive weight-loss advice to patients struggling with obesity, reveals a study led by the University of Oxford and published in the journal Family Practice. Having analysed 159 audio recordings of consultations in 137 UK surgeries, researchers found that doctors’ advice, such as “reduce your carbohydrates” and “move more,” was...Read More
Elevated risk of stillbirth among pregnant women with obesity
Obesity before pregnancy appears to considerably increase the likelihood of perinatal mortality, suggests a mediation analysis study. The study, involving 392,820 women, revealed that women with obesity before pregnancy had a 55% increased risk of perinatal mortality – defined as stillbirth or neonatal death prior to hospital discharge, as informed by Jeffrey Bone, a PhD candidate at...Read More
Increased risk of obesity and high blood sugar in children linked to prenatal cannabis exposure
A newly conducted study suggests that the use of cannabis during pregnancy may heighten the likelihood of children developing obesity or experiencing elevated blood sugar levels by the age of five. Products containing non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) or the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are often employed by pregnant women to mitigate symptoms such as morning sickness,...Read More
Survey reveals Ireland has second highest rate of obesity in EU
New data indicates that Ireland ranks second within the European Union (EU) for obesity rates, with over a quarter of its adult population falling into this category. Statistics released by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, show that in 2019, obesity was prevalent in 26% of the Irish adult population. This figure significantly overshadows the EU average of 16%, with only Malta...Read More
Obesity associated with diminished bone strength, particularly in men
Despite the protective implication often associated with high body weight in terms of fracture risk, recent studies suggest that obesity may in fact raise the risk of fractures, particularly in men with high body fat content. A comprehensive examination of dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) data from a broad spectrum of over 10,000 U.S. individuals revealed an intricate connection between...Read More
AI shows potential as a beneficial aid in mental health treatment, UIC study indicates
A recent pilot study by researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) brings forth promising insights into the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mental health treatment. The study demonstrates encouraging correlations between the use of an AI voice assistant named Lumen and improvements in symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients, along with noticeable changes...Read More