Salt Study Discounts Link to Hypertension

More on this just to reinforce thinking about whether they have any idea what they are talking about.

In a study that seems likely to re-energize the debate over dietary salt, European researchers found that the changes in the amount of sodium excreted in the urine were related to changes in systolic blood pressure.

But they were not linked to diastolic pressure or the risk of developing hypertension, according to Jan Staessen, MD, PhD, of the University of Leuven in Leuven, Belgium, and colleagues.

And levels of urinary sodium excretion were inversely related to the risk of dying of cardiovascular causes, Staessen and colleagues reported in the May 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Taken together, Staessen and colleagues argued, the findings do not support "the current recommendations of a generalized and indiscriminate reduction of salt intake at the population level."

The only thing on which you can rely is fitness.

Period.

Get fit.

Children's Mercy Researchers Find Two Tests Are Better Than One At Diagnosing Diabetes In Overweight Children

Nutritional child abuse is worse than previously thought.

A new study found that the recommended blood test may not be enough to catch type 2 diabetes in overweight children, missing more than two-thirds of children at high-risk for the condition. Researchers from Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics found that performing two tests both the recommended hemoglobin A1C test and an oral glucose tolerance test could dramatically reduce the risk of delayed diagnosis in overweight children. The findings were presented Saturday at the Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting in Denver.

If 2/3 are missed, then the numbers may be triple what is currently known.

Terrible.

Transdisciplinary Program To Train Scholars In Child Obesity Prevention Created With $4.5 Million Grant

A waste.

A five-year $4.5 million USDA grant to University of Illinois researchers will establish the Illinois Transdisciplinary Obesity Prevention Program (I-TOPP), an innovative research-based program that will combine a Ph.D. with a master's in public health (MPH) degree focused on child obesity prevention.

Will do nothing to reduce Muffin-TOPPs.

Scientists turn 'bad fat' into 'good fat'

Scientists turn 'lead' into 'gold.' Wanna bet?

Scientists say they have found a way to turn body fat into a better type of fat that burns off calories and weight.

The US Johns Hopkins team made the breakthrough in rats but believe the same could be done in humans, offering the hope of a new way to treat obesity.

Hope is not an action plan.

Diabetes UK Position Statement On Low Carbohydrate Diets

A sudden attack of lucidity - likely to pass. Marvel at it while you can.

Diabetes UK, the UK's leading charity for people with diabetes, has released their position statement on low carbohydrate diets for people with Type 2 diabetes. This was needed as they have not previously given specific recommendations on this topic, and low carbohydrate diets continue to be a very popular method of weight loss.

Previous dietary recommendations have focused on the type of carbohydrate in the diet of people with diabetes said that meals should be based on starchy foods. People with type 2 diabetes are often told that they need to lose weight but struggle to do so on traditional high carbohydrate, low fat diets.

This new statement makes it clear that the priority for people with Type 2 diabetes wanting to lose weight should be reducing overall energy intake whilst ensuring that the diet still provides all essential nutrients. A number of different diets can achieve this aim, and Diabetes UK recommend that a range of approaches should be considered, because the most appropriate method is different for different people.

As Fitness Watch readers know and have known since the get-go, it is all about the Calories.

Lose the weight, gain the benefits.

"World's Largest Exercise Class" Gets Kids Active Around The Globe

For less than an hour. Once a year. Quite a victory.

In conjunction with May as Exercise is Medicine® Month, "The World's Largest Exercise Class" is coming to children and schools around the world today.

Project ACES® (All Children Exercise Simultaneously) engages millions of children, parents and teachers each year to participate in physical activity at their schools and homes. Through Project ACES, children learn the value and importance of good nutrition, adequate physical fitness and healthy decision-making - lessons they can carry well into adulthood.

The 23rd-annual Project ACES Day will take place today, with most events occurring at 10 a.m. local time. Project ACES is the signature program of the nonprofit Youth Fitness Coalition (YFC), which is based in New Jersey. Project ACES clubs continue the momentum all year.

Schools can choose their activity, from walking to jogging, from martial arts to dancing. Students typically exercise for 15 to 45 minutes following an educational component.

Morons.

Gluten-Free: The Low-Carb of This Decade?

More proof that a whole lot of people are stupid glute(n)-holes.

"Gluten-free" is fast becoming the "low-carb" diet trend of the 21st century, although only 10 percent of the people buying its foods suffer from the celiac disease, wheat allergy or "gluten sensitivity" that make gluten avoidance a medical-must...

Last year, Americans spent $2.64 billion on foods and beverages without gluten, up from $210 million in 2001, according to Packaged Facts, a Rockville, Md.-based market research firm. The number of food and beverage packages with gluten-free package claims or tags rose from fewer than 1,000 at the end of 2006 to 2,600 by 2010...

Today, 90 percent of people whose eschew gluten do so "just as a food fad, or as a weight reduction thing," said Dr. Peter H.R. Green, director of Columbia University's Celiac Disease Center in New York. "Only 10 percent are doing it because they think it's helping their condition."

Many consumers feel that gluten-free foods are somehow better for them. Green said gluten-free diets can take off pounds if someone is cutting down on carbohydrate-rich pasta and bread, but they're no caloric bargain if they substitute gluten-free versions, typically containing more fat, sugar and a bigger caloric punch.

Avoiding gluten without a medical reason can put good health at risk in several ways.

Gluten-free flours and baked goods "aren't fortified with iron or B vitamins as wheat flour is; some people may become anemic because of lack of iron in their diet," Green said.

Flours, breads and other baked goods made from rice, potato and corn instead of flour often lack the fiber of their wheaten counterparts. As a result, they're higher on the glycemic index, more quickly raising glucose (blood sugar) levels in the blood and causing the pancreas to release more insulin.

That extra glycemic load can be a problem not just for someone prone to obesity or diabetes, but also to cancer patients trying to stick eat better to prevent secondary illnesses, said Dr. Mary Hardy, medical director of the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology.

Idiots.

Political party for the obese to run in 2015 elections

Run? Heck, they can barely walk.

Halil Kargulu, head of the Struggle with Obesity Association (OMDER), is planning to establish a new political party that will address in Parliament problems faced by overweight citizens.

Kargulu said he is planning to call his party the Party for Those Suffering from Overweight Psychology (KPYP). The party intends to run in the 2015 elections.

You cannot make this stuff up.

Young Adults' Health Behaviors a Confusing Mix

Another good reason not to pay for illnesses of choice.

Adults ages 18 to 24 profess a disregard for healthy lifestyle choices, but they are more likely to engage in regular physical activity than older adults, according to data from an American Stroke Association survey.

Researchers found that young adults, ages 18 to 24, said that they were not concerned with their health or risk for cardiovascular disease. In addition, they were more likely to engage in less-than-healthy habits compared with people in two older-age segments -- 25- to 34-year-olds and 35- to 44-year-olds.

However, the younger group did report certain healthy behaviors more regularly than their older counterparts, according to the survey results.

Like "sometimes" wearing a condom.

Paying for irresponsible behavior, especially when done knowingly, is a burden the rest of us should not bear.

Fight back.

Fat Liposuctioned From Hips Returns To Belly Within 12 Months

Bummer.

Women who have fat removed from their hips by liposuction are likely to see it come back again within 12 months, only this time to the belly, according to new research from the US that was published online in the journal Obesity this week.

But if you lose it naturally, no problem.

Prevalence of Frailty Increases Throughout Adulthood

Two words - Anabolic Clinic (sm).

The prevalence of frailty, which is linked to earlier death, increases throughout adulthood and not just after age 65 years, according to results from the Canadian National Population Health Survey reported online April 26 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

"The prevalence of frailty increases with age in older adults, but frailty is largely unreported for younger adults, where its associated risk is less clear," write Kenneth Rockwood, MD, from Dalhousie University and the Centre for Health Care of the Elderly in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and colleagues. "Furthermore, less is known about how frailty changes over time among younger adults. We estimated the prevalence and outcomes of frailty, in relation to accumulation of deficits, across the adult lifespan."...

With advancing age, the prevalence of frailty increased from 2.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7% - 2.4%) for participants younger than 30 years to 22.4% (95% CI, 19.0% - 25.8%) for those older than 65 years. For participants who were at least 85 years old, the prevalence of frailty was 43.7% (95% CI, 37.1% - 50.8%).

Compared with frail participants, relatively fit participants had lower 160-month mortality rate at all ages. At age 40 years, 160-month mortality rate was 2% vs 16%, respectively; and at age 75 years, it was 42% vs 83%, respectively. Participants who were initially relatively fit tended to remain relatively fit with time.

Compared with all other groups, the group with the most frailty had a greater proportion of participants using health services at baseline (28.3%; 95% CI, 21.5% - 35.5%) and at each follow-up cycle (26.7%; 95% CI, 15.4% - 28.0%).

Fight frailty at all ages and prevent its development.

Learn how.

Weaning Baby Off Bottle Key In Curbing Future Childhood Obesity

This is it, this is the key.

Bottle feeding beyond a child's age of a year and a half may lead to adulthood obesity according to a new study. Often parents rely on this pacifier to comfort children when crying or simply being overly demanding, but in fact may be threatening their health and even their lives in the long run. Obesity could even set on as early as kindergarten the study reports.

It has absolutely nothing to do with what and the way kids are fed past the age of 1.5 years.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the Calories.

Clearly.

Morons.

Exploring group checkups for diabetes, Parkinson's

What's next? See below.

Wait a minute, Doc. You want me to share my appointment with 10 other patients?

Group appointments aren't just for psychotherapy anymore. Put diabetes, high blood pressure and maybe even Parkinson's disease on the list.

Shared checkups aim to help patients who are battling certain chronic diseases, and they're far from the typical 15-minute office visit. They're stretched over 90 minutes or even two hours, offering more time to quiz the doctor about concerns, learn about managing the disease — and get tips from fellow patients...

"This is a new way of delivering health care," adds Dorsey, now at Johns Hopkins University. "People are thirsting for better ways."

"New" is not the same as better.



Above: the hand for group exams.

Below: an application

NIH Pulls Plug on AIM-HIGH Trial With Niacin

Still think they have any idea of what a safe supplement is?

A trial of extended-release niacin (Niaspan, Abbott) given in addition to statin therapy in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, high triglycerides, and low levels of HDL cholesterol has been halted prematurely, 18 months ahead of schedule, because niacin offered no additional benefits in this patient population.

There was also a small, unexplained increase in ischemic stroke in the high-dose, extended-release niacin group, in the Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome with Low HDL Cholesterol/High Triglyceride and Impact on Global Health Outcomes (AIM-HIGH) study, according to a statement from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which sponsored it.

Oops.

Waist fat 'increases heart risk'

Kudos, fat, out of shape people.

People with coronary artery disease have an increased risk of death if they have fat around the waist, according to researchers in the US.

Get fit.

Soft Drink Industry Fights Proposed Food Stamp Ban

On this one, the industry is wrong.

To Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, it seemed like a sensible way to attack a major public health problem. To the soft drink industry, giant food companies, makers of snacks and candy, supermarkets, and antihunger groups, it seemed like an attack at the grocery checkout counter.

The mayor wants to reduce obesity and diabetes by banning the use of food stamps to buy “sugar-sweetened beverages” in New York City.

Food and beverage lobbyists see the mayor’s plan as a well-intentioned but misguided and paternalistic effort. They say it would create a logistical bottleneck at checkout counters and stigmatize poor people using food stamps.

As if the fat, "poor" people don't stigmatize the rest of us who have to pay for their diseases of choice.

The only way to lose weight is to consume fewer Calories than are burned.

Sugar-sweetened beverages have more Calories than the sugar-free varieties.

The fat "poor" can use their food stamps to buy sugar-free soda.

Opponents say that many factors, besides soft drinks, contribute to obesity. Moreover, they say, imposing restrictions on food stamps would require retailers to reprogram computers and embarrass some customers at the checkout counter.

Embarrass?

This is embarrassment/embarrassing:





And if it is not, then having to swap-out sodas won't embarrass the fat asses either.

F**k you, opponents.

Done.

Older Workers Take Longer to Recover from Injuries

Two words - Anabolic Clinic (sm).

When older workers are injured on the job, they're sidelined for longer periods of time than their younger co-workers, CDC researchers found.

Anabolic substances can promote and accelerate healing.

Learn more.

Traveler's Alert: Business Travel Linked to Obesity and Poor Health

Telecommute or bellycommute.

Road warriors who travel for business two weeks or more a month have higher body mass index, higher rates of obesity and poorer self-rated health than those who travel less often, according to researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.

The study, conducted by Andrew G. Rundle, DrPH and Catherine A. Richards, MPH, drew data from medical records of more than 13,000 employees in a corporate wellness program provided by EHE International. Nearly 80% of employees traveled at least one night a month and 1% traveled more than 20 nights a month. Findings are online in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Overall, the researchers found that business people who traveled the most (20 or more days a month) have poorer health on a number of measures compared with those who travel between 1 and 6 days a month.

It is absolutely possible to eat healthily while on the road.

This, like all overweight/obesity, is self-iinflicted.

New EU regulations on herbal medicines come into force

Good news!

New European Union rules come into force...banning hundreds of traditional herbal remedies.

The EU law aims to protect consumers from possible damaging side-effects of over-the-counter herbal medicines.

For the first time, new regulations will allow only long-established and quality-controlled medicines to be sold.

It's about time there was quality-control on this stuff.

But both herbal remedy practitioners and manufacturers fear they could be forced out of business.

Even better.

If you cannot live in a world of quality-control, you are not of adequate quality to remain in business.

Maternal Obesity Puts Infants at Risk of Iron Deficiency

More early nutritional child abuse.

Babies born to obese mothers are at risk for iron deficiency, which could affect infant brain development, according to a study presented on April 30 at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Denver...

"These findings are important because iron deficiency in infancy is associated with impaired brain development, and we should understand all risk factors for iron deficiency in infancy," said Pamela J. Kling, MD, FAAP, principal investigator and associate professor of pediatrics/neonatology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison...

The study results also have important implications because the prevalence of obesity in women of childbearing age is increasing.

Stop the abuse.

Lose the weight.

US mothers feed infants variety of herbal products

And kids are getting fatter and sicker. Relationship?

New research suggests many U.S. babies are fed herbal supplements or teas.

Food and Drug Administration researchers led the study. It was released Monday in the journal Pediatrics and is billed as the first to examine broad use of such products in American infants.

About 9 percent studied had been fed supplements at least once. The 2005-2007 study oversampled whites mothers, so authors say the true national prevalence is likely between 3 percent and 10 percent. About 2,600 mothers were questioned.

Gripe water for colic and chamomile tea were the most common products, but many others were used for reasons including fussiness and digestive problems. Side effects weren't examined.

Supplements aren't strictly regulated. The authors say there's a potential for harm, and the variety used means some probably were unsafe.

Anything except caloric intake control.

Making The Move To Exercise For Overweight And Obese People

Confirmation of just how lousy exercise is for weight control.

How much exercise are overweight and obese people getting? More than many might think, according to research findings by nurses from Case Western Reserve University's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.

They reported their findings in the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners article, "Exercise and exercise intentions among obese and overweight individuals."

The investigators found that 29 percent had been exercising for six months, 39 percent regularly exercised and 25 percent contemplated exercising.

Only 12 percent had no desire or thoughts of getting active...

The level of obesity was higher than expected; many patients had a BMI at or above 31. A BMI score between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight and those at or above 30 are in the obesity range. Individuals were grouped in three classes of obesity, based on BMI scores from low (30-34.9), medium (35-39.9) and high (greater than 40).

Surprised by the level of exercise reported, Quinn Griffin said this study shows that just because someone is overweight does not mean they are not exercising or considering it.

To lose the weight, exercise is of almost no help, and even detrimental, for most people.

There are much better, as in really effective, ways to shed the pounds.

Interagency Working Group Seeks Input On Proposed Voluntary Principles For Marketing Food To Children

Hold parents and enablers accountable for nutritional child abuse and the problem is on its way to being solved.

In an effort to combat childhood obesity - the most serious health crisis facing today's youth - a working group of four federal agencies today released for public comment a set of proposed voluntary principles that can be used by industry as a guide for marketing food to children.

Led by former Sen. Sam Brownback and Sen. Tom Harkin, Congress directed the Federal Trade Commission, together with the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to establish an interagency working group of federal nutrition, health, and marketing experts to develop recommendations for the nutritional quality of food marketed to children and adolescents, ages 2 to 17. The working group seeks public comment on the proposed voluntary nutrition and marketing principles it has developed. After public comment, the working group will make final recommendations in a report to Congress. This is not a proposed government regulation.

The proposed voluntary principles are designed to encourage stronger and more meaningful self-regulation by the food industry and to support parents' efforts to get their kids to eat healthier foods. While the goals they would set for food marketers are ambitious and would take time to put into place, the public health stakes could not be higher. One in three children is overweight or obese, and the rates are even higher among some racial and ethnic groups.

A gathering of idiots.

Obesity Rate Up in Adults With Arthritis

Animal with arthritis diagrammed above.

Animal with arthritis pictured below:

Obesity is on the rise among U.S. adults with arthritis, having increased significantly in prevalence in 15 states and territories between 2003 and 2009, according to a CDC report...

Excess weight can worsen the pain and disability caused by arthritis, through mechanical stress on weight-bearing joints and worsening of cartilage degradation because of systemic inflammation, they noted.

Lose the weight. Help the joints.

Americans Still May Not Be Getting Enough Calcium

Americans need MORE heart attacks!

Americans may not be getting enough calcium in their diets, according to a new study published in the May 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. This study is unique among those focusing on calcium intake in the US population because both dietary and supplemental sources were evaluated across adult age groups and compared to accompanying patterns in energy intake.

"Calcium plays a fundamental role in promoting bone health and forestalling osteoporosis.

BTW, calcium has almost no role to play in "forestalling" osteoporosis. For more information see here.

But it might do this:

“I think all people taking calcium supplements should reassess whether these are doing them any good,’’ says study coauthor Dr. Ian Reid, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand via e-mail. “Our paper shows that for every three fractures that are prevented by calcium, six heart attacks or strokes are caused. Thus, the balance of risks and benefits is negative.’’

Still think they have any idea what a "healthy" supplement is?

Tall, Obese People More Prone To Blood Clots

Big and fat - the blood clot biathlon.

People who are tall and obese, especially men, are likely to be at significantly higher risk of developing blood clots in deep veins, according to new research from Tromso in Norway published online this week in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Blood clots in deep veins are potentially dangerous because they can lead to pulmonary embolism, where a piece of the blood clot breaks off and travels to the blood vessels in the lungs, resulting in heart strain and sometimes sudden death, even at the first occurrence.

A deep vein blood clot that leads to embolism is called venous thromboembolism or VTE.

Research shows that people who are obese are at higher risk for clots in deep veins, usually in the legs. This study shows that being tall as well adds to that risk, particularly in men.

And if you thought it was hard to breathe before just from being fat, just wait.

Nothing like a blood clot in your lungs to change that perspective.

Lose the weight.

Children With Bedroom TVs Might Be At Greater Obesity Risk

Now showing on the Telegordo network...

A new small study of Hispanic children found that those with TVs in their bedrooms were more likely to be overweight.

And a buen trabajo goes out to los padres.

In Hypertension, Strong Men Live Longer

Two words - Anabolic Clinic (sm).

Hypertensive men with the most muscle strength appear to have a lower risk of dying than their weaker counterparts, researchers found.

Even after controlling for cardiorespiratory fitness level and other potential confounders, men in the upper third of muscle strength were 34% less likely to die during an average follow-up of about 18 years (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.98), according to Enrique Artero, PhD, of the University of Granada in Spain, and colleagues.

The men with the greatest reduction in mortality risk were those who had the most muscular strength and high fitness (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.82), the researchers reported in the May 3 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Although the researchers urged caution in interpreting the results because of the low number of deaths (183), the findings are consistent with previous studies in nonhypertensive individuals.

"The apparent protective effect of muscular strength against risk of death might be due to muscular strength in itself, to respiratory muscular strength and pulmonary function, to muscle fiber type or configuration, or as a consequence of regular physical exercise, specifically resistance exercise," Artero and his colleagues wrote.

Learn about what anabolic substances can do for you.

Learn how to train properly.

Sea Salt Just as Salty, and Limit the Wine, AHA Says

Fools.

Most Americans erroneously believe that sea salt is a low-sodium alternative to table salt, according to an American Heart Association (AHA) survey.

Among 1,000 Americans surveyed, 61% thought sea salt was the healthier choice, and less than a quarter knew that the daily recommendation for sodium intake maxes out at 1,500 mg, the survey found.

Nor did they know that there were recommended limits on wine drinking, even though 76% thought that indulging in the drink was heart-healthy.

With no end to the ignorance in sight.

Food Price Crisis Can Lead To Deteriorating Nutrition

Good news.

As fuel prices soar, food prices are beginning to creep up to crisis levels most recently seen in 2007...

Using data from nationally representative household budget surveys, Iannotti and colleagues found that during a food price crisis:

-- Calorie intake was reduced by an average eight percent from precrisis levels...

"We are particularly concerned for families with young children," Iannotti says.

"When you have a reduction in calories and critical nutrients for kids under two, there are long term consequences such as stunted growth, cognitive deficits, lower educational attainment and reduced future productivity. "

Lower caloric intake is good.

If, and this is a huge if (as in almost impossible), a "critical nutrient" is missing, use a mineral-vitamin pill/supplement.

Frailty: Not Just in the Aged Any More

Two words - Anabolic Clinic (sm).

Frailty -- known to be associated with a greater risk of death -- is not just a problem of older people, Canadian researchers reported.

And people of any age who are frail -- defined as having more self-reported deficits such as health problems and difficulty with tasks like climbing stairs -- are more likely to die than those who are relatively more fit at the same age, according to Kenneth Rockwood, MD, of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and colleagues.

And the proportion of those who are frail grows steadily as the population ages, Rockwood and colleagues reported online in CMAJ.

"The prevalence of frailty increased exponentially with age throughout the adult life span and not just after age 65, where the sharpest inflection of the curve occurred," Rockwood and colleagues reported.

Learn more about anabolic substances and how they can help you.

Junk food tax urged to fight obesity

Suggestion brought to you by the same folks in part responsible for overweight/obesity.

A junk-food tax and consistent monitoring programs are some of the government actions needed to combat what has become an obesity epidemic in Canada, says an editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The editorial, published Tuesday, also calls on Ottawa to ban certain foods and ingredients, regulate salt in foods and improving serving-size and nutrition labelling.

The 2007-09 Canadian Health Measures Survey found more than 60 per cent of adults were overweight or obese, with 24 per cent overweight and 37 per cent obese.

A junk-food tax, or "sin" tax, could help reduce the consumption of high-fat foods and drinks, said Sonia Grandi, coauthor of the editorial and Cardiology and Clinical Epidemiology researcher at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.

What was it Shakespeare wrote?

Oh yeah, something like, "The first thing we do, let's kill all the doctors who meddle with total ignorance in matters of weight loss and fitness, e.g., the Canadian Medical Association."

Yeah, it was something like that.

Herbal Medicines: 'Natural' Doesn't Always Mean Safe, Says Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Huh.

"Consumers must also be aware herbal medicines can have potent biological effects. Just because something is described as 'natural', 'herbal', or 'derived from plants', doesn't mean it is always safe. Unlike modern medicines derived from plants, which contain a single active substance, herbal medicines can contain a complex mix of powerful components.

"Herbal medicines can interact with conventional medicines and affect the way they work, for example, St John's Wort can alter the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill Other remedies can make your blood less likely to clot which is important if you are already taking a conventional blood thinning medicine such as warfarin.

"Many herbal medicines may not be suitable for use during pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding, whilst others may not be right for children or the elderly.

Oops.

USDA Funds University Of Arkansas Obesity Interventions Project

More money down the tubes.

University of Arkansas scientists and educators are attacking childhood obesity in a project funded by a $4.78 million grant for five years from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The institute recently announced the grant for the multi-campus project, "Interventions for Obesity Prevention Targeting Young Children in At-Risk Environments: An Integrated Approach." The award was funded through the institute's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative competitive grants program.

Rudy Nayga will lead the project. He is a professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness in the U of A System's statewide Division of Agriculture and holder of the Tyson Chair in Food Policy Economics in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences on the Fayetteville campus.

"Our goals are to improve the diet and healthy behaviors of children, especially those at risk for obesity, and equip educators, childcare providers and other practitioners to tackle the childhood obesity crisis," Nayga said.

If you want to do that, go after the parents of fat kids for nutritional child abuse and make them pay for adult nutrition classes.

This will only work when weight loss recommendations are revised.

Red Pepper May Help Control Appetite

I guess it must be true since there are no fat people south of the USA border. (see post below)

Spicing up your daily diet with some red pepper can curb appetite, especially for those who don't normally eat the popular spice, according to research from Purdue University.

"We found that consuming red pepper can help manage appetite and burn more calories after a meal, especially for individuals who do not consume the spice regularly," said Richard Mattes, distinguished professor of foods and nutrition who collaborated with doctoral student Mary-Jon Ludy. "This finding should be considered a piece of the puzzle because the idea that one small change will reverse the obesity epidemic is simply not true. However, if a number of small changes are added together, they may be meaningful in terms of weight management. Dietary changes that don't require great effort to implement, like sprinkling red pepper on your meal, may be sustainable and beneficial in the long run, especially when paired with exercise and healthy eating."

Shut up.

Defund this research and all why people are fat research.

$4.8 Million Study To Help The 4 In 10 Children Of Mexican Heritage Who Are Overweight

More wasted money. (see post above)

UC Davis professor Adela de la Torre, a national expert on Chicano and Latino health issues, has received a five-year, $4.8 million federal grant to discover the best ways to help Mexican-heritage children in California maintain healthy weights.

The study, called "Ninos Sanos, Familia Sana" (Healthy Children, Healthy Family), will take place in the Central Valley towns of Firebaugh and San Joaquin.

"More than four in every 10 children born to parents of Mexican heritage are overweight or obese, and therefore at greater risk of early diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease," said de la Torre. "We are fortunate that we have received unprecedented support to tackle this issue from community members, so that we can build a healthier environment in Firebaugh and San Joaquin.

"We hope that this is the beginning of a series of long-term, collaborative projects to tackle issues of importance raised by our community advisory board."

Let's hope that this is the beginning of the end for these idiotic research undertakings.

Canada Faces Obesity Epidemic, Legislative Changes Are Vital

The only legislative changes that will work are those that hit the fat in their pocketbooks and wallets.

With the increase in numbers of overweight children and young adults, Canada and other developed countries are facing an obesity epidemic and legislative approaches are required to address this issue, states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Canadians have become heavier and less fit over the last three decades; people aged 20-39 years have the BMI (body mass index) that people aged 40 or older had thirty years ago. The 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey found more than 60% of adults were overweight or obese, with 24% being overweight, and 37% obese. If such a trend is to continue, over the next 25 years, half of Canadians over age 40 will be obese.

"Obesity is expected to surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality," writes author Dr. Mark J. Eisenberg, Jewish General Hospital, Divisions of Cardiology and Clinical Epidemiology, with coauthors. "Obesity reduces life expectancy by more than 10 years as a comorbidity with coronary artery disease, osteoarthritis, dyslipidemia, hypertension, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Thus, obesity causes considerable morbidity and mortality and represents a burden of $3.96 billion on the Canadian economy each year."

The consumption of high calorie foods, especially junk food, and decreases in activity levels are helping to fuel this increase in obesity. While it is viewed as a medical condition to treat, a variety of legislative approaches and public health interventions could help combat obesity.

Suggested government-level interventions include taxing junk food, improving serving size and nutritional labeling, banning certain foods and ingredients, and regulating sodium consumption. Corporate and school level solutions such as limiting access to junk food in schools are other approaches.

These other suggestions are the fantasies of the stupid.

Vitamin E Or Metformin May Not Be Effective For Treating Liver Disease In Children And Teens

Guess what? Woo-woo and some drugs do not work to reverse the effects of nutritional child abuse. Who could have seen that coming?

Apparently not the NIH - see post below. Confused yet?

In contrast to previous preliminary data, use of vitamin E or the diabetes drug metformin was not superior to placebo on a measured outcome for treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children and adolescents, according to a study in the April 27 issue of JAMA.

"Coincident with the rise in prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity over the past few decades, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children in the United States," according to background information in the article. NAFLD encompasses a range of severity, from mild to severe disease that may ultimately result in advanced fibrosis (development of excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ), cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Insulin resistance is frequently identified in both adults and children with NAFLD, and treatment approaches to NAFLD target reduction in insulin resistance and oxidative stress. Pediatric pilot data demonstrated potential efficacy of metformin or vitamin E in treating NAFLD.

Go figger.

Vitamin E helps diminish a type of fatty liver disease in children

Really? See post above.

"These results suggest that vitamin E improves or resolves NASH in at least half of children, which we previously showed to be true in adults," said Stephen P. James, M.D., director of the digestive diseases and nutrition division at NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), which funded the study. While the results are encouraging, patients using vitamin E for NASH should be under a doctor’s care. "We hope to build on these results by looking for other therapies and reliable, non-invasive ways to monitor the disease and response to therapy."

Confused yet?

Some ob-gyns in South Florida turn away overweight women

Now why would that be?

Some of the doctors said the main reason was their exam tables or other equipment can't handle people over a certain weight. But at least six said they were trying to avoid obese patients because they have a higher risk of complications.

"People don't realize the risk we're taking by taking care of these patients," said Dr. Albert Triana, whose two-physician practice in South Miami declines patients classified as obese. "There's more risk of something going wrong and more risk of getting sued. Everything is more complicated with an obese patient in GYN surgeries and in [pregnancies]."

That's why.

Good move.

AACR: Liver Cancer Risk Rises With Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is what fat people get.

Metabolic syndrome doubled the risk of primary liver cancer in an analysis of an NCI database.

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) had a twofold greater prevalence of metabolic syndrome than a control group that did not have liver cancer.

In a multivariate analysis, metabolic syndrome remained an independent predictor of HCC and ICC (P<0.0001), according to a presentation here at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting.

"As metabolic syndrome affects more than a third of the U.S. population, it could be an important contributor to increasing rates of HCC and ICC," said Katherine A. McGlynn, PhD, of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md.

"Metabolic syndrome prevalence is higher in some minority populations, suggesting that liver cancer rates in those populations may be particularly affected."

The incidence of primary liver cancer has increased in the U.S. in recent years, and HCC and ICC are the two most common types of liver cancer -- 68% and 17% of all liver cancers, respectively.

Get fit.

In The Fight Against Pediatric Obesity, AgriLife Extension To Lead Focus On Gardening To Increase Childhood Activities

Another attempt by the grossly stupid to sell fecklessness as effectiveness.

The use of family-focused gardening in the fight against childhood obesity may become a growing trend with a near $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to a Texas higher education partnership.

The project, "Texas Grow! Eat! Go!," will involve horticulturists, nutritionists, physical activity experts and public health leaders from the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas.

"We want to test the impact of several Extension programs on behaviors related to childhood obesity and track any changes in obesity related to the programs," said Dr. Judy Warren, AgriLife Extension special initiatives coordinator and principal investigator.

"We're bringing together a multi-disciplinary team capable of evaluating the approach to determine whether the programs change levels of child obesity, are cost-effective and are sustainable. We are building on the Coordinated School Health program required in public schools."

A leading factor in the effort is that AgriLife Extension's Junior Master Gardener program, which has demonstrated that children who grow vegetables are more likely to taste and like them, Warren noted.

"It isn't so much about nutrition facts (in combating obesity) as it is to get kids to taste nutritious foods and enjoy them," she said. "Incorporating experiential learning can be effective in improving health-related behaviors and academic learning in science, as previous research on Junior Master Gardeners has shown. We are also using Walk Across Texas, a fun, physical activity program that AgriLife Extension has available for schools."

Efforts undone instantly at home.

Doomed to fail.

Manchester council takes fat families to supermarkets for lessons in buying healthy food

The Million Pound Market March - on the public's dime.

Families with obese children are being taken to supermarkets for lessons on buying healthy food – at the taxpayers’ expense.

The trips are being offered free to people in deprived parts of Manchester. They are part of a ‘healthy lifestyle’ programme that would normally cost £400. But they are being offered free to dozens of families in Wythenshawe, Gorton and Harpurhey.

The bill will be met by the city’s joint health unit – funded by NHS Manchester and the city council.

A total of 30 families, who must have an overweight child between seven and 13, are expected to sign up – meaning a total bill of £12,000. Bosses say the 10-week course will help families to become fitter, healthier and happier. Participants will take part in workshops to learn about nutrition and how to maintain a balanced diet.

Parents will be told to set weight-loss goals, while their children are put through their paces in games.

Doomed to fail.

In Obese Children, Researchers Examine Nature Vs. Nurture

NPR morons bring you a big reason why this matter will not be resolved.

Scientists are still trying to understand the causes of childhood obesity and how best to treat it. Researchers in the area are attacking the problem in a number of different ways: examining environmental influences, genetic triggers, psychological reasons, new medicines, and even epi-genetics, which looks at how the prenatal environment influences genes.

When you are in complete denial as to the sole cause of overweight/obesity, i.e., more Calories in than out, you cannot fix the problem.

Cultural Sensitivity Is Key To Quality Care

Bulls**t. The "key to quality care" is an individual who gives a crap about themselves.

Awareness and sensitivity to a patient's cultural background can improve physician-patient communication and positively affect patient health, according to a new Committee Opinion released by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College). By learning more about the cultural identity of their patients, ob-gyns can become more sensitive to women's unique needs and can enhance quality of care and medical compliance, especially among women in minority and underserved communities.

The rest is hogwash.

Scientists find "master switch" gene for obesity

This is it. Really. This time for sure.

Scientists have found that a gene linked to diabetes and cholesterol is a "master switch" that controls other genes found in fat in the body, and say it should help in the search for treatments for obesity-related diseases.

In a study published in the journal Nature Genetics, the British researchers said that since fat plays an important role in peoples' susceptibility to metabolic diseases like obesity, heart disease and diabetes, the regulating gene could be target for drugs to treat such illnesses.

"This is the first major study that shows how small changes in one master regulator gene can cause a cascade of other metabolic effects in other genes," said Tim Spector of King's College London, who led the study.

Wanna bet?

Live Well & Live Longer With Foods For Healthy Aging

This is known as fitness.

Whether you are in your 20s, 40s, 80s or beyond, research shows that people who eat a balanced diet, don't smoke, and exercise regularly lead longer, healthier lives. Making improvements to your lifestyle at any age can help you reduce your risk of chronic disease and improve your overall health.

The fit are generally healthier than the unfit.

Learn how to get fit.

5 A DAY For Under 50p, Says Cancer Charity, UK

Not that there is any truth to the 5-a-day concept...

A review of supermarket prices has shown that five portions of fruits and vegetables can be bought for under 50p, despite rising food prices.

The review of fruits and vegetable prices by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) found that even if people limit choice to fresh produce, it is still possible to buy five portions for just 42p.

WCRF conducted the review following reports of people struggling to afford to eat fruits and vegetables because of increases in food prices coinciding with lower wages.

This is a concern because there is evidence that eating plenty of a range of fruits and vegetables probably reduces risk of cancer, which is why WCRF recommends people eat at least five portions a day.

Still, if you want to increase your intake believing this is a "healthier" way to eat, so much for the "it is too expensive for me to eat healthy food" excuse.

Many Dieters Eating Wrong Foods Due To Misleading Labeling

Bulls*t.

There are no wrong foods or right foods in the weight debate.

There are only Calories.

If people continue to consume Calories in excess, it is not the fault of the food.

Dieters are more drawn to such words in labels as healthy than non-dieters, which would be OK if all labels were super honest, unfortunately a considerable number are misleading and dieters often end up eating the complete opposite - unhealthy foods, according to an article published in The Journal of Consumer Research.

A fat and calorie laden milkshake that is called a fruit smoothie is more likely to fool a dieter, because of its healthy-sounding name, than a non-dieter who has a better chance of checking its nutritional content before deciding whether to consume it.

Fools.

Calcium Supplements and CV Events: New Data, More Debate

Two words: Anabolic Clinic (sm).

A new, expanded analysis of the cardiovascular risks associated with calcium supplements suggests that a previously reported 30% risk of MI linked to calcium supplements alone extends to people who are also taking vitamin D.

Calcium and vitamin D are taken in combination, as supplements, by millions of people in the hopes of reducing the risk of fractures, but this strategy should be reconsidered in the face of evidence pointing to a roughly 20% increased risk of both MI and stroke in people taking both calcium and vitamin D, according to Dr Mark Bolland (University of Auckland, New Zealand) and colleagues.

Calcium has almost no effect on osteoporosis, which is NOT a disease of low calcium.

Learn how anabolic substances can help you.

Regular Exercise Can Help Preserve/Build Heart Mass

Having a big heart - the right way.

Another benefit of regular exercise has been discovered--preventing the reduction in heart mass normally seen with aging.

Speaking at a press conference on the opening day of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2011 Scientific Sessions, Dr Paul Bhella (John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, TX) explained that heart muscle size--typically measured by left ventricular (LV) mass--peaks early in life and diminishes with sedentary aging.

Bhella conducted a study to look at the effect of regular exercise on this process and found that being physically active over the course of a lifetime can "preserve the heart's youthful elasticity." He noted that as the heart muscle atrophies with age, the heart becomes weaker, less capable of responding to increasing demands such as those associated with physical activity, and, in many circumstances, this leads to a stiffening of the heart by increasing the relative proportion of connective tissue compared with cardiac muscle...

To heartwire , Bhella commented: "You have to use it or lose it. It is never too late to start exercising. Exercising twice a week can prevent age-related loss of cardiac mass, while exercising four to five times a week can rebuild cardiac mass. This is the first time anybody has shown this."

He explained that while higher cardiac mass has not directly been shown to cause better outcomes, it is associated with increased levels of fitness, which has been shown to be associated with better outcomes. He stressed that all the increases were in the healthy range...

Train and get fit.

Dietary Supplements May Encourage Health-Risk Behaviors

I'll bet.

Do you belong to the one-half of the population that frequently uses dietary supplements with the hope that it might be good for you?

Well, according to a study published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, there seems to be an interesting asymmetrical relationship between the frequency of dietary supplement use and the health status of individuals. Wen-Bin Chiou of National Sun Yat-Sen University decided to test if frequent use of dietary supplements had ironic consequences for subsequent health-related behaviors after observing a colleague chose an unhealthy meal over an organic meal simply because the colleague had taken a multivitamin earlier in the day.

"After reviewing the literature of the prevalence of dietary supplement use, it seemed to show that use of dietary supplements is increasing, but it does not appear to be correlated with improved public health," says Chiou who conducted the study along with Chao-Chin Yang of National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism and Chin-Sheng Wan of Southern Taiwan University.

Duh.

The medicine cabinet of the "healthy."

No Evidence Of Increased Risk Of Depression In Severely Obese Teens

Don't worry. Be heavy.

According to a new study, severely obese adolescents are no more likely to be depressed than normal weight peers. The study, which has been released online in the Journal of Adolescent Health, did find that white adolescents may be somewhat more vulnerable to psychological effects of obesity.

Of course, fat people have cognitive disorders.

Likely an early manifestation.

BMI in Teens Linked to Later Coronary Disease

Nutritional child abuse.

A large, prospective study tracking young men from age 17 well into their 30s, 40s, and beyond has found that body-mass index (BMI) in their teens was a significant predictor of both coronary artery disease and diabetes in later life. Strikingly, say the authors, BMI became predictive of later disease even at levels that would be considered normal or even low-normal by current cutoffs.

Make it stop.

Why Dieters Are Easily Misled By Food Names

That's why.

Dieters are so involved with trying to eat virtuously that they are more likely than non-dieters to choose unhealthy foods that are labeled as healthy, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. It seems dieter focus on food names can work to their disadvantage...

These days, restaurant salads can include ingredients that dieters would be likely to avoid (meats, cheeses, breads, and pasta). Potato chips are labeled "veggie chips," milkshakes are called "smoothies," and sugary drinks are named "flavored water." Why are dieters, who are supposedly more attuned to healthy foods, likely to be confused by these labels?

"Over time, dieters learn to focus on simply avoiding foods that they recognize as forbidden based on product name," the authors explain. "Thus, dieters likely assume that an item assigned an unhealthy name (for example, pasta) is less healthy than an item assigned a healthy name (for example, salad), and they do not spend time considering other product information that might impact their product evaluations." Non-dieters do not learn to avoid foods based on names and, given that they are not focused on healthful eating, are more likely to dismiss cues that imply healthfulness, including name.

If they were "so involved with trying to eat virtuously" they would not be fooled.

Healthcare Workers Responsible for Patients' Health Literacy

F**k ACOG and Regina Benjamin, the fat Health Illiterate-in-Chief.

Responsibility for recognizing and addressing the problem of limited health literacy lies with all healthcare professionals, according to a Committee Opinion of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Two related Committee Opinions in the same issue discuss the impact of communications skills and strategies and cultural sensitivity issues on patient-physician communication.

"The problem of health illiteracy is widespread and goes beyond those who can’t read or those who don't speak English," said Patrice M. Weiss, MD, chair of the ACOG Committee on Patient Safety and Quality Improvement, in a news release. "Physicians, nurses, social workers — everyone in the health care field — must make sure that our patients fully understand their health condition and their treatment, as well as the importance of taking their medications exactly as directed. We simply can't assume that a patient understands because she nods her head or because we think she seems educated."

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies defines health literacy as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Health literacy is limited in nearly half of all people in the United States, resulting in a higher risk for hospitalization, more barriers to getting necessary healthcare, and poor comprehension of medical advice causing morbidity and even mortality.

People are responsible for their own health literacy.

And if a patient "nods her head" in understanding, well, don't nod if you do not understand.

It is reasonable to have a patient "restate the health information given in their own words."

However, it is not reasonable to suggest that the clinician is responsible for health literacy and to suggest that this is coupled to patient compliance.

It just ain't so.

Why Skinny Moms Sometimes Produce Fat Children

A load of bulls**t.

Obesity is on the rise in nations across the globe, and more than diet and genetics may be to blame. A new study suggests a third factor is at work: DNA-binding molecules that can be passed down from mother to child in the womb. The finding could explain why what a woman eats while pregnant can sometimes influence the weight of her child—even into adulthood.

Scientists first began to suspect that a mother’s diet could affect the weight of her offspring in 1976. Studying the Dutch famine of 1945, when the German army cut off food supplies to western Holland, researchers found that people born to mothers who were pregnant during the famine were more likely to be obese as adults. Rat studies at the University of Auckland in New Zealand bolstered the findings: mothers who were undernourished during pregnancy gave rise to obese adults. One possible explanation is that the moms are somehow programming their children to live in a food-scarce world by increasing their appetites and ability to store fat—and if the children grow up with plenty to eat, they become overweight.

Eat fewer Calories and watch the "effect" disappear.

All Things In Moderation: An Occasional Treat Within A Healthy Lifestyle Means You Can Have Your Candy And Eat

It is all about Calories in vs. Calories out. There are no "healthy" foods, there is only eating healthily.

Good news for candy and chocolate lovers: they tend to weigh less, have lower body mass indices (BMI) and waist circumferences, and have decreased levels of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome, according to a new study(1) published in Nutrition Research...

Other findings include:

Cardiovascular Risk Factors. Candy consumers were found to have a 14 percent decreased risk of elevated diastolic blood pressure and lower C-reactive protein (CRP) levels than non-candy consumers (CRP is a non-specific marker of general inflammation and one way to assess risk for cardiovascular, other chronic diseases as well as physical activity and stress.). For high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), chocolate candy consumers had better values of this "good" cholesterol, specifically a 19 percent decreased risk of a lower HDL-C.

Metabolic Syndrome. Chocolate candy consumption was associated with a 15 percent reduced risk of metabolic syndrome - a group of risk factors linked to overweight and obesity that can lead to increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Diet Quality. Measured by the Healthy Eating Index 2005 (HEI-2005), the study found that diet quality was not affected by total candy or chocolate candy consumption when consumed within energy limits. While sugar candy consumers did have a lower HEI than non-consumers, the difference between the two was quite small.

You can eat it all.

Just don't eat all of it.

The School Food Revolution

This is such crap.

School nutrition programs across the country are preparing more school meals from scratch or serving healthier pre-prepared entrees and sides.

School nutrition is not and has not been the problem.

This is a fantasy of the IMHO idiots at the SNA - School Nutrition Association.

And if the school foods have been the problem, then the SNA should be held accountable for the epidemic they have caused school kids to suffer.

Too Much TV Narrows Microvasculature in Kids

More K-rap.

Each daily hour of passive "screen time" has the same effect on arteriolar narrowing as a 10-mm-Hg increase in systolic blood pressure in children, a study of the retinal microvascular structure of six-year-olds shows...

Previous studies in both adults and children show that narrower retinal arteriolar calibers and wider retinal venular calibers are markers of cardiovascular disease risk factors such as obesity and high blood pressure, and changes in retinal vessel caliber in adults mark subclinical cardiovascular disease and suggest a risk of future vascular events, according to Dr Bamini Gopinath (University of Sydney, Australia).

It is not the TV.

It is too many Calories in and not enough out.

For Wrestlers, 'Weight Cutting' Has Psychological Effects

This is what dieters suffer - especially low-carb dieters; however, just about all dieters are affected by this.

Rapid weight loss has a special name - failure.

For collegiate wrestlers, rapid reductions in body mass over a few days before a match can adversely affect psychological function, suggests a study in the April issue of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, official research journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association...

The researchers studied the physical and psychological effects of weight cutting in a group of 16 collegiate wrestlers. Ten days before a competitive meet, the wrestlers were weighed, completed a brief mood rating scale, and underwent strength tests (grip strength and lower body power). They were then allowed to "self-select" their desired amount of weight loss before the match-using methods such as exercise, calorie restriction, and fluid deprivation.

The wrestlers were weighed again in the days leading up to the meet, and the psychological and strength tests were repeated on the day of the match. The researchers looked for changes in psychological functioning and strength related to pre-match weight loss.

The wrestlers reduced their body mass by up to eight percent; the average weight loss was about six pounds. Despite having ten days to prepare, the wrestlers lost almost all of the weight in the two days before the match.

Six pounds in ten days is less than many diets, especially low-carb diets, claim to achieve.

Dieters are starved into failure.

Learn how to lose weight properly.

Negative Stereotypes: Does Seeing Overweight People Make Us Eat More?

Everything makes fat people eat more. That is a reason why they are fat.

Consumers will choose and eat more indulgent food after they see someone who is overweight - unless they consciously think about their health goals, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

"Why do people often think back on a pleasant evening with friends and realize that they ate more and worse food than they wish they had?" ask authors Margaret C. Campbell (Leeds School of Business) and Gina S. Mohr (University of Colorado, Boulder). If any of those friends carry a few extra pounds, just being in their presence could trigger what the authors call a "negative stereotype."

The research suggests that merely seeing someone who is strongly associated with an undesirable behavior leads to surprising increases in the behavior. "Seeing someone overweight leads to a temporary decrease in a person's own felt commitment to his or her health goal," the authors explain.

More meaningless excuses.

Schools may ban chocolate milk over added sugar

How timely. They want to ban Laden with sugar (allegedly) milk.

Chocolate milk has long been seen as the spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine go down, but the nation's childhood obesity epidemic has a growing number of people wondering whether that's wise.

With schools under increasing pressure to offer healthier food, the staple on children's cafeteria trays has come under attack over the very ingredient that made it so popular — sugar.

Some school districts have gone as far as prohibiting flavored milk, and Florida considered a statewide ban in schools. Other districts have sought a middle ground by replacing flavored milks containing high-fructose corn syrup with versions containing sugar, which some see as a more natural sweetener.

Los Angeles Unified, the nation's second-largest school district, is the latest district to tackle the issue. Superintendent John Deasy recently announced he would push this summer to remove chocolate and strawberry milk from school menus.

But nutritionists — and parents — are split over whether bans make sense, especially when about 70 percent of milk consumed in schools is flavored, mostly chocolate, according to the industry-backed Milk Processors Education Program.

Many, including the School Nutrition Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, and National Medical Association, argue that the nutritional value of flavored low-fat or skim milk outweighs the harm of added sugar. Milk contains nine essential nutrients including calcium, vitamin D and protein.

It is the fault of the parents that kids are fat.

It is not the fault of the milk.

Still, if the School Nutrition Association (and the others) are against banning the stuff, that is a compelling argument for banning it.

These organizations, IMHO, have contributed mightily to childhood overweight/obesity.

Better to ban them than the milk, IMHO.

Community-Wide Programs To Encourage Exercise Might Fall Short

Ya think?

Programs that encourage communities to get more active are one strategy for stemming the global tide of obesity. Yet, a new review of studies says the evidence backing the effectiveness of these programs is poor.

"When we looked at the available research, we observed that research studies that had been conducted didn't universally work," said Philip R.A. Baker, Ph.D., an adjunct public health professor from Queensland University of Technology, in Australia.

"For example, some research studies claimed that community-wide programs improved physical activity and other studies did not," he added. "It was not possible to identify which components increased the likelihood of program success."

In an effort to combat obesity, communities have tried combining widespread advertising, new walking trails and special partnerships with businesses and schools to promote exercise. So far, Baker and his colleagues write, the interventions available to date have not effectively increased population levels of physical activity.

"Even the most intense interventions and longer-term studies failed to demonstrate consistent improvement" in activity, Baker said.

Absolutely.

And they never will given the conventional stupidity.

Teessiders on benefits due to obesity and drink

You pay for them.

HUNDREDS of people on Teesside are claiming disability benefits because they are overweight or addicted to alcohol or drugs, a Government minister has claimed.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling said the Government plans to revamp the system so that only those with genuine disabilities are excused from work and given the payments.

Fat, lazy bronto sapiens.

Soda tax benefit for schools pegged at $233 per student

More punishing of the calorically responsible for the misdeeds of the fat.

A study to be released today estimates a 1-cent per ounce tax on sugary sodas and other sweetened drinks would generate $233 per student and fund initiatives to prevent childhood obesity.

And you can bet that those "initiatives" will fail as have all the others.

Morons.

Short-Term, High-Fat Diet May Initiate Protection During Heart Attack

Heart healthy.

Eat fat, live.

Avoid fat, die.

Well, this won't confuse anyone.

A new study from researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) shows that short-term, high-fat "splurges" within one's diet could elicit cardioprotective properties during a heart attack.

Still think they have any idea what they are talking about?

How Discrimination Hurts: Lack of Fair Treatment Leads to Obesity Issues

The Blame Game.

People, especially men, who feel any kind of discrimination, are likely to see their waistlines expand, according to research from Purdue University.

Hey, fatsos!

More Calories in than out leads to obesity and the associated issues.

Nothing else.

Obesity's nuts and bolts: Better kitchens, better training

The nut is the writer of this opinion piece.

As a former commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, I am concerned. The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that nationwide one in four young adults is too overweight to join the military, and many who are accepted are unable to complete their training due to weight-related issues. Weight problems have become the leading medical reason why young adults are unable to serve in the military.

In Georgia, more than 20 percent of our children are obese, giving our state the second-highest childhood obesity rate in the country. Over the past three decades, these numbers have skyrocketed, as have our children’s long-term health risks from diet-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer.

Concerned that the obesity crisis is limiting the pool of young adults qualified to enlist, more than 200 retired admirals and generals, including myself, strongly supported congressional passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

This legislation provides the framework to revolutionize what foods are served and sold in schools. But there is a problem. School cafeterias operate on extremely tight budgets, and thousands of schools, including many in Georgia, do not have the resources necessary to meet the higher nutrition standards expected to be in place within the next year.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 will increase reimbursement to schools that meet the standards by an additional 6 cents per meal to help offset food prices. It is a start, but the cost of buying more nutritious food is only one step toward putting healthier meals on students’ trays. Many schools lack the proper kitchen equipment needed for healthier cooking methods, and their staff often doesn’t have adequate training. To realize the intent of the law, Congress can support schools in two areas.

First, help schools upgrade kitchen equipment. Some cafeterias only have the capacity to reheat pre-packaged food. Other schools rely on deep-fat fryers and lack equipment to prepare healthy foods. Without the right equipment to prepare healthy meals and avoid food safety risks, many schools will make only marginal progress under the new law.

Second, help schools provide cafeteria workers with training. Food service workers need training in healthy cooking methods like roasting and baking so they can move away from microwaving and deep frying.

Yes, our schools still have a way to go in combating the child obesity epidemic, but signs of improvement can be found throughout Georgia. In several Georgia counties, for example, the farm-to-school program is allowing students to try a new, locally grown fruit or vegetable each month.

As a former general, I know how critical this is for developing able-bodied citizens who are able to serve their country.

But you do not know squat about weight loss.

It has almost nothing to do with school nutrition.

Bolt your mouth shut.

Obese Patients Suffering Avoidable Disease And Disability, Reveals First Ever UK Bariatric Surgery Audit

More about fatsos' diseases of choice.

Patients with severe obesity face premature death, disease and disability brought on as a direct result of their condition which could be prevented or eliminated following surgery.

It is definitely prevented or eliminated by eating fewer Calories than are burned.

Surgery is not needed.

Diet Plus Exercise Is Better For Weight Loss Than Either One Alone

Since almost no one can do both at the same time, diet alone is hugely better.

Everyone knows that eating a low-fat, low-calorie diet and getting regular exercise helps shed pounds, but a new study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that when it comes to losing weight and body fat, diet and exercise are most effective when done together as compared to either strategy alone.

Exercise is the Achilles Heel of most weight loss programs.

Exercise is an unnecessary route to failure.

GET FIT program can help in the battle against obesity

But it won't because it is more of the same failing approaches that have failed before.

The percentage of obese or overweight adults in New York State has jumped nearly 20 percent since the late 1990s. The obese or overweight adult percentage in Genesee County is nearly 65 percent, which is slightly higher than the NYS level of just under 60 percent.

Obesity is currently the second leading cause of death in our nation and is expected to climb to number one. Obesity can decrease your quality of life and lead to a number of potential health risks.

Some of the serious potential health risks associated with obesity include Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, several forms of cancer, and asthma. Approximately 365 per 100,000 people die each year from cardiovascular disease, stroke or diabetes in Genesee County alone. For the first time in history, it is possible for children to have a shorter life span than their parents, should action not be taken to reduce the obesity rate.

Not only does obesity impact your physical health; it can have a negative effect on your mental health as well. Many obese individuals suffer from low-esteem and even depression. It may also have a negative impact on your social life due in part to the negative social stigma associated with obesity.

The best way to combat obesity is through a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and exercise. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (H&HS) updated their food pyramids in 2010. The five food groups recommended are grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and protein-based foods. The serving size is based upon sex, age, and physical activity level. Only about 27 percent of adults in Genesee County include the appropriate amount of either fruit or vegetables in their diets.

It is also recommended that adults partake in at least 30 minutes of physical activity for a minimum of five days each week. The recommendation for children is at least 60 minutes of physical activity for a minimum of five days per week.

Idiocy.

Are Organic Foods As Yummy As The Labels Say?

No.

But people are stupid as dirt.

You have to read the labels, but is "organic" a way to just fool your taste buds? A new study shows that the organic label spurns a perception that items are lower in fat, higher in fiber, significantly lower in calories and worth more money according to participants.

The study included 144 volunteers who were asked to compare what they believed were conventionally and organically produced chocolate sandwich cookies, plain yogurt and potato chips. All of the products were actually organic, but they were labeled as either "regular" or "organic."

Researchers from Cornell University found that participants preferred almost all of the taste characteristics of the foods labeled as "organic," even though they were identical to those labeled as "regular."

Apparently, they have organic s**t for brains.

Research: Obese Pregnant Women Falling Short On Nutrition

Another reason the fat should not reproduce.

Already overweight expectant mothers are piling on excess weight and choosing fat-laden foods over fruit and vegetables, putting them and their babies at risk of chronic health problems.

More nutritional child abuse.

NHS Trusts Failing To Tackle Obesity, UK

Just as well. Any plan is doomed to fail since it will rely on the conventional stupidity.

A new report published today by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine has revealed that only 15% of NHS trusts have a policy or plan to help combat staff obesity.

That is 15% too many.

Kudos to the other 85% who are not stupid enough to even try.

London Olympics pledge for more exercise flops

Who could have seen this coming?

At a north London gym on a recent evening, Claire Palmer was busy pounding her gloved fists into a punching bag.

To raise money and get fit, Palmer is trying all 30 Olympic and Paralympic sports in the next year — and boxing is on this month's schedule. Palmer, 29, is taking part in the Gold Challenge, a charity challenge trying to get people more active by the time the 2012 Olympics roll into town.

She admits the program is a hard sell to many Londoners: Britain has the fattest population in Western Europe, with about half of all Britons overweight. Physical activity levels have largely stagnated in recent years.

"For a lot of people, it's very easy to make excuses about why you can't exercise," she said. "I think it's fantastic the Olympics are coming, but not everyone thinks that."
That's something British officials are finding out. When London was awarded the 2012 Games, the government promised it would get 2 million more people physically active by the time the Olympic torch is lit.

With fewer than 500 days to go, that looks highly unlikely.

"Based on the current figures, the target will be met sometime around 2023," said Mike Weed, director of the Centre for Sport, Physical Education and Activity Research at Canterbury Christ Church University. According to national exercise surveys, only about 127,000 more people have become more physically active since 2007.

British officials insist the goal can be reached. Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Games, said the problem may be that they are not collecting the right kind of information to prove their goal is being met.

Here is the right kind of information:

Brits 'dying not to do exercise'

Most UK adults are so unwilling to exercise that not even the threat of an early death is enough to get them off the sofa, a survey suggests.

Only 38% of people questioned by YouGov said they would do more exercise if their life depended on it.

The British officials are idiots.

Study Helps Clarify Link Between High-Fat Diet And Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is fat person diabetes.

A diet high in saturated fat is a key contributor to type 2 diabetes, a major health threat worldwide. Several decades ago scientists noticed that people with type 2 diabetes have overly active immune responses, leaving their bodies rife with inflammatory chemicals.

In addition, people who acquire the disease are typically obese and are resistant to insulin, the hormone that removes sugar from the blood and stores it as energy.

The link?

You eat too much, you get diabetes.

That's the link.

Done.

Study Funded By The United States Potato Board Finds Potato Consumption In Children's Meals Leads To Higher Overall Diet Quality

How is that possible? No bias here.

Research being presented this week at The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Conference in Washington, D.C., demonstrates that consumption of white potatoes (non-fried) by children does not displace other vegetables from children's meals. In fact, meals that contain white potatoes contain more servings of other vegetables, and are significantly higher in potassium, fiber and vitamin C. Both potassium and fiber were identified as nutrients of concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines, released February 2011.

"Potatoes belong in the diet. Children who consume white potatoes have more nutrient-dense diets, overall, and they actually eat more of other vegetables," said lead researcher Adam Drewnowski, PhD. "There were no differences in the prevalence of overweight or obesity between children who did and did not consume potatoes."

Still, can't argue with them.

Since there are no healthy foods, a white potato is as good as any other in the weight debate.

Huh? Low-salt diet ups risk of fatal heart attack?

Still think they have any idea what they are talking about?

Doctors and public health officials have been telling us for years that eating too much sodium can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke by raising blood pressure to unsafe levels. So how to explain a new study that suggests low salt intake actually increases the risk of dying from those causes?

The study, which followed 3,681 healthy European men and women age 60 or younger for about eight years, also found that above-average sodium intake did not appear to up the risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension) or dying of a heart attack or stroke.

The findings, reported in the May 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, certainly seem counterintuitive, especially in light of the ongoing public-health campaign to lower sodium consumption across the U.S. by urging restaurants and food manufacturers to curtail their use of the ingredient.

Fitness is the only thing on which you can rely for your well-being.

Get fit.

How Discrimination Hurts: Lack Of Fair Treatment Leads To Obesity Issues

Bulls**t.

People, especially men, who feel any kind of discrimination, are likely to see their waistlines expand, according to research from Purdue University.

"This study found that males who persistently experienced high levels of discrimination during a nine-year period were more likely to see their waist circumference increase by an inch compared to those who did not report discrimination," said Haslyn E.R. Hunte, an assistant professor of health and kinesiology. "Females who reported similar experiences also saw their waistlines grow by more than half an inch. This shows how discrimination hurts people physically, and it's a reminder how people's unfair treatment of others can be very powerful.

It shows how thin-skinned some people are.

It is always someone else's fault.

Screw 'em.

Man up, weenies.

And if you want to die fat, point the finger of blame at yourself.

The Health Halo Effect: Don't Judge A Food By Its Organic Label

One way Whore Foods (and its ilk) rips off the stupid.

The reasoning is that when people perceive a food to be more nutritious, they tend to let their guard down when it comes to being careful about counting calories - ultimately leading them to overeat or feel entitled to indulge. This health halo effect also seems to apply to certain foods considered by many to be especially healthy, such as organic products. Specifically, some people mistakenly assume that these foods are more nutritious just because they carry an "organic" label - an area of longstanding active debate among food and nutrition scientists.

As part of her master's research, Lee asked whether the "health halo" surrounding organic foods would lead people to automatically perceive them as tastier or lower in calories. She tested this question by conducting a double-blind, controlled trial in which she asked 144 subjects at the local mall to compare what they thought were conventionally and organically produced chocolate sandwich cookies, plain yogurt, and potato chips. All of the products, however, were actually of the organic variety - they were just labeled as being "regular" or "organic." Participants were then asked to rate each food for 10 different attributes (e.g., overall taste, perception of fat content) using a scale from 1 to 9. She also asked them to estimate the number of calories in each food item and how much they would be willing to pay. As part of the scientific program of the American Society for Nutrition annual meeting, results from this study were presented on April 10 at the Experimental Biology 2011 meeting.

Confirming Lee's health halo hypothesis, the subjects reported preferring almost all of the taste characteristics of the organically-labeled foods, even though they were actually identical to their conventionally-labeled counterparts. The foods labeled "organic" were also perceived to be significantly lower in calories and evoked a higher price tag. In addition, foods with the "organic" label were perceived as being lower in fat and higher in fiber. Overall, organically-labeled chips and cookies were considered to be more nutritious than their "non-organic" counterparts.

So, not only is there a health halo emanating from organic foods, but it's strong and consistent - at least for cookies, chips, and yogurt.

Die "healthy," idiots.

Jamie Oliver's 'ridiculous' fat clinic that cost the taxpayer £60 for every pound of weight lost in UK's most obese town

Finally, some results from the overweight IMHO predatory opportunist, Jamie Oliver's doomed-to-fail, idiot's approach to weight loss.

Jamie Oliver's attempts to cut obesity in Britain's most overweight town have cost the taxpayer £60 every pound in weight lost by patients.

The weight-loss clinic in Rotherham has been branded 'ridiculous' after the cost of the initiative emerged.

The Rotherham Institute of Obesity was created after Jamie Oliver's healthy eating campaign named the South Yorkshire town as the 'fat capital' of the UK.

But figures have shown the clinic spent £775,000 treating 1,600 overweight adults and 200 children over 18 months trying to tackle Rotherham's fat obesity crisis.

Around two thirds of adults in the town are overweight or obese but between them, patients lost just 6,100kg, or 3.38kg (7lb) each.

The cost of the initiative in relation to the amount of weight lost equates to £60 for every pound lost as part of the scheme.

Peter Thirlwall, an independent member of Rotherham Council, said the initiative was a 'terrible waste of taxpayers' money'.

You bet.

FOR KIDS: Fat weighs heavy on the brain

More explanations for why the fat are stupid.

Obesity, or being extremely overweight, isn't problematic only because of the extra pounds. The condition also boosts a person’s risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Now research indicates that obesity also leads to problems with memory, thinking and reasoning. The good news, an international team of scientists reports, is that the damage may be undone through weight loss.

Earlier studies had connected obesity-related diseases to cognitive problems. The word cognitive comes from cognition, which refers to the brain processes involved in gathering, analyzing and using information. In the previous studies, people with heart disease or high blood pressure — diseases strongly tied to obesity — scored lower on memory, thinking and reasoning tests than did people who didn't weigh as much.

But they never forget to overeat.

How interesting.

Heart And Stroke Survivors Urge Congress To Increase Funding For Medical Research And Support Legislation To Help Combat Childhood Obesity

What is a "heart survivor"? Apparently a fool who speaks without proof.

Innovative research and initiatives to increase physical activity among children will reduce the devastating toll of heart disease and stroke in communities across the country. American Heart Association patient advocates and researchers delivered that message...to members of Congress during the association's You're the Cure on the Hill Day.

Sez who?

Morons.