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Dutch researchers have concluded that taking a popular
weight loss drug in addition to following a low-calorie diet and exercise
program may not help overweight teenagers. The results were published in the
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
While the drug sibutramine has been proven to help adults
lose weight, a study of 24 obese teenagers by the VU University Medical Center
in Amsterdam
found that the drug did little if anything to enhance weight loss. The teens
were divided up into two groups and were given either the diet drug or the
placebo for a 12-week period. Both groups followed a low-calorie diet and
exercise program while taking the pills. After the 12 weeks the groups stopped
taking the sibutramine and the placebo. Researchers studied the results and
found that the teens who took the diet drug and found that the average fat loss
for both groups was similar, as were the changes in metabolism.
It is unclear why this drug did not work for teenagers,
while it has shown promise for creating a feeling of satiety in adults and
helping to reduce weight. Is it possible that this is because adult and
adolescent metabolisms are different? At any rate, there must be better methods
for obese teenagers to lose weight. It is unclear what effect weight loss drugs
could have on their bodies while they are still growing and developing.
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According to People magazine, British starlet Keira
Knightley is distraught by rampant rumors that she suffers from an eating
disorder. The Pirates of the Caribbean actress
is reportedly very upset that photographs of her have been attached to
magazine and tabloid articles about the entertainment industry's skinny obsession.
Keira has stressed that she is naturally thin but lost
weight during filming of the third Pirates film, At World’s End, because of the
extremely hot temperatures and the heavy clothing she had to wear for her role.
According to the magazine article Keira has even sought help to add weight to
her petite frame but she refuses to eat poorly in order to appear heavier.
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The makers of the first government-approved non-prescription
weight loss drug have launched a book to help consumers maximize their weight
loss potential by taking on a healthier lifestyle.
The book, Are You Losing It? Lose Weight Without Losing Your
Mind, was born out of an agreement between GlaxoSmithKline, the nutritional
supplement company that created the diet pill Alli, and the United States Food
and Drug Administration. The federal food and drug regulator voiced concerns
about the misconceptions consumers might have about how the pill actually
works. The book, on supermarket and pharmacy shelves across the country, is
meant to educate Alli users about the need for exercise and adopting a
low-calorie diet.
Alli is expected to be available to the public this summer. The
drug is designed to work by blocking the absorption of fat by the body and
limiting the number of calories that are absorbed. Alli users are expected to
lose up to 10 percent of their body weight when they use the pill in
combination with a reduced calorie diet and an exercise program.
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Two fast-food chains now offer trans fat free menu options
in their U.S.
restaurants. This week both KFC and Taco Bell switched to cooking oils
that do not contain the bad fat.
KFC has stopped using oil containing trans fat to cook its
chicken, opting instead for soybean oil. Taco Bell now uses canola oil and soybean oil to
cook 23 of its food items and plans to eliminate trans fat from all of its menu
items in the near future. Executives at the companies say taste has not been
compromised by switching to healthier oils.
Taco Bell and KFC are the
first fast-food chains in the U.S.
to eliminate trans fats from their foods. Other chains, including McDonald’s
and Burger King, have promised to use healthier cooking oils but have yet to
make the switch. Trans fats are considered to be unhealthy because they raise bad
cholesterol levels which contribute to serious health conditions like coronary
artery disease.
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Scientists may have discovered a way to help obese individuals
to lose weight without the use of invasive surgery. Researchers at Salk
Institute in San Diego, California developed a drug that simulates
fat and signals cells to burn fat. The drug was unveiled at the Experimental
Biology 2007 conference in Washington,
D.C. this past weekend.
So far the drug has only been tested on mice but has produce
promising results. Mice that were given the chemical switching drug were found
to burn more calories even when they weren’t active. The drug works by causing
an increase in metabolism similar to one that is generated by exercise. If this
product is as effective for humans it could help individuals who suffer from
slow metabolisms and who have failed to lose weight through diet and exercise.
Scientists also believe that this drug could help to decrease the instances of Type
2 diabetes and heart disease related to obesity. In turn, this would help to
lower health care costs which are rising steadily in the United States
and the rate of obesity increases.
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Britney Spears is attempting to turn over a new leaf in her life. She has recently cut off her manager Larry Rudolph and many of her old friends from the past. She's also letting her relationship with her family go sour. A girl's gotta know that family is the most important thing in your life, but apparently Britney doesn't seem to realize this. Over the past few months Brit has been on an emotional roller-coaster. From shaving her head to checking into rehab this blondie has certainly been in the public eye. Britney says she doesn't want to be associated with anything from her past; but cutting out her family is not a smart decision. She's recently been spotted sporting a new sleek look. Her killer abs are back. She's not saying how she achieved this look but some are speculating surgery might have been a factor. Maybe she's traded cheetos for carrot sticks and late night partying for early morning runs. She currently looks fabulous but who knows how long this new look will stick.
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Sugary and high fat foods will no longer be available in
American schools if Congress gets its way. The government has requested the Institute of Medicine
to develop a set of standards for food items in schools. The guidelines will
help to address Congress’ concerns about the growing rate of childhood obesity
in the United States.
This week the Institute came out with a system that will
encourage children to eliminate fatty, sugary and salty food from their diets
and consume more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Recommended foods and
snacks include baby carrots, low sodium crackers, animal crackers, whole grain
cereals, 100 percent fruit juice and low-fat milk. The new standards will apply
to school cafeterias and vending machines, but not bagged lunches brought from
home. Foods like baked potato chips, reduced salt pretzels and caffeine-free
diet soda will only be available in high schools after school hours.
These new standards are a much needed step towards improving
nutrition within the school system. In some states vending machines have been
outlawed, but children need to be supplied with healthy snack choices. Setting
new standards for nutrition could set children on a path to better eating that
could continue through adulthood.
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Researchers at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada
are gearing up to begin a study to determine whether or not diet plays in
pregnant and postpartum women’s mental health, according to a news report in
the Calgary
Herald.
The study will be headed up by a PhD student and is expected
to begin January 2008. The project is based on the belief that nutrient
deficiencies, both during pregnancy and after birth, may cause postpartum
depression. It is no secret that nutrient deficiencies can impact mental
health. In fact, vitamin B12 deficiency is quite common in individuals who
suffer from mental illnesses; namely depression.
If this theory proves true than many cases of depression
during pregnancy and postpartum depression could be treated or even prevented
through appropriate vitamin supplementation, saving many new moms and families
stress and grief.
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Former 90210 actress and Tori and Dean: Inn Love star Tori
Spelling is excited about her new son Liam, but not about her post pregnancy
pounds. According to People magazine, Tori put on 40 pounds during her
pregnancy and is eager to take it off.
Entertainment news reports reveal that Tori has signed up
for NutriSystem food delivery service to ensure she gets her diet back on track
and has taken up jogging with her husband. She admitted to having mixed
emotions about her weight gain, particularly when some of the weight appeared
in areas other than her belly and now hopes to return to her pre pregnancy
weight of 115.
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A Canadian university study proves that eating just one high
fat meal can cause a spike in blood pressure. Researchers at the University of Calgary recently recruited 30 healthy undergraduate
students to test their theory about the relationship between foods that are
high in saturated fat and the body’s physical reaction during stress. The study was published in the Journal of Nutrition.
The students all fasted the night before the test. The next
morning they were given two separate breakfasts with equal numbers of calories
but vastly different fat contents. Half the group received a McDonald’s
breakfast that consisted of an Egg McMuffin, Sausage McMuffin and two hash
brown patties, which contained 42 grams of fat. The second half of the group was
given a bowl of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes with skim milk, a Kellogg’s Fruit
Loops cereal bar, a Source fat-free yogurt cup and Sunny Delight orange juice.
This meal contained just one gram of fat.
Two hours later the students were subjected to a series of
stress tests, including a math test and a public speaking assignment. They also
had blood pressure cuff wrapped around one arm that caused slight pain and had
to stick one arm into freezing cold water. Individuals who had eaten the
high-fat breakfast experienced a 25 percent increase in blood pressure compared
to those who had eaten the low-fat meal. They also experienced an increase in
heart rate and resistance of blood vessels. This cardiovascular reactivity can
lead to the development of hypertension, which is a major risk factor for
cardiovascular disease. Two weeks later the groups reversed roles, but the results remained the same.
Researchers believe that this study may shed some light on
why so many young people are experiencing high blood pressure, particularly
considering that just one high-fat meal had such an impact on healthy
individuals. This study may also provide evidence that the average American
diet, high in fast food, may be a major contributor to the increasing rate of
heart disease.
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The growing obesity rate is putting a strain on the health
care system in Ontario, Canada and some individuals in need of weight
loss surgery may be forced to go to the United States to have the
procedure.
The reason for this is that the Ontario Health Insurance
Plan (OHIP) cannot keep up for the growing demand for surgery, according to a
news report in the Toronto Star. OHIP currently funds approximately 500 weight
loss surgeries per year – some of which are performed outside of Canada - while the
demand is for roughly 3,500. According to Statistics Canada approximately one
in four Ontarians is overweight or obese.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care recently announced
$3.7 million in funding for weight loss surgeries – a considerable increase
over the current funding. This will boost the number of procedures the province
will be able to perform by 225, but it will not be enough to address the need.
A growing number of people, frustrated with long wait times
for procedures are going over the border to the U.S. for gastric bypass surgery.
The procedure is still typically covered by OHIP but at nearly double the cost
of having the procedure done in Ontario.
At the same, obesity rates are climbing in the United States as well. According to
a study conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in 2004 more
than 120,000 weight loss surgeries were performed. If obesity rates continue to
rise at their current pace Canadians may not be able to look south of the
border for help either.
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A New Zealand
woman is fuming after learning that a photograph of her is being used to sell a
brand of diet pills in the United
States. According to the New Zealand Herald
the woman, Maree Briggs, came across the advertisement for Metabo-Speed XXX on
the Internet. The distributor, Lab 88, touts the product as the “diet pill of
the stars.”
The photo of Briggs was taken by her husband in the 1990s to
mark her completion of a diet program called The Natural Way. The photograph
was used for magazine advertisements for the diet, which Briggs was compensated
for. She believes the photograph was taken from the company’s Web site and she plans
to sue Lab 88 for using her image without her permission. Lab 88 also
reportedly has used celebrity “endorsements” from stars like Oprah Winfrey.
There are grey areas when it comes to weight loss supplement
endorsements, although this particularly case appears to be blatantly
dishonest. The large percentage of dietary supplement companies use individuals
and celebrities to endorse their products to give them credibility.
Unfortunately, in many cases the individuals are paid for promoting the weight
loss supplements without ever having used them. In some cases individuals who
endorse supplements do lose weight by using the supplement but may have used
another method of weight loss in conjunction with the product.
Concerns about marketing techniques have prompted the United
States Federal Trade Commission to consider new guidelines for using endorsements
for weight loss products. Changes could include making disclosures more
detailed in prominent in advertisements. The FTC is expected to make a decision
regarding new guidelines in June.
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A long-term study into the affects of salt-intake on the
body proves that the substance greatly increases the risk for serious health
problems, scientists report. The 15-year study was headed up by Harvard Medical School
and published in the British Medical Journal.
According to the study, individuals who consumed lower
amounts of salt reduced their risk of stroke and cardiac arrest by 25 percent
and decreased their risk of premature death by 20 percent. There is speculation
that a high sodium diet also increases blood pressure, but more studies need to
be conducted to determine whether this is true or not.
Researchers and health experts involved in the study believe
it proves the need to lower daily salt consumption, particularly in the United States and Britain where daily sodium
consumption remains quite high despite past warning about the dangers of eating
too much salt.
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Rocker Courtney Love is finally speaking out about her
dramatic weight loss. Love squashed rumors of weight loss surgery by announcing
on HBO that she went on a strict diet in order to fit into a pair of designer
jeans.
Over the past several days numerous gossip magazines and
entertainment news programs have speculated that the singer underwent weight
loss surgery or liposuction to achieve the 52 pound weight loss. According to
reports in People magazine Love made a New Year’s resolution to lose enough
weight to squeeze into a pair of Todd Lynn jeans straight off the runway.
Love insists that she lost the weight by exercising and
eating a 1,200 calorie per day diet. She stressed that it would have been
impossible for her to undergo gastric bypass surgery as she would have had to
have been 100 pounds overweight to even qualify for the procedure. Love
reportedly weighed just over 180 pounds at her heaviest.
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People who consume more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3
fatty acids are more prone to depression, a university study has found. Researchers
at Ohio State University College of Medicine studied 43 three men and women to determine
the link between their consumption of fatty acids and depression and
inflammation. Six study participants who had been diagnosed with major
depression had 17 times more omega-6 fatty acid than omega-3 fatty acid in
their bodies. The study was published in Psychosomatic Medicine journal.
Omega-6 fatty acids are found in refined vegetables oils,
which are commonly found in margarines and processed foods. Omega-3 fatty acids
are found in fish (particularly salmon and mackerel), walnuts, soybeans,
flaxseed oil and canola oil. Researchers believe that foods typically consumed
by Americans could be causing the fatty acid imbalance and be contributing to
increased rates of depression and even heart disease. Eating a diet rich in
omega-3 fatty acids, along with fruits and vegetables, could lower omega-6
levels in the body.
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