Researchers Probe Connection between Liver Function and Obesity

When it comes to ducks, a fatty liver is desirable -- in fact, this plumped-up organ serves as the basis for the rich delicacy known in foodie circles as foie gras. However, when it comes to humans, this increasingly common disease can lead to a whole host of health problems.

Fatty liver is a disorder that occurs after years of insulin resistance limit the liver's ability to process fats effectively. In some cases, it is the result of alcoholism, while in other instances, it is related to obesity and an imbalanced diet.

One consequence of the obesity epidemic that has swept through the United States and other industrialized nations in recent years is a related outbreak of fatty liver disease. Once rare, this obesity-related disorder is now diagnosed with increasing frequency, sometimes even occurring in children and young adults.

The sharp increase in cases of obesity-related fatty liver disease has focused researchers' attention on the relationship between obesity and liver function. This week, we'll take a look at the results of three recent studies that assessed the connection between body weight and liver health, with a particular focus on the devastating effects of fatty liver disease.

Anti-Obesity Drug May Help Reverse Symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease

As researchers probe the connection between fatty liver disease and obesity, some teams have begun to explore the possibility of treatment regimens that could be effective against both of these conditions simultaneously. According to the results of a study published in a recent volume of the journal Hepatology, the anti-obesity drug rimonabant just might fit the bill.

In the study, the drug rimonabant was administered to several groups of obese rats. According to the scientists, the drug reduced obesity as expected, but it also markedly decreased several major signs of obesity-related liver disorder. Specifically, the rats that took rimonabant showed improved lipid profiles, decreased levels of pro-inflammatory proteins, and an overall decline in liver damage.

At the current juncture, numerous problems exist with anti-obesity treatment regimens based on rimonabant. Many human research participants have reported troubling side effects from the drug, such as nausea, fatigue, and dizziness. However, the authors expressed confidence that with some fine-tuning, rimonabant may emerge as an effective anti-obesity treatment that protects against and even reverses liver damage, as well.

Scientists Seek Deeper Understanding of Obesity-Related Liver Disorders

Using one of the world's largest collection of human liver tissue samples and a massive electronic health database, researchers at the Weis Center for Research, the Center for Health Research, the Center for Nutrition and Weight Management are working together to solve the problem of obesity-related fatty liver disease.

The incidence of the debilitating disease has increased considerably over the last several decades, an outgrowth of the staggering rates of obesity and overweight facing the United States and other developed nations. Despite the significant health damage that fatty liver disease can cause, the disorder often has few symptoms in the early stages of development, when treatment is most effective.

In order to stem the tide of undiagnosed cases of obesity-related liver disorders, the team has developed a number of simple diagnostic tests that can be used to quickly and easily screen patients' liver health and function. One test that has been developed is a simple blood test. When refined, it is hoped that the relatively simple test will represent a significant step forward from the current diagnostic procedure, which involves a costly and time-consuming liver biopsy.

Low-Glycemic Diet May Protect Against Fatty Liver, Obesity

In the aftermath of the low-carb craze, a more sensible version of the concept is beginning to be endorsed by more scientists, researchers, and medical professionals. The low-glycemic index diet emphasizes the selection of foods based on their glycemic impact -- in other words, how much and how quickly they raise the blood sugar.

In the span of just a few short years, a large number of studies have uncovered benefits associated with the low-glycemic index way of eating. The results of a recent investigation undertaken by scientists at the Optimal Weight for Life program at Children's Hospital in Boston seems to suggest that the diet may also reduce and/or reverse the signs of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The study compared the liver health of mice fed low-GI and high-GI diets. At the end of a six-month experiment, the two groups weighed the same amount, but the mice that had been fed high-glycemic diets had much higher levels of fat in their bloodstreams, bodies, and livers. Although the results have yet to be confirmed in a human population, these findings could represent a breakthrough in the fight against obesity-related fatty liver disease.

If you're concerned about the health impacts of obesity-related fatty liver disease, talk to your doctor about a personalized risk assessment. Don't forget to check back each week for the breaking research news you need to succeed on your weight loss journey.

Gastric Bypass Surgery: Is it Safe?

The United States -- and, increasingly, many other developed nations -- is in the throes of a serious obesity epidemic. More people are overweight and obese than at any other time in history, and obesity-related health care problems have begun exacting a significant toll.

As the obesity rate has skyrocketed, some have begun taking extreme measures to regain a svelte shape. One of the most drastic methods of fighting obesity is gastric bypass surgery. Typically reserved only for the severely overweight, this procedure drastically reduces the capacity of the stomach.

As such, the amount of food that can be eaten at any one time is significantly limited. Some patients also develop sensitivity to certain types of food, resulting in severe gastric distress if consumed. Taken together, these two factors lead to rapid weight loss in the months following the surgery.

Clearly, gastric bypass surgery is an effective means of losing weight. However, the procedure has been at the center of an intense debate, prompting many critics to call its safety into question.

The controversy surrounding gastric bypass surgery has fostered a great deal of research interest in recent years. This week, we?ll review some of the most significant breakthroughs achieved by research teams around the world.

Larger Hospitals Mean Fewer Complications for Gastric Bypass Surgery Patients

One of the most controversial aspects of gastric bypass surgery has been the relatively high rate of post-surgery complications associated with the procedure. Compared to many other types of surgeries, the risk of serious illness, injury, and, in rare cases, even death after gastric bypass surgery is fairly high, ranging from 7% to 15%, depending on the type of procedure that has been performed.

Several prominent research teams have sought to identify factors that could contribute to the risk of complications following gastric bypass surgery. One recent study, conducted by independent medical assessment firm HealthGrades, focused on identifying the types of medical facilities that posed the greatest risk of post-surgical complications for patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery.

According to the team?s findings, the lowest risk of complications was associated with high-volume hospitals that were not only large in capacity, but also served the greatest number of patients. They also found that hospitals with more experience in performing gastric bypass surgeries tended to pose the lowest risk of complications for patients undergoing the procedure.

New Technique Discovered to be Effective in Treating a Common Complication of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Although there are many potential complications that have been associated with gastric bypass surgery, one of the most common problems is the post-surgery development of gastrojejunal anastomotic strictures. This common complication occurs when the opening between the newly-formed gastric pouch and the small intestines narrows.

A team of scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri determined that gastrojejunal anastomotic strictures can be safely and effectively treated using a method known as endoscopic balloon dilation. In this method, physicians use a balloon-like device to gently widen the narrowed gastric bypass.

Among patients who experienced the complication, 79% were successfully treated with one round of endoscopic balloon dilation. A small number more required two treatments. Furthermore, among patients who underwent the intervention, weight loss in the year after surgery was not slowed. According to the research team, this could represent a major breakthrough in the safety of gastric bypass surgery.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Reduces Severity of Adult-Onset Diabetes

The prevalence of Type II diabetes has skyrocketed over the last several decades, a trend which many researchers link to the obesity epidemic that is overtaking the United States and many other developed nations.

Although gastric bypass surgery?s primary purpose is to help severely overweight patients shed pounds, researchers have also found that the procedure can have other positive health impacts, as well. A recent study conducted by scientists at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle found that patients with diabetes were able to reduce or even stop their prescription drug regimen after undergoing surgery and losing excess weight.

Some physicians and scientists have begun to explore the possibility of suggesting gastric bypass surgery for non-morbidly obese patients with diabetes. While further study is necessary to determine the efficacy of this approach, preliminary findings indicate that the procedure can drastically reduce the severity of many diabetes-related symptoms and health problems.

If you?re considering gastric bypass surgery, be sure to consult with a licensed medical professional who can help you assess all of your options. Check back each week for the breaking research news that can help you achieve success in your weight loss journey!

Scientists Find That Social Influences Can Derail Healthy Eating Habits

To long-time dieters, it comes as no surprise that social situations can result in overeating. Dinner parties, sporting events, outdoor festivals, weddings, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, you name it -- when large groups of people get together, it?s highly likely that one thing can lead to another and you?ll find yourself eating more than you?d planned to. Some people who are trying to lose weight shun social gatherings altogether, fearful that they?ll be unable to resist temptation when cutting loose and having fun with friends and family.

Although the negative impact of social situations on weight loss efforts have long been conventional wisdom to veteran dieters, researchers are just beginning to explore this concept and its practical implications for the millions of obese and overweight men, women, and children around the world. This week, we?ll take a look at several recent studies that have considered the impact of social interaction on obesity, weight loss, and health.

Is Obesity Contagious?

Study Finds that Individual Weight Fluctuates Based on the Average Weight of the Population

A groundbreaking study that compared individual weight trends to the overall weight trends of the larger population has uncovered interesting results about the social climate in which weight gain tends to occur. The study, which was undertaken by economists at the Department of Economics and Center for Demography and Population Health at Florida State University and the Research Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, used health data drawn from different historical periods to compare weight trends in the population.

The researchers found that the increased prevalence of obesity in the population is linked to more individual weight gains. They also found that the decrease in per-capita food prices in recent years also appeared to have contributed to increasing rates of obesity.

Researchers Find that Obesity Can ?Spread? Like an Infectious Disease

A recent study that evaluated the ?spread? of obesity in social networks has garnered a great deal of media attention in recent weeks. The study, conducted by a coalition of researchers at Harvard University and other institutions, found that the presence of one or more obese or overweight individuals in a social network -- groups which can include friends, family members, co-workers, and other acquaintances -- significantly increased the risk that other members of the group would also gain weight.

Although the researchers took pains to explain that obesity is not ?contagious? in the traditional sense of the term, they do agree that patterns of obesity spread often mimic the patterns seen in epidemiological studies of infections illnesses. They suggest that frequent exposure to others who are obese or overweight may subconsciously influence our concept of what constitutes a healthy or ?normal? weight.

While the scientists agree that environmental, genetic, and other factors have played a role in the obesity epidemic that much of the developed world is struggling with, social variables should also be considered as part of the problem -- and the solution.

Kids Report Liking Common Foods Better When Wrapped In Fast Food Packaging

Another recent study that has caused a stir in the debate over the social and cultural aspects of obesity and weight loss was conducted by Stanford University researchers. The scientists discovered that preschool-aged children expressed a virtually universal preference for foods presented in the packaging associated with McDonald?s fast food restaurants.

The children who participated in the study ranged from age 3 to age 5. When presented with common fast food items such as chicken nuggets and French fries, the study participants consistently expressed a stronger liking for the foods that were wrapped in McDonald?s packaging, rather than plain packaging or no packaging.

According to the study?s authors, these results are a testament to the strong influence of marketing and branding campaigns, even on the youngest members of society. Based on these findings, the authors of the study have called for the adoption of more responsible advertising practices, as well as healthier menu offerings, by the leading fast food chains. Public health advocates have also used these conclusions to remind parents to limit young children?s exposure to advertisements for fast food and other unhealthy items.

Don?t underestimate the power of social influences in your weight loss journey. Check back each week for more of the diet and weight loss research news that can help you achieve lasting success!

Research Explores Obesity and Weight Loss in Older People

The conventional wisdom holds that weight gain is often an inevitable consequence of the aging process. On average, men and women past childbearing age gain a pound a year. Today, the obesity epidemic that has impacted the rest of the population has also begun to effect the elderly population.

Carrying excess weight can diminish health and well-being no matter what age you are, but obesity often has dire health consequences for older men and women. Virtually every disease and health problem that is common in the older population can be complicated by obesity. In an age group that often faces separate difficulties with mobility and self-care, the added challenge of being overweight can be daunting.

In recent years, researchers the world over have begun to concentrate their efforts on investigating causes, consequences, and possible solutions for the obesity epidemic. This week, we?ll focus on recent research findings that explore the issue of obesity and weight loss in older people.

Being Moderately Overweight Does Not Detract Significantly from Life Span

It is well-known that obesity can complicate the health challenges and lifestyle issues facing older men and women. It has also long been assumed that obesity in elderly people was likely linked to earlier death.

However, the results of a recent study indicate that this long-held assumption may not be founded in scientific reality. According to research conducted by a scientific team at the Kyushu Dental College in Kitakyushu City, Japan, moderately overweight men and women did not have shorter life spans than their thinner counterparts.

Although the link between obesity and premature death from heart disease was confirmed, the research team found that overweight people did not die as a result of many other common geriatric infirmities at a rate greater than their thinner counterparts. Indeed, the results gathered by the team that moderately overweight individuals often experienced a measure of protection against illnesses, accidents, and injuries common in old age.

The researchers concluded that while avoiding morbid obesity is important throughout the entire lifespan, it may be beneficial for older people to avoid letting their weight fall into the low-normal range. They suggest further research to help develop more specific weight recommendations for older men and women.

Overweight Elderly May Benefit From Disease Protection

Confirming and extending the findings of the Japanese researchers, a team of investigators in China found that moderately overweight Chinese elders often enjoyed a measure of protection from infections diseases in comparison to their thinner counterparts. Specifically, researchers working at the Tuberculosis and Chest Service in Hong Kong found that overweight elders in China had much less risk of contracting tuberculosis than did older men and women whose weight was classified as normal or low-normal.

The study participants whose BMIs exceeded 25 (the standard designation of overweight) had as much as 30% less chance of contracting tuberculosis, according to the researchers? analyses. Although maintaining a healthy body weight is an important aspect of maintaining optimal health in later life, the implications of being moderately overweight may be different in parts of the world plagued by higher risk of infections diseases.

 Most Diets are Safe For Older Men and Women

Many elderly individuals have been advised to lose weight in order to experience the health gains associated with a normal weight range. However, some may concerned that the nutritional rigors of popular weight loss plans may not be conducive to their well-being.

While these concerns are valid, they may have been proven unfounded by the findings of a recent study conducted by researchers at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. According to the results of the study, a traditional restricted-calorie weight loss diet has no significant negative effects on elderly individuals seeking to lose weight.

One of the most common concerns is the possibility that restricted-calorie diets will result in the loss of muscle mass, which can have grave consequences for mobility and independence in the elderly. However, the Wake Forest team found that muscle mass loss was minimal or negligible in elderly dieters.

Although most elderly dieters in the study lost relatively little weight, even five or ten pounds can result in a drastic improvement in overall health and quality of life. In the final analysis of the data, the researchers recommended restricted-calorie diets as a beneficial health initiative for older men and women.

If you are seeking to lose weight, consult with your physician before undertaking a diet regimen. Check back each week for more breaking diet news!

The Great Debate Continues: Recent Findings About Genetic Causes of Obesity

When it comes to weight loss, one of the most heated controversies is a variation of the age-old ?nature or nurture? debate that scientists have long asked about many aspects of human health and behavior. In short, is obesity caused by our genetics, environment and upbringing, or by our family?s and ancestors? health, heritage, and medical history?

The question is so complex that it cannot be easily answered. Although scientists have been exploring this issue for decades, a definitive answer to the ?nature or nurture? question has remained elusive. Because the transmission and manifestation of genetic traits is such a complicated process that depends upon many variables, it may be that a simple ?yes? or ?no? answer to this question will never be possible.

Still, researchers continue to investigate the relationship between obesity and genetics, with significant new findings being announced on an ongoing basis. Here?s an overview of some of the most groundbreaking findings that have been released in recent months.

UK Researchers Uncover a Strong Genetic Link to Obesity

The results of a recent study conducted by UK researchers at the University of Oxford and the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter added fuel to the flames of the ?nature or nurture? controversy. According to the team?s findings, the presence of a certain gene was identified as increasing an individual?s risk of becoming obese by up to 70%.

The gene in question was referred to as the ?FTO? gene. Among a test group of over 40,000 subjects, it was found that individuals whose DNA had one copy of the FTO gene stood a 30% higher risk of developing obesity in adulthood. The individuals who had two copies of the FTO gene (i.e., one from each parent) bore a remarkable 70% greater risk of obesity than did their counterparts without the gene.

Relationship between Mother?s Age at Puberty and Childhood Obesity Probed

A research team based at the University of Cambridge recently released study findings that identified a possible connection between maternal menarche and the obesity risk of children, offering another perspective on the long-running debate over the role genetics play in determining weight.

Specifically, the researchers found that women who started menstruating earlier tended to have children who developed obesity during childhood and adolescence. Women whose first menstrual period began at or before age 11 typically gave birth to children who experienced rapid growth during their first two years of life, but then began to develop obesity and comparatively short stature in relation to their peers.

The researchers pointed out that girls born to women who began menstruation at an early age were also more likely to experience early menstruation themselves, which is another risk factor for obesity in adolescence and adulthood.

Study Identifies Genetic Differences in the Way Nutrients are Processed

A research team comprised of scientists from Tufts University and the US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center found that different people process fat, protein, and carbohydrates differently, and that these differences can be partially ascribed to genetic traits.

Specifically, the researchers found that for a small number of people with a genetic variant of the APOA5 gene, fat intake did not impact overall body mass (BMI). In other words, the estimated 13% of the population with this gene can eat what most would consider to be an unhealthy diet and still maintain a generally healthy weight. Although this finding is not directly related to the genetic causes of obesity, it does suggest that a strong link does exist between genetics, our physique, and the ease with which we can (or can?t) maintain a healthy weight.

Nature and Nurture

Although these recent findings suggest that there is a strong link between genetics and obesity, don?t despair. As scientists would be the first to remind you, even if you have the genes that increase your risk for a condition, that doesn?t mean you?re doomed to a lifelong struggle with weight gain. Genetic expression results from a combination of our DNA and our daily choices.

In other words, if you maintain a reasonably healthy diet and exercise regularly, you probably won?t become overweight, even if you are genetically predisposed to it. As with so many things in life, if you stick to a path of moderation, you can decide your own destiny.