Brown seaweed contains promising fat fighter, weight reducer (press release)

Chemists in Japan have found that brown seaweed, a flavor component used in many Asian soups and salads, contains a compound that appears in animal studies to promote weight loss by reducing the accumulation of fat. Called fucoxanthin, the compound achieved a 5 percent to 10 percent weight reduction in test animals and could be developed into a natural extract or drug to help fight obesity, the researchers say.
The compound targets abdominal fat, in particular, and may help reduce oversized guts, the scientists say. Their study was presented today at the 232nd national meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Fucoxanthin is a brownish pigment that gives brown seaweed its characteristic color and also conducts photosynthesis (the conversion of light to energy). It is found at high levels in several different types of brown seaweed, including a type of kelp that is used in traditional Japanese miso soup. But fucoxanthin is not found in abundance in green and red seaweed, which also are used in many Asian foods, the researchers say.
The brown seaweed used in the current study was Undaria pinnatifida, a type of kelp also known as wakame, which is widely consumed in Japan. As kelp forests are found in abundance along the California coast, the new research findings could represent a potentially lucrative market if kelp -- of which there are many varieties -- can be developed into effective anti-obesity drugs, according to the scientists.
"I hope that our study [points to a way to] help reduce obesity in the U.S. and elsewhere," says study leader Kazuo Miyashita, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at Hokkaido University in Hokkaido, Japan. The compound appears to fight fat through two different mechanisms, he says.
The study involved more than 200 rats and mice. In obese animals fed fucoxanthin, the compound appeared to stimulate a protein, UCP1, that causes fat oxidation and conversion of energy to heat, Miyashita says. The protein is found in white adipose tissue, the type of fat that surrounds internal organs. As the abdominal area contains abundant adipose tissue, the compound might be particularly effective at shrinking oversized guts, the researcher says. This is the first time that a natural food component has been shown to reduce fat by targeting the UCP1 protein, he says.
The pigment also appeared in animal studies to stimulate the liver to produce a compound called DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid, at levels comparable to fish oil supplementation. Increased levels of DHA reduce 'bad cholesterol' (low density lipoprotein), which is known to contribute to obesity and heart disease. But unlike fish oil supplements, fucoxanthin doesn't have an unpleasant smell, Miyashita says. No adverse side effects from fucoxanthin were reported in the mice and rats used in the study.
But eating lots of seaweed is not the quickest or most convenient path to weight loss, Miyashita cautions. He notes that a person would probably need to eat huge amounts of brown seaweed daily to cause noticeable weight loss. That's because fucoxanthin is tightly bound to proteins in the seaweed and is not easily absorbed in the form of whole seaweed. However, he hopes to extract the most active form of fucoxanthin from brown seaweed so that it can be developed into a pill that people can take daily or as needed.
Human studies are planned, the researcher says, but adds that it may take three to five years before such an anti-obesity pill is available to consumers. Until then, people should continue to eat a well-balanced diet and get plenty of exercise, he says. Funding for the current study was provided by the Japanese government.

U.S. government to launch official exercise guidelines to combat rampant obesity among population

The Bush administration announced Thursday that guidelines for physical activity are under development -- to be released in late 2008 -- which officials hope will guide the public toward healthier lifestyles and lower health care costs.
"Obesity is an epidemic, and chronic disease inevitably follows. It has become a major quiet killer," said Mike Leavitt, the health and human services secretary, adding that more than half of U.S. adults do not get enough beneficial physical activity, one-quarter are inactive during their leisure time, and more than 60 million are obese. Leavitt said that a lack of exercise is a major part of the $2 trillion spent on health care, three-quarters of which is used to treat chronic disease.
While the government has a vested interest in promoting healthy choices among Americans -- including fruits and vegetables -- Leavitt said that forceful steps such as the proposed trans fat ban in New York City restaurants are not necessary.
"You cannot create a culture of wellness through regulations and penalties," he said. "If we simply burden people with guilt or we appeal only to their fears, it won't happen."
Current government exercise guidelines recommend 30 minutes of physical activity a day minimum, with 60 minutes a day to prevent weight gain, and 90 minutes to promote weight loss. The new guidelines -- recommended by a panel from the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Childhood Obesity -- would establish a process to routinely evaluate the best science on physical activity and make recommendations based on the results.
"If we can have the best science brought to bear and you can put out guidelines that would be age-specific, something for school, something for home, you could end up with something that might be useful," said MCCO member Dr. Douglas Kamerow.
One natural health expert was less optimistic.
"If the government's exercise guidelines are as useless as its food pyramid guidelines, we're all in for many more decades of rampant obesity," said Mike Adams, creator of the Honest Food Guide, a free downloadable replacement to the USDA's My Pyramid food guide. "Trusting our government to teach us about health is like trusting Big Pharma CEOs to teach us about ethics. Consumers are far better off learning about health on the internet than from any government agency."

OHSU research demonstrates possible health risks for children born to overeating mothers (press release)

According to the latest research from the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), overeating during pregnancy may have significant and numerous health impacts on an unborn child. The research was led by Kevin Grove, Ph.D., a scientist in ONPRC's Division of Neuroscience. Grove just returned from Australia where he presented his lab's latest research results at the prestigious 10th International Congress on Obesity.
The research demonstrated that the offspring of mothers who overeat are at risk for liver and pancreas damage. Both of which can contribute to early-onset obesity and diabetes. In addition, significant brain changes can occur in the offspring of some mothers who overeat. These changes take place in the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that controls weight regulation. The data suggest that children born to mothers who eat a high-fat diet may be predisposed to weight problems.
"There has been much scientific debate about the impacts of maternal diet versus environment when it comes to childhood obesity," explained Grove. "In conducting human observational studies, it has been difficult to determine whether the health problems of overweight children are linked to their mother's diet during pregnancy, the consumption of a high-fat diet after birth, or both. This study helps answer the first part of the question by demonstrating the negative impacts of a high-fat diet during pregnancy in a very good model for human obesity: the Japanese macaque."
Specifically, in studying pregnant female monkeys who ate a high fat-diet, the research team noted liver damage in 100 percent of the offspring. Pancreas damage and changes to the hypothalamus occurred in some, but not all of the offspring. The researchers also noted that, like humans, some pregnant monkeys were more susceptible to a high-fat diet than others. While some animals would quickly gain weight in response to the high-fat diet, other monkeys would not. Interestingly, pancreas damage and changes in the hypothalamus were more likely to occur in the offspring of animals that were more sensitive to the high-fat diet, but the liver damage was evident in all offspring.
"Clearly we have much more to learn, but the data strongly confirms the importance of a well-balanced diet for pregnant women," explained Grove. " Our future studies will attempt to determine whether these programming problems can be prevented through immediate diet change during pregnancy and when that change needs to occur."

Sugary Beverages Fuel the Obesity Epidemic (press release)

Over the past 20 years or so, Americans have developed quite the sweet tooth, with an annual consumption of sweeteners at about 100 pounds per person. During these same years, many more Americans—particularly children—have become overweight and obese. Added sweeteners, such as high-fructose corn syrup, may be one of the major reasons, says the October 2006 issue of the Harvard Health Letter.
Sweeteners added to sports beverages and juice drinks are particularly troubling because many people think those drinks are healthful. But studies have shown that people don’t cut back on their overall calorie intake to offset the extra calories from such beverages. Researchers are beginning to document the adverse health outcomes. Harvard researchers recently reported that women who drank one or more sugar-sweetened soft drinks per day were 83% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than women who drank less than one a month. Not surprisingly, they were also more likely to gain weight.
The Harvard Health Letter notes that one of the problems with sweetened beverages is that they are watery. High-calorie drinks that are low-viscosity (thin) may deceive us by preventing our bodies from “reading” calories, a capacity that depends, in part, on the thickness of a liquid.
In March 2006, the Beverage Guidance Panel issued a proposed “guidance system for beverage consumption.” The six-level system emphasizes beverages with no or few calories—especially water—over those with more calories. It also recommends drinking no more than 8 fluid ounces of sweetened sodas, juice drinks, or energy/sports drinks per day.
Source: Harvard Health Letter

Salt intake linked to obesity, say Finnish scientists

Research from scientists in Finland -- which was just recently published in the journal Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases -- could increase pressure on the food industry to reduce salt content in a wide range of foods. The researchers found that salt intake reduction helps combat obesity.
Study authors Dr. Heikki Karppanen of the University of Helsinki and Dr. Eero Mervaala of the University of Kuopio performed and published the study, saying that "The increased intake in salt has apparently played an important role in the increase in the consumption of soft drinks and, hence, also in the increase in energy intake." The study went on to add that "Higher consumption of sweetened beverages was associated with both a greater magnitude of weight gain and an increase risk for development of type-2 diabetes."
According to the study, 64 percent of the adult population of the U.S. is now considered obese, with 16 percent of American children obese as well. Obesity has been repeatedly linked with an increased risk of certain health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
The two doctors who authored this study looked at their home country of Finland and determined that in the population under 65 years of age, an average 30 to 35 percent reduction in salt intake during 30 years in Finland was associated with a 75 to 80 percent decrease in both stroke and coronary heart disease mortality.
The doctors also reported that life expectancy of both male and female Finnish citizens increased by six to seven years during the same period. To support the study, the researchers noted that numerous scientists are convinced that high salt intake is responsible for increasing blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension.
Scientists also report that in the United States, the average salt intake per person since the mid-1980s has increased from an average of 10.2 grams per day per person to more than 15 grams per day per person -- a 55 percent increase per person.

Gaining weight between pregnancies could lead to pregnancy complications (press release)

A number of studies over the years have found an association between obesity and pregnancy complications, including pre-eclampsia (hypertension), gestational diabetes and stillbirth, but there was little evidence of a direct, cause-and-effect relationship. A new, large-scale study from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, found that an increase in body mass index (BMI) between first and second pregnancies was associated with adverse outcomes, findings that support a possible causal relationship between obesity and pregnancy complications. The results are published in the September 30 edition of The Lancet.
Obesity is a growing problem worldwide. The World Health Organization considers it a major global health threat. In Sweden, during the years of the study (1992-2001), the percentage of pregnant women either overweight or obese increased from 25 percent to 36 percent. In the U.S., the prevalence of obesity in women aged 20-39 years jumped from 9 percent in 1960-1962 to 28 percent in 1999-2000.
The researchers, Eduardo Villamor, assistant professor of international nutrition at HSPH and Sven Cnattingius, professor of epidemiology at Karolinska Institutet, looked at a study population of more than 150,000 Swedish women having their first and second births between 1992 and 2001. They calculated BMI at the first prenatal visit of each pregnancy (BMI is weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters). The researchers then calculated the difference between BMI at the beginning of the first and second pregnancies. The adverse outcomes that Villamor and Cnattingius looked at during the second pregnancy included maternal complications, such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension and caesarean delivery, and perinatal complications, such as stillbirth and large-for-gestational-age birth.
The results showed that weight gain between first and second pregnancies was associated with an increased risk of all these overweight and obesity-related adverse outcomes. A gain of one to two BMI units increased the risk of gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension or large-for-gestational age birth an average of 20 to 40 percent. A gain of three or more BMI units showed a 63 percent greater chance of stillbirth compared to a gain of less than one BMI unit and also a greater effect on all other complications. Additionally, the researchers found that the risk of adverse outcomes increased even in women who were not overweight, but who gained a modest amount of weight between pregnancies. For example, if a woman who was 5 ft., 5 in., tall and weighed 139 lbs. (giving her a BMI of 23, not considered overweight) gained 6.6 lbs. (1 BMI unit) between her first and second pregnancies, her average risk of gestational diabetes would increase by more than 30 percent. If she gained 12.2 pounds (2 BMI units), her risk would increase 100 percent. The risk would continue to climb if she gained more weight and became obese.
"Previous studies had looked at the risk of pregnancy complications in relation to a single snapshot measure of pre-pregnant weight, and found that obesity appeared to increase the frequency of such complications," said Villamor. "In this study, we went further back in time to look at how women arrived at that pre-pregnant weight. It turns out that women do not need to become overweight or obese in order to increase their chances of having poor gestational outcomes; only a relatively modest increase in weight between pregnancies could lead to serious illnesses. In addition, weight loss in overweight women appeared to lower their risk of pregnancy complications."
One limitation of the study was that it was not possible to differentiate whether weight gain between pregnancies could have been due to lack of weight loss after the first pregnancy, excessive weight gain during that initial pregnancy or a weight increase between the time after the first delivery and the next conception. There was also the possibility that other factors or illnesses could be associated with both weight gain and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In a commentary that accompanies the article, Aaron Caughey, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, notes that breastfeeding could be one such factor, since women who breastfeed retain less weight post partum while breastfeeding for longer periods of time lowers diabetes risk. But overall, the authors believe the results provide strong evidence that weight gain before pregnancy could lead to a number of complications of pregnancy.
"A key public health message from our study is that women of normal weight should avoid gaining weight between pregnancies. In addition, overweight and obese women are likely to benefit from weight loss if they are planning to become pregnant. Further research is needed to find the most effective interventions that prevent interpregnancy weight gain and postpartum weight retention," said Villamor.

Most Americans agree smokers should pay more for health insurance

A new survey published this week indicates that most Americans believe smokers and the obese should pay more for health insurance. However, those surveyed were unsure how to assist the millions of citizens who currently have no health insurance.
More than 1,500 people were surveyed for the study, and of that number, 80 percent believe that the health care system in the U.S. needs to be fixed. It is estimated that approximately 46 million Americans currently have no health insurance. The study also indicated that 60 percent of those surveyed indicated favoring higher insurance premiums for smokers while 30 percent favored higher premiums for the obese.
The report stated "When it comes to personal responsibility, consumers increasingly support making people pay more for unhealthy behavior." The survey was released a week after Democrats -- who are generally in favor of more government intervention into the lives of uninsured citizens -- won control of both houses of the U.S. Congress.
The health insurance industry unexpectedly began to support a plan for universal health insurance for American citizens earlier this week. With nearly 16 percent of Americans now uninsured, the rate has been rising for years as prices for prescription drugs and hospital care have escalated.
Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health, said that about 20 percent of large employers already give insurance discounts to non-smoking workers, and that this stance is rapidly growing in popularity -- with Darling indicating that it will continue to grow faster.
Darling added that, in regards to obesity, "I think it will be a while before we get to the point where people begin tying a financial discount to something like BMI (body mass index)." When asked about the government's role in a type of universal health insurance, Darling added that "Our view is that it has to be shared responsibility; the government is going to have to pay" with the other half of the responsibility going to taxpayers, according to Darling.

Obesity could cost global economy as much as malnutrition, warns World Bank

Malnutrition shaves as much as three percent off the production of some of the poorest countries in the world, but obesity could soon affect economic output as severely as malnutrition, according to findings from the World Bank as of this week.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that obesity has tripled in the past twenty years and in addition, 10 percent of children and 20 percent of adults will be obese in Europe and Central Asia by the year 2010 unless some kind of action is taken.
Dr. Meera Shekar -- senior nutrition specialist with the World Bank -- said that malnutrition cuts two to three percent off of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the hardest-hit countries -- and the growing rate of obesity could do the same. Dr. Shekar says "We suspect that these estimates will be just as high" for obesity.
Six percent of health costs in the WHO's European region already comes from obesity in adults. For example, obesity cost France $6.41 billion in direct costs alone in 2002, while cost the state of California $22 billion in the year 2000, including indirect costs.
As obesity is also expected to reduce life expectancy, it could have a direct impact on the global economy as well. A recent study in Britain forecasted that men would live five years less by 2050 if current trends were not reversed regarding the global obesity problem.
Dr. Shekar said, "The important thing is that because the problem is increasing we would see an increasing drain on economies, particularly developing economies," while adding that obesity had appeared recently in the Middle East and North Africa -- and was turning out to be a big problem in Latin America.
The prevalence of obesity seems to shift to the poor from the rich in developing countries -- and this has happened in France, where obesity is five times more prevalent among low-income groups than high earners according to WHO Regional Adviser Dr. Franceso Branca.

Breast-Feeding May Reduce Childhood Obesity (press release)

Breast-feeding infants may reduce their risk of becoming obese children, even if the mother is obese or has diabetes, according to a study led by a researcher at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health.
The findings contradict an earlier, smaller study that found that children who had been breast-fed by mothers with diabetes had poor glucose tolerance, a precursor to diabetes, and excessive weight gain, said the University of South Carolina’s Dr. Elizabeth Mayer-Davis, the lead researcher on the study that involved scientists from Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
“In contrast to the earlier study, we were able to include mothers in our study who didn’t have diabetes, as well as those who did, and our sample size was significantly larger,” Mayer-Davis said.
“The study comes at a time when the nation is struggling with an epidemic of children and adults being overweight and obese,” she said. “Obesity is one of the leading risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and this study underscores the importance of breast-feeding to reduce the risk for childhood obesity.”
The study was conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health and included more than 15,000 boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 14. The researchers found that those who were breast-fed during the first year of life were less likely to become obese as they got older, regardless of whether their mothers were overweight or had diabetes.
The researchers believe there are several reasons why breast-fed babies may be less likely to become overweight. Nursing mothers may be more likely to respond to the baby’s natural cries for food, rather than having them on a schedule. Breast-fed babies also may be more likely to stop eating when they are full, in contrast to bottle-fed babies, who are given a specific amount of formula and encouraged to finish whatever is in the bottle. And the nutritional composition of breast milk is different than formula and actually changes while the infant is nursing. The infant’s biological response to breast milk may impact later risk for gaining excess weight, Mayer-Davis said.
“Breast-feeding can get children on a healthy track in life, particularly when the family emphasizes continued good nutrition and regular physical activity as part of their lifestyle,” she said.
Mayer-Davis said the study points to the importance of encouraging breast-feeding, especially in families with a family history of obesity, diabetes and other related health factors, such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
“By encouraging breast-feeding, this means encouragement by physicians, nurse practitioners and other healthcare providers,” she said. “But it also is extremely important to have support among family members, friends and employers who can make accommodations for women who need to take time to use their breast pumps.”
The study was supported with funding from the National Institutes of Health.
Source: University of South Carolina

Exercise boosts health of obese women even without dieting

Women who take part in exercise regimens but who don't alter their nutritional habits can find significant improvements in health and mental well-being, according to a new study.
In this study, obese women were taught about good eating habits and how to cook for a healthy diet while receiving social support. After one year, the women had only lost a little weight -- but were significantly fitter and happier with themselves.
The Leeds Metropolitan University and the University of Hull team that was responsible for the study are now presenting the results at Cambridge University. The overall conclusion is that a healthy lifestyle could improve health risks regardless of weight.
The 62 women in the Leeds study were aged 24 to 55 years, and all that took part in the study had a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30. All the women were required to do four hours a week of exercise, consisting of activities like tai chi, aqua aerobics and circuit classes.
In addition, the study included educational sessions to teach how to read food labels and cook food, as well as a type of behavioral therapy to help the women respond to body cues such as hunger and feeling full. In one exercise, a dietician encouraged participants to eat a chocolate bar in small portions over the course of a week.
Overall, the women were encouraged to eat whatever they wanted -- in moderation -- while performing their daily exercises and activities. The women who took part lost a small amount of weight during the first three months of the study, whereas women in the control group gained weight during the same period.
Although there was only a small amount of weight loss with the women in the study, all women ended up significantly fitter -- and happier. Blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol levels fell, and respiratory fitness increased. Additionally, the women in the study felt better in terms of general well-being, body image, self-perception and stress.

Corporations are bombarding children with ads that boost obesity, poor nutrition

The age groups that include young children to adolescents witness so many advertisements, medical experts now fear for their health. Reports show that 40,000 ads each year from television alone may be boosting obesity, poor nutrition, cigarette use and alcohol consumption among U.S. youth.
According to a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which appears in the December issue of Pediatrics, there should be calls for more media education to counter some of advertising's negative effects.
Dr. Donald Shifrin -- chairman of the AAP Committee on Communications -- said "We're pleading with pediatricians and parents to become aware that consumeristic tendencies are being fed right from birth … we have to understand that youngsters under a certain age cannot differentiate between a commercial and a program. To them, it's real. There should be some effort on the part of parents to point out that this is a commercial."
In what is known in the advertising industry as "cradle to grave" marketing, may companies start targeted advertising when children are infants in order to ensure that children grow up with certain acceptable advertising and branding ideas and carry those impressions with them throughout their lives.
David Jernigan -- executive director of the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University -- said "It's so important that pediatricians and parents be aware of the pressure that kids are under, and for professional groups such as this one to keep putting pressure on industry."
Indeed, advertising aimed at children and adults is ubiquitous, and in addition to television, messages appear on the Internet, magazines, school buses, school gymnasiums, book covers and school bathroom stalls.
Several European countries have already restricted advertising to children and adolescents. Just this week, Britain banned junk food commercials from the airways during children's programming. In the United States, however, young people are inundated by ads from every medium.

Obesity worse for health than drinking or smoking

According to a new government study from Britain, obesity is more dangerous to health than smoking or drinking. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in Britain says the ongoing issue with weight in England has become more serious in the last 25 years, with one-third of women and nearly half of men now overweight.
In England, there are now 24 million adults who are overweight or obese. Among the country's children, 16 percent are obese as of 2006, compared with 11 percent 11 years ago in 1995. Even more startling is that NICE expects one-fifth of all children to be obese within four years.
Professor Peter Littlejohns, director of clinical and public health at NICE, said "Obesity is the most serious threat to the future health of our nation … the risks of obesity are as serious as smoking and urgent action is needed to tackle it. For the first time, we have bought together all the people who can help solve the obesity problem, not just health professionals but local councils, employers and schools to produce a piece of work that sets out the steps we must take."
In America, public health research has shown that for every 100 obese men and women, there are 50 extra chronic diseases compared to about 20 extra diseases among those who had ever smoked, nearly 60 among people living in poverty, and a similar number for drinkers.
"Obesity has become one of the leading causes of preventable death in advanced nations," said Mike Adams, coauthor of Appetite Suppressants for Safe, Effective Weight Loss. "It is time that nations enacted serious measures to ban junk food advertising, educate the public about sound nutritional habits, and end the FDA's censorship of food and supplement companies who with to share valuable information about the health benefits of their products."

Animal study links yet another health problem with trans fats: an increase in stubborn belly fat

According to the American Obesity Association, 127 million adults in the United States are overweight, while 60 million are obese and 9 million are severely obese. With the U.S. population pushing 300 million, that equates to nearly two-thirds of American adults being classified as at least overweight -- and that's not counting the epidemic of overweight and obese children.
It's simple to spot America's weight problem -- just look around any public area for the hallmark large belly you'll likely spot on two out of every three adults. However, recent research shows that obese Americans may not be entirely to blame for their expanding girths -- rather, a common, dangerous ingredient in many processed foods may have much to do with the dangerous belly fat common in overweight and obese Americans.
Trans fatty acids have already been vilified for their role in causing a myriad of health problems, including cancer, birth defects and cardiovascular disease. But a new Wake Forest University study shows that trans fats also largely contribute to dangerous belly fat.
The six-year study tracked the health changes of 51 male vervet monkeys that were split into two groups and fed identical diets, but with one difference: One group got 8 percent of its calories from trans fats, while the other group received those calories from healthy monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil.
By the end of the study, the monkeys fed the trans fats had increased their body weight by 7.2 percent versus the other group, which only experienced a 1.8 percent increase. However, the most telling difference between the two groups was easy to see: The trans fat monkeys had grown large bellies, while the other group had not. Researchers said the weight gain was surprising, since neither group had been fed enough calories to gain weight -- especially not the 30 percent increase in abdominal fat that the trans fat group experienced.
In addition, the researchers found that the trans fats not only caused excess visceral fat; they actually caused fat from other parts of the body to be redistributed to the belly. Researchers concluded that, calorie for calorie, consuming trans fats leads to greater weight gain, especially in the belly area.
Though sporting a large belly is generally considered a social taboo in the United States, it's also one of the most dangerous manifestations of obesity. Research in the last few years has revealed that wide girths often indicate large quantities of visceral fat, which is the deeply hidden fat surrounding the organs in the abdominal region. Visceral fat has been linked with high insulin levels, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and high blood pressure, as well as a host of other ailments.
Even for those who are just a few pounds overweight and lack the telltale belly often associated with high visceral fat levels, the amount of hidden fat can be surprisingly high. For example, seniors should be especially careful to keep a slim abdomen, since even normal-weight seniors with larger amounts of hidden visceral fat run an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Robert Ross, an exercise physiologist at Queen's University in Ontario, says, "In addition to the stethoscope around their necks, physicians should be carrying a tape measure."
The facts are: Trans fats cause the body to gain excess belly fat, and even redistribute existing fat to the belly. Belly fat is often linked to dangerous visceral fat, which in turn can lead to a wide range of health problems. But what can consumers donning extra belly fat do to get rid of it?
First, trans fats must be eliminated from the diet -- not reduced, but eliminated. Stopping the problem at its source is vital to losing belly fat. To guard against consuming the dangerous fats, look at the nutrition facts and/or ingredients list on the label of the foods you buy. As of 2006, the FDA began requiring food manufacturers to list trans fat content on food labels, so it should be simple to avoid foods containing trans fats. However, a loophole in the law allows manufacturers to use up old labels already printed when the law was announced, meaning that many companies may be packaging foods that contain trans fats with already-printed labels that don't list the hazardous fats. As a precaution, check the ingredients list for "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oils, which are trans fats.
Belly fat is easier to carry and thus harder to lose; a healthy diet is your best weight loss strategy
Fat is difficult to lose because it is the body's stored extra energy, and years of evolution have trained the human body to be reluctant to let go of its emergency source of energy. Belly fat can be especially difficult to lose because it is an ideal place for the body to carry its stored energy. It takes less energy to carry weight around the midsection than around the legs or arms, for example. Thus, in order to lose fat -- especially stubborn belly fat -- consumers must adopt a healthy diet that is not only free of trans fats, but also free of a host of other dangerous food ingredients, such as MSG, sugar and sodium -- all characteristics of processed foods.
Essentially, getting rid of body fat, and belly fat in particular, requires a whole-body approach. A common myth among dieters is that exercising the muscles beneath the fat on a certain body part will reduce the fat on that one body part. However, cutting out one group of "bad" foods or doing lots of sit-ups in hopes of reducing waist size will not get the job done. On the contrary, fat loss only occurs when the entire body is exercised and supplemented by a healthy diet.
"It's virtually impossible to lose body fat if you don't engage in routine physical exercise, and strength training is included in that exercise," writes natural health author Mike Adams. "By engaging in strength training, you will end up burning fat for hours and even days after your exercise session."
Experts also recommend 30 to 45 minutes of brisk walking (as if you're late for the bus) for five days a week, with greater benefits from exercising 60 minutes, five days a week. The exercise should be intense enough to experience a noticeable increase in heart rate, but still be able to have a conversation. According to visceral fat researchers, such an exercise routine would likely result in visceral fat being the first fat lost; however, outer abdominal fat may be the last to go, so exercisers shouldn't be discouraged if their waistlines don't shrink immediately.
Ross, of Queen's University, says researchers will never find a "magic pill in a bottle" that will increase fitness and decrease waist size, so overweight and obese people must accept that the only way to get fit and healthy is through lifelong diet and exercise. "I can't imagine a better solution to lifestyle-based disease than physical activity," Ross says.
According to George Blackburn, associate director of nutrition at Harvard Medical School, "We can't keep stuffing our faces with fat and take a little stroll and think we're doing ourselves any good." Blackburn says overweight people must adopt "a new lifestyle that reduces your caloric intake, improves the quality of the food in your diet and increases the amount of daily exercise."
For the overweight Americans who want to change their health and appearance, the verdict is in: Diet and exercise aren't easy, but they work. Avoiding trans fats and other unhealthy foods, combined with better nutrition and regular, fairly intense exercise will eventually result in the belly-free, healthy physique that currently eludes two-thirds of American adults.

Two convicted for making pet dog obese

A pair of brothers in England has been found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering by ignoring a vet's advice regarding their dog's diet. The court ruled that Derek Benton, 62, and David Benton, 53, fed their Labrador Rusty an improper diet, causing his weight to rise by nearly 56 pounds in two years.
"We find that Rusty was suffering and that he was overweight due to an inappropriate diet," said Bryant Watson, chairman of the bench in Ely, where the case was heard.
The case was brought to the court by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). When the RSPCA first took custody of Rusty, he was reportedly so fat — at 150 pounds — that he was barely able to stand. Since then, he has lost 49 pounds under RSPCA care.
The court released the Bentons without punishment and restored the dog to their care, provided that Rusty does not regain any of the lost weight.
"I'm happy because we're getting our boy back," David Benton said. "He will be going to another vet and we'll make sure he gets what he needs."
Not everyone was happy with the decision. Alex Wylie, the vet who treated Rusty when he was first brought in by the RSPCA, said that he was "devastated."
"The one thing we didn't want was for Rusty to be allowed back to the Bentons," he said.
The RSPCA also expressed disappointment that Rusty would remain in the brothers' custody. But according to the society's Jason Finch, the RSPCA will be working with the Bentons to monitor the dog's condition. "Hopefully they will adhere to the conditions set out regarding his care," he said.
Consumer advocate Mike Adams says more cases like this should be brought against the parents of children, not just pets. "Isn't it interesting that the courts are ruling it's illegal to make your dog obese, but it's perfectly okay to make your children obese by feeding them junk foods and sugary drinks? In a very real way, the legal requirements for nutrition are far lower for humans than for pets. Dog food is consistently more nutritious than processed kids' foods."

Study: Number of obesity surgery patients in U.S. soared between 1998 and 2004

A study released Wednesday by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that the number of people who underwent some sort of stomach surgery for obesity in 2004 was more than 120,000, and the number of such patients in middle age has doubled since 1998.
The study found that 772 people aged 55 to 64 underwent gastric bypass, stomach stapling or some other weight loss surgery in 1998, and 15,086 members of that demographic had the same surgeries in 2004.
"Among the reasons for the extremely dramatic increases is that the mortality outcomes from obesity surgery have improved greatly," said the agency in a statement printed online. "The national death rate for patients hospitalized for bariatric surgery declined 78 percent, from 0.9 percent in 1998 to 0.2 percent in 2004."
The report reveals that "more Americans are turning to obesity surgery and that an increasing number of younger people are undergoing these procedures," said Dr. Carolyn Clancy, the director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
In 2004, more than 103,000 patients aged 18 to 54 had some sort of weight loss surgery, according to the study, as did 349 patients aged 12 to 17.
"As the rate of obesity continues to climb, the health care system needs to be prepared for continued escalation in the rate of this surgery and its potential complications," Clancy said.
The soaring popularity of the surgeries has not increased the cost, the study reports; in fact, the price has gone down slightly. Not including physician fees and adjusting for inflation, an obesity surgery patient could expect to pay an average of $10,970 for such procedures in 1998, while a 2004 patient's average bill would be closer to $10,395, said the report.

New study links fast food to increased weight

Results from a recent study yield stronger evidence to correlate fast food with increased body weight.
A collection of nearly 3,400 young adults were tested for a decade, and with each fast food meal they ingested, their body mass index (BMI) went up by a significant percentage, said Barry M. Popkin of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, one of the lead scientists for the study.
It’s “enough of an effect to take you from being non-diabetic to diabetic," said Popkin director of the Interdisciplinary Obesity Center at UNC.
For today’s American, almost half of their calorie intake – 42 percent – comes from food eaten away from home each year, Popkin said. This represents an increase from previous decades when obesity rates among Americans are on the rise.
The research study separated eating out at fast food places versus traditional restaurants. Its principle findings were created through comparing the BMI of each participant during the seventh year of the study and their BMI at the tenth year. The more fast food the participant ate each week, the higher their BMI was. For each extra fast food meal eaten during year 7, the average participants’ BMI increased by 0.13 points; for the same results during year 10, it yielded a 0.24 point increase.
Miniscule point increases add up during the course of a year. For an average person 5 foot 10 inches tall, gaining 0.24 points of BMI equals gaining 1.7 pounds for the week. If one were to add more and more fast food meals as part of their weekly diet, they can add a lot more girth over the course of a year.
However, eating at traditional restaurants is okay, the study found. Researchers found no increase in BMI from eating at traditional restaurants, and in some cases found it lowered BMI.