|
|
Volume 2, Issue 5
Higher levels of physical activity keeps weight off longer
Possible link between children's weight and ear infections
"Glycemic load" of diet has no effect on weight loss
Younger women don't lose bone during weight loss
'Fat' gene found by scientists
Higher levels of physical activity keeps weight off longer
New research out of the University of North Carolina has provided further evidence that people who participate in high levels of long-term exercise are more successful at losing weight and keeping it off.
Researchers studied a group of 202 overweight men and women for 18 months. Participants were assigned to two groups, the high physical activity group that aimed to burn 2,500 calories a week and the standard physical activity group that burned 1,000 calories a week. In the end those in the high physical activity group lost significantly more weight than the standard group. In addition, those who reported to continue their exercise beyond the study maintained a significantly larger weight loss.
1
Possible link between children's weight and ear infections
Ear infections in children are very common, affecting as many as eight or nine of every 10 kids. Researchers in South Korea recently found a possibly link between body fat in children and ear infections.
The study followed two groups of children aged 2 to 7, 155 who had tubes implanted in their ears to help them drain fluid and recover from ear infections, and 118 who were in the hospital for other reasons. The results indicated that the children with ear infections had an average BMI of 22, compared to 16 for the other group, suggesting a link between extra fat and the risk of ear infections.
2
"Glycemic load" of diet has no effect on weight loss
Nowadays there are many diets out there, each touting that certain foods are better or worse for you when trying to lose weight. One common diet is based on the concept of the gylcemic load. White bread and potatoes, for example, have a high glycemic index, while other carbs, such as high-fiber cereals or beans, are considered to have a low glycemic index. The theory is that diets with a lower gylcemic index have better results.
However researchers at Tufts University recently studied this theory and found that study participants who followed a low glycemic-load diet ended up losing roughly 8 percent of their initial weight, as did those who followed a high glycemic-load diet.
3
Younger women don't lose bone during weight loss
Postmenopausal women have to be vigilant when trying to lose weight, because research has found that weight loss also leads to bone loss, which in turns puts them at risk for osteoporosis. However, a recent study has found that the same is not true for younger women.
Researchers at Rutgers University studied a group of 44 overweight pre-menopausal women with an average age of 38. The women were randomly assigned to two groups, a normal calcium diet (1 gram/day) and a high calcium diet (1.8 grams/day), which is generally recommended to prevent bone loss. In the end the two groups lost an average of 7.2 pounds and neither group had an increase or decrease in bone mass density.
4
'Fat' gene found by scientists
A gene that contributes to obesity has been identified for the first time, promising to explain why some people easily put on weight while others with similar lifestyles stay slim. This gene, called the FTO gene was studied in a group of 37,000 people. The researchers found that there are two varieties of the gene.
The team found that those who inherit two copies of one variety were 70 percent more likely to be obese than those who inherited two copies of the other variety. The 50 percent of subjects who inherited one copy of each FTO variety had a 30 percent higher risk of obesity.
5
Sources
1Tate DF, Jeffery RW, Sherwood NE, Wing RR. (2007). Long-term weight losses associated with prescription of higher physical activity goals. Are higher levels of physical activity protective against weight regain? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85, 954-9.
2Kim JB, Park DC, Cha CI, Yeo SG. (2007). Relationship between pediatric obesity and otitis media with effusion. Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, 133, 379-82.
3Das SK, et al. (2007). Long-term effects of 2 energy-restricted diets differing in glycemic load on dietary adherence, body composition, and metabolism in CALERIE: a 1-y randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85, 1023-30.
4Riedt CS, Schlussel Y, von Thun N, Ambia-Sobhan H, Stahl T, Field MP, Sherrell RM, Shapses SA. (2007). Premenopausal overweight women do not lose bone during moderate weight loss with adequate or higher calcium intake. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85, 972-80.
5Frayling TM, et al. (2007). A Common Variant in the FTO Gene Is Associated with Body Mass Index and Predisposes to Childhood and Adult Obesity.
Science.
|
