Sports N Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday that the obesity epidemic of America is proving to be as stubborn as those maddening love handles, and shows no sign of reversing course.

“It’s good that we didn’t see increases. On the other hand, we didn’t see any decreases in any group,” said CDC researcher Cynthia Ogden.

CDC researchers reported more than 78 million adults and almost 13 million children aged 2-19 were obese in 2009-10.

The results were released online in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Popularity: unranked [?]

According to a new study, the percentage of Americans of “normal weight” has slightly increased in the past year, but overweight and obese people still command a solid majority.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey found that 36.6 percent of Americans were of normal weight in the third quarter of 2011, compared with 35.6 percent a year ago.

From news.yahoo.com:

The survey found 35.8 percent of Americans to be overweight, compared with 36.0 percent a year ago, and 25.8 percent obese, down from 26.6 percent last year.

The study said it was not clear what caused the change, but said it could be due to the tough economy, with cash-strapped Americans choosing to eat in rather than eating at high-calorie restaurants.

A downward trend in obesity rates could also mean a drop in U.S. healthcare costs, the study said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated medical costs associated with obesity were $147 billion in 2008.

“Although the majority of Americans are still overweight or obese, it is an encouraging sign that obesity rates are trending downward in the U.S.,” the study said.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Research based tip sheets in context to breast cancer including breast cancer prevention, screening and early detection, treatment, and survivorship are being offered. This offer was made by experts from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and its clinical care partner, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance during the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

From in.news.yahoo.com:

10 tips for breast cancer prevention

1. Avoid becoming overweight. Obesity raises the risk of breast cancer after menopause, the time of life when breast cancer most often occurs. Try to maintain a body-mass index under 25.

2. Eat healthy to avoid tipping the scale. Embrace a diet high in vegetables and fruit and low in sugared drinks, refined carbohydrates and fatty foods. Eat lean protein such as fish or chicken breast and eat red meat in moderation, if at all. Eat whole grains. Choose vegetable oils over animal fats.

3. Keep physically active, even when begun later in life. It reduces overall breast-cancer risk by about 10 percent to 30 percent. All it takes is moderate exercise like a 30-minute walk five days a week.

4. Drink little or no alcohol. Alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

5. Avoid hormone replacement therapy. Menopausal hormone therapy increases risk for breast cancer. If you must take hormones to manage menopausal symptoms, avoid those that contain progesterone and limit their use to less than three years. “Bioidentical hormones” and hormonal creams and gels are no safer than prescription hormones and should also be avoided.

6. Consider taking an estrogen-blocking drug. Women with a family history of breast cancer or who are over age 60 should talk to their doctor about the pros and cons of estrogen-blocking drugs such as tamoxifen and raloxifene.

7. Don’t smoke. Research suggests that long-term smoking is associated with increased risk of breast cancer in some women.

8. Breast-feed your babies for as long as possible. Women who breast-feed their babies for at least a year in total have a reduced risk of developing breast cancer later.

9. Participate in a research study. The Hutchinson Center is home to several studies that are looking at ways to reduce the risk for breast cancer.

10. Get fit and support breast cancer research at the same time. Regular physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. Ascend some of the world’s most breathtaking peaks while raising vital funds for and awareness of breast cancer research by participating in the Hutchinson Center’s annual Climb to Fight Breast Cancer.

The series was introduced recently with ‘10 Tips for Breast Cancer Prevention‘ provided by Anne McTiernan, director of the Hutchinson Center’s Prevention Center, a member of the Center’s Public Health Sciences Division, and author of “Breast Fitness“.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Researchers at the Michigan State University have found out that leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells and considered as an appetite-controlling hormone, has the ability to affect the immune system where natural versions of some steroids fail to deliver.

This study was reported in an online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It was revealed by Pamela Fraker, MSU professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and lead scientist that the neuroendocrine system plays an all-important role in both the immune system and obesity.

From News-Medical.Net:

To further study leptin’s effect on the immune system, Fraker and her colleagues are planning a study on morbidly obese people who will be having gastric bypass surgery. While the outcome of the surgery is highly successful for most people, mortality rates can range from 2 percent to 10 percent, which is significant.

“Infection from poor wound healing, which is the result of reduced immune function, is one reason people die from the surgery,” Fraker said. “We’re going to measure people’s immune function before and after surgery to see how much it improves, as well as how fast it improves.”

Other members of this research team are MSU scientists Louis King, research assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, and Kate Claycombe, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition.

While corticosteroids, such as prednisone, reduce inflammation, they also inhibit the body’s immune system – a person taking prescription steroids is more susceptible to infection. Another MSU research team found that corticosteroids produced naturally in the body don’t have this same immunosuppressive effect.

It was remarked by Fraker and his team that the naturally-produced versions of steroids do not affect the immune system like the pharmacological versions and pharmaceutical companies need to aim for synthesizing natural versions of the steroids.

Popularity: 8% [?]