Intestinal bacteria: another cause of obesity?

In the past 30 years, the number of obese children and adults in the U.S. has literally exploded. As scientists search for an answer to the problem, they are discovering that obesity is not a simple issue, but a complex, multi-factorial disease with a variety of causes. Some causes are obvious, such as too much food and too little exercise, but there are several other less well-known theories. In recent years, the idea that microbes might cause obesity has gained a foothold. Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar, head of the nation’s first department of viruses and obesity, invented the term “infectobesity” to describe the emerging field. His particular interest is in the relationship between obesity and adenoviruses, which cause respiratory tract congestion and some of the “common” colds. Other scientists have been studying the role of microbes in the gut as possible causes of obesity—a theory given more credence by a new report published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Share and Enjoy:

About 100,000 cancer cases each year due to obesity

This year, an estimated 1.47 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer, and more than 562,000 will die of it. Two major classes of factors influence the incidence of cancer: hereditary and environmental. Hereditary factors, such as inherited genetic mutations, come from our parents and account for about 5 percent of all cancers. Environmental factors, which include tobacco use, certain infectious agents, certain medical treatments, excessive sun exposure, and exposures to cancer-causing agents known as carcinogens that exist as pollutants in our air, food, water and soil, account for an estimated 75-80 percent of cancer cases and deaths. Obesity is also an environmental factor that is clearly associated with increased risk for developing many cancers, causing more than 100,000 cases of cancer in the U.S. each year, according to a recent study from researchers at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). Share and Enjoy:

Women’s life expectancy could be cut short due to obesity

Obesity is still a growing problem in the United States, contributing heart disease, high blood pressure and a whole host of health problems to both men and women. But, for women, being obese in middle age could cut the chances of making it to their golden years in good health by approximately 80 percent, which should make you stand up and take notice, not to mention stand up and exercise. Researchers studied more than 17,000 female nurses with an average age of 50 in the U.S. All of these women were healthy at the beginning of the study in 1976. The researchers then monitored the women’s weight, with other health changes, every two years until 2000. For every increase of one point in their Body Mass Index (BMI), the women had a 12 percent lower chance of living to age 70 in good health when they were compared with women who were thin. The researchers defined “healthy survival” as not only being free of any chronic disease, but also having enough physical and mental ability to perform daily tasks such as housework, shopping for groceries, or walking up one flight of stairs. Share and Enjoy:

Obesity: Will it become the leading cause of preventable cancer among women?

Obesity may have been the cause of over 124,000 cases of cancer diagnosed in Europe last year alone. In addition, obesity could become the leading preventable cause of cancer in women in Western countries within a decade. The number of estimated cases was based on information from a number of sources, including the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Researchers calculated the proportion of body weight related cancers in 30 European countries. The researchers examined the cancer risk among men and women having a body mass index (BMI) score greater than 25. BMI is a ratio of weight to height used to determine if an individual is overweight or obese. Statistics available from 2002 indicated that over 70,000 new cases out of a total of 2.2 million cancers could be attributed to being overweight or obese. By projecting these figures forward, an estimated 124,050 new cancers linked to body weight may have occurred in 2008, which would account for 3.2 percent of new cancers in men, and 8.6 percent in women. As the outbreak of obesity continues to spread, and with major cancer culprits such as smoking and hormone replacement therapy fading from the forefront, cancers linked to obesity could well become the leading preventable cause among women. Share and Enjoy:

Depression, Anxiety May Raise Odds of Obesity

by – Jane Parry WEDNESDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) — There is an association between common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety and the risk of future obesity, according to ... Share and Enjoy:

Obesity May Affect Fertility in Young Women

by — Randy Dotinga FRIDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) — Women who become obese — a step above overweight — by the age of 18 are more likely to become infertile ... Share and Enjoy: