Fitness and lifespan: Is too much exercise harmful?
https://ift.tt/2S8loU2 When it comes to exercise and the risk of mortality, is there such a thing as too much physical activity? New research investigates. Weight Loss via Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness News From Medical News Today https://ift.tt/O45xlc October 23, 2018 at 06:58AM
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Does the hCG diet work?
https://ift.tt/2NQlg8u The hCG diet combines using a human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone supplement and restricting food intake to 500 calories a day. However, hCG weight loss products are illegal in the United States, and there is no evidence to show that the diet is safe or effective. Learn more here. Weight Loss via Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness News From Medical News Today https://ift.tt/O45xlc October 19, 2018 at 12:14PM
Hundreds of Supplements Have Been Found to Contain Hidden Drugs—Even Viagra
https://ift.tt/2OxLjGM More than half of U.S. adults take dietary supplements, a category of products that include over-the-counter vitamins, minerals, botanicals, amino acids, and enzymes. But the supplement industry is only loosely regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and a new study is shedding light on just how many of these products contain unapproved and potentially dangerous prescription-strength drugs. Even though the FDA only inspects a small percentage of the supplements sold in the U.S. every year, the agency issued warnings about 776 different products that contained “undeclared, unapproved pharmaceutical ingredients” between 2007 and 2016, according to the study published this week in JAMA Network Open. Experts have been warning about these problems in the pharmaceutical industry for years, but this is the first time FDA warnings have been quantified to show the extent of the problem. More than 98% of the FDA’s warnings over this period pertained to supplements marketed for sexual enhancement, weight loss, or muscle building. Most commonly, the FDA found traces of the drugs sildenafil (the generic name for Viagra); sibutramine (a weight-loss drug that was taken off the market after it was linked to heart attacks and strokes); and synthetic steroids or steroid-like ingredients. Other hidden drugs include antidepressants, laxatives, and stimulants. Some of those drugs have not been approved—or have been banned—by the FDA, and have been linked to serious side effects including suicidal thoughts, abnormal bleeding, and seizures. RELATED: Warning: Do Not Mix These Supplements In addition to those top three categories, the investigation also found unapproved ingredients in 14 supplements marketed for joint pain, muscle pain, osteoporosis, bone cancer, sleep issues, gout, or prostate health. Overall, the FDA sent warnings to 146 different supplement companies. More than 150 of the products cited in these warnings (about 20%) contained more than one unapproved ingredient, and 28 of them were cited in two or three warnings more than six months apart. In other words, even after these companies were warned once, they continued selling adulterated products—often with new unapproved substances detected the second or third time around. The study authors concluded that the drugs found in dietary supplements “have the potential to cause serious adverse health effects,” either from accidental misuse, overuse, or interaction with other medications, supplements, or existing health conditions. They also point out that hidden pharmaceutical ingredients may be one reason why supplement use is associated with 23,000 emergency department visits and 2,000 hospitalizations in the United States each year. The study also shows that the number of tainted supplements reported by the FDA has increased over the years, and that they include both products purchased via international mail shipments as well as those for sale in the United States. (Just today, a weight-loss supplement was recalled due to detection of a hidden drug.) “Adulteration with active pharmaceutical ingredients does not happen by accident,” the authors wrote in their paper, “and poses a serious public health risk as consumers unknowingly ingest these drugs.” RELATED: Supplements for Cholesterol: What Works? Pieter Cohen, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, wrote an editorial that accompanies the new study. The number of adulterated products highlighted in this study was “no surprise at all,” he tells Health. “We’ve known for years that companies have been putting drugs into supplements, and we thought there might be 100 or 200 of those kinds of products,” he says. “As time has gone by, every year more and more products have been seen.” Dr. Cohen says the new study also highlights just how few of these products were ultimately recalled by the FDA. Even if they were, it may not have made much of a difference: His own research shows that following FDA recalls, supplements with unapproved ingredients are often still available for purchase, and consumers remain unaware of their potential dangers. The U.S. government isn’t currently doing enough to guarantee supplement safety, Cohen wrote in his editorial, and Congress should reform the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 to require stricter testing and enforcement policies. In the meantime, he says, it’s largely up to consumers to be informed about the potential risks and benefits of supplements. He agrees that products marketed for sexual enhancement, weight loss, and muscle building pose the greatest risk in terms of hidden drug ingredients. Supplements used for more general health and wellness (like multivitamins or fish-oil capsules, for example) are less likely to contain dangerous drugs, he says—but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own problems with inconsistent and misleading ingredients. RELATED: Probiotic Foods and Supplements That Really Work “They might not be accurately labeled in terms of the dosage you’re getting, or the labels might be misrepresenting the health benefits,” he says. Dr. Cohen says he regularly recommends vitamins and minerals to his patients who have (or are at risk of) deficiencies, but—with the exception of multivitamins and calcium/vitamin D supplements—he tells them to look for single-ingredient products. “If your doctor tells you to take iron, look for a product that’s just iron,” he says. “If you decide to take black cohosh, look for something that’s just labeled black cohosh—not a mix of ingredients.” He also recommends staying away from supplements that claim to have specific health benefits, since those claims don’t have to be backed up by research. That’s one of the most important things to understand about supplements, he says. “When you buy a product that says it will help you lose weight or improve your workout, there is no requirement that there’s any evidence in humans that it will actually work,” he says. “That’s where consumers have to be wise about their choices, and should consult with their doctor about what they really need.” To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter Weight Loss via Weight Loss - Health.com https://ift.tt/2um58Un October 16, 2018 at 04:31PM
Diabetes: Surprising new role of fat revealed
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New research finds that the PKCɛ enzyme affects the health of fat cells, shown here.
More than two decades ago, researchers suggested that the action of an enzyme called protein kinase C epsilon (PKCɛ) in the liver may cause diabetes. This enzyme, the researchers posited, inhibits the activity of insulin by acting on insulin receptors. Since then, other studies have shown that knocking out the PKCɛ gene in mice protected the rodents from glucose intolerance and insulin resistance when they ate a high-fat diet. However, the precise location where this enzyme activated remained unclear. Now, a new study — led by Carsten Schmitz-Peiffer, an associate professor at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Darlinghurst, Australia — suggests that the liver is not responsible for activating the enzyme and spreading its harmful effects. Instead, fat tissue throughout the body is the culprit. Obesity is a known risk factor for diabetes, and the current study adds to the mounting research that unravels the connection between body fat and the risk of developing the metabolic condition. Additionally, the new study may lead to novel strategies of disrupting the activity of PKCɛ, ultimately leading to new treatments. 'Acting from fat tissue to worsen' diabetesSchmitz-Peiffer and colleagues fed mice a high-fat diet, thus inducing symptoms of type 2 diabetes, such as glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, in the animals. Insulin resistance occurs when the liver no longer reacts to insulin, the hormone secreted by the pancreas. Then, the researchers knocked out the gene responsible for PKCɛ in the liver, or the gene responsible for PKCɛ in the entire adipose tissue of the mice, and compared the results. Schmitz-Peiffer reports on the findings, saying: "The big surprise was that when we removed PKCε production specifically in the liver — the mice were not protected." "For over a decade," continues the lead author, "it's been assumed that PKCε is acting directly in the liver — by that logic, these mice should have been protected against diabetes." "We were so surprised by this, that we thought we had developed our mice incorrectly. We confirmed the removal and tested it in several different ways, but they still become glucose intolerant when given a [high-fat diet]." "What we found," explains Schmitz-Peiffer, "is that if we removed PKCε production solely from fat tissue, the mice were protected from becoming glucose intolerant, similar to when we removed PKCε from the entire animal."
How PKCɛ affects fat cellsTo determine the precise way in which PKCε affects fat tissue, the researchers examined how the enzyme affected the shape and size of the fat cells. "Under the microscope, the fat cells looked very different," reports Schmitz-Peiffer. "In [high-fat diet]-fed mice with PKCε removed from the fat tissue, we saw mostly small, healthy fat cells." "And in [high-fat diet]-fed mice with PKCε intact — which are glucose intolerant — we saw more of the unhealthy, engorged fat cells, that tend to have less access to oxygen and become inflamed." This suggests to the researchers that adipose tissue may have a much more far-reaching effect on metabolic health than previously believed. "We know that fat tissue is a lot more than just an inert mass for storing fat," says Schmitz-Peiffer. "If PKCε is changing the nature of fat and affecting the overall health of fat cells, it's changing the types of messages it sends and factors it releases — which could be acting on the liver and possibly other organs to interfere with glucose metabolism." The researchers plan to develop a drug which, when taken orally, might be able to interfere with PKCε.
Weight Loss via Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness News From Medical News Today https://ift.tt/O45xlc October 16, 2018 at 07:01AM I Lost 100 Pounds In One Year After I Realized Losing Weight Wasn't Going to Make Me Happy10/15/2018
I Lost 100 Pounds In One Year After I Realized Losing Weight Wasn't Going to Make Me Happy
https://ift.tt/2P04yIe I've started and stopped weight-loss journeys more times than I can count. (I'm sure plenty of women can relate.) For as long as I can remember, I've been trying to change parts of my body I didn't like, or doing everything in my power to get to 'x' weight. Why? Because I believed that once I did, I'd finally be happy. This struggle with my weight has been going on since I was a teenager. I was always searching for the best diet to get "skinny" and even resorted to starving myself at times. It didn't help that I was always told that I was a "big girl" and would never be "petite." Eventually, I accepted what people were saying as fact and began using food as both a reward and a punishment. RELATED: 32 Ways to Reverse Holiday Weight Gain in 1 Week This continued—treating my body poorly and eating emotionally—up until I gave birth to my second child at 29 years old. Before I got pregnant with him, I was already overweight. Then, I took "eating for two" to a whole other level: I used being pregnant as an excuse to eat anything and everything. Not to mention, I believed I needed to rest all the time, which contributed to even more weight gain. Post-pregnancy, I knew something had to change. There wasn't one exact light-bulb moment—it was just lots of little things that added up. My family had long been urging and inspiring me to be healthier and I wanted to be a role model for them too. I wanted to be around to see my two boys grow up and live a long happy life with my wonderful husband. So in July of 2017, I decided it was time to regain my health. I knew that this time was going to be different because I didn't make drastic changes—like try a crazy diet or go nuts in the gym—right away. Instead, I gradually made small changes and, looking back, it was those simple steps that eventually led to big changes. RELATED: This Numberless Scale Changed the Way I Think About Weight Loss To start, I knew I had to change my attitude toward weight loss. This time, I was going to think of weight loss and happiness separately. I made an effort to find things about my body that I loved just as it was. I'd focus on those things instead of the things I didn't like—my arms. At first, it was tough. I had to try really hard to find things about my body that I appreciated because my whole life, I'd looked in the mirror and picked out my flaws. But after weeks of telling myself that I was worthy of self-love, that my body was amazing for giving birth to two healthy children, and that it was capable of accomplishing anything, it became easier and easier to find the positives and push away the negative thoughts. RELATED: 4 Health and Wellness Influencers Share the Mantras They Live By I began to accept my body as it was, but also enjoyed improving it. (More: You Can Love Your Body and Still Want to Change It) Instead of wanting to be "skinny," I wanted to be strong and fit. Sure, the actual loss of weight also helped with my confidence and being happier and more comfortable. But I really think that the mental shift in how I looked at myself—from the beginning—made losing the weight a lot easier. Changing my diet was part of this too, but I didn't follow a rigid plan. I decided not to make any food off-limits—and I still don't. I've found that the more you deny yourself of something, the more you want it. (That goes for anything in life, not just food.) Knowing you can eat something if you really want to kind of removes the urge to "cheat" or overindulge. I did, however, focus on being in a calorie deficit and making sure that each and every one of my meals was balanced: I started having protein with each meal and including a wide variety of nutrient-dense whole foods like vegetables and fruit. I also made sure to include food I enjoyed eating, like the occasional chocolate or some chips. My food consumption became mindful and I really enjoyed it—mostly because I didn't feel like I was necessarily giving anything up. (Here's why eating more might actually be the secret to losing weight.) The next step for me was to start being more active—but first, I needed to change the way I looked at exercise. I knew I had to separate my exercise intentions from my weight-loss goals. I worked hard on not viewing being active as a punishment or simply a means to lose weight. I began approaching it as a way to feel good and reward my body. It helped that, within a few weeks, I started seeing my body change. From there, I was hooked. (FYI, science found the best workout to overcome your weight-loss plateau.) What started as a couple of at-home workouts per week turned into a routine—one that I continue to follow today. On top of running around with my two kids all day, I lift weights four times a week. (Two are upper-body days and two focus on lower body.) My diet varies but is still centered around sufficient protein and nutrient-dense foods with a good splash of what people might consider "treat food." (Here's why you seriously need to stop thinking of foods as "good" or "bad.") Yes, I've lost 100 pounds so far—but the most welcomed change in my life has been emotional. In the past, if I was busy or stressed, exercise would be the first thing to drop from my schedule. Now, in situations like that, it's what helps keep me grounded and makes me better at handling stressful situations. Overall, I'm much calmer and I don't get upset as easily. I'm also now able to see my body as strong and capable and am so thankful for it after all it has been through. For anyone who might feel like they've been in my shoes and are thinking of building a healthier lifestyle, I've got one small piece of advice: Make it simple. (More evidence: How Making Small Changes to Her Diet Helped This Trainer Lose 45 Pounds) You don't have to do crazy fad diets with hard-to-follow rules. Find a diet that you can stick to—one that you can enjoy for the rest of your life, not just for a few months. A diet is only ever going to be as good as your ability to stick to it. So if you can't live without bread and a diet is telling you that you have to cut it out, it's probably not going to be good for you. (See: Why You Should Stop Restrictive Dieting Once and for All) Also, find a supportive network that knows what you're going through, even an online community. Find an exercise that you actually enjoy, and don't just look at working out as a way to lose weight but as a time to do something valuable for your body. Finally, be patient and celebrate small victories. Remember that small achievements = big results. That's the key to creating a healthy lifestyle that's lifelong—and to actually being happy. To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter Weight Loss via Weight Loss - Health.com https://ift.tt/2um58Un October 15, 2018 at 02:04PM
How to increase your metabolism
https://ift.tt/2CG61O2 While a person has no control over the genetic aspects of their metabolism, there are some ways to help speed up the rate at which the body processes calories. In this article, learn nine ways to increase metabolism. 1. Eating at regular times
Eating at regular times can help someone increase their metabolism.
The body relies on balance and regularity. Eating at consistent times may help maintain metabolic balance. Otherwise, if a person eats a lot, then goes for long periods without eating, the body may burn calories more slowly and store more fat cells. By eating at regular times, a person can reduce this tendency. Ideally, a person should eat several small meals or snacks about 3 or 4 hours apart. 2. Eating enough caloriesSome people skip meals as a way to lose weight. However, this can negatively impact metabolism. Eating meals that are not filling can have the same effect. Eating too few calories can cause a person's metabolism to slow down so the body can conserve energy. Adult women need between 1,600 and 2,400 calories a day, depending on their physical activity levels, and men need between 2,000 and 3,000. 3. Drinking green teaWhile studies have not conclusively proven it, some research indicates that green tea extract may play a role in promoting fat metabolism. Green tea can be a good alternative to sugary juices, and drinking it can help ensure that a person is getting enough water during the day. While the metabolic benefits are not certain, 1–2 cups a day can be a healthful addition to a balanced diet. 4. Doing resistance training
Resistance training may increase metabolism.
Strength training helps build muscle, which may increase metabolism. Muscle mass has a higher metabolic rate than fat, which means that muscle mass requires more energy to preserve. A person's body naturally loses muscle as they age. Regular resistance training can help counteract this effect. Resistance training may involve lifting weights and doing exercises that use the weight of the body or resistance bands to build muscle. 5. Drinking enough waterStaying hydrated is essential for the body to function at its best. Water is necessary for optimal metabolism, and it may help a person lose weight. One study found that adding 1.5 liters of water to the usual daily consumption of water reduced the average weight and body mass index in a group of overweight women aged 18–23. 6. Reducing stressStress affects hormone levels, and it can cause the body to produce more cortisol than usual. Cortisol is a hormone that helps regulate appetite. In 2011, researchers found abnormal cortisol levels in people experiencing disordered eating. Disordered eating, including dietary restraint and certain weight concerns, may lead to unhealthful eating patterns, which can disrupt metabolism. Stress is also closely related to the quality of sleep, which can influence metabolism. 7. Trying high-intensity workoutsLike strength training, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can increase metabolism. A person may benefit from adding elements of both to a workout. HIIT is an alternative to steady cardio. Running, swimming, or cycling at a continuous rate are examples of steady cardio. Instead, it may help to try a routine that involves alternating periods of higher-intensity and lower-intensity exercise. This might involve sprinting for 1 minute then walking for 2 minutes or switching between short bursts of jumping jacks and walking recovery periods. 8. Getting plenty of sleepWhen a person gets too little sleep, the body releases a hormone, ghrelin, which can make a person feel hungry. It also releases less leptin, a hormone that helps a person feel full. Getting enough sleep can help ensure that these hormones remain balanced. This can prevent a person from overeating. While the right amount of sleep varies among individuals, research suggests that adults need at least 7–8 hours per night. 9. Getting enough B vitamins
Bananas are a good source of B vitamins.
B vitamins play an essential role in the metabolic rate. Some key B vitamins include B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), and B6 (pyridoxine). B vitamins are in many foods, including:
TakeawayA person can increase their metabolism by making healthful changes to their diet and lifestyle. From reducing stress to incorporating strength training and HIIT into a workout, there are several ways to help boost metabolism. It is always best to speak to a doctor before adjusting the diet or making changes to an exercise routine. Weight Loss via Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness News From Medical News Today https://ift.tt/O45xlc October 12, 2018 at 10:50AM
Can eating too much fruit cause type 2 diabetes?
https://ift.tt/2CD0zvj In this article, we look at what diabetes is, whether eating too much fruit can cause diabetes and the guidelines on how much fruit a person should eat. What is diabetes?
Choosing fresh fruit over dried fruit and fruit juice can help reduce the overall sugar intake.
Diabetes causes a person's blood sugar, or glucose, levels to become too high. There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes typically develops in childhood, and people with this condition are unable to produce the hormone known as insulin. It is not yet possible to prevent this form of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and can occur at any age but usually develops when people get older. In those with type 2 diabetes, their cells do not respond appropriately to insulin. This lack of response is known as insulin resistance. Insulin causes sugar to move from the bloodstream into the body's cells, which use it as an energy source. When a person eats, their digestive system breaks down the carbohydrates in foods into a simple sugar called glucose. If there is not enough insulin in the body or cells do not respond correctly to insulin, sugar can accumulate in the bloodstream and lead to a range of symptoms and health complications. Although a person cannot always prevent type 2 diabetes, there are lifestyle and dietary changes they can make that reduce their risk of developing this condition. Can eating fruit cause diabetes?Eating too much sugar can cause weight gain, which can lead to higher blood sugar levels, or prediabetes. These are risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Typically, eating fruit as part of a healthful diet and lifestyle should not increase the risk of diabetes. But consuming more than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of fruit might mean that a person is getting too much sugar in their diet. A diet that is high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and saturated fats is likely to be more of a risk than one that contains moderate amounts of these food types. Fruit contains many vitamins, minerals, and fiber, so it is a key part of a healthful diet. Choosing fresh fruit rather than dried fruit, and limiting intake of fruit juice or smoothies, can help reduce sugar intake. Fruit guidelinesHow much fruit a person should eat depends on their age, sex, and how much exercise they do. For people who do less than 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommend the following:
Examples of 1 cup of fruit include:
Dried fruit contains more sugar than it does in fresh or frozen form. For example, one-half of a cup of dried fruit is equivalent to 1 cup of fruit in any other form. People who do more than 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day may be able to eat more fruit than those who do not. Should at-risk people eat less fruit?
If a person eats the RDA of fruit, their risk of diabetes should not increase.
People who are overweight are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who are not. One of the primary causes of weight gain is if a person eats more calories than they burn off. Sugary foods and drinks are usually high in calories. Eating the RDA for fruit should not increase a person's risk of diabetes. Fruit juice is particularly high in sugar but drinking no more than 1 cup of fruit juice per day can help keep sugar intake within healthful limits. Many processed or baked foods, such as biscuits or ketchup, contain added sugar. By limiting these foods, people can reduce their calorie and sugar intakes. People with prediabetes have higher blood glucose levels than the average but not high enough for a doctor to diagnose type 2 diabetes. Although prediabetes increases the risk of developing diabetes, it does not mean that a person will definitely develop the condition. It is possible for people with prediabetes to lower their blood glucose and their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Losing weight and doing daily exercise can help reduce this risk. Some medications can also decrease a person's risk of developing diabetes. Can people with diabetes eat fruit?The American Diabetes Association recommend eating fruit, as part of a healthful diet. For people with diabetes, a crucial part of managing their condition is their diet, and they often need to plan their meals. They may need to monitor the amount of sugar in their diet, or avoid eating too many carbohydrates. Fruit contains carbohydrates and sugars. A person with diabetes may want to check these amounts when putting together a meal plan. As well as sugars and carbohydrates, fruit is high in fiber. Foods that contain fiber take longer to digest, so they raise blood sugar more slowly than those with less fiber. Foods that contain carbohydrates raise blood glucose levels. Some foods raise these levels more than others. Some people use the glycemic index (GI) to plan their diet. GI is a measure of how much a particular food raises a person's blood glucose. Foods with a low GI raise blood glucose less than foods with a high GI. Most fruits are low GI, but some, such as melons and pineapple, are high GI. Processing a food increases its GI, so fruit juice has a higher GI than a whole piece of fruit. Ripe fruit has a higher GI than unripe fruit. Combining a fruit that has a high GI with low GI foods can make it a healthier choice. An example of this might be, slicing a ripe banana and having it on top of whole-grain toast for breakfast. Dried fruit, fruit juice, and certain tropical fruits, such as mangoes, are higher in sugar. A person may choose to eat a small portion or avoid having these too regularly. Some canned fruit has added sugar or is served in syrup. Canned fruit that is in fruit juice or low-sugar syrup will contain less sugar than that in ordinary syrup. Eating fruit in relation to diabetes riskA 2017 study in China found a significant association between eating fresh fruit and a lowered risk of developing diabetes. Participants with diabetes were also found to have a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular problems if they ate more fresh fruit. However, the study did not find a specific cause for this association. It could be that people who regularly eat fresh fruit choose a healthier overall diet than those who do not. So, eating fresh fruit may not be enough on its own to reduce the risk of diabetes. TakeawayThe causes of diabetes are complex, but a person is unlikely to develop the condition solely from eating too much fruit. Being overweight or having high blood sugar are both risk factors for developing diabetes. Eating fruit in moderation is an integral part of a healthful diet. Limiting the amount of dried fruit and fruit juice in the diet can help reduce sugar consumption. Weight Loss via Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness News From Medical News Today https://ift.tt/O45xlc October 11, 2018 at 10:37AM
How do you lose belly fat?
https://ift.tt/2yuT4SJ Belly fat refers to fat around the abdomen. There are two types of belly fat:
Health complications from visceral fat are more harmful than having subcutaneous fat. People can make many lifestyle and dietary changes to lose belly fat. Why is belly fat dangerous?
A poor diet can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Being overweight is one of the leading causes of major diseases. Excessbelly fat can increase the risk of: Causes of belly fatCommon causes of excess belly fat include the following: 1. Poor dietSugary food, such as cakes and candy, and drinks, such as soda and fruit juice, can:
Low-protein, high-carb diets may also affect weight. Protein helps a person feel fuller for longer, and people who do not include lean protein in their diet may eat more food overall. Trans fats, in particular, can cause inflammation and may lead to obesity. Trans fats are in many foods, including fast food and baked goods, for example, muffins or crackers. The American Heart Association recommend that people replace trans fats with healthful whole-grain foods, monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats. Reading food labels can help a person determine whether their food contains trans fats. 2. Too much alcoholConsuming excess alcohol can cause a variety of health problems, including liver disease and inflammation. A 2015 report on alcohol consumption and obesity in the journal Current Obesity Reports indicates that drinking excess alcohol causes males to gain weight around their bellies, though study results in females are inconsistent. 3. Lack of exerciseIf a person consumes more calories than they burn off, they will put on weight. An inactive lifestyle makes it hard for a person to get rid of excess fat, particularly around the abdomen. 4. StressA steroid hormone known as cortisol helps the body control and deal with stress. When a person is in a dangerous or high-pressure situation, their body releases cortisol, and this can impact on their metabolism. People often reach for food for comfort when they feel stressed, and cortisol causes the excess calories to remain around the belly and other areas of the body for later use. 5. GeneticsThere is some evidence that a person's genes can play a part in whether or not they become obese. Scientists think genes can influence behavior, metabolism, and the risk of developing obesity-related diseases. Similarly, environmental factors and behavior also play a role in the likelihood of people becoming obese. 6. Poor sleep
Too little rest can have an impact on well-being.
A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine links weight gain to short sleep duration, which could lead to an excess of belly fat. Both poor quality and short duration of sleep can play a part in the development of abdominal fat. Not getting enough good sleep may, potentially, lead to unhealthful eating behaviors, such as emotional eating. 7. SmokingResearchers may not consider smoking to be a direct cause of belly fat, but they do believe it to be a risk factor. A 2012 study published in the journal PloS one showed that, although obesity was the same between smokers and nonsmokers, smokers had more belly and visceral fat than nonsmokers. How to lose belly fatBy considering the following changes, people may be able to lose their unwanted belly fat: 1. Improve your dietA healthful, balanced diet can help a person lose weight, and it is also likely to have a positive effect on their overall health. People should avoid sugar, fatty foods, and refined carbohydrates that have low nutritional content. Instead, they should eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates. 2. Reduce your alcohol consumptionA person trying to lose excess abdominal fat should monitor their alcohol intake. Alcoholic drinks often contain additional sugar, which can contribute to weight gain. 3. Increase your exercise
A person can lose belly fat by exercising as part of their daily routine.
A sedentary lifestyle brings with it many serious health problems, including weight gain. People trying to lose weight should include a good amount exercise in their daily routine. Undertaking both aerobic exercise and strength training can help people tackle their belly fat. Exercise is most effective if people combine both cardiovascular and high-intensity training alongside weights and resistance training. 4. Get more sunlightA 2016 review in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health indicates that exposure to sunlight in animals could lead to a reduction in weight gain and metabolic dysfunction. The review highlights that few studies have looked at the effects of sunlight on humans, in respect of weight gain. It states that more research is required to support the findings so far. 5. Reduce your stressStress can cause a person to gain weight. The release of the stress hormone cortisol influences a person's appetite and could cause them to eat more. Stress-relieving tactics include mindfulness and meditation, and gentle exercise, such as yoga. 6. Improve your sleep patternSleep is vital to people's overall health, and too little rest can have a severe impact on well-being. Sleep's primary purpose is to allow the body to rest, heal, and recover, but it can also have an impact on a person's weight. Getting enough good-quality sleep is essential when a person is trying to shed weight, including belly fat. 7. Quit smokingSmoking is a risk factor for increased belly fat, as well as many other serious health concerns. Quitting can significantly reduce the risk from excess belly fat, as well as improve overall health. TakeawayThere is a higher likelihood of various health issues if a person has excess belly fat. Causes include poor diet, lack of exercise, and short or low-quality sleep. A healthful diet and active lifestyle can help people lose excess belly fat and lower the risk of the problems associated with it. Weight Loss via Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness News From Medical News Today https://ift.tt/O45xlc October 10, 2018 at 01:51PM
32 Ways to Reverse Holiday Weight Gain in 1 Week
https://ift.tt/2NvLZH3 If you gained a few pounds during the holiday season, you're not alone. But the good news is that you can lose the weight quickly—in fact, it's possible to do it in just 7 days. Weight Loss via Weight Loss - Health.com https://ift.tt/2um58Un October 9, 2018 at 12:54PM
Weight loss drug may prevent and treat diabetes
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A new weight loss pill may prevent diabetes in those who are obese and overweight.
More than 30 million people, or 9 percent of the population of the United States, are living with diabetes, explain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Overall, more than 100 million U.S. adults, or a third of the adult population, now have either diabetes or prediabetes, report the CDC. The current treatment options include oral drugs such as metformin, various forms of insulin, and interventions such as weight loss surgery. New research recently presented at the 2018 Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, held in Berlin, Germany, makes a new addition to this treatment arsenal. The weight loss drug lorcaserin was shown to reduce the risk of diabetes complications, induce diabetes remission, and lower the risk of developing the condition in a clinical trial led by researchers from the Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston, MA. BWH scientists from the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Study Group conducted the trial, and the findings they presented were from the CAMELLIA-TIMI 61 clinical trial. Eisai Inc., the company that manufactures the drug, funded the trial. Dr. Erin Bohula, a BWH cardiovascular medicine specialist and a staff investigator for the TIMI Study Group, co-led the research together with Dr. Benjamin Scirica, also a cardiovascular medicine specialist at BWH and senior investigator for the TIMI Study Group. How lorcaserin affects diabetes, prediabetesThe CAMELLIA-TIMI 61 trial included 12,000 people who were either overweight or obese and were at risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Additionally, over half of the participants had diabetes and a third had prediabetes. Half of the participants were allocated to receive the weight loss drug, while the other half received placebo. The researchers monitored the participants for an average period of over 3 years. The trial revealed the following:
However, the study authors also report that lorcaserin significantly increased the number of severe cases of hypoglycemia among people who were already taking insulin or other treatments for diabetes known to raise the risk of hypoglycemia. "We recently presented findings showing that use of lorcaserin resulted in modest but sustained weight loss among obese and overweight patients without increasing risk of heart attack and stroke," explains Dr. Bohula. In this trial, the drug resulted in a weight loss of 4.2 kilograms, on average, compared with 1.4 kilograms in the placebo group.
Dr. Scirica also comments on the recent findings, saying, "Taken together, these findings reinforce the notion that modest, durable weight loss can improve cardiometabolic health and supports the role of lorcaserin as an adjunctive therapy in chronic weight management." "It provides another tool in the armamentarium, beyond diet and exercise, for patients hoping to achieve and maintain weight loss." "And, happily, as we saw, even relatively modest weight loss can improve the diabetes control in those with diabetes and reduce the development of diabetes in those at risk," Dr. Scirica says. "Given the global prevalence of obesity and its association with type 2 diabetes and complications that can cause death or greatly diminish quality of life, we need therapeutic strategies that can be added to lifestyle modification to prevent and control diabetes," he adds. "This rigorous and large-scale randomized study demonstrates the potential for improving glycemic control when adding a weight loss agent to a treatment plan." Weight Loss via Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness News From Medical News Today https://ift.tt/O45xlc October 8, 2018 at 10:56AM |
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