New Obesity Health Risk

Researchers recently uncovered a reason why obese people have a higher risk for health complications -- a protein called pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) that is secreted by fat cells.

Research on mice shows that if some of PEDF's action are blocked, it may reverse some complications for obese individuals and also opens up new drug opportunities.

PEDF is produced by fat cells in overweight people with higher levels of protein in the bloodstream. The protein can trigger insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes in the bloodstream and liver and also increases risk for heart disease.

However, tests on the obese lab mice found that treatments that blocked PEDF's action resulted in lowering blood fat level and reversed some of their insulin resistance. As the mice lost weight, their PEDF levels fell. --BBC News

Yummy Foods That Fight Fat

Dieting to lose weight should not mean depriving yourself of foods that taste good. In fact, eating healthier means you get to eat a lot of richer, better-tasting foods that just so happen to fight fat.

These are just some of those foods that can help you maintain your figure:

Almonds
Why they're good for you: They contain a high amount of alpha-linolenic acid, which speeds up metabolism, and can cut down BMI and weight by as much as 18 percent.

Berries
Why they're good for you: Fresh or frozen, these Vitamin C-packed fruits can improve the quality of your workouts and help you burn up to 30 percent more fat.

Cinnamon
Why it's good for you: Just a 1/4 teaspoon of it on your breakfast can keep you from experiencing an insulin spike, which causes your body to store fat.

Mustard
Why it's good for you: The turmeric in mustard slows the growth of fat tissues.

Oranges
Why they're good for you: Citrus fruit contains flavones that fight fat.

Soybeans
Why they're good for you: They are rich in choline, which stops fat absorption and breaks down fat deposits. (Those with breast cancer in their family history should check with their doctor first.)

Sweet potatoes
Why they're good for you: They're high in fiber and keep the insulin in check.

Swiss cheese
Why it's good for you: It has more calcium than most other cheeses, reduces fat-producing enzymes and increases further fat breakdown. Of course, the lower-fat version is healthier, too.

--Yahoo Health

Childhood Obesity Tripled

Childhood obesity is not only on the rise -- it's tripled over the past 25 years.

According to a report in Academic Pediatrics by an obesity expert at Brenner Children’s Hospital, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, children are not just becoming overweight and obese. Many more are becoming severely obese, which can greatly impact their health. Severe childhood obesity is classified as a child with a body mass index (BMI) that's at least or greater than the 99th percentile for age and gender.

Researchers found the following facts in the study:

• Severe obesity among children jumped from 0.8 percent in 1976-80 compared to 3.8 percent in 1999-2004. There are now more than 2.7 million severely obese children in the U.S.


• The highest increases in severe childhood obesity occurred among blacks and Mexican-Americans and those who live below the poverty level. Severe obesity rates for Mexican-American children went from 0.9 percent in 1976-80 to 5.2 percent in 1999-2004.


• A third of the children considered severely obese were classified as having metabolic syndrome, which is a group of risk factors such as higher-than normal blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin levels that make them more susceptible to experiencing heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

--ScienceDaily

Obesity And Diabetes Double Risk Of Heart Failure: Patients With Both Conditions 'Very Difficult' To Treat

ScienceDaily has reported this week

The twin epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes will continue to fuel an explosion in heart failure, already the world's most prevalent chronic cardiovascular disease, according to a professor of cardiology.

Dr. Aron comments: Please realize that obesity is not a fashion concern but is a severe health risk. Call our office today for a free weight loss consultation and start losing weight today. 718-491-5525