6 Evidence-Based Ways To Burn Belly Fat AND Extend Your Life

The ongoing battle of the bulge, while once considered primarily a matter of vanity, may actually be one of the best ways to reduce your risk of dying from a multitude of causes (i.e. all-cause mortality), but especially heart attack.[1]

Some studies have even revealed that abdominal obesity, known clinically as central obesity, and which is measured by the hip-to-waist ratio, may be more important than blood lipids, i.e. “cholesterol,” in determining heart attack risk. [2]

So, with this in mind, the following 6 “diet tips,” take on even greater relevance to your overall health.

1. Coconut Oil –  Two human studies now exist showing that dietary coconut is safe and effective in reducing midsection fat in both women and men.  In the women’s study, the treatment group received two tablespoons of coconut oil (30 ml), daily, over a period of 12 weeks, resulting in both a reduction in waist circumference, as well as a boost in their “good” HDL cholesterol levels. [3]  In the male study, obese men received two tablespoons (30 ml) of coconut oil per day, taken in 3 divided doses, half an hour before each meal, for one month. The men experienced an average of over one inch (2.86 cm) reduction in their waist circumference, with no changes in their blood lipids.  You can read the full study here.

2. Green Tea – Green tea has been called “the medicine which grew into a beverage.”  Indeed, our project has identified research on over 200 health conditions that may benefit from its use, with obesity on top of the list.[4]  In a 2009 study published in the journal Obesity, the consumption of catechin-rich green tea was found to be safe and effective in reducing weight in moderately overweight subjects, including an over two inch reduction in their waist circumference.[5]

3. Sunlight –  A 2011 study in The Journal of Investigative Dermatology revealed a remarkable fact of metabolism: The exposure of human skin to UV light results in increased subcutaneous fat metabolism. While subcutaneous fat, unlike visceral fat, is not considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, it is known that a deficiency of one of sunlight’s best known beneficial byproducts, vitamin D, is associated with greater visceral fat.[6] Also, there is a solid body of research showing that vitamin D deficiency is linked to obesity, with 9 such studies on our obesity research page.  One of them, titled “Association of plasma vitamin D levels with adiposity in Hispanic and African Americans,” and which was published in the journal Anticancer Research in 2005, found that vitamin D levels were inversely associated with adiposity in Hispanics and African-Americans, including abdominal obesity.[7] The point? Exposure to UVB radiation, which is most abundant two hours on either side of solar noon and responsible for producing vitamin D, may be an essential strategy in burning midsection fat, the natural way.

4. Soy Protein – While soy has become a punching bag of sorts, for rightful (GMO/non-organic/over-consumption/exclusively non-fermented) and wrongful reasons (disregarding the positive soy research), it does seem to have value as a medicinal food in addressing subcutaneous and total abdominal fat in postmenopausal women, likely because it does have hormone-modulating properties. [8] And for those who have now become convinced that soy’s phytoestrogenic properties are a breast cancer risk, we encourage you to look at the 12 studies on our breast cancer page, indicating quite oppositely that it has potent protective effects against breast cancer initiation and recurrence.  Certainly it’s not a one, or even two-dimensional issue, but it is important that we don’t shut down discussion altogether on the potential value of soy, or any food, for our health – at least not until we have familiarized ourselves with the depth of research extant on the topic.

5. Dietary Challenges: While there are likely hundreds of other chemicals that may contribute to midsection weight gain, the 3 main problematic substances we have identified are (industrially produced) Fructose, Bisphenol A and MSG.  You can view the first-hand studies we have collected on the topic under the “Problem Substances” Quick Summary on our Abdominal Obesity Research page.  Additionally, a study published in 2011 and published in the journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that weight cycling, i.e. the yo-yo diet, is associated with body weight excess and abdominal fat accumulation.[9]

6. Exercise – This one is obvious to many, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded that there is more to midsection weight loss than what you do and do not eat. In other words, move it, and you lose it.  One of the best ways to accelerate the reduction of belly fat through exercising is through increasing the intensity of your work outs.  A 2008 study in the journal of Medical & Science in Sports & Exercise showed that body composition changes are affected by the intensity of exercise training with high-intensity training (HIET) being most effective for total abdominal fat, subcutaneous fat, and abdominal visceral fat loss, at least in obese women with metabolic syndrome. [10]  There is also research that green tea catechin consumption enhances exercise-induced abdominal fat loss, as well as soluble fiber intake.

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[1] Effect of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case-control study. Lancet. 2004 Sep 11-17;364(9438):937-52. PMID: 15364185

[2] Risk factors for acute myocardial infarction in Latin America: the INTERHEART Latin American study.  Circulation. 2007 Mar 6 ;115(9):1067-74. PMID: 17339564

[3] Effects of dietary coconut oil on the biochemical and anthropometric profiles of women presenting abdominal obesity. Lipids. 2009 Jul;44(7):593-601. Epub 2009 May 13. PMID: 19437058

[4] GreenMedInfo.com, Green Tea Research

[5]  Effects of catechin enriched green tea on body composition. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009 Aug 13. Epub 2009 Aug 13. PMID: 19680234

[6] Association Between Visceral Obesity and Sarcopenia and Vitamin D Deficiency in Older Koreans: The Ansan Geriatric Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012 Feb 8. Epub 2012 Feb 8. PMID: 22316299

[7] Association of plasma vitamin D levels with adiposity in Hispanic and African Americans. Anticancer Res. 2005 Mar-Apr;25(2A):971-9. PMID: 19549738

[8] Effect of a daily supplement of soy protein on body composition and insulin secretion in postmenopausal women. Fertil Steril. 2007 Dec;88(6):1609-17. Epub 2007 Apr 6. PMID: 17412329

[9] Weight cycling is associated with body weight excess and abdominal fat accumulation: A cross-sectional study. Clin Nutr. 2011 Jul 15. Epub 2011 Jul 15. PMID: 21764186

[10] Effect of exercise training intensity on abdominal visceral fat and body composition. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Nov;40(11):1863-72. PMID: 18845966

©  January 25, 2018 GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here http://www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter.

The post 6 Evidence-Based Ways To Burn Belly Fat AND Extend Your Life appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Mindful Eating Shown to Help People Lose Weight

If you mindlessly watch TV, you could easily wind up wasting the entire day. If you mindlessly drive, you could wind up getting lost, or worse. Likewise, mindlessly eating will cause you to gain weight, especially if the food is void of nutrition. The exact opposite is also true, a study found – giving your full attention to the food in front of you can lead to weight loss. [1]

Carolyn Dunn, a professor and nutrition specialist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, and a team of colleagues evaluated the effectiveness of increasing mindful eating in an online weight loss program called Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less (ESMMWL).

The 15-week program, developed by NC State University and the NC Division of Public Health, uses the concept of “planned behavior” to help participants alter habits that are associated with weight management. Participants are invited to focus on their relationships and interactions with food, including paying attention to how it tastes, tuning into feelings of hunger and fullness, and planning mealtimes and snacks. [2]

Source: The Huffington Post

With mindful eating, participants don’t have to give up high-calorie foods. Instead, they are encouraged to take 2 or 3 bites, and “just savor the flavor.” You can eat whatever you want, but there’s one caveat: You must focus on nothing but enjoying your food. [1]

Read: Scientists Prove you can Think Your Way to Wellness

Dunn explained:

“For example, if one of us was going to eat a food that has very high calories, we would tell them to eat one or two bites, but to eat those one or two bites with awareness, so they are getting the most pleasure out of those one to two bites.” [2]

She went on:

“Mindfulness is paying attention to your surroundings, being in the present moment.

Mindful eating is eating with purpose, eating with awareness, eating without distraction, when eating only eating, not watching television or playing computer games or having any other distractions, not eating at our desks.”

Past research shows that the first 2 bites of food provide the most enjoyment, and eating more just leads to more calorie consumption, but not more enjoyment.

Really, mindful eating doesn’t begin at mealtime, it begins before you even start cooking. Mindfulness involves the way you shop for food, and the choices you make in restaurants.

Read: 5 Tips to “Trick Yourself” into Eating Less and Eating Healthier

Dunn said:

“Are you letting your emotions drive your eating? Are you eating out of fear or depression? Are you letting external cues drive your eating because you are in line in the grocery store and that food is being heavily marketed to us?”

To see what kind of impact mindful eating had on participants’ weight-loss efforts, researchers had them complete a questionnaire, called the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), which assesses 5 different areas of mindful eating. [1]

Those who enrolled in the ESMMWL program were invited to participate in the randomized clinical trial portion of the study. Of the 80 people who agreed to participate, 42 were randomly assigned to the intervention group, and the remaining 38 people were assigned to the control group. [2]

The researchers found that participants who completed the program lost more weight than those in the control group. On average, the volunteers in the mindfulness group lost 4.2 lbs. compared to 0.7 lbs. in the control group – a result the team called “statistically significant.” [1]

After 6 months, about 75% of the participants had not regained the weight they lost in the program, and someone even lost additional weight. [2]

When the control group finally got the opportunity to participate in the program, they saw similar results.

The team concluded:

“Results suggest that there is a beneficial association between mindful eating and weight loss. The current study contributes to the mindfulness literature as there are very few studies that employed rigorous methodology to examine the effectiveness of an intervention on mindful eating.” [3]

Sources:

[1] Medical News Today

[2] Pulse Headlines

[3] The Guardian

The Huffington Post

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.

How Turmeric Supports Weight Loss

A healthy weight loss program only produces sustaining results when exercise is combined with the right dietary approach. There are other components that play a role, such as sleep and sunlight exposure, but certain foods could really give your weight loss efforts a substantial boost. Turmeric is one of those foods. The active compound in turmeric, curcumin, could in fact halt the infiltration of fat tissue throughout the body by inhibiting angiogenesis.

Is Turmeric the Magic Component for Weight Loss?

Managing weight is a constant issue for many people, and researchers have been searching to find the solution. A study performed at Tufts University took a look at whether turmeric could produce favorable changes in body mass index. ^[1] A 12-week study in mice compared the effects of turmeric on a high-fat diet, administering a very small amount of curcumin daily of about 1.5 to 1.75 milligrams.

In comparison to the non-supplemented group of mice, those that were receiving turmeric gained less weight and body fat throughout the duration of the study. The mice taking curcumin during the 12 week period also had less blood vessel growth present in fat tissue, and blood sugar, cholesterol, liver fat, and triglycerides were remarkably lower. It does suggest that turmeric extract may be a beneficial supplement when attempting to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

How Does Turmeric Work for Weight Loss?

The exact mechanisms behind turmeric’s weight loss capabilities is still unclear; however, there are a few theories. For one, turmeric is one of the most powerful spices for reducing systemic redness, swelling, and irritation in the body, and this irritation is one of the leading factors behind obesity and every other debilitating disease. Turmeric also rates high on the ORAC antioxidant scale. ^[2] Antioxidants are not only helpful for protecting DNA and cells from oxidative damage, they’re also extremely useful for reducing fat accumulation.

Do you use turmeric regularly? Please let us know if it’s been helping you!

References:

1. USDA/Agricultural Research Service. Compound In Turmeric Spice May Stall Spread Of Fat Tissue. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 May 2009.


2. Sahdeo Prasad and Bharat B. Aggarwal. Turmeric, the Golden Spice. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition.

The BMI Chart is Antiquated and Misleading, Scientists Say

The Body Mass Index (BMI) was invented in the 1800’s and became the international standard for weight and health by the 1980’s. Current BMI standards were approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1998. But the BMI scale is considered antiquated by many, including doctors, scientists and nutritionists.

A study supports the conclusion that the Body Mass Index is outdated and provides misleading data. This means more than 34 million Americans may have been wrongly told they are either overweight or obese when they are actually healthy individuals.

The BMI is a measure of body fat based on a person’s weight in relation to their height. The index applies to most adults over age 20. For kids, BMI percentile is considered the best valuation of body fat.

According to the chart, the entire roster of the Broncos AFC football team is considered overweight, despite being some of the healthiest men in the world.

“This should be the final nail in the coffin for BMI,” says lead author A. Janet Tomiyama, a psychologist at UCLA.

According to study author Jeffrey Hunger, 47% of people deemed “overweight” by the chart are perfectly healthy.

“So to be using BMI as a health proxy – particularly for everyone within that category – is simply incorrect.”

This also means many people who are considered by the chart to be of healthy weight aren’t healthy when you look at underlying clinical indicators.

“The public is used to hearing ‘obesity,’ and they mistakenly see it as a death sentence,” says Tomiyama. “But obesity is just a number based on BMI, and we think BMI is just a really crude and terrible indicator of someone’s health,” says Tomiyama.

The findings published in the International Journal of Obesity could have major ramifications for patients, doctors, companies, and insurers. The U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission recently proposed rules that would make it legal for employers to penalize employees for up to 30% of their health insurance costs if they don’t meet 24 health criteria, including meeting a specific BMI. If the chart continues to be used, millions of people could be unnecessarily penalized.

Read: Study Finds This Factor to be a Huge Contributor to Heart Disease

The UCLA researchers sought to determine whether BMI correlated with actual markers of health by analyzing data from more than 40,000 people who participated in the 2005-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The team considered respondents’ blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, insulin resistance and C-reactive protein data — markers that are linked to heart disease and inflammation, among other issues.

The team discovered that nearly half of overweight respondents and 29% of obese ones were healthy, from a metabolic standpoint. About 30% of individuals of “normal” weight were found to be unhealthy.

In other words, by BMI standards, 7.9 million adults in the U.S. have been incorrectly assessed, including 34.4 million people who are considered overweight, and 19.8 million people who are considered obese.

Tomiyama told the Los Angeles Times:

“The reason I think people rely on BMI is because it’s easy; if you know someone’s weight and you know someone’s height, then out pops this magical number. But getting blood pressure is pretty easy too. It takes maybe 20 seconds if you have the machine. And so I really think focusing on better health markers like blood pressure is a better way to go about it — particularly when we’re talking about financial penalties.

“Many people see obesity as a death sentence. But the data show there are tens of millions of people who are overweight and obese and are perfectly healthy.”

Sources:

Sharecare

Medical News Today

The Guardian

Los Angeles Times

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.

This Blood Test can Detect Stroke in 10 Minutes

Researchers at Cornell University’s Baker Institute for Animal Health are working on a test that could detect a stroke in just 10 minutes, and it requires a tiny drop of blood barely big enough to moisten the fingertip.

Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States, and half of Americans have at least one risk factor. Those factors include high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

A stroke occurs when either a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain (ischemic stroke) or a blood vessel in the brain bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). The brain is starved of oxygen and brain cells begin to die, often resulting in permanent disability or death.

Husham Mishu, MD, chief of neurology and medical director of stroke services at the Atlanta Medical Center, says the ideal window for treating a stroke is 3 to 4.5 hours. The new test could be performed in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, allowing patients to receive more immediate treatment.

The test uses plates coated with enzymes that can detect a substance called neuron-specific enolase (NSE) that increases in the blood following a stroke. When those enzymes bind with to the chemicals, they trigger a chain reaction that leads to the emission of light. Researchers can measure the amount of NSE in the blood based on how much light is emitted. [1]

“Three-quarters of stroke patients suffer from ischemic stroke – a blockage of a blood vessel in the brain. In those cases, time is of the essence, because there is a good drug available, but for a successful outcome it has to be given within three or four hours after the onset of symptoms,” says the study’s lead author Roy Cohen, a research scientist at the Baker Institute.

Cohen says speeding up the diagnostic process could save many people permanent damage caused by ischemic stroke.

“By the time someone identifies the symptoms, gets to the hospital and sits in the emergency room, you don’t have much time to obtain the full benefit of this drug.”

Currently, the test can detect NSE caused by a stroke and other illness, but Cohen and his colleagues hope to soon be able to adapt the test to detect several key chemicals that will allow them to zoom in on strokes and differentiate between ischemic and hemorrhagic types.

They also hope the test can someday be used to detect concussions, heart disease, some dementias, and cancers.

“This system could be tailored to detect multiple biomarkers,” says co-author Alex Travis. “That’s the strength of the technique. You could assemble a microfluidic card based on this technology that could detect 10 biomarkers in different wells, and the readout would be the same for each one: light.”

But the test can only help stroke patients get help sooner if they know the symptoms of stroke to begin with. All too often, people ignore symptoms or assume they’re related to something other than stroke. And knowing how to prevent a stroke always helps, too.

The signs and symptoms of stroke:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, an arm or leg, especially on one side of the body


• Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding


• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes


• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination


• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Additional Sources:

[1] Cornell Chronicle

[2] Daily Mail

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.

Study: People Eating 1 of These a Day are ‘35% Less Likely to be Obese’

There’s nothing better than a health regimen that tastes great, so here’s one almost all of us can get on board with. Researchers have found that those who eat a pear a day are more likely to maintain a healthy body weight when compared to their non-pear-eating conterparts.

In a one study, scientists from Louisiana State University used 9 years of data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey involving 24,808 participants aged 19 and above, and found that people who ate pears were 35% less likely to be obese than individuals who did not consume pears regularly.

The study abstract concludes with:

“Consumers had a higher percentage population meeting the EAR for vitamins A and C, copper, and magnesium; consumers had a higher percentage above the AI for fiber (p<0.01). HEI-2010 [Healthy Eating Index-2010] was higher in consumers…Compared to non-consumers, consumers were 35% less likely to be obese (p<0.05). Fresh pears should be encouraged as a component of an overall healthy diet.”

‘Pear Eaters More Diet-Conscious’

In general, people who regularly ate pears were older, consumed less alcohol, and smoked fewer cigarettes than those who never ate the delicious fruit. These individuals were also found to be more diet-conscious, and they consumed more fiber, vitamins, and less fat and sugar. They also ate less total monounsaturated fatty acids, saturated fatty acids and added sugars.

Yet, the pear eaters weren’t necessarily more active than non-pair eaters.

‘There was no difference in energy intake or level of physical activity between the fresh pear consumers and non-pear consumers,” said Dr. Carol O’Neil, who led the study.

Dr. O’Neil added that her team believes the high fiber content in pears explains why pear eaters tended to have a healthier body weight than those who didn’t indulge once a day in the healthy treat.

Just one medium pear has higher percentages of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, copper and potassium, and leads to higher mean intakes of total sugars. Pears are free of fat, cholesterol and sodium.

Past studies have shown people who regularly eat pears and apples have a 52% reduced stroke risk.

Per the USDA Guidelines for Americans, people who eat more fruit as part of an overall healthy diet are less likely to develop chronic diseases. The researchers found, however, that only 2% of Americans ate a single, medium-sized pear a day. And that’s all people need to eat to get the recommended daily fruit intake!

The team concluded:

“consumption of fresh pears should be encouraged as part of an overall healthy diet, since pears are nutrient-dense and can help individuals meet the fruit recommendation.”

Sources:

Daily Mail

The Nation

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.

5 Things You Should Know About Obesity

Despite being one of the most preventable conditions on the planet, obesity is, unfortunately, a hugely significant problem. According to the World Health Association, the global obesity rate has more than doubled since 1980. ^[1] Certainly diet and exercise can go a long way in supporting a healthy weight, but sometimes even that isn’t enough. According to government health charts, if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, you’re considered obese. The BMI scale, however, is largely generalized and doesn’t take into account muscle weight.

What You Should Know About Obesity

Left unchecked, obesity can cause a myriad of health issues. For example, obesity may promote mental distress, heart disease, and research also implicates it in cancer. While it’s a difficult subject to talk about because we don’t really like to acknowledge it, it must be addressed. Here are 5 things you should know about obesity, including how you can fight it.

     1. There’s Huge Debate About Obesity’s Disability Status

Labeling obesity as a disability is a constant debate. In fact, 88% of doctors polled through SERMO, a medical social network, disagreed with a recent European Union ruling that employers should accommodate obese workers with things like special parking spots, larger chairs, and in some cases, government services. ^[2][3] Many of those doctors believe accommodations could be necessary in the case of medically-caused obesity, but Europe has gone a bit further than that with this ruling. Do you think this decision is just supporting the problem?

2. Pollution Can Promote Obesity

A recent report classed almost 30 percent of the world population as overweight, and pollution could also be contributing to that number. ^[4][5] Researchers in Southern California followed over 3,000 children throughout eight years and found a tentative link between BMI, secondhand smoke, and traffic pollution. According to the report, BMI was significantly higher in children exposed to pollution and secondhand smoke. Those exposed to both doubled their risk of being obese. This new finding could challenge the view that childhood obesity is a direct product of diet and exercise.

3. Dirty Water Is Causing Obesity and Diabetes

There’s also another study suggesting polluted water is a cause of obesity. The report notes many poor, rural towns in California’s Central Valley have trouble finding clean drinking water and are switching to more sodas and sugary drinks. This, in turn, is causing an increase in obesity and type-2 diabetes. ^[6] According to data from the Community Water Center, the water supply in one of those areas is among the most contaminated—“tainted with nitrates, arsenic, coliform bacteria, pesticides, disinfectant byproducts, and uranium.” ^[7]

    4. Obesity Also Affects Mental Health

Yes, while obesity can be damaging to your physical health, let’s not forget how it can influence your mental state. As mentioned earlier, obesity is on the rise; but, with super-sized food portions, it seems especially problematic in the U.S. In fact, over 6% of the U.S. population is classed as severely obese—that is, having a BMI of 35 or greater. For some, it might seem like obesity and depression go hand-in-hand, and the scientific community is studying that link. There’s recent evidence suggesting depression could be connected to obesity, with over 50% of those taking antidepressants classed as obese. ^[8]

5. Obesity is as Damaging as Smoking

While the health effects are damaging, the economic toll is staggering. A recent report estimated the global cost of obesity—mostly in terms of health care—to be 2 trillion dollars each year, roughly the equivalent cost of smoking. ^[9] Based on the current rate of obesity, that same report envisions that just about half of the world’s adult population will be obese by the year 2030.

Practical Solutions for Fighting Obesity

If obesity is a problem for you or a loved one, I urge you not to give up. You can make small changes for the better. If you’re looking to change eating habits, consider a plant-based diet. Such a shift can significantly reduce the risk for certain medical conditions. You don’t have to go completely vegan, of course; there are lots of other options. You could try your hand at a semi-vegetarian, or flexitarian, diet and only occasionally eat meat, or there’s the ovo-lacto vegetarian diet which cuts out meat completely, but includes eggs and dairy. There are certainly other choices, but these are two great ones!

Do you have any comments or questions about obesity? Tell us in the comments below!

References:

1. WHO. Obesity and Overweight. World Health Organization.


2. SERMO. Obesity is Not a Disability According to Most Doctors on SERMO, the leading U.S. Social Network for Doctors. SERMO.


3. InfoCuria. JUDGMENT OF THE COURT. InfoCuria – Case-law of the Court of Justice.


4. Ng, M. et al. Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. The Lancet. 384 (9945).


5. McConnell, R. et al. A Longitudinal Cohort Study of Body Mass Index and Childhood Exposure to Secondhand Tobacco Smoke and Air Pollution: The Southern California Children’s Health Study. Environmental Health Perspectives.


6. French, C. et al. Improve Water Quality in Rural Immigrant Communities. Center for Poverty Research.


7. Community Water Center. Contamination. Community Water Center.


8. Pratt, L. & Brody, D. Depression and Obesity in the U.S. Adult Household Population, 2005–2010. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.


9. McKinsey Global Institute. Overcoming obesity: An initial economic analysis. McKinsey Global Institute.

Replace Junk Food Snacks with This FATTY Snack to Lose Weight?

The simple decision to toss back a handful of peanuts a few times a week in place of other junk food snacks could go a long way to help people fight the battle of the bulge and could prevent childhood obesity, researchers say.

Peanuts are packed with vitamins and nutrients that make the tiny legumes one of the healthiest foods around. Look at the nutritional punch you get from just a 1/4 cup:

• 88% biotin


• 47% copper


• 36% manganese


• 28% vitamin B3


• 24% molybdenum


• 22% folate


• 20% phosphorus


• 20% vitamin E


• 19% vitamin B1


• 19% protein

Peanuts are rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, high in oleic acid, and loaded with antioxidants, too. In fact, previous research found that consuming more nuts was associated with decreased overall disease mortality.

But continuing with the original study at hand …

According to scientists, eating peanuts 3 to 4 times a week could help lower body mass index (BMI). That could be especially good news for children and teens with developing bodies. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics show obesity affects about 12.7 million children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 19. (The only problem is that BMI is a bit antiquated.)

For the study researchers at the University of Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, and Texas Woman’s University followed 257 Latino adolescents over the course of 6 months. Each was in the 85th percentile or greater for BMI.

Source: CDC

During the study period, about half the group snacked on peanuts or peanut butter right after school 3 to 4 times a week. The other half of the group had the same snack less than once a week. All of the students were taught proper nutrition and engaged in physical activity.

The group eating the most peanuts during that time reduced their BMI more than twice as much as the group eating peanuts less than once a week.

“Peanuts provided an acceptable, healthy snack for children. Although peanuts were relatively high in fat, the weight loss intervention of replacing energy-dense and unhealthy snacks with peanuts and peanut butter helped children maintain a healthy body weight.”

Lead study author Craig Johnston, assistant professor at the University of Houston’s department of health and human performance, said in a statement:

“Schools are doing a great job of teaching kids, getting them workforce ready, and a whole bunch of other things. We’ve just got to make sure that our kids are going to live long, happy lives with that kind of education.”

Snacking is more common among teenagers, who are usually left to their own devices in the food department, and that can lead to serious weight gain.

Johnston said:

“What we found is that kids get home from school around 4 p.m. There’s less supervision by parents and less structure. Kids are sitting down at the TV and eating, eating, eating because they really didn’t eat at school.”

The researchers recommend schools cut out energy-dense unhealthy snacks and replace them with healthier ones like peanuts to get kids in the habit of eating nutritious foods in proper serving sizes.

Johnson said obesity “is the most pressing health issue facing us today We’d like to think it’s preventable, but from where I sit right now, there hasn’t been a lot shown to be very effective on a large scale.”

As snacks go, peanuts have been shown to be more universally liked than “health foods” like vegetables, and the protein found in peanuts can help kids feel full longer.

The study was published in the Journal of Applied Research on Children.

Sources:

Medical Daily

Newser

CDC

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.