Futurity.org » weight loss

Chew hormone gum, lose weight?

Judy Holmes-Syracuse — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:12:53 +0000

SYRACUSE (US) — Fighting weight gain may one day be as easy as chewing a stick of gum after meals, according to new research.

Syracuse University chemist Robert Doyle and colleagues have demonstrated, for the first time, that a critical hormone that helps people feel “full” after eating can be delivered into the bloodstream orally. Findings are published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Weight loss: Just phone it in

Stephanie Desmon-JHU — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:23:36 +0000

JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — Many obese patients in a program delivered mostly over the telephone shed a medically significant amount of weight and were able to keep it off for at least two years.

The program, which offers telephone counseling by health coaches with website and physician support, was just as effective as another weight-loss program that involved in-person coaching, a study found.

Diabetes drug knocks down inflammation

Ellen Goldbaum-Buffalo — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:36:12 +0000

U. BUFFALO (US) — A drug commonly prescribed to help patients with type 2 diabetes also has a powerful—and rapid—anti-inflammatory effect, a new study shows.

“Our most important finding was this rapid, anti-inflammatory effect, which may lead to the inhibition of atherosclerosis, the major cause of heart attacks, strokes and gangrene in diabetics,” says Paresh Dandona, professor of medicine at the University at Buffalo.

Weight loss programs may save Medicare $15B

Jennifer Johnson-Emory — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:05:18 +0000

EMORY (US) — Investing in weight loss programs to prevent diabetes or heart disease could save the U.S. government as much as $15 billion in Medicare spending.

A new study published in the journal Health Affairs proposes enrolling overweight and obese adults between the ages of 60 and 64 with prediabetes before they enter the Medicare program at age 65.

Slow and steady wins weight loss race

Phyllis Picklesimer-Illinois — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:44:17 +0000

U. ILLINOIS (US) — Obese dieters would do well to approach losing weight like the tortoise rather than the hare. Beginning a diet by fasting triggers alterations that work against shedding pounds.

“When obese persons reduce their food intake too drastically, their bodies appear to resist their weight loss efforts. They may have to work harder and go slower in order to outsmart their brain chemistry,” says Gregory G. Freund, professor of pathology at the University of Illinois. “Take smaller steps to start your weight loss and keep it going.”