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CrossFit® Benefits People With Type 2 Diabetes

A common characteristic among people with type 2 diabetes is dysfunction of beta cells, which are responsible for storing and releasing insulin. New research suggests that high-intensity training workouts may help to restore beta-cell function.

New Dangers Associated With Childhood Obesity

Having obesity as a kid doesn’t just create immediate risks. According to a new study, it may also set the stage for significant health problems later on.
While being obese in childhood is known to predict adulthood obesity, the study’s purpose was to learn about other potential and undetermined weight-related health risks that might take root in the early years. Specifically, the researchers focused on how childhood obesity related to cardiovascular disease and abnormal blood sugar levels that result in disease.

Treat & Reduce Obesity Act of 2017 Gains Momentum

Efforts to help people with obesity may get a little more support. In April, pertinent new legislation was introduced in both the House and the Senate.
The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2017 aims to provide healthcare professionals with more funding and better treatment options for obesity. If the legislation passes, it would improve counseling, intervention and drug treatments for patients.

Migraines: A Weighty Issue?

Migraines have long been a malady of unknown etiology, confounding medical practitioners and sufferers alike. A research review suggests that weight may be a factor.
The review included 12 studies and examined records from 288,981 individuals. Analysis showed that people with obesity had a 27% greater chance of developing a migraine than normal-weight people, while underweight individuals were 13% more likely to have a migraine than those of normal weight. Age and gender also correlated with migraine risk.

Some People Are Genetically Predisposed to Be Overweight, Obese

According to a new study, certain continental Africans and African-Americans carry a genomic variant that causes them to be an average of 6 pounds heavier than those without it.
In this study, researchers hoped to zero in on a potential genetic basis for overweight and obesity levels among continental Africans. To this end, the scientists performed a genome-wide association study for body mass index (BMI) in 1,570 West Africans and then replicated the study in independent samples of West Africans and African-Americans.

Exercise and Children: Better Brain Health, Less Obesity, Less Stress

Physically active young people can do better in school and improve their self-expression, self-confidence and social interaction compared with more sedentary children (WHO 2017). Indeed, two studies published in 2017 underscore the value of children getting plenty of exercise.
Let’s take a quick look at this research. Study 1. Fitness and Academic Achievement

Reducing CVD Risk in Older Adults Who Are Obese

Exercise may protect against cardiovascular disease regardless of body mass index, according to researchers from Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
They examined the health records and activity levels of 5,344 adults aged 55—97. Participants were categorized as normal weight, overweight or obese and were also classified by activity level. The study's purpose was to understand associations among weight, physical activity levels and CVD risk.

Is Exercise an Ineffective Tool for Weight Management?

Being physically active is a primary way to lose or manage weight—right? And sedentary behavior is largely to blame for
current rates of obesity? Well, let's slow down. Findings from
a study conducted at Loyola University Chicago challenge both those statements.

“Fat Shaming” Has Negative Consequences

The term "fat shaming" has garnered plenty of attention lately. Some believe that criticizing people for their size will inspire them to lose weight. According to researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the practice can be harmful.

Parents’ Perceptions of Child Weight May Cause Weight Gain

It might seem illogical that children would gain more weight if their parents acknowledged them as being overweight. After all, the knowledge could help parents mitigate future weight gain. Not so, according to two new studies. It turns out that children are more likely to gain weight over 10 years if their parents see them as overweight.

To Help Clients Succeed, Keep Change Simple

Samuel L. Berry, MS, is a Master Trainer for the American Council on Exercise and for Functional Movement Systems. He serves a wide range of clients and athletes aged 11—81 who are working toward a variety of objectives. In addition to his roles as a trainer and educator, he has contributed to publications for Harvard Medical School, Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine, PTontheNet.com and prominent peer–reviewed publications such as The Journal of Pediatrics.

Weight Gain and Cancer Risk

According to the World Cancer Research Fund, 10 types of cancers are linked with obesity. Researchers from the University of Manchester in the U.K. warn that significant weight gain throughout adulthood ups the risk—by as much as 50% for men and 17% for women—of developing obesity-related cancer.

Obesity and Cancer Tie in Survey as Top Health Threat

Americans seem to understand the personal health risks of obesity, but widespread confusion persists about the causes and treatments of the disease, says a new survey from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the independent research organization NORC at the University of Chicago.

Another Way to Prevent Childhood Obesity

Current guidelines say children should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day for optimal health and fitness. For many, this is a tall order. Fortunately, exercise doesn’t require an all-or-nothing approach. Recent research has determined that even small amounts of daily high-intensity activity can help kids ward off weight gain.

Improving Health Behaviors

Laura DeFina, MD, FACP, is president and CEO of The Cooper Institute®, as well as its chief science officer. After practicing general internal medicine and geriatrics, she joined The Cooper Institute in 2009 to pursue her interests in prevention and research related to healthy aging. Since then, she has authored manuscripts on, among other topics, brain health, healthy aging, depression, cardiorespiratory fitness and injury in physically active women.

Obesity Ups Cancer Risk in Black Men

According to researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, African-American men have the highest rates of prostate cancer (both development and mortality) in the United States. Those same researchers have determined that obesity among this population makes the problem much worse.

The Science of Weight Gain

Fitness professionals expend considerable energy helping people to lose weight, but there’s another way to view this challenge: What are the main factors that cause people to gain weight??