Studies link maternity leave with fewer C-sections and increased breastfeeding Jan 5, 2009
They adjusted for sociodemographic factors such as income, age and type of occupation, as well as for various health measures such as high blood pressure, body mass index, amount of self-reported stress and average number of hours of sleep at night. Using a combination of post-delivery telephone interviews and prenatal and birth records, the researchers found that women who took leave before they gave birth were almost four times less likely to have a primary C-section as women who worked... (EurekAlert!)
Couple get new lease on life for new year Jan 3, 2009
Doctors told the couple that since their body mass index was over 40, lap band surgery would not be the best surgery for them ... My body mass index was 42, so the doctor suggested Gastric Bypass RN-Y. Lorie's body mass index was 56 so the doctor recommended Gastric Bypass DS. Lorie's surgery was a bit more involved than mine, said Todd. (Demotte Kankakee Valley Post News, IN)
The best way to measure body fat Jan 3, 2009
Body mass index (BMI). Upside: Your BMI provides a lot more information than your bathroom scale, specifically a measure of body fat. (CNN -- Health)
Pre-Pregnancy Exercise May Not Prevent Back Pain Jan 3, 2009
Mogren found a higher proportion of nonobese women (body mass index of less than 30) versus obese women (30 or greater) reported current physical activity. Mogren's previous research suggested the women with a history of regular leisure-time physical activity before pregnancy have a lower risk of low back or pelvic pain after pregnancy. (MEDLINEplus)
Obesity Increases Lymphedema Risk For Breast Cancer Survivors Jan 3, 2009
In a new study, University of Missouri researchers found that the risk of developing lymphedema is 40 percent to 60 percent higher in women with body mass index (BMI) classified as overweight or obese compared to normal weight women. The researchers recommend increased health education for breast cancer survivors. (Science Daily)
Importance of Carbon Monoxide Safet... Jan 2, 2009
These include body mass, existing diseases and illnesses, and age. All these factors determine how much carbon monoxide exposure a person can actually withstand. (Suite101.com)
Health Calendar Jan. 2, 2009 Jan 2, 2009
The class is geared to people who are at least 100 pounds overweight with a body mass index of 40 or greater. Free to Wellness Center members; $100 a quarter for others. (Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal)
BEEBE TAPS BRADFORD FOR INSURANCE POST Jan 2, 2009
Bradford was also one of the lead sponsors of a 2003 bill that required an in-depth study of nutrition in public schools, which included a body mass index report. He has gotten national attention for that legislation as well. (Pine Bluff Commercial, AR)
Surgery Reverses Type 2 Diabetes In Teens Jan 1, 2009
Specifically, the average BMI (body mass index , a measure of obesity) was reduced by 34% and fasting blood glucose and insulin concentrations decreased by 41% and 81%, respectively. Improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels , two major risk factors for heart disease 0000198A , were also found. (CBS News)
Obese Men Have Worse Sperm Quality Than Leaner Men Jan 1, 2009
To examine how body mass index (BMI) affects sperm quality, they evaluated 390 men who sought infertility treatment with their partners over a 2-year period. Twenty-four percent of the men were normal weight, 43 percent were overweight, and 33 percent were obese. (MEDLINEplus)
Smokers with stroke in the family 6 times more likely to have stroke too Jan 1, 2009
The results were the same regardless of high blood pressure, diabetes, alcohol use, body mass index and education level. "While all people should be advised to quit smoking, our findings suggest that there is an interaction so that if you smoke and you have a family history of aneurysms, you are at an extremely high risk of suffering a stroke from a ruptured brain aneurysm," says study author Daniel Woo, MD, with the University of Cincinnati in Ohio and member of the American Academy of... (EurekAlert!)
High Vitamin C Linked to Lower Blood Pressure Dec 31, 2008
This difference still held true after researchers allowed for differences in body mass, race, education levels, and dietary fat and sodium intake. Women with the lowest levels of plasma ascorbic acid likely consumed average amounts of fruits, vegetables, and fortified foods while those with the highest plasma ascorbic acid levels likely ate diets rich in fruits and vegetables or took multivitamins or vitamin C supplements, the researchers note. (Newsmax)
Healthy Blood Sugar Levels May Slow Mental Decline Dec 31, 2008
Whether through physical exercise, diet or drugs, our research suggests that improving glucose metabolism could help some of us avert the cognitive slide that occurs in many of us as we age," reported lead investigator Scott A. Small, M.D., associate professor of neurology in the Sergievsky Center and in the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimers Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University Medical Center. Although it is widely known that the early stages of Alzheimers disease cause... (Newsmax)
High Insulin Levels May Increase Breast Cancer Risk Dec 31, 2008
For women who did not use hormones, those with a body mass index of 30 (obese) compared with those with a BMI between 18 and 25 (normal weight), had a two-fold greater risk of breast cancer. Adjusting for insulin levels attenuated this association, however. (Newsmax)
Pain Pills May Cut Risk of Bowel Cancer Dec 30, 2008
Compared with those never using NSAIDs, NSAID use was associated with about 40 percent reduced risk for cancer in the lower portion of the large bowel overall, after allowing for age, gender, race, body mass, physical activity, and other factors potentially associated with distal large bowel cancers. In analyses that factored for race, the investigators found a "strongly protective" association between NSAIDs and large bowel cancer in whites, according to a report in the American Journal of... (MEDLINEplus)
Metabolic repair: Physician assistant takes hands-on approach to fix patients' lifestyles Dec 30, 2008
Trudeau and his staff also do a body mass composition test, which detects muscle and fat, including the fat that is essential to your health and fat that is simply excessive. And that's what we go after, said Trudeau. (Missoulian, MT)
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center link blood sugar to normal cognitive aging Dec 30, 2008
This new study looked at measures that typically change during aging, like rising blood sugar, body mass index, cholesterol and insulin levels. The research found that decreasing activity in the dentate gyrus only correlated with levels of blood glucose. (EurekAlert!)
Minimizing obesity's impact on ovarian cancer survival Dec 30, 2008
UAB's chemo dosing formula includes actual weight, body mass index (BMI) and other factors, Mathews said. Obesity is defined as a BMI (BMI: kg/m2) of 30 or more. (EurekAlert!)
Fast Food + Nearby Schools = Fat Kids Dec 28, 2008
"Students who were exposed to nearby fast food have a higher level of body mass index -- they weigh more. They are more likely to be overweight and obese," he said. For the study, Davis and colleagues examined the relationship between fast-food restaurants located within one half mile. (MEDLINEplus)
Waist Size Predicts Stroke Risk Dec 27, 2008
While being overweight in general (that is, having a high body mass index or BMI) increased the risk of stroke, this association became nonsignificant after the investigators accounted for "confounding" factors, like being physical inactive, smoking, having high blood pressure or diabetes. However, being fat around the middle remained strongly associated with an increased risk of stroke or TIA.. (Newsmax)
Can Wii Fit deliver both fun, weight loss? Depends Dec 26, 2008
Then up came my friend s weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) score. Overweight, the Fit declared. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Sleep healthy for your heart Dec 26, 2008
Recent studies have found that sleep duration is related with risk factors for coronary artery calcification including glucose regulation, blood pressure, sex, age, education, and body mass index. To determine whether sleep duration and quality are associated with incidence of calcification, researchers from Australia followed 495 healthy individuals, aged between 35 and 47 years, for 5 years. (NDTV.com)
Lose weight, gain a loose suit of skin? Dec 25, 2008
John Jakicic, director of the Physical Activity and Weight Management Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh, says people who are overweight, with a body mass index between 25 and 30, may experience a little jiggle after weight loss. Obese people with a BMI of 30 or more, especially those with BMIs upwards of 35 and 40, will have more excess skin after losing significant weight. (MSNBC -- Health)
Resistance Training Eases Low Back Pain Dec 25, 2008
The researchers compared before and after measures, such as pain, muscle strength, body mass, and body fat, among 27 men and women with chronic low back pain ... 2 percent more body mass and lost 15 percent of their body fat, compared with measures obtained at study enrollment ... The aerobics group benefited from significant loses of body fat and body mass, and improved in cardiorespiratory measures, but did not achieve the same level of pain relief as the resistance exercise group. (MEDLINEplus)
Staying Trim and Fit May Prevent Heart Failure Dec 25, 2008
Kenchaiah's team found that the risk rose in tandem with the men's body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight in relationship to height -- even with a range of other factors taken into account, such as age, smoking and other health conditions like high blood pressure. Exercise was also independently linked to heart failure risk. (MEDLINEplus)
Study: Even a little flab raises heart risk Dec 23, 2008
Overall, the risk of heart failure increased by 180 percent in men who met the definition of obesity according to their body mass index (BMI of 30 and higher), and by 49 percent in men who met the definition of overweight (a BMI of 25 to 30). Heart failure contributes to 300,000 American deaths a year. (Boston Globe)
Heart Attack Calculator Created Dec 23, 2008
They recorded details of body mass index, family history, physical activity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes were recorded. They then matched the data against healthy individuals as a scientific control. (Science Daily)
Player profiles Dec 23, 2008
" Consumer focus Another unexpected finding was that the online game players - particularly the women - were healthier than the general population, though this was drawn from self-reported levels of exercise and body mass index. Dmitri Williams, a researcher at the University of Southern California and a co-author on the study, said one possible explanation could be that playing computer games reduces the amount of time spent in front of the television. Consoles such as the Wii have won a... (BBC News -- Technology)
This January, Shoppers Can Ring in the New Year at Windward Mall Dec 23, 2008
Check out HMSA's interactive online care options through a video presentation, enjoy an assortment of educational games, prizes, family entertainment, balloons and free health screenings for blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), glucose and more. Saturday, January 24, 12:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m., St. Ann's Church and Model Schools Celebrates Catholic Schools Week. (Honolulu Advertiser)
IVF weight limit 'not justified' Dec 22, 2008
Most primary care trusts limit IVF to women with a body mass index under 30, which excludes women classed as obese. It shows that age is a more important factor than weight. (BBC News -- UK)
In Rural Communities, Group Treatment Works To Reduce Childhood ... Dec 22, 2008
In Rural Communities, Group Treatment Works To Reduce Childhood Obesity. Making big changes in their diets could lead to unhealthy habits like skipping meals, eating disorders or weight gain. (Medical News Today)
SFPD Chief Fong's exit comes at crucial time Dec 21, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008. San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong's decision to retire after nearly five stable but uninspired years on the job, comes just as Mayor Gavin Newsom is facing two tough political challenges with the city's powerful police officers union: budget cuts and the need for the union's backing for his 2010 gubernatorial bid. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Politics)
Higher Levels Of Obesity-related Hormone Found In Patients With Psoriasis Dec 20, 2008
"After adjustment for sex, body mass index and conventional cardiovascular risk factors (including hypertension and metabolic syndrome), psoriasis was independently associated in our study with hyperleptinemia [high leptin levels]," the authors write. "In addition, hyperleptinemia in psoriasis is associated with higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome. This novel finding links the chronic inflammation status of psoriasis with metabolic disturbances.". (Science Daily)
Car crash injuries differ for heavier children Dec 19, 2008
DifferencesTo investigate how body mass index might affect children's injury risk, the researchers analyzed data on 3,232 children 9 to 15 years old who were involved in motor vehicle accidents, with their parents driving. About a third of the children were overweight or obese. (MSNBC -- Health)
Fat wallet, thick waistline Dec 19, 2008
"People who often eat out tend to consume more calories and to have a higher [body mass index] than do those who usually eat home-prepared meals," according to the study, conducted by Paul Veugelers and Stefan Kuhle, researchers at the University of Alberta's School of Public Health. Although affluent women are just as likely as wealthy men to eat out, they don't all grow wider as a result. (Globe and Mail)
Biomarkers improve ischemic stroke prediction Dec 19, 2008
The traditional risk factors used to determine the likelihood of this type of stroke include age, sex, race, whether a person smokes, blood pressure, diabetes, use of high blood pressure medication and body mass index as a measure of obesity. Nambi also examined whether setting a scale similar to that used in heart attack (low, intermediate and high) for the identification of stroke risk could be valuable. (EurekAlert!)
Group treatment may help children achieve healthier weights Dec 19, 2008
The children were between the ages of 8 and 14 and had a body mass index, or BMI, above the 85th percentile for age and sex, based on growth charts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children with BMI scores above the 85th percentile are considered overweight or obese. (EurekAlert!)
Obesity increases cancer risk Dec 18, 2008
Jay Mehta, director of the Molecular Medicine at the University of Arkansas, said the body mass index in India should not be more than 22 kg per square metre. In case of China it should not be more than 18. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Snuff teen smoking by pointing out obesity risk Dec 18, 2008
"And most interesting," said Saarni, the apparent link between smoking during adolescence and being heavy later on was independent of the young person's own body weight -- meaning that those who were heavy smokers had greater waist circumference even within the same body mass index (BMI) levels as their non-smokers peers. This research, Saarni added, "gives a tool" to highlight the risks of smoking to adolescents and young adults "by showing the unhealthy effect on the body shape." This can be... (MSNBC -- Health)
• Study: 13 percent of Idaho 3rd-graders overweight Dec 18, 2008
Although 70 percent of the students were at a healthy weight, according to their body mass index. Just over 1 percent were underweight. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
Llama neglect Dec 18, 2008
Niki Kuklenski, who helped organize the llamas' rescue, doubted that the herd had been fed, sheared and vaccinated regularly, given their low body mass and high number of parasites when they were seized. "If she had been feeding them hay every day, they would have looked a lot better than that," Kuklenski, a llama rancher, said. (Pet-Abuse.com)
The new taboo? Dec 17, 2008
Dividing someone's weight by the square of their height produces the Body Mass Index (BMI). A BMI between 18. (BBC News -- UK)
No-Carb Diets May Impair Memory Dec 17, 2008
See the government's guidelines, calculate your body mass index and quiz yourself on healthy food choices. Quiz. (CBS News)
Genetic Variants Tied to Obesity Dec 17, 2008
MONDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Certain people just may be destined to be obese, based on the discovery of six additional genetic variants tied to people with higher body mass index, a new study says. The study by an international consortium, published online Dec. 14 in Nature Genetics, adds to previous research that linked two other genetic variants to obesity. (MEDLINEplus)
Weight Can Be Kept Off No Matter How It's Lost Dec 17, 2008
Bariatric surgery is agreed to be the most reliable way for very obese people, meaning those more than 100 pounds overweight or with a body mass index of 40 or greater, to lose weight long-term, Bond and colleagues write in the International Journal of Obesity. While recent research has shown intensive behavioral interventions can also help, their long-term effectiveness is unknown. (MEDLINEplus)
Deaths from Heart Disease, Stroke Down 30% Dec 17, 2008
The incidence of overweight (body mass index at the 95th percentile) increased among children 6 to 11 years of age from 4 percent in 1971-74 to 17 percent in 2003-2006, the new report said. Among infants from 6 months to 23 months of age, the prevalence of high weight-for-age was 7. (MEDLINEplus)
Enough, already! Dec 17, 2008
You could say it was the BMI (body mass index) heard round the world: When the news broke last week that Oprah Winfrey had lost control of her eating and now weighs 200 pounds, it spread, as one Huffington Post blogger put it, like butter on a hot skillet. (Oh, how easy it is to make fat jokes. (Globe and Mail -- Business)
Vitamin C in plasma is inversely related to blood pressure and change in blood pressure during the previous year in young Black and White women Dec 17, 2008
In cross-sectional analysis, plasma ascorbic acid at year 10 was inversely associated with systolic BP and diastolic BP after adjusting for race, body mass index, education, and dietary intake of fat and sodium. Persons in the highest one-fourth of the plasma ascorbic acid distribution had 4. (Nutrition Journal)
Steve Jobs skips Macworld; Apple denies health rumors Dec 17, 2008
"That just draws attention, and you'd have the audience trying to analyze Steve's body mass from 100 feet away.". Having Apple abandon the trade show is a major blow for Macworld sponsor IDG. Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT, says Apple may promote its own developer conferences. (USA Today)
Eggs safe for heart: Study Dec 17, 2008
In a recent study, eating two eggs for breakfast, as part of a reduced-calorie diet, helped overweight or obese adults lose 65 percent more weight and reduce their body mass index (BMIs) by 61 percent more than those eating a bagel breakfast of equal calories. The study evaluated the risk of heart disease associated with egg consumption, compared to modifiable lifestyle risk factors like smoking, poor diet, being overweight or obese, and physical inactivity. (Times of India)
Managing clients' weighty issues Dec 17, 2008
After a complimentary consultation, new patients meet with Theotokatos and are given a full battery of weight-related tests to measure everything from weight, to percentage of body fat, Body Mass Index and the rate with which your body burns calories. While an ideal weight can be derived from the initial data, she says for her patients, it is more about first making progress, then looking long-term. (Buffalo Business First, NY)
Obesity 'controlled by the brain' Dec 16, 2008
It is estimated that as much as 70% of the variation in body mass index - a measure of obesity based on height and weight - is down to genetics, rather than environmental factors. Researcher Dr Kari Stefansson, of deCODE Genetics said: "This suggests that as we work to develop better means of combating obesity, we need to focus on the regulation of appetite at least as much as on the metabolic factors of how the body uses and stores energy.". (BBC News -- Health)
Benefits of a Lifeclinic LC300 Automated Blood Pressure Monitor Recently Featured on Daytime Medical Talk Show Dec 16, 2008
Lifeclinic's next-generation health stations, the LC500 and LC600, are capable of measuring blood pressure, pulse rate, weight, body mass index, body composition, and blood oxygen as well as downloading readings from glucose meters, pedometers and other devices. These health stations have an interactive touch screen interface and may be Internet-connected to allow users to save and view readings at or other Web sites such as Microsoft's HealthVault and to transfer individual readings to... (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
Indulgent Workouts Dec 16, 2008
Kick-start your workout plan by determining your body mass index with the fitness toolkit at. Or use the at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (KIRO TV, WA)
Low-carb diets and memory Dec 16, 2008
The women in the two groups did not differ in body mass index (BMI) (28-30kg/m2) prior to dieting. After three weeks there was no significant difference in weight loss between the groups (LC group in total lost 1. (NHS Choices)
New genetic factors found for obesity Dec 15, 2008
Variations in six genes were strongly associated with a height-to-weight ratio known as body mass index or BMI. Most of those genes are near others that regulate processes in the brain. REUTERS. (Boston Globe)
Making Your New Year's Resolutions Last Dec 15, 2008
Figure out your Body Mass Index, assess yourself for the flu or depression, and view health screening guidelines for what tests should be conducted for someone in your age group. Taking action is the inevitable next (and most important) step. (Pekin Times, IL)
Breakfast on Energy Light Foods Dec 15, 2008
As well as their breakfast choices, participants reported what they ate over a 24 hour period, and had their weight assessed by their body mass index (BMI). Cardiologist and lead author of the study, Dr James Rippe, from the Rippe Lifestyle Institute, said the study also explored whether the energy density consumed at breakfast could predict the person s typical energy density and diet quality for the rest of the day. (Suite101.com)
Major deCODE-led Study Underscores Role of the Brain in Obesity Dec 15, 2008
The discovery phase of the study published today correlated more than 300,000 SNPs with data on weight and body mass index (BMI). BMI is a measure used to relate weight to height, calculated as an individual's weight in kilograms divided by their height in meters squared, and individuals with a BMI greater than 30 are defined as obese. (PR Newswire)
Study: Six new gene mutations linked to obesity Dec 15, 2008
They found variations in six genes TMEM18, KCTD15, GNPDA2, SH2B1, MTCH2 and NEGR1 were strongly associated with a height-to-weight ratio known as body mass index or BMI.. "Today's findings are a major step forward in understanding how the human body regulates weight," said Guttmacher, whose institute, one of the National Institutes of Health, helped fund and conduct the study. (MSNBC -- Health)
Obesity All In Your Head? Dec 15, 2008
Brain Genes Associated With Increased Body Mass ... Brain Genes Associated With Increased Body Mass ... A genetic study of more than 90,000 people has identified six new genetic variants that are associated with increased Body Mass Index (BMI), the most commonly used measure of obesity. (Science Daily)
Sweetened Beverage Consumption Increases Dramatically In U.S. Dec 15, 2008
Adults are considered to be overweight if their body mass index is 25 or higher, and obese, if 30 or higher. Although this analysis does not attempt to estimate the effect of sugar-sweetened beverage intake on obesity incidence, a number of studies have linked sugar-sweetened beverage consumption to obesity and type 2 diabetes, said Youfa Wang, MD, PhD, author and associate professor with the Bloomberg School s Center for Human Nutrition. (Science Daily)
Losing the pounds Dec 15, 2008
He wants to achieve the ideal body mass index for his height and build during the first-quarter "Biggest Loser" contest, by dropping another 10 to 15 pounds. "It might be a New Year's resolution type of deal," he said. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
Compulsion to overeat is mainly in the genes, study shows Dec 15, 2008
Genetic factors are known to influence obesity risk, as twin studies have shown that 40 to 70 per cent of the variation in body mass index is inherited. But it was only 18 months ago that scientists identified a first genetic variant involved, in a gene called FTO. The discoveries, published in Nature Genetics, bring the total number of variants firmly linked to obesity to nine. (Times Online)
Brain background to body mass Dec 15, 2008
Brain genes associated with increased body mass. A genetic study of more than 90,000 people has identified six new genetic variants that are associated with increased Body Mass Index (BMI), the most commonly used measure of obesity ... Publication details Willer CJ, Speliotes EK, Loos RJF, Li S et al. (2008) Six new loci associated with body mass index highlight a neuronal influence on body weight regulation. (EurekAlert!)
