Summary: Researchers have identified a previously unknown population of neurons in the hypothalamus that play a critical role in regulating appetite. These neurons express both leptin receptors and the BNC2…
Tag: Obesity
208 million Americans are classified as obese or overweight, according to new study synthesizing 132 data sources
Nearly half of adolescents and three-quarters of adults in the U.S. were classified as being clinically overweight or obese in 2021. The rates have more than doubled compared with 1990.…
Weight loss plans are less effective for many Black women − because existing ones often don’t meet their unique needs
The popularity of weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro continue to reflect Americans’ desire to slim down. While these new drugs have offered a solution for people struggling…
Strength training early in life can set up kids and adolescents for a lifetime of health and well-being
“Aren’t they a little young for that?” This is a question I used to hear regularly from parents when I’d recommend strength training for the kids I worked with, whose…
TRUTH in Labeling Act would heighten the warning for shoppers looking to cut sugar, salt and saturated fat intake
With rising rates of obesity in the U.S. and increasing attention being paid to the health harms of processed foods, it’s clear that far more could be done to help…
Diabetes and obesity can damage the liver to the point of failure – but few people know their risk of developing liver disease
Liver disease is frighteningly common worldwide. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, is an umbrella term describing conditions related to a buildup of fat in the liver. Formerly known…
Adjusting Proteins Increases Ozempic’s Effectiveness
Summary: Adjusting melanocortin proteins in the brain enhances the effectiveness of GLP-1 diabetes and weight-loss drugs. By inhibiting MC3R or activating MC4R, mice showed increased sensitivity to these drugs, leading…
Oxytocin’s Link to Obesity and Postnatal Depression
Summary: A new study has identified the TRPC5 gene as a cause of obesity, behavioral issues, and postnatal depression. Researchers found that missing or impaired TRPC5 genes disrupt oxytocin neurons,…
How much stress is too much? A psychiatrist explains the links between toxic stress and poor health − and how to get help
COVID-19 taught most people that the line between tolerable and toxic stress – defined as persistent demands that lead to disease – varies widely. But some people will age faster…
Free school meals for all may reduce childhood obesity, while easing financial and logistical burdens for families and schools
School meals are critical to child health. Research has shown that school meals can be more nutritious than meals from other sources, such as meals brought from home. A recent…
