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Obesity… is it all in the genes? While this isn’t totally new news, there is further evidence that you may already be predisposed to being fat. Researchers in Europe have identified a gene that they think boosts the risk for obesity.
The PCSK1 gene is the “guilty” gene. Just as people come in all shapes and sizes, the gene also has variants, each possibly playing a role in predisposing its carriers to being overweight.
“By the end of the year we will probably have identified a total of a dozen genes linked to obesity,” says Philippe Froguel of Imperial College London, who led the research team.
Don’t just resign yourself to throwing in the towel if you are having a tough time in your battle of the bulge. While it’s not completely clear from the article, there doesn’t seem to be any indication that it means they believe people with the gene, in any of its variants, are doomed to be fat no matter what. So, continue working hard on bettering your diet and fitness routine… there’s still no excuse.
While rising gas prices is generally seen as a negative thing, there are a few good side effects associated with it is as well. Firstly, it helps ween people off of gas guzzling vehicles. But another one is much more surprising: thinner waistlines.
The expense of filling up at the pump has gotten to the point where people are opting to walk or ride a bike, and hence, losing weight. Bike shops across the United States are reporting record sales, and Britain is even promoting a national “Bike Week” to encourage commuters to pedal to the office.
According to research by Charles Courtemanche of Washington University in St. Louis, for every dollar increase in the average real price of gas, overweight and obesity levels in the United States will decline by 16 percent after seven years.
Looking in the rear-view, Courtemanche’s study also attributes the expansion of American waistlines between 1979 and 2004 in part to falling gas prices. Similar research published in the European Journal of Public Health found that European countries with higher gasoline prices tend to have lower rates of obesity.
The economic impact also has us eating out less, which is bound to positively affect people’s waistlines.
If there are any initiatives in your community like the Bike Week in the U.K. - let Diets In Review know in the comments! Tell us how you’re staying active and saving money at the pump.
For many of us, it’s the land of beer, strudels and schnitzel (usually breaded and fried veal). Maybe the rich food and Oktoberfests are catching up with Germans.
Germany is looking to reverse the country’s obesity problems with a massive government initiative. The program will cost almost 50 million and includes:
- Education on healthy eating and sports
- Tougher standards for school lunches
- Voluntary measures for the sweets industry to stop targeting children under 12 with advertising
- Clothing companies to stop using “anorexic” models
- Computer game manufacturers are being encouraged to develop products that make players move about
There’s political opposition from people who believe it will just create a bureaucratic mess.
This video is an interesting look at carbs, the glycemic index, and how it’s just not as simple as saying all carbs should be avoided in favor of a protein-rich diet. Pasta is certainly one of the more popular casualties of the low-carb craze. But you may be surprised to know you don’t have to always pass on the pasta. Just remember that portion size matters.
A salmonella-tainted tomato outbreak began in mid-April, and was centered mostly in New Mexico and Texas. Now it has made about 300 people sick across 28 states and the District of Columbia in the U.S. Officials are still unsure why it’s happened or where it came from.
The FDA has warned consumers to avoid eating raw red plum, red Roma and red round tomatoes and products containing them, unless they come from areas that are listed on its website. Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and those sold with the vine have been deemed safe to eat.
The timing couldn’t be worst since we are just now entering prime tomato season. So, if you want to play it extra safe and avoid tomatoes altogether until things blow over, where can you match the nutritional benefits that come with our favorite fruit that is mistaken for a vegetable?
There are plenty of nutrients found in tomatoes, but its highest potency comes in the form of vitamins C, A and K. That’s not even mentioning its secret weapon - lycopene.
Tomato growers, and even ketchup sellers, have played up lycopene and its proposed antioxidant properties, which could help fight cancer. While this conclusion is not totally conclusive at this point, it doesn’t hurt to have it in your diet. The most obvious lycopene substitute in lieu of tomatoes is watermelon. That’s not even mentioning that it also has a healthy amount of vitamins C and A, which you would lose in not eating tomatoes.
If it’s other antioxidant sources you want, there are many. Beans (red, black, pinto, kidney), blueberries, and even coffee and certain teas are good sources.
In January, just in time for all those resolutions, Oprah and Bob Greene launched the 2008 Best Life weight loss challenge. If you missed the episode, you can tune in tomorrow, 6/13. The challenge is encouraging one million Americans to sign a contract to commit to themselves to make healthier choices by following the Best Life Diet.
The show, airing tomorrow, is set in Meridian, MS. The Mississippi town has one of the most overweight populations in the country. Oprah chose this location to kick-off the challenge because of the weight loss challenge their mayor, John Robert Smith, had started. The “Just Lose It! Meridian” campaign encouraged 1,000 people in the community to lose 10 pounds each. Read our interview with Mayor Smith to learn more about the weight loss campaign.
eDiets is hosting a day-long event in Ft. Lauderdale this weekend, with special guests Jillian Michaels, sharing news about her new meal delivery plan, and Dr. Steven Pratt, author of SuperFoods Rx.
eDiets Live is a fun day dedicated to keeping you motivated and informed about nutrition and fitness. Who better to learn from than the two guest speakers?
Saturday, June 7, 2008
9a.m. - 5p.m.
Embassy Suites Hotel
1100 SE 17th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Event Registration: 800.265.6170
Price: $99/person
Everyone receives a gift bag worth $200 and a chance to win an E80 Elliptical Trainer, worth $1499. If you attend, please share your experience with us!
Learn more about eDiets online weight loss programs.
Low-carb dieting has had strong opponents and proponents over the years. Proponents would tell you the following news is no news at all.
Swedish researchers say they have found that people with type 2 diabetes can control their condition and manage their weight in the long run on a low-carb diet.
The participants in the study limited their carbohydrate intake to 20 percent of total calories. This helps limit glucose spikes which make it necessary for patients to take insulin.
“Of the 16 patients, five have retained or reduced bodyweight since the 22 month point and all but one have lower weight at 44 months than at start,” the investigators report.
That’s some nice reaffirmation that sensible low-carb eating is not a fad diet, but something you can live with.
We promised to let you know - it looks as though Biggest Loser has opened casting for season 7 (scheduled to premiere January 2009).
The casting call is asking for couples. This could be your turn- don’t wait, get your video in!
Curious about the upcoming Biggest Loser season 6? It’s currently filming, the contestants have been at the ranch since the first week of May. Season 6 is scheduled to premiere in September. Stick with DietsInReview.com as the fall season approaches- we’ll have cast bios, premiere dates, weekly episode recaps and eliminated contestant interviews.
A newly released study from Spain is praising the ideals of the Mediterranean Diet for its prevention of type II diabetes. The diet is based on the lifestyle for that part of the world- rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, nuts, fish and legumes. The key for diabetics is in the Mediterranean Diet’s avoidance of animal products, like meat and dairy.
The study, conducted in Spain, followed more than 13,000 individuals for 4.4 years. Those who followed the diet most closely reduced their risk of type II diabetes by 83%.
In addition to following a healthy diet, like the Mediterranean, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are two other strong preventatives for type II diabetes and heart disease.
