Tara Parker-Pope may not a household name, but anyone writing about health news is sure to be familiar with author and columnist and editor of The New York Times Well blog. Just in time for New Year, she took one the question of weight loss in a long-from article title “The Fat Trap,” published in The New York Times Magazine this Sunday. Parker-Pope shifts through the research and combines it with personal interest to deliver a survey of the current understanding of the underlying genetics that cause obesity.

Much of the article focuses on the ways in which weight gain is caused by genetic and biological factors. This is not only important for understanding how to treat those who suffer from being over weight and obese not only physically, but also emotionally. As a society, we all too often see weight gain as a moral failing.

“Many times even health professionals view individuals who are overweight as lazy and unable to follow through with strict dietary recommendations because they don’t have strong enough will-power,” says R.D. Kati Mora. “I think as more people begin to realize that its not simply a matter of will-power and that other factors are at play, we will approach weight loss in a more compassionate, caring way. This will hopefully help individuals struggling with weight feel more supported by their healthcare team and be more successful in the long run at implementing the recommendations they are given.”

If you are genetically predisposed to a health condition, it may make you feel hopeless. According to a new study, you may be able to beat genetics with a healthy diet.

The researchers found the gene that is the biggest indicator for whether or not a person will be predisposed to heart disease can be modified simply by eating a good amount of fruit and raw vegetables.

“We know that 9p21 genetic variants increase the risk of heart disease for those that carry it,” said Dr. Jamie Engert, joint principal investigator for the study, and a cardiovascular disease researcher at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. “But it was a surprise to find that a healthy diet could significantly weaken its effect.”

“Our research suggests there may be an important interplay between genes and diet in cardiovascular disease,” says the study’s lead author Dr. Ron Do.
Read Full Post >

Experts appear to have found the secret to longevity and it resides in the small Aegean island of Ikaria: siestas (short naps), a healthy diet, and oh yeah, genetics.

Conducted by Greek cardiologists, a study examined more than 1,400 residents of Ikaria (there is just a population of 8,000) over several months in 2009. Thirteen percent of those polled were over 80 years old and more than one percent were over 90.

“While in the rest of Europe only 0.1 percent of the population is over 90 years old, in Ikaria the figure is tenfold, 1.1 percent,” said Christina Chrysohoou, a cardiologist at the Athens university school of medicine.
Read Full Post >

People who seem to eat what they want, when they want, and still stay thin are the bane of many people’s existence who struggle with weight (or at least they are responsible for some mild resentment). However, just because you’re skinny doesn’t mean you’re healthy.

Scientists are now sending out a warning to thin people that being lean doesn’t mean you can be carefree with your health. The concern centers around a so-called “lean gene.” This gene keeps people slim but also masks signs of heart disease and diabetes, particularly in men.

What the gene does is reduce levels of fat under the skin. However, what’s left is dangerous tissue that surrounds the heart and other organs.

“We’ve uncovered a truly fascinating genetic story and, when we found the effect of this gene, we were very intrigued by the unexpected finding,” said Professor Douglas Kiel of the Harvard Medical School.
Read Full Post >

UPDATE: This episode will air again on Thursday July 21, 2011.

Tune in this Tuesday, December 7 to the Dr. Oz Show when America’s favorite doctor investigates the safety of genetically modified food.

In the past few years, the controversy surrounding genetically modified food has been a hotly contested subject. On this episode, Dr. Oz will open the discussion up to a panel of experts who weigh in on both sides of the argument. You will have the opportunity to hear the main issues surrounding the safety and danger of genetically modified food, what kind of labeling regulations there are on such foods and what other countries are doing in response to this new wave of altered food.
Read Full Post >