A few months back, the University of Michigan School of Public Health published the results of research that suggests that inadequate levels of vitamin D could be a key factor in increased fat accumulation in children, and could be an important weapon in the fight against childhood obesity.

According to their findings, there is a strong correlation between vitamin D deficiency and the rapid build-up of abdominal body fat. This specific type of fat is often associated with an increased risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes, as well as numerous other serious medical concerns.

In order to better understand the link between these two factors, researchers first measured the vitamin D blood serum levels of 479 children, ages 5 to 12, living in Bogota, Columbia, and then monitored their weight gain for a 30-month period. Due to the inherent shortcomings with relying solely on the body mass index standard of gauging body fat, the researchers opted to use a three-prong approach which took into consideration not only BMI, but also waist circumference and a more advanced technique know as the subscapular-to-tricep skinfold ratio.

Continue reading: “Vitamin D and Obesity in Children”

Weight loss is something many women struggle with after pregnancy. And the unfortunate truth is, a good number of them were already carrying around an unhealthy amount of excess body fat even before they were pregnant.

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Better understanding female obesity — before, during, and after pregnancy — is an important step in controlling the tide of obesity that continues to spread across the United States. And according to some researchers, there is a growing body of scientific evidence which suggests that probiotic bacteria may potentially hold the key to not only a better understanding of weight gain, but also how to prevent it.

In 2009, Nutritionist Kirsi Laitinen, of the University of Turku in Finland, discovered a link between the use of probiotic supplementation during early stages of pregnancy, and weight loss following birth.

Continue reading: “Study: Taking Probiotics During Pregnancy May Prevent Obesity & Assist Weightloss After Birth”

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It’s no secret that calcium is important for the development of strong and healthy bones, especially in young growing bodies. But research presented by North Carolina State University suggests that it may also play a significant role in the prevention of obesity later in life.

Scientists at NCSU conducted an 18-day trial in which two dozen newborn piglets were closely monitored for changes in bone density and composition. The piglets were divided into two equal groups; the experimental group was fed a diet that was unusually low in calcium while the control group was given a normal high-calcium diet designed to mimic nursing from their mother.

Continue reading: “Study: Getting Plenty of Calcium Early in Life, May Help Prevent Obesity Later”

Lifestyle choices play a major role in our physical, mental and emotional health. Poor lifestyle choices will lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and a suite of other health issues.

Decision processing becomes sluggish as poor health leads to a more sedentary lifestyle. Which will then lead to reduced blood flow to the brain, thus affecting your entire body.

Performance at work, school and in the home becomes mediocre as health issues begin to consume time and finances. Self-esteem and confidence suffer, and affect even otherwise healthy relationships.

Despite the consequences of not living healthy, the number of middle aged adults in America who are obese has risen from 28% to 36% over the last 18 years, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Medicine. The study compared five lifestyle factors of a group of 7,340 middle-aged (40-74 year old) adults from 1988-1994 to a group of 7,811 middle-aged adults from 2001-2006.

5 Healthy Lifestyle Habits

• Physical activity at least 12 times per month
• Consumption of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily
• Maintenance of a healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 29.9)
• Moderate alcohol use, if any at all
• Not smoking

What the researchers from Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston found was that there was a 10% drop from the 1998-1994 to the 2001-2006 group in the number of middle-aged persons who undertook physical activity 12 or more times per month, and an 8% increase in obesity for the same group.

Despite the fact that tobacco use increases cancer risk, the percent of the population that smokes did not change in the seven year interval between the groups. Even while “health kicks” are on the rise, the number of people consuming five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day has dropped from 42% to 26%.

Continue reading: “New Study: Following a Healthy Lifestyle is on the Decline in the US”

It seems impossible, but where you live could be a huge factor in your body weight.

A recent study of 450,000 Americans showed that people with lower body mass tended to live in neighborhoods that allowed them more access to walkable living, including being able to walk/bike to work or to their local fruit and veggie shops. Similarly, there was a correlation between less “walkability” and increased body mass, or total body weight.

This could be related to the fact that areas related to increased weight caused people to drive to every single one of their destinations. Think of the average person who drives 5 or 10 minutes for a gallon of milk or a fast food meal.

Have you ever told someone you were walking a mile to get a healthy meal? You would most likely get some strange feedback, because most people could never imagine seeing an actual human being walking to eat instead of driving! Truly, the “drive for ease and convenience” in the form of one-stop shopping or fast food centers, is taking huge toll on the waistline.

Continue reading: “Can Where You Live Make You Fat?”