Published Mice eating less of specific amino acid -- overrepresented in diet of obese people -- live longer, healthier
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study in mice shows that cutting down the amount of a single amino acid called isoleucine can, among other benefits, extend their lifespan, make them leaner and less frail as they age and reduce cancer and prostate problems, all while the mice ate more calories.
Published People with obesity burn less energy during day
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A study found people who have a healthy weight use more energy during the day, when most people are active and eat, while those who have obesity spend more energy during the night, when most people sleep. Researchers also found that, during the day, those with obesity have higher levels of the hormone insulin -- a sign that the body is working harder to use glucose, an energy-packed sugar.
Published Scientists 3D-print hair follicles in lab-grown skin
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have 3D-printed hair follicles in human skin tissue cultured in the lab. This marks the first time researchers have used the technology to generate hair follicles, which play an important role in skin healing and function. When it comes to engineering human skin, hair may at first seem superfluous. However, hair follicles are quite important: They produce sweat, helping regulate body temperature, and they contain stem cells that help skin heal. The finding has potential applications in regenerative medicine and drug testing, though engineering skin grafts that grow hair are still several years away.
Published Semaglutide reduced cardiovascular events by 20% in certain adults
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Semaglutide reduced cardiovascular events by 20% in adults with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease who do not have diabetes, according to new research. Semaglutide is primarily prescribed for adults with type 2 diabetes but is also approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight and have at least one other health issue. In the trial, patients treated with semaglutide lost an average of 9.4% of their body weight and experienced improvements in other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Results from the 'SELECT -- Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Overweight or Obesity Who Do Not Have Diabetes' trial were presented today during a late-breaking science session at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2023 and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Published Obesity linked to neurodegeneration through insulin resistance
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have discovered a link between obesity and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease. Using the common fruit fly, the research shows that a high-sugar diet -- a hallmark of obesity -- causes insulin resistance in the brain, which in turn reduces the ability to remove neuronal debris, thus increasing the risk of neurodegeneration.
Published Higher risk of 17 cancers after high BMI in late teens
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Men who are overweight or obese at age 18 have a higher risk of 17 different cancers later in life. This has been shown in a study at the University of Gothenburg. The research also describes how the youth obesity epidemic is expected to affect the cancer situation over the next 30 years.
Published Epigenetic signature for obesity found in study of twins
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A susceptibility to gain weight may be written into molecular processes of human cells, a new study indicates. The proof-of-concept study with a set of 22 twins found an epigenetic signature in buccal or cheek cells appearing only for the twins who were obese compared to their thinner siblings. With more research, the findings could lead to a simple cheek swab test for an obesity biomarker and enable earlier prevention methods for a condition that effects 50% of U.S. adults, the researchers said.
Published High insulin levels directly linked to pancreatic cancer
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The first detailed explanation of why people with obesity and Type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of pancreatic cancer has been published. The research demonstrates that excessive insulin levels overstimulate pancreatic acinar cells, which produce digestive juices. This overstimulation leads to inflammation that converts these cells into precancerous cells. The researchers say the findings may have implications for other cancers associated with obesity and Type 2 diabetes, where elevated insulin levels may also play a contributing role in disease initiation.
Published Researchers uncover mechanism for treating dangerous liver condition
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A study has shown why certain polyunsaturated fatty acids work to combat a dangerous liver condition, opening a new avenue of drug research for a disease that currently has no FDA-approved medications.
Published Strength training may reduce health risks of a high-protein diet
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Progressive strength training using resistance can protect against the detrimental effects of a high-protein diet, according to new research in mice.
Published Can't stop binging on fries and BBQ?
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source People overeat and become overweight for a variety of reasons. The fact that flavorful high-calorie food is often available nearly everywhere at any time doesn't help. Researchers have determined for the first time why certain chemicals in cooked or processed foods, called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, increase hunger and test our willpower or ability to make healthy choices when it comes to food.
Published Link between seasons and eating habits
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The number of hours of light exposure we experience affects how we eat and how we burn energy. This may help us understand the link between seasons and metabolism.
Published Obesity leads to a complex inflammatory response inside fat tissue
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study uses single cell analysis of gene expression combined with spatial transcriptomics to reveal previous unrecognized immune cell types and interactions within adipose tissue.
Published How plant-derived nutrients can affect the gut and brain
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Can plant-derived nutrients alter gut bacteria to affect brain function? Scientists investigated this question in a study of overweight adults. Their findings suggest that dietary fiber can exert influence on both the composition of gut bacteria and the reward signals in the brain and associated food decision-making.
Published Maternal obesity predicts heart disease risk better than pregnancy complications
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes have recently been associated with a higher risk of developing heart disease later in life. But a new study has found obesity before or during pregnancy is the actual root cause of future cardiovascular disease. “We demonstrate, for the first time, that adverse pregnancy outcomes are primarily indicators — and not the root cause — of future heart health,” said corresponding author Dr. Sadiya Khan. “This means that pregnancy just reveals the risk for heart disease that is already there.” This large, multi-center and diverse study is one of the only studies to follow its participants — about half of whom were overweight or had obesity — from the beginning of their first pregnancy through several years postpartum.
Published Stimulating human brown adipose tissue into combating obesity
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have found nerve pathways that supply brown adipose tissue (BAT), a type of tissue that releases chemical energy from fat metabolism as heat -- a finding that could pave the way toward using it to treat obesity and related metabolic conditions.
Published Swap red meat for Quorn protein to improve heart health and reduce waist circumference, study finds
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source People looking to reduce their cholesterol and trim fat from around their waist could try swapping meat for Quorn protein, according to the findings from a new study, which saw positive effects in both areas in just two weeks.
Published Discrimination alters brain-gut 'crosstalk,' prompting poor food choices and increased health risks
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source People frequently exposed to racial or ethnic discrimination may be more susceptible to obesity and related health risks in part because of a stress response that changes biological processes and how we process food cues, according to new research.
Published Exercise and muscle regulation: Implications for diabetes and obesity
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Prediabetes is a condition that precedes type 2 diabetes and increases the risk of heart attack, kidney and eye disease, and several types of cancer. Currently, there is no approved drug therapy for prediabetes available. Scientists now show how and by which mechanisms prediabetes can be brought into remission, i.e. into a state in which blood glucose levels return to normal.
Published Exercise-mimicking drug sheds weight, boosts muscle activity in mice
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new drug encourages weight loss and increases endurance by making the body act like it is exercising.