Obesity in girls may be triggered by stress, a new study suggests.  Depression can increase hormone levels in teenage girls, leading to weight gain and obesity. Read the full story

Childhood obesity rates have increased due to constant snacking by kids, according to a new study. In fact, snacking accounts for more than a quarter of the calories children consume. Read the full story

Obesity is attributed to many factors, from genetics to lifestyle choices. But, the street where you grow up could also affect your waistline later in life. Read the full story

Obese girls who undergo psychotherapy sessions show better weight management skills than girls who take a health education course.  New research shows that psychotherapy can help prevent binge eating by providing emotional support. Read the full story

Belly fat might be more likely for those facing social stress, according to new research. And that’s bad news for people facing financial difficulty, because increased belly fat can lead to other, more serious health conditions. In addition, stress can have a negative impact for women who want to have children,  research shows.

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As the rate of obesity among children continues to soar, scientists are questioning whether restrictive feeding by mothers may be part of the problem. Read the full story

Obesity Linked to Gum Disease

Research is showing that adults who are obese are at a higher risk for gum disease than people who weigh a few extra pounds. Students from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Puerto Rico analyzed data collected from more than 35,000 men. These subjects had been followed for up to 16 years. In the beginning, the men were free of any periodontal disease.

But for those who developed problems later, statistics were drawn to those men who had gained significant amounts of weight.

The study showed that obesity is associated with a 29 percent increased risk of gum disease over the course of time. Men who are merely overweight only face a slight increase in risk.

David Cochran, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, said that inflammation of the gums can often be linked to inflammation in other parts of the body – a common problem among the obese.

It’s also been long confirmed that dietary choices that lead to becoming obese, such as eating foods loaded with sugar, can lead to gum disease.

The findings from this new study were recently presented to the International Association for Dental Research.

Recession May Be Affecting Our Waist Lines as well as Our Wallets

The global economic crisis is hitting everybody’s wallet these days. But, at least one researcher warns that it could be hitting us at the waistline, as well.

Dr. Adam Drewnowski, Director of the Nutritional Sciences Program at the University of Washington in Seattle, fears that widespread financial hardship may lead Americans to cut their food budgets, eliminating more expensive fresh foods  and substituting cheaper “survival foods” – foods that tend to be less expensive but higher in fat, salt, and calories. The result could be poverty-related weight gain – what some are calling “recession pounds.”

In his research, Dr. Drewnowski found that people with higher incomes tend to have body weights closer to the healthy norm, while those with lower incomes have a much higher rate of obesity.

But, just because you’re feeling the pinch in your pocketbook doesn’t mean you have to pack on the pounds.
Robert Keith, a professor of nutrition and food science at Auburn University, says you can still be health-conscious at the supermarket, even while shopping on a shoestring. He points out that vegetables, like kale, broccoli and brussel sprouts are relatively inexpensive and are readily available throughout the year. Also, produce like bell peppers, sweet potatoes, beets and collard greens don’t cost much and are packed with vitamins, and a can of sardines can be a cheap source of protein.

Of course, it’s bad to eat too much of anything – even kale. But, when hardship hits, a bunch of beets is a better bet than a shopping cart filled with traditional cheap eats, like Hamburger Helper, Pop-Tarts and Spam. So, shop wisely, friends!