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Obesity is a major problem in Britain OBESITY can be “caught” as easily as a common cold from other people’s coughs, sneezes and dirty hands, scientists will claim today. Researchers believe that an airborne “adenovirus” germ could be causing the fat plague that is blighting Britain and other countries. As many as one in three obese people may have become overweight after falling victim to the highly infectious cold-like virus, known as AD-36. It is known to cause coughs, sore throats, diarrhoea and conjunctivitis but has now also been found to make fat cells multiply, leading to weight gain....

According to Dr. John-Olov Jansson, a professor at Sahlgrenska Academy who participated in the research, said his team discovered a completely new system that regulates fat mass. "Quite simply, we have found support for the existence of internal bathroom scales," Jansson said in a statement. "The weight of the body is registered in the lower extremities. If the body weight tends to increase, a signal is sent to the brain to decrease food intake and keep the body weight constant." The research was conducted on already-obese rodents that were then loaded with extra weights, which caused their body fat to...

Ever heard of the freshman 15? Nowadays, some people who are unhappy with the current political environment are complaining of the “Trump 10.” We first heard this term from actress Jane Krakowski, who recently told late night TV host Stephen Colbert, “Now that I’ve put on my Trump 10, I’ve got to work out a little.” When Colbert said he hadn’t heard of the term, she replied, “You know — like the freshman 15,” referring to the weight gain typical during the first year of college. She’s not the only one. Similar complaints of politically induced stress eating have come...

If you’ve banished pasta from your kitchen cupboard in the hope of squeezing into last year’s Speedos or bikini before your summer holidays, you’re making a terrible mistake. An Italian study, published in the journal “Nutrition and Diabetes” this month, reveals for the first time a link between how much pasta you eat and how slim you are likely to be. […] “Our findings show a negative association of pasta consumption with general and central obesity,” the authors wrote. In short: the more you eat pasta, the less you are likely to be overweight. …

GPs will be asked to identify patients who are putting on weight under a new national programme to help fight obesity. Simon Stevens, the head of the NHS, said it was time for Britain to "get back in shape" in order to protect millions of people from a host of obesity-related diseases. Under the scheme, family doctors will be asked to identify anyone who has gained weight and is at risk of diabetes – particularly those aged below 40. They will then be offered tests for pre-diabetes, followed by healthy lifestyle advice and close monitoring to ensure they are eating...

A new study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that overweight and obese adults who drank diet beverages took in more food calories on average than their counterparts who drank the sugary stuff. "Although overweight and obese adults who drink diet soda eat a comparable amount of total calories as heavier adults who drink sugary beverages, they consume significantly more calories from solid food at both meals and snacks," lead study author Sara Bleich, associate professor in the Bloomberg School's Department of Health Policy and Management, said in a press release. Researchers looked...

Too much coffee can lead to weight gain and other health problems, even if drinkers stick to decaffeinated, according to research. Experts warned that drinking five or more cups a day increased the amount of fat stored in the abdomen. It was revealed that even a “moderate intake” of coffee in the average day could also lead to problems such as increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. Repeated studies in the past have shown that coffee can have benefits for regular drinkers, including lowing the chances of a stroke and certain forms of cancer. …

Not just the eating but also the actual position of “couch potatoes” is harmful, new research shows. It has been known for some time that people who watch hours of TV a day tend to be at higher risk of becoming overweight or obese. The connection was thought to be because of munching junk food while watching. But Tel Aviv University researchers have found that not just the eating but also the actual position of “couch potatoes” is harmful. Being stretched out in front of the TV is considered to be “active inactivity” and causes viewers to gain weight. Such...

Any time a large amount of candy changes hands, and borderline-overweight parents are in charge, the potential for disaster is high. Treat Halloween like you would a third or fourth cruise, when you know how much girth-expansion is coming. How much weight do you want to gain? The usual 3 or 4 pounds, which can be rationalized away as water weight, or the “Full Monty,” 10-15 pounds, where nothing you used to wear fits anymore? Assuming you would like your weight gain to be minimal, read on, dear reader, to avoid the pitfalls of this potentially disastrous evening. Remember, sweat...

Losing weight is difficult, and keeping it off may be even harder. So Harvard researchers set out to determine exactly how much physical activity women need in midlife to avoid gaining weight as they age. The researchers found that an hour of moderate activity a day — including such recreational activities as brisk walking, leisurely bicycling, ballroom dancing and playing with children — prevented women of normal weight from gaining more than five pounds over any three-year period. Half that amount of vigorous activity, like running, jogging or fast biking, will do the trick as well, they said. Women who...

Her worldwide album sales may have topped the 50 million mark, but home for singer Linda Ronstadt is anything but flashy. During the school year, she and her two children reside in a four-bedroom, two-bathroom Craftsman-style San Francisco duplex she bought a couple years ago for its "good light, good architecture and nice view of the bay." The multi-Grammy-winner -- who comes to the Rosemont Theatre March 25 for a special performance with the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra -- says she gravitates toward anything that's from the past -- specifically, before 1906. She has furnished her home with "a funny mixture...

....The important thing is that he [Dean Garrett] is alive and well after having an 18- to 20-pound malignant tumor extracted from his abdominal cavity early last week. ...Local surgeon Dr. Robert Berecz, without knowing any details of the case, said that the tumor was "exceptionally large for a male patient." He said that ovarian tumors in female patients can become larger.... For Complete Article, Please Click Here.

TIME TO PROTEST AGAIN: Former Vice President Al Gore will deliver a health policy address at 1:00pm tomorrow, Thursday, October 24 in room 101 of GW Medical Center's Ross Hall. Ross Hall is at 2300 I Street, next to the Foggy Bottom metro. We would like GWCRs to protest outside of Ross Hall. Please bring loud voices, and signs if you would like.