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Overeating Triggers “Master Switch” of Inflammation in Brain

Scientists are finding that obesity is a complex issue, and as they continue to search for clues to its causes, much focus has been placed on a small but vital region of the brain—the hypothalamus. Referred to as the "head ganglion of the autonomic nervous system" by the great Oxford neurophysiologist Sir Charles Sherrington, this almond-sized region of the brain organizes and controls an immense number of bodily functions such as body temperature, circadian cycles, feelings and moods as well as all motivational states including thirst, hunger and appetite,

High Energy Drinks Can Pack More Than A “Pick Me Up” Punch

High-energy drinks have increased in popularity over the past several years, especially among impressionable teens and young adults, who are totally unaware of the dangers posed by high levels of caffeine contained in them. These beverages are known for having an enticingly sweet taste and being packed with more caffeine punch than coffee.

A New Way to Effectively Suppress the ‘Hunger Hormone’?

Considering that more than two-thirds of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese, understanding the cause of obesity and finding treatments is crucial. It is known that obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories from food than he or she burns. Our bodies need calories to sustain life and be physically active, but when a person eats more calories than they burn, the balance is tipped toward weight gain and obesity. While some people eat even when they are not hungry and for other, complex reasons, many people eat because they ‘feel’ hungry.

Bariatric Surgery: Improves Health in a Cost Efficient Manner

Bariatric surgery has been said that it can pay for itself within a few years by helping to reduce insurance claims resulting from medical conditions that obese people can develop. While that might seem to be an overestimation, research shows that it is indeed correct, and that in most cases, surgical cost can be recovered within two to four years.

Frozen Yogurt: A Returning Trend and Friend

Childhood summers bring me back to my white bike helmet with neon stickers, matching skinned knees from too-eager starts or stops, and riding a few blocks away with friends to the local frozen yogurt shop. Between licks of refreshing flavors that would inevitably melt down my fingers and settle in the web of my hand making the ride home that much stickier, it was well worth it. Memories of carefree days were captured in those flavors and since adulthood, every time I drove by the shop I felt a wave of nostalgia for the light, cool, tang of frozen yogurt settling on my tongue.

Can You Have Your Nuts and Popcorn Too—Even If You Have Diverticular Disease?

For those people with a common digestive disorder known as diverticular disease, avoiding foods such as nuts, popcorn, seeds and corn has long been hailed as a preventative measure against painful attacks. However, new information is giving pause to the reliability of such wisdom. In a study of over 47,000 men, it has been found that eating such foods apparently does not increase the risk of diverticulosis or other diverticular complications.

Addiction Drug May Promote Weight Loss

The millions of Americans who are overweight or obese are putting their health in jeopardy. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death, and can raise your risk of developing heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, asthma and even gum disease. The underlying causes of obesity are numerous, from genetic disposition to binge eating, which may be caused by the same brain changes responsible for addiction. This link prompted researchers to test a potential addiction drug on lab rats bred to be obese-with surprising results.

ConsumerLab Report on Nutrition Bars – Buyer Beware

They are located at checkout counters in grocery stores and gas stations, and it is tough not to pick up the first one with a shiny wrapper and a label that boasts of energy and protein. Who doesn't want energy and protein, or a single chocolate bar that can replace an entire meal? Not so fast, says the latest ConsumerLab.com report.

Pop a Pill and Get Fit?

Can you receive the benefits of exercise without working up a sweat? Maybe you can! According to a group of scientists, a pill that captures the endurance-boosting effects of exercise may be in your future.

More Time Needs to Be Spent on Exercising to Lose Weight

With more and more developing nations adopting the Western lifestyle, they are also exposing themselves to the plight of that lifestyle—namely obesity. Obesity-related ailments including diabetes, stroke, gallbladder, and heart disease are responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year in the United States alone. The Surgeon General reports that about one-third or over 68 million Americans age 20 and older are overweight, while another 64 million are classed as obese.