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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.

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.

Weight Loss System Alli Not Hitting the Mark

Alli, the first and only over-the-counter FDA-approved weight loss drug, has not hit the sales mark for its first year. The drug was approved in 2007 for over-the-counter marketing as a weight loss aid. Glazosmithkline, the creators of Alli, recommend the drug be used with a diet low in fat, a daily multivitamin, and exercise program.

Low-Fat Diet May Not Belly Up to Low-Carb and Mediterranean Diets

While many Americans believe that the lower the fat in your diet, the better the results that will be achieved, a new study has found that a low-carbohydrate or Mediterranean-type diet may actually be more effective and just as safe.

Could Eating Slow Really Trim Calories?

We never want to admit our parents were right about things we didn't want to hear, but when your mother told you to take time chewing your food she was actually doing us a favor. Research is suggesting that eating slowly can encourage people to eat less and actually enjoy their meal more.

Double Your Weight Loss with the Power of a Pen and the Written Word

Instead of reading about foods you should eat to lose weight, maybe you should be writing about the diet foods you do eat. Putting pen to paper and recording your eating habits could mean increased weight loss. In fact, researchers have found that by keeping a food diary, you can lose twice as much and become a healthier you.

Germany to Oust Obesity

Not to be out done, Germany has eaten, drank, and lazed its masses into matching the American people as the heavyweights of the world—both countries weighing in with the highest numbers of overweight and obese people. According to government statistics, two-thirds of all German men between the ages of 18 and 80 are overweight; almost half of all women have a weight problem, and more than 1 million of their youth show symptoms of eating disorders.

Gastric Bypass Can Cut Cancer Risk

The number of overweight Americans opting for gastric bypass surgery has risen dramatically over the past decade. Last year, an estimated 205,000 people had the surgery, compared with a mere 23,100 in 1997. In addition to dramatic weight loss, gastric bypass surgery may also reduce the risk of dying from diabetes or heart disease by improving or resolving conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Breakfast May Be the Key to Weight Loss

Breakfast has long been touted as "the most important meal of the day." Why? First of all, you need to refill your body with the energy that was used up while you slept and provide enough energy for your body to use to start the day and keep you functioning until lunch. Breakfast eaters have been shown to be more efficient at work and school and to show extra energy in sports and other physical activities. Findings of a new study not only support this traditional wisdom, but show that eating a big breakfast may also be the key in the effort to lose weight and keep it off.