News Archive for December, 2012

10. Shifting Focus to Obesity and Health. The George Washington University brought experts and stakeholders together for a consensus building process that culminated in August with the issuance of a report calling for FDA to shift their focus in reviewing new treatments for obesity away from weight loss outcomes and toward outcomes more relevant to the medical […]

Can personal indebtedness cause obesity? A sophisticated analysis of a large data set, the German Socio-Economic Panel, examined the effect of debt on illness, health satisfaction, and obesity. Researchers found that debt measures strongly correlate with health satisfaction, mental health, and obesity, but household debt does not have a causal effect on obesity. German health […]

A new study from the CDC suggests rates of obesity in pre-school children from lower-income homes have fallen slightly since 2003. The change is quite small — from 15.2% to 14.9% — but if it continues, it would be the first sign that obesity rates, which have grown consistently since 1980, may have moderated in […]

Convenience store 7-Eleven has announced plans to expand healthier food options in its network of stores. According to 7-Eleven, they are responding not only to trends in the market, which have shown consumers to be much more open to healthy food choices, they are making a smart business decision given that margins on fresher, more […]

Obesity is a complicated disease, and some people mistakenly assume that there is only one cause — lack of willpower — and one solution — more willpower. The facts tell a different story. The percent of the population with obesity remained virtually unchanged until 1980. After that, the rate began to skyrocket. Since it’s unlikely […]

The World Health Organization recommends no more than 5 grams of salt per day, but it’s very hard for Americans to meet that goal given our biological drive to seek it and the fact that many processed foods contain high levels. But some food companies are trying to reduce salt in their products using a […]

With Christmas here and the new year coming, the time seems right to reflect on faith, health, and obesity. We won’t dwell on stories that pick on Santa Claus and his obesity, such as this one in the Huffington Post. Instead, we’ll turn to a reflection on how the Christian faith tradition might address obesity. […]

In the December issue of Diabetes Care, Barbara Corkey from Boston University examines the we way we understand and treat obesity and diabetes, and she concludes our thinking is flawed. Many believe that overeating and inactivity cause obesity. And consequently, obesity and insulin resistance cause diabetes. But Corkey proposes an alternative perspective, that insulin resistance may be a […]

Prescription medication guides required by FDA are too complex to be useful to the patients they are intended to help, according to a study of suitability, readability, and comprehension published int the December issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.  Medication guides for patients are increasingly important, serving as a key tool to diminish potential medication […]

Companies, organizations, and individuals looking to make a positive change in a complex and deeply entrenched disease like obesity should consider more innovative techniques and messaging solutions, says Chris Waugh, director and co-founder of design innovation consultancy IDEO. Talking about the health risks of obesity can help build awareness, but leave people feeling overwhelmed and […]