October 15, 2020

Weight-Loss Surgery Lengthens Life Span, Study Shows

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 14, 2020 -- Obesity is tied to premature death, but researchers have found that weight-loss surgery can add a few years to your life.

In a study involving more than 4,000 obese people, those who had obesity, or bariatric, surgery lived three years longer on average than those who didn't. But life expectancy was nearly six years less than for non-obese individuals.

September 30, 2020

Do Fasting Diets Really Work? New Study Finds Little Benefit

TUESDAY, Sept. 29, 2020 -- More and more people are turning to "intermittent fasting" to lose weight, but the jury is still out on whether the tactic works.

In a new clinical trial, researchers found that one type of intermittent fasting did help overweight and obese adults drop a couple of pounds over 12 weeks. But they fared no better than a comparison group who ate whenever they wanted.

September 29, 2020

Even If Hips, Legs Slim Down, Belly Fat Remains a Health Danger

THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2020 -- Gaining weight around your mid-section may be the makings of much more than a wardrobe crisis: It may also signal the start of a serious health crisis.

So warns a team of Canadian and Iranian researchers who conducted an extensive review of 72 studies involving more than 2.5 million patients from all over the globe.

September 21, 2020

Rising Obesity Levels Put Americans at Risk During Pandemic: CDC

THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2020 -- Adult obesity in the United States continues to rise, and being obese increases the risk of severe illness in people with COVID-19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns.

Agency data also show that racial and ethnic disparities in obesity rates persist.

September 8, 2020

New Weight-Loss Program Shows Promise Among Low-Income Americans

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2020 -- Lifestyle interventions can help people lose weight, but experts have worried whether such programs can work in low-income communities where obesity rates can be high and access to health care can be limited.

Until now.

September 2, 2020

Don't Wait to Lose Weight: Shedding Obesity in Youth Extends Life

MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 -- Obesity can kill, contributing to the development of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. But losing weight before middle age arrives can help prevent early death, a new study shows.

The researchers tracked health data for more than 24,000 people, considering obesity, weight loss and risk of early death. The study found that people who were obese at age 25 but lost weight between early adulthood and midlife were less likely to die at earlier ages compared to those who were persistently obese.