The Yale Rudd Center offers continually updated Front Burner News, bringing you the latest developments and updates in the field of obesity, food policy, and weight discrimination. http://www.yaleruddcenter.org/rssfeed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Fri, 16 May 2008 12:18:54 -0400 Fri, 16 May 2008 12:18:22 -0400 FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.2.9) http://www.feedforall.com A year-long study by researchers at the Cardiff Institute of Society, Health and Ethics has found that peer pressure influences eating habits in young people. Most notably, children who attended schools which had "no junk food" or "fruit only” policies were more willing to eat fruit as a snack at school, since they and their peers were not tempted by or permitted to eat unhealthy snacks. The study highlights the importance of peer modeling in forming eating preferences, and emphasizes the need for schools to put junk food bans in effect as necessary health interventions. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7397157.stm E389D75B-B7B2-4DD3-A018-7DFED176B18C Fri, 16 May 2008 12:18:22 -0400 Medco Health Solutions Inc. reports that more than half of all insured Americans are taking prescription medicines regularly for chronic health problems. The most widely used drugs are those intended to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol -- problems often linked to heart disease, obesity and diabetes. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Medication-Nation.html?scp=3&sq=obesity&st=nyt 91382F84-6218-4310-BFAD-8E7B6C8558C2 Fri, 16 May 2008 12:17:56 -0400 A study by researchers at the University of Toronto offers evidence that genetics may help to explain why some people consume more sugary foods than others. Researchers found that a variation in the GLUT2 gene is associated with a higher intake of sugars among different populations. The findings may partly explain variations in personal preference for sugary foods. http://foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?id=85265 5E3E3507-3F70-4464-88D1-DA7DA19CE2D8 Fri, 16 May 2008 12:17:25 -0400 A series of studies by U.S. researchers show that exposure in the womb to common chemicals, such as those used to make plastic bottles and pizza box liners, may result in obesity later in life. Thus far, the data come from rodent studies and have not yet been replicated in humans. Nonetheless, the findings suggest that some people may be programmed to obesity before birth, underscoring the need to identify biomarkers that scientists and medical experts can use to recognize people who are at risk for adult obesity. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080514/sc_nm/obesity_chemicals_dc;_ylt=Ask.Jdo6nQjuXValsSQsJf7VJRIF 8FC4599B-68EE-4AAE-9413-725568FA763B Fri, 16 May 2008 12:17:05 -0400 Nintendo’s gaming system the Wii is the best-selling game machine of the current generation, with worldwide sales topping 25 million. The traditional Wii system, which offers interactive games such as bowling, tennis and boxing, became so popular as an exercise device that Nintendo is releasing a new gaming system called Wii Fit, designed to encourage physical activity through push-ups, yoga, and aerobics. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/fashion/15fitness.html?scp=1&sq=avatar&st=nyt 9020671F-1A9C-4829-B122-91423A59890D Fri, 16 May 2008 12:16:42 -0400 In a letter in the medical journal the Lancet, British researchers claim that growing rates of obesity contribute significantly to greater oil consumption, more food production and higher release of greenhouse gases. Many nutrition and obesity experts criticized the Lancet letter for its rationale flaws and expressed the need not to blame obese individuals for environmental decline. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/story?id=4865889&page=1 B321B06A-3F21-4449-8E78-551B2949EBEF Fri, 16 May 2008 12:16:21 -0400 More than half the population of Australia is overweight, according to an obesity expert who recently spoke before a federal parliamentary health committee. Health officials point to obesity as the "underlying cause" of many health complaints treated by public hospitals, including heart conditions, diabetes and birth complications. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23684894-662,00.html 9F746F83-2250-479A-8C5E-F1E53B0480A9 Mon, 12 May 2008 17:50:07 -0400 Diabetes Australia, the national body for diabetes prevention in Australia, recently sat before the Federal Parliamentary Committee to stress the importance of government-funded long-term strategies to combat obesity. Health experts noted that the annual cost of obesity in 2005 was $25 billion, and that the House of Representatives Health Committee must make significant policy to improve nutrition and activity, and to prevent the health care system from collapsing. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/12/2242348.htm 5705D272-E691-4319-8552-352FE55E54C7 Mon, 12 May 2008 17:49:49 -0400 Study findings presented at a joint meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies and Asian Society for Pediatric Research suggest that childhood and adolescent obesity negatively impacts vascular endothelial function, which relates to cardiac health. The authors of the study found that obesity in children and adolescents negatively impacts their endothelial function, which has serious implications for heart disease. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/107006.php A916903F-8249-4E41-A118-3E2E927E15D4 Mon, 12 May 2008 17:49:24 -0400 A new government study has found that people who sleep fewer than six or more than nine hours a night are more likely to be obese than their peers who receive adequate amounts of sleep. The study – one of the largest ever to document the link between poor sleep and being overweight – also links irregular sleeping to higher smoking rates, less physical activity and greater alcohol use. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/07/AR2008050701381.html B1B0857E-5B7D-4057-90BE-BD9A51E477A0 Thu, 8 May 2008 15:32:36 -0400 An "urban agriculture movement" is growing vigorously in such cities as New York, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Oakland, where determined gardeners are turning vacant lots into breeding grounds for produce to sell to neighbors. City farmers provide much needed relief for low-income populations with high rates of obesity and diabetes yet severely limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/07/dining/07urban.html?scp=3&sq=obesity&st=nyt 99571E23-2BB6-485E-BB54-4A19DB08F25C Thu, 8 May 2008 15:32:07 -0400 A research team led by Imperial College London has found that a gene sequence linked to weight gain and type 2 diabetes is more common in Indian Asians than other groups. This finding suggests a genetic explanation for notably high levels of obesity in Indian Asians, who comprise a quarter of the world's population, yet account for a much greater proportion of global cardiovascular disease. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7385212.stm 90EF3A7F-3FE3-4360-81DC-B2B299339947 Thu, 8 May 2008 15:31:31 -0400 According to scientists at Glasgow University, a pattern of binge eating followed by crash dieting may have adverse effects on longevity. Researchers observed that stickleback fish following a “binge then restrict” diet pattern exhibited a reduced lifespan of up to 25%. The researchers caution that these findings could be extrapolated to humans, and could have implications for teenagers and children who follow extreme patterns of dieting. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7373509.stm 45C16540-8E67-4FF0-A4B0-EFC387DA4ABA Thu, 8 May 2008 15:22:03 -0400 Researchers from two public health advocacy groups based in California have found that obesity and diabetes rates are much higher in neighborhoods that have a high concentration of fast-food outlets and convenience stores, compared to areas where fresh fruit and vegetable markets and full-service grocery stores are easily accessible. The researchers found a very strong link" between chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes and living in a neighborhood with a high retail food environment index, which means a high density of convenience stores and fast-food outlets and a low density of supermarkets and produce vendors. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/healthscience/stories/043008dnnatfastfood.24f4a15.html E0EA3F61-D486-49BF-8535-41C90AE30A6F Thu, 8 May 2008 15:21:29 -0400 A government survey reports that the initiation of breast-feeding is at an all-time high in the United States, with approximately 77 percent of new mothers breast-feeding their infants, for at least a brief period of time. This increase in breast-feeding can be partly attributed to a campaign by medical experts and government officials to educate mothers about the benefits of breast-feeding and the risks associated with infant formula. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/health/research/01breast.html?scp=1&sq=mothers+breast+feed&st=nyt 62CBB5A2-3E0B-4E60-A3C3-0A9F7B66A4D8 Thu, 8 May 2008 15:21:09 -0400 Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm report that adults maintain the same number of fat cells in their body even after significant weight loss. The researchers studied fat samples from liposuction and abdominal reconstruction surgery in lean and obese participants and concluded that the number of fat cells in one’s body is determined in childhood, and that the human body replaces fat cells at a rate of roughly 10 percent a year. http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/BeautySecrets/story?id=4777493&page=1 AD4E934B-4C82-4933-8243-4CF1E01B08C6 Thu, 8 May 2008 15:20:51 -0400 An international team of researchers report identifying new DNA variants near the gene MC4R that may trigger overeating and weight gain. According to the scientists’ recent paper, published in the journal Nature Genetics, people who have variants near the gene MC4R are, on average, several pounds heavier than their counterparts with no variants. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080505/ts_afp/healthobesitychildrengenes 083B42F5-0647-4F84-8E13-2C96571B4C2C Thu, 8 May 2008 15:20:34 -0400 A recent study by the New York Department of City Planning has found that millions of New York City residents live without access to fresh, affordable food. The scarcity of supermarkets within walking distance of New Yorkers’ homes is most pronounced in minority and low-income neighborhoods where rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease are highest. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/05/nyregion/05citywide.html?scp=2&sq=obesity&st=nyt F57FAA50-82AA-4F7B-B837-66658D347621 Thu, 8 May 2008 15:20:16 -0400 A study by researchers at the University of Minnesota reports that health insurance premiums have increased 10 times faster than incomes in recent years. As millions of private-sector employers have dropped health insurance coverage for employees, workers with families are shouldering increasingly hefty financial burdens as their health deteriorates due to poor diet and insufficient activity. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-insure30apr30,1,643844.story F3FB4D62-FC1B-4111-AA71-4C94091F0B31 Thu, 1 May 2008 11:50:02 -0400 State officials in New York City are looking to supermarkets, rather than bodegas, corner markets and produce carts, to meet growing demand for fresh food, which cannot be met is high as ever. Agriculture officials in New York are looking to improve food access in low-income neighborhoods by modeling a statewide program after Pennsylvania’s $120 million Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which has renovated or built 50 food stores statewide, all in underserved areas, since its inception in 2004. http://citylimits.org/content/articles/viewarticle.cfm?article_id=3544&content_type=1&media_type=4 788AE297-6B53-4320-9713-F2A10E61CA16 Thu, 1 May 2008 11:49:19 -0400 Rodent studies conducted by researchers in Melbourne, Australia have found that removing a specific enzyme from the fat cells of mice increases their metabolism. The scientists believe that their findings may point to a way to help people lose weight without requiring a reduction in food consumption. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/health/7372495.stm FFDDB0B7-34D5-4320-A2F1-71AE15139284 Thu, 1 May 2008 11:48:54 -0400 According to scientists at Glasgow University, a pattern of binge eating followed by crash dieting may have adverse effects on longevity. Researchers observed that stickleback fish following a “binge then restrict” diet pattern exhibited a reduced lifespan of up to 25%. The researchers caution that these findings could be extrapolated to humans, and could have implications for teenagers and children who follow extreme patterns of dieting. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7373509.stm 5784DCA5-B975-48C1-99FC-7B4CD9D503B6 Thu, 1 May 2008 11:48:28 -0400 Researchers from two public health advocacy groups based in California have found that obesity and diabetes rates are much higher in neighborhoods that have a high concentration of fast-food outlets and convenience stores, compared to areas where fresh fruit and vegetable markets and full-service grocery stores are easily accessible. The researchers found “a very strong link" between chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes and living in a neighborhood with a high “retail food environment index,” which means a high density of convenience stores and fast-food outlets and a low density of supermarkets and produce vendors. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/healthscience/stories/043008dnnatfastfood.24f4a15.html 45A79842-11A7-4D12-8E73-3BACF8C5BB2C Thu, 1 May 2008 11:48:07 -0400 France’s National Assembly has approved a groundbreaking bill that would outlaw any efforts to publicly encourage extreme thinness. The bill is the strongest measure of its kind worldwide, and would predominantly affect fashion magazines, advertisers, and pro-anorexia blogs and websites. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080415/ap_on_he_me/france_anorexia 308DFD32-A29C-4B9F-B7EE-423937D6F185 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:35:08 -0400 A new study by research scientists at the Rudd Center suggests that weight-based discrimination is more prevalent now than it was a decade ago. In this report - the first to track patterns of weight bias - weight ranked third behind age and race as the most common form of prejudice. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1730150,00.html 31D3D0A4-B442-4292-ADDD-883E3F81136B Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:34:45 -0400 According to the latest report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 75 percent of mine workers in Queensland are obese or overweight. Health experts note that diabetes risk factors, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, are also highly prevalent among mine workers, whose diet is aversely affected by long shifts and work conditions. http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23538125-3102,00.html EA107D6A-7B33-4948-A799-1317D08FD4DA Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:34:22 -0400 In a victory for the health department, Judge Richard J. Holwell of the United States District Court in Manhattan ruled in favor of requiring menu labeling by chain restaurants in New York City. In a 27-page opinion, Judge Holwell wrote that posting calorie information alongside prices would help improve nutrition and reduce obesity. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/nyregion/17calorie.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=obesity&st=nyt&oref=slogin 50DCC190-ED5F-411D-A0D5-7CFC32C1D426 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:33:46 -0400 An article in the New York Times explores the decisions of a small number of leading academic scientists to refuse payments from food, drug and medical device companies. Rudd Center Director Kelly Brownell and other researchers discuss the ethical quandaries and biases that can result when scientists accept compensation from the industry. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/health/15conf.html?ex=1365998400&en=af5a4553709a6ccb&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss 8D30C357-894C-4349-9E61-A375A5C6CD89 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:33:29 -0400 According to a new study by researchers at the Universities of Exeter and Oxford, a woman's diet around the time of conception may influence the gender of her baby. The study, which tracked the eating habits of 740 first-time pregnant mothers in the United Kingdom, suggests that eating a high-calorie diet during the time of conception might favor having a boy. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7358384.stm AF39AF7A-27FA-4BF9-BB27-7CAD39A14997 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:33:13 -0400 The use of biofuels as an alternative to oil has caused great hardship for other nations, with biofuels driving up food prices and causing widespread hunger among poor people. In some countries, higher food prices are causing riots, political instability and growing anxiety about feeding the poor. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/business/worldbusiness/15food.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin 11443C52-9BDA-4883-98AD-B05DA64900F2 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:32:56 -0400 Increases in the cost of milk, grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables are hurting schools’ ability to offer healthier cafeteria options to students. Some school officials report that serving students nutritious, low-fat foods is incompatible with the economic realities of the current food environment. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/13/AR2008041302733.html?referrer=emailarticle 2366050D-C126-4B99-A13B-C1FC38CB3344 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:32:41 -0400 According to a study by researchers at the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, breakfast cereals geared towards children are less healthy than cereals meant for adults. Rudd Center researchers analyzed over 160 different cereal brands and found that the cereals marketed most aggressively to children have the worst nutritional quality, and also make misleading health claims. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080423/hl_nm/cereals_healthy_dc_1 31BA5683-132D-41E1-9789-D97B17A6B932 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:32:21 -0400 At an “automated restaurant” in Nuremberg, Germany, traditional waiter service has been replaced with touch-screen TVs for menu browsing and ordering, and rails deliver packaged meals to the customers’ seats. The automated meal brings financial savings for both restaurant owners and consumers, but some say it takes a valuable human touch out of restaurant dining. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7335351.stm 2A9F8D8B-0CE5-4F35-8B68-64C4F0F862F9 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:08:38 -0400 A study by Harvard researchers, published this month in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, reports that babies and toddlers who sleep fewer than 12 hours daily are at greater risk for being overweight when they reach preschool age. Young children who slept the least and watched the most television had the greatest chance of becoming obese. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1729156,00.html 4565F990-C9B3-4004-B31C-A1EE49189E02 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:08:21 -0400 Researchers at the University of Glasgow have conducted a new study on the relationship between childhood growth spurts and adult obesity. This study is the first to show that early growth patterns could cause long-term differences in metabolic rates. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7336610.stm 770407C0-803C-4F57-89C3-E55239798C4D Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:08:02 -0400 A new report by The Conference Board has found that obesity is associated with a 36-percent increase in spending on healthcare services, more than smoking or problem drinking. The report also explores the financial and ethical questions surrounding companies’ commitment to wellness programs that encourage overweight employees to lose weight. http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2008/04/10/89022.htm FC3CF684-5D6E-4547-8AF7-8CAB89C52033 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:07:33 -0400 Fire departments and emergency medical workers are responding to nationwide increases in obesity by purchasing stretchers, gurneys, and bariatric ambulances with greater holding capacities. Having inadequate equipment poses safety risks to both patients and the emergency medical staff caring for them. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/08/health/08ambu.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=obesity&st=nyt&oref=slogin 05A33372-C925-4113-8B2C-4CCE37C709AF Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:06:47 -0400 A federal initiative by the Russian government is aiming to incorporate better nutrition in children’s education by launching a ban on junk foods in schools. As part of the new program, schools in 14 regions will get recommendations for their lunch menu, ultimately providing nutritious lunches to 700,000 school children. http://www.russiatoday.ru/features/news/23160 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:29:31 -0400 Once dismissed as a gimmick, gastric banding, a weight loss procedure in which a silicone band is wrapped around the upper stomach to restrict food intake, is fast becoming the next big thing in elective surgery. Medical industry giants like Johnson & Johnson, venture-capital firms, and a growing number of surgeons are beginning to plug gastric banding as the new answer to the obesity epidemic. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120692909065176045.html?mod=googlenews_wsj 2F1A7EB5-B0CE-416F-A0BD-831CFF8183B7 Fri, 4 Apr 2008 13:37:01 -0400 Researchers from Syracuse University have performed a structured observational analysis of urban retail food markets and health in Syracuse, New York. The study found that a majority of corner markets do not sell fresh produce or low fat dairy products, and that, regardless of income, pregnant women living in proximity to a supermarket had significantly fewer low birth weight births than other pregnant women. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VH5-4PJM9TJ-1&_user=483692&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000022720&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=483692&md5=88d285b2268114761f904a0f0cb86afc A7ED8B1A-2FFA-46E6-8F39-856D5E690303 Fri, 4 Apr 2008 13:37:02 -0400 A new report by the United States Department of Agriculture shows that Americans are failing to meet federal dietary recommendations. According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, two-thirds of US adults were either overweight or obese between 2003-2004, compared with 47 percent between 1976 and 1980; over the same time period, consumption of added fats increased 63 percent, and consumption of added sugars and sweeteners increases 19 percent. http://foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=84332 7697C854-04EC-4238-8E5D-56C849DDBFCE Fri, 4 Apr 2008 13:37:03 -0400 According to a new report from the United States Department of Agriculture, American farmers are planning to reduce corn acreage significantly this year in efforts to generate greater soybean yields. A smaller corn harvest is expected to raise prices for corn, and, since this crop is frequently used as animal feed, the result is an expected increase in meat prices. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/business/01crop.html?ex=1207713600&en=626f4909dd1379ed&ei=5070&emc=eta1 C1851AE5-A101-453F-AA38-24419A5065D2 Fri, 4 Apr 2008 13:37:04 -0400 Research scientists at the Rudd Center have found that discrimination against overweight people--particularly women--is as common as racial discrimination in American society. The study also revealed that women are twice as likely as men to report weight discrimination and that weight discrimination in the workplace is common. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080327172129.htm CD009AD7-57BF-4F6F-952F-3FA886767331 Fri, 4 Apr 2008 13:37:05 -0400 According to a recent study published in the journal Neurology, a big waist size increases one’s risk of developing dementia in old age. The study of 6,500 people found that obesity, and a large waistline in particular, posed the most dangerous combination for Alzheimer’s risk; experts say that waist size can be a good indication of future health problems. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7314458.stm EA9BDE23-8B0D-4700-989E-299C6EFE7AF3 Fri, 4 Apr 2008 13:37:06 -0400