Search Results for: blog is obesity contagious

Obesity Affecting Our Police Force

Obesity has become such a problem in America that it’s even affecting our police force. I recently read a story about police officers who are failing their physicals, having to retake them. To be honest, considering what we expect from police officers I was very surprised. Their physical is not that difficult, in light of what we expect them to do for our cities and towns, in protecting us. These fitness exams consisted of push-ups, one and a half mile run, obstacle course and a flexibility test. For someone who is going out to serve and protect, this really doesn’t … Continue reading →

The Right Scent May Help Fight Obesity

Your nose may be key in helping fight obesity. Aromatherapy isn’t anything new. For centuries, people have been using scents to affect mental and physical health! When it comes to your stomach, the right scent can stimulate appetite or help ease digestive issues. The wrong scent can put you off your feed, so to speak. A new study from NIZO Food Research in the Netherlands has found that scents may also help trigger a feeling of fullness in your brain — and that might just help curb overeating. Some scents are better than others at triggering that full feeling. Scents … Continue reading →

Study Links Obesity and Brain Chemistry

A study from the University of California in San Francisco took a look at the relationship between the nervous system and weight. The researchers from the University of California looked at the nervous system in worms. Serotonin levels in the nervous systems had an influence on how much worms ate and what the body did with the calories. (You may already be familiar with serotonin — a neurotransmitter that also affects mood.) Fat regulation is the balance between what you take in and the energy you use. In worms, serotonin levels activated nerve receptors not normally used for fat regulation. … Continue reading →

A Link Between Obesity and Your Immune System?

Scientists from the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Boston Medical Center are looking at a possible link between obesity and immune system function. Previous research has found that obese people are more likely to suffer from periodontal disease than lean people. This new study looked at why. Researchers worked with laboratory mice — some who were obese and some who were lean and healthy. The mice were infected with a bacterium that causes periodontal disease (porphyromonas gingivalis). The obese mice were more susceptible to gum disease and had a blunted immune system reaction to the infection. Ten … Continue reading →

Is Obesity Contagious?

Okay. You can’t “catch” obesity like you catch a cold. But obesity can spread like a disease through social networks, according to research from Harvard University. The Harvard study found that if a close friend gains an unhealthy amount of weight, your chances of packing on the pounds increase by more than fifty percent. If you and your overweight friend are the same gender, your chance of gaining an unhealthy amount of weight is more than seventy percent. Why? Because being around heavyset people might stretch your perception of what is appropriate in terms of body size. It isn’t a … Continue reading →

Obesity May Be Literally Contagious

I wrote awhile ago about how researchers did a study showing that when it comes to obesity, birds of a feather tend to flock together. Those whose friends are overweight are at an increased likelihood for obesity. Well apparently, at least in some cases, obesity is contagious–literally. Researchers at Louisiana State University have published yet another study that links a particular virus to obesity. In this study, the virus was shown to take adult stem cells and turn them into fat cells. While we can’t all blame our extra pounds on a virus, the possibility that some people who are … Continue reading →

Prince Chunk and Other Plus-Sized Pets

I have extra-large pets on my mind, since we had a return visit from the biggest cat I ever saw at the cats-only boarding facility. Mr. Big-But-Lovable tipped the scale at a mind-boggling thirty-three pounds the first time we met in late spring. This time around, he’s down to twenty-nine pounds… and I can already see a difference. Mr. Big used to be very rigid through his torso, and nearly unable to flex at the waist. Now, with just four pounds gone, he’s already able to bend more. It’s really encouraging to see such improvement with such a small change! … Continue reading →

Be Healthy Together

Obesity may be “contagious” — less like a disease and more like a case of monkey see, monkey do — but so is good health. Here are some statistics, thanks to studies from Duke and Yale Universities: If you exercise regularly, your spouse is twice as likely to exercise, too! If you get your cholesterol tested regularly, your spouse is twice as likely to get tested, too! If you quit smoking or drinking, your spouse is more than five times as likely to do the same within four years. If you get a flu shot, sixty percent of spouses will … Continue reading →

Weight Loss Week in Review August 15 to August 24

Have you missed anything in the weight loss blog this week? The week in review is our way of catching you up. Grab a cup of coffee and sit down to peruse the blog, and catch up on your reading. August 15 Hey, You’re a Fatti Bumbalatti! No, I haven’t taken to insulting readers. This is an interesting article on a new weight loss tool–a personal robot. While I don’t think that the robot insults you into getting thinner, it does use one powerful psychological tool–guilt. Complete with moving eyes and speaking capabilities, researchers hope that by having someone remind … Continue reading →

Avoiding the Infamous Freshman 15

In just a few short weeks, former high school seniors will begin their college careers and in so doing will put themselves at risk for what is commonly known as ‘the freshman 15’. There are numerous factors that contribute to the average 15 pound weight gain that a college freshman accumulates. A new schedule, weeks on end of stressful studying, lack of monitoring (mom isn’t making your meals for you), social opportunities where fried food and pizza abound, as well as those dining hall buffets–all combine to make freshman (especially females) pack on a few pounds. I never gained a … Continue reading →