A new analysis of the STEP trials suggests that semaglutide, the active ingredient in the popular weight loss and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, remains both effective and generally safe for adults over age 65 with obesity. Researchers found that older adults taking the once weekly obesity medication experienced substantial weight loss and improvements in several important health measures, with results similar to those seen in the broader STEP clinical trial population.
Researchers found that mice strongly preferred carbs like bread, rice, and wheat, abandoning their regular diet entirely. Even without eating more calories, they gained weight and body fat, not because they overate, but because their bodies burned less energy.
The global prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has surged to 1.3 billion people, marking a 143% increase over the past three decades. By 2050, projections indicate that this number could rise to 1.8 billion, primarily due to rising obesity and blood sugar levels.
"People tend to immediately think of neurons when they think about how the brain works. But we're finding that astrocytes, what we used to think of as just secondary support cells, are also participating in how our brains regulate how much we eat."
It's not simply the accrual of excess fat that leads to disease. It's a change in the actual function and the capacity of the energy center within the cell to work properly. The circadian rhythm is the body's own internal 24-hour clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, hormone levels and metabolism, among other systems throughout the body.
I hate to admit it, but Steve was right. Years ago, I directed a hospital-based weight-loss program. In addition to the nutritional advice from the hospital dietitian and the psychology groups and individual counseling sessions I provided, the program included a beginning aerobic class for the participants. Steve, a personal trainer at the hospital-owned gym, was tasked with leading the twice-weekly "aerobics for beginners" class.
Being overweight doesn't just make people more susceptible to chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetesit might also increase their risk of severe influenza and other infections, a new study confirms. The study, published today in the Lancet, suggests that people with obesity may be more susceptible to death and hospitalization from a variety of infections caused by viruses, fungi, parasites and bacteria.
My name is Barry and I'm a runner. As a clinically obese 52-year-old Irishman who regularly binge drinks (the NHS's joyless definition, not my own), I would love to be able to say I took up running for health reasons but that would be a lie. Truth be told, I was railroaded into it by my Football Weekly associate Max Rushden, who publicly challenged me to run the London Landmarks Half-Marathon.
U.S. regulators on Monday gave the green light to a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval handed drugmaker Novo Nordisk an edge over rival Eli Lilly in the race to market an obesity pill. Lilly's oral drug, orforglipron, is still under review. Both pills are GLP-1 drugs that work like widely used injectables to mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness.
The United States lags behind many other wealthy, highly developed countries in key public health indicators. According to a report published by the World Obesity Federation , a London-based non-profit advocacy group, the adult obesity rate in the U.S. was nearly 43% in 2022, higher than in all but a handful of high-income countries, and more than double the obesity rate in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and across Scandinavia.
The rate of children and teenagers living with high blood pressure globally has nearly doubled because of a toxic combination of unhealthy diets, mass inactivity and soaring levels of obesity, according to the largest review of its kind. Experts said 114 million children who have developed hypertension even before reaching adulthood were facing potentially deadly and lifelong harm, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and a myriad of serious health complications.
At a certain point, older folks occasionally develop a penchant for making verbal slurs, mental stumbles, rambling speeches, and confusing responses. They often claim that they have no memory of making those misstatements; they might not be lying. They may be experiencing the most common consequences of advanced age coupled with chronic obesity due to a poor diet. Mind-wandering, confusion, and a reduced ability to organize and focus thoughts are classic early symptoms of dementia.
Driving the news: Nineteen states have adult obesity rates at or above 35% as of 2024, per a new "State of Obesity" report from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Trust for America's Health (TFAH). That's a drop from 23 states the year before - and the first decrease since states began hitting the 35% mark in 2013, the group says. Yes, but: Back in 2014, only three states had obesity rates at or above 35%.
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have uncovered a new way that brown fat, a type of fat that burns energy, can boost the body's metabolism. This process allows cells to consume more fuel and generate heat, improving overall metabolic health. Conducted in mice, the research points to new possibilities for using brown fat to address metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance and obesity.
Green tea is an ancient beverage recognized for its medicinal and antioxidant properties. It has been widely studied for its beneficial effects on metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Recent studies funded by FAPESP have deepened our understanding of the mechanisms of action of this infusion and revealed that green tea treatment reduced weight and significantly improved glucose sensitivity and insulin resistance in obese mice.
