A growing body of science is implicating sleep deprivation as a key, “non-food” environmental factor in the current obesity epidemic. The less we sleep, the more we eat and the more visceral fat (the deadly type) we accumulate. In a study conducted with 12 healthy young men, French researchers found that when study subjects got […]
Beware of Processed Foods In a study published in the prestigious journal, Nature, which really grabbed my attention, scientists concluded that very commonly used food additives, known as emulsifiers, may be triggering inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as well as obesity and other metabolic disorders. Recognizing that diet has an enormous impact on the microbiome (the name given […]
It’s true: sleep is vital for a healthy metabolism. In a jolting study that really grabbed my attention, scientists found that a single night of sleep loss impaired metabolism on par with eating a high-fat diet for six months! We know from past studies that both poor sleep and high-fat diets can impair the action […]
Poor sleep leads to poorer lifestyle habits. That was the sobering conclusion from a new study that sought to tease out the cause and effect relationship between sleep and lifestyle choices in a scientifically rigorous manner. For this first-of-its-kind evaluation, a group of sleep researchers collaboratively followed and evaluated the sleep and lifestyle habits of […]
According to a study, so called “normal weight obesity” is rampant in America. “Normal weight obesity” refers to people whose weight is normal for their size, but who have clinically significant excess body fat. Specifically, greater than 20% body fat for men and 30% for women. After evaluating data on 2,127 adults participating in a […]
Physical activity really is the “universal life preserver.” That is the conclusion from a powerful new study that followed the health and physical activity levels of 334,000 men and women over a 12-year period. But first some bad news. According to this analysis, being sedentary is deadly-in fact twice as deadly as being obese. As for […]
If you need some encouragement to lose weight, then keep reading. In a landmark new study, researchers determined that weight loss at any age during adulthood provides lasting cardiovascular benefits, even if it is not sustained. The findings are from a UK-based study that monitored the body weight and health of 1,273 men and women from birth through […]
In a first-of-its-kind study designed to tease out the most effective behavioral strategies for reducing caloric intake, scientists uncovered some valuable weight loss wisdom. The evaluation was based on data from 123 overweight, adult women who were assigned to one of two arms of a controlled 12-month weight loss study. After monitoring a wide range […]
When it comes to body fat and health – it’s all about location, location, location. Over the past decade, studies have been pilling up showing that the fat deposited within the belly (visceral fat) isparticularly dangerous, especially in terms of metabolic dysfunction and boosting cardiovascular risk. In a landmark new evaluation- marking the first study to examine […]
Breakfast options are notoriously unhealthy across all major fast food chains. Bacon, sausage, cheese, and more cheese, biscuits, gravy, pancakes, French toast, hash browns, cinnamon buns, Danishes, and white flour bagels, and English muffins, are not on Dr. Ann’s approved list of breakfast foods. Even the token offerings of seemingly “healthy” choices like yogurt parfaits […]
In a stunning confirmation of the health-boosting power of weight loss, researchers recently determined that shedding even a modest amount of weight can pay lasting health dividends. As part of the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program study, 3,000 overweight subjects with pre-diabetes were counseled to improve the healthfulness of their diets and engage in regular physical […]
In a study involving 559 teens, the more fructose (a component of sugary foods and beverages) they consumed, the higher their blood pressure and fasting blood sugar, and the lower their HDL (good) cholesterol. These finding were most marked in teens with excess belly fat. (Journal of Nutrition, February 2012) In a study that sought […]
