Alarming Surge: Global Crisis of Childhood Overweight and Obesity

Since 1990, childhood obesity has nearly doubled globally, with the U.S. at the forefront. In Southern Europe, 10-15% of children are obese, while Asia has nearly half of all overweight kids under 5. Nearly 70% of the average U.S. child’s diet consists of ultra-processed foods, which are increasingly consumed by children under 24 months, raising obesity risks and reducing immunological protection. Addressing pediatric obesity requires a multifaceted approach from tackling the influence of social media and advertising on children’s food choices to increasing physical activity.

Proteins prohibitins can become new targets for drugs from obesity

Scientists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University analyzed scientific works dedicated to the role of proteins prohibitins in the development of obesity. It turned out that these proteins promote development of inflammation both in separate cells and the whole organism. This happens because prohibitins stimulate emission of anti-inflammatory substances by immune cells, and also participate in destruction of mitochondria damaged during oxidative stress. Obtained information points to the fact that prohibitins can become targets for medicine aimed at struggle with obesity consequences. Results of the research are published in the magazine Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences.

American Society of Nephrology Releases Kidney Health Guidance on the Management of Obesity in Persons with Kidney Diseases

To promote high-quality, person-directed care across the spectrum of kidney health and diseases the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is releasing its inaugural Kidney Health Guidance (KHG) on the Management of Obesity in Persons Living with Kidney Diseases in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) on September 18, 2024.

Endurance Exercise without Weight Loss May Reduce Body Fat

Participating in a high volume of exercise over a short period of time, such as cycling hundreds of miles in a few days, could reduce body fat levels without weight loss. The first-of-its-kind study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism and has been chosen as an APSselect article for September.

First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 Clinical Study of Palatin’s Bremelanotide Co-Administered with Tirzepatide (GLP-1) for the Treatment of Obesity

Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American: PTN), a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin receptor system, today announced that patient dosing has started for the clinical study entitled: BMT-801: A Phase II, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study Investigating the Safety, Tolerability, and Effectiveness of the Co-Administration of Bremelanotide with Tirzepatide (GLP-1/GIP) for the Treatment of Obesity (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06565611).

Combining Two Diabetes Drugs Helps Promote Weight Loss and Blood Sugar Control

New research finds a combination of drugs improves weight loss, glucose control and insulin resistance better than either drug alone. Using two diabetes medications together, such as a semaglutide like Ozempic or Rybelsus, with a second, newer class of drug, may offer a noninvasive solution to help people with Type 2 diabetes lose weight and manage their condition without the need for bariatric surgery.

Joslin Diabetes Center Investigator Rohit N. Kulkarni, MD, PhD, Awarded $10 Million NIH/NIDDK Grant for Pioneering Diabetes and Obesity Research

Rohit N. Kulkarni, MD, PhD, the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation Endowed Chair and Co-Head of the Section on Islet & Regenerative Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center, has been awarded $9,920,607 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Uncontrolled Hypertension: The Old ‘Silent Killer’ is Alive and Well

High blood pressure affects about 45% of U.S. adults. In the 1970s, only about 50% of patients were aware of their hypertension. Today, 54% are aware of their high blood pressure, 40% are actively treated and 21% are actively controlled. As such, researchers alert health care providers that the old “silent killer” is alive and well.

Rutgers Names Nationally Recognized Clinician-Scientist in Obesity and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease as New Chair of Medicine

Jeanne M. Clark, a board-certified internal medicine physician with extensive research experience and a nationally renowned expert in the epidemiology and treatment of obesity, will join Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School as the Henry Rutgers Professor and chair of the Department of Medicine.

New Cedars-Sinai Study Investigates Shifting Trends in GLP-1RA Prescription

Investigators at Cedars-Sinai and other institutions conducted a nationwide, population-based study to identify trends in the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs)—prescription medications sold under popular drug names like Ozempic and Wegovy—in the United States.

New Study Finds 40-Percent of Cancer Cases and Almost Half of all Deaths in the U.S. Linked to Modifiable Risk Factors

A new study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society finds four in 10 cancer cases and about one-half of all cancer deaths in adults 30 years old and older in the United States could be attributed to modifiable risk factors, including cigarette smoking, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diet, and infections.

Modification of Common Diabetes Drug Improved Blood Sugar Control in Mouse Model

Article title: Reduced incretin receptor trafficking upon activation enhances glycemic control and reverses obesity in diet-induced obese mice Authors: Rathin Bauri, Shilpak Bele, Jhansi Edelli, Neelesh C. Reddy, Sreenivasulu Kurukuti, Tom Devasia, Ahamed Ibrahim, Vishal Rai, Prasenjit Mitra From the authors: “Chronic…

Compound from Olives Shows Promise for Treating Obesity and Diabetes

Findings from a new mouse study suggest that elenolic acid, a natural compound found in olives, can lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss. The research could pave the way to the development of safe and inexpensive natural products for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes in people.

Pilot Study Provides ‘Blueprint’ for Evaluating Diet’s Effect on Brain Health

Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine and the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging say their study of 40 older adults with obesity and insulin resistance who were randomly assigned to either an intermittent fasting diet or a standard healthy diet approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers important clues about the potential benefits of both eating plans on brain health.

From the Pakistan-India Border to Our Borderplex: A Doctor’s Journey Dr. Muhammad Moiz Tahir tackles El Paso’s health challenges with community-driven care

EL PASO, Texas — Some people claim borders are barriers. Others see them as frontiers worthy of exploration. Muhammad Moiz Tahir, M.D., is one of the newest assistant professors in the Foster School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine. Dr.…

Cleveland Clinic Study Shows Weight Loss Surgery Cuts Risk of Heart Complications and Death in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity

A Cleveland Clinic study shows that bariatric surgery performed in patients with obesity and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is associated with a significantly lower risk of death and major adverse cardiovascular events, compared with patients who did not have the surgery. This study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Ali Aminian, M.D., director of Cleveland Clinic’s Bariatric & Metabolic Institute and primary investigator of the MOSAIC study, said, “The research shows that weight loss achieved with bariatric surgery is significantly associated with a 42% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and 37% lower risk of death in patients with obesity and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.”

American diets have a long way to go to achieve health equity

Poor diet continues to take a toll on American adults. In a study from the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers found that diet quality among U.S. adults improved modestly between 1999 and 2020. However, they also found that the number of Americans with poor diet quality remains stubbornly high. Most notably, disparities persist and, in some cases, are worsening.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Awarded $21 Million NIH Grant to Advance Understanding of Aging-Related Hormone

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have been awarded a $21 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to further advance understanding of an aging-related hormone known as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), including its potential role in obesity, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Retrospective Study Based on Electronic Health Records Finds Popular Diabetes and Weight-Loss Drugs Associated with Reduction in Incidence and Recurrence of Alcohol-Use Disorder by at Least Half

A new study by researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine reveals that the popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic are linked to reduced incidence and recurrence of alcohol abuse or dependence.

Two medication classes reduced cardiovascular and liver events in people with type 2 diabetes

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) and SGLT-2 inhibitors lower the risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attacks and severe liver complications compared to other diabetes treatments, according to data being presented Sunday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston, Mass.

Almost 20% of breast cancer survivors may experience excess weight gain

Almost one out of five breast cancer survivors may experience weight gain of more than 10%, suggests a study presented Monday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston, Mass. A number of factors are associated with excessive weight gain, the researchers found.