Obesity, features and articles | Educational Science

Aug 31, 2017

Most and Least Obese States in 2016: Full Rankings

A new report ranks the most and least obese U.S. states in 2016. West Virginia had the highest obesity rate, with 37.7 percent of residents who are obese, while Colorado had the lowest rate, at 22.3 percent. [Read the full story on state obesity rates]. The full list is below....

Aug 31, 2017

US Obesity Rates Start to Level Off

After years of soaring to new heights, obesity rates in the U.S. appear to be leveling off, according to a new report. The report found that, from 2015 to 2016, adult obesity rates remained stable in 45 states. Rates increased in just four states — Colorado, Minnesota, Washington and West...

Nov 14, 2017

Stress from Negative Life Events Linked to Obesity in Women

More stress in a woman's life may widen her waistline, a new study reveals. Researchers found that middle-age and older women who experienced more stress from major life events were more likely to develop obesity than women who did not report any stressful events, according to the study, which was...

Aug 27, 2018

Obesity: Causes, Complications & Treatments

Obesity is a condition in which a person has excess body fat. More than just a number on a scale or the size of someone's body, obesity can increase a person's risk of diseases and health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. It is a complex problem...

Feb 4, 2019

Obesity-Related Cancer Rates Are Rising Among Millennials

The obesity epidemic may be contributing to an increase in certain cancers among millennials in the U.S., a new study suggests. The study found that rates of certain cancers linked to obesity — including colorectal, kidney and pancreatic cancer — increased among adults ages 25 to 49 from 1995 and...

Jul 25, 2019

BPA-Free But Still Dangerous? Replacement Chemicals Linked to Childhood Obesity

Worries over bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical commonly found in plastics, have led to a surge in BPA-free products. But now, a new study suggests that the chemicals replacing BPA may also be cause for concern. The study found that, among U.S. children, exposure to two common chemicals used in...

Aug 1, 2019

Jogging Is the Best Weapon Against 'Obesity Genes'

People who are genetically prone to obesity may gain weight more easily than others. But having so-called obesity genes does not make a person destined to pack on the pounds. Case in point: A new study suggests that certain types of exercise may help ward off obesity, even for those...

Oct 28, 2019

More Obese Children Should Get Weight-Loss Surgery, Doctors Say

More severely obese kids should get surgery, MD group says (my latest) https://t.co/N8rqDGyyynOctober 27, 2019 See more About 4.5 million American children are severely obese, and pediatricians say more of them should be recommended to get weight-loss surgery. A new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) asserts...

Jan 18, 2020

Can You 'Catch' Cancer or Obesity from Other People?

Our ancestors of yore were plagued by recurrent bouts of malaria, deadly tuberculosis infections, constant syphilis outbreaks and bacteria-laced wounds that never healed. But armed with vaccines and antibiotics, modern-day humans can now avoid or be treated for these and many other communicable diseases — illnesses caused by infectious agents...

Feb 28, 2023

Childhood obesity should be treated early and aggressively, new guidelines say. Is that safe?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for treating children and teens with obesity. The 73-page guidelines outline a proactive approach, where children and their families receive counseling about weight-loss treatments sooner, rather than later. Treatments include time-intensive programs that address children's nutrition and physical activity, as well...

May 31, 2023

Weight-loss surgery is becoming more common among US teens

More teens with obesity are getting weight-loss surgeries year over year in the U.S., a new analysis suggests. The study, published Tuesday (May 30) in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, focused on a time period before and after the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a 2019 policy statement saying that...

Jun 13, 2023

Common weight-loss surgery for teens may weaken their bones

A common weight-loss surgery for teens and young adults with obesity is weakening patients' bones, a new study finds. Sleeve gastrectomies permanently remove roughly 75% of a patient's stomach to curb their appetite and promote weight loss; this is the most common type of weight-loss surgery performed in teens and...

Jun 21, 2023

BMI alone is an 'imperfect' measure of fat, leading medical association says

Body mass index (BMI) is an imperfect measure of body fat with a problematic history, so the metric should be used in conjunction with other measures of health risk, such as a patient's genetics, blood pressure, cholesterol and other metabolic factors, according to new guidelines from the American Medical Association...

Dec 22, 2023

A vibrating pill could help treat obesity, pig study finds

When you scarf down a massive dinner, your stomach will stretch to fit each morsel, activating receptors that ping the brain to let it know when you are full. A group of engineers has developed a vibrating pill that could help trigger that filled-up sensation sooner, which may one day...