Over the last 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in America. With the boost of fast food locations and a busier schedule, people have less time to exercise and are consuming more fatty calories. So what do you do when exercise and diet aren’t enough to keep you thin and fit? The latest trend in weight loss is the Lap-Band.

Be first to comment this article

A new study from researchers at Michigan University has shown that obesity causes later onset puberty in boys. While the opposite is true for heavier girls, who tend to develop earlier rather than later, this study suggests that increased levels of body fat in boys is associated with a later onset of puberty. 

Be first to comment this article

True Story: When I was 15, my little sister (who was in middle school at the time) was just beginning her complicated, confusing and utterly aggravating journey from childhood to the pre-teen, media infused sex symbol that she, and every girl, is pressured to become by the time they hit high school. Although she was already thin, she became obsessed with losing weight and was willing to try any hair-brained, miracle diet that she came across. She eventually landed on the all ice cream diet. Seriously. She ate nothing but ice cream for every meal for weeks. To this day, I have no idea where she heard about this diet but needless to say, it didn’t work.

In a time when this country is measurably at its fattest, don’t think for one second that savvy marketing agencies working on behalf of fast food companies aren’t seeing the opportunity to combine people’s fears with people’s addictions.

Take for example, Taco Bell’s new Drive-Thru Diet. This is essentially Taco Bell’s rip off version of the Subway “Jared” campaign. The “Jared” for Taco Bell is Christine, the one person in history who actually lost weight from eating Taco Bell. Her results are completely atypical, which is acknowledged (in fine print) by Taco Bell, but that hasn’t stopped them from embracing her story and implementing their Drive-Thru Diet menu.

Be first to comment this article

A new study from researchers at the University of British Columbia has shown that seeing someone else who is obese or thin affects a person's eating habits.

Be first to comment this article

This year the US Department of Health and Human Services published some frightening teen obesity statistics. Fourteen percent of our current teen population are at risk for heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure at too young of an age. Type 2 Diabetes has also increased dramatically in teens as a direct result of their obesity. Additionally, they have a very high probability of being obese as adults and further increasing their risk of other serious health problems in the future. We have tried to prevent and control this by methods such as making physical education mandatory in schools and changing the food available to teens in school. Despite what we have tried to do, obesity rates are climbing and an intervention is clearly needed.

Be first to comment this article

 Obesity in Africa?!  It seems that not all South African children are necessarily those starving, emaciated children we’ve seen on ‘pennies a day’ infomercials to feed the poor.  According to a 2005 report (Steyn, Labadarios et al., 2005) there is a prevalence of overweight South African children (19%) under the age of 9 years.  As if Africa doesn’t already suffer from the well-documented HIV/AIDS epidemic, tuberculosis outbreaks, and other infectious diseases, now some parts of the continent suffer from the once Western-now-global public health issue of obesity. 

Be first to comment this article

You wouldn’t think that dipping Cheetos in peanut butter is a good call, but it’s surprisingly enjoyable. Besides, you already went through all the M&M’s so you’ve got to dip SOMETHING in that jar and the Cheetos were already on the coffee table. The new episode of Dancing With The Stars just started and you’ll be damned if you’re going to get up and put this stuff back in the pantry until it’s over, so you might as well grub down.
    
As technology progresses, life gets easier. It’s a digital world and we prefer instant gratification. Who needs to go outside and find something to do for entertainment? You’ve got everything you need inside the house. Why brave the heat to shoot hoops when you’ve got NBA 2K9 for your PS3? Why go to a movie when you can order pay per view? Why even get dressed? It’s much easier to rock sweat pants, order a pizza, crack a soda and pop in that VHS copy of Adventures In Babysitting.
    
It goes without saying but Americans are getting fatter. Our lifestyles have become increasingly sedentary, and as we discover ways to make life easier there become fewer and fewer things that we need to do. Being that youth are traditionally among the first to access new technologies, it’s no surprise that obesity in youth is growing faster than in adults.  Have no fear, though, because the government has got it under control (thank you, Uncle Sam). So, what’s the big plan to lower youth obesity levels?

Be first to comment this article

 Misleading restaurant advertisements have branded us into believing a salad is the healthiest alternative when eating out.  Chilling nutritional facts of supposedly “healthy” salads might make you change your mind about what is best for your body…

Be first to comment this article