New metric for obesity strongly correlated to premature death

ScienceDaily (July 18, 2012) — Researchers have developed a new metric to measure obesity, called A Body Shape Index, or ABSI, that combines the existing metrics of Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference and shows a better correlation with death rate than do either of these individual measures.

See Also:Health & MedicineObesityFitnessWorkplace HealthDiseases and ConditionsInfant's HealthHealth PolicyReferenceBody mass indexOverweightNutrition and pregnancyObesity

The full results are reported July 18 in the open access journal PLoS ONE, and the work was led by Nir Krakauer of City College of New York.

The authors analyzed data from over 14,000 US adults taken as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and conclude that the new measure, which has little correlation with height, weight, or BMI, appears to be a substantial risk factor for premature death.

"Measuring body dimensions is straightforward compared to other most medical tests, but it's been challenging to link these with health," Krakauer comments. "Our results give evidence that the power-law scaling of waist circumference, weight, and other body measurements can be used to develop body shape indices that point to added risk."

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

View the Original article

Above-normal weight alone does not necessarily increase short-term risk of death, U.S. data suggest

ScienceDaily (July 6, 2012) — An evaluation of national data by UC Davis researchers has found that extra weight is not necessarily linked with a higher risk of death.

See Also:Health & MedicineObesityDiet and Weight LossFitnessDiseases and ConditionsHypertensionChronic IllnessLiving WellReferenceOverweightDiabetes mellitus type 2Body mass indexHypertension

When compared to those with normal weight, people who were overweight or obese had no increased risk of death during a follow-up period of six years. People who were severely obese did have a higher risk, but only if they also had diabetes or hypertension.

The findings, which appear in the July-August issue of The Journal of American Board of Family Medicine, call into question previous studies -- using data collected when obesity was less common -- linking higher short-term mortality with any amount of extra weight.

"There is currently a widespread belief that any degree of overweight or obesity increases the risk of death, however our findings suggest this may not be the case," said Anthony Jerant, professor of family and community medicine and lead author of the study. "In the six-year timeframe of our evaluation, we found that only severe obesity was associated with an increased risk of death, due to co-occurring diabetes and hypertension."

Based on the study, Jerant recommends that doctors' conversations with patients who are overweight or obese, but not severely obese, focus on the known negative effects of these conditions on mental and physical functioning, rather than on an increased short-term risk of death.

By contrast, Jerant added that it is important for doctors to talk with severely obese patients who also have diabetes or hypertension about their increased short-term mortality risk and treatment, including weight loss.

"Our results do not mean that being overweight or obese is not a threat to individual or public health," said Jerant. "These conditions can have a significant impact on quality of life, and for this reason alone weight loss may be advisable."

In conducting the study, Jerant used nationwide data from 2000 to 2005 of nearly 51,000 adults aged 18 to 90 years who participated in the Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys on health-care utilization and costs. The surveys include information on health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Body mass index (BMI), or weight adjusted for height, was calculated for each respondent. The study categorized people as underweight (BMI < 20), normal weight (BMI 20 to < 25), overweight (BMI 25 to < 30), obese (BMI 30 to 35) or severely obese (BMI > 35).

Mortality was assessed using the National Death Index. Of the 50,994 people included in the UC Davis analysis, just over 3 percent (1,683) died during the six years of follow-up.

The investigators found that severely obese people were 1.26 times more likely to die during follow-up than people in the normal weight group. However, if people with diabetes or hypertension were eliminated from the data, those who were overweight, obese or even severely obese had similar or even lower death rates than people of normal weight. Consistent with a number of prior studies, underweight people were nearly twice as likely to die than people with normal weight, regardless of whether diabetes or hypertension was present.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased dramatically in recent decades. An estimated one-third of all U.S. adults over age 20 are obese and another one-third are overweight. In addition to diabetes and hypertension, health problems associated with these conditions include heart disease, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea.

The relationship between weight and mortality is a controversial topic in public health. Although studies based on data collected 30 years ago showed that mortality risk rose as weight increased, analyses of more recently collected data, including the current one, call this assumption into question.

"Our findings indicate that the risk of having an above-normal BMI may be lower than in the past," said Jerant. "While this study cannot explain the reasons, it is possible that as overweight and obesity have become more common, physicians have become more aware of associated health issues like high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and are more aggressive about early detection and treatment of these conditions."

Jerant said that the six-year period of his investigation limits the ability to make assumptions about the link between unhealthy weight and the risk of death over a longer timeframe.

"We hope our findings will trigger studies that re-examine the relationship of being overweight or obese with long-term mortality," said Jerant.

The study co-author was Peter Franks, professor in the UC Davis Department of Family and Community Medicine. Franks and Jerant used public access data in conducting the study, which involved no external funding.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

View the Original article

High Fructose Death Syrup Causes Low Energy and Fatty Liver

It is a testament to Pavlov and his dogs that the average American is dumb enough to consume 35 pounds of high fructose death syrup every year.  The Corn Refiners Association loves to say that their death syrup is no different than any other sugar.  Two recent studies prove that is not true and also prove that the death syrup uniquely causes fatty liver disease, which is a key marker of metabolic malfunction.  Even the FDA is onto the charade, denying a petition from the Corn Refiners Association to change food labels from “high fructose corn syrup” to innocent sounding “corn sugar.”

The public has a great deal of confusion on this topic because fructose is also the sugar naturally contained in fruit.  The new information helps explain why excess consumption of high fructose corn syrup creates metabolic problems; it turns one’s liver fatty and increases the risk for becoming a “metabolic cripple” when higher levels of fructose intake continue as problems are occurring.

Clearly, the preferred intake of fructose is from fruit (never high levels of fruit juice).  Fruit is a comprehensive nutritional package that also contains flavonoid antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and fiber – along with a modest amount of fructose.  In comparison, most manufactured products containing large amounts of high fructose corn syrup have little nutritional value. Instead, they contain a branded flavor that is full of addictive chemical stimulants.  The goal for manufacturers is to create brand addiction, resulting in the powerful subconscious urge to consume more of their brand, which leads to massive overconsumption of fructose. 

The interesting thing about fructose is that unlike other sugar molecules it actually requires ATP (energy) to be metabolized.  At the same time the fructose molecule could potentially become energy as it is metabolized, leading to increased ATP synthesis.  When healthy people eat fruit, this happens.  Unfortunately, consuming high fructose corn syrup in excess is like flooding your engine with gas.  Your liver simply conks out.  Energy is actually depleted.  And enzymes are activated that turn on fat buildup in the liver while elevating uric acid to a point that it causes free radical damage and inflammation.  This is a fast path to obesity, fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Two studies show the results of high fructose corn syrup intake.  The first is an animal study that analyzed how fructose is metabolized.  It shows that fructose is first acted upon by the fructokinase enzyme, which adds energy (ATP) to the fructose molecule so that it can proceed in metabolism.  As it turns out there are two forms of this enzyme, fructokinase A and C.  Fructokinase A operates around the body and has a low affinity for fructose, meaning that when eaten in moderation this enzyme will slowly and steadily help metabolize the fructose.  Fructokinase C is highly concentrated in the liver and loves fructose.

These researchers showed that if both enzymes were knocked out in mice then they couldn’t develop metabolic syndrome from any amount of fructose metabolism because none of the fructose was metabolized.  Then they showed that mice lacking the A form rapidly developed insulin resistance, fatty liver, and metabolic syndrome.  They went on to show that the A form balances and protects against the potential adverse effects of the C form, but only at moderate intake.  At high intake the A form, which has low affinity for fructose, is no longer able to maintain balance and the C form goes wild.  This study is extremely important as it is the first to show this precise mechanism explaining why high intake of fructose is problematic.

The next study involved human type 2 diabetic patients and their ability to metabolize fructose.  The researchers used less than 15 grams of fructose per day to define low and more than 15 grams per day to define high fructose intake.  Please note that the average American consumes about 42 grams per day to get to 35 pounds a year. 

Diabetic patients who consumed more than 15 grams of fructose had lower stores of liver ATP, meaning liver energy function was compromised as predicted by the above animal study mechanism.  Furthermore, a fructose challenge resulted in further decreased energy production, meaning that the people were metabolic cripples when it now came to the fructose they were consuming in high amounts.  The degree of the fructose metabolism problem predicted fatty liver disease and its severity, as well as higher than normal levels of uric acid, which is highly inflammatory to the liver and general circulation. 

High fructose corn syrup is the fastest way to get large and excess amounts of fructose into your body.  It is clear that this compromises your liver’s energetic function, which will take its toll sooner or later.  The first sign of a problem is weight gain.  If not corrected, liver damage and malfunction follow, locking in metabolic disease.  This is not a pretty picture.

Share:

Related Entries:

High Fructose Corn Syrup Makes Your Brain Crave Food
High Fructose Corn Syrup Activates Fat Producing Gene
The Obesity Beverage - High Fructose Corn Syrup
How High Fructose Corn Syrup Causes Obesity
High Fructose Corn Syrup Makes You Stupid
AMA Condones High Fructose Corn Syrup
The Sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup Path to Disease

Other Weight Loss News

Pulling Data...

View the Original article

Night Staffing With Critical Care Docs May Lower ICU Death Rates

background:url(http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/a/5b/a5ba32682eb601fb573b57542c19b9c1.png);width:115px;height:25px;margin-left:50px;margin-top:7px

View the Original article

Sleep Apnea Linked to Higher Cancer Death Risk

HealthDay – 1 hr 30 mins ago SUNDAY, May 20 (HealthDay News) -- Sleep apnea has already been linked to a host of adverse health problems, such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Now, new research suggests that in people who already have cancer, the sleep disorder may raise their risk of dying from cancer.

People with the most severe sleep apnea -- those who have 30 or more episodes of low or no oxygen in an hour of sleep -- had almost five times the risk of cancer death compared to someone without sleep apnea.

"Sleep apnea is the periodic pausing of breathing during sleep that results in drops in oxygen levels in your blood. It causes snoring and sleepiness during the day," explained study author Dr. Javier Nieto, chair of the department of population health sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, in Madison.

"Aside from being an annoyance to your spouse, family members and maybe even your neighbors depending on how loud your snoring is, sleep apnea is a severe problem. Drowsiness and sleepiness during the day increase the risk of accidents, and sleep apnea is associated with cardiovascular disease, heart disease, strokes, hypertension and cardiovascular mortality. Now, we see this new angle: an increase in cancer mortality," said Nieto.

Nieto is scheduled to present the study Sunday at the American Thoracic Society International Conference, in San Francisco.

Nieto said the new study was suggested by researchers from the University of Barcelona in Spain who found that when mice were deprived of oxygen periodically, skin cancer tumors grew faster in the mice. And, cancer cells in the lab that are deprived of oxygen produce molecules that stimulate the growth of blood vessels in an attempt to get more oxygen, he said.

Nieto and the Spanish researchers wondered if this effect was the same in humans. To test that theory, they reviewed data from more than 1,500 people included in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort. This study included 22 years of mortality data, as well as information from sleep studies.

The researchers adjusted the data to account for age, sex, body mass, smoking and other factors that might affect the risk of cancer death, and they found that sleep apnea increased the risk of cancer death. They also found that the more severe the sleep apnea, the more likely someone was to die from cancer.

People with mild sleep apnea -- five to 14.9 episodes of low or no oxygen in an hour -- had a 10 percent increased risk of cancer death, while those with moderate sleep apnea -- 15 to 29.9 episodes of low or no oxygen in an hour -- had double the risk of cancer death. Those with severe sleep apnea -- more than 30 episodes of low or no oxygen in an hour -- had a 4.8 times higher risk of cancer death.

Nieto said the study didn't prove a cause-and-effect relationship, but the association was quite strong. And, he noted that the findings were consistent in humans, animals and in cells.

He added that there is also a plausible mechanism for this association. When you have cancer and you repeatedly have episodes of low or no oxygen, the cancer cells "try to compensate for the lack of oxygen by growing additional blood vessels to get more oxygen. It's a defense mechanism," Nieto said. And, as those blood vessels keep growing, it helps the tumor to spread, he explained.

Dr. Steven Park, a sleep medicine specialist and otorhinolaryngologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, said he wasn't surprised by the findings.

"This goes along with the link between sleep apnea and pretty much every chronic medical condition out there," Park said. But, he added that this study's findings need to be confirmed in other studies, and ideally be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Research presented at medical meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

"Anyone with snoring, severe daytime fatigue, lack of memory or focus, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even someone who has to get up to go to the bathroom at night should be screened for sleep apnea," Park said. He added that it's possible to have sleep apnea without snoring, especially for women. So, if you're getting enough sleep at night, yet still feel tired during the day, it's important to bring this up to your doctor.

Park said there are home-monitoring devices that can be used to screen people at home initially.

Nieto said that treating sleep apnea will improve your quality of life, as well as reduce your risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. And, if you have cancer, he said, treating sleep apnea may help increase your odds of surviving cancer.

More information

Learn more about sleep apnea from the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

View the Original article

Mary Kennedy's Death Attributed to Hanging

Breast Cancer Vaccine Promising More Health HeadlinesFDA Approves Home HIV Test KitSkin Cancer Prevention Tips: How to Spot the...The Pliosaurs' Modern MaladyOlympics Link Air Pollution, Heart AttacksMan Escapes Water ... Then DrownsIn The NewsArthritisAllergiesDr. Richard BesserCold & Flu Home> HealthMary Richardson Kennedy's Death Attributed to HangingBy RICHARD ESPOSITO and CARRIE GANN (

View the Original article

Common antibiotic boosts death risk: study

"A popular antibiotic used for treating bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections and sexually transmitted diseases may boost the risk of death, a US study said Wednesday. (AFP Photo/Philippe Huguen)" title

View the Original article

Scientists "switch off" brain cell death in mice

background:url(http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/a/5b/a5ba32682eb601fb573b57542c19b9c1.png);width:115px;height:25px;margin-left:50px;margin-top:7px

View the Original article

Heart Test Spots Sudden Death Risk in Young Athletes

HealthDay – 16 hrs ago FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Electrocardiograph (EKG) screening of young athletes can help identify those at risk for sudden cardiac death, according to a new study.

Researchers screened nearly more than 1,300 young athletes and conducted EKGs on 586 of them based on medical history, family history, a physical exam or prior EKG. Six athletes were found to have a heart disorder known to cause sudden cardiac death.

The study looked at how sensitive and specific the EKGs were as tests. Sensitivity refers to how confidently a doctor can rule out a problem and that it isn't a "false negative." Specificity refers to how sure a doctor can be that a positive test result is accurate.

For medical history alone, the sensitivity and specificity to detect heart disorders linked to sudden cardiac death were 33 percent and 69 percent. For physical exam, the figures were 16 percent and 91 percent. For EKG, sensitivity was 100 percent and specificity was 95 percent.

Half of disorders known to cause sudden cardiac death were detected by EKG alone, said Dr. Jessie Fudge, who is completing a fellowship in primary care sports medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle.

"

View the Original article

Italian player's death sparks probes into ambulance delay

'modId':'mediatabs_nmid_1_conv_prom','isPreLoad':0,'enableMediaTabEvent':0,'pageSize':12,'numFriends':null,'notificationCount':0,'property':'News','learnMorePath':'/activity-learn-more/','friendbarNotification':'0','friendbarRollup':'0','moduleConf':YAHOO.Media.Facebook.ModuleConf,'friendIdList':

View the Original article

Cancer Diagnosis May Raise Odds for Suicide, Heart Attack Death

background:url(http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/a/5b/a5ba32682eb601fb573b57542c19b9c1.png);width:115px;height:25px;margin-left:50px;margin-top:7px

View the Original article

Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Who Quit Statins May Face Raised Death Risk

background: url(http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/a/5b/a5ba32682eb601fb573b57542c19b9c1.png); width:115px; height: 25px; margin-left:50px; margin-top:7px;

View the Original article

Lower death risk with heart bypass vs. angioplasty

Older patients with clogged heart arteries may have a little lower death risk over time if they get bypass operations instead of angioplasty and stents to fix the problem, new research suggests.

It's not the kind of study that gives conclusive evidence, but doctors say it gives a "real world" look at how people fare in ordinary practice. As such, it could tip the balance toward surgery for patients considering the choice, especially because research already shows bypass gives a better and longer lasting result for people with multiple blockages.

In a bypass operation, doctors move healthy blood vessels from other parts of the body to detour around clogged arteries supplying blood to the heart. Angioplasty treats the problem via a tube pushed through a blood vessel. A tiny balloon is inflated to flatten the clog and a mesh scaffold, a stent, is placed to prop the artery open.

Researchers compared these approaches using records on 190,000 Medicare patients with two or three blockages

View the Original article

eBay bans sorbitol sales after Italian death

"A sign is posted in front of eBay headquarters in 2011 in San Jose, California. The US online auction giant on Monday banned global sales of sorbitol following the death of a 28-year-old Italian woman who consumed a phial of the sugar substitute as part of a food allergy test. (AFP Photo/Justin Sullivan)" title

View the Original article