News Scan
Higher Breast Cancer Risk in Obese Diabetic Premenopausal Women
Both obesity and type 2 diabetes, owing to their harmful effects on adipocytokines and inflammatory mediators, contribute to increased breast cancer risk in premenopausal women, according to results of a study conducted by investigators from King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/705660
Obesity Raises Risk Of Complications In Pregnancy, Study Shows
Expectant mothers who are obese are much more likely to suffer from minor complications such as heart burn and chest infections during pregnancy, a study suggests.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090716113245.htm
U-M Report Raises Question About Role Of Obesity In Severe H1N1 Infections
Possible pattern emerges as the University of Michigan cares for severely ill H1N1 flu patients; suggests new focus for community hospital care teams
A report led by doctors from the University of Michigan Health System documents severe lung problems among patients infected with the influenza A H1N1 (swine) flu virus, and suggests that obesity may be emerging as a new risk factor in the pandemic.
http://www2.med.umich.edu/prmc/media/newsroom/details.cfm?ID=1230
Obesity Increases Risk of Cartilage Loss
The more you weigh the higher your risk of rapid cartilage loss, according to a new study. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases says 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis caused by the breakdown of cartilage.
Results from the study showed the top risk factors, which lead to rapid cartilage loss, were baseline cartilage damage, a high body mass index (BMI), tears or other injury to the cartilage that cushions at the knee joint. Severe lesions were also predictors of cartilage loss.
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=21905
Obesity May Reduce Brain Gray Matter in Postmenopausal Women
Results from a small study of postmenopausal women suggest that obesity might relate to a reduced volume of gray matter in the brain. However, whether the results have relevance in a woman's day-to-day life is unclear.
"A subset of women from the Pittsburgh Healthy Women Study (HWS) who had been followed for an average of 15 years was invited to participate in brain imaging studies," said lead author Isabella Soreca, M.D., an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh. "We found that those who had gained the most weight had lower gray matter volume."
The study appears online in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine.
