obesity

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Health & Safety

Secrets Of The Very Old And Healthy — Start When You're Young

4:50pm April 18, 2016

by Nancy Shute

What you do in your 20s and 30s and 40s can make it more likely that you'll be mobile and healthy in old age, scientists say. That's true even if your ancestors didn't fare so well.

A view of the lush Samoan vegetation in American Samoa, Tutuila Island.

Is Samoa's Obesity Epidemic A Harbinger For Other Developing Nations?

6:02pm April 07, 2016

by Maanvi Singh

Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are becoming more common all over the world. But the tiny Samoan islands now have the highest rates. An epidemiologist blames changes in diet brought on by globalization.

An analysis of 20 studies failed to find good evidence that standing at a work desk is better than sitting.

Stand To Work If You Like, But Don't Brag About The Benefits

1:00pm March 17, 2016

by Angus Chen

Standing desks have been touted as the answer for health problems caused by sitting all day. But the evidence that the high desks improve health — or that they are even used much — is weak.

Members of the Fat Men's Club of New York gather at a meeting, circa 1930.

The Forgotten History Of Fat Men's Clubs

5:29pm March 10, 2016

by Tanya Basu

These clubs of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were spectacular celebrations of wealth and girth. At their gatherings, networking and eating — a lot of it – were on the menu.

A still from the Mutual Rescue film about Eric and Peety.

He Rescued A Dog. Then The Dog Rescued Him

5:13pm March 10, 2016

by Nancy Shute

Eric O'Grey was 51, obese and suffering from diabetes and high cholesterol when he took home an overweight shelter dog. Now the duo are headlining a campaign on how pets improve humans' lives.

Sleep Munchies: Why It's Harder To Resist Snacks When We're Tired

7:52pm March 02, 2016

by Allison Aubrey

A new study finds that too little sleep boosts a signal in the body that may drive a stronger desire to eat. It's the latest evidence linking sleep deprivation to overeating and increased body weight.

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Troy Hodge was only 41 years old when a vessel in his brain burst. "You don't think of things you can't do until you can't do them," he says.

Strokes On The Rise Among Younger Adults

7:33pm February 22, 2016

by Rae Ellen Bichell

Fewer people are having strokes now than decades ago. But that improvement seems to be mostly among the elderly. Young people are actually having more strokes, partly because of the rise in obesity.

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The number of people being diagnosed with diabetes has been on the decline since 2009.

Fewer People Are Getting Diabetes, But The Epidemic Isn't Over

7:50pm December 01, 2015

by Nancy Shute

The number of people being diagnosed with diabetes has been on the decline since 2009, after soaring for decades. Doctors say people may be changing their eating and exercise habits for the better.

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Obesity prevalence among women in their 40s and 50s has risen to 42 percent since 1999-2000, the CDC found. For middle-aged men, the rate is 38 percent.

More Women Than Men Are Obese In America, And Gap Is Widening

12:56pm November 13, 2015

by Allison Aubrey

After decades of increases, U.S. obesity rates overall seem to be flattening out, the CDC says. But obesity is rising among middle-aged women, and particularly among black and Hispanic women.

What role do high-calorie, low-nutrition junk foods play in expanding waistlines? Two recent studies tackle that question.

Health & Safety

Are Junk Food Habits Driving Obesity? A Tale Of Two Studies

3:28pm November 12, 2015

by Maria Godoy

In the fight against obesity, junk foods have become public enemy No. 1. But some people question whether certain foods are really the culprits. Two new studies come to very different conclusions.