Identical twins show same risk for diabetes

A study looking at Swedish twins has found a genetic link between low birth weight and diabetes. Previous research has shown that people with diabetes are more likely to have had low birth weight, but the conditions of being born small do not cause diabetes. Researchers looked at pairs of fraternal and identical twins and found that among fraternal twins, who do not share the same DNA, the smaller babies were more likely to grow up to have diabetes, while among identical twins both people had the same risk of developing diabetes later in life, suggesting a genetic component to the disease…

Australia’s Greens propose junk food ad ban

The Greens in Australia have proposed a bill that would ban junk food ads and alcohol ads from television during the peak children’s viewing times. The bill, introduced in the Senate, is said to be a measure against childhood obesity. Television regulators in Australia recently said no ban was necessary because there wasn’t a clear link between ads and obesity…

New York kids face BMI tests

Kids across New York who are entering school or who are in the second, fourth, seventh or tenth grades will have their body mass index taken and recorded for the state Department of Health. Parents can opt out of sending the anonymous information to the state. The information will also be kept by the schools. This rule affects schools outside of New York City, where about 1,000 schools are already collecting BMI measurements and sharing health information with students and parents…

Canada probes listeria as E. coli breaks out in OK

The Canadian government says it is launching an independent investigation into the listeriosis breakout there that has been linked to 19 deaths, while officials in Oklahoma are looking for the specific cause of an E. coli outbreak that has killed one person and sickened more than 200. The people got sick after eating at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, which is in northeast Oklahoma, but officials aren’t sure what food may have caused the outbreak, first reported on August 25…

Fish oil helps those with heart failure

Taking fish oil supplements is just as effective as taking a cholesterol lowering drug for keeping people with heart failure alive. German researchers found that omega-3 supplements and the drug Crestor were similarly effective at keeping heart failure patients alive for about four years, but the fish oil supplements were actually more effective judged against a placebo than was the drug. Doctors say fish oil may strengthen cell membranes and could stabilize the heart, preventing abnormal rhythms…

Thinking causes people to eat more

Finally, people who perform mental tasks tend to eat more after such exertion than do people who eat after doing nothing, even though the mental tasks don’t burn any more calories. That’s the finding of a Canadian study that had students do nothing, read and summarize text or perform a series of mental tests for 45 minutes. After the tasks they could eat whatever they wanted from a buffet. Those who read the texts ate 203 more calories, while those going through the tests ate 253 more calories than those who were doing nothing, even though they only burned about three more calories performing their task. Researchers say the increase in food intake has to do with higher glucose and insulin levels, which may be related to stress.

(By Sarah E. White for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)

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This entry was posted on Thursday, September 4th, 2008 and is filed under Body mass index, Childhood obesity, Diabetes, Food miscellaneous, Food safety, Foreign stories (non-U.S.), Government obesity actions, Kids and families, Nibbles: diet news shorts, Obesity research and studies. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed. Permalink.