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A new study has found that a high waist circumference is strongly associated with decreased lung function independent of smoking history, sex, body mass index (BMI) and other complicating factors.

The study analyzed health information on more that 120,000 people from the Paris Investigations Preventives et Cliniques Center, and assessed demographic background, smoking history, alcohol consumption, as well as lung function, including FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) and FVC (forced vital capacity, or the total expiratory volume) with respect to BMI, waist circumference and other measures of metabolic health.

The results were published in the second issue for March of the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

"After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, alcohol consumption, leisure time physical activity and cardiovascular history, metabolic syndrome remained independently associated with lung function impairment," wrote lead author Natalie Leone, M.D., of French National Institute for Health and Medical Research. "We found a positive independent relationship between lung function impairment and metabolic syndrome due mainly to abdominal obesity."

Abdominal obesity was defined as having a waist circumference of greater than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men.

The researchers also found a significant interaction between metabolic syndrome and smoking status, with estimated lung function impairment risk in current and former smokers being higher than in those who never smoked.

"Prospective studies are needed to determine the temporal relationship between lung function impairment and metabolic syndrome, including abdominal adiposity in particular. Mechanistic studies are also required to clarify the underlying physiopathological pathways," concluded Dr. Leone.

While more research will undoubtedly shed light on the underlying mechanisms linking abdominal fat to lowered lung function, there is an immediate clinical consideration:

"I believe there is now enough evidence to recommend that waist circumference always be measured before spirometry tests. Abdominal obesity could then be highlighted on the printed report so that the physician interpreting the report could take the effect of obesity into account," wrote Dr. Enright.

Labels: lung dieases, obesity, weight gain

Obese women have alterations in their ovaries which might be responsible for an egg's inability to make an embryo, according to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

Obese women trying to become pregnant experience longer times to conception, even if they are young and have a regular menstrual cycle. This study sought to determine if there are alterations in an egg's environment in obese women which contribute to poorer reproductive outcomes.

"Characteristics of eggs are influenced by the environment in which they develop within the ovary," said Dr. Rebecca Robker, PhD, of Adelaide University in Australia and lead author of the study. "Our study found that obese women have abnormally high levels of fats and inflammation in the fluid surrounding their eggs which can impact an egg's developmental potential."

According to Dr. Robker, the fats might alter the very sensitive metabolism of the egg and such changes are known to be harmful to embryo formation. In addition, inflammation can damage cells and when this happens to eggs it can affect embryo survival.

For this study, researchers followed 96 women seeking assisted reproduction at a private clinic in South Australia from February 2006 to April 2007. Dr. Robker and her colleagues measured hormone and metabolite levels in follicular fluid obtained from the subjects' ovaries during their egg collection procedures. They found that obese women exhibited an altered ovarian follicular environment, particularly increased metabolite and androgen activity levels, which may be associated with poorer reproductive outcomes.

"Obesity is well known to cause changes in blood lipids and heightened inflammation which detrimentally affects a person's general health," said Dr. Robker. "Our research shows that obesity similarly changes the environment in the ovary which bathes and nourishes a woman's developing eggs."

The article "Obese Women Exhibit Differences in Ovarian Metabolites, Hormones and Gene Expression Compared to Moderate Weight Women," will appear in the May 2009 issue of JCEM.

But that's not the only correlation between infertility and obesity.

Researchers say hormonal changes and diminished sexual quality of life in obese men are related to the degree of obesity.

"In our study population, we found that lower testosterone levels and diminished ratings for sexual quality of life were correlated with increased Body Mass Index," said Ahmad Hammoud lead author from the University of Utah.

"Previous studies have found that obesity is correlated to lower sperm count and can be associated with infertility, but we wanted to know if obesity was biologically associated with an unsatisfying sex life, and if so, could it be reversible," said Dr. Ahmad Hammoud. "Our results show that the answer to both questions may be yes."

"Subjects who lost weight through bariatric surgery experienced a reduction in estradiol levels, an increase in testosterone levels and an increase in ratings of sexual quality of life," Hammoud said.

Labels: infertility, obesity

Last night I ate a bowl of cereal for dinner, a FiberOne cereal, the honey flavor, it's really good. Anyway, the back of the box had all this content about eating healthy and such. There was an entire paragraph devoted to how eating a bowl of cereal at breakfast can actually help you maintain a proper body weight.

Then this morning I see an article about the very same topic at WomensHealthMagazine.com, coincidence, I think not. It's a fact, a truth known to Mom's forever I might add. But since research and data has been "officially" collected now then I suppose there will be less eye-rolling, I don't know.

"Researchers from the University of Minnesota studied the eating and exercise habits of 2,216 teens for five years and found that the more often a person ate breakfast, the lower the (Body Mass Index) BMI."

Read more at Journal Watch >>

Labels: breakfast, children, obesity, weight gain

Did you know there is an entire website about parents against junk food?

I found it on Roseanne's blog. Yes, Roseanne from the television comedy about the Conner Family from back in the 80s and 90s. Man, I loved that show. I still watch it whenever it is on Nick @ Nite.

Anyway.

Parents Against Junk Food is a website devoted to descreasing childhood obesity in America. It has facts about childhood obesity such as, "In the past 30 years, the occurrence of overweight in children has doubled and it is now estimated that one in five children in the US is overweight." And it has an entire page devoted to taking action against junk food being sold in public schools. We all know why it is sold there...money. But you can support the cause to eliminate said junk food nonetheless.

I eat junk food. Yep. Well, see, you need to know this about me. I am always hungry. If I'm not hungry then I am sick or really depressed. Right now I'm not particularly hungry but I have been feeling depressed. There is a lot going on in my life right now and the stress is wearing on me. But I love cookies, ice cream, salt&pepper chips, nachos, pizza...all that good stuff. I must admit I have been trying to eat better though by snacking on carrots, oatmeal and dry cereal from time to time.

I think this website is a wonderful idea. I hope there are many parents out there who support this cause and actively participate. My son is very active. He loves his video games and tortilla chips, but he can also run around for hours and he is super thin even after eating tons of pizza. I have been trying to get Braeden to eat more healthy, but it's not easy.

It is refreshing to find a site in which learning new methods of keeping a healthy home are relevant and upfront. Their mantra is, "We are devoted to eliminating junk food from our public school system. No sodas. No candy bars. No chips. No processed lunch or foods of minimal nutritional value. Let's ask our public schools to feed both body and mind properly, to take seriously their role as guardians of our children's health and welfare."

What are your thoughts on this topic? I know money is a huge issue and the junkier the food the cheaper it normally is because it has the demand to be competitive with pricing. How do you think we, as parents, can help to back this situation better?

Labels: children healthcare, junk food, obesity

I don't know about you but I never complete my resolutions. I always have the best of intentions but by February I'm back to eating tons of cookies. What can I say? I have a whole set of sweet teeth.

My hope for 2008 is that doctors and scientists are able to develop new treatments/cures for cancer. Or perhaps more likely, better screenings which are less invasive and can be used for very early detection.

I'd also like to see more people delve into the healthcare profession. We are lacking good doctors, nurses and surgeons that actually care about their patients more than their salary or recognition.

And last but not least, I would like less news on childhood obesity. And for that to happen we need to make sure our families are active and eat more nutritiously. Less fast food and more sit-down family dinners. It's not easy, but in many ways it is very necessary.

Labels: cancer, nutrition, obesity, research, resolutions