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Fat-related information

 

Blame your taste buds for liking fat: Receptor for tasting fat identified in humans

ScienceDaily (Jan. 12, 2012) – Why do we like fatty foods so much? We can blame our taste buds. Our tongues apparently recognize and have an affinity for fat, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. They have found that variations in a gene can make people more or less sensitive to the taste of fat.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120112134336.htm

 

The naked truth: I let my weight limit my pleasure

Huffpost Women (Jan. 4, 2012) by Rebecca Jane Weinstein – "No man will ever love you," proclaimed my grandmother in what she considered her infinite wisdom. I was nine or ten -- old enough to know exactly what she was talking about, and young enough that I believed her. Thirty-five years later, undergoing the kind of therapy usually prescribed for veterans of war, I understood that she wasn't entirely right… Growing up overweight, forced to diet early and listen to forecasts of my own spinsterhood, it took me years -- years -- to say the word "fat." So you can imagine the complete shift in perspective it took for me to say the words "fat sex."  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-jane-weinstein/overweight-sex-women-body-image_b_1183358.html

 

The fat trap

New York Times: Well blog (Dec. 28, 2011) by Tara Parker-Pope – For 15 years, Joseph Proietto has been helping people lose weight. When these obese patients arrive at his weight-loss clinic in Australia, they are determined to slim down. And most of the time, he says, they do just that, sticking to the clinic’s program and dropping excess pounds. But then, almost without exception, the weight begins to creep back. In a matter of months or years, the entire effort has come undone, and the patient is fat again.  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/magazine/tara-parker-pope-fat-trap.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=health#

 

Free to be fat

Globe and Mail (Dec. 28, 2011) by David Haslam – The classic 1981 horror movie The Monster Club, starring Vincent Price, Donald Pleasence and John Carradine as monsters, included a cast of cannibals, vampires, werewolves, ghouls and a hybrid creature called a “shadmock.” Among this group of misfits, the only outcast was an ordinary fat girl….The obese were not always considered monsters.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/free-to-be-fat/article2282203/

 

Why some obese people are healthier than skinny people. 

Healthzone.ca (Aug. 15, 2011) by Debra Black – Being fat doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re in poor health.  Or so suggests a study done by Jennifer Kuk, a York University assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science in the Faculty of Health.  “Not all obese individuals have poor health,” Kuk told the Star. “Conversely not all normal weight individuals have good health. You can have normal weight individuals who have high blood pressure, diabetes and poor lifestyle.”  Kuk and her team looked at 6,000 obese Americans comparing them to 23,000 healthy individuals.

http://www.healthzone.ca/health/dietfitness/diet/article/1039682--why-some-obese-people-are-healthier-than-skinny-people

 

The thins versus the fats: Is obesity really a health, and a health care, issue?

New York Times/Opinionator (July 30, 2011) by Eric Etheridge – Though the now-twinned issues of race and beer have dominated the week’s storyline, Paul Campos wants you to think about another form of discrimination — fatism. It’s time we “stop harassing people about their weight,” says Campos, author of the “Obesity Myth,” in an interview with Megan McArdle for her Atlantic blog.  It appears that focusing on the idea that being fat actually makes people fatter. At least there’s an extremely strong correlation there. I bet if we stopped demonizing fatness, people would actually be a bit thinner. They’d certainly be happier and healthier.  http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/the-thins-versus-the-fats/?emc=eta1

 

Study links trans fats to depression
healthzone.ca
(Jan. 26, 2011) by Kate Allen – The more trans fats a healthy person consumes, the higher the risk of developing depression, new research suggests.  A Spanish study, published Wednesday in the online peer-reviewed journal PLoS ONE, followed 12,000 individuals over an average of six years, and in some cases as many as 10. All were initially depression-free…The researchers discovered the biggest consumers of unhealthy trans fats were 48 per cent more likely to develop depression than those with the lowest intake of those fats, which are most commonly found in processed foods and have been linked to coronary heart disease, obesity and other health problems. 
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/mindmood/mentalhealth/article/928696--study-links-trans-fats-to-depression?bn=1

 

Food addiction: Could it explain why 70 percent of americans are fat?

Huffington Post (Oct. 16, 2010) by Mark Hyman, MD – Our government and food industry both encourage more "personal responsibility" when it comes to battling the obesity epidemic and its associated diseases. They say people should exercise more self-control, make better choices, avoid overeating, and reduce their intake of sugar-sweetened drinks and processed food. We are led to believe that there is no good food or bad food, that it's all a matter of balance. This sounds good in theory, except for one thing...New discoveries in science prove that industrially processed, sugar- fat- and salt-laden food -- food that is made in a plant rather than grown on a plant, as Michael Pollan would say -- is biologically addictive.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/food-addiction-could-it-e_b_764863.html

 

Lost pounds lead to burst fantasy: For many, expectations of a new life don’t match the reality 

msnbc.com (April 27, 2010) – by Joan Raymond.   If thin equals happy, Jen Larsen should be on cloud nine. Larsen, 36, of Ogden, Utah, was the fat child. The fat teen. The fat adult. Four years ago, Larsen hit a high of 316 pounds and when diet after diet failed she opted for bariatric surgery. By all measures, the procedure was textbook perfect. The 5-foot-7-inch Larsen is now a slim 140 pounds.  Life, she says, is simpler: she has more energy; her knees feel better; her back doesn’t hurt. And study after study shows she has slashed her risk for life-threatening health conditions like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. But a funny thing happened on the way to becoming a size 8: No matter how much Larsen shrank, her troubles stayed the same size.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36784702/ns/health-behavior/

 

Obesity Gene, Carried by More Than a Third of the US Population, Leads to Brain Tissue Loss
ScienceDaily
(Apr. 20, 2010) — Three years ago, geneticists reported the startling discovery that nearly half of all people in the U.S. with European ancestry carry a variant of the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene, which causes them to gain weight -- from three to seven pounds, on average -- but worse, puts them at risk for obesity.   http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100419162308.htm?sms_ss=email

 

Too much sugar increases heart disease risk:  Eating a lot of sugar not only makes you fat. It may also increase a person's risk for heart disease, U.S. researchers said. 

Msnbc.com (April 20, 2010) – They said people who ate more added sugar were more likely to have higher risk factors for heart disease, such as higher triglycerides and lower levels of protective high-density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36675390/ns/health-heart_health/from/ET

 

Trans fats can be deadly for women: Linked to risk of sudden cardiac death, research shows

msnbc.msn.com (Apr. 17, 2010) by Leah Zerbe – By this point, we know trans fats are a no-no. The fats, often found in processed foods, margarine, or shortening, and in fried foods, are commonly added to food products to extend their shelf life. The bad news is, the stuff is doing nothing to extend your own shelf life. In fact, a recent study published in the American Heart Journal found that women living with coronary heart disease who eat trans fat foods are at particular risk of sudden cardiac death.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34820797/ns/health-womens_health/

 

Fear of getting fat seen in healthy women's brain scans 

ScienceDaily (Apr. 14, 2010) — A group of women in a new study seemed unlikely to have body image issues -- at least their responses on a tried-and-true psychological screening presented no red flags. That assessment changed when Brigham Young University researchers used MRI technology to observe what happened in the brain when people viewed images of complete strangers.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100413151913.htm

 

Discovery of 'fat' taste could hold the key to reducing obesity

ScienceDaily (Mar. 10, 2010) — A newly discovered ability for people to taste fat could hold the key to reducing obesity, Deakin University health researchers believe.  Deakin researchers…have found that humans can detect a sixth taste -- fat. They also found that people with a high sensitivity to the taste of fat tended to eat less fatty foods and were less likely to be overweight. The results of their research are published in the latest issue of the British Journal of Nutrition.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100310164011.htm

 

Don’t blame fast food for making you fat:  Fat epidemic linked to chemicals run amok
Msnbc.com
  (Mar. 8, 2010) – by Stephen Perrine with Heather Hurlock.   It's not just about calories in versus calories out.  If that were all it took to lose weight — eating a little less and exercising a little more — then weight loss would be as simple as grade-school math: Subtract Y from Z and end up with X.  But if you've ever followed a diet program and achieved less than your desired result, you probably came away feeling frustrated, depressed, and maybe a bit guilty. What did I do wrong?   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35315651/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/?sms_ss=email

 

Are your food allergies making you fat?

Huffingtonpost.com (Nov. 3, 2009) by Mark Hyman, MD — Your digestive system may be making you fat. It's hard to believe - but very true!  Today, I'm going to explain the bugs in your digestive tract, why they upset your gut's immune system, and how they just might be behind those extra pounds. 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/are-your-food-allergies-m_b_339323.html

 

Do high-fat diets make us stupid and lazy? Physical and memory abilities of rats affected after 9 days

ScienceDaily (Sep. 5, 2009) — Rats fed a high-fat diet show a stark reduction in their physical endurance and a decline in their cognitive ability after just nine days, a study by Oxford University researchers has shown.  The research, funded by the British Heart Foundation and published in the FASEB Journal, may have implications not only for those eating lots of high-fat foods, but also athletes looking for the optimal diet for training and patients with metabolic disorders.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090811143548.htm

 

Mice can eat 'junk' and not get fat: researchers find gene that protects high-fat-diet mice from obesity

ScienceDaily (Sep. 4, 2009) — University of Michigan researchers have identified a gene that acts as a master switch to control obesity in mice. When the switch is turned off, even high-fat-diet mice remain thin.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090903163719.htm

 

High-fat, high-sugar foods alter brain receptors 

ScienceDaily (Aug. 6, 2009) — Over consumption of fatty, sugary foods leads to changes in brain receptors, according to new animal research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  The new research results are being presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB). The results have implications for understanding bulimia and other binge eating disorders.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727102024.htm

 

Does this show make me look fat?

Ryerson University: Research News (June 25, 2009) — Dr. Stephen Want, Assistant Professor in Ryerson University's Department of Psychology looked at the impact of television programs on young women's body image using the sitcom Friends. He found that watching this program had a significantly adverse effect on the participants' satisfaction with their own appearance.

http://www.ryerson.ca/news/media/General_Public/20090625_rn_friends.html

 

Get fat, live longer: What the obesity industry doesn't want you to know

Globe and Mail: Opinion (July 25, 2009) by Margaret Wente  — A new study based on Statistics Canada population data reaches an exceedingly awkward conclusion: People who are overweight live longer than people who are classified as “normal” weight. Not only that, people who are classified as significantly overweight also live longer.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/get-fat-live-longer/article1230784/

 

Immune system may help fight obesity

Toronto Star: HealthZone.ca (July 27, 2009) by Joseph Hall  — The body's immune system targets its own fat and may soon be manipulated to fight epidemic obesity and diabetes, a revolutionary Toronto study has found.   http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/672237

 

‘Phantom fat’ can linger after weight loss: Losing pounds doesn't automatically shed larger-than-life self-image

msnbc.com (June 23, 2009) by Jacqueline Stenson — Even though Kellylyn Hicks has lost about 85 pounds over the last year and a half, and gone from a size 24 to a tiny size 4, she still worries she won't fit into chairs…Some specialists use the term “phantom fat” to refer to this phenomenon of feeling fat and unacceptable after weight loss.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31489881/ns/health-womens_health/

 

Blow your diet? Blame your brain:  low-fat labels and encouraging exercise can backfire  

msnbc.com (May 13, 2009) by Linda Carroll — Ever make a resolution to go out and exercise and end up grabbing a gooey chocolate cupcake instead?  No matter how good our intentions are, sometimes it seems like our stomachs are out to sabotage us. Scientists are now starting to understand why this happens.   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30702871/

 

Maternal Mirrors:  Two new books look at the influence mothers have on their daughters' body image—and how women can instill confidence instead of insecurity.

Newsweek (May 6, 2009) by Barbara Kantrowitz and Pat Wingert — The next time you take a look in the mirror and find yourself asking, "Does my butt look fat in this dress?," it might be worth also asking whether you should thank your mom for such thoughts. That's the thesis of  two new books that explore the influence of mothers on their daughters' developing body images. These aren't the typical "blame mom for everything" tomes that we usually want to toss against a wall. (After all, we are moms ourselves—as well as daughters.) Rather, both books—one by journalist Dara Chadwick and the other by Laura Arens Fuerstein, a therapist—offer reassuring and practical advice for raising confident daughters and overcoming negative messages you may have received from your own mother.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/195987

 

Dietary fats trigger long-term memory formation

ScienceDaily (May 3, 2009) — Having strong memories of that rich, delicious dessert you ate last night? If so, you shouldn't feel like a glutton. It's only natural.  UC Irvine researchers have found that eating fat-rich foods triggers the formation of long-term memories of that activity. The study adds to their recent work linking dietary fats to appetite control and may herald new approaches for treating obesity and other eating disorders.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090427193236.htm

 

Depression linked with accumulation of visceral fat

ScienceDaily (Apr. 29, 2009) — Numerous studies have shown that depression is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, but exactly how has never been clear.  Now, researchers at Rush University Medical Center have shown that depression is linked with the accumulation of visceral fat, the kind of fat packed between internal organs at the waistline, which has long been known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090428124358.htm

 

Dieters' best intentions hijacked by their brains

msnbc.com (Apr. 20, 2009) — New research suggests millions have their best intentions foiled by "conditioned hypereating" - the drive to eat high-fat, high-sugar foods even when they're not hungry.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30312808/from/ET/

 

Factors other than genes could cause obesity, insulin study shows

ScienceDaily (Apr. 15, 2009) — Researchers have uncovered new evidence suggesting factors other than genes could cause obesity, finding that genetically identical cells store widely differing amounts of fat depending on subtle variations in how cells process insulin.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090414153525.htm

 

Adults have brown fat too, studies find

New York Times (Apr. 09, 2009) by Gina KolataOriginally believed to be lost after infancy, calorie-burning brown fat has been discovered in adults.  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/health/research/09fat.html?emc=eta1

 

Is your diet making you fat?  Why some slimming strategies backfire — and fixes to help reach your goal

msnbc.com / Prevention (Feb. 8, 2009) — If you're trying to slim down, you've probably amassed a menu full of calorie-cutting tips and tricks. So it may come as a shock to learn that many of the ones you've sworn by are actually keeping you fat.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28619575/from/ET/

 

Why women should feel good naked

cnn.com / Oprah.com (Jan. 23, 2009) — For years Laure Redmond hated her body: too fat, too freckled, too lumpy, too stumpy. And that hatred was like a set of shackles holding her back from life. Author says she finds that women comfortable with their own body are nicer to other women.  Now a self-esteem coach who specializes in mind/body issues, Redmond has made a career of helping women and teenage girls get over what she calls their body demons. Her goal for them is summed up in the title of her 2001 book: "Feel Good Naked."  It's not about naked for naked's sake, she says it's about the amazing confidence that comes with being at ease in your own skin.  http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/01/23/o.nude.attitude/index.html

 

Another reason to avoid high-fat diet: it can disrupt our biological clock, say researchers

ScienceDaily (Dec. 31, 2008) — Indulgence in a high-fat diet can not only lead to overweight because of excessive calorie intake, but also can affect the balance of circadian rhythms – everyone’s 24-hour biological clock, Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have shown.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081228191054.htm

 

One tiny truffle may lead to more indulgence: Giving in triggers urge for more lavish luxuries, Florida researchers find

msnbc.com (Dec. 19, 2008) — Researchers say they've uncovered a key to why some people overindulge in fattening foods, buy more than they want and party too much - and why others seem immune.   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28298157/from/ET/

 

Gene may explain why some go for fatty foods

msnbc.com (Dec 10, 2008) – A study of children found those with a common gene variation tends to overeat high-calorie foods. They ate 100 extra calories per meal, which over the long term can put on weight.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28161440/from/ET/

 

Eating quickly and until full triples risk of being overweight

ScienceDaily (Oct. 22, 2008) — The combination of eating quickly and eating until full trebles the risk of being overweight, according to a study published on the British Medical Journal website.  Until the last decade or so most adults did not have the opportunity to consume enough energy to enable fat to be stored. However, with the increased availability of inexpensive food in larger portions, fast food, and fewer families eating together and eating while distracted (e.g. while watching TV), eating behaviours are changing, and this may be contributing to the obesity epidemic.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081021210307.htm

 

Losing the weight stigma

New York Times (Oct. 05, 2008) by Robin Marantz Henig A social movement argues that you can be healthy no matter how fat you are.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/magazine/05wwln-idealab-t.html?_r=2&emc=eta1

 

published by: changehappens.ca

last updated: Jan. 29, 2012

 

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