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Exploring the Obesity Paradox

The AHA! Team — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 05:24:39 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – How do we explain studies that suggest overweight individuals live longer? Martin Luther King Jr. warned that human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable, and the same may be true of the human lifespan. In the 1800s, life expectancy was less than 40 years, but it has been “advancing steadily” over the last two centuries, “increasing at approximately 2 years per decade”—until recently. Longevity gains appear “to be faltering or even being reversed.” Thanks to the obesity epidemic, we may now be raising the first generation to live shorter lives than their parents. A downward trend in longevity “This downward trend in longevity will almost certainly accelerate as the current generation of children—with higher body weights from earlier in life than ever before—reaches adulthood.” Current trends “potentially signal a looming social and economic catastrophe” if the obesity epidemic continues unchecked. In the coming decades, some predict we may lose two to five years or more of life expectancy in the United States. To put that into perspective, a miracle cure for all forms of cancer would only add three and a half years to the average U.S. life expectancy. In other words, reversing the obesity epidemic might save more lives than curing cancer. The evidence that being overweight increases our risk for debilitating diseases like diabetes is considered “indisputable.” However, surprisingly, there is controversy surrounding body weight and overall mortality. In 2013, scientists with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a meta-analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggesting that being overweight was advantageous. Grades 2 and 3 obesity, such as being an average height of 5’6″ and weighing about 216 pounds (98 kg) or more, were associated with living a shorter life, but grade 1 obesity, weighing about 185 to 215 pounds (84 to 97 kg) at that height, was not. Being overweight (about 155 to 185 pounds/70 to 83 kg at 5’6″) appeared to be protective compared to those who were a “normal weight” of 115 to 155 pounds (52 to 69 kg). The overweight individuals, those with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30, appeared to live the longest. Headline writers were giddy. “Being overweight can extend your life rather than shorten it,” read one. “Dreading your diet? Don’t worry—plump people live LONGER than their skinnier counterparts…” read another. “Extra pounds mean a lower chance of death.” Not surprisingly, the study ignited a firestorm of controversy in the public health community. The study was called “ludicrous,” “flawed,” and “misleading.” The chair of nutrition at Harvard lost his cool, calling the study “really a pile of rubbish” and fearing the food industry might exploit the study in the same way the petroleum industry misuses “controversy” over climate change. Public health advocates can’t just dismiss data they find inconvenient, though. Science is science. But how could being overweight increase the risk of life-threatening diseases, yet, at the same time, make you live longer? This became known as “The Obesity Paradox,” the subject of my video Is the Obesity Paradox Real or a Myth?. The solution to the puzzle appears to lie with two major sources of bias, the first being “confounding by smoking.” The nicotine in tobacco can lead to weight loss. So, if you’re skinnier because you smoke, then no wonder you’d live a shorter life, albeit with a slimmer waist. The failure to control for the effect of smoking in studies purporting to show an “obesity paradox” leads to the dangers of obesity being “grossly underestimated.” The second major source of bias is reverse causality. Instead of lower weight leading to life-threatening diseases, isn’t it more likely that life-threatening diseases lead to lower weight? Conditions such as hidden tumors, chronic heart or lung disease, alcoholism, and depression can all cause unintentional weight loss for months or even years before they are even diagnosed. It’s normal to be overweight in the United States, for example. So, people who are “abnormally” thin—in other words, at an ideal weight—may be taking care of themselves, but they may instead be “heavy smokers, frail and elderly, and seriously ill with weight loss due to their disease…” To put the obesity paradox to the test once and for all, The Global BMI Mortality Collaboration was formed, reviewing data from more than 10 million people from hundreds of studies in dozens of countries—the largest evaluation of BMI and mortality in history. To help eliminate bias, the researchers omitted smokers and those with known chronic disease, then excluded the first five years of follow-up to try to remove from the analysis those with undiagnosed conditions who lost weight due to an impending death. And? The results were clear: “This analysis has shown that both overweight and obesity (all grades) were associated with increased all-cause mortality”—a greater risk of dying prematurely. So, “adjusting for these biases leads to eliminating the obesity paradox.” In other words, the so-called obesity paradox appears to be “just a myth.” Indeed, when intentional weight loss is put to the test, people live longer. There are bariatric surgery studies like the SOS trial that show that weight loss reduces long-term mortality, and randomizing study participants to weight loss through lifestyle changes shows the same thing. Losing a dozen pounds through diet and exercise was found to be associated with a 15 percent drop in overall mortality. Now, exercise alone may extend lifespan even without weight loss, but there appears to be a similar longevity benefit of weight loss through dietary means alone. If you missed the previous blog posts in my series on the ABCs of obesity, see: The Best Knee Replacement Alternative for Osteoarthritis Treatment The Effects of Obesity on Back Pain, Blood Pressure, Cancer, and Diabetes The Effects of Obesity on Dementia, Brain Function, and Fertility The Effects of Obesity on Gallstones, Acid Reflux, and Cardiovascular Disease The Effects of Obesity on the Immune System and Kidney and Liver Diseases Check out the final two videos in this series: What’s the Ideal BMI? and What’s the Ideal Waist Size?. I cover all of this and more at length in my book How Not to Diet, and its companion, The How Not to Diet Cookbook, has more than 100 delicious Green-Light recipes that incorporate some of my 21 Tweaks for the acceleration of body fat loss. Why are people obese in the first place? I have a whole series of videos on that topic. Check the videos in the related posts. Key Takeaways Rising obesity rates may lead to shorter life expectancy for future generations, reversing centuries of progress in longevity. Studies suggesting that being overweight might extend life were biased due to confounding factors like smoking and reverse causality (diseases causing weight loss), and later analysis disproved the so-called obesity paradox. A large-scale review showed that both overweight and obesity are linked to a higher risk of premature death, contradicting earlier claims of protective benefits from being overweight. Intentional weight loss, whether through lifestyle changes or bariatric surgery, is associated with lower mortality rates and improved long-term health outcomes. Tackling obesity may have a greater impact on life expectancy than even a hypothetical cure for all cancers, highlighting obesity’s significant health risks. To read the original article click here.

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1/3 Children Worldwide Forecast to be Obese or Overweight by 2050

The AHA! Team — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 05:39:15 +0000

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute via EurekAlert! – Obesity rates are set to skyrocket, with one in six children and adolescents worldwide forecast to be obese by 2050, according to a new study. But with significant increases predicted within the next five years, the researchers stress urgent action now could turn the tide on the public health crisis. The research, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and published in The Lancet, found a third of children and adolescents will be overweight (385 million) or obese (360 million) within the next 25 years. The forecast equates to 356 million children aged 5–14 years and 390 million aged 15–24 years with one in six facing obesity. The global obesity rate for those between 5-24 years old tripled from 1990 to 2021, rising by 244 per cent to 174 million, suggesting that current approaches to curbing increases in obesity have failed a generation of young people. As of 2021, 493 million children and adolescents were overweight or obese. MCRI Dr Jessica Kerr said if immediate five-year action plans were not developed, the future was bleak for our youth. “Children and adolescents remain a vulnerable population within the obesity epidemic,” she said. Prevention is key as obesity rarely resolves after adolescence. “This giant burden will not only cost the health system and the economy billions, but complications associated with a high Body Mass Index (BMI), including diabetes, cancer, heart problems, breathing issues, fertility problems and mental health challenge, will negatively impact our children and adolescents now and into the future, even holding the potential to impact our grandchildren’s risk of obesity and quality of life for decades to come. “Despite these findings indicating monumental societal failures and a lack of coordinated global action across the entire developmental window to reduce obesity, our results provide optimism that this trajectory can be avoided if action comes before 2030.” The analysis, released on World Obesity Day, used the 2021 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation to estimate the latest overweight and obesity levels and forecasts in 204 countries and territories. The United Arab Emirates, Cook Islands, Nauru and Tonga are forecast to have the highest prevalence while China, Egypt, India and the US will have the greatest number of children and adolescents with obesity by 2050. In Australia, children and adolescents have experienced some of the fastest transitions to obesity in the world. Girls are already more likely to be obese than overweight. Overall, by 2050 for those aged 5-24 years, 2.2 million are forecasted to be obese and 1.6 million overweight. Globally, there will be more boys, 5–14 years, with obesity than being overweight by 2050. “Without urgent policy reform, the transition to obesity will be particularly rapid in north Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and in the Caribbean, where the rise is concurrent with high population numbers and limited resources,” Dr Kerr said. “Many regions have historically had to focus on preventing undernutrition and stunting in children. To prevent a public health emergency from this newer threat, an immediate imperative should be creating national surveillance surveys of obesity in children and adolescents in every country.” Dr Kerr said older adolescent girls, aged 15-24 years entering their reproductive years, were a priority population for intervention. “Adolescent girls who are obese are a main focus if we are to avoid intergenerational transmission of obesity, chronic conditions and the dire financial and societal costs across future generations,” she said. “With this age group increasingly being out of school and cared for by adult services, we need to focus interventions at the community and commercial level.” MCRI Professor Susan Sawyer said governments needed to invest in multicomponent strategies that reduce obesity drivers, across food and drink, activity, lifestyle and the built environment. “While people and families can work to balance their physical activity, diet and sleep, everything in our environments works to counteract these efforts,” she said. “Given this huge global shift in children’s and adolescents’ weight, we can no longer keep blaming people for their choices. We require governments to step up by addressing regulatory interventions including taxing sugar sweetened beverages, banning junk food advertising aimed at children and young people and funding healthy meals in primary and secondary schools. We also need to consider the benefits of wider policies such as overhauling urban planning to encourage active lifestyles.” Publication: ‘Global, regional, and national prevalence of child and adolescent overweight and obesity, 1990-2021, with forecasts to 2050: a forecasting study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021,’ The Lancet. *The content of this communication is the sole responsibility of MCRI and does not reflect the views of the NHMRC. Available for interview: Dr Jessica Kerr, MCRI Adolescent Health researcher Professor Susan Sawyer, MCRI, Group Leader, Adolescent Health Professor Peter Azzopardi, MCRI, Group Leader, Global Adolescent Health Journal The Lancet DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00397-6 To read the original article click here.

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Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Increased Risk of Second Stroke, Death

AHA Publisher — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 07:11:25 +0000

American Academy of Neurology (AAN) via Newswise – People with larger waistlines, high blood pressure and other risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome may be at higher risk for having a second stroke and even dying than people who do not have metabolic syndrome, according to a meta-analysis published in the July 28, 2021, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Metabolic syndrome was defined as having excess belly fat plus two or more of the following risk factors: high blood pressure, higher than normal triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood), high blood sugar and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or “good” cholesterol. “Studies have shown conflicting results on whether metabolic syndrome, which has been tied to an increased risk of a first stroke, also increases the risk of a second stroke and death, so we wanted to analyze all of the research available,” said study author Tian Li, MD, of Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an, China. “These findings will help people with metabolic syndrome and their health care providers know that they should be screened for risk of recurrent stroke and given preventative treatments.” For the risk of stroke recurrence, the meta-analysis combined results from six studies with 11,000 participants who were followed for up to five years. During that time, 1,250 people had a second stroke. The analysis found that people with metabolic syndrome were 46% more likely to have a second stroke than people who did not have the syndrome. Looking at each component of metabolic syndrome, researchers found that having a low level of good cholesterol and having two or more components of the syndrome were associated independently with an increased risk of a second stroke. Having excess belly fat, high blood sugar and high blood pressure were not associated with increased risk of second stroke on their own. For the risk of death from any cause, the meta-analysis combined eight studies with 51,613 people who were followed for up to five years. During that time, 4,210 people died. People with metabolic syndrome were 27% more likely to die during the study than people without the syndrome. None of the individual components of the syndrome were independently associated with an increased risk of death. “These results add to the evidence that people with metabolic syndrome should take steps to modify their risk of second stroke and even death where possible, through medication, diet, exercise and other recommended lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking,” Li said. Li noted that the studies were observational, so they do not prove that metabolic syndrome is a cause of recurrent stroke or death. They only show an association. The meta-analysis was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Siming Scholars of Shuguang Hospital, Third Batch of Suzhou High-tech District Health Talents Project and Suzhou Science and Technology Plan Project. Learn more about stroke at BrainandLife.org, home of the American Academy of Neurology’s free patient and caregiver magazine focused on the intersection of neurologic disease and brain health. Follow Brain & Life®on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. When posting to social media channels about this research, we encourage you to use the hashtags #Neurology and #AANscience. The American Academy of Neurology is the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with over 36,000 members. The AAN is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. To read the original article click here.

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Excessive Body Fat Can Increase the Risk of Dementia

AHA Publisher — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 07:00:04 +0000

University of South Australia via News-Medical – It’s the global epidemic that affects two in every five adults, but as obesity continues to expand waistlines worldwide, researchers at the University of South Australia are warning that harmful body fat can also increase the risk of dementia and stroke. Examining grey brain matter of about 28,000 people, the world first research showed that increased body fat incrementally leads to increased atrophy of grey matter in the brain and consequently higher risk of declining brain health. Grey matter is an essential part of the brain responsible for execution control, muscular and sensory activity as well as learning, attention, and memory. Obesity is a major issue worldwide, with numbers nearly tripling since 1975. Data from the World Health Organization shows that more than 1.9 billion adults are overweight, with 650 million being obese. More than 340 million children (aged 5-19) are overweight or obese, with 39 million children under the age of five also falling into this category. Lead researcher, UniSA’s Dr Anwar Mulugeta, says the findings add to the growing issues associated with being overweight or obese. “Obesity is a genetically complex condition characterized by the excessive body fat.” Dr Anwar Mulugeta, Lead Researcher, UniSA “Generally, the three obesity subtypes have a characteristic of higher body mass index, yet, each type varies in terms of body fat and visceral fat distribution, with a different risk of cardiometabolic diseases. “We found that people with higher levels of obesity especially those with metabolically unfavorable and neutral adiposity subtypes had much lower levels of grey brain matter, indicating that these people may have compromised brain function which needed further investigation. “However, we did not find conclusive evidence to link a specific obesity subtype with dementia or stroke. Instead, our study suggests the possible role of inflammation and metabolic abnormalities and how they can contribute to obesity and grey matter volume reduction.” The study used Mendelian randomization to examine the genetic data of up to 336,000 individual records in the UK Biobank, with self-reported information and linked hospital and death register records to connect dementia and stoke. It found that middle to elderly age groups (37-73) grey brain matter decreased by 0.3 per cent for every extra 1 kg/m2, which is equivalent of an extra 3 kg of weight for person of average height individuals, (173 cm) Senior investigator, Professor Elina Hyppönen, Director of UniSA’s Australian Centre for Precision Health based at SAHMRI, says maintaining a healthy weight is important for general public health. “It is increasingly appreciated that obesity is a complex condition, and that especially excess fat which is located around the internal organs have particularly harmful effects on health,” Professor Hyppönen says. “Here, we used the individuals’ genetic and metabolic profiles to confirm different types of obesity. In practice, our findings very much support the need to look at the type of obesity when assessing the type of likely health impact. “Even in a relatively normal weight individual, excess weight around the abdominal area may be a cause of concern.” “Commonly linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and chronic inflammation (a marker of dementia), obesity currently costs Australia’s economy about $8.6 billion dollars each year. “While the disease burden of obesity has increased over the past five decades, the complex nature of the disease means that not all obese individuals are metabolically unhealthy, which makes it difficult to pinpoint who is at risk of associated diseases, and who is not. “Certainly, being overweight generally increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and low-grade inflammation, but understanding the level of risk is important to better direct supports. “In this study, we investigated the causal relationships of individuals within three metabolically different obesity types – unfavorable, neutral and favorable – to establish whether specific weight groups were more at risk than others.

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Greater Screen Time Usage Among Preteens Associated with Higher BMI One Year Later

AHA Publisher — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 07:00:50 +0000

University of Toronto via News-Medical – A new national study finds that children in the United States with greater screen time usage at ages 9-10 are more likely to gain weight one year later. The study, publishing in Pediatric Obesity on June 28, found that each additional hour spent on virtually all forms of screen time was associated with a higher body mass index (BMI) one year later. In particular, researchers found that each extra hour spent watching or streaming television, YouTube videos, video games, video chat, and texting led to a higher risk of weight gain one year later. At the start of the study, 33.7% of children were considered overweight or obese, and this increased to 35.5% one year later, a proportion that is expected to rise in the late teens and early adulthood. BMI is calculated based on height and weight. Researchers analyzed the BMI z-scores, which is relative weight adjusted for a child’s age and sex, of 11,066 preteens who are part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, the largest long-term study of brain development in the United States. The children answered questions about their time spent on six different screen time modalities, including television, social media, and texting. “Screen time is often sedentary and may replace time for physical activity. Children are exposed to more food advertisements and are prone to snacking and overeating while distracted in front of screens.” (Jason Nagata, MD, lead author, assistant professor of pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco) “A negative body image and subsequent overeating may be a result of exposure to social media and unattainable body ideals,” said senior author, Kyle T. Ganson, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. “This study emphasizes the need for more research on how screen time impacts the well-being of young people now and in the future.” “The study was conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but its findings are especially relevant for the pandemic,” noted Nagata. “With remote learning, the cancellation of youth sports and social isolation, children have been exposed to unprecedented levels of screen time.” “Screen time can have important benefits such as education and socialization during the pandemic, but parents should try to mitigate risks from excessive screen time including increased sedentary time and decreased physical activity. Parents should regularly talk to their children about screen-time usage and develop a family media use plan,” said Nagata. To read the original article click here.

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Overweight or Obesity Amplifies Harmful Effects of Alcohol on the Liver

AHA Publisher — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 07:00:55 +0000

University of Sydney via News-Medical – Led by the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, the study looked at medical data from nearly half a million people and found having overweight or obesity considerably amplified the harmful effects of alcohol on liver disease and mortality. “People in the overweight or obese range who drank were found to be at greater risk of liver diseases compared with participants within a healthy weight range who consumed alcohol at the same level. Even for people who drank within alcohol guidelines, participants classified as obese were at over 50 percent greater risk of liver disease.” (Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, senior author and research program director, Charles Perkins Centre and the Faculty of Medicine and Health) The researchers drew upon data from the UK Biobank – a large-scale biomedical cohort study containing in-depth biological, behavioural, and health information from participants in the United Kingdom (UK). According to the researchers, this is one of the first and largest studies looking at increased adiposity (overweight or obesity) and level of alcohol consumption together, in relation to future liver disease. Information was examined from 465,437 people aged 40 to 69 years, with medical and health details collected over an average of 10.5 years. The findings were published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Lead author Dr Elif Inan-Eroglu, a postdoctoral research fellow with the Charles Perkins Centre, said the results suggest people carrying excess weight may need to be more aware of risks around alcohol consumption. “With the most recent data suggesting two in three people – or 67 percent of the Australian population are in the overweight or obesity range, this is obviously a very topical issue.” Key Findings The researchers reviewed data on participants classified as overweight/obese based on their body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, self-reported alcohol consumption according to UK alcohol guidelines, and liver disease incidence and liver disease as cause of death. BMI is based on both weight and height. A BMI of over 25 denotes overweight, and over 30 denotes obesity. For waist circumference, researchers used the World Health Organization (WHO) classification: normal (<80 cm for women, <94 cm for men), overweight (>80 cm for women, >94 cm for men), and obese (>88 cm for women, >102 cm for men). The level of risk was given a number called a ‘hazard ratio’. The higher the number than 1, the higher the risk. People who drank above UK alcohol guidelines had, compared to within guideline drinkers: oA nearly 600 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with alcoholic fatty liver disease(5.83 hazard ratio). oA nearly 700 percent higher risk of death caused by alcoholic fatty liver disease (6.94 hazard ratio). People with overweight or obesity who drank within or above alcohol guidelines had over 50 percent greater risk of developing liver disease compared to normal weight participants who consumed alcohol at the same level. To read the original article click here.

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Obesity Hits New Milestone Largely Due to Sugar Consumption

AHA Publisher — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 07:00:25 +0000

Lorie Johnson via CBN News – More than 42% of US adults are now obese, making it the first time in history the national rate has passed the 40% mark, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which points out the steep and rapid rise of this serious health condition. In 1999 the obesity rate was a much lower 30%. Obesity in adults is defined as a BMI greater than or equal to 30. BMI stands for body mass index and is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to men and women. A person can calculate their BMI on the National Institutes of Health website. The number of people classified as severely obese has also jumped from 4.7% to 9/2% since 1999. Severe obesity as a BMI of 40 or more. Meanwhile, the number of overweight Americans, those with a BMI between 25 and 29.9, stands at 31.1%. This means in total, almost three out of every four Americans is above what health professionals consider a healthy weight. It’s Likely All That Sugar According to the American Heart Association, men should consume no more than nine teaspoons, or 37 grams, of added sugar a day while women, based on their smaller size, should consume no more than six teaspoons, or 25 grams. However, most Americans consume three times the recommended amount of sugar, perhaps without even realizing it. That adds up to approximately 60 pounds a year for adults and believe it or not, many children consume more sugar than grown-ups, an estimated 65 pounds a year. Sugar-sweetened beverages are the biggest source of added sugar in the American diet. Kids consume about 30 gallons of liquid sugar a year, enough to fill a bathtub! Kids and adults alike consume high sugar sodas as well as deceptively sweet fruit juices, sport, and energy drinks. Even tea and coffee can be loaded with sugars. Some popular coffee shop drinks contain 14 teaspoons of sugar, almost two days’ worth. Aside from beverages, other high sugar items include baked goods, ice cream, and candy. Clinical Psychiatrist Uma Naidoo, M.D., author of the book, This is Your Brain on Food told CBN News said these foods admittedly make people happy when they eat them but many don’t realize in doing so they are consuming an entire day’s allotment of sugar in one small treat. “They do feel that uplifting feeling for a few minutes,” she said, “But the problem is these long-term effects.” These include Type 2 diabetes and heart disease as well as some cancers and brain disorders. “Sugar has been shown in several research studies to worsen depression, to worsen anxiety,” Dr. Naidoo said, “And is associated with brain atrophy and dementia.” Disguised as Healthy Most people realize candy and soda contain sugar, but might be surprised to learn seemingly healthy foods contain just as much if not more. Some examples include protein bars, barbeque sauce, yogurt, ketchup and nutritional drinks aimed at the elderly, baked beans, and much more. In fact, health experts say most processed foods are laden with sugar, including those that don’t seem sweet. Molly Carmel learned that first hand. She told CBN News that after tipping the scale at 325 pounds, she realized she learned to identify and avoid all forms of sugar. “Sugar is a tricky, tricky, tricky little abuser because it really is everywhere,” she said, “I gave up ketchup, I gave up teriyaki sauce, I gave up a lot of salad dressings.” In her book Breaking Up with Sugar, she describes how she dropped the weight and kept it off for more than ten years. Become a Savvy Shopper Carmel says in order to identify whether a product contains sugar don’t just look for the word “sugar” on the list of ingredients. Food manufacturers use dozens of different types of sugar. Many end in the letters “ose” such as fructose and dextrose. Other examples of added sugar include syrup, molasses, cane juice, and fruit juice concentrate. Sometimes to avoid making any particular type of sugar one of the first ingredients listed, they will add small amounts of many different types of sugar to a product. The best way to learn how many added sugars a product contains is to read the Nutrition Facts panel which lists how many grams of added sugar is in each serving. However, read that Nutrition Facts panel closely, paying particular attention to a product’s serving size. Food manufacturers try to make a product seem healthier by reducing the serving size, sometimes to ridiculously small portions, much smaller than a person typically eats. For example, a high-sugar granola producer lists its serving size on the Nutrition Facts panel as one-fourth of a cup, which is only about three bites! The average person actually eats more than one cup of granola at a sitting. Therefore, to get an accurate idea of the product’s sugar content, multiply the amount of sugar in the serving size by four. To read the original article click here. For more articles from CBN News click here.

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CDC Reveals Connection to Weight & COVID: 79% of Hospitalized Americans Were Obese, Overweight

AHA Publisher — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 08:00:58 +0000

Andrea Morris via CBN News – Shocking news was released from the CDC Monday revealing that a vast majority of people who have been hospitalized, placed on a ventilator, or died from COVID-19 were obese or overweight. The new study shows that nearly 150,000 people at 238 U.S. hospitals tested positive for COVID-19 from March to December last year. Of those patients, 28.3 percent were overweight and 50.8 percent were obese. Overweight is identified as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more and those who are considered obese have a BMI of 30 or more. The CDC discovered that the risk for hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and death was at its lowest level for patients with a BMI under 25. And the possibility of developing a serious illness “sharply increased,” for those with a higher BMI, especially for people 65 and older. “As clinicians develop care plans for COVID-19 patients, they should consider the risk for severe outcomes in patients with higher BMIs, especially for those with severe obesity,” the agency wrote. And the CDC reports that 73.6 percent of adults aged 20 and older are considered overweight while 42.5 percent within that same age bracket are obese. The CDC added that “These results highlight the need to promote and support a healthy BMI, which might be especially important for populations disproportionately affected by obesity, particularly Hispanic or Latino and non-Hispanic black adults and persons from low-income households, which are populations who have a higher prevalence of obesity and are more likely to have worse outcomes from COVID-19 compared with other populations.” “As clinicians develop care plans for COVID-19 patients, they should consider the risk for severe outcomes in patients with higher BMI’s, especially for those with severe obesity,” the agency added. Meanwhile, the World Obesity Federation (WOF) reports that of the 2.5 million COVID-related deaths that were reported at the end of last month, 2.2 million were in countries where over half the population is deemed overweight. To read the original article click here. For more articles from CBN News click here.

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5 Ways a Healthy Weight Supports Immune Function. Achieve Yours

AHA Publisher — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 08:00:23 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – If you’re overweight, you can make a significant difference in your immune function, starting today! By working towards a healthy weight, you can improve the health of your body systems that spur immune health. While this is easier said than done, even prudent changes in weight can make a huge difference. In fact, a healthy weight supports immune function by supporting heart function, hormones, digestion, and more. Notably, there is a direct and measurable improvement in immune function outcomes and the incidence of sickness during and after healthy weight changes. It will take work and dedication to improve your weight. We are here to help and have a plan that will guide you towards a healthy weight and lifestyle. Are you ready to support your immune function with a healthier weight? UNHEALTHY WEIGHT AND INCIDENCE OF SICKNESS During the past few decades, experts have come to understand that being at an unhealthy weight, directly and indirectly, increases the risk of seasonal sickness and poor immune function. In fact, they believe that being overweight can cause a chronic state of inflammation that harms immune function. This can result in a blunted immune response to harmful invaders and microbes, poor recovery, and even a decreased response with medications (1). As the number of overweight individuals continues to increase in the population, health experts are bracing for more and more community sickness. But, there’s good news. Even just a small change in weight or a loss of about 5-10% can make a big difference in immune function. And, the more an individual moves towards a healthy weight, the better the results become. Here are 5 ways a healthy weight supports immune function. 5 WAYS A HEALTHY WEIGHT SUPPORTS IMMUNE FUNCTION 1. HEALTHIER GUT BACTERIA AND REDUCED INFLAMMATION Did you know that gut microbiota (bacteria) is altered in an overweight or obese individual compared to one at a healthy weight? It’s true. It’s in an unhealthy state. This unhealthy state has big implications for immune function and overall health. Human gut bacteria plays many roles, and an immune function is highly dependent on it. What’s not so clear is whether being obese causes healthy bacteria to change and become unhealthy, or whether the altered gut bacteria contribute to obesity. Experts believe the answer is a bit of both. There are several mechanisms linking the gut microbiota with obesity, altered insulin reactions, inflammation, metabolic issues, failing liver function, and more. The unhealthy gut bacteria may actually contribute to an altered hormone state that perpetuates fat gain (2). More fat gain further deteriorates healthy gut bacteria. This unhealthy cycle continues and reaps havoc on immune function. So, how does a healthy weight affect the gut and immune system? As an individual works towards and achieves a healthy weight, there are significant changes in gut microbial composition. These changes continue to spur advances toward a healthy weight. This is true for both diet-induced weight changes and bariatric surgery (3). Adding healthy bacteria to the diet during the effort can further support digestion and immune function. 2. NORMALIZED BLOOD SUGARS WITH A HEALTHY WEIGHT Did you know the presence of high blood sugars increases the incidence of sickness and infection? Thankfully, a healthy weight can normalize blood sugars. In fact, when blood sugars are high, sickness can induce a stress reaction which may lead to the secretion of hyperglycemic hormones, abnormal glucose variability, and health complications. What’s more, infections increase blood sugar levels which perpetuates the problem. The opposite is true when an individual works towards a healthy weight. In one study, researchers reported that improvements in weight were strongly associated with improvements in blood sugars, blood pressure, triglyceride levels, and HDL cholesterol. They stated that a modest weight loss of just 5-10% was enough to improve health (4). 3. HEALTHY WEIGHT MEANS A HEALTHIER HEART Another organ vital to overall health and immune function is the heart. Unfortunately, obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular illnesses. Why? Being overweight stresses the heart, and this can lead to increased inflammation, elevated blood pressure, and changes in heart structure. What’s more, pro-inflammatory cytokines produced by adipose tissue can induce cardiac dysfunction (5). On the other hand, most illnesses can hurt the heart, and harmful microbes can promote the development of cardiovascular disorders and injury. An unhealthy or weak heart diminishes immune strength (6). Achieving a healthy weight supports immune function and heart health! 4. A HEALTHY WEIGHT PROMOTES A HEALTHIER LIVER The liver is extremely important to immune function and the detoxification of the human body. Unfortunately, an unhealthy weight can impair liver function. If you’re worried about your weight, liver, and immune system, there’s good news. A recent study found that a 5% decrease in BMI (body mass index) in overweight participants resulted in a decrease in liver fat and liver volume. They saw improvements in liver health with this weight decrease (7). As you achieve a healthy weight, you can support liver and immune function! 5. HEALTHY LUNGS Many people don’t think of the lungs when they think of immune health. However, they are vital. Healthy alveoli (tissues at the ends of bronchi in the lungs) are responsible for gaseous exchange in and out of the lungs and blood supply. They also work as an emergency exit for toxins. When your lungs are healthy, they support immune function by helping rid the body of toxic substances, microbes, and byproducts. However, being overweight can impair lung function. It causes substantial changes to the mechanics of the lungs and chest wall. This can result in asthma-like symptoms and inflammation in the lungs. Positive changes in BMI can help! In fact, several studies have found that improved weights result in increases in lung volumes and overall lung health (8). In addition to a healthy weight, it’s vitally important for lung health to abstain from smoking. HOW TO WORK TOWARDS A HEALTHY WEIGHT STARTING TODAY If you are interested in supporting your immune system and overall health by achieving a healthy weight, we have plans for you! In fact, you can start with Dr. Colbert’s 21 Day Detox and Fast. It’s free and will help you improve the health of every system mentioned here. Then, you can make real lifestyle changes and achieve a healthy weight with Keto Zone. Start by joining our FREE Keto Zone 21-Day-Challenge. Next, keep going with the Keto Zone Starter Kitincluding Dr. Colbert’s Keto Zone Diet Book. BOTTOM LINE You can support your immune system, but it takes working towards a healthy weight. Work towards your goals, and let us help with proven programs for health, immunity, and lifestyle change! You can start for free today! To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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