Weight Control at WeightControl.com

ObesityWeek: Racial Differences in Perceived Discrimination in People with Obesity

WeightControl.com Interview with:
Marianne Olaniran, DrPH(c), MS, MPH
Doctoral student
The University of Texas Health Science Center
at Houston School of Public Health

Jaime Almandoz, MD, MBA, FTOS (he/him)
Medical Director, Weight Wellness Program
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Division of Endocrinology
Internal Medicine Subspecialties Clinic
UTSouthwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX

WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?

Ms. Olaniran: The study focused on experiences of discrimination among people with obesity (PWO), based on their characteristics including body size, race/ethnicity, and sex. Discrimination against individuals and groups remains prevalent in the United States. Studies show that perceived discrimination negatively impacts physical and mental health, but how it impacts diverse PWO is not well understood. This study assessed race/ethnic group and sex differences in perceptions of discrimination among people with obesity .

Experimental Antibiotic May Boost Metabolism and Mitigate Obesity

No clinical trial has been conducted to prove this concept in humans just yet, current fluoroquinolones are not to be used for weight control at this point.

WeightControl.com Interview with:
Dr. Marcelo Alves da Silva Mori PhD
Professor,University of Campinas

WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: microRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in gene expression regulation. Aging and obesity leads to dysfunction of microRNA processing in adipose tissue, which in turn impairs the thermogenic capacity of brown fat and results in insulin resistance. Enoxacin is a small molecule fluoroquinolone that promotes microRNA biogenesis.

In our most recent paper, we used enoxacin as proof of principle to demonstrate in mice and human cells that drugs targeting the microRNA processing pathway can be used to enhance oxidative metabolism and promote thermogenesis, thus mitigating obesity.

Weight Control Especially Important For Breast Cancer Patients Under 60

A study from the University of Texas San Antonio and published in the journal Cancer suggests that

“… women younger than age 60 diagnosed with breast cancer who have a genetic risk factor for obesity have a higher risk for gaining weight and therefore should begin a weight-loss program to increase their chance for survival.”

Sadim, M., Xu, Y., Selig, K., Paulus, J., Uthe, R., Agarwl, S., Dubin, I., Oikonomopoulou, P., Zaichenko, L., McCandlish, S. A., Van Horn, L., Mantzoros, C., Ankerst, D. P. and Kaklamani, V. G. (2017), A prospective evaluation of clinical and genetic predictors of weight changes in breast cancer survivors. Cancer, 123: 2413–2421. doi:10.1002/cncr.30628

NYT Magazine Feature: “Losing It in the Anti-Dieting Age”

In depth story of how the focus of losing weight has changed from looking better to feeling better and how Oprah bought a 10 percent stake in Weight Watchers for $43 million.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/magazine/weight-watchers-oprah-losing-it-in-the-anti-dieting-age.html?emc=edit_ma_20170804&nl=magazine&nlid=72309854&te=1

Can Acupuncture Help Obesity?

This paper reports on the review of 11 studies which used some form of acupuncture to treat obesity.

The authors conclude : “Acupuncture for simple obesity appeared to be an effective treatment, but more studies on the safety of acupuncture used to treat simple obesity are required.”

Postgrad Med J. 2017 Jul 8. pii: postgradmedj-2017-134969. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2017-134969. [Epub ahead of print]

Acupuncture for the treatment of obesity in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Zhang RQ^1,², Tan J³, Li FY⁴, Ma YH³, Han LX², Yang XL².

NEJM: Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity in 195 Countries over 25 Years

This study from 195 countries was supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and suggests:

“In conclusion, our study provides a comprehensive assessment of the trends in high BMI and the associated disease burden. Our results show that both the prevalence and disease burden of high BMI are increasing globally. These findings highlight the need for implementation of multicomponent interventions to reduce the prevalence and disease burden of high BMI.”

Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity in 195 Countries over 25 Years

The GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators
N Engl J Med 2017; 377:13-27
July 6, 2017 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1614362