Content about Body shape

April 10, 2013
Report: Don't entrust healthcare savings to patients older than 40

Those older than 40 years may be making a negative impact on the future of the U.S. economy with the way they eat, live and keep track of their health, according to a white paper released Wednesday by the MetLife Mature Market Institute and co-authored by the Center for Healthy Aging.

NEW YORK — Those older than 40 years may be making a negative impact on the future of the U.S. economy with the way they eat, live and keep track of their health, according to a white paper released Wednesday by the MetLife Mature Market Institute and co-authored by the Center for Healthy Aging. 

March 4, 2013
True Drinks launches kids' Aquaball healthy beverages

True Drinks, a healthy beverage provider, has launched a new marketing campaign behind its Aquaball healthy kids' drinks in support of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" healthy food and exercise campaign to battle childhood obesity.

IRVINE, Calif. — True Drinks, Inc., a healthy beverage provider, has launched a new marketing campaign behind its healthy kids' drinks in support of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" healthy food and exercise campaign to battle childhood obesity.

February 15, 2013
Pharmacy ideal for proactive health interventions

A smoking cessation program developed by the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy will be deployed through Safeway pharmacies, the university announced. As part of the program, Safeway pharmacists will receive special training in counseling techniques.

It's one of the first partnerships of its kind and another example of how community pharmacy will be stepping into a more preventive healthcare role. You can expect to see more types of these smoking cessation programs along with other proactive health interventions tackling weight loss and encouraging healthier behaviors.

A smoking cessation program developed by the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy will be deployed through Safeway pharmacies, the university announced. As part of the program, Safeway pharmacists will receive special training in counseling techniques. 

February 6, 2013
New study shows children who eat cereal for breakfast have lower body weight, BMI

According to new research published in peer-reviewed healthcare journal Infant, Child, & Adolescent Nutrition, children who start their day with a cereal breakfast - even if that cereal is presweetened - tend to have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) and less chance of being overweight or obese than children who eat other breakfasts or skip the meal entirely.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Parents searching for a healthy breakfast for their children should take another look at the cereal aisle.

According to new research published in peer-reviewed healthcare journal Infant, Child, & Adolescent Nutrition (ICAN), children who start their day with a cereal breakfast - even if that cereal is presweetened - tend to have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) and less chance of being overweight or obese than children who eat other breakfasts or skip the meal entirely.

January 14, 2013
BMI an appropriate gauge of health risks, study finds

A new study indicates that body mass index is a reliable indicator of obesity-related health risks.

NEW YORK — A new study indicates body mass index is a reliable indicator of obesity-related health risks.

The study, published Saturday in the journal Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, compared the merits of BMI to other measures of body size as a predictor of obesity-related cardiovascular health risks. The study's authors noted that some have questioned the validity of BMI.

November 5, 2012
Dieters still hungry for weight-loss products

The opportunity for weight loss certainly hasn’t gone away — sales of diet-aid liquids were up 12.8% to $1.2 billion for the 52 weeks ended Sept. 9 across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SymphonyIRI.

The opportunity for weight loss certainly hasn’t gone away — sales of diet-aid liquids were up 12.8% to $1.2 billion for the 52 weeks ended Sept. 9 across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SymphonyIRI. And due to the temporary absence of GlaxoSmithKline’s Alli — unavailable because of a raw-ingredient sourcing issue — sales of diet-aid tablets are down with a 7% decline to a dollar base of 
$205.4 million. 
Alli had been removed from the market in March due to the third-party supply issue and returned in late June. 


September 24, 2012
Safeway Foundation gives $2 million to community health programs, hospitals

The Safeway Foundation on Monday announced it is giving $2 million to community health programs and hospitals to launch grassroots projects for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — The Safeway Foundation on Monday announced it is giving $2 million to community health programs and hospitals to launch grassroots projects for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.

The "Innovative Approaches to Preventing Childhood Obesity" grants are a part of an overall outreach and commitment to community health.

August 22, 2012
Reports: Truckers more concerned with health

A growing number of truckers are paying closer attention to their health, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — A growing number of truckers are paying closer attention to their health, according to published reports.

USA Today reported that some trucking companies are adopting wellness program for drivers, while some truck stops are offering healthy food items and exercise rooms. Meanwhile, some truckers take bicycles with them or make their own food and take it along.

August 16, 2012
Study: 'Yo-yo dieting' represents no adverse effect to metabolism or ability to lose weight long-term

"Yo-yo dieting" — the repetitive loss and regain of body weight — does not negatively affect metabolism or the ability to lose weight long term, researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center reported in a new study published in the journal Metabolism.

SEATTLE — "Yo-yo dieting" — the repetitive loss and regain of body weight — does not negatively affect metabolism or the ability to lose weight long term, researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center reported in a new study published in the journal Metabolism.

July 18, 2012
FDA approves weight-loss drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new weight-loss drug made by Vivus, the agency said.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new weight-loss drug made by Vivus, the agency said.

The FDA announced the approval of Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate) extended-release, designed for use by overweight and obese adults alongside a reduced-calorie diet and exercise for chronic weight management. The drug's original brand name was Qnexa.

June 27, 2012
FDA approves new obesity drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for obesity in adults, the agency said Wednesday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for obesity in adults, the agency said Wednesday.

The FDA announced the approval of Arena Pharmaceuticals' Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride), designed for use alongside reduced-calorie diets and exercise, for chronic weight management. Eisai will distribute the drug.

June 20, 2012
Discount supermarkets linked to higher obesity rates

Frequenting certain retail stores may affect customers' waistlines, according to a new study.

NEW YORK — Frequenting certain retail stores may affect customers' waistlines, according to a new study.

May 22, 2012
Prevalence of prediabetes, diabetes among adolescents on the rise

Being overweight and obesity during adolescence are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease risk factors, especially prediabetes and diabetes, according to researchers.

NEW YORK — Being overweight and obesity during adolescence are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease risk factors, especially prediabetes and diabetes, according to researchers.

May 17, 2012
CDC: Chronic disease states less prevalent as education, household income rise

People with higher levels of education and higher income have lower rates of many chronic diseases compared with those with less education and lower income levels, according to "Health, United States, 2011" — the government’s annual comprehensive report on Americans’ health released Wednesday.

ATLANTA — People with higher levels of education and higher income have lower rates of many chronic diseases compared with those with less education and lower income levels, according to "Health, United States, 2011" — the government’s annual comprehensive report on Americans’ health released Wednesday.

May 7, 2012
Study: 2-in-5 Americans will be obese by 2030

Researchers from the Duke University Medical Center on Monday released a public health study finding that even maintaining the current prevalence of obesity in the United States would realize savings of almost $550 billion over the next two decades.

WASHINGTON — Researchers from the Duke University Medical Center on Monday released a public health study finding that even maintaining the current prevalence of obesity in the United States would realize savings of almost $550 billion over the next two decades.

April 13, 2012
Fighting obesity through education

Obesity has risen dramatically across the United States in the last 30 years, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of the U.S. population is obese, including 17% of children and adolescents.


Obesity has risen dramatically across the United States in the last 30 years, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of the U.S. population is obese, including 17% of children and adolescents.


But one supermarket-pharmacy chain is doing its part to address the problem, especially among the young. Since early last year, Giant-Carlisle has been sponsoring a series of childhood obesity forums around the markets it serves in Pennsylvania and Virginia to discuss the problem and how to combat it.


April 9, 2012
Cornell study weighs the cost of obesity

Obesity now accounts for almost 21% of U.S. healthcare costs — more than twice the previous estimates — according to a new Cornell University study released Monday.

ITHACA, N.Y. — Obesity now accounts for almost 21% of U.S. healthcare costs — more than twice the previous estimates — according to a new Cornell University study released Monday.

The research, one of the first to show a causal effect of obesity on medical care costs, utilized new methods and makes a stronger case for government intervention to prevent obesity, the authors wrote in the January issue of the Journal of Health Economics.

April 4, 2012
Study: Obesity trumps smoking when it comes to impact on long-term healthcare costs

Obesity adds more to healthcare costs than smoking does, according to a study published in the March Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

PHILADELPHIA — Obesity adds more to healthcare costs than smoking does, according to a study published in the March Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

March 30, 2012
Report: Cancer death rates continue to decline

Mortality rates from all cancers combined continued to drop between 2004 and 2008 among men, women and children, according to the annual "Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2008."

ATLANTA — Mortality rates from all cancers combined continued to drop between 2004 and 2008 among men, women and children, according to the annual "Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2008."

February 28, 2012
Study: More people show interest in weight loss

The number of working people concerned about their weight is on the rise, according to a new study.

CHICAGO — The number of working people concerned about their weight is on the rise, according to a new study.

Results of a poll released Tuesday by ComPsych, a company that calls itself the world's largest provider of employee assistance programs, indicated that 43% of employees cited weight loss as their primary health concern, a number that was 10% higher than in 2011.

February 23, 2012
FDA committee recommends approval for obesity drug

A panel of experts at the Food and Drug Administration has recommended approval for an obesity drug that so far had not met much success at the agency.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — A panel of experts at the Food and Drug Administration has recommended approval for an obesity drug that so far had not met much success at the agency.

Vivus announced Wednesday that the FDA Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 20-2 in favor of approving Qnexa (phentermine and topiramate) for obesity in adults. The FDA is not bound by advisory committee votes when it decides whether or not to approve a drug, but usually follows them.

January 4, 2012
Rite Aid offers weight-loss tips

Americans make hundreds of millions of New Year's resolutions every year, following some to the letter and ignoring others. Health-related resolutions are among the most common, giving pharmacy retailers a way to pitch in and help.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Americans make hundreds of millions of New Year's resolutions every year, following some to the letter and ignoring others. Health-related resolutions are among the most common, giving pharmacy retailers a way to pitch in and help.

December 6, 2011
Healthcare scorecard: The bad offsets the good

United Health Foundation’s "2011 America’s Heath Rankings," released Tuesday, found that increases in obesity, diabetes and children in poverty are offsetting improvements in smoking cessation, preventable hospitalizations and cardiovascular deaths.

MINNETONKA, Minn. — United Health Foundation’s "2011 America’s Heath Rankings," released Tuesday, found that increases in obesity, diabetes and children in poverty are offsetting improvements in smoking cessation, preventable hospitalizations and cardiovascular deaths. According to the report, the country’s overall health did not improve between 2010 and 2011 — a drop from the 0.5% average annual rate of improvement between 2000 and 2010, and the 1.6% average annual rate of improvement seen in the 1990s.

October 17, 2011
Vivus resubmits application for Qnexa

Vivus has reapplied to the Food and Drug Administration for approval of a drug to treat obesity, the company said Monday.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Vivus has reapplied to the Food and Drug Administration for approval of a drug to treat obesity, the company said Monday.

Vivus said it sent in its regulatory approval application for Qnexa (phentermine and topiramate), a drug designed to treat obese and overweight patients by inducing and maintaining weight loss.

The company originally sought approval for the drug in October 2010, though the FDA declined to approve it.

September 30, 2011
CDC dispenses $25 million to battle childhood obesity

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday launched a new effort to address childhood obesity using successful elements of both primary care and public health. As much as $25 million in funding made available through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will support a four-year Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project.

ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday launched a new effort to address childhood obesity using successful elements of both primary care and public health. As much as $25 million in funding made available through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will support a four-year Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project. The project will build on existing community efforts and will work to identify effective healthcare and community strategies to support children’s healthy eating and active living, and help combat childhood obesity.