Globe Health Tours News

May 9: A research team led by Imperial College London has found the reason behind high obesity rate among Indian community. A gene sequence carried by them is considered as the reason for their increasing waist line, obesity and risk of type 2 diabetes.

The gene sequence is found to be carried by 50% of the population. The study explains the reason for high level of obesity in Indian Asians, who contribute 25% of the world population and they are expected to contribute 40% of the cardiovascular disease by 2020. On this backdrop this study gains much significance and is expected to pave way for new obesity treatments.

The gene sequence is capable of influencing the gene called MC4R that controls energy levels in the body and determines the food intake and its energy conversion; it has direct influence in determining the unusual form of childhood obesity. The findings of the research showed the presence of the sequence will lead to 2cm expansion in waist line, a 2kg gain in weight and give resistant to insulin that leads to type 2 diabetes.

While commenting on this the lead researcher of the study Professor Jaspal Kooner said: “The gene related health issues are little understood; only few researchers were conducted on this topic. By understanding influence of genes behind health issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems will help to know about the genetic inheritance of people and their susceptibility to diseases. Genetic inheritance of a person could not be changed but preventive measures like subjecting them to diet, exercise and finding out new drugs that could effectively cure the disease.”

The British Heart Foundation funded this study. Professor Peter Weissberg its medical director opined that it had long been found that Indian Asians are more vulnerable to cardiovascular problems than white Europeans. This research is important as it gives a clear picture about the health benefits by reducing weight. The cardiovascular and diabetic risk of people of Indian origin could be handled effectively by understanding their gene inheritance.

Apr 30: Obesity remains as a worrying factor for people from all over the world. The changing lifestyle of people and the junk food habits are attributed as the main reason for that. Obese people are trying various ways to shed their body weight. Researchers are trying hard to find an easy solution to resolve the health problem posed by obesity. In what could be considered as significant research Australian scientists have raised the hope of reducing weight without following any strict diet.

The researchers conducted their study in mice; they manipulated the fat cells in mice that helped to speedup the rate of metabolism in them. A particular enzyme was removed from the mice and it helped the mice to burn more calories and thereby allows it to gain less weight. This research will enhance the process of discovering fat burning drugs and there by helps to resist diabetes.

The findings of the research revealed that mice in which the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was removed were 20 per cent lighter than normal mice and they had 60 per cent less body fat. Faster metabolism will also help to fight diabetes because they process sugar more quickly. Further research in this topic will help to develop handy weight loss pills.

Meanwhile Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern opined that the study was interesting but it has to be proved effective in humans. The drugs are considered safe but they have side effects that even damages kidney. Apart from all these evidences healthy diet and adequate physical activity along with or without weight loss drugs is needed to bring in fruitful changes.”

Mar 29: Scientists then conducted behavioural test by comparing normal and sweet blind mice on the basis of their fondness for sugar solution and those containing the non-caloric sweetener sucralose. The analysis showed that the sweet blind mice preferred calorie rich sugar water than the non-sugar one.

After examining the brain of the sweet blind mice the researchers found that the reward circuitry was switched on by caloric intake that is independent of the animal’s ability to taste. Researchers also find that the level of the chemical dopamine increased in mice, which determines the central and the reward circuitry.

Adding to this the electrophysiological studies revealed that the neurons in the food-reward region known as the nucleus accumbens get activated by caloric intake which is independent of taste. The revelation of the research about the brain’s reward system being switched on by the ‘sixth sense’ mechanism is believed to have far reaching implications for understanding the reason of obesity.

Mar 27: Obesity is related to many health related problems including Alzheimer’s as according to the study conducted by US researchers. The research shed light on the fact that not only obese persons but also persons who have normal weight who have big waist lines are prone to get affected by Alzheimer’s. The study includes 6583 people and identified that obesity and bulging stomach is the risky combination. The findings of the research were published in the Neurology journal.

According to Dr Rachel Whitmer, lead of the research team of Kaiser Permenente Research, waistline is the ideal indication of the health related problems that arise in future. The waistline one has in their midlife plays a key role in dementia risk. If a person has big waistline in his or her 40s the threat of them being affected by dementia in old age will increase triple.

Even though the research fails to answer the question of how obesity affects the ageing brain many experts believe that the obesity related problems like blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol might be the reason behind this. The research also suggests that measuring body mass index is the ideal way to diagnose the health related risk. After analysing 6583 people the researchers found that 20 per cent of the people with big waistline had a 270 per cent more risk of getting affected by dementia than those with small waist.

While commenting on this Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum said: “Waistline is better than body mass index in predicting the risk of diseases in future. Several physicians also consider this as the reliable indicator. By calculating the BMI at home one can identify something is wrong and this could be confirmed by the doctors by calculating the waistline.”

Meanwhile Professor Clive Ballard of the Alzheimer’s society opined that: “This is an important research but the results are not that much astonishing as the waist size is linked to major risk factors of dementia like blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.”

Further studies are needed to confirm the outcome of the research and to reveal how Alzheimer’s develops.

Mar 26: A latest research has revealed the secrets of maintaining the health of older women. The findings of the research point out that older woman should include plenty of protein in their daily diet as their body finds difficult to replace the muscle loss as they grow age. The difference in the body metabolism of men and women is considered as the main reason for this. The research was conducted by the researchers of Nottingham and Washington. In total 29 men and women who are aged between 65 and 80 are considered for the study.

Women aged above 65 include protein rich diets that include meat and eggs and they also did resistance exercise. The researchers noticed that even after doing resistance exercise women did not put up muscles as their male counterparts did. It was found that the male body is able to store protein in the muscle than women. The scientists after study found that the female body lacks certain ability that male body have. This is due to the hormonal imbalance that happens after the menopause stage.

While commenting on the outcome of the research Michael Rennie, professor of clinical physiology at the University of Nottingham said: “Older people should include food that has high proportion of protein in it. Oestrogen that plays a key role in maintaining body mass and preserve muscle decline during this period is the main reason behind this. The finding of the research has a far reaching impact in maintaining health of people during their old age and there by reduce of the demands of the National Health Service.”

It was earlier found that from 50 years onwards people will start losing 0.4 per cent of muscle mass every year. Women are more vulnerable to the reduction in the muscle even in the early middle-age. Their body will have more fat and less muscle than men. This is the first research of its kind to focus on the mechanistic difference between men and women in muscle loss.

Mar 8: How much importance do you give to your first meal of the day! How active are you after skipping the breakfast! It is time for a second thought regarding our approach to breakfast. According to a latest research people who have the habit of taking breakfast regularly will be more active than those who neglect it.

The research included 2,200 adolescents as its sample and it analysed the breakfast frequency and five year body weight changes in them. The findings of the study indicated that those who had their breakfast regularly are more active than who neglected it. At the end of five years the researchers found that regular breakfast eaters gained less body weight and had low body mass index as compared to the skippers.

While commenting on this the co-author of the University of Minnesota project EAT, Mark Pereira said: “The research finding points on to the fact that despite physical activity and other dietary factors breakfast has an influential role to play in overall diet and obesity risk. More studies have to focus on this topic to add more clarity to this.

“The findings of the research are an eye-opener as many of the adolescents are of the belief that skipping breakfast will help them to stay out of obesity,” said Dianne Neumark-Aztainer of project EAT.

Obesity rates are on rapid increase over the past 20 years, especially in children and the rate tripled in adolescents. Among the skippers 12 per cent are children and 24 per cent are adolescents. The percentage is alarmingly high among the adults.

Feb 27: A new study revealed that the British people are underestimating their waist size. They consider themselves slimmer than what they really are. Because of their inability to identify their oversized waist line they are deny the opportunity to understand the symptoms of type 2diabetes. According to the study conducted by the University of Leicester the men under-estimates their waist size by a margin of 3.1 inches (7.9cm) and women by an average of 2.2 inches (5.5cm).

It is estimated that in the UK alone there are 750,000 people who are affected by type 2 diabetes but they are not aware of it. Diabetes UK recommends the risk level of waist lines that put people at risk they are: Women: 31.5 inches (80 cm), White men and black men: 37 inches (94cm) and South Asian men: 35 inches (90cm).

Type 2 diabetes will lead to distressing problems such as blindness, heart ailments, stoke, amputation and kidney disease. Eight out of ten people diagnosed for Type 2 diabetes were identified as being overweight. The study includes 502 people to measure their waist size. People from European background are more affected and they have 2.9inches (7.4cm) out as against their South Asian counterparts who have an average of 1.6 inches (4.1cm).

While commenting on this the lead researcher Professor Kamlesh Khunti opined that: “People with type 2 diabetes could remain undiagnosed for up to 12 years. The government is planning to take initiative to float a screening programme to identify the early signs of heart ailments, kidney related problems, amputation and diabetes. But self assessment is the effective way to tackle the issue. The research is an eye opener and it stresses the need for creating awareness in people about the risk of developing type 2diabetes by measuring their waist circumference.”

Underestimating the waist line is like turning a blind eye towards the risk of diabetes. The clear symptom of diabetes will take years to emerge; waistline is the clear indication of the type 2 diabetes.

Professor Philip James who is chairman of the International Obesity Task Force labelled our built enviroment as “obesogenic” saying it was designed to encourage car use and discourage walking and other physical forms of transport. As the public health authrorities struggle to combat the “obesity epidemic” (for example 30% of UK children are defined as obese) they are looking beyond a purely “carbohydrate” view which simply views obesity as being what you eat to a more holistic approach that recognises that physical activity has to be built into life rather than tacked on like a gym. Whilst Globe Health Tours helps patients seeking Obesity surgery such as lap band or gastric bypass, we are also exploring other approaches to weight loss such as ayurveda and yoga which seek to retrain people away from habits that sedentary and aphysical and move them away from eating habits that may reflect psychopathologies much more than they represent genuine hunger.

What is clear is that over the next 10 years we are going to have to investigate a portfolio of approaches to our modern life of which obesity is a symptom and not the cause. We are going to have to establish the connection between diet and mental health and finally we are going to have to retrain people away from our seated culture - sitting in front of TV, computers, in cars and in bars!

Feb 15: According to the market analysts, Datamonitor, people in the UK are more inclined towards cosmetic surgery and they spend more than any other European countries in the world. In the year 2006, UK consumers paid about £500m for their cosmetic surgery as against their more beauty conscious counterparts like Italy and France.

But, the Americans head the list with the spending rate of £5.7bn, for their cosmetic surgery during the corresponding year. The study also hinted on to the fact that by the year 2011 the cosmetic spending rate of UK is expected to reach £1.5bn, the rising rate is faster than the US.

While commenting on this the spokesman of Datamonitor said: “The increasing rates of cosmetic surgeries are a clear indication of more encouragement shown by people towards beauty treatments to add a new glow to enhance their personal appearance. It is expected that the personal care products will gain high recognition in the years to come.”

A study conducted among 5000 people in Europe and the US identified that 20-30% of the women participated in the survey had supported cosmetic surgery. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery revealed that record numbers of women were having facelifts. Number of cosmetic surgery has undergone a 12% rise with 32,453 surgical treatments provided as against 28,921 in the year 2006. About 91% of them were women, but tummy tucks and breast reduction surgeries on men are also on increasing mode.

The details of the revenue spent by various Europeans are as follows.
UK - £497m, Italy - £160m, France - £141m, Germany - £128m, Spain - £70m, Netherlands - £28m and Sweden - £12m

Feb 9: Feb 9: A new study has found that the determining factor to measure body weight is to measure the body fat rather than the body mass index. This finding will help to identify people who are in need of lifestyle interventions to shed weight. They also find that the excess fat is the reason behind most of the health related ailments including heart diseases and diabetes.

In total 23 men and 40 women who are aged between 20 and 65 are considered as the sample for the study. They are subjected to body composition analysis in the Human Nutrition and Eating Disorders Research Centre at the Pavia University, Italy. The subjects were healthy and practising inactive lifestyle and are having less nutritious diet.

The Body Mass Index (BMI) and the body fat measurement of all the persons were measured. Other measurements similar to BMI were also used for the study. Then measurements were compared and based on that calculation the samples were asked to lose weight. Based on the findings the researchers arrived at the conclusion.

Dr. Ottavia Colombo who heads the research team said: “Using BMI alone will not help to identify the fat mass and fat-free mass, it also fail to determine the fat mass distribution. Using the measurement based on obesity apart from body weight would lead to much greater portion of the study who received recommendation for weight loss.”

The study concentrates on the changes in the body fat among the major portion of the people who are recommended for lifestyles changes and sheds light on the kind of body fat index that is clinically relevant.