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obesity

·February 20, 2024·4 min read

Weekend Workouts Just as Effective for Weight Loss as Daily Exercise

"Weekend warriors," or those who concentrate their physical activity into one or two days a week, can achieve weight loss comparable to that of individuals who exercise more frequently. This research, which utilizes objective measures of fat tissue mass, supports the idea that meeting the World Health Organization's physical activity recommendations, regardless of the frequency, is beneficial for reducing adiposity.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 29, 2024·5 min read

Gene Linked to Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Obesity

Researchers made a breakthrough in understanding obesity's impact on mitochondria, as detailed in a recent study. They discovered that a high-fat diet causes fat cell mitochondria in mice to fragment into smaller, less efficient units, a process controlled by a single gene.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 22, 2023·6 min read

Key to Longevity in Isoleucine Reduction

Researchers discovered that reducing the amino acid isoleucine in diets can significantly improve health outcomes in mice. The study reveals that a low-isoleucine diet led to longer lifespans, leaner bodies, and reduced cancer and prostate problems in mice, despite higher calorie consumption.

This shows a statue of a head and candy.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 7, 2023·4 min read

High-Sugar Diets May Fuel Brain Decline

Research suggests a high-sugar diet, commonly associated with obesity, leads to insulin resistance in the brain and may heighten the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The study reveals that this insulin resistance impairs glial cells' ability to clear neuronal debris, a crucial process for preventing neurodegeneration.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 8, 2023·6 min read

Big Tobacco’s Legacy: Pushing Hyperpalatable Foods in America

Food brands owned by tobacco companies have actively disseminated hyperpalatable foods, loaded with salts, fats, and sugars, to American consumers. Researchers say these foods provide an enhanced eating experience that's hard to resist.

Support structures and positive body image messages could be taught in PHSE to counteract depressive symptoms.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 5, 2023·5 min read

Adolescent BMI Link: Rising Weights, Rising Depression Risks

New research identifies a strong correlation between higher BMI in children aged 12-16 and increased risks of depression symptoms. The association weakens for the age bracket 16-21, suggesting an age-sensitive period during early adolescence.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 4, 2023·4 min read

Modern Diets Are Rewiring Our Appetite for Obesity

Humans strongly regulate their protein intake, leading to increased consumption if protein is diluted in their diets. Modern-day processed foods, rich in fats and carbohydrates, dilute protein, prompting people to consume more calories trying to meet their protein needs.

Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos

·September 3, 2023·2 min read

Top 5 Neuroscience Discoveries of the Week – September 3, 2023

This week in neuroscience, we've seen groundbreaking advancements ranging from a diet that can potentially extend lifespan without calorie restriction, to a new drug that could revolutionize obesity treatment.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 31, 2023·5 min read

Brain’s Weight Switch Found: Eat What You Want, Lose Weight With New Treatment

A revolutionary discovery reveals that astrocytes, star-shaped cells in the brain, play a key role in regulating fat metabolism and obesity. These cells act on a cluster of neurons, known as the GABRA5 cluster, effectively acting as a "switch" for weight regulation.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 19, 2023·8 min read

Epigenetic Marking of Satiety Gene Influences Obesity Risk in Women

Researchers identified an epigenetic factor that influences women's risk of obesity. The study found that the risk of obesity increases by 44% if there are a large number of methyl groups attached to the POMC gene, associated with the feeling of satiety.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 27, 2023·3 min read

Obesity Alters Brain’s Response to Food Cues

New research using molecular imaging with 18F-flubatine PET/MRI shows a distinct response to food cues in the brains of obese individuals compared to those of normal-weight individuals. The study sheds light on the biological mechanisms of obesity and opens the door to potential targeted treatments.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 12, 2023·4 min read

Obesity and the Brain: Stubborn Dopamine Responses Hamper Weight Loss

The brain responses to specific nutrients are significantly diminished in individuals with obesity, even after weight loss. The study found that those with obesity released less dopamine in areas of the brain crucial for food intake motivation, compared to their healthy-weight counterparts.