Weight Loss

A clinical trial found little difference in beneficial effects comparing a daily six-hour eating window with a four-hour window

Health & Wellbeing

Clinical trial compares two popular types of intermittent fasting diets

A new study from researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago is offering the first clinical trial data comparing the effects of two types of time-restricted feeding diets, a four-hour eating window (20:4) and a six-hour eating window (18:6).

A new study builds on a large volume of evidence suggesting diet and exercise is better than medication for newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients

Health & Wellbeing

Diet and exercise reverses diabetes in 61% of patients, new trial reports

New results from a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of diet and exercise as a front-line type 2 diabetes treatment reveal nearly two-thirds of patients achieved complete disease remission after just 12 months of lifestyle interventions.

"Thin" gene variants discovered are linked to a gene already linked to cancer

Science

"Thin gene" discovered and scientists already know how to target it

Great insights have been gathered recently into the genetic drivers underpinning obesity, but little has focused on genes related to thinness. A new study has identified one gene that seems to play a role in promoting thinness in humans and animals.

It may all be a matter of fooling what's known as the gravitostat

Health & Wellbeing

Study suggests that wearing weighted vests could reduce obesity

Losing unwanted pounds can be difficult, particularly if your body "thinks" you should weigh a certain minimum amount. According to a new study, however, it may be possible to trick your body's weight-maintenance system by wearing a heavy vest.

A systematic review of the evidence suggests any weight loss from herbal medicines is most likely clinically insignificant

Health & Wellbeing

Meta-study finds herbal weight loss remedies don't work

A meta-study has reviewed over 50 trials from the last 20 years testing herbal medicines for weight loss, revealing herbal supplements are largely ineffective in aiding weight loss, and one researcher on the project says they are a “waste of money.”

A new analysis of current intermittent fasting research suggests the dietary strategy could soon be incorporated as standard medical health and diet advice

Health & Wellbeing

Review of intermittent fasting research suggests broad health benefits

A new review article has examined an array of current research on intermittent fasting, from animal studies to human clinical trials, clarifying different regimes while outlining a variety of health benefits the eating strategies can confer in humans.

A trial found the extreme eating strategy of alternate-day fasting resulted in beneficial health outcomes after just four weeks

Health & Wellbeing

Alternate-day fasting trial finds health benefits

A new trial looks at the health and weight loss effects of only eating across a 12-hour period every two days.

In a new study jogging proved to be better at counteracting the effect of any obesity genes compared to exercises such as cycling or swimming

Health & Wellbeing

Scientists home in on six forms of exercise to best combat obesity genes

Scientists from Taiwan are suggesting not all exercise is equal when it comes to those with a genetic propensity for obesity trying to lose weight. The study concluded jogging was better for weight loss than either swimming or cycling in those subjects with a genetic predisposition for obesity.

What kept out ancient ancestors from starvation may be exactly the same evolutionary mechanism that makes it so hard to lose weight and keep it off

Health & Wellbeing

Ancient anti-starvation mechanism may be driving modern obesity epidemic

Does weight loss inherently result in the slowing down of a person’s metabolism? New research suggests we have evolved an anti-starvation mechanism that slows our metabolism and ironically is triggered by modern weight loss methods.

Despite no weight loss noted during the treatment period, a study into FMT to treat obesity did uncover certain microbiome changes occurring in the subjects receiving the fecal transplants

Medical

First human trial into fecal transplants for obesity delivers mixed results

Researchers are reporting mixed results from the first human trial investigating the effects of fecal transplantation in obese patients. Initial reports suggest the treatment failed to induce weight loss or changes in a key satiety hormone.

Prof. Louis Phee (left) and Prof. Lawrence Ho, with the prototype EndoPil

Medical

Inflatable weight-loss capsule is activated by a magnet

For several years now, obese people have been able to lose weight by swallowing capsules that inflate within the stomach, providing a sense of fullness. While such capsules have had to be inflated via a catheter fed down the throat, scientists have now created one that's activated magnetically.

Examining genetic data from half a million people revealed several specific genetic variants associated with lower weight and improved cardiovascular health that could aid the development of anti-obesity drugs

Medical

Anti-obesity genetic variant discovery paves way for new weight-loss drugs

A study has homed in on a number of specific variants in a single gene that can help people either lose or gain weight. The research revealed that some naturally-occurring variants can offer protection against obesity, and may lead to new weight-loss drugs that mimic this genetic variation.