Newsbriefs: Prediabetes Risk; Bladder Cancer; Weight Cycling
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Raise Prediabetes Risk
Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages significantly raises your risk for prediabetes (a condition that can lead to full-blown diabetes), according to a recent 14-year study (Journal of Nutrition, Nov. 9, 2016). Study participants who drank the highest amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages (an average of six 12-fluid-ounce servings per week) had a 46 percent greater risk for developing prediabetes compared with low- or non-consumers. The highest consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages also had higher insulin resistance scores (insulin resistance is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes) after follow-up at seven years. These data support recommendations to limit sugar-sweetened beverage intake, which can be achieved by replacing sugary beverages with healthier alternatives, such as unsweetened coffee or tea.
Low Vitamin D Levels Implicated in Bladder Cancer
Low vitamin D levels may increase the risk for bladder cancer, according to a study presented at the Society for Endocrinology annual conference in November 2016. Researchers analyzed seven studies, five of which found that the risk of bladder cancer goes up when vitamin D levels are low. Higher vitamin D levels also correlated with better survival in people with bladder cancer. The data add to a body of evidence suggesting that low vitamin D levels are harmful to our health. Vitamin D is synthesized by the body with exposure to sunlight; food sources include fatty fish, fish oil, dairy products, mushrooms, liver, and egg yolks. If you live in a region that doesn’t see much sunshine, discuss with your doctor whether you should take a vitamin D supplement.
“Yo-Yo Dieting” May Be Bad for Your Heart
Aside from being frustrating, diets that lead to weight loss and rebounding weight gain may also be putting your heart at risk. A study presented at the American Heart Association’s 2016 Scientific Sessions found that women who aren’t overweight but whose weight fluctuates by at least 10 pounds during a decade may have a higher risk for heart disease. Weight cycling, or “yo-yo dieting,” often involves unhealthy or unbalanced diets that lead to temporary weight loss. But because these eating strategies can’t be maintained, unhealthy weight gain often follows. In the study, researchers found that women of normal weight whose weight fluctuated significantly had three-and-a-half times the risk of cardiac death, compared with women whose weight remained stable during the study period. Weight cycling was also associated with a 66 percent increased risk for coronary heart disease. If you’re trying to lose weight, working with a dietitian can help you establish eating and exercise behaviors that will let you take some weight off and keep it off safely.
The post Newsbriefs: Prediabetes Risk; Bladder Cancer; Weight Cycling appeared first on University Health News.
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