This Just In: As Obesity Goes Up, So Do Your Health Risks

Being obese—having a body mass index (BMI) over 30 and a waist-to-hip ratio over .85—can increase your risk for type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is caused by plaque buildup in artery walls, which narrows blood vessels and prevents enough oxygen from reaching the heart, which could result in heart failure. This finding was true even for obese people who ate healthfully and felt well, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open, Nov. 16, 2018. Researchers randomly evaluated data on 881,692 people and found that for every 1-point increase in BMI over the midpoint, risk of CAD went up 20 percent, while risk of type 2 diabetes went up 67 percent.

Eat Fruits, Vegetables Now for Cognitive Benefits Later

If you eat fruits and vegetables in your 40s and 50s, the cognitive (brain) benefits will continue to pay off well into your older years, according to research published in Neurology, Nov. 21, 2018. Researchers reviewed food intake questionnaires (from 1986, with follow-ups every four years until 2002) of nearly 28,000 men about diet, lifestyle, and health. Participants were then evaluated twice (2008 and 2012) about whether they had more or less difficulty than when they filled out the previous questionnaire in remembering, comprehending, or participating in specific tasks. Each question was graded good, moderate, or poor. Those who ate the highest concentrations of fruits and vegetables had the best cognition later in life.

Is Losing a Tooth a Sign of Hypertension?

Postmenopausal women who have lost a tooth are 20 percent more likely to suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension), a warning sign of heart disease, according to American Journal of Hypertension, Dec. 4, 2018. A dental review of nearly 37,000 postmenopausal women was conducted from 1998-2003. Their health was tracked until 2015. Results showed that the likelihood of hypertension was stronger among women less than 60 years old than among women 60 or older. While they could not find a causal link, researchers surmised that as we lose teeth, we tend to eat softer and more processed (e.g., unhealthier) foods, which could result in increased sodium intake, leading to hypertension.

Airline Food Is Healthier This Year Than Last Year

The average number of calories for a typical airline meal has dropped from 405 in 2017 to 373 in 2018, a 7.9 percent decrease, according to the latest 2018-19 Airline Food Study published by Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center through its website dietdetective.com Nov. 20, 2018. The study, which evaluates meals served by 11 airlines, assigns a health score (0 to 5 stars, with 0 being the lowest and 5 being the highest). The grade is based on 11 points of criteria, including health and calorie levels, nutrition information transparency, improvement and maintenance of healthy offerings, menu innovation, and food and water safety. The evaluators also consider cost and comments. To see how individual airlines fared, go to http://www.dietdetective.com/airline-food-investigation-2018-19/.

Alcohol Abstention Helps with Weight Loss Among People with Type 2 Diabetes

According to a study published in Obesity, Nov. 13, 2018, people with type 2 diabetes who refrained from drinking alcohol during the four-year study period had more success with weight loss than those who drank. Of 4,901 participants in this randomized trial, the test group received intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI)—individual and group sessions focused on improving diet and physical activity—while the control group received diabetes support and education. Results showed that those in the ILI group who refrained from drinking recorded a 1.6 percent difference in weight loss than those in the group who drank, and a 5.4 percent weight loss difference compared with heavy drinkers in the same group, who lost 2.4 percent. People in the control group, who received only diabetes support and education, maintained their weight throughout the four-year study period.

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