A little about: Weekly Gravy

All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Millions More Americans Might Be Obese Under New Definition, Experts Say

By | | Add a Comment

A new definition of obesity could dramatically increase the number of Americans considered obese. Under the new definition, the prevalence of obesity rose from around 40% to nearly 70% among more than 300,000 people participating in a long-term health study, researchers reported Oct. 15 in JAMA Network Open. The new definition takes into account additional measures of excess body fat rather than just relying on body mass index (BMI). BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight. “We already thought we had an obesity epidemic, but this is astounding,” said co-lead researcher Dr. Lindsay Fourman, an endocrinologist at Mass General Brigham in Boston. “With potentially 70% of the adult population now considered to have excess fat, we need to better understand what treatment approaches to prioritize,” she said in a news release. Evidence shows that the new definition is on the money, when it comes to health problems resulting from obesity, researchers said. The people newly classified as obese had a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease and premature death than people without obesity. “Identifying excess body fat is very important, as we’re finding that even people with a normal BMI but with abdominal fat accumulation are at increased health risk,” Fourman said. “Body composition matters – it’s not just pounds on a scale.” The new definition could increase the number…  read on >  read on >

Millions More Americans Might Be Obese Under New Definition, Experts Say

By | | Add a Comment

A new definition of obesity could dramatically increase the number of Americans considered obese. Under the new definition, the prevalence of obesity rose from around 40% to nearly 70% among more than 300,000 people participating in a long-term health study, researchers reported Oct. 15 in JAMA Network Open. The new definition takes into account additional measures of excess body fat rather than just relying on body mass index (BMI). BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight. “We already thought we had an obesity epidemic, but this is astounding,” said co-lead researcher Dr. Lindsay Fourman, an endocrinologist at Mass General Brigham in Boston. “With potentially 70% of the adult population now considered to have excess fat, we need to better understand what treatment approaches to prioritize,” she said in a news release. Evidence shows that the new definition is on the money, when it comes to health problems resulting from obesity, researchers said. The people newly classified as obese had a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease and premature death than people without obesity. “Identifying excess body fat is very important, as we’re finding that even people with a normal BMI but with abdominal fat accumulation are at increased health risk,” Fourman said. “Body composition matters – it’s not just pounds on a scale.” The new definition could increase the number…  read on >  read on >

California to Require Food Allergen Labels on Menus by 2026

By | | Add a Comment

Starting in 2026, restaurant chains in California will be required to list major food allergens on their menus in a first-of-its-kind law. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill Monday, making California the first state to require allergen labeling for restaurants with 20 or more locations. Under the new law, menus must identify items containing milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy or sesame — the most common allergens — when restaurants know or “reasonably should know” those ingredients are present. The bill was introduced by state Sen. Caroline Menjivar, who lives with severe food allergies herself. She said the law will make dining safer for millions of Californians, especially children. “Soon, the millions of Californians with food allergies, many of whom are young children, will be able to fully enjoy dining out without fear or apprehension at these qualifying restaurants,” Menjivar said. “In turn, these businesses will be able to offer allergen families a unique additional assurance that will drive customers to their establishments.” Advocates say the new law will help people with allergies avoid life-threatening reactions. The nonprofit Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) said the legislation was an important step forward. The California Restaurant Association said it appreciates that the rule exempts small, independent eateries but warned it could still cause issues for many businesses. The group has also raised concerns…  read on >  read on >

ADHD ‘Wandering Minds’ Linked To Increased Creativity

By | | Add a Comment

ADHD appears to enhance creativity, a benefit that comes if a wandering mind is nudged in the right direction, a pair of new studies have concluded. Folks with more symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder score higher on creative tests, researchers reported Saturday at a meeting of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) in Amsterdam. This is likely due to their tendency to let their minds wander — shifting attention away from whatever task is at hand toward internally generated thoughts, researchers said. “We found that people with more ADHD traits such as lack of attention, hyperactivity or impulsivity, score higher on creative achievements in both studies,” said lead researcher Han Fang, a doctoral student with Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands. “Additionally, we found that mind wandering, particularly deliberate mind wandering, where people allow their ‘thoughts to wander on purpose,’ was associated with greater creativity in people with ADHD,” Fang said in a news release. “This suggests that mind wandering may be an underlying factor connecting ADHD and creativity.” The study shows one of the potentially positive benefits of what is normally considered a disruptive behavioral disorder, experts said. “Mind wandering is one of the critical resources on which the remarkable creativity of high-functioning ADHD individuals is based,” said Dr. K.P. Lesch, a professor of molecular psychiatry at the University of Wurzburg in…  read on >  read on >

ADHD ‘Wandering Minds’ Linked To Increased Creativity

By | | Add a Comment

ADHD appears to enhance creativity, a benefit that comes if a wandering mind is nudged in the right direction, a pair of new studies have concluded. Folks with more symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder score higher on creative tests, researchers reported Saturday at a meeting of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) in Amsterdam. This is likely due to their tendency to let their minds wander — shifting attention away from whatever task is at hand toward internally generated thoughts, researchers said. “We found that people with more ADHD traits such as lack of attention, hyperactivity or impulsivity, score higher on creative achievements in both studies,” said lead researcher Han Fang, a doctoral student with Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands. “Additionally, we found that mind wandering, particularly deliberate mind wandering, where people allow their ‘thoughts to wander on purpose,’ was associated with greater creativity in people with ADHD,” Fang said in a news release. “This suggests that mind wandering may be an underlying factor connecting ADHD and creativity.” The study shows one of the potentially positive benefits of what is normally considered a disruptive behavioral disorder, experts said. “Mind wandering is one of the critical resources on which the remarkable creativity of high-functioning ADHD individuals is based,” said Dr. K.P. Lesch, a professor of molecular psychiatry at the University of Wurzburg in…  read on >  read on >

Ketogenic Diet May Protect Against Prenatal Stress, Study Finds

By | | Add a Comment

A high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic “keto” diet may help protect young animals from the lasting effects of stress experienced before birth, new research suggests. The findings, presented Sunday at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) conference in Amsterdam, add to growing evidence that diet could play a powerful role in shaping brain health.  Studies in animals often yield different results in people, however. Researchers at the University of Milan found that when young rats were fed a ketogenic diet soon after weaning, they were less likely to show behavioral problems linked to prenatal stress such as social and mood disorders. In the study, pregnant rats were exposed to stress during the final week before giving birth. Their offspring were divided into two groups: One fed a normal diet and the other fed a ketogenic diet. By day 42, half of the rats born to stressed mothers and fed a regular diet had social and emotional problems. In comparison, only 22% of male rats and 12% of female rats fed a ketogenic diet developed these problems. “The diet seems to have acted like a shield for their developing brains, so preventing social and motivational problems from ever taking root,” lead researcher Alessia Marchesin, a doctoral student at the University of Milan, said in a news release. Marchesin noted that the protective effect appeared to work differently by…  read on >  read on >

Ketogenic Diet May Protect Against Prenatal Stress, Study Finds

By | | Add a Comment

A high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic “keto” diet may help protect young animals from the lasting effects of stress experienced before birth, new research suggests. The findings, presented Sunday at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) conference in Amsterdam, add to growing evidence that diet could play a powerful role in shaping brain health.  Studies in animals often yield different results in people, however. Researchers at the University of Milan found that when young rats were fed a ketogenic diet soon after weaning, they were less likely to show behavioral problems linked to prenatal stress such as social and mood disorders. In the study, pregnant rats were exposed to stress during the final week before giving birth. Their offspring were divided into two groups: One fed a normal diet and the other fed a ketogenic diet. By day 42, half of the rats born to stressed mothers and fed a regular diet had social and emotional problems. In comparison, only 22% of male rats and 12% of female rats fed a ketogenic diet developed these problems. “The diet seems to have acted like a shield for their developing brains, so preventing social and motivational problems from ever taking root,” lead researcher Alessia Marchesin, a doctoral student at the University of Milan, said in a news release. Marchesin noted that the protective effect appeared to work differently by…  read on >  read on >

New Approach Targets Social Skills to Help Schizophrenia Patients Heal

By | | Add a Comment

A new study from Case Western Reserve University suggests a major shift in schizophrenia treatment: One that focuses on helping patients better interpret social cues. “We’ve been treating schizophrenia with a one-size-fits-all approach for decades,” Jessica Wojtalik, an assistant professor at the Cleveland university’s school of applied social sciences, said in a news release. “Now we have a specific target that could help young patients get their lives back on track much faster.” The findings — published recently in the journal Psychiatry Research — identify a key brain function known as social inference skills as a potential new focus for early treatment. It’s a person’s ability to “read between the lines” in social situations. Schizophrenia, a serious mental illness that affects how people think, feel and behave, often begins during the teenage years when the brain is still developing, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.  This timing can have lifelong effects on relationships, learning and emotional control. The new study found that improving patients’ ability to interpret tone, body language and sarcasm — skills essential for navigating everyday interactions — could help them function better in everyday life. “Think of social inference as your brain’s social detective work,” lead author Anju Kotwani, a doctoral student in applied social sciences at Case Western, said in a news release. “It’s how you figure out what…  read on >  read on >