http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Statins, the most widely prescribed drugs worldwide, are often suggested to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease in individuals with obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of medical disorders including excess body fat and/or high levels of blood pressure, blood sugar and/or cholesterol. However, University of Missouri researchers found that simvastatin, a generic type of statin previously sold under the brand name "Zocor," hindered the positive effects of exercise for obese and overweight adults. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-cholesterol-lowering-drug-benefits-obese-adults.html Cardiology Wed, 15 May 2013 15:42:27 EST news287851338 Sport and exercise academics at the University of Derby have discovered that wearing a heavy backpack during physical activity, such as that worn by the military on exercise, can significantly decrease performance. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-backpack-limit-physical.html Health Wed, 15 May 2013 08:30:01 EST news287823860 One of 100,000 children is born with Menkes disease, a genetic disorder that affects the body's ability to properly absorb copper from food and leads to neurodegeneration, seizures, impaired movement, stunted growth and, often, death before age 3. Now, a team of biochemistry researchers at the University of Missouri has published conclusive scientific evidence that the gene ATP7A is essential for the dietary absorption of the nutrient copper. Their work with laboratory mice also provides a greater understanding of how this gene impacts Menkes disease as scientists search for a treatment. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-discovery-children-rare-fatal-disease.html Medical research Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:57:04 EST news286559799 Breakfast might be the most important meal of the day, but up to 60 percent of American young people consistently skip it. Now, Heather Leidy, an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, says eating a breakfast rich in protein significantly improves appetite control and reduces unhealthy snacking on high-fat or high-sugar foods in the evening, which could help improve the diets of more than 25 million overweight or obese young adults in the U.S. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-protein-rich-breakfasts-unhealthy-snacking-evening.html Health Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:51:31 EST news283535433 Childhood and adolescent obesity rates in the United States have increased dramatically in the past three decades. Being obese puts individuals at greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, a disease in which individuals have too much sugar in their blood. Now, University of Missouri researchers found vitamin D supplements can help obese children and teens control their blood-sugar levels, which may help them stave off the disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-vitamin-d-diabetes-obese-children.html Diabetes Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:30:47 EST news283519834 More than one-third of Americans are obese, and these individuals often experience accompanying health issues, such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems. In response to the so-called "obesity epidemic," many medical professionals have suggested ways to improve the health outcomes of obese individuals through diet and exercise. Now, research conducted at the University of Missouri suggests certain exercises that benefit obese men may not have the same positive results for obese women. These findings could help health providers and researchers develop targeted exercise interventions for obese women. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-women-reap-positive-health-outcomes.html Health Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:19:16 EST news278162344 Media articles and nutritionists alike have perpetuated the idea that for healthy metabolisms individuals should consume small meals multiple times a day. However, new research conducted at the University of Missouri suggests all-day snacking might not be as beneficial as previously thought, especially for obese women. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-larger-meals-healthier-obese-women.html Overweight and Obesity Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:03:51 EST news274021424 (HealthDay)—Losing weight can help people who are overweight get a better night's sleep, according to a new study. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-weight-quality.html Overweight and Obesity Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:30:01 EST news271441756 (HealthDay)— Overweight or obese people who lose weight through a low-carb or low-fat diet can also significantly reduce inflammation throughout their body, which could help lower risks for heart disease, a new study says. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-weight-cardiac.html Health Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:00:01 EST news271358694 As men and women age, increasing quantities of fat tissue inevitably take up residence in skeletal muscle. A small study of older and younger men conducted at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University suggests that a build-up of a fat molecule known as ceramide might play a leading role in muscle deterioration in older adults. The results of the study were published online this month by the Journal of Applied Physiology, a publication of the American Physiological Society. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-fat-molecule-ceramide-factor-muscle.html Medical research Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:20:00 EST news270919182 In a longitudinal study of 6,250 children from across the US, researchers found that, when compared with children who were never obese, boys and girls whose obesity persisted from the start of kindergarten through fifth grade performed worse on the math test, starting in first grade, and their lower performance continued through fifth grade. Their findings are based on data gathered on children's families, interpersonal skills and emotional well-being, weight and measurements, and test performance. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-childhood-obesity-linked-math.html Overweight and Obesity Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:00:09 EST news258811685 In response to an urgent call from public health, health care, child care, and fitness practitioners, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), with assistance from multiple partners, has developed two important sets of guidelines directed at improving the health and activity levels of infants and toddlers. The Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for the Early Years (aged 0-4 years) and the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for the Early Years (aged 0-4 years) are presented in the April 2012 issue of the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism (APNM). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-health-experts-toddlers-free.html Health Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:43:15 EST news252081785 Overweight people who shed pounds, especially belly fat, can improve the function of their blood vessels no matter whether they are on a low-carb or a low-fat diet, according to a study being presented by Johns Hopkins researchers at an American Heart Association scientific meeting in San Diego on March 13 that is focused on cardiovascular disease prevention. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-belly-fat-low-carb-low-fat-diet.html Health Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:00:03 EST news250875512 If you have stable cardiovascular disease, it is more than likely that you can safely engage in sexual activity, according to an American Heart Association scientific statement. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-sexual-safe-heart-patients.html Cardiology Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:00:01 EST news246209378 One of the most recent, popular supplements for athletes looking to boost performance comes in the form of a naturally-occurring amino acid called L-arginine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-l-arginine-supplement-athletic-men-advantage.html Other Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:17:53 EST news241190261 While most people only gain about a pound of weight during the holiday season, that pound may never come off, increasing the likelihood of becoming overweight or obese and the risk of related health problems, according to a National Institutes of Health study. University of Missouri dietitians recommend families maintain healthy diet and exercise habits during the holiday season beginning with Thanksgiving. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-happy-feel-good-holiday-seasons-healthy.html Health Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:11:45 EST news241189898 Football players experience repeated head trauma throughout their careers, which results in short and long-term effects to their cognitive function, physical and mental health. University of Missouri researchers are investigating how other lifestyle factors, including diet and exercise, impact the late-life health of former collision-sport athletes. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-football-players-prone-late-life-health.html Health Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:04:48 EST news240066277 The National Survey of Children's Health indicates 31 percent of Missouri children are overweight or obese; yet, the state lacks physical activity requirements for students and nutritional standards for school meals beyond those recommended by the USDA. A new study from the University of Missouri shows Jump Into Action (JIA), a school-based physical activity program, is effective in changing unhealthy youth behaviors. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-students-action-health.html Health Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:17:46 EST news236431053 79 million American adults have prediabetes and will likely develop diabetes later in life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As the number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to grow, researchers are focusing on discovering why the prevalence of the disease is increasing. John Thyfault, an assistant professor in MU's departments of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology and Internal Medicine, has found that ceasing regular physical activity impairs glycemic control (control of blood sugar levels), suggesting that inactivity may play a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-links-inactivity-factors-diabetes.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:52:22 EST news233337116 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 percent of Americans have inactive lifestyles (they take fewer than 5,000 steps a day) and 75 percent do not meet the weekly exercise recommendations (150 minutes of moderate activity each week and muscle-strengthening activity twice a week) to maintain good health. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-regular-people-inactive-lifestyles-chronic.html Health Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:26:23 EST news231495938 Overweight and obese people looking to drop some pounds and considering one of the popular low-carbohydrate diets, along with moderate exercise, need not worry that the higher proportion of fat in such a program compared to a low-fat, high-carb diet may harm their arteries, suggests a pair of new studies by heart and vascular researchers at Johns Hopkins. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-low-carb-higher-fat-diets-arterial-health.html Cardiology Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:40:44 EST news226122032 New study in the Journal of Applied Physiology suggests that low intensity warm-ups enhance athletic performance. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-warm-up.html Other Fri, 27 May 2011 11:15:56 EST news225713738