Facts

Labeling Fast Food Doesn’t Create Healthier Eaters: A study found that labeling the calories on fast food offerings had no effect on the purchasing habits of low-income, minority consumers. The study found that 27.7% who saw calorie labeling in New York said the information influenced their choices. However, no change …

Diabetes: An independent risk factor for AF. Atrial fibrillation was more likely to develop in diabetics than in nondiabetics in a new observational study, and the link was particularly strong in women. This association between diabetes and AF has been reported before, but this is the first time that diabetes has been …

Metformin Could Extend Lives 15 Years. A drug used to treat diabetes could help people add up to 15 years to their life expectancy, claim scientists. British researchers believe that metformin used to treat Type 2 diabetes could also extend lives. The team at University College London, who published their …

Diabetes Most Prevalent in Southern United States: Diabetes prevalence is highest in the Southern and Appalachian states and lowest in the Midwest and the Northeast of America. Diabetes mellitus is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 70,000 annual deaths. This is the first …

Thirty percent of US public have hypertension, much of which is due to excessive sodium intake. One of the first studies to estimate the economic benefits of lowering sodium consumption among the US public has found that $18 billion in healthcare costs for hypertension could be saved every year if …

Weight Loss is Good for the Kidneys: Losing weight may preserve kidney function in obese people with kidney disease, according to a study. The findings indicate that taking off the pounds could be an important step kidney disease patients can take to protect their health. Weight loss can improve a …

No Car and Easy Access to Fast-Food Restaurants Prompts Weight Gain. A published study suggests that individuals who live close to a fast-food restaurant and do not have access to a car are more likely to have excess weight than car owners residing in the same neighborhood. Analyzing data on …

Raisins Help Protect Your Teeth and Gums. Clinical studies have found that, contrary to the prevailing beliefs that raisins contribute to tooth decay, raisins may actually help protect the teeth and gums. Five compounds (phytochemicals) were found that might contribute to the healthfulness of teeth and gums — oleanolic acid, …

Teflon-coated Cells Could Help Treat Type 1 Diabetes. Scientists have invented a tiny implant covered in Teflon coating that contains transplanted insulin-producing cells. Teflon, the chemical used to coat non-stick pans, has been used in medicine for more than 30 years, as it is compatible with human tissue and does …

Exercise Alone Improves Insulin Sensitivity. A moderate aerobic exercise program, without weight loss, can improve insulin sensitivity in both lean and obese sedentary adolescents, according to a new study. In this study, 29 adolescents completed the 12-week moderate aerobic exercise program. The goal of each exercise session was to get …