Facts

Google has been crunching some numbers and released an end-of-year rundown of the most popular app. Most interestingly, the results show Health and Fitness has been the year’s fastest growing app category, reflecting just how much the mobile industry is focused on our well-being — and how much we’re buying …

The PLAC Test for Lp-PLA2 Activity (diaDexus Inc.) measures the activity of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) — a biological marker for vascular inflammation — in the blood. Patients with Lp-PLA2 activity exceeding 225 nmol/minute/mL are considered to be at an increased risk for a future CHD event while patients with …

A recent study showed that the diabetes "family" (diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes [all ages], gestational diabetes, and prediabetes [adults]) cost the U.S. economy approximately $322 billion in 2012. This national estimate is 48% higher than the $218 billion estimate for 2007. Projected trends show that this number will increase due to …

Women who have a sedentary lifestyle are at risk for several conditions, including high blood pressure, anxiety, depression and certain cancers. Between 2012-2013, the researchers interviewed 1,891 women. After adjusting for potential confounders, they found that, compared with women who spent 30 minutes or less of daily sedentary time at …

Bariatric surgery patients who exercised for 120 minutes per week for 24 weeks showed improvements in insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism and other health measures, compared with those who participated in an education program. According to the study’s senior investigator Dr. Bret Goodpaster, director of the Exercise Metabolism Core at the …

Among the 20.4 million diagnosed adult diabetes patients, 95.3% had a usual care provider and 91.7% made 2 or more visits in the past year. In contrast, among undiagnosed adults, 84.5% had a usual care provider and 66.5% reported 2 or more visits in the past year. Among diagnosed adults, …

A new study from scientists at Penn State University shows that low-calorie sweeteners, when used in amounts typical for preparing foods and beverages, do not overstimulate a person’s sweet taste buds. These results provide additional evidence that low-calorie sweeteners do not lead to sweet cravings and can be a helpful …

Researchers have identified a small protein with a big role in lowering plasma glucose and increasing insulin sensitivity. The report indicates that Sestrin 3 – found to operate in multiple biological processes, including resistance to oxidative and genotoxic stresses, protection against aging-related pathologies, and promotion of metabolic homeostasis – plays …

According to a new study using data from the 2007 – 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 140 million American adults should be considering behavioral weight-loss treatment, and 116 million of those are also candidates for pharmacotherapy. Of those recommended for both behavioral treatment and pharmacotherapy, 32 million may …

European scientists studying addiction have found that there is almost no evidence showing humans can be addicted to specific macronutrients such as sugar. Instead, the researchers suggest that obesity prevention strategies should focus on an "eating addiction," rather than specific foods. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.08.01