Genes Are Not Destiny When It Comes To Obesity: Study

Link to Article | http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100405/exercise_obesity_100405/20100406/?hub=TorontoNewHome

TUESDAY, Apr 6th 2010 (CTV News) – An hour a day of moderate exercise can help teens control their weight, even when they are genetically predisposed to obesity, a new European study finds.

The research finds that even those people with a common obesity-related gene dubbed “fatso” can beat their “genetic destiny and maintain their weight with enough daily exercise.

“Fatso” is the unfortunate nickname for the FTO gene, also called the Fat mass and obesity associated gene.

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Being Overweight Ups Stroke Risk, Study Confirms

Link to Article | http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63426Z20100405

Written By: Anne Harding

MONDAY, Apr 5th 2010 (Reuters New York) – ”Being obese (but indeed even just overweight) puts an individual at significantly higher risk of ischemic stroke, with a serious possibility of permanent disability and reduced life expectancy,” Dr. Pasquale Strazzullo of Frederico II University of Naples Medical School in Naples, Italy, one of the study’s authors, told Reuters Health. Read the rest of this entry »

Obesity Rates Growing: Poll

Link to Article| http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/03/31/13426831.html

Written By: Kevin Connor

WEDNESDAY, Mar 31st 2010 (Toronto Sun) — There is a reason why Toronto is called Hogtown — 44% of Torontonians are overweight or obese.

But we aren’t alone.

The Heart and stroke Foundation says that in the past 30 years, obesity rates in Canada have doubled and, in some age groups, even tripled.

“Obesity and overweight have become one of the leading public health concerns in Canada,” said Dr. Marco Di Buono, research director for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, which recently polled 2,000 Canadians to reach its conclusions.

“We know that within the past 30 years, the prevalence of obesity doubled among those ages 40 to 69 and tripled among those 20 to 39,” he added.

Canadians, aged 20 to 39, are a new at-risk group because 3 million are couch potatoes, 2.5 million are fat, and 2 million are smokers.

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