Women, Obesity Rates, and the Fountain of Youth

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The fattening of America is so out there, so obvious, the question has become how do we get the message that we need to reverse the trend?

Perhaps, the message is sinking in, at least among women.

New research released by the CDC shows, among women, no significant increase in obesity was observed between 1999 and 2004…roughly a third of females remain obese

Dr. Jeanine Albu, an obesity specialist at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, says, “We would like to see all age groups leveling off with regards to the frequency of obesity in the future and would like to see these trends continue in the next six years.”

Now, even though the women aren’t getting more obese on the whole, they do have twice the rate of severe obesity compared to men.

The problem is seen especially in blacks.

Dr. Albu says, “We know that African American women in the united states have the highest frequency in obesity among all groups. Specific research needs to be conducted to find out why this difference and specifically target this.”

And there’s evidence that fatness increases the aging process.

But here’s the good news: maybe--just maybe--caloric reduction could slow the aging process.

A number of studies have shown decreasing caloric intake by 30 percent in lab animals prevents chronic disease and prolongs life span.

New research in humans shows a reduction in caloric intake results in a decrease in fasting insulin levels and body temperature, two biomarkers of longevity.

It also resulted in less DNA damage--which can cause disease and shorten lifespan.

Dr. Joseph Vasselli, a research associated at the Obesity Research Center of St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, says,” Caloric restriction seems to reverse many of the metabolic processes that we believe a related to shorten life span. Another interesting finding of this study is apparently exercise can substitute for caloric restriction in the weight loss process.”

In fact, the study is the first to report a significant decline in dna damage in response to calorie restriction in humans.

“This study was only a six month observation period and already benefits were seen, if one could maintain a weight loss of ten percent for two years, three years, or five I think stronger benefits would probably turn up,” says Dr. Vasselli.

Still, the authors say we don’t know for sure if caloric reduction in the long run changes the aging process in humans.

Longer studies are needed to prove that point.

But caloric reduction certainly can’t hurt as long as it’s done in moderation, and under the advise of a physician.

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