1990 guidelines advise obese women to gain about 13 pounds during pregnancy. However, a small study of 96 obese pregnant women found that these women can avoid weight gain or even lose some weight without harming their babies. Researchers found obese women who maintained weight or shed pounds during pregnancy were more likely to have a normal-weight newborn than obese women who gained pregnancy pounds. Researchers report in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism (June, 2007) that pregnant women should still talk to their doctors before beginning an exercise routine.

Source:
Reuters Health (June 19, 2007)

If your friends and family are overweight, are you more likely to be overweight, too?

Yes, say researchers in the New England Journal of Medicine (July 19, 2007) study which suggests obesity can be “spread” from person to person. Even if friends and family are far away, their weight may have an impact. The study found that a person’s chance of becoming obese went up 57% if a friend was obese, 40% if a sibling was and 37% if a spouse was. In the closest friendships, the risk almost tripled. Researchers believe that having a relative or friend who is obese changes one’s idea of what is an acceptable weight.

A new report published in the August issue of the journal Epidemiologic Reviews predicts that based on current obesity statistics, U.S. obesity is on the rise and that 75% of adults will be overweight and 41% will be obese by 2015.

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health note that the percentage of overweight and obese adults is particularly high among African Americans and tends to be lowest among Asian Americans. However all groups are showing increases in weight.

Economic and community factors play a role and people living in areas without supermarkets and gyms may have less opportunity to eat healthfully and exercise. What’s more, Americans are gaining weight at the waistline, which increases the risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Source:
WebMD Medical News (July 13, 2007)

Source:
HealthDay (June 24, 2007)

According to several presentations at the 2007 American Diabetes Association annual meeting in Chicago, by 2050 an estimated 48 million Americans will have type 2 diabetes. Along with the disease will come increases in accompanying health problems, such as blindness and hearing loss. Today, there are 5.5 million people with diabetic retinopathy. By 2050, that number will increase to 16 million. Researchers warn that the U.S. health care system will need to take steps to be prepared for this dramatic increase in cases of diabetes-related illnesses.