diabetes and heart disease

(BioMed Central) Almost a quarter of men and women in England and over a third of adults in America are obese.

Obesity increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease and can significantly shorten a person's life expectancy.

New research published by BioMed Central's open-access journal International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity shows that improving body image can enhance the effectiveness of weight loss programs based on diet and exercise.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today the availability of over $100 million in funding for up to 75 Community Transformation Grants.

Created by the Affordable Care Act, these grants are aimed at helping communities implement projects proven to reduce chronic diseases – such as diabetes and heart disease.

By promoting healthy lifestyles and communities, especially among population groups experiencing the greatest burden of chronic disease, these grants will help improve health, reduce health disparities, and lower health care costs.

Simply measuring wrist size with a tape measurer appears to be a useful marker for insulin resistance and future diabetes and heart disease risk.

More than 40% of older Americans have multiple chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, and many also suffer from depression.

(The Endocrine Society) Obese people without metabolic risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, do not have the elevated cardiovascular risk typical of obesity, but they represent only a small percentage of the obese population, according to a long-term study.

The results will be presented Saturday at the Endocrine Society's 92nd Annual Meeting in San Diego.

In numerous national publications today, we are once again reminded that lowering the risk of diabetics for vascular events (MI/heart attack, CVA/stroke etc.) and death is far more complex than lowering measures such as cholesterol and blood pressure.

Note these articles:

(Gladstone Institutes) A research team at the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease led by Dr. Suneil Koliwad, recently added new details that link obesity to diabetes and heart disease.

Researchers have found that eating too much fructose can raise the risk of diabetes and heart disease

CHICAGO -- Older people who are depressed are much more likely to develop a dangerous type of internal body fat -- the kind that can lead to diabetes and heart disease -- than people who are not depressed, a disturbing new study found.

CHICAGO (AP) -- Older people who are depressed are much more likely to develop a dangerous type of internal body fat - the kind that can lead to diabetes and heart disease - than people who are not depressed, a disturbing new study found....