A glimmer of hope: U.S. obesity may have reached a plateau.

Centers for Disease control investigators found that during 2009-2010 the prevalance of obesity among adult women and men did not significantly change when compared to 2003-2008. On an equally hopeful note, the prevalance of obesity among children and adolescents remained about the same during 2003-2010. All is not well, though. Almost 36% of adults and 17% of children and adolescents in the U.S. are obese--not just overweight. Sadly, there is no indication that obesity is declining.

PositiveTip: Regular physical activity along with consistent healthful dietary choices empowered by God's Grace are the best weapons against this epidemic.

Fitness alone curbs all-cause and CVD deaths.

Middle-aged men who maintained or increased their fitness over 11 years experienced 30% and 40% reductions, respectively, in cardiovascular disease deaths and all-cause mortality--even without losing weight. When fitness declined during the study period, risk of dying increased.

PositiveTip: What are you doing to stay fit? Make at least 30 minutes of physical activity a part of your life every day.

Fructose consumption seems to decrease hormones that control food intake.

Researchers found that normal weight women who consumed fructose-sweetened beverages lowered their 24-hour insulin and leptin levels as well as increased the post-meal triglyceride levels as compared to glucose-sweetened beverages. The hormones insulin and leptin help control satiety levels, and the authors suggested that high fructose intakes might lead to obesity.

PositiveTip: Most soft drinks and many sweet desserts are high in fructose, and would best be avoided.

Sexual dysfunction associated with poor health habits

Danish researchers found that certain lifestyle habits were associated with sexual inactivity and sexual dysfunction. Women experienced increased risk of sexual inactivity when they were overweight and smoked tobacco; sexual dysfunction when they used hashish.  Risk for sexual dysfunction in men was associated with being underweight or obese, a large waist circumference, physical inactivity, high alcohol intake, tobacco smoking, and use of hard drugs (800% increase).

PositiveTip:  Avoid high-risk lifestyle habits to enhance every aspect of life.

Sugar can negate the beneficial effects of omega 3 fats in mice.

Among the many benefits of the polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids (omega-3 fats) is that they protect against high-fat diet induced obesity and the inflammation of fat cells  Researchers have found that excess table sugar (sucrose) added to the diets of mice significantly reduced the anti-inflammatory properties of these beneficial fats, and increased obesity.

PositiveTip: How much sugar are you using? Too much may counteract the good fats found in nuts, plant oils and some fish.

Childhood obesity risk can be reduce by up to 41% by eating more whole grains, vegetables and nuts.

A study of children and adolescents found a greater intake of whole grains, vegetables and nuts reduced the risk of excess weight by 41%, 40% and 33%, respectively.  Higher fat dairy products increased the risk of overweight and obesity by 36%. Nuts do have higher calories from fat but increases satiety and may decrease food intake in future meals.

PositiveTip:  Plant foods when consumed with minimal processing have higher nutrient levels and lower calorie-density thus limiting the risk of weight gain for adolescents--and probably adults, too!

Snacks account for 25% of daily calories in adults over 19 years old.

Between 1977 and 2006 the percent of adult Americans that snack rose from 71% to 97%, while the number of snacks per day, snack size, and caloric density per snack all increased also. Total snack calories per day now average of 579 calories per day. For adults the per snack average is 263 calories!

PositiveTip: Concerned about your weight? Set regular times for meals and stick with them!