Six types ofobese people identified
UK scientists have identified six types of obese people in a new study which could revolutionise how doctors treat the overweight. The study, by the University of Sheffield, identified the six groups as: Young males who were heavy drinkers, middle aged individuals who were unhappy and anxious, older people who despite living with physical health conditions were happy, younger healthy females, older affluent healthy adults and individuals with very poor health. The study, led by Dr Mark Green from the University’s School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), concluded that those who have a BMI of 30 or over fit into one of the six groups and strategies to successfully tackle weight loss should be tailored according to which group they fall into. “Policies designed to tackle obesity and encourage healthier lifestyles often target individuals just because they are obese. But a focus on just the group as a whole is not very efficient,” Green said.
Soyfoods can reduce cancer recurrence
It turns out that soyfoods could actually cut the risk of breast cancer recurrence. While women diagnosed with breast cancer are often told not to eat soyfoods or soy-based supplements because they can interfere with anti-estrogen treatment, a new study, conducted at Georgetown lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, found that a long history of eating soyfoods boosts the immune response against breast tumors. lead investigator of the study, Prof leena Hilakivi-Clarke, PhD, said that it was concerning that some patients might just start taking soy supplements when they shouldn’t and that others would stop eating soyfoods when they could really benefit from them.
Play a wind instrument, sleep better
learning to play a wind instrument could be the key to a cure for snoring, a study has suggested. Trumpet and clarinet players are less likely to develop obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a condition where the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapse during sleep, blocking the airways and leading to loud snoring. If left untreated, it can cause high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, depression and other illnesses associated with chronic sleep problems. However, playing a wind instrument, particularly a brass, such as a trumpet or trombone, strengthens the muscles in the upper airways which prevent the soft tissue collapse, researchers have found. Researchers asked all the participants to complete the Berlin questionnaire to assess the risk of OSA, and found that the group that played wind instruments had a lower risk of developing it.