Weight Loss Research: Are you hardwired to enjoy high-calorie foods? ♦ Obesity: Is junk food really to blame? ♦ Standing and exercise linked to lower odds of obesity

Are you hardwired to enjoy high-calorie foods? Research links genes to heightened brain reward responses to foods high in fat and sugar Researchers have identified two genetic variants that interact to alter the brain responses to high-calorie foods, a tie that could aid in the development of targeted treatments for obesity and overweight. Researchers found that two gene variants - FTO and DRD2 - influenced activity in the brain reward system when looking at pictures of high-calorie foods

Standing and exercise linked to lower odds of obesity While sedentary behavior (such as watching TV and commuting time) has been linked to negative health effects, it is unclear whether more time spent standing has protective health benefits. New research shows that standing for at least one-quarter of the day has been linked to lower odds of obesity.

Obesity: Is junk food really to blame? Soda, candy, and fast food are often painted as the prime culprits in the national discussion of obesity in the United States. While a diet of chocolate bars and cheese burgers washed down with a Coke is inadvisable from a nutritional standpoint, these foods are not likely to be a leading cause of obesity .

Bariatric surgery is safe option for managing type 2 diabetes in overweight or mildly obese patients Weight-loss surgery, long considered a treatment largely reserved for people with severe obesity, may also be a good and safe option for the treatment of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes in those who are overweight or have mild to moderate obesity.