What is Obesity? A recent study in PL0S 1, an online journal of medicine, argues that Americans are far more obese than present standards of obesity, defined by body mass index, imply. In a study of 9000 patients in a New York private practice, at least 39% of those classified as overweight are thought to […]
Recycling your own energy (2/22/12)
Using Life’s Speed Life is fast. We use up our internal “stuff” very quickly. What “stuff”? Anything involving energy, materials, and all that passes information. And what happens to it? It gets recycled. Without recycling, we don’t live. Not so surprisingly, improving or speeding that recycling appears to create positive health outcomes. They include changes […]
Why does exercise work? (2/01/12)
Making Regeneration More Efficient People are exhorted every day – exercise, exercise, exercise. Many patients I see are annoyed. Why should I bother? they ask. How much difference can it make? Next they’re told it will increase their lifespan; lower their blood pressure; decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke; lower the risk of […]
Changing the color of your fat (1/20/12)
Making Fat Beautiful Want to control weight? Avoid diabetes? Appear more youthful? You might want to change your white fat to brown. Fortunately the color shift – and function of fat – is under your control. Greek Gods, Bears, and Your Waistline New research from Harvard, led by cell biologist Bruce Spiegelman and published in […]
Going to the dogs – for your health (1/11/12)
Who Lives, Who Dies My internist cousin says he knows who will live and die among his older patients: those who own dogs. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provisionally agrees. They believe the data show that dog (and cat) ownership can lower: Blood pressure Feelings of loneliness Cholesterol and triglyceride levels While increasing – […]