ScienceDaily: Living Well News

Liraglutide may help overweight and obese adults lose weight safely and effectively Posted: 08 Mar 2015 06:14 AM PDT Obesity guidelines recommend an initial weight loss goal of 5 to 10 percent of start weight to improve health. A recent study found that patients who received liraglutide 3.0 mg, combined with fewer calories and more physical activity, were more than twice as likely to achieve at least that level of weight loss, compared to patients on placebo who made similar lifestyle changes.

Obese females who are most unlikely to lose weight are most in need of losing it Posted: 06 Mar 2015 07:24 AM PST In obese females, a close relationship may exist between their disinhibition (detrimental eating and behavioral characteristics) that limits successful weight loss, and impaired metabolism, new research shows.

Irregular sleeping pattern may affect how teens eat Posted: 05 Mar 2015 05:59 PM PST A sleep study of teenagers found that greater variability in day-to-day sleep habits was associated with higher calories consumed throughout the day. Teens with higher sleep variability also tended to eat more snacks at night.

Homeowners fared better in great recession than renters Posted: 05 Mar 2015 12:18 PM PST While many Americans took a big financial hit during the Great Recession, homeowners were less likely than renters to lose very large proportions of their wealth, finds a new study.

Fast food commercials to kids 'deceptive' by industry self-regulation standards Posted: 05 Mar 2015 12:18 PM PST Fast food ads aimed at kids fail to de-emphasize toy premiums, and fail to emphasize healthy menu items, investigators have found.

If you come from a family with relatives who have lived long lives, you will too? Posted: 05 Mar 2015 09:56 AM PST Severe mortality-associated diseases are less prevalent in the families of long-lived individuals than in the general population, a new study confirms.

Scientists quantify healthy years gained by avoiding obesity, hypertension and diabetes Posted: 04 Mar 2015 04:01 PM PST Obesity, hypertension and diabetes are known risk factors for heart failure, a chronic condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. For the first time, scientists have quantified the average number of heart failure-free years a person gains by not developing those risk factors by age 45.

Budget first, thank yourself later: Are realistic consumers more successful? Posted: 04 Mar 2015 12:26 PM PST Every time you run errands, you make decisions about what to get done and how much to spend. How do you make these decisions when there is just not enough time or money to accomplish everything you want? According to a new study creating a budget will help you prioritize and make you more productive.

Friends may make the difference in keeping children active Posted: 03 Mar 2015 03:33 PM PST Children who engaged in physical activity with a friend had less negative feelings about exercise than children who were joined by or encouraged by family members to exercise. Children cited feeling self-conscious, lack of enjoyment, poor health, lack of self-discipline, and lack of energy as the most common barriers to being physically active.