Instead of putting in overtime hours at the office, consider doing double time at the gym. Some employers are planning to offer financial incentives for employees to lose weight.

About two thirds of Americans over age 20 are overweight or obese, and this fact translates into a plethora of health problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. A cheeseburger here and skipping a workout there, and before you know it your slacks are a little tighter than they were last year. Breaking these habits isn’t easy, either.

That’s where the Leonard Davis Institute’s Center for Health Incentives at the University Pennsylvania steps in. The center is dedicated to uncovering effective ways to push people toward good health.

Dr. Kevin Volpp, director of the program, says there’s been an explosion of interest in programs that encourage employees to live healthier lifestyles. According to an article by MSBC, about a third of U.S. companies are rewarding workers to enroll in get-healthy programs.

Enrollment has exploded, too. In workplaces like Ohio Health, almost half of the workforce in five hospitals is being rewarded to walk their way to fitness. Volpp says the key is finding an effective motivator.

“When trying to get people to lose weight, we’re basically asking them to do less of the things that on some level they enjoy,” he told Boston Magazine. And who doesn’t enjoy a little extra cash in the bank?

For now there have only been a handful of studies to investigate the effectiveness of these incentives. Results are mixed across the board. Some participants lose little or no weight, while others lose ten or more pounds in just a few months. As these programs grow and develop, Volpp believes attitudes will change and the programs will become more effective.

To read more, visit MSNBC or learn more about Volpp’s research at the Center for Health Incentives.

A new approach for controlling type 1 diabetes may be on the horizon.  Researchers found that some cells can transform into and regenerate beta cells, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

University of Geneva Medical School researchers induced type 1 diabetes in mice by destroying their beta cells, treating the mice with insulin injections to regulate blood glucose levels. The research team, led by professor Pedro Herrera, then monitored alpha cells for changes.

Alpha cells actually changed into active beta cells, and according to Herrera, this transformation can occur even when alpha cells are absent. Eventually the injections were no longer necessary.

Andrew Rakeman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation says this research could provide insight into treating type 1diabetes.

“Anytime you’re thinking about any type of cure or really good treatments for type 1 diabetes, you have to consider both the beta cells and the immune side,” Rakeman told Health Day.

“Reprogramming is something that can happen naturally. If one can delineate what’s causing it to happen in mice, it might be possible to find interventions to induce that to happen in humans.”

Beta cells are destroyed in individuals with diabetes because the body’s immune system recognizes the cells as foreign substances. White blood cells, responsible for defending the body against viruses, attack the beta cells, and the body can no longer produce insulin. The body may also destroy transplanted cells, leaving the individual independent on insulin therapy.

“At this point it’s unclear whether reprogrammed alpha cells would be vulnerable,” Rakeman says. “Alpha cells are not normally destroyed by the immune system...(due to cellular changes) it’s likely that they’ll appear to the immune system as beta cells.”

Research is in its early stages, and current results, though hopeful, are merely suggestive. More information is needed to determine what happens to alpha cells during transformation. The study appears in the journal Nature.

With a little push from consumers, PepsiCo is taking steps toward making their products healthier. The convenience food giant has set big nutritional goals for the future. Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo, announced Monday that the company will be making significant cuts in the amount of fat, sugar and sodium levels in its products.

Over the next 4-9 years, Pepsi will cut the average level of sodium and sugar in its products by 25 percent and fat will be reduced by 15 percent. In addition, Pepsi plans to increase the amount of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and seeds in its products. They also plan to eliminate full-sugar soft drink sales in schools by 2012.

Pepsi is the second-largest food and beverage company in the world, and reducing these inputs could have a huge impact on public health. Sugar and sodium reduction alone can reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

"We believe that a healthier future for all people and our planet means a more successful future for PepsiCo," Nooyi said in a news release.

PepsiCo owns Frito-Lay, Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade and Pepsi-Cola brands, and accounts for $43 billion in food sales. With companies like Kraft, Campbell’s and Coca-Cola following suit, more and more food producers are making an effort to meet consumer need.

"These commitments are shared by all of our businesses,” Nooyi said. “(They) reflect our focus on profitable, long-term growth and will guide us as we continue to build a portfolio of enjoyable and wholesome foods and beverages for consumers around the world."

Visit Pepsi’s website to check out what to expect from PepsiCo in the future.

If a few vanity pounds are getting you down, it shouldn’t be about the ones on your hips. What you should be worrying about is visceral fat, which is the fat that sometimes surrounds the abdominal organs.

More women than men experience an increase in this type of fat, especially in the time following menopause. It is often responsible for the change in a woman’s body to an apple shape. In men, it may manifest itself as a “beer belly.”

Sometimes referred to as abdominal obesity, this fat is more dangerous than the subcutaneous fat that lies just under the skin. Fat cells produce hormones, including ones that can cause insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes. Visceral fat is also thought to increase the risk of heart disease, metabolic problems, and high blood pressure. It has also been linked to breast cancer.

It is quite possible for a person with a healthy weight and relatively trim waistline to have significant amounts of visceral fat. It can be hard to see because of where it lies; in some cases it can only be detected with an MRI.

According to the Mayo Clinic, lack of exercise and low metabolism isn’t necessarily the culprit. The problem, they say, may be genetics. If your family has a history of gaining weight around the middle, it may be a challenge for you, too. In women, hormonal changes during menopause also may cause a change in how fat is broken down and stored.

Rather than calculating your BMI, Mayo Clinic suggests simply measuring your waistline. A waist measurement of 35 inches or more, the clinic says, indicates an unhealthy concentration of abdominal fat.

One of the best things you can do for your body is exercise regularly, and, luckily, visceral fat responds well to working out. Daily moderate exercise along with strength training may be your best bet to battling the bulge.

Worries over job security and the stigma attached to mental illness may be keeping workers from seeking professional help for mental and emotional disorders.

An online survey conducted by the American Psychiatric Association reported three out of five workers expressed concern that mental health counseling would threaten professional status. More than 2,000 adults participated in the study; 1,129 were employed full- or part-time.

Although 40 percent of respondents said their employers were supportive of employee health treatment, others said their employers were less supportive of health services, more so for those concerning mental health.

Participants affected by drug addiction, alcoholism and depression were most concerned. People with diabetes and heart disease were shortly behind.

According to a report in Research Works, a publication of the Partnership for Workplace Mental Health (PWMH), there is a high prevalence of these conditions in the workplace.

“The majority (about two thirds) of people with symptoms of clinical criteria for having mental and substance use disorders do not receive any treatment at all for these conditions,” wrote report author Mark Attridge, PhD. In addition to job security and professional status, confidentiality was another concern for employees.

Researchers say that employee access to quality mental health and addiction services is needed. They suggest that the workplace promote promotion and intervention, and that employers make sure employees know how to access their benefits. They also encourage employers to be supportive and to reassure workers of confidentiality.

Dr. Alan Axelson, PWMH council chairman, stresses the importance of encouraging employees to take care of their mental and physical health, and explains that it can benefit employers as well.

“Research supports the fact that when people receive needed care, they are healthier and more productive,” he said in a press release, “Employers realize the return on their healthcare investment.”

A low-carb diet could do more than just shrink your waistline—it also may help lower your blood pressure.

Roughly 120 overweight or obese patients from the Department of Veterans Affairs clinics in Durham, N.C., volunteered for a study comparing the effects of two different dieting plans—the low-carb, ketogenic diet (LCKD) and a low-fat diet in combination with orlistat (LFD+O), a weight-loss medication.

Sixty-five of the volunteers completed the low-fat diet, eating a diet with less than 30 percent of energy intake from fat and taking 120 mg of orlistat three times daily. Orlistat (Alli, Xenical) is an over-the-counter weight loss aid that can block a significant amount of fat from being absorbed by the digestive system. At the end of the 48-week trial, the group cut 8.5 percent of body fat. Low-carb dieters, on an Atkins-style diet, had similar results, trimming 9.5 percent of body fat.

“Both groups lost considerable weight (on average 21-25 pounds) and experienced numerous health benefits and were able to reduce medications for chronic diseases associated with weight,” explains Dr. William Yancy, Jr., M.D.,  research associate at Durham’s Department of Veterans Affairs and lead author of the study.

Although both plans tied for weight loss and had similar HDL (good cholesterol) improvements, the group of 57 low-carb dieters also had decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 5.9 and 4.5 mm, respectively.

Pre-trial, average body mass index (BMI) was 39.3, and one in three participants had type 2 diabetes. A healthy BMI score for an adult ranges between 18.5 and 24.9. As the scores rises, the risk for complications such as stroke, type 2 diabetes, poor cholesterol and heart disease increases.

Following the study, low-fat dieters enjoyed better LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, while participants on the low-carb diet had improved insulin metabolism, hemoglobin A_1C, and blood glucose levels.

“People with these diseases—hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis—or at risk for these diseases stand to benefit the most (from these diets),” Yancy explains.

There haven't been significant health risks for short-term dieters, but little is known of the effects after six months. Long-term dieters may be at risk for bone loss or kidney stones. In any case, Dr. Yancy urges anyone considering a low-carb, ketogenic diet to consult a physician.

The study's abstract can be found in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Weekends are a time to let loose after a long week at work, but weekend eating could be making your jeans a little tighter. What you eat on Saturday and Sunday could be adding up to 400 calories to your diet each week, according to a study in the Journal of Public Policy&Marketing.

The average amount of calories eaten during the weekend was about 37 calories higher than during the week, and most of those calories were from eating more at breakfast. Some people, however, ate more at all three meals, significantly increasing calorie intake.

One reason researchers think this may be happening is because most meals aren’t as rushed during the weekend. Apparently, extra time equals extra calories. The study also showed that people ate more during the holidays. The average increase for a holiday was 174 calories, but some at as much as 900 extra calories.

Don’t let seasonal snacking put you in a pinch. Try these tips from Diabetic Living to cut out unwanted fats and carbohydrates:

Whole Grain Cinnamon Roll. Nothing says happy holidays like a warm cinnamon roll. Use half whole wheat and half all-purpose flour can cut carbs without sacrificing taste. Do the same for the sugar and butter in the icing, and one of these 4-inch rolls from home (171 calories) has about 27 carbohydrates and 6 grams of fat, compared with 36 carbs and 8 grams of fat in rolls from the store (233 calories)

Dark Chocolate. One piece of Hershey’s Bliss dark chocolate squares has 4 carbs and 2 grams of fat, compared to the 18 carbs and 10 grams of fat in a 1-inch chocolate truffle.

Kettle Corn. One cup of SmartPop! Fat Free Microwave Kettle Corn has just 4 carbohydrates and zero grams of fat. One cup of caramel corn can have as much as 36 carbs and 11 grams of fat.

Chocolate-Covered Cherries. Try making dark chocolate-covered cherries at home. Cordial cherries from the store can have as much as 10 carbohydrates and 3 grams of fat each. Dipping 12 maraschino cherries in 1 ounce of melted dark chocolate at home is a fun activity, and homemade cherries only have about 3 carbs and 1 gram of fat.

Cocoa Roasted Almonds. One ounce of almond M&M’s has 16 carbohydrates and eight grams of fat, while an ounce of Emerald Dark Chocolate Cocoa Roasted Almonds only has six carbs and 13 grams of fat.

Check out more treat substitutes and find ways to boost your metabolism at Diabetic Living.

Adding just a little more fiber to your diet could help you drop pounds and shrink your waistline, according to weight research from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

“In the past decade, the decline in carbohydrate quality has been identified as a likely culprit leading to increased adiposity and metabolic disorders among children and adults,” authors write.

Eighty-five overweight Latino children from the Los Angeles area were asked to participate in the study. Selection criteria included having a family history of type 2 diabetes, likelihood of insulin resistance and pre-diabetes. The children were between the ages of 11 and 17, a stage when most begin developing eating habits. Researchers measured weight and body composition. The children then underwent two trial periods to monitor the effects of sugar and fiber intake.

The first trial lasted 16 weeks. Roughly one in three children who reduced their added sugar intake had improved insulin secretion. In this group, participants who consumed more fiber had a 10 percent reduction in visceral adipose tissue (body fat).

The second trial was based on 24-hour self-reported dietary recalls—two each year for two years. Although sugar intake didn’t have a significant effect, fiber continued to produce positive results.

“Although the healthy reputation of dietary fiber continues to grow, national data consistently show that children consume less than one-half of the recommended amount of dietary fiber,” authors write.

In addition to increasing insulin sensitivity, consuming more fiber appeared to lower body mass. An decrease in dietary and insoluble fiber intake increased fat tissue by 21 percent, compared with a 4 percent fat decrease in children who consumed more.

Those consuming more fiber ate more non-fried vegetables, fruit and legumes—all excellent sources of both dietary and insoluble fibers. Other sources include nuts and seeds, whole grains, and wheat bran.

The study provides great encouragement for individuals wishing to lose weight and improve metabolism. According to authors, even a small change could make a big difference:

"These findings suggest that fairly modest increases in fruit and vegetable intake of 1 or 2 servings and bean intake of 0.5 servings (equivalent to 1/4 cup) daily could have profound effects on lowering visceral adiposity and subsequent related metabolic disorders."

A certain type of unsaturated fatty acid, CLA, and safflower oil may be key ingredients in helping postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes drop pounds and improve blood sugar, or blood glucose, levels, according to research from Ohio State University (OSU).

After menopause, many women experience weight gain, which increases the risk of developing metabolic conditions. For women with type 2 diabetes, weight loss and glucose management can become extremely difficult to manage. Researchers found that both CLA and safflower oil proved particularly beneficial to postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes.

CLA, conjugated linoleic acid, is an unsaturated fatty acid found primarily in meat and dairy products of cows, goats and sheep. CLA has been known to help people wishing to build muscle, lose weight and prevent heart disease.

Safflower oil is a plant-based oil similar to sunflower oil that is used in cooking oils, salad dressings and some margarines. Safflower oil, SAF, is a colorless and flavorless source of omega-6 fatty acids, and has been known to promote healthier skin and hair, reduce cholesterol and boost the immune system.

Thirty-five women completed a 36-week study comparing the effects of CLA and safflower oil on weight and body mass. Each supplement was consumed for sixteen weeks. Participants took roughly two teaspoons of either oil daily.

CLA began to cut body fat and reduce BMI after just eight weeks. “This magnitude of reduction has not been reported in an intervention that used a linoleic acid-rich oil,” wrote lead authors Martha Belury and Leigh Norris, both from the Department of Human Nutrition at OSU.

Safflower oil, originally meant for baseline comparison, yielded exciting changes of its own. Safflower oil reduced trunk mass and increased lean muscle mass, resulting in an average loss of 6.3 percent of body fat. It also reduced insulin resistance and fasting blood glucose levels.

“I never would have imagined such a finding,” Belury says. “This study is the first to show that such a modest amount of linoleic acid-rich oil may have a profound effect on body composition in women."

Belury and associates are pleased with the results of their study, and hope to explore the effects further. They believe that CLA and safflower oil show great promise in weight and glucose management for women with type 2 diabetes.

“It is possible that further reductions in BMI are achievable with a longer length of supplementation,” the authors wrote. “The use of lower doses of CLA over longer durations of intervention may prove to be an effective weight-loss aid."

The study appears online in The Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Legislators are considering the option of food taxes on sweetened beverages, including soda pop, and snack foods in an effort to battle obesity. Forty states are in support of a small tax on soda, while New York and Maine believe a higher tax may be necessary.

 
According to a report in The New England Journal of Medicine, sugar consumption has risen 30 percent over the last decade. For teens and children, soda accounts for 10-15 percent of total calories consumed. By removing just ¼ of the sugar in sweetened beverages, consumers can reduce annual caloric intake by 8,000 calories. This figure equates to roughly two pounds of weight in a year.

“Americans consume about 250 to 300 more calories daily today than they did several decades ago,” according to authors Kelly D. Brownell, Ph.D., and Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Though no single intervention will solve the obesity problem, that is hardly a reason to take no action.”

Such a high rate of sugar intake can do more than expand the waistline. It can also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other problems as a result of poor nutrition and weight gain. The objectives of those in support of a tax are twofold—to lower consumption, and to encourage soft drink producers to decrease the amount of caloric sweeteners in their products.

There are strong arguments on both sides. People arguing against the tax point out that food is necessary to survive. They believe raising prices will make it more difficult for low-income families to eat. Others argue that the poor would benefit the most. As the price of fresh produce and other healthier options goes up, soda and junk food prices are going down. People with tighter budgets consume more of the cheap but less nutritious foods and beverages.

“As Coca-Cola prices increased by 12 percent, sales dropped by 14.6 percent,” Frieden and Brownell wrote. Analysts believe that a 1 cent-per-ounce price increase could reduce consumption by as much as 10 percent. Justin Wilson, senior research analyst for the Center for Consumer Freedom, argues that such a tax is manipulation against the consumer. “The tax code should not be used as a method for social engineering, and that’s what this is,” he said.  Legislators see the issue a little differently.

Higher prices have been used effectively in the past to reduce tobacco sales, and any revenue from a tax on soda could raise up to $14.9 billion per year. This money could be used to support health reforms or other programs. New Yorkers’ support rose by 20 percent when lawmakers suggested using these funds for obesity prevention programs.