Fast food and inactivity aren’t the only culprits for today's high obesity rates. A new class of EDCs (endocrine-disrupting chemicals) known as obesogens may be partly to blame.

Obesogens are chemicals that are believed to mimic and interrupt regular hormone function. Researchers say these chemicals can cause weight gain and lead to other major health problems like heart disease, diabetes or endocrine and metabolic disorders.

Obesogens can be found in food packaging, plastics, pesticides and chemicals, as well as some cosmetics. They include PCBs, BPA and pthalates. They can alter genes and pose as hormones that help regulate the body’s metabolism. Take estrogen, for example.

Estrogen, the “female hormone,” typically causes women to gain weight during menopause. When obesogens enter the body, they act like estrogen, reprogramming cells to become fat cells. The body will work to convert calories into fat cells, which produce more estrogen. If what researchers say about obesogens is true, diet and exercise may not be enough to lose weight.

Professor Bruce Blumberg, a biologist from the University of California-Irvine who coined the term, says the causes of obesity are complex, but that the problem is more prevalent in America. He has an idea why: “Elsewhere, the consumption of prepackaged foods is much lower,” he explained in a UCI press release. “Food is grown and eaten locally, and people are far less exposed to food additives and chemicals. These are all contributing factors.”

Obesogen research is a fairly new thing. It’s in its early stages now, but as more scientists accept the idea, more is discovered about the effects these chemicals play in interrupting endocrine function.

Until then, Blumberg suggests ditching the Tupperware. “Use glass and stainless steel instead of plastics to store fluids and foods,” he says, “and try to get locally grown produce, organic if possible.”

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.

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.

You might want to resist the urge to reach for a pint of ice cream when you’re feeling blue.  New information suggests that eating junk food may actually promote depression.

Nearly 3,500 Londoners between the ages of 35 and 55 were asked about their eating habits. Analysts were able to detect diet patterns and divide participants into two groups: processed food consumers and “whole food” consumers. Several years later each group was screened for depression. People who regularly ate processed foods had a slightly higher incidence of depression.

“Our results suggest a protective effect of an overall diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fish (Mediterranean-style diet) affords protection against the onset of depressive symptoms 5 years later,” study authors explain, “whereas a diet rich in processed meat, chocolates, sweet desserts, fried food, refined cereals and high-fat dairy products increases vulnerability.”

Most processed foods lack the nutrients needed to maintain a happy, healthy body. Not only does it contribute to weight gain, but it can also decrease mental alertness and inhibit normal brain function. This translates into a slew of mood and behavioral changes.

A steady diet of junk food has other risks to consider, too. Authors note that this sort of diet has also been associated with coronary heart disease and inflammation. As many as one in five Americans is affected by depression, and one in three have some form of heart disease. Limiting junk food consumption may be one way to reduce these risks.

This is the first to focus on the effects of how a person’s overall diet may be related to depression. Although further research is needed to fully understand this relationship, cutting back on unhealthy food can benefit the mind, body and spirit.

Read more in The British Journal of Psychiatry.

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.

Here’s a new tip for people who want to lose weight: work out in the morning and eat a good breakfast to lose more weight.

People who work out in the morning reap a ton of benefits. Many report better moods, more energy throughout the day and greater alertness. Thy also appear to have better, longer workouts.

A study from the U.K. found that morning exercisers work out harder. Translation? They burn more calories, which means they’re more likely to lose more weight.

Another study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that exercisers who ate breakfast were more satisfied by this meal. Some reported lower appetite throughout the day. Researchers asked 58 obese men and women to expend 500 calories daily and eat a regular breakfast of toast, tea and cereal to shed pounds.

“The effect of exercise on appetite regulation involves at least two processes,” authors write, “an increase in the overall drive to eat, and a concomitant increase in the satiating efficiency of a fixed meal.” Authors say it is the strength of this effect that determines weight loss.

All 58 participants reported being hungrier after exercise, but those who lost less weight reported feeling less satisfied by other meals.  Although they were satisfied by breakfast, they actually remained hungrier throughout the day. Their counterparts had less of an appetite.

“These data confirm that exercise has the capacity to alter the sensitivity of the appetite regulatory system via the compensatory response to consumed foods or preloads,” authors explain.

Despite the differences, all participants lost some weight. Researchers attribute differences in the amount of weight lost may be due to the lack of regulation for other meals. In any case, eating a regular breakfast appears to increase morning meal satisfaction.

“The exercise regimen apparently raised the sensitivity of the physiologic signaling system,” authors write, “which allowed the same amount of food to realize a greater suppression of hunger.”

Spending more than a few hours per week on the computer surfing the Internet may be adding inches to your waistline. Adults who spend three or more hours per week online are more likely to be overweight or obese, according to a study in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

More than 2,500 adults from Adelaide, Australia, participated in a study correlating leisure-time computer use with body weight. Participants filled out a questionnaire, reporting web usage (excluding work-time computer use) and other low-energy leisure activities.

Participants were divided into sub-groups based on how much time they spent on the Internet—no use, low use (less than 3 hours per week), or high use (greater than 3 hours per week).

“Adults with high leisure-time Internet and computer use were more likely to be overweight or obese even if they were highly active in their leisure time, as compared to participants who did not use the Internet or computer,” study authors write.

The average time spent on the Internet was 125.3 minutes per week. Participants with high use were 1.46 times more likely to be overweight and 2.52 times as likely to be obese. They were also 2.5 times more likely to do other low-energy activities, such as watching television, for five or more hours per day.

“These findings suggest that, apart from nutritional and physical activity interventions, it may also be necessary to decrease time spent in sedentary behaviors, such as leisure-time Internet and computer use, in order to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity,” the authors write.

Although the results of the study are suggestive, study authors explain that there were limitations that may have affected the outcomes.

“The strong associations of leisure-time Internet and computer use with overweight and obesity may in part be explained by the association of leisure-time Internet and computer use with other leisure-time sedentary behaviors."

Further investigation on leisure-time computer use will provide more information on the effects of internet usage on health and weight.

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."

Certain types of antipsychotic medication can cause children to put on weight—as much as 18 pounds—according to research appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Chrostoph Correll, MD, and associates observed 272 children aged 4 to 19 taking atypical antipsychotic medication for the first time. Drugs/Medications included olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperadol) and aripiprazole (Abilify)—drugs sometimes used to treat children with autism, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Children’s weights were monitored over a 12-week period. During the last two weeks of the study, nearly all experienced significant weight gain. Average gain was as follows: 18.7 pounds with onanzapine, 13.7 pounds with quetiapine, 11.7 pounds with risperidone, and 9.7 pounds with aripiprazole. Children in the control group gained less than half a pound (.44 pounds) on average.

“(E)ffects such as age-inappropriate weight gain, obesity, hypertension, and lipid and glucose abnormalities are particularly problematic during development because they predict adult obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular morbidity, and malignancy,” authors of the study write.

Doctors were so concerned over weight gain in children taking onanzapine that they stopped treatment before the study was completed. “Each antipsychotic was associated with significantly increased fat mass and waist circumference,” authors write. “Altogether, 10 percent to 36 percent of patients transitioned to overweight or obese status within 11 weeks.”

As more children—some younger than 5-years-old—are diagnosed with bipolar and “disruptive behavior” disorders (such as ADHD), there is also a rise in atypical antipsychotic prescriptions. These medications are generally effective for children with autism and schizophrenia, but they may not be the best treatment for other conditions.

The authors suggest seeking alternative treatments. They write that, in view of the negative health outcomes, the benefits of using these medications “must be balanced against their cardiometabolic risks”, and say the results suggest including in prescription guidelines closer monitoring during the early months of treatment.

They also plan on researching whether or not diet restrictions and additional medications for weight and glucose control will help balance the potential negative effects of the drugs.

There are likely to be plenty of ghosts and ghouls about this Halloween, but one thing that may have parents spooked this time of year is candy and dental health. Roughly 30 percent of 5-year-olds in Plymouth, England, were found to have some form of tooth decay, according to a newly released review.

The review examined the 2007-2008 dental records of U.K. children, 211 of whom were Plymouth five-year-olds. This number was just under the national average of 30.9 percent, but other regions were significantly worse.

The United States had similar rates. Almost half of children ages 12 to 15 and about one in four American children aged 2 to 5 is affected by tooth decay. Overall, it affects 4 million children in the U.S. alone. Americans consumed an average of 23.8 pounds of candy each in 2008, and with the holiday season approaching, parents should be on the watch for cavities.

As Halloween approaches, candy consumption is likely to skyrocket, but there are plenty of ways to protect trick-or-treaters from tooth decay. Try these five tips to help reduce the amount of sugar:

1. Choose reduced-sugar or sugar-free candies. Most stores carry equally tasty sugar-free or reduced-sugar versions of Halloween favorites, including chocolate, peanut butter cups and various filled or hard candies. These options won’t completely eliminate the risk of tooth decay, but they can significantly cut sugar intake.

2. Give out unconventional goodies. When it comes to candy, sugar-free gum is your safest bet. Candies that can melt and/or stick to teeth are the worst. Other ideas might include stickers, press-on tattoos, plastic rings, or other small toys.

3. Go to a Halloween program or event. Choosing alternatives to trick-or-treating significantly cuts the candy haul. These events are a great place for adults and children to socialize while enjoying snacks and fun activities.

4. Set a limit. Put a limit on the amount of candy a child is allowed daily. This helps prevent candy binges while reducing sugar consumption. Candy can also be used as a reward for good behavior.

5. Donate excess candy. Many communities have programs that will send it to troops or donate $1 for every pound of candy donated. Candy can also be donated to fire stations, schools (for rewards), or other offices in the community.

Regularly brushing teeth and reducing sugar intake can help prevent cavities. Consuming fewer sweets can also help decrease children’s risk for obesity and diabetes. Dentists and parents alike recommend that candy be consumed in moderation.