Clipping Board » Research Report ─ The latest medical research reports and related news.
2006-11-1
40% of Hong Kong Youth Overweight
A survey by the Chinese University of Hong Kong found that approximately 42% of Hong Kong youth aged 11 to 18 are overweight, have high blood sugar, high blood pressure, or abnormal blood lipid levels. 2.9% of boys and 2% of girls can be classified as having "metabolic syndrome" — having three of the conditions: obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and abnormal fat levels.
The Chinese University earlier randomly surveyed 2,115 adolescents from 14 secondary schools. Among the respondents, 32.2% had high blood pressure, 10.9% had high triglycerides, 2.4% had low good cholesterol, 9% had central obesity, and 3% had abnormal blood sugar levels. These results are similar to those in Western countries, indicating that obesity among children and adolescents is becoming increasingly severe.
The research also pointed out that risk factors related to "metabolic syndrome" include obesity, a family history of diabetes, and attending schools with poorer academic performance. The survey suggests further in-depth research to understand the relationships among these factors and calls for cross-sector collaboration. Society, especially schools and parents, should actively participate in creating a healthy living environment, allowing schools, families, and children to make healthy dietary choices.
Obesity Costs Americans
A recent study by American researchers shows that Americans spend up to $90.7 billion annually on treating obesity and related diseases.
Professor Adam Gilden Tsai from the University of Pennsylvania reported at an obesity conference in Boston on the 21st that, compared to the average person, each obese patient spends an average of $1,034 more annually on medical visits, medication, and treatment. For those who are overweight but not yet obese, the figure is $273. Experts believe that excessive obesity often leads to arthritis, asthma, breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Statistics show that the United States has the highest number of obese and overweight people among developed countries, with one in three people being obese.
Obesity Lowers IQ
French scientists have found that obesity not only increases the risk of diseases like high blood pressure but also lowers IQ.
According to the UK's Sunday Telegraph, French scientists conducted a five-year intelligence test on over 2,200 adults aged 32 to 62. The results showed that in vocabulary tests, people with a body mass index (BMI) of 20 or below could recall 56% of the words, while those with a BMI of 30 or above could only recall 44%.
Scientists also found that people who gained weight during the study period experienced a faster decline in cognitive abilities. Tests at the end of the five-year study showed that those who gained weight could only recall 37.5% of the words, while those who maintained a normal weight showed no change in memory.
The study suggests that hormones secreted by fat have a destructive effect on brain cells, leading to a decline in brain function. Additionally, obesity can thicken and harden the walls of brain arteries.
The findings of the French scientists have been published in the latest issue of the American journal "Neurology."
Source: http://www. takungpao. com/ news/ 06/ 11/ 01/ GY- 644252. htm
Health Insights: the Consequences of Obesity
40% of Hong Kong Youth Overweight
A survey by the Chinese University of Hong Kong found that approximately 42% of Hong Kong youth aged 11 to 18 are overweight, have high blood sugar, high blood pressure, or abnormal blood lipid levels. 2.9% of boys and 2% of girls can be classified as having "metabolic syndrome" — having three of the conditions: obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and abnormal fat levels.
The Chinese University earlier randomly surveyed 2,115 adolescents from 14 secondary schools. Among the respondents, 32.2% had high blood pressure, 10.9% had high triglycerides, 2.4% had low good cholesterol, 9% had central obesity, and 3% had abnormal blood sugar levels. These results are similar to those in Western countries, indicating that obesity among children and adolescents is becoming increasingly severe.
The research also pointed out that risk factors related to "metabolic syndrome" include obesity, a family history of diabetes, and attending schools with poorer academic performance. The survey suggests further in-depth research to understand the relationships among these factors and calls for cross-sector collaboration. Society, especially schools and parents, should actively participate in creating a healthy living environment, allowing schools, families, and children to make healthy dietary choices.
Obesity Costs Americans
A recent study by American researchers shows that Americans spend up to $90.7 billion annually on treating obesity and related diseases.
Professor Adam Gilden Tsai from the University of Pennsylvania reported at an obesity conference in Boston on the 21st that, compared to the average person, each obese patient spends an average of $1,034 more annually on medical visits, medication, and treatment. For those who are overweight but not yet obese, the figure is $273. Experts believe that excessive obesity often leads to arthritis, asthma, breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Statistics show that the United States has the highest number of obese and overweight people among developed countries, with one in three people being obese.
Obesity Lowers IQ
French scientists have found that obesity not only increases the risk of diseases like high blood pressure but also lowers IQ.
According to the UK's Sunday Telegraph, French scientists conducted a five-year intelligence test on over 2,200 adults aged 32 to 62. The results showed that in vocabulary tests, people with a body mass index (BMI) of 20 or below could recall 56% of the words, while those with a BMI of 30 or above could only recall 44%.
Scientists also found that people who gained weight during the study period experienced a faster decline in cognitive abilities. Tests at the end of the five-year study showed that those who gained weight could only recall 37.5% of the words, while those who maintained a normal weight showed no change in memory.
The study suggests that hormones secreted by fat have a destructive effect on brain cells, leading to a decline in brain function. Additionally, obesity can thicken and harden the walls of brain arteries.
The findings of the French scientists have been published in the latest issue of the American journal "Neurology."
Source: http://www. takungpao. com/ news/ 06/ 11/ 01/ GY- 644252. htm