Category Archives: Studies

Are Cooking Shows Making Us Fat?

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Greg Asseff

The popularity of cooking shows in the U.S. cannot be denied. According to a 2010 survey from Harris Interactive, 50 percent of Americans watch cooking shows on television either very often or at least occasionally. Also, 57 percent of those surveyed stated that they’ve purchased specific foods as a direct result of something seen on a cooking program. Newer research says the number of viewers could actually be much higher. While some TV recipes can indeed be considered healthy, many famous chefs probably wouldn’t describe themselves as “health food specialists.” For example, Paula Deen, one of the most well-known TV chefs, is infamous for the high butter content in recipes like Paula’s Fried Butter Balls. At the same time, cooking from home instead of eating out has generally proven to be healthier overall. So are cooking shows good or bad for our waistlines?

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, News, Nutrition, Studies, Weight Loss, Women | 1,979 Comments

Study Says Loneliness As Big a Risk Factor For Early Death As Obesity

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Greg Asseff

When it comes to early mortality, preventable risk factors such as obesity and smoking are widely discussed. For example, one study from 2012 claims that otherwise healthy, non-smoking adults could be hastening mortality by 9.44 years if they’re obese. Information on smoking may be even more prevalent. According to the CDC, smokers have a life expectancy that’s a full 10 years shorter than nonsmokers. Also, quitting smoking before turning 40 can lower a person’s risk of death due to a smoking-related disease by an astonishing 90 percent. But while these risk factors are fairly well understood, there may still be many under-recognized causes of early mortality. Case in point, a new study from Brigham Young University claims that loneliness could actually shorten a person’s life. It’s a big problem, and it could be getting much worse in the near future.

Posted in Health, Medical, Mental Health, News, Studies | 1,443 Comments

Diet Soda Linked to Belly Fat in Older Adults

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Greg Asseff

Abdominal obesity has reached near-epidemic levels in America. Just over 54 percent of the U.S. population now has abdominal obesity, which is up from 46.4 percent around the turn of the millennium. The average American’s waist size now measures 38.8 inches. Besides simple cosmetic issues, though, too much belly fat comes with the risk of more serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and early death. Factors that contribute to an expanding waistline often include stress, poor sleep habits, hormonal imbalances and certain medications. Of course, the biggest factors usually involve poor diet and lack of exercise. Unfortunately, diet soda, intended to be a healthier alternative to a very unhealthy product, may actually be contributing to the epidemic of belly fat in older adults.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Medical, News, Nutrition, Studies, Weight Loss | 9 Comments

A Vegetarian Diet May Lower the Risk of Colon Cancer

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Greg Asseff

According to the Colon Cancer Alliance, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women in the U.S. It’s also the third most commonly diagnosed type of cancer. Risk factors often include age, ethnicity and family history. For example, over 90 percent of the people who develop colon cancer are over the age of 50, and the average age at diagnosis is 72. A person who has parents or siblings with colon cancer is two to three times more likely to develop it themselves. Sufferers of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis may be more likely to develop the disease as well. The problem with these risk factors is that they’re not necessarily controllable. There’s absolutely nothing you can do about your age or family history. However, as a new study reports, you may be able to control your colon cancer risk by avoiding one thing: meat.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Medical, News, Nutrition, Studies | 1,133 Comments

Study Says Too Much Praise Can Lead to Narcissistic Children

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Greg Asseff

It’s not uncommon for any generation to think that younger people are more selfish or entitled. Nearly 40 years ago, respected author Tom Wolfe famously declared the 1970s to be the “Me” Decade. But it seems as if there’s an especially high amount of concern about narcissistic children and young adults now. In 2013, Time Magazine declared millennials to be the Me Me Me Generation, calling them lazy, entitled, selfish, shallow and narcissistic (to be fair, it also said millennials will “save us all”). Articles such as these point to studies like this one from 2008, which claimed narcissism in college students has skyrocketed since the 1970s. This study, also from 2008, says that 9.4 percent of people aged 20 to 29 are extreme narcissists, while only 3.2 percent of people older than 65 exhibit narcissism. The continued prominence of social media doesn’t help either. Selfies and Facebook only seem to fuel the fire for a narcissistic generation.