Latest news with #NHANES
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Serious liver disease is up among heavy drinkers, even without more drinking
Serious liver disease is becoming more common among Americans who drink heavily, according to a new study from Keck Medicine of USC. It's not that more people are partying with alcohol. And it's not that the drinkers are having more drinks. It's that more of the people who drink regularly are becoming sick. Over the last two decades, the share of heavy drinkers who have advanced liver scarring jumped from 1.8% to 4.3%. For women, more than 1.5 drinks per night, on average, is considered heavy drinking. For men, it's 2 drinks. 'The fact that the risk not only increased but that it more than doubled — almost tripled — is really astonishing,' said Dr. Brian P. Lee, a liver transplant specialist at Keck Medicine of USC and lead author on the study. It was published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology on Wednesday. Lee said he thinks patients might dramatically change their thinking and behavior if they had this information. The increase in illness was seen especially in women, older people and those with conditions like obesity or diabetes. Three USC researchers analyzed national health data from more than 44,000 adults surveyed between 1999 and 2020 in a well-known national heath study known as NHANES. Of those, 2,474 were heavy drinkers according to the definition of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism — 20 grams of alcohol per day for women and 30 grams for men, roughly the equivalent of 1.5 and 2 drinks. They found a more than twofold increase over the two decades in significant liver fibrosis, a condition where healthy liver tissue is replaced by stiff, fibrous tissue — like a sponge hardening into leather. If left unchecked, this can eventually lead to liver failure or cancer. By comparison, non-heavy drinkers saw a much smaller increase, from 0.8% to 1.4% over the same period. This rise in liver damage is especially troubling because many people don't realize anything is wrong until the disease is advanced. 'Liver disease is silent,' Lee said. 'Most people won't, even if they have [advanced liver scarring], have any symptoms at all.' Drinking patterns did not change much over the study period. But the health profiles of heavy drinkers did. Rates of metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions including obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure — increased from 26% of people, to nearly 38%. Demographics shifted too: heavy drinkers became more likely to be women, people over the age of 45, and those living in poverty. 'We're showing with this study that the picture of the American drinker is changing dramatically,' Lee said. 'You have more women who are drinking heavily, more ethnic minorities who are drinking heavily, and these are groups that are known to have a higher sensitivity to alcohol in causing liver damage.' Other factors may also be at play, said Dr. Sammy Saab, medical director of the Pfleger Liver Institute at UCLA, who was not involved in the study. People could be consuming different types of drinks, or at different times. 'Have we moved away from beer, wine, to hard cocktails? Have we moved away from drinking with food, where the food absorbs some of the alcohol you consume, versus drinking without food where alcohol is better absorbed?' Saab asked. Then there are cultural changes, he said. 'In the old days, if you drank, you'd still have to drive home, but now we've got Uber, we have Lyft,' he said, which may remove some deterrents to heavy drinking. The current definition of heavy drinking in the U.S. may actually be too lenient, Lee said, especially compared to evolving global standards. Canada, for example, now advises no more than two drinks per week to minimize health risks. 'In the U.S. right now, we consider heavy drinking to be eight drinks or more per week for women and 15 or more for men — but that's quite high,' he said. 'We've shown in prior studies that you can develop liver disease at lower quantities than the U.S. threshold.' The study's findings highlight the need to rethink long-held assumptions about alcohol-related liver disease, and Lee hopes it can be used to develop more effective screening methods for early detection. The paper raises a lot of good questions, Saab said, serving as a call to action for researchers and clinicians to better understand this increase in alcohol-associated liver disease — and how to stop it.
Newsweek
20-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
'Extremely Severe' Obesity on the Rise in US Children—Study
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Extremely severe obesity among American children has increased more than threefold over the past 15 years, with new research published on the JAMA Network, highlighting disturbing trends in prevalence and related health complications. Researchers analyzed national health data from 2008 to 2023, uncovering a surge in the most severe obesity categories for U.S. children aged 2 to 18 years old. Newsweek has reached out to the authors of the study via email Sunday during non-working hours for further comment. Why It Matters The study comes as the nation faces persistent challenges combating childhood obesity, signaling what authors have called a "public health emergency" with wide-ranging medical and economic consequences for future generations. "The findings underscore the urgent need for public health interventions against pediatric obesity in the U.S.," authors Eliane Munte, Xinlian Zhang, Amit Khurana, and Phillipp Hartmann wrote in the study. The sharp upswing in extremely severe obesity among children raises the risk of developing serious medical conditions—including type 2 diabetes, steatotic liver disease, also known as fatty liver disease (MASLD), metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of April 2024, approximately 1 in 5 children—14.7 million—are already classified as obese, with the burden disproportionately affecting racial minorities and lower-income families. Untreated, these complications can persist into adulthood, multiplying risks for chronic disease and shortened life expectancy. What To Know The study evaluated data from 25,847 children and teens, drawing from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2008 and 2023. Obesity was categorized using percentiles based on age and sex, and researchers identified a 253 percent relative increase in extremely severe obesity. Adolescents aged 16 to 18 and non-Hispanic Black children were especially affected. According to the CDC, the prevalence of obesity in U.S. children and teens aged 2-19 years increased from 19.46 percent in 2008 to 22.52 percent in 2023. Several factors have fueled the rise in pediatric obesity, including decreased physical activity, increased screen time, and greater access to high-calorie, low-nutrient foods. Researchers noted that these issues intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, with children experiencing a nearly doubled rate of annual weight gain between 2019 and 2021 compared to prior years. "The monthly rate of BMI increase nearly times faster after the virus appeared," Dr. Alyson Goodman of the CDC said in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) in 2021, highlighting the influence of pandemic-era disruptions. Economic and social disparities also contribute significantly to who is most affected. The CDC reported higher obesity rates among children in families below 130 percent of the federal poverty level around 25 percent, compared with those in wealthier households at 11.5 percent. Unequal access to healthy foods, safe recreational spaces, and adequate medical care also play roles, the CDC said in 2024. The JAMA study found significantly higher odds of children developing MASLD (a fatty liver disease), diabetes or prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and early signs of heart disease. Left unchecked, these conditions can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and major cardiovascular events later in life. In 2024, the CDC estimated the annual medical cost of childhood obesity at $1.3 billion, underscoring the seriousness of the crisis. A beam scale is seen in New York on April 3, 2018. A beam scale is seen in New York on April 3, 2018. AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File What People Are Saying The authors of the study wrote in the conclusion: "The findings of this study with over 25,800 participants provide robust evidence supporting extremely severe obesity specifically as a public health emergency. The association with metabolic and cardiovascular complications necessitates urgent public health action, such as early prevention, targeted education, and the mobilization of resources." What Happens Next? The authors called for "urgent public health interventions" and proposed a multi-layered approach, including preventive education, improved access to nutritious foods, and equitable health care.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Just Linked the Keto Diet with Higher Cancer Risk—Here's What to Know
Key Points The ketogenic diet is a very low-carb, high-fat diet often used for weight loss. This study suggests the keto diet may increase the risk of all cancers. Following an anti-inflammatory diet may help reduce the risk of cancer by lowering disease still holds the top spot for causes of death in the U.S., but cancer isn't far behind, with each condition claiming the lives of over 600,000 Americans every year. And while researchers are more certain about how to prevent heart disease through lifestyle changes, cancer remains a bit more elusive. Scientists are continually searching for ways to prevent cancer and increase survival rates for those with the disease. Researchers from China analyzed data from a long-running U.S. survey called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 2001 and 2018. They wanted to know what association, if any, exists between a ketogenic diet and cancer. They published their findings in Nutrition and Cancer—let's break down what they found. How Was This Study Conducted? For this analysis, almost 44,000 participants from the NHANES met the researchers' criteria. The participants were fairly evenly split between genders, but did skew slightly more female. Participants were at least 20 years of age. All the data were self-reported, including history of cancer, dietary information and demographics. To determine if a participant had a history of cancer, they answered yes or no to the question, 'Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had cancer or a malignancy of any kind?' Dietary intake was calculated using the average of two 24-hour dietary recalls, which researchers used to calculate each participant's dietary ketogenic ratio (DKR). The DKR is a calculation that indicates the likelihood of someone entering ketosis based on their macronutrient ratio. Ketosis occurs when carbohydrates, the body's preferred source of energy, are not available. In this case, the body turns to fat as an energy source, and then the liver converts fat into ketone bodies, which can also be used as an energy source. Based on their DKRs, participants were placed into one of four quartiles, with Q4 having the highest DKRs and Q1 having the lowest. Demographics that would be adjusted for during statistical analyses included age, sex, ethnicity, income and education levels, marital status, BMI, smoking status and medical history. What Did This Study Find? Researchers found that as DKR increased, so did the risk of cancer. But not just one or two types of cancer—all cancers. In other words, they found a significant association between the keto diet and the risk of developing cancer. While these study authors note that there are likely some short-term benefits of a keto diet, the long-term risks may outweigh the benefits. Why keto may raise cancer risk needs to be explored further, but researchers provide a few possible explanations. First, they note that ketones have been implicated in increasing oxidative stress, causing cellular damage, which increases the risk of developing cancer. They also point out that while cancer cells typically prefer to use glucose as an energy source, research suggests that some cancer cells can utilize ketones as an alternative energy source to survive and proliferate. In addition to these findings, these researchers also found that as the degree of ketosis increased, there was a notable decline in the antioxidant properties of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as trace elements such as manganese, zinc, and selenium. This aligns with numerous studies that have consistently shown deficiencies in antioxidant vitamins and trace elements can substantially increase the risk of all cancers. One significant limitation of this study is that participants' ketosis levels were not directly measured with bloodwork. Also, information was all self-reported, which leaves room for error and bias. This includes cancer diagnoses, which might have been more accurate had they used participants' medical records. How Does This Apply to Real Life? While a ketogenic diet does have some legitimate medical uses—like reducing seizures in children with epilepsy—beyond that, it's mainly used to lose weight. The problem is following it long-term—let's face it, one can only eat so much cheese and bacon. And while all foods can fit into a healthy eating pattern, it's important to eat a variety of foods to ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs. Though this study can't say that a keto diet causes cancer, based on this data, there appears to be a strong connection between the two, and more research should be done. Since we know there's also a correlation between chronic inflammation and cancer, eating an anti-inflammatory diet may help reduce cancer risk. An anti-inflammatory diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats. Besides eating a varied, balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight, the American Cancer Society recommends engaging in regular physical activity, managing your stressors, getting plenty of quality sleep, avoiding or limiting alcohol and not smoking to help lower your cancer risk. Our Expert Take This study suggests a connection between the ketogenic diet and cancer risk. While keto may help you lose weight, the risks may outweigh the benefits. If you feel better reducing carbs, there are healthier and more moderate ways to do so that don't go to keto extremes. To get started, choose from our low-carb, high-protein dinners that come together in just 30 minutes or our high-protein, low-carb breakfasts to help you lose weight. If cancer prevention is top of mind, taking a holistic approach may not only help prevent cancer but also other diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, lean proteins and healthy fats in your diet. In addition, move your body often, deal with what's stressing you out, get enough quality sleep and spend time with loved ones. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Millions more Americans now deemed obese under shocking new weight measure
Millions more Americans could be classified as obese under a shocking new measurement from Europe. Researchers in Israel analyzed data on 44,000 adults in the US, including nearly 15,000 marked as overweight using existing methods. But under the new framework, they found some 18.8 percent of overweight adults, or one in five, were re-classified as obese. Overall, this translated into America having an obesity rate of 54.2 percent, or a new record. The US already has the highest obesity rate out of any large country. In the new method from Europe, researchers still consider anyone with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30 kg/m2 as obese. But they also re-classify anyone who is overweight (a BMI or 25 to 29.9 kg/m2) and has an obesity-related condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure, into the category. Researchers said the new definition reveals the overall toll of obesity in the nation, and the surging number of people already suffering from obesity-related conditions like stroke, heart disease and early death. It also revealed how millions who consider themselves 'just a little overweight' could now be suffering from a weight-related complication. About 42.4 percent of adults in the US are obese, while 30.7 percent, or one in three, are considered overweight. For the study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers analyzed data from NHANES, an annual survey tracking participants, including their BMI and underlying conditions. Participants had all submitted data between 1999 and 2018, and were aged 43.4 years old on average. About half were women. The study found that using BMI alone, about 35.4 percent of participants were considered obese, while 33.3 percent were considered overweight and 31.3 percent were considered to be a healthy weight. But after using the new method, developed by The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), a total of 54.2 percent were defined as obese. Of the individuals moved from the overweight to the obese category, they were more likely to be older, with an average age of 51.3 years compared to 36.5 years among those in the overweight category. They were also more likely to be male, and to have at least one underlying condition, with 57.5 percent having one underlying condition like diabetes compared to 34.3 percent in the overweight group. Among the conditions, high blood pressure (79 percent of the group) was most common, followed by arthritis (33.2 percent) and diabetes (15.6 percent). EASO published its new framework in July last year, and some countries, including Ireland and the Netherlands, have already adopted parts of it. The framework recommends surgeons calculate a patient's BMI and then assess underlying health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. Under the guidelines, anyone whose BMI is above 30 kg/m2 is automatically classified as obese. But those who are overweight, with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 kg/m2, and have at least one obesity-related health condition are also considered obese. The framework has not been adopted by other major organizations like the World Health Organization, which still recommends using BMI. It can help someone to be defined as obese because it may lead to them being targeted for early interventions to prevent complications like heart disease or stroke. It could also make it easier for them to access medications like Ozempic and help the patient recognize that they may need care. For the study, researchers also analyzed participants for their mortality risk, or risk of death. They found those who were redefined as obese had a similar mortality risk to those who were overweight, but a 50 percent higher risk than those of the healthy weight. In the study, the researchers wrote that the EASO framework may provide a 'more sensitive tool for diagnosing obesity disease earlier'. It added that some people may have experienced unintentional weight loss due to underlying conditions, which may previously have led them to be included in the overweight category.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Shocking! Loneliness can be linked to Diabetes; here's how
A recent study presented at ENDO 2025 reveals a significant link between social isolation and increased risk of diabetes and poor blood sugar control in older adults. Analyzing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers found that isolated individuals were significantly more likely to develop diabetes and struggle with blood sugar management. Loneliness may not only affect your mental health, but may also affect your physical health. It might not just hurt your feelings, but may harm your health, and even lead to diabetes. Yes, that's right. A recent study has found that socially isolated individuals have an increased risk of developing certain diseases. A recent study presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, California, found that people who are isolated have an increased risk of developing diabetes and high blood sugar. Isolation and diseases The researchers looked at how social isolation is a growing concern since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is emerging as a major health risk, especially for older adults. They found that isolation could even be linked to diabetes and high blood sugar in older adults. Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or can't effectively use the insulin it does produce. This could lead to high blood sugar levels, which can cause serious health complications if not managed properly, including heart disease, kidney damage, and vision problems. High blood pressure, on the other hand, is a 'silent killer', and goes undetected for years. Hypertension is one of the leading causes of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, worldwide. 'Social isolation and loneliness have been increasingly recognized as important health risk factors after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings underscore the importance for clinicians to recognize social isolation as a critical social determinant of health when caring for older patients,' lead researcher Samiya Khan, M.D., of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, said. 'These findings are especially relevant given the rapidly growing aging population in the United States and globally, alongside the widespread prevalence of social isolation and loneliness among older adults,' Khan added. BELLY FAT BLUES: The Waistline Warning Sign of Diabetes The researchers also added that though previous studies have looked at the connection between social isolation and diabetes, this recent study is among the first to examine its link to poor glycemic control using a nationally representative sample of data that reflects the broader US population. The study The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003-2008. NHANES is a survey program to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the US. Analysing that, the researchers looked at the data of 3,833 adults aged 60 to 84. This represents about 38 million older people in the US. They found that socially isolated older adults were 34% more likely to have diabetes and 75% more likely to have poor blood sugar control than those who were not isolated. This study has pointed out that isolation could be a vital factor, which is often overlooked when it comes to diabetes and poor blood sugar management in older adults. 'These findings underscore the importance of social connections for the well-being of older adults. Physicians should recognize social isolation as a potential risk factor among elderly patients for both diabetes and high blood sugar,' Khan added.
