Todays Newsbites

New research shows that people who have a high body fat percentage may be more prone to diabetes, even if their body mass index (BMI) classifies them as normal weight. People classified as normal weight according to BMI may have a high percent body fat if they do not have much muscle.

A new report from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) links obesity to 12 types of cancer. The report, Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer: a Global Perspective, analyzed a decade of research to develop cancer prevention recommendations. The analysis found strong evidence that being overweight or obese throughout adulthood increases risk of cancer of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, liver, colon, breast (post menopause), ovaries, endometrium, prostate (advanced), and kidney.

Nearly a pound of food per person is wasted each day in America, according to a study in PLOS One. Researchers examined data on Americans eating habits as well as estimates of food loss, including waste, at multiple stages in the food system, spanning the period from 2007 to 2014. Of 22 food groups studied, fruits, vegetables and mixed fruit and vegetable dishes (39% of the total) contributed the most to food wasted. Thats because these types of foods tend to be the most susceptible to food spoilage.

Maintaining five healthy habits is associated with more than a decade of additional life expectancy after age 50, according to a study in Circulation. The habits include never smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise at the recommended levels, moderate alcohol intake and a healthy dietary pattern. The observational study was based on data from two epidemiological studies of health professionals that included more than 123,000 women and men followed for 34 years, as well as data from nationally representative surveys.

A new study from Tufts found that foreign-born blacks-predominantly from countries across the Caribbean and Africa-tend to consume a higher-quality diet than US-born blacks, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Their eating patterns include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids, in comparison to native-born blacks.

Reducing food portion sizes may shift a persons perceptions of what is a normal amount of food to eat and induce them to choose smaller portions next time, suggests a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers recruited participants for the study from staff and students at the University of Liverpool, UK, to participate in a series of three laboratory experiments lasting up to a week.

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee unanimously recommended approval of a new type of implantable glucose monitoring device that can be left in place much longer than previous types. The new sensor is a cylinder measuring about 3/4-inch long and 1/8-inch wide. Its inserted just under the skin on the upper arm under local anesthesia.

Higher intake of magnesium was associated with a lower risk for diabetes, particularly in people with diets too high in low-quality carbohydrates or low in fiber, according to a study in Diabetes Care.

A study combining data on more than 86,000 people in the US and Europe found only weak connections between genetics and levels of consumption of seafood and omega-3 fatty acids. Instead, environmental and personal factors, such as availability of fish and individual food preferences, may play a bigger role in how much fish people consume.

A national tax on unhealthy and nonessential junk foods, like salty snacks and sugary drinks, would be both legal and administratively doable, according to an analysis in the American Journal of Public Health. A tax could encourage consumers to make better food choices and create an incentive for food manufacturers to make their products less unhealthy.