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Intermittent fasting helps obese women lose weight Obese women may be able to lose more weight and improve their health by fasting intermittently while following a strictly controlled diet, according to new research at the University of Adelaide. The study, published in the journal Obesity, involved a sample of 88 women following carefully controlled diets over 10 weeks. “Continuously restricting their diet is the main way that obese women try to tackle their weight,” says Dr Amy Hutchison, lead author from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. “Unfortunately, studies have shown that long-term adherence to a restricted diet is very challenging for people to follow, so this study looked at the impact of intermittent fasting on weight loss. “Obese women who followed a diet in which they ate 70% of their required energy intake and fasted intermittently lost the most weight. “Other women in the stud...

Emergency/urgent hospitalizations linked to accelerated cognitive decline in older adults Emergency and urgent hospitalizations are associated with an increased rate of cognitive decline in older adults, report researchers at Rush University Medical Center. Results of their study, published in the Jan. 11, 2019, online issue of  Neurology , the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, shows that hospitalization may be a more of a major risk factor for long-term cognitive decline in older adults than previously recognized. "We found that those who have non-elective (emergency or urgent) hospitalizations and who have not previously been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease had a  rapid decline  in cognitive function (i.e., thinking abilities) compared to the prehospital rates," said Bryan James, Ph.D., an epidemiologist and in the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and an assistant professor in the Rush Department of ...

The bigger your belly, the smaller your brain, study claims A new study published by the  American Academy of Neurology  has linked extra belly fat to shrinking in brain volume. Measuring the body mass index (BMI) and the waist-to-hip ratios of its participants, the research found that those with higher ratios of both criteria had the lowest brain volume. About 1000 participants with higher BMI and waist-to-hip ratio were marked with the lowest amount of grey matter in their brains. Gray matter is component of the central nervous system that is responsible for processing information and controls emotion, memory, and intellect, all of which tell on the growth and development of the brain. It is responsible for sensory perception, self-control and muscle movement. “We also found links between obesity and shrinkage in specific regions of the brain,” said Mark Hamer, lead author of the study. “This will need further research but it may be possi...

Global Fund targets $14b to fight AIDS, TB, Malaria globally At least 14 billion dollars is needed to accelerate the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and quell stubborn epidemics that still kill millions, the head of a global health fund said on Friday. Announcing a fundraising target for the next three-year cycle, Peter Sands, Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said the money could help save 16 million lives, halving deaths from the three diseases. It would also be used to build stronger health systems in poor countries ill-equipped to handle existing outbreaks and unable to cope with potential new epidemics. “New threats mean there is no middle ground. We need to … protect and build on the gains. “We have made, or we will see those achievements eroded, infections and deaths resurge, and the prospect of ending the epidemics disappear.” The Global Fund is a group of governments, civil society and private sector p...

Dangote, Adenuga top 2019 Forbes’ list of ‘poorer’ African billionaires For eight years running, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, maintained his position on Forbes’ new list of African billionaires, but lost nearly $2 billion compared to his net worth last year. Tagged: Fewer Billionaires, Poorer Billionaires On African Continent In 2019, Forbes said the number of African billionaires fell to 20, down from 23 last year, having been buffeted by plunging stock prices and weaker currencies. Overall, the 20 African business tycoons are worth $68.7 billion, down from $75.4 billion last year. However, the average net worth of each member on the list this year grew to $3.4 billion from $3.3 billion in early 2018. The report revealed that Dangote’s estimated $10.3 billion net worth is nearly $2 billion less than a year ago, due to nearly 20 per cent drop in the stock price of Dangote Cement. In 2015, Dangote’s net worth stood at $25 billion, but reduced by about $15 billio...

Pain relief during labor varies across U.S. (Reuters Health) - Access to pain relief during childbirth in the U.S. may vary depending on where women live, a study suggests. Researchers who analyzed more than 2.6 million deliveries in 2015 found the proportion of women receiving epidurals or spinal blocks to manage pain during labor ranged from a low of 25 percent in Maine to a high of 79 percent in Nevada, Very little of this difference - just 5.4 percent - could be explained by differences between states in health market factors like the size of the anesthesiologist workforce, the study found. “Unmeasured patient-level and hospital-level factors may account for the degree of variation,” said Dr. Alexander Butwick of Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California. “This speaks to the fact that mothers should ask lots of questions about the extent of services provided at their delivery hospital, which includes: obstetric, neonatal, as well those r...

Global fight against killer diseases seeks £11bn A key fund which finances the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria is seeking fresh investment worth £11bn. The French President Emmanuel Macron is launching the latest round to replenish the  Global Fund  in Paris. It is being called "a decisive moment". The fund says progress has slowed down because of wavering political commitment, and increasing insecticide and drug resistance. Raising the target amount could help save 16 million lives, it is claimed, as well as halving the death rate from these three significant diseases. The £11bn ($14bn) would be spent on medicine which treats and prevents HIV transmission, TB drugs and mosquito nets to protect against malaria. 'Progress has stalled' The fund's executive director Peter Sands told BBC News: "We've made extraordinary progress in reducing these deaths - but that progress has stalled. "Coming in new to this p...

Salah: Hosting Nations Cup can help revive Egyptian fooball Mohamed Salah believes hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations can revitalize league football in Egypt. The Liverpool striker was talking after  being crowned 2018 African Footballer of the Year  and on the day  Egypt were named 2019 Nations Cup hosts. Egypt replaced Cameroon, who were denied the hosting rights due to slow preparations and security concerns. "It's the right time for Egypt - as we have to be clear - our league is not a top league in Africa at the moment," Salah said. "I'm sure this is going to be the start for us to be back." The finals will also see fans return to stadiums in large numbers for the first time since 2012. A maximum of 5,000 supporters have been allowed in to watch games  since September last year. It was the first time authorities cleared fans to watch league matches on a regular basis 2012. Supporters were banned from attending matc...

Hosts UAE beat India 2-0 to go top of Asian Cup group The Emirates, who salvaged a 1-1 draw in their curtain-raiser against Bahrain after a controversial late penalty last weekend, went top of Group A on four points from two games despite a hairy start in Abu Dhabi. India captain Sunil Chhetri overtook Lionel Messi in international goals as the Blue Tigers stunned Thailand 4-1 in their opening game to earn comparisons with Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli for his heroics back home. The veteran striker and Ashique Kuruniyan both forced smart saves from UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa before the home side drew first blood against the run of play. Mubarak whipped the ball home from an acute angle four minutes before halftime for the Emirates, who were runners-up the last time the country hosted the Asian Cup in 1996. Mabkhout sealed the points with a cool finish two minutes from the end -- his 47th goal in 75 internationals -- to give the scoreline a so...