Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Compared To Other Sedentary Behaviors, Watching TV Strongly Linked To Belly Fat
The Star Tribune: Belly Up To The TV: Binge Watching Could Lead To More Stomach Fat
Binge watchers, you may want to hit the pause button for this: watching TV has been linked to more belly fat — even for people who exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. For every hour and a half spent watching TV, abdominal fat increased by about 3 cubic centimeters, according to a study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Abdominal fat is a concern because it is a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease. (Shah, 10/20)
Stat: Obesity And The Brain: New Findings Could Spur Future Drug Development
There hasn’t been a lot of innovation in the obesity drug market. Sure, a smattering of companies have come out with weight loss medications — but their results have been middling and their financial performance poor. But new research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology might help researchers pick a new target for obesity drugs. Scientists have found that glial cells — long thought to simply serve as supportive foil for neurons — play a role in appetite and feeding. Here’s what they’re doing: In mice, the scientists have engineered astrocytes — a type of glial cell — that produce a surface receptor that binds to a chemical compound called CNO, which is similar to the drug clozapine. Giving the mice CNO turns on astrocyte activity — and makes them gorge on food. (Keshavan, 10/20)
And in other public health news —
NPR: Pulmonary Embolism Can Be The Overlooked Cause Of Fainting Spells
Unexplained fainting episodes may be caused by a dangerous blood clot in the lung more frequently than many doctors suspect, according to an Italian study. Episodes of fainting (known as syncope) are quite common in elderly people. About half the time, doctors identify an underlying heart condition. Other cases are caused by shock or some other passing cause. But many cases remain mysterious. (Harris, 10/20)
Kaiser Health News: Researchers Unlock Mystery Of How Zika Spreads In Human Cells
Researchers have discovered a piece in the puzzle of how the Zika virus spreads in human cells and neutralizes the body’s defenses. A study by scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine answered a fundamental question posed by biologists: What happens when the virus enters a human cell? (Bluth, 10/20)
