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The obesity crisis in the United States has now grown to epidemic proportion. And as the list of consequential health conditions and diseases continues to expand as well, there are major movements toward helping Americans lose weight. Perhaps the next ally in battling poor appetite control is a vitamin-like nutrient called citicoline.

Scientists at McLean Hospital and professors at Harvard Medical School have explored the effects of Cognizin®citicoline supplementation on the neurobiological systems involved in appetite and eating behavior regulation and found the potential to reduce cravings and increase feelings of satiety. This work was published in the January issue of the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

While an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, and researcher on this study Deborah Yurgelun-Todd PhD, monitored the effect of nutrients such as citicoline on the dopamine neurons in the brain, which have been shown to have a direct effect on the motivation to eat and the rewarding value of food.

This study compared the effects of open label treatment with citicoline at two different dosages (500 mg/day versus 2,000 mg/day) for six weeks on changes in appetite ratings (using questionnaires), weight, and brain response to images of high-calorie foods (using magnetic resonance imaging). In the stimulation phases of the study, at baseline and following the 6-week treatment, participants were monitored via MRI while viewing a series of colorful visuals that included both high-calorie foods and non-food objects in a quick 150-second series of photos. Each image was viewed for a brief, three seconds. Study participants included 16 healthy adults (8 men, 8 women) ranging from 40 to 57 years of age, and across a range of Body Mass Index values from 20 to 38.

Appetite ratings did decline significantly for the group as a whole, as assessed by questionnaire responses. The decline for the high-dose group did reach significance, however the low-dose group did not.

There was no significant weight change in weight for either group overall, although individuals did show weight loss. “The most interesting findings are that with the use of brain imaging studies, we are able to visualize the differences between baseline and after 6-weeks of citicoline supplementation. Scans from the high-dose group illustrate the shift in how their brains interpreted the food images,” explains Yurgelun-Todd, now the Director of the Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory and The Brain Institute at the University of Utah.

There are three regions of the brain that are particularly relevant to appetite control and behavioral inhibition: the lateral orbitofrontal cortex, the insular cortex and the amygdala. In a direct correlation, those high-dose participants who had the greatest activation of these three portions of the brain saw the greatest decline in appetite for high-calorie foods. “The citicoline may have affected their appetite by stimulating regions of the brain used to normalize or regulate their response to the food images. These three regions may help the participant see food as less rewarding, and therefore have a lesser desire to eat it,” added Yurgelun-Todd.

Citicoline has a number of different mechanisms of action, and it has yet to be determined which may be responsible for the changes in brain responses. The vitamin-like nutrient has been known to function as a precursor of phospholipid and acetylcholine synthesis; citicoline also enhances of the release of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and increased synthesis of phospholipids including cardiolipin and sphingomyelin. Citicoline has also been recognized for neuroprotective effects with stroke or other brain injuries, protection from cognitive decline. Though this research is still preliminary, researchers will continue to investigate whether these effects are related to citicoline properties, or from the effect citicoline has on the dopamine or other systems.

For more information, visit kyowa-usa.com.

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Jillian Michaels, New York Times bestselling author and renowned wellness coach from NBC’s The Biggest Loser and star of the upcoming NBC show Losing It with Jillian, announces a new product intended to “jump-start” any weight loss program. Her JumpStart 14 Day Cleanse and Burn kit has launched in Walgreens and Wal-Mart stores, and will roll out in retailers nationwide over the next month.

The JumpStart kit contains a 7-day supply of Jillian Michaels’ Triple Process Total Body Detox & Cleanse, a 7-day supply of her Probiotic Replenishment and a 7-day supply of her Maximum Strength Fat Burner(TM). In the first week, the Triple Process Total Body Detox & Cleanse is taken to help reduce bloating and body waste build-up (without harsh chemical laxatives or fasting), and help support the liver’s natural detoxification process. In the second week, the 7-Day Probiotic Replenishment is taken in conjunction with the Maximum Strength Fat Burner(TM). The 7-Day Probiotic Replenishment helps replace beneficial flora in the digestive tract, while the Maximum Strength Fat Burner is designed to aid consumers in losing actual body fat… not just body weight.

The complete Jillian Michaels supplement line is comprised of the following: Maximum Strength Calorie Control(TM), Maximum Strength Fat Burner(TM), Triple Process Total Body Detox & Cleanse Plus Probiotic Replenishment(TM), QuickStart Rapid Weight Loss System(TM), and the new JumpStart 14 Day Cleanse and Burn(TM)

For more information visit, jillianweightloss.com.

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Reader’s Digest unveils results of its exclusive global diet poll in the February issue, on newsstands January 15, 2010. What country diets the most? Which one thinks being overweight is no big deal? Which country pops the most diet pills? Who’s to blame for the global obesity epidemic? The issue delves into the research and delivers some surprising findings:

The U.S. surpasses other countries in women who want their husbands to lose pounds; it’s also the country where women struggle the most with their weight. However, diet pills and smoking to control weightare not as prevalent as in other countries,but a solid 85% of American women have tried to lose weight at least once in their lives. Ironically, nearly 70% of American women believe our culture is overly focused on weight.

Reader’s Digest commissioned an exclusive global poll, interviewing approximately 16,000 people in 16 countries about their attitudes and behaviors about weight, weight loss, and obesity. It also offers a potent diet plan that incorporates tips from around the world.

Reader’s Digest VP/Global Editor-in-Chief Peggy Northrop says, “Our poll makes it clear that people around the world are struggling with their weight. But the news isn’t all bad — we also found that just about every culture has some custom that can help keep you lean and healthy. We need to look at ourselves and our neighbors to see what works in this worldwide struggle.”

Brazil feels the most pressure to be thin. The survey found that 83% of Brazilians think there is too much emphasis placed on weight, with 77% of men and 89% of women feeling the pressure. Comparatively, 62% of Americans think we care too much about weight, ranking third behind Brazil and India (68%) in this category.

Wives in the U.S. want their husbands to lose weight. More than half (51%) of married American women wish their husbands weighed less, while 47% of married American men desire the same of their mates. In India, 48% of Indian men admit to being dissatisfied with their spouse’s weight; 46% of Indian women feel the same.

When it comes to popping diet pills, China ranks number one, with 37% of the Chinese admitting that they take weight loss pills. Brazil (30%), Russia (24%), and Mexico (23%) also look to pills, while only 19% of the U.S. do.

Russia is the country where people try to puff away the pounds, with 23% of men and 18% of women admitting they smoke to suppress appetite. In the U.S., a mere 5% say they light up to lose weight.

The country most likely to blame its fat on a lack of willpower: the Philippines. Approximately half of Americans feel the same. And where do people blame their parents for being fat? Russia. An amazing 70% of Russians point to their genes as the reason they need larger jeans. Germans (61%) and Indians (50%) also use this excuse. In the U.S., 20% of Americans blame Mom and Dad.

More than any people surveyed, the French point to American eating habits and fast food as the culprits in their nation’s growing girth. It’s somewhat reassuring to note that at least the U.S. recognizes and takes responsibility, as almost three quarters of Americans admit our way of eating promotes obesity.

Mexico leads the way as the country with the healthiest approach to losing weight. Almost all (93%) Mexicans say they have tried switching to a more healthful diet in an attempt to lose weight, and 86% have tried to become more physically active. In the U.S., 86% of Americans have tried to eat healthier, and 75% have attempted to work out, but 61% still resort to dietary deprivation (compared with 55% of Mexicans).
The U.S. is also concerned with weight being an obstacle to sex, with 46% of Americans (51% of men and 41% of women) saying that fat foils frolicking.

With the New Year come New Year’s resolutions, many of which are centered on fitness and weight loss. Reader’s Digest puts forward the basis for a potent global weight-loss plan by uncovering the varied cultural habits and customs that can keep people slim and healthy.

Highlights include:
• Thailand believes in spicy food. Hot peppers raise your metabolism and burn a few extra calories.
• Switzerland recommends muesli, a cereal that’s full of fiber and made with oats, nuts, and fruit, each of which has been linked to better health and weight control.
• Brazil enjoys rice and beans with almost every meal, and research has found that this lowers the risk of becoming overweight by 14% when compared with typical Western fare.
• The Dutch down about 85 million raw herring a year. It’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
• For India, Finland, and the Netherlands, exercise is an integral ingredient, with yoga, walking, and biking, respectively, being key to weight management.

For more information, visit red.com.

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Are Americans in denial about their eating habits? Today, two out of three Americans are overweight or obese, and by 2030 that figure will balloon to nearly nine out of 10.[i],[ii] Yet in a new national survey, three-quarters of respondents (74%) said they have a healthy personal relationship with food revealing a clear disconnect between how we think and how we act when it comes to eating. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, the maker of alli®, sponsored the survey to better understand America’s unhealthy relationship with food and develop solutions to help people change the way they eat.

The survey revealed several contradictions in how Americans perceive their eating habits. While eight in 10 Americans surveyed (79%) say they are satisfied with the state of their personal eating habits, two-thirds (67%) admit to practicing poor eating habits on at least a weekly basis, such as skipping meals and eating when they’re not hungry. And, despite their satisfaction with their own eating habits, nearly three-quarters of respondents (73%) said most Americans have an unhealthy relationship with food. About half (52%) believe an immediate family member has an unhealthy relationship with food, while more than four in 10 (44%) are concerned about a spouse’s eating habits.

As part of its commitment to changing the unhealthy eating paradigm, GSK Consumer Healthcare announced last week a sponsorship with The Creative Coalition, an advocacy organization of the entertainment community that uses the arts as a platform for shedding light on important social issues. The Creative Coalition will work with a director to develop a documentary project that raises awareness of mindless and emotional eating in relation to America’s obesity epidemic. The project is being sponsored with full funding by GSK Consumer Healthcare. The Creative Coalition will have complete creative control.
This is part of The Creative Coalition’s Spotlight Initiative, which uses independent film to bring attention to important issues on the national and global agendas.

For more information, visit myalli.com.

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