The BBD reports also analyze the effectiveness of statin drugs to lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart attack and death and to treat people who have cardiovascular disease. The report finds that a number of low-cost generic statins are as effective and safe as more expensive brand-name drugs in reducing these risks. The Consumer Reports BBD reports coincide with the introduction of Livalo, the so-called 7thstatin, in an already crowded class of drugs.

The reports note that there are no long-term studies of statin use in kids that establish whether or not these medications reduce the number of heart attacks or other cardiovascular events in adulthood. There is also concern over the long-term potential risk for children and adolescents who use these medications for years or decades, particularly the effects on the developing central nervous system, organs, immune function, and hormone levels. For women who only have high LDL, the bad cholesterol, and no heart disease, the risks of statins might outweigh the benefits. Risks include headache, joint and muscle pain, and diarrhea. Other risks that are rarer include liver damage and rhabdomylosis, a breakdown of muscle tissue that can lead to coma and even death. There is also an association with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Since the first statin, lovastatin, came on the market in 1987, statins have been a boon to the pharmaceutical industry. Cholesterol-lowering drugs were the most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S. in 2009 and collectively earned more than $14 billion dollars last year alone, according to IMS Health. When adults have high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), known as the bad cholesterol, they are at increased risk of heart disease and heart attack. Statins lower LDL cholesterol levels and can decrease blockages in the arteries that supply the heart, brain and leg muscles in people who have atherosclerosis.

For more information, visit consumerreports.org.

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Studies show people are more likely to stick to exercise plans when they have support and the Fat-to-Fit program will focus on personal interaction with both Carson and other participants through the Fat-to-Fit online community, which already boasts more than 4,200 members from last year’s challenge. Here participants will be able to access free diet and fitness tips, Carson’s columns and blogs, videos, recipes and more.

The challenge will run through Sept. 6, 2010. Throughout the challenge Carson will select weekly prize winners and, when the challenge ends, she will select the top five overall winners. Winners will be selected on three criteria: serving as a role model for the entire community, facing and overcoming challenges, and demonstrating the principles of the Fat-to-Fit program. The 1st place winner will win a one-year Gold’s Gym membership, with six months of personal training and also receive a trip to Orlando, FL where the winner will participate in a health session alongside Carson at AARP’s Orlando@50+ National Event and Expo., Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2010.

For more information, visit aarp.org.

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This study is very significant because a loss of 5-10% has shown clinical improvement in people’s health, which is far greater than the amount of weight they lost.

The average client’s Body Mass Index (BMI) dropped by 2.5 points from 31.5 to 29. Most people dropped more than 5% of their body weight and many lost 10%.

Subjects were instructed to eat 6 Smart for Life(R) Diet Cookies (or Smart cupcakes, bagel chips, shakes, soups, crunch, cereals that are the equivalent of a cookie) specifically designed to suppress hunger and made with specific protein and HeroFiber (TM). Each day, subjects drank at least 64 ounces of water and ate 6-12 ounces of lean protein with 5 servings of vegetables. All clients were seen by a diet physician before starting, and then weighed weekly with a choice to check in with a counselor or physician.

The Smart for Life(R) Cookie Diet has seen huge success with more and more people trying it every day. The company understands the study’s importance in that it clinically documents what clients achieve each day.

For more information, visit smartforlife.com.

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Drawing on the latest scientific and behavior research, WEIGHT WATCHERSEAT! MOVE! PLAY! breaks down challenges that both parents and children face, and offers suggestions on how to combat these obstacles. In essence, by implementing the following Five Simple Rules to help children learn and understand the importance of smart food choices and a love of physical activity, families can move the needle in the fight against obesity now and into the future.

• Focus on wholesome, nutritious foods
• Ensure that treats in reasonable portions are part of kids’ eating habits
• Limit screen time, like television and video games
• Ensure at least one hour of daily physical activity
• Apply these rules to everyone in the home

With these rules as a cornerstone, WEIGHT WATCHERSEAT! MOVE! PLAY! guides readers on a variety of topics including how to speak with a child’s pediatrician about weight and how to deal with picky eaters and food challenges at all ages and stages. The book provides gradual steps towards a healthier family lifestyle that can start simply with swapping white grains for whole grains, integrating family activities that involve exercise, planning healthy recipes and allowing children to play an active role in cooking. With more than 75 kid-tested recipes, checklists, and goal sheets for the month and near future, parents have a simple yet successful blueprint for healthier kids.

Studies have shown that a parent’s eating and activity habits as well as parenting practices can have an enduring effect on children’s weight as they grow and develop. With EAT! MOVE! PLAY!,parents can discover their unique parenting style and better understand how their personal relationship with food and exercise affects their child’s perception of what is a healthy lifestyle. Written in an accessible and encouraging tone, Weight Watchers has created the essential guide for families across the country to create and sustain a fit household.

For more information, visit weightwatchers.com.

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Currently, about 24 million Americans are living with diabetes and another 57 million have pre-diabetes. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is designed especially for people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Delivered in a group setting, it has been proven to cut participants’ chances of developing the disease by more than half.

This partnership marks the first time a health services company will reimburse a community-based organization for delivering a prevention program such as this.

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is based on the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which showed that with lifestyle changes and modest weight reduction, a person with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by 58 percent.

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine were able to replicate the successful results of the Diabetes Prevention Program in conjunction with the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. Unlike the NIH’s program, which was conducted with individuals one-on-one, the YMCA’s program is conducted in a group setting.
The research conducted by the Indiana University researchers also proved that the YMCA could effectively deliver a group program for about 75 percent less than the cost of the original Diabetes Prevention Program. This research also highlighted the YMCA’s ability to deliver the program nationally.

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is being offered as part of UnitedHealth Group’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance. YMCAs will receive reimbursement for each participant who is referred through the Alliance, with performance-based metrics built in that provide for a higher reimbursement when the desired weight loss is achieved.

In addition to partnering with UnitedHealth Group, YMCA of the USA is also working with CDC and elected officials championing prevention in Congress to bring the program to more communities and develop a national program to recognize proven diabetes prevention programs like the YMCA’s.

YMCA of the USA’s work with UnitedHealth Group will begin with seven YMCAs – Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio; Indianapolis, Ind.; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; and Phoenix, Ariz. – and will expand throughout 2010 and beyond.

In these communities, the YMCA is committed to making the program available to everyone who meets program criteria, regardless of an individual’s insurance coverage. In addition, as evidence of UnitedHealth Group’s commitment to solving the nation’s diabetes crisis, the company is making the program available to other insurance companies and employer groups that are not its health insurance customers.

The goals of the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program are to help people with pre-diabetes achieve and maintain weight loss of at least 7 percent by eating healthy and increasing physical activity to 150 minutes per week. A trained lifestyle coach works with a group of participants for 16 core sessions to help them change their lifestyles. After these sessions, participants meet monthly for up to a year for added support in maintaining their progress.

This announcement comes on the heels of the historic health care reform legislation, which included a bi-partisan bill by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., authorizing CDC to train and recognize community-based diabetes prevention programs like those being offered by the YMCA.

In addition to its commitment to the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, UnitedHealth Group is also pledging a $2.25 million, three-year grant to support YMCA of the USA’s healthy living efforts.

For more information, visit ymca.net.

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But a first-of-a-kind study conducted by researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Wesleyan University and Rutgers University found that more than 63 percent of participants had stopped binging at the end of the program – compared to just over 28 percent of those who did not participate. The program lasted only 12 weeks, but most of the participants were still binge free a year later. A second study, also published in the April issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, found that program participants saved money because they spent less on things like dietary supplements and weight loss programs.

Binge eating has received a lot of media attention recently because the American Psychiatric Association is recommending that it be considered a separate, distinct eating disorder like bulimia and anorexia. This new diagnosis can be expected to focus more attention on binge eating and how best to treat it, according to the researchers. It also could influence the number of people diagnosed and how insurers will cover treatment.

This randomized controlled trial, conducted in 2004-2005, involved 123 members of the Kaiser Permanente health plan in Oregon and southwest Washington. More than 90 percent of them were women, and the average age was 37. To be included in the study, participants had to have at least one binge eating episode a week during the previous three months with no gaps of two or more weeks between episodes.

Half of the participants were enrolled in the intervention and asked to read the book “Overcoming Binge Eating” by Dr. Christopher Fairburn, a professor of psychiatry and expert on eating disorders. The book details scientific information about binge eating and then outlines a six-step self-help program using self-monitoring, self-control and problem-solving strategies. Participants in the study attended eight therapy sessions over the course of 12 weeks in which counselors explained the rationale for cognitive behavioral therapy and helped participants apply the strategies in the book. The first session lasted one hour, and subsequent sessions were 20-25 minutes. The average cost of the intervention was $167 per patient.

All participants were mailed fliers detailing the health plan’s offerings for healthy living and eating and encouraged to contact their primary care physician to learn about more services.

By the end of the 12-week program 63.5 percent of participants had stopped binging, compared to 28.3 percent of those who did not participate. Six months later, 74.5 percent of program participants abstained from binging, compared to 44.1 percent in usual care. At one year, 64.2 percent of participants were binge free, compared to 44.6 percent of those in usual care.

Everyone in the trial was asked to provide extensive information about their binge eating episodes, how often they missed work or were less productive at work, and the amount they spent on health care, weight-loss programs and weight loss supplements. Researchers also examined expenditures on medications, doctor visits, and other health-related services.

The researchers then compared these costs between the two groups and found that average total costs were $447 less in the intervention group. This included an average savings of $149 for the participants, who spent less on weight loss programs, over-the-counter medications and supplements. Total costs for the intervention group were $3,670 per person per year, and costs for the control group were $4,098.

For more information, visit kaiserpermanente.org.

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The New Atkins for a New You debuted on The New York TimesBestseller List (Paperback Advice category) on March 21, 2010, and has spent 81 days to-date on Amazon’s Top 100 list in the Health, Mind & Body category.

The New Atkins for a New You details how science has transformed the Atkins Diet™ from what was once considered a fad into an established, medically validated, safe and effective treatment. Instead of a “bacon, egg, and cheese” diet, the new Atkins Diet promotes a wide variety of whole foods. These include multiple protein sources, as well as vegetables, low glycemic fruits and—as one approaches one’s goal weight—whole grains. This mix of foods keep you satiated longer, but eliminates the simple sugars and quickly digested carbohydrates that spike blood sugar.
Why take a look at The New Atkins for a New You?:

• It’s written by experts. No one knows more about low-carb nutrition than the book authors who have published more than 250 scientific papers in leading health journals.

• It destroys the myth that you don’t eat vegetables on Atkins. In fact, you can have at least five daily servings of high-fiber vegetables from the beginning of the diet. Vegetarians and vegans can fully embrace Atkins.

• It adapts Atkins to different ethnic cuisines. The new Atkins retains the flavors of ethnic cuisines, such as Latin American, Italian and Chinese, within your diet, while eliminating the starchy, sugary foods that can cause obesity and type 2 diabetes.

• It doesn’t deny you your favorite foods. Chocolate? Grains? The new Atkins understands cravings and provides realistic strategies to lessen them. In fact, in the later stages of Atkins, you can add chocolate, low-carb pasta and whole grains into the diet.

For more information, visit atkins.com.

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On Getting Healthy, Physically and Mentally

“After Ed [ex-husband Eddie Van Halen] and I separated, I thought ‘I’ll finish raising my son, and I’ll go away, have about 40 cats, and just get nice and fat.’ I thought I would be alone for the rest of my life, because I didn’t want the responsibility. Relationships are too hard.”

“Valerie is a very strong woman,” says celebrity chef Rachael Ray, a close friend. “She pulled herself up from a tough place and came back swinging.”

“If I really want a piece of bread, I’ll have a bite or two, with butter. And I put sugar in my coffee. That’s what—an extra 12 calories? It’s all about portion control.”

For more information, visit aarp.org/magazine.

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The Premium programs offer advanced tracking capabilities, goal-setting features, and enhanced analytics to help users lose weight, get fit, and manage hypertension.

Premium program features:
• Dashboards for easy, highly visual access to all user data and tools
• Goal-setting capabilities
• Quick-look graphs & charts for easy visualization of progress toward goals
• Enhanced analytics
• Simple, interactive overviews to see patterns and challenges related to health
• Instant access to more than 30 health and lifestyle Trackers
• iPhone app to record and manage information on the go.

For more information, visit TheCarrot.com.

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A new study published in the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior by researchers at Princeton University found that rats with access to high fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same.

One reason for this, according to Roger Deutsch, author of Your Hidden Food Allergies Are Making You Fat and President of Cell Science Systems, Corp. (CSS), is that certain chemicals in the immune system, specifically Interleukin-6 and TNF-alpha, interfere with sugar metabolism. IL-6 is released from T Cells and macrophages to stimulate immune response to trauma, whereas TNF-alpha is used to regulate immune cells.

Another cause of the extreme weight gain associated with high fructose corn syrup, said Deutsch, is the body’s inability to cope with unnaturally proportioned, over processed sugars.

The inability to tolerate foods and environmental factors, also known as sensitivity or intolerance, induces chronic activation of the innate immune system and gives rise to inflammatory processes, which include excess production of reactive oxygen species and the release of preformed and newly synthesized mediators of inflammation.

For more information, visit alcat.com

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