The BBC recently reported that men and women who were considered to be apple or pear shaped, were far more likely to suffer from Deep Vein Thrombosis. In a recent 10 year medical test, researchers took data from over 50,000 women and men. During this time the scientists saw that there was a definite pattern emerging, and proved that those with an apple or pear shape were far more likely to suffer from deep vein thrombosis.

Women with excess amounts of fat on both their tights and hips, were among some of the worst affected. Male cases who hard larger waists and stomachs were again at high risk. The areas where your body collects its fat can have a profound effect on your health. Doctors are still unsure as to why the fat in these areas increases the risk of DVT, but there is now enough research to prove their is a definite link between the two.

Large amounts of fat around the body do not only increase the risk of DVT, the excess fat can also lead to a number of health conditions including heart disease, fatty liver disease and even type 2 diabetes.

Reports from the Guardian have shown that young children who are taking psychiatric drugs are far more likely suffer from obesity or become overweight as a result. Over 300 young people were monitored in a recent test, and the results have now shown that that young people who regularly used certain brands of prescription psychiatric pills were putting on anything up to 20 pounds in just as little as three months. Not only did many of the young test patients gain substantial amounts of weight, but their blood sugar and cholesterol levels had also increased considerably.

Young people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disease or who have challenging behavioural problems, are now more commonly being given Antipsychotic medication. It is widely known that Antipsychotic treatments can cause adults to gain substantial amounts of weight, and in some extreme cases, it can even increase the users risk of diabetes. But until now, no research had been carried out, in terms of the drugs effect on young people.

The drug is more widely used in the US, and healthcare professional are worried that the drug will soon become widely used in the UK. If your child is currently using psychiatric drugs to treat any mental health condition, be sure to discuss the full list of side effects with your doctor or pharmacist.

We all know that following a healthy eating plan, and regular exercise is great for our health, but could this be the answer to lowering the rates of diabetes? The BBC recently reported the test results from a three year diabetes trail that took place in the US. During this lengthy trail 3000 individuals took part to test the risk of diabetes.

The groups were spilt into three. The first group followed a healthy diet, the second group took the diabetic drug metformin, whilst the third and final group were given a placebo pill. The results showed that maintaining a healthy diet, along side regular exercise is the best way to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Those who were able to shed 7% in their body mass were able to reduce their risk of developing diabetes by a whopping 58%. Those who were using metformin, also showed impressive results, and reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to a third.

The links between type 2 diabetes and obesity continue to grow, and there are more cases of diabetes being caused patients being overweight than ever before. This new information will hopefully encourage people to stay in better shape, in order to avoid a long list of health conditions, including diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, life threatening condition which has a life-long impact on those diagnosed with it and their families. It is an autoimmune condition that develops when a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.

There is currently no cure for type 1 diabetes and it lasts for a lifetime. It normally strikes children and stays with them for the rest of their lives. People with the condition rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day just to stay alive – but it doesn’t cure their condition. (more…)