Science Weekly - 02092018

This week's fitness and nutrition research round-up is rather interesting and investigates potentially dividing topics. 

How obesity can affect strength gains, why we shouldn't ditch all dairy just yet, why may low-carb diet be dangerous, ow the protein intake of a father can impact the offspring's health and fitness and a few more. Which one did you find the most interesting?

Post-workout muscle building and repair blunted in obese adults

Obesity is associated with a host of health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. According to a new study, obesity also diminishes a person's ability to build muscle after engaging in resistance exercise.

Source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The link between obesity, the brain, and genetics

Clinicians should consider how the way we think can make us vulnerable to obesity, and how obesity is genetically intertwined with brain structure and mental performance, according to new research.

Source: McGill University

Low carbohydrate diets are unsafe and should be avoided, study suggests

A large study suggests that low carbohydrate diets are unsafe and should be avoided, say researchers who found that people who consumed a low carbohydrate diet were at greater risk of premature death.

Source: European Society of Cardiology

Current advice to limit dairy intake should be reconsidered, research suggests

New research finds that with the exception of milk, dairy products have been found to protect against both total mortality and mortality from cerebrovascular causes.

Source: European Society of Cardiology

Smoking and drinking can damage arteries 'very early in life'

The arteries of teenagers who drink alcohol and smoke, even very occasionally, are already beginning to stiffen by age 17, according to new research.

Source: University College London

Food activates brown fat

Brown fat consumes energy, which is the reason why it could be important for preventing obesity and diabetes. Working together with an international team, researchers were able to demonstrate that food also increases the thermogenesis of brown fat, and not just cold as previously assumed.

Source: Technical University of Munich (TUM)

Father's diet could affect the long-term health of his offspring

New research has shown that a lack of protein in a father's diet affects sperm quality which can have a direct impact on the long-term health of their offspring.

​Source: University of Nottingham

Changes in breakfast and dinner timings can reduce body fat

Modest changes to breakfast and dinner times can reduce body fat, a new pilot study reports.

​Source: University of Surrey

Even the fittest middle-aged athletes can't outrun cardiovascular risk factors

Middle-aged adults are exercising more and living longer, but new research suggests that even the fittest among them are not immune to cardiovascular disease -- and they often don't have any symptoms.

​Source: University of British Columbia