A new study, published in an editorial in the October issue of British Medical Journal, has indicated a link between mental illness and obesity in patients. “Evan Atlantis from the University of Adelaide’s School of Medicine said that several psychosocial, lifestyle and physiological factors may be involved in the complex inter-relationship between obesity and mental illness. Reduced physical activity and overeating, particularly comfort foods rich in fats and sugars, to improve mood are common among depressed and anxious patients.

According to a new study, patients who have undergone surgical procedures for the removal of lung cancer can tolerate and benefit from exercise regimens started just a month after surgery. This is contrary to the popular belief that surgery on the lung has a restrictive effect on the amount of exercise a person can do. The study, led by Lee Jones, showed that lung cancer patients can not only tolerate exercise, but that it can lead to improved tolerance for exercise, laying a foundation for future studies looking at the effect of exercise on survival in this patient group.

 Photo by Andreas D.

A study, performed by a team led by Professor Li Liang, has indicated that short-term lifestyle intervention should be the first step in the management of children suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The research to be published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology has suggested that dietary restriction and exercise has resulted in improved liver function in patients with NAFLD, relative to the short-term vitamin E capsule therapy.

According to the data from Phase III study of Merck’s taranabant, obese patients taking the drug experienced substantial weight loss when the drug was combined with diet and exercise. Patients who were taking 2 mg of taranabant during the study reported double the weight loss compared to patients being treated with placebo.