Background: Despite numerous obesity-related health campaigns throughout the U.S., public perceptions of these campaigns have not been formally assessed. In addition, several recent publicized campaigns have come under criticism in the popular media for reinforcing stigmatization of obese people. Thus, research in this area is warranted. Purpose: To systematically assess public perceptions of recent obesity-related public health campaigns in the U.S. Design: RCT. Setting/participants:...

What is energy balance? It may sound like a strange term, but it basically means equalizing the amount of calories you take in with how much you burn through exercise, metabolism and body processes. Since obesity is one of the leading causes of cancer, Carrie Daniel-MacDougall, Ph.D., M.P.H. and Susan Schembre, Ph.D., R.D., both assistant professors in Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at MD Anderson Cancer Center, study behaviors and biological processes associated with linking...

An anti-obesity drug that homes in on and destroys blood vessels that support fat reduced the weight of obese rhesus monkeys by 11 percent in one month. It also trimmed their waistlines by eradicating 27 percent of their abdominal fat. Obesity raises a person's risk for developing breast, ovarian, prostate, colon and other cancers and also hinders treatment for cancer patients. Scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center who developed the drug discuss results of the...