Top 5 online endocrine stories from January

Endocrine Today has put together a compilation of the five news stories most viewed from January 2015 to keep you abreast of the current hot topics in endocrinology.

NIH addresses barriers, solutions to improving weight-loss maintenance

Enhancing efforts and dialogue across the spectrum of specialties that intersect with obesity surfaced as top priority when an NIH working group, led by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, convened to merge perspectives on barriers to scientific progress and novel ways to improve long-term outcomes.

Published in Obesity, the working group report by Paul S. MacLean, PhD, of the University of Colorado, with Rena R. Wing, PhD, of Brown University, and colleagues includes views from experts in integrative physiology, genetics, endocrinology, and behavioral and cognitive sciences. Read more.

Metformin use may increase if indicated for patients with mild kidney disease

The FDA’s labeling of metformin as unsafe for some patients with type 2 diabetes who also have kidney problems may inappropriately discourage them from taking the drug, according to recent study findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

James H. Flory, MD, MSCE, of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, and Sean Hennessy, PharmD, PhD, of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, wrote that the FDA’s label may prevent nearly 1 million more patients with diabetes and renal impairment from taking the medication. Read more.

Weight-loss surgery may lead to discrimination when job interviewing

People were less likely to hire an individual who lost weight through bariatric surgery rather than diet and exercise, according to a study recently published in Obesity Surgery.

“Weight stigma is impacted by the method of weight loss for formerly obese individuals, not just obese individuals,” study researcher Robert Carels, PhD, MBA, the director of clinical training at East Carolina University, said in a press release. Read more.

Survey: People with diabetes uncertain about management of hypoglycemia

Results from an online survey of people living with type 1 or 2 diabetes was recently released, revealing that many are uncertain of how to prevent and manage hypoglycemia, according to a release from the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

The online survey, conducted between Sept. 24, 2014, and Oct. 1, 2014, included 1,000 adults aged ≥18 years with type 1 or 2 diabetes. Read more.

Deaths from lack of exercise double those from obesity

Twice as many deaths could be attributed to lack of physical activity than obesity, according to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Even modest increases in activity by inactive individuals could bring significant health benefits, based on findings from the prospective multi-center European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. Read more.