Binge Eating: Short-Term Program Has Long-Term Benefits
Filed under: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials, Eating Disorders, Psychology / Psychiatry, Women's Health / Gynecology
A new study finds that a self-guided, 12-week program helps binge eaters stop binging for up to a year and the program can also save money for those who participate. Recurrent binge eating is the most common eating disorder in the country, affecting more than three percent of the population, or nine million people, yet few treatment options are available.
But a first-of-a-kind study conducted by researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Wesleyan University and Rutgers University found that more than 63 percent of participants had stopped binging at the end of the program – compared to just over 28 percent of those who did not participate. The program lasted only 12 weeks, but most of the participants were still binge free a year later. A second study, also published in the April issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, found that program participants saved money because they spent less on things like dietary supplements and weight loss programs.
“It is unusual to find a program like this that works well, and also saves the patient money. It’s a win-win for everyone,” said study author Frances Lynch, PhD, MSPH, a health economist at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research. “This type of program is something that all health care systems should consider implementing.” Read more
Shetland Seaweed For Safer Hair Dyes And Cosmetics
Scientists have launched a project to make hair dye out of seaweed from around the Shetland Islands.
Scientists at the University of Leeds are planning to extract chemical compounds from different species of seaweed and use them to develop a new range of hair dyes. The naturally sourced compounds will be used by scientists as substitutes for synthetic ingredients that can be found in most hair dyes currently on the market.
Many compounds in existing products are allergens and certain chemicals, notably p-phenylenediamine (PPD), have been linked to more serious long-term health effects.
The project also hopes to develop other safer and more environmentally friendly cosmetics, including hair treatments and skin care, from the compounds extracted from the Shetland seaweed.
“We are hoping to be able to offer people a real alternative to current hair dyes that contain chemicals which are known to be very bad for you,” explains project leader Dr Richard Blackburn, a natural products researcher at The University of Leeds.
The good news is that the new hair dyes won’t be green – scientists are confident that a range of colours including blonde, brown and red, and even black, can be made using the seaweed extracts. Read more