Alarmed by the release of data on obesity and sugary beverage consumption in L.A. County, the department deemed informing the public of the amount of sugar in drinks - sodas, sports and energy - and how ingestion of these deadly sweet beverages directly impacts obesity as a crucial obligation. more ›

One unidentified Smurf was spotted by LA Snark today peeking out from a McDonald's on Venice Boulevard. Judging by the Smurf's extraordinary size, he has been binging on McGriddles, 50-piece Chicken McNuggets, McRibs and Big ‘N Tastys throughout the weekend since The Smurf's release on Friday, July 29. more ›

Next Tuesday marks the first episode of Season 2 of British chef Jamie Oliver's ABC show "Food Revolution," in which he attempts to introduce healthy eating to the United States, one obese city at a time. Season 2 is -- you guessed it! -- set here in Los Angeles. The LA Times reports that Oliver started off the season by butting heads with outgoing LAUSD superintendent Ramon Cortines. more ›

Shaded from the sun and 90 degree heat, about 300 gathered this afternoon under a sea of rain umbrellas for the "ground breaking" of California Medical Center's Hope Street Family Center. Billed as much-needed recreation space and home for wellness programs in the "underserved" neighborhood of South Park, the proposed project already has community engagement--at least judging by the excitement at the launch. more ›

The Department of Public Health released a report recently that might make Angelenos rethink their next cheeseburger or day-long TV-watching marathon. "Type 2 diabetes, which is primarily caused by obesity, accounts for over 90 percent of all diabetes cases in the county. This coincides with rising rates of obesity which increased from 14.3% to 22.2% (1997-2007) in adults." more ›

In the wake of the Happy Meal Ban in San Francisco that requires McDonald's and other fast-food chains to reduce calorie counts and sodium levels in all meals that come with free toys and a statewide law that requires major chain restaurants to list calorie counts on menus starting in 2011, LA plans to revisit and enhance its own restrictions on fast-food chains in neighborhoods known for high rates of obesity, according to United Press International. more ›

Among the 44 communities to receive health program funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is Los Angeles County. A pair of $16 million grants will go towards programs addressing obesity, physical activity, nutrition, tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke, public health officials announced today. more ›

How close are you to obesity? If you're a teenager, the answer is in the geography:

Teens who attend classes within one-tenth of a mile of a fast-food outlet are more likely to be obese than peers whose campuses are located farther from the lure of quarter-pound burgers, fries and shakes.

This year, with the official start of the holiday season tragically mired in a financial fiasco, the fires and soaring temperatures feeling more Summer than Fall, and Prop 8’s passage reminding us all we’ve still a long way to go, it’s enough to think drowning your sorrows in gravy and cheese balls is the answer to all of life’s problems. So, as tempting as it is to stress eat (think Jack Donaghy of "30 Rock") and entirely abandon 2008’s diet and exercise resolutions, a recent and highly publicized article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) is reminding us yet again that it’s crucial to be smart about food choices. With the belly fat-wielding juggernaut of Thanksgiving, Christmas/Hanukkah, and the Holiday Party on the horizon, we here at the ScientIST bring you a helping of science and common sense to successfully navigate the next few months. Your waistline can thank us later.
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While some may still be dismissive of the current craze against high fructose corn syrup, chalking it up as just another food anti-fad (much like the hysteria about carbs in the 90's and saturated fat in the 80's), it can't be denied that the American diet is disproportionately full of processed sugars. An article in the NY Times today discusses just how much of our diet is filled up with added sugars and processed vegetable fats -- and even more frightening, how much more we're eating overall than we were forty years ago. (Yes, there's an awesome visual aid in the article!) more ›

An LA City Council committee has made a unanimous decision to ban new fast-food restaurants in South LA for one year; the decision goes to the full council and the mayor this week. Spearheaded by Councilwoman Jan Perry, the ban would "prevent fast-food chains from opening new restaurants in a 32-square-mile area, including West Adams, Baldwin Village and Leimert Park. The moratorium would be in effect for one year, with the possibility of two six-month extensions." more ›

La America Tropical, the once-controversial, then painted over mural is coming back to Olvera Street thanks to the city and The Getty: The mural, one of three done during Siquieros' six-month stay in Los Angeles, depicts an Indian being crucified on a double cross topped by an American eagle. The piece, depicting the struggle against imperialism, was considered so controversial at the time that it was painted over shortly after it was finished. Here... more ›