If you’ve considered fasting to lose weight, new research may leave you thinking twice, especially if you have heart disease or cancer.

Researchers with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China studied more than 20,000 adults and found those who followed an 8-hour time-restricted eating schedule, or intermittent fasting, increased their risk of   death from cardiovascular disease 91%.

When compared with a standard schedule of eating throughout a 12- to 16-hour period, limiting food to 8 hours or less per day did not produce results that suggested participants would live longer.

Researchers presented their findings at an American Heart Association scientific session in Chicago in March and noted that the increased risk of cardiovascular death was also seen in patients who have heart disease or cancer. They said it’s important for individuals to have a cautious, personalized approach to dietary recommendations.

Source: American Heart Association

Problem pregnancies weigh on kids 

A new study has linked health issues during pregnancy with poor heart health in children.

Researchers at Ohio State University found that preeclampsia and gestational diabetes can affect the heart health of children. Pregnant women who have these conditions also have a higher risk of developing heart disease later in life.

The study included more than 3,300 mother-child pairs who had enrolled in a study that examined the relationship between blood sugar and pregnancy outcomes. Researchers say the findings offer an opportunity to intervene early in childhood to help promote healthy habits.

Source: Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine

Sugary drinks and type-2 diabetes 

Boys who drink drinks high in sugar could be more likely to develop type-2 diabetes later in life.

A new Harvard University study tracked nearly 500 Massachusetts children who were taking part in another long-term study with their mothers. Researchers kept dietary records on the participating children.

In the new study, researchers looked at the average amount of sugary drinks and fruit juices they were consuming on average and compared those numbers to blood tests taken in adolescence.

The researchers found that boys who consumed higher amounts of sugary drinks were more insulin-resistant. This means that muscle, fat and liver cells have a harder time taking up sugar from the blood. The boys’ blood sugar levels were also higher.

However, girls did not experience the same risks as boys and experienced only a small increase in their blood sugar levels, researchers found.

Source: Harvard Medical School

Walking the walk of cognitive decline

How easily a person stands and walks can be an early indicator of whether that individual may experience cognitive decline.

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University examined gait to test for early cognitive decline. Gait is how a person stands and walks, and gait analysis offers insight into the neurological health of a person by looking at walking patterns, balance and coordination. Researchers recruited 55 older adults, of which 25 exhibited mild cognitive impairment; 30 did not.

Researchers asked the participants to perform two walking tests. One involved straight walking, and the other involved walking on a curved path, which requires a higher level of cognitive resources and balance control. They then used a special camera to track 25 joints of body movement and gave them gait markers for each test.

Researchers found that those with mild cognitive impairment had distinctive changes in their walking patterns, including shorter average step length and reduced walking speed. They said this is likely due to an increased demand for balance and coordination.

These findings could offer opportunities to detect cognitive impairment early, which is key for treatment.

Source: Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease