Here’s another reason to fight fat. The biggest health threat to obese people isn't the fat itself but the killer inflammation response that it triggers in people, according to new research by the University of Warwick.
Research published in the March 7 issue of the International Journal of Obesity shows that inflammation is a crucial and dangerous step in the development of obesity.
In fact, a marker of inflammation produced by artery vessel walls, are strongly associated with measures of obesity, and in particular with the amount of fat around the waist. This inflammation can directly trigger thrombosis, heart disease, strokes and diabetes.
"This observation opens opportunities to develop new treatments that deal directly with inflammation through diet," says Dr Miller, one of the author’s study.
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Germany's METRO Group is making plans to open its first Metro Cash & Carry wholesale store in Kazakhstan in the summer of 2009. The Group officially agreed to the investment with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Wednesday, a move which will extend METRO's activities to 33 countries.
Trent Ltd, the retail arm of the Tata group in India, is likely to invest around Rs 20billion ( €0.3 billion ) over the next five years in the roll out of 50 Star Bazaar hypermarket stores, according to Indian press reports.
The recent credit crunch has led all the major supermarket chains in the UK to increase promotions of cheap, unhealthy food, according to the country's National Consuner Council (NCC).
Auchan has published half year results for the first time as a result of new European regulations governing transparency. Although there has been a slow-down in mature markets, emerging markets remained buoyant for the French company and as a result sales for the first six months of 2008 were 9.4% higher than in 2007 reaching EUR18.7 billion.
Price promotions and the decision to only partially pass on food price inflation to customers have led to a downturn in second quarter margins for Ahold. Net sales for second quarter 2008 were EUR 5.8 billion, down 0.8% from the same period last year. At constant exchange rates, net sales increased by 7.3%.
Despite the credit crunch, drinks giant, Diageo reports another year of strong organic growth with net sales up 7% and operating profit up 9%. Sales rose to £8.09bn up from £7.48bn last year while sales volumes increased by about 3%.
