Nutrition disorders articles from across Nature Portfolio

Dietary proteins stimulate skeletal muscle growth via mTOR-mediated activation of muscle protein synthesis by amino acids. Zuo and colleagues identify impaired mitochondrial branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism during sarcopenia. Pathological BCAA accumulation in aged muscle overactivates mTOR and paradoxically contributes to loss of muscle mass and strength by inhibiting autophagy and mitochondrial function.

Human GWAS paradoxically linked FTO SNPs to both lean mass and sarcopenia/obesity. Here, Guang et al used CRISPR-edited stem cells to reveal that an obesogenic FTO SNP accelerates both muscle development and aging, by increasing RNA m6A demethylation.

A randomized clinical trial showing the superiority of behavioral treatment plus phentermine to behavioral treatment plus placebo for weight loss in those that previously had not responded to behavioral treatment.

Seiler et al. use machine learning to model hemoglobin distribution at high spatial resolution and map anemia risk in children across low- and middle-income countries. Substantial subnational disparities are revealed.

The food industry has created ultra-processed food-like products that disrupt nature’s biological matrix and exploit our innate preferences for sugar, salt and fat — with the goal of encouraging overconsumption and maximizing profit. Increases in obesity, other nutrition-related non-communicable diseases and environmental harms have occurred as a result. Only major political commitments and the adoption of healthy food policies will curb ultra-processed food’s negative impact on global planetary and human health.

Dietary proteins stimulate skeletal muscle growth via mTOR-mediated activation of muscle protein synthesis by amino acids. Zuo and colleagues identify impaired mitochondrial branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism during sarcopenia. Pathological BCAA accumulation in aged muscle overactivates mTOR and paradoxically contributes to loss of muscle mass and strength by inhibiting autophagy and mitochondrial function.

Next-generation obesity drugs will work differently from Ozempic and Wegovy — aiming to deliver greater weight loss with fewer side effects.

Drug companies are trialling a host of medications that they hope will offer benefits beyond weight loss.

A large, randomized controlled trial comparing three time-restricted eating (TRE) windows found that time-restricted eating at any time of day is a promising strategy for losing weight — but does not reduce visceral adipose tissue.