New model addresses women's health in fast-food research

Scientists at La Trobe University have created a new animal model to study how fast-food diets impact women's heart health. This model looks at how fat, salt, and sugar in these diets can lead to heart problems, such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Traditionally, female animals have not been included in many studies. This is because they tend to respond differently to diet-related health issues. As a result, researchers have not fully understood how metabolic diseases affect women. Dr. Maria Jelinic, the lead researcher, emphasized the importance of this model. She stated that it allows scientists to observe similar health reactions in both male and female subjects for the first time. This could lead to significant advancements in women's health research. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. It is often linked to metabolic syndrome, which includes various health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes. Unfortunately, the specific factors affecting women have not been well studied. The La Trobe discovery helps fill this knowledge gap. By using a high-fat, high-salt, and high-sugar diet, researchers can now model metabolic issues in both sexes. This tool aims to find new treatments that can reduce health risks for those with metabolic syndrome. Dr. Vivian Tran, a junior lead on the project, pointed out that about 35% of Australian adults have metabolic syndrome. She noted that excluding women from studies ignores an important part of the population. Understanding the differences between sexes is essential for creating effective treatments. The biomedical field is increasingly focusing on including women in research studies. Many journals now require that both sexes be represented, or they must explain any exclusions. Additionally, the Victorian government has introduced grants to support research on how gender affects health.