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Tag: Weight Loss

  • Chewing Gum for Weight Loss?  | NutritionFacts.org

    Chewing Gum for Weight Loss?  | NutritionFacts.org

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    If extra chewing is effective in suppressing your appetite when it comes to food, what about chewing gum as a weight-loss strategy? 

    As I discuss in my video Does Chewing Gum Help with Weight Loss?, chewing gum may only burn about three calories an hour, but the calorie expenditure isn’t only working your little jaw muscles. For some reason, chewing gum revs up your heart rate as much as 12 extra beats per minute after chewing two sticks of gum, even if you’re just sitting quietly, as you can see in the graph below and at 0:21 in my video. It also works while walking, increasing your heart rate by about three more beats per minute (and proving scientifically that people can indeed walk and chew gum at the same time).  

    Does this translate into weight loss? Researchers at the University of Buffalo asked study participants to either chew gum before every single eating occasion or not chew any gum at all for a number of weeks. On the gum-chewing weeks, the subjects didn’t just have to chew gum before each meal, but also before each snack or drink that contained any calories. That may have been too much, so the participants actually ended up eating on fewer occasions, switching from four meals a day on average down closer to three. They ended up eating more calories at each of those fewer meals, though, and had no overall significant change in caloric intake and, no surprise, had no change in weight. See the charts below and at 1:08 in my video. 

    University of Alabama researchers tried a different tack, randomizing people to chew gum after and between meals. After two months, compared to those randomized to avoid gum entirely, no improvements were noted in weight, body mass index (BMI), or waist circumference. However, some studies have suggested that chewing gum has an appetite-suppressing effect. For example, as you can see below and at 1:51 in my video, in one study, people ate 68 fewer calories of pasta at lunch after 20 minutes of chewing gum, but other studies have shown differently. 

    Whenever there are conflicting findings, instead of just throwing up our hands, it can be useful to try to tease out any study differences that could potentially account for the disparate results. The obvious consideration is the funding source. That failed University of Alabama weight-loss study was funded by a gum company, so the outcomes are not necessarily predetermined. 

    As well, different types of gum using different sweeteners may have contributed to the diversity of findings. As you can see in the graphs below and at 2:35 in my video, a study that found that chewing gum may actually increase appetite was done with aspartame-sweetened gum. People reported feeling hungrier after chewing the sweetened gum—and not only compared to no gum, but compared to chewing the same gum with no added aspartame. It’s true that not one randomized controlled trial has ever shown a benefit to “chewing gum as a strategy for weight loss,” but they all used gum containing artificial sweeteners.

    There was a landmark study that showed that the size of a sip matters when it comes to reducing the intake of sweet beverages. When study participants took one sip every two seconds or a quadruple-sized gulp every eight seconds, but with the same ingestion rate of 150 grams per minute, the smaller sip group won out, satiating after about one-and-a-half cups compared to two cups when taking larger gulps, as you can see in the graph below and at 3:13 in my video. This is thought to be because of increased oro-sensory exposure, so our brain picks up the more frequent pulses of flavor and calories. But repeat the experiment with an artificially sweetened diet drink, and the effect appears to be blunted, as you can see in the graph below and at 3:38 in my video. So, might a different type of gum have a different effect? The positive pasta study I discussed earlier was performed using gum sweetened mainly with sorbitol, a sweet compound that’s found naturally in foods like prunes, and, like prunes, can have a laxative effect.

    Case reports like “An Air Stewardess with Puzzling Diarrhea” unveil what can happen when you have 60 sticks of sorbitol-sweetened sugar-free gum a day. Another report was entitled “Severe Weight Loss Caused by Chewing Gum.” A 21-year-old woman ended up malnourished after suffering up to a dozen bouts of diarrhea a day for eight months due to the 30 grams of sorbitol she was getting chewing sugar-free gum and candies every day. Most people suffer gas and bloating at 10 daily grams of sorbitol, which is about eight sticks of sorbitol-sweetened gum, and, at 20 grams, most get cramps and diarrhea. So, you want to be careful how much you get. 

    The bottom line is that we have no good science showing that chewing gum results in weight loss. Could that be because the studies used artificial sweeteners that “may have counteracted” any benefits? Maybe, but the most obvious explanation for the results to date “is that chewing gum simply is not an efficacious weight-loss strategy”—and that’s coming from researchers funded by the gum company itself. 

    How Many Calories Do You Burn Chewing Gum? Watch the video to find out. For information on both artificial and natural low-calorie sweeteners, check out the related videos below.

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    Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

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  • Science’s Take On Marijuana For A Lean Physique

    Science’s Take On Marijuana For A Lean Physique

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    It is the time of year when we are watching the weight and trying to look our best.  Fasting, running, diet plans, pilates and cross training are all the table.  But what is science’s take on marijuana for a lean physique?

    Let’s start with some basic body chemistry. The pancreas creates insulin, a hormone that moderates blood sugar levels. It helps use sugar/glucose from carbohydrates for instant energy or stored as fat for later. That is the very process cannabis can influence, according to a growing body of research. It begins at a micro level. 

    THC is the compound in cannabis that causes people to feel “high.” While it may be the most famous cannabinoid, there are more than 100 in existence and they occur naturally in our bodies as endocannabinoids. The endocannabinoid system is present in all vertebrate animals and helps regulate sleep, energy, appetite and metabolism just to name a few. It helps create balance or homeostasis at a cellular level. This is why marijuana as medicine can be so effective. It is seen not as an invader, but as a familiar substance to the body’s cannabinoid receptors and works like a lock and key.

    RELATED: How I Lost 50 Pounds Using Marijuana

    But getting leaner by using cannabis? Are you serious? This is not just a pipe dream. Researchers studying diabetes, metabolism and obesity have become increasingly interested in how cannabis may be an effective therapy for human systems out of balance.

    While much of this research has been conducted on rats, human cannabis users have been shown to have significantly lower obesity rates and have trimmer waistlines than non-users. The cannabinoid THC has also been shown to suppress appetite. These findings have been further validated in studies with huge sample sizes.

    Photos by: Roberto Valdivia via Unsplash, 377873 via rawpixel

    Age, sex and race do not seem to matter; the effect is across the board. This has led to a deeper look and call for more research into how the endocannabinoid system may be manipulated to help people with obesity and blood sugar metabolism.

    The strange, good news does not end there. Cannabis users have also been shown to have lower cholesterol and triglycerides in their blood. The makers of statin drugs popular in common therapy for these conditions are watching these developments closely.

    RELATED: Federal Study Aims To Learn More About Marijuana And Weight Loss

    Jake Felice, a naturopath working in Washington State and California, has long been an advocate for appropriate cannabis therapy. While there is much promising research, Felice reminds patients:

    “While cannabis has not been shown to be a weight loss agent, it is associated with lower BMI (body mass index) and can have a positive influence on the body’s ability to regulate sugar levels. Additionally, cannabis can positively affect stress hormones associated with weight gain.” 

    Cannabis alone will not help you to have a lower BMI if you don’t exercise and have unhealthy eating habits. But, if researchers are right, it can help people to be more in balance and aid in maintaining a healthy body weight.

    Granted, we have a long way still to go on research, but stay tuned. Maybe one day the advice from the Surgeon General will be, “Just Say Grow.”

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    Trey Reckling

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  • Jet lag disorder associated with shift work can lead to brain changes increasing appetite

    Jet lag disorder associated with shift work can lead to brain changes increasing appetite

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    Newswise — Scientists have uncovered why night shift work is associated with changes in appetite in a new University of Bristol-led study. The findings, published in Communications Biology, could help the millions of people that work through the night and struggle with weight gain.

    Scientists from Bristol and the University of Occupational and Environmental Health in Japan, sought to understand how ‘circadian misalignment’ — a phenomenon commonly associated with ‘jet-lag’ whereby the body’s biological clock is disrupted — affects the hormones responsible for regulating appetite.

    Prevalent in night shift workers, in this new study, the international team reveal how circadian misalignment can profoundly alter the brain’s regulation of hormones controlling hunger to the detriment of metabolic health.

    The team focused on glucocorticoid hormones in the adrenal gland which regulate many physiological functions including metabolism and appetite. Glucocorticoids are known to directly regulate a group of brain peptides controlling appetitive behaviour, with some increasing appetite (orexigenic) and some decreasing appetite (anorexigenic).

    In an experiment using animal models, comprising a control group and a out-of-phase ‘jet-lagged’ group, the team found misalignment between light and dark cues led the out-of-phase group’s orexigenic hypothalamic neuropeptides (NPY) to become dysregulated, driving an increased desire to eat significantly more during the inactive phase of the day.

    Strikingly, the team discovered that rats in the control group ate 88.4% of their daily intake during their active phase, and only 11.6% during their inactive phase. In contrast, the ‘jet-lagged’ group consumed 53.8% of their daily calories during their inactive phase (without an increase in activity during this time). This equated to nearly five-times more (460% more) than what the control group consumed during the inactive phase.  These results show that it is timing of consumption that has been affected.

    This new discovery revealed how completely, and significantly, disordered the neuropeptides become when daily glucocorticoid levels are out of synch with light and dark cues.  However, the authors suggest the neuropeptides identified in this study may be promising targets for drug treatments adapted to treat eating disorders and obesity.

    Dr Becky Conway-Campbell, Research Fellow in Bristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciences (THS) and the study’s senior author, said: “For people working throughout the night, a reversed body clock can play havoc with their health.

    “For those who are working night shifts long-term, we recommend they try to maintain daylight exposure, cardiovascular exercise and mealtimes at regulated hours. However, internal brain messages to drive increased appetite are difficult to override with ‘discipline’ or ‘routine’ so we are currently designing studies to assess rescue strategies and pharmacological intervention drugs. We hope our findings also provide new insight into how chronic stress and sleep disruption leads to caloric overconsumption.”

    Stafford Lightman, Professor of Medicine at Bristol Medical School: THS and co-senior author on the study, added: “The adrenal hormone corticosterone, which is normally secreted in a circadian manner, is a major factor in the daily control of brain peptides that regulate appetite. Furthermore when we disturb the normal relationship of corticosterone with the day to night light cycle it results in abnormal gene regulation and appetite during the period of time that the animals normally sleep.

    “Our study shows that when we disturb our normal bodily rhythms this in turn disrupts normal appetite regulation in a way that is at least in part a result of desynchrony between adrenal steroid hormone production and the timing of the light and dark cycle.”

    Dr Benjamin Flynn, one of the study’s co-authors who conducted the study while at Bristol but is now based at the University of Bath, added: “This is further evidence of how phase shift ‘jet-lag’ affects feeding behaviours and neuronal gene expression – data important for shift work co-morbidity research.”

    This research was funded by the Medical Research Council.

    Paper

    ‘Phase-shifting the circadian glucocorticoid profile induces disordered feeding behaviour by dysregulating hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression’ by M Yoshimura, B Flynn, Y Kershaw, Z Zhao, Ueta, S Lightman, R Conway-Campbell et al. in Communications Biology [open access]

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    University of Bristol

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  • New insights into heart disease risk, prevention, and management

    New insights into heart disease risk, prevention, and management

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    Newswise — DALLAS, Oct. 9, 2023 — Health experts are redefining cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, prevention and management, according to a new American Heart Association presidential advisory published today in the Association’s flagship journal Circulation.

    Various aspects of cardiovascular disease that overlap with kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity support the new approach. For the first time, the American Heart Association defines the overlap in these conditions as cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. People who have or are at risk for cardiovascular disease may have CKM syndrome.

    The new approach detailed in the presidential advisory includes:

    • CKM syndrome stages ranging from 0, or no risk factors and an entirely preventive focus, to Stage 4, the highest-risk stage with established cardiovascular disease. Stage 4 may also include kidney failure. Each stage correlates to specific screenings and therapies.
    • Screening for and addressing social factors that impact health.
    • Collaborative care approaches among multiple specialties to treat the whole patient.
    • Suggested updates to the algorithm, or risk calculator, that helps health care professionals predict a person’s likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke. The update adds a risk prediction for heart failure, which estimates risk for “total cardiovascular disease” — heart attack, stroke and/or heart failure.
    • The writing group suggest the updated algorithm provide both 10- and 30-year cardiovascular disease risk estimates.

    According to the American Heart Association’s 2023 Statistical Update, 1 in 3 U.S. adults have three or more risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders and/or kidney disease. CKM affects nearly every major organ in the body, including the heart, brain, kidney and liver. However, the biggest impact is on the cardiovascular system, affecting blood vessels and heart muscle function, the rate of fatty buildup in arteries, electrical impulses in the heart and more.

    “The advisory addresses the connections among these conditions with a particular focus on identifying people at early stages of CKM syndrome,” said Chiadi E. Ndumele, M.D., Ph.D., M.H.S., FAHA, writing committee chair and an associate professor of medicine and director of obesity and cardiometabolic research in the division of cardiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. “Screening for kidney and metabolic disease will help us start protective therapies earlier to most effectively prevent heart disease and best manage existing heart disease.”

    CKM syndrome is a consequence of the historically high prevalence of obesity and Type 2 diabetes in both adults and youth, according to the advisory. Type 2 diabetes and obesity are metabolic conditions — the “M” in CKM — that are also risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Moreover, the most common cause of death for people with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease is cardiovascular disease.

    “We now have several therapies that prevent both worsening kidney disease and heart disease,” Ndumele said. “The advisory provides guidance for health care professionals about how and when to use those therapies, and for the medical community and general public about the best ways to prevent and manage CKM syndrome.”

    With multiple conditions to manage, Ndumele noted fragmented care is a concern in treating patients with CKM syndrome, particularly for those with barriers to care. “The advisory suggests ways that professionals from different specialties can better work together as part of one unified team to treat the whole patient.” Additionally, the advisory emphasizes the importance of systematically screening for and addressing social factors that act as determinants, or drivers, of health, such as nutrition insecurity and opportunities for exercise,  as key aspects of optimal CKM syndrome care.”

    A companion article published with the presidential advisory, a new American Heart Association scientific statement, “A Synopsis of the Evidence for the Science and Clinical Management of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome,”, documents the evidence for the writing committee’s proposed approach. The scientific statement brings together evidence from current guidelines and large research studies and describes where gaps remain in knowledge needed to further improve CKM health.

    CKM screening, stages and treatment

    CKM-related screening is intended to detect cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney health changes early; identify social and structural barriers to care; and prevent progression to the next stage of CKM syndrome.

    The advisory addresses care for adults. However, studies suggest CKM syndrome is progressive and begins early in life. Therefore, the advisory aligns with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for children and youth to have annual assessments of weight, blood pressure, and mental and behavioral health, starting at age 3.

    Stage 0 – No CKM risk factors. The goal at this stage is preventing CKM syndrome by achieving and maintaining ideal health based on the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 recommendations. The recommendations include healthy eating, physical activity and sleep habits; avoiding nicotine; and maintaining optimal weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The advisory suggests screening adults in Stage 0 every three to five years to assess blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL (good) cholesterol and blood sugar.

    Preventing unhealthy weight gain is important for CKM syndrome prevention because of the connection of obesity to Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high triglycerides. At all stages, the advisory proposes yearly measurement of waist circumference and body mass index. Healthy lifestyle behaviors are also encouraged at every stage.

    Stage 1 – Excess body fat and/or an unhealthy distribution of body fat, such as abdominal obesity, and/or impaired glucose tolerance or prediabetes. Support for healthy lifestyle changes (healthy eating and regular physical activity) and a goal of at least 5% weight loss in people with Stage 1 are suggested, with treatment for glucose intolerance if needed. Screening every two to three years is advised to assess blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol and blood sugar.

    Stage 2 – Metabolic risk factors and kidney disease. Stage 2 includes people with Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides or kidney disease, and indicates a higher risk for worsening kidney disease and heart disease. The goal of care at this stage is to address risk factors to prevent progression to cardiovascular disease and kidney failure. Treatment may include medications to control blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. In those with chronic kidney disease and in some people with Type 2 diabetes, SGLT2 inhibitors are advised to protect kidney function and reduce the risk of heart failure. SGLT2 inhibitors are a class of prescription medicines that are FDA-approved for use with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are also suggested for consideration in people with Type 2 diabetes to help reduce high glucose, facilitate weight loss and reduce risk for CVD. Other therapies to prevent worsening kidney function are also advised. Screening suggestions for Stage 2 CKM syndrome align with AHA/ACC guidelines, which include yearly assessment of blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol, blood sugar and kidney function.

    For those with increased risk of kidney failure based on kidney function assessments, more frequent kidney screening is recommended.

    Stage 3 – Early cardiovascular disease without symptoms in people with metabolic risk factors or kidney disease or those at high predicted risk for cardiovascular disease. The goal of care in Stage 3 is to intensify efforts to prevent people who are at high risk of progressing to symptomatic cardiovascular disease and kidney failure. This may involve increasing or changing medications, and additional focus on lifestyle changes. The writing committee advises coronary artery calcium (CAC) measurement in some adults to assess narrowing of the arteries when treatment decisions are unclear. CAC screening is used to guide decisions about cholesterol-lowering statin therapy. Test results indicating asymptomatic heart failure should lead to intensified therapy to prevent heart failure symptoms.

    The advisory also describes CKM syndrome regression, an important concept and public health message in which people making healthy lifestyle changes and achieving weight loss may regress to lower CKM syndrome stages and a better state of health. The best opportunity for patients to experience regression is in Stages 1, 2 and 3. Some may see improvements in glucose control, cholesterol and blood pressure levels, weight, kidney function and types of heart dysfunction.

    Stage 4 – Symptomatic cardiovascular disease in people with excess body fat, metabolic risk factors or kidney disease. Stage 4 CKM syndrome is divided into two subcategories: (4a) for those without kidney failure or (4b) for those with it. In this stage, people may have already had a heart attack or stroke or may already have heart failure. They also may have additional cardiovascular conditions such as peripheral artery disease or atrial fibrillation. The goal of care is individualized treatment for cardiovascular disease with consideration for CKM syndrome conditions.

    Predicting Risk

    A critical step in assessing risk and managing CKM syndrome is updating the risk prediction algorithm to help health care professionals predict cardiovascular disease in a way that includes CKM components: cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and metabolic disorders.

    The Pooled Cohort Equation, the current risk calculator for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, established in 2013, estimates the risk of a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years for people ages 40-75. It includes health and demographic factors about a person and is used to guide lifestyle recommendations and treatment decisions for people at risk for cardiovascular disease. The risk factors are age, sex and race (as white, Black and other); cholesterol levels; and systolic blood pressure. The equation also includes yes/no responses to whether a person is receiving treatment for high blood pressure Type 2 diabetes, or smokes cigarettes.

    The advisory proposes updating the risk calculator to include measures of kidney function, Type 2 diabetes control (using blood test results instead of a yes/no response) and social determinants of health for a more comprehensive risk estimate. Kidney function assessments include a measure of how well the kidneys filter waste from the blood and urine albumin levels, a measure of how well the kidneys reabsorb protein. Individual health measures in addition to demographic information will allow the calculator to produce an individual’s total CVD risk estimate.

    The writing group recommends the risk calculator updates be expanded to assess risk in people as young as age 30 and to calculate both 10- and 30-year CVD risk. More comprehensive CVD risk assessment at younger ages will allow for earlier preventive strategies to mitigate progression to advanced stages of CKM syndrome. In the long term, this will help to reduce gaps in treatment and health equity and improve outcomes.

    Calls to Action

    The advisory calls for systemic changes to optimize CKM health.

    “There is a need for fundamental changes in how we educate health care professionals and the public, how we organize care and how we reimburse care related to CKM syndrome,” Ndumele said. “Key partnerships among stakeholders are needed to improve access to therapies, to support new care models and to make it easier for people from diverse communities and circumstances to live healthier lifestyles and to achieve ideal cardiovascular health.”

    Investing in research is important for advancing CKM care. Key research gaps include:

    1. better understanding the pathways leading to heart disease in CKM syndrome;
    2. better understanding of why some people may advance more quickly along CKM stages, while others may progress more slowly; and
    3. understanding the best way to use newer therapies with multiple effects on CKM syndrome, including to improve metabolic factors such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes, and to reduce worsening kidney disease and prevent heart disease.

    Co-authors and their disclosures are listed in the manuscript.

    This presidential advisory was prepared by the volunteer writing group on behalf of the American Heart Association. Presidential advisories and scientific statements promote greater awareness about cardiovascular diseases and stroke and help facilitate informed health care decisions. They outline what is known about a topic and what areas need additional research. While scientific statements and advisories inform the development of guidelines, they do not make treatment recommendations. American Heart Association guidelines provide official clinical practice recommendations.

    The Association receives funding primarily from individuals. Foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers, and the Association’s overall financial information are available here.

    Additional Resources:

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    American Heart Association (AHA)

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  • FDA updates Ozempic label with potential blocked intestines side effect, also reported with Wegovy and Mounjaro

    FDA updates Ozempic label with potential blocked intestines side effect, also reported with Wegovy and Mounjaro

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    Weight-loss drugs can have side effects


    Health officials raise concern about weight-loss drugs’ possible side effects

    05:19

    The label for the diabetes drug Ozempic — which has become popular for weight loss — now acknowledges reports of blocked intestines following use of the medication. The change comes after the Food and Drug Administration greenlighted a series of updates from drugmaker Novo Nordisk for its product. 

    Ozempic now joins other products in this booming class of so-called GLP-1 agonist medications which acknowledge increased reports of what doctos call ileus, or a blockage in the intestines. 

    Weight loss drug Wegovy, which is also an injection of semaglutide manufactured by Novo Nordisk, acknowledges reports of ileus on its label as well, as does Mounjaro, a diabetes medication from Eli Lilly.

    However, the FDA stopped short of directly blaming the potentially life-threatening condition on the drug.

    “Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure,” the label reads.

    The FDA has received 8,571 reports of gastrointestinal disorders after use of semaglutide medications, which includes both Ozempic and Wegovy, according to data published by the regulator through June 30. 

    Ileus is specifically mentioned as a reaction in 33 cases listed on the FDA’s dashboard of people taking semaglutide, including two deaths. 

    Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are facing a lawsuit over claims that the medications can cause a similar condition called gastroparesis, or paralysis of the stomach, which stops food from reaching the small intestine despite there being no blockage.

    Spokespeople for Novo Nordisk and the FDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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  • Weight loss? ‘Nuting’ to worry about with almonds

    Weight loss? ‘Nuting’ to worry about with almonds

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    Newswise — When it comes to weight loss, nuts can get a bad rap – while they’re high in protein, they’re also high in fats, and this often deters those looking to shed a few kilos. But new research from the University of South Australia shows that you can eat almonds and lose weight too.

    In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that including almonds in an energy restricted diet not only helped people to lose weight, but also improved their cardiometabolic health.

    Examining the effects of energy restricted diets supplemented with Californian almonds or with carbohydrate- rich snacks, researchers found that both diets successfully reduced body weight by about 7kg.

    Globally, more than 1.9 billion adults are overweight (650 million with obesity). In Australia, two in three people (approximately 12.5 million adults) are overweight or have obesity.

    UniSA researcher Dr Sharayah Carter says the study demonstrates how nuts can support a healthy diet for weight management and cardiometabolic health.

    “Nuts, like almonds, are a great snack. They’re high in protein, fibre, and packed with vitamins and minerals, but they also have a high fat content which people can associate with increased body weight,” Dr Carter says.

    “Nuts contain unsaturated fats – or healthy fats – which can improve blood cholesterol levels, ease inflammation, and contribute to a healthy heart.

    “In this study we examined the effects of an almond-supplemented diet with a nut-free diet to identify any influence on weight and cardiometabolic outcomes.

    “Both the nut and nut free diets resulted in approximately 9.3% reduction in body weight over the trial.

    “Yet the almond-supplemented diets also demonstrated statistically significant changes in some highly atherogenic lipoprotein subfractions, which may lead to improved cardiometabolic health in the longer term.

    “Additionally, nuts have the added benefit of making you feel fuller for longer, which is always a pro when you’re trying to manage your weight.”

    The study (funded by the Almond Board of California) saw 106 participants complete a nine-month eating program (a three-month energy-restricted diet for weight loss, followed by a six-month energy-controlled diet for weight maintenance). In both phases, 15% of participants’ energy intake comprised unsalted whole almonds with skins (for the nut diet) or 15% carbohydrate-rich snacks -– such as rice crackers or baked cereal bars ­(for the nut-free diet).

    These findings provide further evidence that dietitians and nutritionists can recommend almonds as part of a balanced weight loss diet.

    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

     

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    University of South Australia

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  • Obesity: A Holistic Approach

    Obesity: A Holistic Approach

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    There’s no secret trick for 

    losing weight

    . Truth is, many things work together to help you shed unwanted pounds. 




    In the WebMD webinar,
    “Holistic Obesity Therapy,”
    Octavia Pickett-Blakely, MD, MHS, explained the holistic approach to weight management, why lifestyle choices are key, and when anti-obesity meds (AOMs) and medical procedures might come into play.


    She is director of the GI Nutrition, Celiac Sprue, and Obesity Program at Penn Medicine. 


    “To reach your weight loss goals, there’s no magic,” says Pickett-Blakely. “The key to managing obesity and weight loss lies in the development of healthy habits and lifestyle practices that you’ll carry throughout the course of your life.”


    Poll Questions


    Lifestyle habits like exercise, weight training, diet, sleep, and stress management are the foundation for successful weight loss, said Pickett-Blakely.


    A poll of more than 1,100 webinar attendees found that 48% want to work on getting more 

    exercise or more strength training

    . That’s followed by 28% who want to focus on eating healthier.



    Question: I want to work on:


    • Getting more exercise or strength training: 48%


    • Eating healthier foods: 28%


    • Improving my sleep: 16%


    • Lowering my stress: 8%


    Another poll asked about sleep. Pickett-Blakely explained that good sleep habits are necessary for weight management. That’s because good sleep translates into more energy to exercise and the ability to choose healthy eating options. If you combine good sleep with other healthy habits, you’re more likely to see your weight come down.


    Around half of respondents said they keep a regular bedtime, while 20% said that they create a relaxing space without distractions.



    Question: When it comes to sleep, I make it a habit to:


    • Keep a regular bedtime: 49%


    • Create a relaxing space without distractions: 20%


    • Avoid daytime naps: 19%


    • Stop using technology near bedtime: 12%


    What’s the Holistic Approach to Weight Management?


    It combines different areas of weight loss, focusing on lifestyle first, and then other tools that can help you lose weight. For example, it involves how you and your doctor might combine your healthy habits with AOMs and endoscopic procedures. 


    “Medications and surgeries for weight loss get a lot of attention,” says Pickett-Blakely. “But the foundational aspects for weight loss are absolutely critical to your success, before those things.”


    Viewer Questions



    Why do people snack late at night when they’re not hungry?



    How healthy is intermittent fasting when you have diabetes?



    How important is sleep in weight management?


    Late-night snacking often doesn’t come from hunger. When you get the sensation that you want to eat, typically it’s related to your blood sugar being low. Sometimes you can also have a sensation of hunger when you’re thirsty. It can be difficult to separate these.


    Late-night eating often comes as a behavior. When you’re younger, you go to the movies, you eat popcorn, you drink a beverage. I encourage my patients to stop before they eat something and ask, “Am I really hungry, or thirsty?”


    Another option is to avoid staying up late if you don’t need to. If you have to stay up late because your work shift is late, for example, you’re not necessarily eating, because you’re doing your job. It’s when you stay up late, at home, and you have the ability and freedom to late-night snack.


    With
    intermittent fasting
    , it’s important to talk to your doctor or health care provider who’s managing your diabetes. Because not every person with diabetes is created equal.


    Individuals have different levels of management, and different levels of severity, of diabetes. That plays a role in whether or not intermittent fasting is appropriate for you.


    In terms of sleep, I don’t think people realize how important it is when it comes to weight loss. It’s a part of the weight loss recipe that many people neglect.


    When you don’t get enough sleep, studies show you have increased hunger and more cravings. Being sleep-deprived is also linked to weight gain. There are changes in how your brain responds to certain things around you. For example, if you’re sleep-deprived and see commercials for food, the way you react to those is different when you’re tired, compared to when you’re rested.


    If you’re having difficulty sleeping, talk to your doctor or health care provider about how you can be tested or treated for sleep issues.




    Is it harder to lose weight after menopause?



    Are yoga and tai chi types of exercise or stress relief?



    How overweight does someone need to be before they get help from weight loss medications or procedures?


    It’s true that it’s harder to lose weight after menopause. Our basal metabolic rate, or metabolism, has a set point with which we burn energy. That set point starts to decline as early as in your second decade. So, after your 20s, your energy burn speed declines. That gets slower after you hit menopause – and further declines after menopause.


    Other things are happening with menopause, too. Your hormones shift a lot. These play a role in cravings and hunger. Hormones also create a shift in your body’s muscle-to-fat ratio. So, you may see changes in the distribution of your weight, especially in your stomach fat. That can affect how easy or hard it is to lose or achieve a certain goal. This is why strength training and keeping a good amount of muscle is very important.


    Yoga and tai chi are both exercise and stress relief. They’re good for resistance training as well. You hold poses, use muscle control, and engage your core strength. In certain cases, yoga and tai chi may be your only options for what you’re physically able to do.


    It’s important to realize that everyone’s weight loss journey is different. Some people have been overweight for years, while others have more recently had to focus on it. Weight and body size differ around the world – and by culture, too. 


    I think healthy lifestyle modifications, like being active, are incredibly helpful, regardless of your 

    body mass index

    . Typically, we recommend starting with lifestyle modifications when you’re in the overweight category, or if you have most of your extra weight in your belly.


    If you’re in the overweight category but have other conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, you should talk with your doctor about additional therapies. At the end of the day, it’s important to talk to them about your body’s specific needs, to find the best approach for your goals.


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  • Weight Loss Expert JJ Smith Offers Unique Weight Loss Opportunity This Year

    Weight Loss Expert JJ Smith Offers Unique Weight Loss Opportunity This Year

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    WASHINGTON, September 15, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Battling excess weight can be one of the most frustrating experiences anyone faces throughout a lifetime, but nutritionist, weight loss expert and #1 NY Times Bestselling Author JJ Smith, who is also head of Adiva Publishing, helps women take back control of their health and weight before the year ends. The Finish Strong Challenge inspires women to hit some of their weight loss goals before the New Year through a 90-day weight loss challenge, and it’s absolutely free.

    The Finish Strong Challenge (FSC) will help women finish the year strong. Many women began the year strong but fell off along the way. No need to wait until next year to start over: lock in for the next three months and drop a few pounds before 2024. Women can dedicate the next three months exclusively to their weight loss goals and see what can be accomplished. JJ says, “I mean, after all, starting strong is good but finishing strong is epic. It’s time to go be epic.”

    We start the journey to finish the year strong on October 1. So, sign up today for the Finish Strong Challenge here at no cost and receive:

    • A three-part system (F.E.D. System) that is an effective strategy for weight loss and easier than any diet on the market
    • A 90-day weight loss plan where one doesn’t have to give up all of their favorite foods to get results
    • Sample recipes of what a daily meal plan looks like
    • The motivation and support to achieve weight loss goals.

    Registering for the challenge is absolutely free, so get access to this 90-day weight loss plan today. JJ says “This free challenge focuses on coming together to encourage and support one another throughout a rewarding health and wellness journey.”

    To register for the Finish Strong Challenge today, click here!

    About JJ Smith

    JJ Smith (http://www.JJSmithOnline.com) is the author of the #1 NY Times Bestseller, 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse. JJ is a nutritionist and certified weight loss expert, and Chief Brand Officer for Adiva Publishing, who has been regularly featured in today’s popular print and online media, on major news networks, and on daily programs such as” The Dr. Oz Show,” “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” “The Rachael Ray Show,” “The View,” CNN and others.  Since reclaiming her health, losing weight, and discovering a “second youth” in her 40s, bestselling author JJ Smith has become the voice of inspiration to those who want to lose weight, be healthy, and get their sexy back.

    Source: Adiva Publishing, LLC

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  • Weight loss drug helps heart failure patients with obesity.

    Weight loss drug helps heart failure patients with obesity.

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    Newswise — Amsterdam, Netherlands – 25 Aug 2023: Semaglutide improves heart failure-related symptoms and physical function and results in greater weight loss compared with placebo in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity, according to late breaking research presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2023.1

    Approximately half of patients with heart failure in the community have HFpEF.2 Most patients with HFpEF are overweight or obese, and growing evidence suggests that obesity and excess adiposity are not simply comorbidities, but may play a pivotal role in the development and progression of HFpEF.3 Patients with obesity-related HFpEF have an especially high burden of debilitating symptoms (shortness of breath, exertional intolerance, swelling/oedema) and physical limitations, which collectively result in a poor quality of life.4,5 Few treatment options are available, and there are no approved therapies specifically targeting the obesity phenotype of HFpEF.

    Semaglutide is a potent glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonist which has previously been shown to produce substantial weight loss in people with overweight and obesity.6 The STEP-HFpEF trial tested the hypothesis that treatment with semaglutide can significantly improve symptoms, physical limitations and exercise function, in addition to weight loss, in patients with HFpEF and obesity.7

    STEP-HFpEF was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 96 sites in 13 countries in Asia, Europe, North America and South America. The trial included patients with HFpEF (left ventricular ejection fraction ≥45%), body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2, heart failure symptoms and functional limitations (New York Heart Association functional class II–IV and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score [KCCQ-CSS] <90 points).

    Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo for 52 weeks. The trial had two primary endpoints: change from baseline to week 52 in 1) KCCQ-CSS, a gold standard measure of heart failure-related symptoms and physical limitations; and 2) body weight. Confirmatory secondary endpoints included change in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD – a validated measure of exercise function); a hierarchical composite endpoint of death, heart failure events and change in KCCQ-CSS and 6MWD; and change in C-reactive protein (CRP – a measure of inflammation).

    The trial included 529 patients. The median age was 69 years and 56.1% were women. The median body weight and BMI at baseline were 105.1 kg and 37.0 kg/m2, respectively. At baseline, patients had a substantial degree of heart failure-related symptoms, physical limitations and poor exercise tolerance: 66.2% were NYHA class II and 33.8% were NYHA class III–IV; the median KCCQ-CSS was 58.9 points; and the median 6MWD was 320 meters.

    The trial met both primary endpoints and all confirmatory secondary endpoints. The mean change in KCCQ-CSS from baseline to week 52 was 16.6 points with semaglutide versus 8.7 points with placebo (estimated treatment difference [ETD]: 7.8 points, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.8 to 10.9; p<0.001). The mean change in body weight from baseline to week 52 was -13.3% with semaglutide versus -2.6% with placebo (ETD: -10.7%, 95% CI -11.9% to -9.4%; p<0.001).

    Regarding secondary endpoints, the mean change in 6MWD was 21.5 meters for semaglutide versus 1.2 meters for placebo (ETD: 20.3 meters, 95% CI 8.6 to 32.1; p<0.001). For the hierarchical composite endpoint, semaglutide produced more wins than placebo (win ratio 1.72, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.15; p<0.001). The mean change in CRP was -43.5% and -7.3% with semaglutide and placebo, respectively (estimated treatment ratio 0.61, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.72; p<0.001).

    In terms of exploratory endpoints, the change in NTproBNP at 52 weeks was -20.9% and -5.3% for semaglutide versus placebo (estimated treatment ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.98). One patient in the semaglutide group and 12 in the placebo group experienced an adjudicated event of heart failure hospitalisation or urgent visit (hazard ratio 0.08, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.42). Serious adverse events were reported in 35 (13.3%) and 71 (26.7%) participants with semaglutide and placebo, respectively (p<0.001).

    Principal investigator Dr. Mikhail Kosiborod of Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, US said: “In patients with HFpEF and obesity, treatment with semaglutide 2.4 mg produced large improvements in symptoms, physical limitations and exercise function, reduced inflammation, and resulted in greater weight loss and fewer serious adverse events as compared with placebo. To our knowledge, this is the first trial of a pharmacologic agent to specifically target obesity as a treatment strategy for HFpEF, and the magnitude of the benefits we observed is the largest seen with any agent in HFpEF. This will likely have a significant impact on clinical practice, especially since there is a dearth of efficacious therapies in this vulnerable patient group. We believe that these findings should also change the nature of the conversation about the role of obesity in HFpEF, as the STEP-HFpEF results clearly indicate that obesity is not simply a comorbidity in patients with HFpEF but a root cause and a target for therapeutic intervention.”

     

    References and notes

    1STEP-HFpEF will be discussed during Hot Line 1 on Friday 25 August at 11:15 to 12:15 CEST in room Amsterdam.

    2Dunlay SM, Roger VL, Redfield MM. Epidemiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2017;14:591–602.

    3Borlaug BA, Jensen MD, Kitzman DW, et al. Obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: new insights and pathophysiological targets. Cardiovasc Res. 2023;118:3434-3450.

    4Reddy YNV, Lewis GD, Shah SJ, et al. Characterization of the obese phenotype of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a RELAX trial ancillary study. Mayo Clin Proc. 2019;94:1199–

    1209.

    5Reddy YNV, Rikhi A, Obokata M, et al. Quality of life in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: importance of obesity, functional capacity, and physical inactivity. Eur J Heart Fail. 2020;22:1009–1018.

    6 Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021;384:989-1002.

    7Kosiborod MN, Abildstrøm SZ, Borlaug BA, et al. Design and baseline characteristics of STEP-HFpEF program evaluating semaglutide in patients With obesity HFpEF phenotype. JACC Heart Fail. 2023;S2213-1779(23)00245-7.

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  • Doctors Told Me To ‘Just Lose Weight’ And My Pain Would Go Away. It Only Got Worse.

    Doctors Told Me To ‘Just Lose Weight’ And My Pain Would Go Away. It Only Got Worse.

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    My voluptuous pear shape is common among the women in my family. Our trademark big thighs and wide hips appeared early on my adolescent body, though, and worried my parents, who had also questioned doctors as to how a toddler could have cellulite.

    “If she just loses weight, it’ll go away.” That was the reverberating collective opinion of the medical community as I attempted WeightWatchers, Herbalife, summer fat camp and numerous other diets, all by the time I entered puberty, none with lasting results.

    I entered my teens determined to “fit in.” I pushed myself to keep up with the stride of my friends, not sway too much or walk too heavily. Determined not to be that fat kid. I danced and exercised for hours on end at home, to the annoyance of my mother, whose room was beneath mine.

    As the years progressed, however, I began experiencing pain. It was a pain that, by my teens, I had become accustomed to pushing to the back of my mind to avoid embarrassment. During high school, however, it became excruciating.

    When I finally took this to my doctor, he responded that my body was carrying extra weight “like a backpack” and that if I lost it, the pain would go away. Though I felt like the doctor didn’t take the time to properly evaluate my condition, I attempted fad diets, resulting in more weight gain than loss.

    By college and early adulthood, I had given up hope and became determined to be successful despite my weight. I overexerted myself in an attempt to prove that fat people weren’t lazy. I rarely ate sweets, shunned bread and skipped meals religiously. I was obsessed with not letting the world see me “acting fat.” I refused to mention my pain.

    “Grin and bear it” became my battle cry. On the outside, I was successfully wearing the look of happiness, but internally I was living in misery, afraid to tell anyone how bad the pain was or how tired and heavy my body felt. I knew what their response would be: “If you’d just lose weight, it’ll go away.”

    “I rarely ate sweets, shunned bread and skipped meals religiously. I was obsessed with not letting the world see me ‘acting fat.’ I refused to mention my pain.”

    They didn’t understand. They couldn’t. This fat was different. This fat was painful, and it wasn’t responding to diet or exercise.

    Frustrated and now with decreasing mobility, I started quietly searching the internet for answers. I knew I couldn’t be the only person to ever experience this. I needed help, and the general medical community offered very little more than judgment. At times, what they offered felt more like an insult than help:

    “You are a pretty girl. You should lose weight and get your education and make something out of yourself.” (I have three degrees.)

    “Nothing is wrong with you other than you are morbidly obese. You need to eat just a small amount of lettuce and half of a boiled egg with no dressing for all of your meals.”

    “I know that you came in here for a UTI, but I came down to talk to you about losing weight.”

    These are a few of the things said to me by the medical community as I searched for answers to my pain. It was typical for doctors to scoff at my attempts to explain how diets affected my body. Desperate, I took the advice of medical professionals and opted for weight loss surgery. The result of that was weight loss only in my upper body. My lower body continued to get larger, and my mobility continued to decline.

    I was depleted. My last resort had failed. It was getting exceedingly difficult to function in life. Driving became hazardous, work was near impossible, and the pain permeated every part of my life, even sleep. That’s when a doctor finally agreed that it might be lymphedema that was affecting my limbs.

    Lymphedema is swelling that occurs due to either a blockage or an overload in the lymphatic system, causing lymphatic fluid to accumulate in certain areas. This diagnosis was only the beginning of understanding what my body was experiencing, and it came too late in my journey.

    One month into lymphedema treatment, I lost complete mobility, and have been working to regain it ever since. However, this was the beginning of me getting the answers that I truly needed. I was blessed to meet a few specialized doctors and therapists who were able to immediately diagnose my condition accurately. It was lipedema.

    “Finally, a diagnosis. Finally, hope. Finally, not feeling like the doctor is looking at me with scathing judgment and ridicule.”

    According to The Lipedema Foundation, “Lipedema is a chronic medical condition characterized by a symmetric buildup of adipose tissue (fat) in the legs and arms. A common but underrecognized disorder, Lipedema may cause pain, swelling, and easy bruising. It may be accompanied by an unusual texture within the fat that can feel like rice, peas, or walnuts beneath the surface of the skin. The intensity of pain may range from none to severe, and its frequency may be constant, come and go, or only occur when the fat is pushed on. Limited public awareness of Lipedema, coupled with few research-backed treatments, can lead to exacerbation of symptoms as well as physical and emotional distress. Common symptoms include fatigue, muscle pain, or easy bruising.”

    Finally, a diagnosis. Finally, hope. Finally, not feeling like the doctor is looking at me with scathing judgment and ridicule. Someone understood that losing weight wasn’t going to simply make the pain go away and that my fat wasn’t normal.

    They understood that I had been through a lot just to get a diagnosis, and they helped me learn how to care for my lipedema body. More specifically, in my case, lipo-lymphedema, or lipedema that has progressed to the point of affecting your lymph system as well. It was late, but it’s not ever too late to initiate positive changes.

    I now know lipedema has been shown to be resistant to dietary and exercise interventions. And while research suggests bariatric surgery may result in a reduction of total fat mass, this loss of mass is less likely to reduce volume in lipedema-affected areas or ease other symptoms such as pain.

    I began learning techniques to help my lymphatic system. Certain foods and exercises affect my body more positively than others. I learned that certain activities cause my body greater stress than others. I am learning to take care of my lipedema body overall, instead of just focusing on weight loss.

    But what about the rest? If I “just lose weight,” will the emotional damage go away?

    Shedding the internal critic has been as hard as it is to get rid of an addiction. I beat myself up for every “cheat day,” every day that I don’t make it to the gym, every time my stamina won’t endure as long as a smaller person. I have to intentionally change the internal dialogue and remind myself that I am a human who is combating a medical condition.

    Instead of losing weight, I focus on dealing with lipedema. I also focus on connecting with others who are treating or suffering from the same condition. This has resulted in the most sustainable reduction in my weight yet. But the result that mattered the most was finally gaining hope.

    Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch.

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  • Diabetes and weight loss drug Wegovy could also cut cardiovascular risk

    Diabetes and weight loss drug Wegovy could also cut cardiovascular risk

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    Diabetes and weight loss drug Wegovy could also cut cardiovascular risk – CBS News


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    The maker of diabetes and weight loss medication Wegovy said a trial found that the drug can also cut the risk of cardiovascular disease by 20%.

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  • 8/8: CBS Evening News

    8/8: CBS Evening News

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    8/8: CBS Evening News – CBS News


    Watch CBS News



    Thousands of Los Angeles workers go on 1-day strike; Diabetes and weight loss drug Wegovy could also cut cardiovascular risk

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  • Wegovy patients saw 20% reduction in cardiovascular risks, drugmaker says

    Wegovy patients saw 20% reduction in cardiovascular risks, drugmaker says

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    Wegovy, one of a new class of drugs used for weight loss, reduced the risk of heart attacks in overweight adults in a large trial, according to its manufacturer. 

    Drugmaker Novo Nordisk on Tuesday reported the results of a new study that tracked more than 17,000 adults over the age of 45 who were overweight or obese and had cardiovascular disease but no history of diabetes. 

    The trial showed that once-weekly Wegovy injections cut the likelihood of serious cardiac events such as heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths among the study’s participants by 20%. That represents a better result than analysts had expected, and the findings could make a strong case for insurers to cover the costly weight-loss drug, Reuters reported. 

    “The results could improve the willingness to pay for obesity drugs and provide higher incentive to treat obesity at earlier state,” noted Henrik Hallengreen Laustsen, an analyst at Jyske Bank, speaking to Reuters. 

    The trial demonstrates that the medication “has the potential to change how obesity is regarded and treated,” Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for Development at Novo Nordisk, said in a statement. 


    Health officials raise concern about weight-loss drugs’ possible side effects

    05:19

    Wegovy clinical trials

    Wegovy, a brand-name formulation of the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide, received approval to treat adult obesity in 2021. An early study showed that patients taking semaglutide lost 15% of their body weight in 68 weeks. 

    This latest study shows semaglutide can reduce patients’ risks of experiencing cardiac events, which are more common in overweight and obese individuals. Obese adults are 28% more likely to develop heart disease compared with adults with a healthy body-mass index, even when they lack other risk factors, a 2018 study showed.  

    How much is Wegovy?

    Even so, some insurers aren’t rushing to cover semaglutide.

    Wegovy can cost $1,350 per month, according to telehealth and prescription coupon website GoodRx. That’s hundreds of dollars more than more traditional weight-loss medications like Orlistat.

    Some insurers are paying tens of millions of dollars per month for semaglutide as more Americans are prescribed the medications, the Wall Street Journal reported. 

    That’s led some employers, like the University of Texas System, to end coverage of Wegovy for individuals covered by their health plans, according to the Journal. Other employers are implementing coverage restrictions to deal with the medications’ rising costs.

    Semaglutide safety concerns 

    Public concerns about the safety of the drug may also be an obstacle to its wider adoption as a first-line treatment against obesity. Patients who have taken Wegovy and other semaglutide-based medications have experienced unpleasant, and sometimes dangerous, side effects, like chronic abdominal pain and hypoglycemia. 

    Earlier this month, a personal injury law firm filed a lawsuit against the manufacturers of Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, alleging the drugmakers failed to warn patients the treatments could cause gastroparesis, a painful condition in which food is slow to move through the stomach.  

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  • Olive oil and fresh, sun-ripened plant-based foods: the Mediterranean Diet as a winning combination for health

    Olive oil and fresh, sun-ripened plant-based foods: the Mediterranean Diet as a winning combination for health

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    Newswise — A researcher from the University of Warwick says that to promote better health within Western societies, it’s essential to reshape our food culture. This means moving away from unhealthy, ultra-processed, sugar-laden, and fibre-depleted foods and gravitating towards wholesome, fibre-rich, plant-based foods reminiscent of the Mediterranean diet.

    Dr Thomas Barber is an Associate Clinical Professor and lead of Obesity Services at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire. He has been exploring the secrets to a healthier life and the transformative potential of the ‘Mediterranean Diet. The key to its success lies within ‘healthy fats’, particularly olive oil. With overwhelming evidence supporting the health-promoting effects of the Mediterranean Diet (MD), researchers say it’s time to embrace this approach to food for a better and healthier future.

    The Mediterranean diet has long been revered for its ability to reduce the risk of heart disease, enhance cognitive function, and maintain a healthy weight. So, why isn’t everyone adopting this path to well-being? As its name suggests, the MD thrives in Mediterranean countries, where olive oil, fresh fruits, and vegetables abound throughout the year. Yet, this very abundance points to a significant hurdle faced by the rest of the world.

    You might want to try vegetable-heavy dishes, like griddled chicken with quinoa Greek salad, salmon with hummus & and roasted tomatoes, or stuffed peppers, finished with an olive oil-based dressing and fresh fruits for dessert.

    “Availability of the MD’s essential components, particularly during winter months, might explain the lack of its widespread adoption outside the Mediterranean regions,” explains Dr. Thomas Barber. “But, it’s not just about availability. Millennia of cultural integration and alignment with the Mediterranean lifestyle and climate make it harder for non-Mediterranean populations to fully embrace the MD.”

    Over generations, the MD has become ingrained in Mediterranean cultures, seamlessly blending into the fabric of their daily lives. The joy of eating alfresco and the reduced reliance on hot food naturally complement the dietary principles of the MD. For those from non-Mediterranean backgrounds, cultural hurdles present challenges in adopting this healthy lifestyle. Moreover, the palatability of ingesting substantial amounts of fruit, vegetables, and olive oil daily can be an obstacle for many.

    In addition, researchers celebrate the environmental impact of the MD, as it’s very environmentally friendly as well, particularly regarding water usage and CO2 emissions. The EAT-Lancet Commission, tasked with developing healthy and environmentally sustainable diets by 2050, produced targets that are very similar to traditional MD.

    “This calls for a collective ‘to-do’ list to encourage and inspire each other to cook from raw ingredients and rediscover the joy and fulfilment of healthy eating as our ancestors have done for aeons,” adds Dr Thomas Barber.

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  • Ozempic, Mounjaro manufacturers sued over claims of

    Ozempic, Mounjaro manufacturers sued over claims of

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    A personal injury law firm has filed a lawsuit against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Co., the manufacturers of Ozempic and Mounjaro, over claims that the diabetes drugs, which are popular for aiding weight loss, can cause gastroparesis, a paralysis of the stomach.

    Paul Pennock and Jonathan Sedgh, the attorneys heading up the lawsuit from the firm Morgan & Morgan, announced the filing at a news conference Wednesday, saying the basis of the suit is “a failure to warn.”

    “It is our opinion that these drugs are causing these problems. We think that the evidence is sufficient for us to be able to prove it or we would not have filed the case, and we intend to file many more in the coming days and weeks,” Pennock said during the Zoom conference, noting the first case filed involves a 44-year-old woman from Louisiana who has taken both drugs, Ozempic first and then Mounjaro, at the discretion of her doctor. 

    “Her problems have been so severe that she’s been to the emergency room multiple times, including last weekend. She’s actually even thrown up so violently that she’s lost teeth,” he said of the plaintiff, who is seeking financial compensation, but has not yet been officially diagnosed with gastroparesis.

    Pennock says his firm is investigating 400 other inquiries from clients across 45 states.  

    Tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Mounjaro, and semaglutide, sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, are administered once a week by shot. Mounjaro is known as a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, while Ozempic and Wegovy are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. 

    What is gastroparesis?

    Also called delayed gastric emptying, gastroparesis is a disorder that “slows or stops the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine, even though there is no blockage in the stomach or intestines,” according to the National Institutes of Health.

    Diabetes itself is most common known cause of gastroparesis, the NIH says.

    Brea Hand, who is not involved in the lawsuit, told CBS News she went to the hospital six times while on Ozempic, and was eventually admitted to intensive care. 

    “The stomach pain was just unbearable and I couldn’t keep anything down,” she said. “I would drink something and within minutes, like five, 10 minutes later, I would be throwing up.”

    In a statement to CBS News, Novo Nordisk said gastrointestinal, or GI, events are “well-known side effects of the GLP-1 class.”

    “For semaglutide, the majority of GI side effects are mild to moderate in severity and of short duration. GLP-1’s are known to cause a delay in gastric emptying, as noted in the label of each of our GLP-1 RA medications. Symptoms of delayed gastric emptying, nausea and vomiting are listed as side effects,” the statement continued. 

    Eli Lilly and Co. said, “Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority, and we actively engage in monitoring and reporting safety information for all our medicines.”

    Mounjaro and Ozempic are FDA-approved diabetes medications, while Wegovy is FDA-approved specifically for weight loss.

    These drugs were originally developed to treat patients with Type 2 diabetes as they produce insulin and lower blood sugar. They also release a hormone that slows down digestion and keeps food in a patient’s stomach longer. This process suppresses hunger and leads to weight loss — but there can be side effects, and doctors warn that long-term impacts remain unknown.

    –Cara Korte and Janet Shamlian contributed to this report.

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  • Weight loss drug makers sued over

    Weight loss drug makers sued over

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    Weight loss drug makers sued over “stomach paralysis” – CBS News


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    The makers of Ozempic and Mounjaro, drugs used for both weight loss and diabetes management, are facing a lawsuit claiming the medications can cause “stomach paralysis.” Janet Shamlian reports.

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  • Los investigadores de Mayo Clinic preparan el terreno para el tratamiento individualizado de la obesidad, adaptando las intervenciones a las necesidades de cada persona

    Los investigadores de Mayo Clinic preparan el terreno para el tratamiento individualizado de la obesidad, adaptando las intervenciones a las necesidades de cada persona

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    Newswise — ROCHESTER, Minnesota — En un estudio piloto de 165 personas, los investigadores de Mayo Clinic analizaron la eficacia de dos enfoques distintos para la pérdida de peso: una intervención estándar en el estilo de vida y tratamiento individualizado. La intervención estándar en el estilo de vida comprendía una dieta reducida, ejercicio y terapia conductual. El enfoque individualizado se basó en los fenotipos e incluyó diferentes intervenciones según la causa subyacente predominante de la obesidad en la persona. Una dieta basada en fenotipos tiene en cuenta las características genéticas y fenotípicas de una persona para crear un plan de alimentación personalizado destinado a optimizar la salud y el bienestar.

    Los investigadores compararon si las intervenciones en la dieta y el estilo de vida adaptadas a los fenotipos de la obesidad funcionarían mejor que las intervenciones estándar en el estilo de vida en la pérdida de peso, los factores de riesgo cardiometabólicos y las variables físicas que contribuyen a la obesidad. La salud cardiometabólica describe la conexión entre el corazón y los vasos sanguíneos con la energía y los procesos químicos del cuerpo. Cubre una amplia gama de trastornos y factores de riesgo que contribuyen a la enfermedad cardíaca y al síndrome metabólico.

    En los adultos con obesidad, las intervenciones en el estilo de vida adaptadas al fenotipo llevaron a una mayor pérdida de peso que las intervenciones estándar en el estilo de vida de una dieta baja en calorías, ejercicio y terapia conductual.

    Los hallazgos después de 12 semanas incluyeron lo siguiente:

    • Los pacientes que usaron intervenciones en el estilo de vida adaptadas al fenotipo obtuvieron mejores resultados en el tratamiento de su obesidad que los que usaron intervenciones estándar en el estilo de vida.
    • El grupo de pacientes centrado en el fenotipo tuvo una pérdida de peso más considerable, una disminución de la circunferencia de la cintura, una disminución de los triglicéridos, una disminución de la ingesta calórica diaria y menos ansiedad.
    • Tuvieron un aumento importante en el porcentaje de masa corporal magra.
    • También tuvieron una menor disminución en la cantidad de calorías que el cuerpo requiere durante las condiciones de reposo.

    “Los resultados destacan la importancia de identificar la causa subyacente de la obesidad como una enfermedad compleja con muchos factores”, afirma el Dr. en Ciencias Andrés Acosta, investigador de la obesidad de Mayo Clinic y último autor del estudio.

    ¿Qué es una intervención adaptada al fenotipo?

    Los fenotipos de la obesidad se basan en la causa de la enfermedad y los componentes conductuales, e incluyen las siguientes tres áreas principales:

    • Alimentación homeostática: comer en respuesta a una necesidad de energía percibida por el cerebro.
    • Conducta alimentaria hedónica: consumir alimentos por placer, no por sensación física de hambre o necesidades de energía.
    • Gasto anormal de energía: la cantidad de calorías quemadas en 24 horas en comparación con una persona promedio.

    Cuatro fenotipos aplicables de estas áreas incluyen la saciedad anormal, medida por las calorías ingeridas hasta experimentar una saciedad desagradable; la duración anormal de la saciedad; la conducta alimentaria emocional; y el gasto anormal de energía en reposo.

    Los investigadores informaron que las personas que utilizaron las intervenciones en el estilo de vida adaptadas al fenotipo mostraron una mejora considerable en algunas áreas específicas, como la saciedad anormal y la alimentación emocional.

    “Los resultados de este estudio respaldan la necesidad de una clasificación aplicable basada en el fenotipo [de los pacientes en el tratamiento de la obesidad] en lugar de depender únicamente del número en la balanza, las medidas corporales o las enfermedades relacionadas con la obesidad [si tienen], como enfermedad cardíaca, presión arterial alta y ciertos tipos de cáncer”, afirma el Dr. Acosta.

    Oportunidades para futuras investigaciones

    El Dr. Acosta afirma que es necesario contar con más investigación para evaluar el efecto a largo plazo de un enfoque basado en el fenotipo. En particular, es posible que otros estudios deban analizar otras variables físicas y metabólicas para comprender a las personas sin un fenotipo identificado.

    El Dr. Acosta también indica que los efectos del tratamiento en los dos enfoques deben examinarse de forma independiente. Las personas con un componente de alimentación emocional recibieron una intervención más intensa, con 24 sesiones de modificación de la conducta, para abordar este rasgo subyacente que puede tener un rol principal en el desarrollo de la obesidad.

    “Con más investigación, se mejorará el enfoque personalizado propuesto a partir de los datos”, afirma el Dr. Acosta. “Seguiremos trabajando en el tratamiento individualizado de la obesidad dirigido a rasgos específicos para identificar el tratamiento correcto para el paciente adecuado”.

    Declaración de intereses:
    El Dr. Acosta es accionista de Gila Therapeutics y Phenomix Sciences; fue médico especialista de Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, General Mills, Amgen, Bausch Health y RareStone; tiene contratos con Vivus Inc, Satiogen Pharmaceutical y Rhythm pharmaceutical; y ha presentado una patente para biomarcadores de una dieta adaptada al fenotipo.

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    Información sobre Mayo Clinic
    Mayo Clinic es una organización sin fines de lucro, dedicada a innovar la práctica clínica, la educación y la investigación, así como a ofrecer pericia, compasión y respuestas a todos los que necesitan recobrar la salud. Visite la Red Informativa de Mayo Clinic para leer más noticias sobre Mayo Clinic.

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  • يُمهد باحثو مايو كلينك الطريق لعلاج السُمنة بصورة فردية، وتخصيص التدخلات وفقًا لاحتياجات الشخص

    يُمهد باحثو مايو كلينك الطريق لعلاج السُمنة بصورة فردية، وتخصيص التدخلات وفقًا لاحتياجات الشخص

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    روتشستر، مينيسوتا — فيدراسة  تجريبية شملت 165 شخصًا، درس باحثو مايو كلينك فعّالية طريقتين مختلفتين لفقدان الوزن: تدخُّل قياسي في نمط الحياة وعلاج فردي. يضمن التدخل القياسي في نمط الحياة اتباع نظام غذائي منخفض السعرات وممارسة الرياضة والعلاج السلوكي. وقام النهج الفردي على الأنماط الظاهرية وشمل تدخلات مختلفة اعتمادًا على السبب الكامن السائد للسُمنة لدى الشخص. يأخذ النظام الغذائي القائم على الأنماط الظاهرية في الاعتبار الخصائص الوراثية والمظهرية للشخص لوضع خطة تناول طعام مخصصة تهدف إلى تحسين الصحة والعافية.

    قارن الباحثون ما إذا كانت التدخلات في النظام الغذائي ونمط الحياة المصممة خصيصًا للأنماط الظاهرية للسُمنة ستعمل بشكل أفضل من التدخلات القياسية في نمط الحياة فيما يتعلق بفقدان الوزن وعوامل خطر مشكلات القلب والأوعية الدموية والمتغيرات الجسدية التي تساهم في السُمنة. تصف صحة القلب والأوعية الدموية العلاقة بين القلب والأوعية الدموية وطاقة الجسم والعمليات الكيميائية. وتشمل مجموعة واسعة من الاضطرابات وعوامل الخطر التي تُساهم في مرض القلب و متلازمة التمثيل الغذائي.

    في البالغين المصابين بالسُمنة، أدت التدخلات في نمط الحياة المصممة خصيصًا حسب النمط الظاهري إلى فقدان الوزن أكثر من التدخلات القياسية في نمط الحياة لنظام غذائي منخفض السعرات الحرارية وممارسة الرياضة والعلاج السلوكي.

    تضمنت النتائج بعد 12 أسبوعًا ما يلي:

    • عالج المرضى الذين استخدموا التدخلات في نمط الحياة المصممة خصيصًا للنمط الظاهري السُمنة بشكل أفضل من أولئك الذين استخدموا التدخلات القياسية في نمط الحياة.
    • حظيت مجموعة المرضى التي ينصَّب تركيزها على النمط الظاهري بفقدان وزن أكبر، ومحيط خصر أقل، وانخفاض الدهون الثلاثية، وانخفاض السعرات الحرارية اليومية وقلق أقل.
    • كان لديهم زيادة كبيرة في النسبة المئوية لكتلة الجسم الخالية من الدهون.
    • كان لديهم أيضًا انخفاض أقل في عدد السعرات الحرارية التي يحتاجها الجسم أثناء فترات الراحة.

    “تؤكد النتائج على أهمية تحديد السبب الكامن وراء السُمنة كمرض معقد له العديد من العوامل”، كما يقول أندريه أكوستا، دكتور في الطب والأبحاث الطبية، باحث في السُمنة في مايو كلينك والمؤلف الأخير للدراسة.

    ما هو التدخل المصمم خصيصًا حسب النمط الظاهري؟

    تعتمد الأنماط الظاهرية للسُمنة على سبب المرض والمكونات السلوكية وتشمل ثلاثة مجالات رئيسية:

    • تناول الطعام في حالة التوازن – الأكل استجابة للحاجة المتصورة للطاقة من الدماغ.
    • سلوك تناول الطعام للحصول على لذّة – تناول الأطعمة من أجل المتعة، وليس من أجل الجوع الجسدي أو احتياجات الطاقة.
    • استهلاك غير طبيعي للطاقة – عدد السعرات الحرارية التي حُرِقَت في 24 ساعة مقارنة بشخص عادي.

    أربعة أنماط ظاهرية عملية في هذه المجالات تشمل الامتلاء غير الطبيعي، يُقاس بالسعرات الحرارية التي يتم تناولها لتجربة الامتلاء المزعج، مدة الامتلاء غير الطبيعية، سلوك تناول الطعام لدوافع عاطفية واستهلاك غير طبيعي للطاقة أثناء الراحة.

    ذكر الباحثون أن الأشخاص الذين استخدموا التدخلات في نمط الحياة المصممة خصيصًا حسب النمط الظاهري أظهروا تحسنًا ملحوظًا في بعض المجالات الاستهدافيّة، مثل الامتلاء غير الطبيعي وتناول الطعام لدوافع عاطفية.

    “تدعم نتائج هذه الدراسة الحاجة إلى تصنيف عملي قائم على النمط الظاهري [للمرضى الخاضعين لعلاج السُمنة] بدلاً من الاعتماد فقط على الرقم على المقياس أو قياسات الجسم أو [إذا كان لديهم] أمراض مرتبطة بالسُمنة، مثل أمراض القلب وارتفاع ضغط الدم وبعض أنواع السرطان”، كما يقول الدكتور أكوستا.

    فرص لإجراء المزيد من الأبحاث

    يقول الدكتور أكوستا إن هناك حاجة إلى إجراء المزيد من الأبحاث لتقييم تأثير النهج القائم على النمط الظاهري على المدى الطويل. على وجه الخصوص، قد توجد حاجة إلى أن يبحث المزيد من الدراسات في المتغيرات الفيزيائية ومتغيرات التمثيل الغذائي الأخرى لفهم الأشخاص الذين ليس لديهم نمط ظاهري محدد.

    ويُشير الدكتور أكوستا أيضًا إلى أنه يجب فحص تأثيرات العلاج على الطريقتين بشكل مستقل. تلقى الأشخاص الذين يعانون فيما يتعلق بتناول الطعام لدوافع عاطفية تدخلاً أكثر كثافة، من خلال 24 جلسة لتعديل السلوك، لمعالجة هذه السمة الأساسية التي قد يكون لها دور رئيسي في اكتساب السُمنة.

    يقول الدكتور أكوستا: “ستعمل المزيد من الأبحاث على تعزيز النهج المصمم خصيصًا المقترح من البيانات”. “سنواصل العمل على علاج السُمنة الفردي الموجه إلى سمات معينة لتحديد العلاج المناسب لكل مريض.”

    إعلان المصالح

    الدكتور أكوستا هو أحد المساهمين في Gila Therapeutics وPhenomix Sciences. وكان مستشارًا لشركات Rhythm Pharmaceuticals وGeneral Mills وAmgen وBausch Health وRareStone؛ لديه عقود مع Vivus Inc وSatiogen Pharmaceutical وRhythm Pharmaceutical؛ ولديه براءة اختراع مقدمة للمؤشرات الحيوية لنظام غذائي مصمم خصيصًا للنمط الظاهري.

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    نبذة عن مايو كلينك
    مايو كلينك هي مؤسسة غير ربحية تلتزم بالابتكار في الممارسات السريرية والتعليم والبحث وتوفير التعاطف والخبرة لكل مَن يحتاج إلى الاستشفاء والرد على استفساراته. لمعرفة المزيد من أخبار مايو كلينك، تفضَّل بزيارة شبكة مايو كلينك الإخبارية.

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  • Being Alive Is Bad for Your Health

    Being Alive Is Bad for Your Health

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    In 2016, I gave up Diet Coke. This was no small adjustment. I was born and raised in suburban Atlanta, home to the Coca-Cola Company’s global headquarters, and I had never lived in a home without Diet Coke stocked in the refrigerator at all times. Every morning in high school, I’d slam one with breakfast, and then I’d make sure to shove some quarters (a simpler time) in my back pocket to use in the school’s vending machines. When I moved into my freshman college dorm, the first thing I did was stock my mini fridge with cans. A few years later, my then-boyfriend swathed two 12-packs in wrapping paper and put them under his Christmas tree. It was a joke, but it wasn’t.

    You’d think quitting would have been agonizing. To my surprise, it was easy. For years, I’d heard anecdotes about people who forsook diet drinks and felt their health improve seemingly overnight—better sleep, better skin, better energy. I’d also heard whispers about the larger suspected dangers of fake sweeteners. Yet I’d loved my DCs too much to be swayed. Then I tried my first can of unsweetened seltzer at a friend’s apartment. After years of turning my nose up at the thought of LaCroix, I realized that much of what I enjoyed about Diet Coke was its frigidity and fizz. That was enough. I switched to seltzer on the spot, prepared to join the smug converted and receive whatever health benefits were sure to accrue to me for my good behavior.

    Except they never came. Seven years later, I feel no better than I ever did drinking four or five cans of the stuff a day. I still stick to seltzer anyway—because, you know, who knows?—and I’ve mostly forgotten that Diet Coke exists. But the diet sodas had not, as it turns out, been preventing me from getting great sleep or calming my rosacea or feeling, I don’t know, zesty. Besides the caffeine, they appeared to make no difference in how good or bad I felt at all.

    Yesterday, Reuters reported that the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer will soon declare aspartame, the sweetener used in Diet Coke and many other no-calorie sodas, as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” I probably should have felt vindicated. I may not feel better now, but many years down the road (knock on wood), I’ll be better off. I’d bet on the right horse! Instead, I felt nothing so much as irritation. Over the past few decades, a growing number of foods and behaviors have become the regular subject of vague, ever-changing health warnings—fake sweeteners, real sugar, wine, butter, milk (dairy and non), carbohydrates, coffee, fat, chocolate, eggs, meat, veganism, vegetarianism, weightlifting, drinking a lot of water, and scores of others. The more warnings there are, the less actionable any particular one of them feels. What, exactly, is anyone supposed to do with any of this information, except feel bad about the things they enjoy?

    It’s worth reviewing what is actually known or suspected about diet sodas and health. The lion’s share of research on this topic happens in what are known as observational studies—scientists track consumption and record health outcomes, looking for commonalities and trends linking behavior and effects. These studies can’t tell you if the behavior caused the outcome, but they can establish an association that’s worth investigating further. Regular, sustained diet-soda consumption has been linked to weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, and increased risk of stroke, among other things—understandably troublesome correlations for people worried about their health. But there’s a huge complicating factor in understanding what that means: For decades, advertisements recommended that people who were already worried about—or already had—some of those same health concerns substitute diet drinks for those with real sugar, and many such people still make those substitutions in order to adhere to low-carb diets or even out their blood sugar. As a result, little evidence suggests that diet soda is solely responsible for any of those issues—health is a highly complicated, multifactorial phenomenon in almost every aspect—but many experts still recommend limiting your consumption of diet soda as a reasonable precaution.

    A representative for the IARC would neither confirm nor deny the nature of the WHO’s pending announcement on aspartame, which will be released on July 14. For the sake of argument, let’s assume that Reuters’s reporting is correct: In two weeks, the organization will update the sweetener’s designation to indicate that it’s “possibly carcinogenic.” To regular people, those words—especially in the context of a health organization’s public bulletins—would seem to imply significant suspicion of real danger. The evidence may not yet all be in place, but surely there’s enough reason to believe that the threat is real, that there’s cause to spook the general public.

    Except, as my colleague Ed Yong wrote in 2015, when the IARC made a similar announcement about the carcinogenic potential of meat, that’s not what the classification means at all. The IARC chops risk up into four categories: carcinogenic (Group 1), probably carcinogenic (Group 2A), possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B), and unclassified (Group 3). Those categories do one very specific thing: They describe how definitive the agency believes the evidence is for any level of increased risk, even a very tiny one. The category in which aspartame may soon find itself, 2B, makes no grand claims about carcinogenicity. “In practice, 2B becomes a giant dumping ground for all the risk factors that IARC has considered, and could neither confirm nor fully discount as carcinogens. Which is to say: most things,” Yong wrote. “It’s a bloated category, essentially one big epidemiological shruggie.”

    The categories are not at all intended to communicate the degree of the risk involved—just how sure or unsure the organization is that there’s a risk associated with a thing or substance at all. And association can mean a lot of things. Hypothetically, regular consumption of food that may quadruple your risk of a highly deadly cancer would fall in the same category as something that may increase your risk of a cancer with a 95 percent survival rate by just a few percentage points, as long as the IARC felt similarly confident in the evidence for both of those effects.

    These designations about carcinogenicity are just one example of how health information can arrive to the general public in ways that are functionally useless, even if well intentioned. Earlier this year, the WHO advised against all use of artificial sweeteners. At first, that might sound dire. But the actual substance of the warning was about the limited evidence that those sweeteners aid in weight loss, not any new evidence about their unique ability to harm your health in some way. (The warning did nod to the links between long-term use of artificial sweeteners and increased risks of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and premature death, but as the WHO noted at the time, these are understood as murky correlations, not part of an alarming breakthrough discovery.)

    The same release quotes the WHO’s director for nutrition and food safety advising that, for long-term weight control, people need to find ways beyond artificial sweeteners to reduce their consumption of real sugar—in essence, it’s not a health alert about any particular chemical, but about dessert as a concept. How much of any sweetener would you need to cut out of your diet in order to limit any risks it may pose? The release, on its own, doesn’t specify. Consider a birthday crudités platter instead of a cake, just to be sure. (Is that celery non-GMO? Organic? Just checking.)

    The media, surely, deserve our fair share of blame for how quickly and how far these oversimplified ideas spread. Many people are very worried about the food they eat—perhaps because they have received so many conflicting indicators over the years about how that food affects their bodies—and flock to news that something has been deemed beneficial or dangerous. At best, the research that many such stories cite is rarely definitive, and at worst, it’s so poorly designed or otherwise flawed that it’s flatly incapable of producing useful information.

    Taken in aggregate, this morass of poor communication and confusing information has the very real potential to exhaust people’s ability to identify and respond to actual risk, or to confuse them into nihilism. The solution-free finger-wagging, so often about the exact things that many people experience as the little joys in everyday life, doesn’t help. When everything is an ambiguously urgent health risk, it very quickly begins to feel like nothing is. I still drink a few Diet Cokes a year, and I maintain that there’s no better beverage to pair with pizza. We’re all going to die someday.

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    Amanda Mull

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