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While it has been widely promoted as a weight loss strategy, research suggests that Intermittent Fasting may have broader benefits for overall health and well-being. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that Intermittent Fasting can help lower blood pressure, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Another study in the journal Cell Metabolism found that Intermittent Fasting can increase the production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is essential for the growth and maintenance of neurons in the brain.

Despite these promising findings, new research found that Intermittent Fasting may not be as beneficial for weight loss as previously thought while another study found that that it does not bring the same health benefits as other weight loss programs.

These new findings leave lots of questions unanswered. Does Intermittent Fasting help with weight loss and provide other health benefits or is it just another fad diet targeted to those who are looking to lose weight? Kimberly Gomer, Director Of Nutrition, Body Beautiful Miami is a leading nutritional expert in weight loss and medical nutrition for over 2 decades. She brings her years of experience to the discussion and offers her in-depth analysis of this dietary strategy.

Kims Thoughts:

I love this article on intermittent fasting because it brings to light an unknown idea for a lot of people. I do believe from the science, looking at the science, that there is benefit to time-restricted eating. So, youre fasting for a certain amount of time and then youre eating. The idea that immune autophagy maintaining muscle mass is a possibility with fasting.

But the exciting part for me as a nutritionist is the stability of blood sugar. Because high insulin levels, high blood sugars are a huge problem in the United Stateswe are looking at one in three people with prediabetes. We are looking at one in 10 people with diabetes, and we are looking at one in five people who dont even know they have it.

So, this idea that we can lower insulin levels and we can stabilize blood sugar and do it through an intermittent fasting lifestyle, is amazing. And part of the science behind it is that when you are not eating, be it sleeping or just not eating, your insulin is very low. Its the lowest when youre not eating so allowing for a time that you are not eating in your day to be extended and eating only in a certain window, there are a lot of health benefits.

The problem that I see with some of these articles and understanding how they would apply to you as an individual is the fasting times are all over the place. Are you fasting for 18 hours a day? Are you fasting for 16 hours a day? Are you fasting for 12 hours a day?

Is your eating window very short? One to three hours or long eight hours. So, this idea of what is the best fasting and eating window is still not clear in some of the research, and more important in my mind, yes, intermittent fasting is a great tool. I use it in my private practice as a dietician with a lot of success.

But one thing that has to come with it is what are you eating? We live in a world of obesogenic food, highly processed, unhealthy food. So, some of my clients actually think, some people think well I can fast for 20 hours and for four hours I can go and eat fast food and eat junk, and Im going to be healthy and thin. Not true.

So, I love intermittent fasting, I think we need more and more research about it. I think people need to be clear about what will work for them, how the tool can work for them as an individual, and more importantly, be clear about what theyre actually eating during their window. Again, Im going to say I think that intermittent fasting is an awesome tool.

Im so happy to see research being published. More research needs to be done and I think it can be very useful for a lot of people. Thank you.

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Can Intermittent Fasting Help You Lose Weight And Provide Other ... - MarketScale

Drugmakers are working hard to convince Americans they need their next-generation weight loss medications. But many come with side effectsand the fact we don't really know what happens long-term.

This new diabetes drug could be a game changer for obesity

A new diabetes drug may cause dramatic weight loss in patients. Here's when it could become available and how much it could cost.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

The arrival of truly effective weight loss drugs marksthe answer to prayers, the solution many have been awaiting desperately for decades.

Drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjarocan help someone lose 15% to 20% of their body weight as much as 60 pounds for someone who started at 300 far more than has been possible without surgery.

But some doctors, psychologists and eating disorder experts worry these newmedications, originally developed to treat diabetes,could becomea problemlong-term.

Common side effects of these so-calledGLP-1 receptor agonists nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation can be significant. Nearly half of people with diabetes quit an earlier generation of the medications within a year, one real-worldstudy showed, and 70% within two years.

Most people are likely to regain lost weight if they don't keep taking the drugs for life, and the psychological toll of that rebound couldbe damaging, psychologists predict.

Those who lose weight on theonce-weekly shotswill probably still need to exercise and eat well to see a health benefit. Substantial weight loss is generally associated with an improvement in health, but that has not yet been shown with these medications.

And people may not realize how much the companies makingthese $1,000-a-monthmedications are working behind the scenes to convince them they need theappetite-suppressing drugs.

"That's part of the problem with these medications right now: Big Pharma's influence on doctors and Big Pharma's influence on education," said Dr. Kimberly Dennis, a psychiatrist who specializesin treating addictions and eating disorders. "Everything we saw with the opioid epidemic."

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro: How these medications promote weight loss and what you need to know

The companies, society and many doctors are reinforcing the false idea that a certain body mass index equals health and another equals illness, she said.

"There are people at a whole range of sizes and BMIs that are healthy when you look at actual diseases," Dennis said. Weight loss drugs are"not a cure. For many of these folks, they have no actual illness."

Plenty of thin people have high blood pressure, for instance, and plenty of people who are considered medically overweight or obese don't, saidDr. AdrianeFugh-Berman, who studies pharmaceutical marketing practices at Georgetown University.

"It's not clear you're going to get improved health outcomes" from weight loss medications, she said.

And people with larger bodies will be blamed if they "fail" again to defy biology and keep the weight off, saidTigress Osborn, board chair of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance.

"Every time there's a new drug that promises to help people lose weight, the cultural focus on changing fat people into thin people becomes even more relentless than it already is," she said."So-called advances in curing fatness always serve to remind fat people just how many people think the world should be cured of us."

Drug companies,in particular Novo Nordisk, maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, have beenbuilding demand for their products for years.

The companies have hired leading obesity medicine doctors. Novo Nordisk paid doctors just under $14 million in 2021 for education and training, government records show, whileEli Lilly, maker of Mounjaro, paid less than $1 million.

"Novo Nordisk believes that responsible engagement between pharmaceutical companies and the medical community is good for patients and advances care and science," Natalia Salomao, the company's senior director corporate brand, said in an emailed statement.

Obesity is a chronic, progressive and misunderstood disease that requires long-term medical management," her statement said. "One key misunderstanding is that this is a disease of willpower, when in fact there is underlying biology that prevents people from losing weight and keeping it off.

Novo Nordisk also provides funding for medical education on obesity, including one session for nurses called "Obesity: the Elephant in the Room."

Novo Nordisk was recently suspended for two years from a pharmaceutical lobbying groupin the U.K.for quietly sponsoring a training program that was actuallya promotional campaign which Novo Nordisk knowingly paid for.It marked only the eighth time in 40 years theAssociation of the British Pharmaceutical Industry sanctioned one of its members.

Pharmaceutical companies also are lobbying heavily to get insurers, including government-funded Medicare, to cover the cost of weight loss medications.

About 40 million of the 110 million Americans living with obesity have insurance coverage that includes weight loss medications, Salomaosaid.

"Novo Nordisk believes the most effective way for the millions of Americans who need anti-obesity medicines to be able to access and afford them is to ensure these medicines are covered by government and commercial insurance plans."

A study publishedin the New England Journal of Medicinelast month found covering the cost of these medications for only 20% of eligible patients wouldcost Medicare $13billion a year. Some argue this undercounts the savings that would come from improved health of those who lose weight.

Drug companies also supportthe Obesity Action Coalition,an industry-backed group that says it fights weight stigma. Novo Nordisk was the coalition's largest and only "platinum" donor in 2021. Lilly was two categories down in the "silver" category.

Ragen Chastain, a patient advocate and activist who researches the weight loss industry said it doesn't make sense for drugcompanies to say they're against weight bias while simultaneously pushing for insurers to covertheir medications."That's not actually an anti-weight-stigma position."

If drug companies really wanted to perform a public service, Chastain said, they "would focus on supporting the health of people of all sizes, rather than trying to shrink some people.

New anti-obesity medications cost $1,000 a month: How will we afford them?

The human body has evolved to hold on to any extra pounds, interpretingweight loss as a life-threatening famine.

That makes it extremely difficult for most people to lose weight and, especially, to keep it off long-term. Among many lifestyle changes over the past 40 years, people's weight has increased along with weight loss attempts, so focusing on weight loss is not an effective solution to improving health,a study in 2021 concluded.

Studies suggest this seesawing of weight may cause more health damage than simply carryingpounds.

One compilation of other studies in 2021showed that weight cycling was associated with an increased risk for diabetes. An earlier study from the same Chinese researchersshowedan association between weight cycling and a40%higher risk of death, particularly from cardiovascular disease.

It's not clear whether the newer generation of weight loss drugs, which suppress appetite,will provide different long-term results than other weight loss approaches.

In the longest study, lasting 68 weeksabout 16 monthsweight loss plateaued and started to climb again by the end, suggesting people's bodies had acclimated to the drugs.

"We certainly don't know what will happen if people are on these (weight loss drugs) for the rest of their lives, which is what Novo is suggesting," Chastain said.

Dr. Diana Alba, an endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco, said she's not worried about the long-term effects of these GLP-1 drugs, because similar ones have been on the market for decades to treat diabetes.

"We see obesity as a disease and we treat it like having high blood pressure, having Type 2 diabetes," she said. No one would expect blood pressure or blood sugar levels to remain just as controlled if someone stopped their medication for those conditions.

Makers of these GLP-1 agonists freely agree that people will regain lost pounds if they stop taking the medications, as clinical trial participants did after the trials ended.

The drugs also come with a warning that they may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, acute pancreatitis, gallbladder disease,low blood sugar, kidney injury, damage to the eye's retinaand suicidal thinking or behavior. The risks of serious side effects are small, but the more peoplewho take them, the more will suffer.

Although the American Medical Association decided a decade ago to call obesity a disease, declaring someone "diseased" simply because they havea body mass index over 30 is inaccurateand perpetuates weight stigma, saidDennis,co-founder of SunCloud Health, atreatment center in the Chicago area.

"I cannot tell you if a person is healthy or unhealthy" simply from their BMI, she said.Instead, she needs other health metrics, such as blood pressure, fasting blood sugar andhemoglobin A1C levels, as well as information on diet and exercise to decide if someone in a large body also has an illness.

Fugh-Berman is particularly concerned about the marketing of these drugs to children.

The American Academy of Pediatricschangeditsguidelines in January and now recommends aggressive weight loss methodsfor children as young as 2, including surgery and medications for those as young as 12.

Wegovy was approved in December for use in children ages 12and up afterapproval ofan earlier GLP-1 agonistfrom Novo Nordisk in 2020 for the same age group.

Aclinical trial by Novo Nordisk showed that 134 adolescents with obesity or who wereoverweight and had at least one related health condition lostabout 16% of their body weightover 68 weeks while taking Wegovy in addition to eating healthfully and exercising regularly.The 67 adolescents in the same trial who received a placebolost less than 1% of their weight over that time.

But there's no data on thesedrugs longer-term among adolescents who arelaying down bone needed for the rest of their lives and dependent oncalories for healthy sexual maturation, Dennissaid.

"All the interventions that we've tried in the past decades to combat the 'obesity epidemic' have made things worse," she said. "And now we're doubling down and saying, 'Let's do the same things we're doingto adults that don't workwe just need to intervene earlier and give these things to our kids.' It's going to be a disaster."

Weight loss drugs and surgery for kids? Why new obesity guidance is drawing scrutiny.

Dieting is one of the leading risks for developing an eating disorder, said Dennis, also a member of the eight-person clinical advisory council to the National Eating Disorders Association. She worries the medications will lead to more disordered eatingas people try to avoid regaining weight.

Even if they lose pounds, people who overeat because of emotional or mental health struggleswill still have those problems, Dennis said. "Weight loss does not cure eating disorders or trauma or depression."

Yo-yo dieting is clearlybad for physical health, "but boy is it bad for our mental health,"said Erin Parks, a clinical psychologist and co-founder of the virtual eating disorder service Equip Health.

These weight loss medications commonly cause side effects of nausea or digestive problem. Parks said she would diagnose someone with an eating disorder if they came to her saying theycouldn't eat because they were nauseated all the time but they were happy about it. "That sounds like anorexia," she said. Plus,"making you nauseated on a daily basis is robbing people of the joy of life."

Alba, whose San Francisco General Hospital-affiliated clinic treats people with few financial resources, said she has some patients who don't really want to lose weight and she sends them on their way.

For those who do, she considers the GLP-1 drugs a good option, if people can access and tolerate them.

Alba's clinic sees only patients with a BMI of 35 or higher (obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or above), and most already have health problems that can be improved with weight loss, like knee pain, metabolic issues or fatty livers.

I think you have to be able to give people the power to have options, she said.

Parks said she doesn't blame anyone for feeling like they have to put themselves through misery to lose weight. "It's hard living inour fat-phobic society," she said.

The social attitudes about weight need to change, she and other experts said.

"We're tired of hearing aboutthe next magic cure for fatness," Osborn said. "How about a cure for anti-fatness? How about a cure for weight stigma that isn't about (us) losing weight?"

People who are considering these weight loss medications should examinewhy they feel the need to lose weight. If they have diabetes, "that's one matter," Dennis said. "There are appropriate indications for these medications."

But for people who have obesity or are overweight with no medical issues, she said, the drugs "stand to do a lot more harm to a lot more people than good."

If you or someone you know needs help with disordered eating, contact the toll-free National Eating Disorders Helpline at myneda.org/helpline-chat or send a text to741-741.

Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com.

Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.

Original post:
Ozempic, Wegovy side effects and the problems with weight loss drugs - USA TODAY

If you want to lose a few pounds, we suggest you listen up and grab a pair of dumbbells. Dumbbells are key when it comes to resistance training or strength training, which is essential for a solid weight loss routine. Why? Well, strength exercises help you shed weight by sculpting lean muscle tissue, Beaumont Health explains. Having a solid amount of muscle mass will torch more fat as opposed to muscle. This will help you maintain strength as you drop weight. To get you started, we're here with seven simple dumbbell exercises to lose weight in 30 days.

To learn everything you need to know, Eat This, Not That!reached out to Mike Bohl, MD, MPH, ALMa member of our Medical Expert Board and a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach who has helped develop the Body Program at Ro, who explains, "Resistance training (and the subsequent muscle recovery and repair) burns calories, so it helps with weight loss itself."

It's important to note that eating at a calorie deficit will not only help you to lose fat mass, but you'll also unfortunately lose muscle mass. To compensate for this, Dr. Bohl says, "Using dumbbells and engaging in other strength training activities is therefore the best way to maintain as much muscle mass as possible during a weight loss journey."

Typically, dumbbells are helpful in working out the upper body, but they can also assist in adding weight to your body for an effective lower-body workout. Dr. Bohl points out, "For example, if you hold small dumbbells in your hands when doing calf raises, you're adding more weight to your body and challenging your calf muscles more than without them. You can also hold dumbbells when doing squats or lunges for a similar effect."

Here are seven upper-body exercises to perform with dumbbells when your goal is to lose weight in 30 days. Be mindful that successful weight loss is a combination of diet and exercise.

Every basic arm workout includes bicep curls. While holding your dumbbells in both hands, curl your arms upward. Your palms should face up. This exercise is an excellent workout for your bicep muscles.

RELATED: Drop 10 Pounds Fast With This 10-Minute Daily Workout

This next move is pretty similar to bicep curls, but for hammer curls, both palms will face inward. This exercise will work the brachioradialis and brachialis muscles along with your biceps.

You'll set up with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing in. Make sure your elbows don't move too far in front of or behind your body as you bring the weights up, BarBend explains. Once you reach the top of the curl, in a gradual and controller motion, lower the dumbbells back down.

For this exercise, you will hold both dumbbells with bent arms. Then, you will extend your arms against the force of gravity. This will target your triceps in the back of both arms. Dr. Bohl notes, "There are actually several variations of these depending on where you're holding your arms (over your head, behind your back, etc.). As long as you're straightening your arms while moving the dumbbells against gravity, the exercise is effective."

RELATED: The 6 Best Machines You Should be Using at the Gym for Weight Loss

For this next move, you will hold a dumbbell in each hand. Your feet should be planted shoulder-width distance apart. Press your hips back, keeping your arms extended toward the floor, MasterClass explains. Bend your elbows just a bit. Then, raise your arms to each side before lowering them back down. Repeat the move for six to 12 reps.

The overhead press focuses on your deltoid muscles; this compound exercise also exercises your triceps. To set up, assume a stance with your feet shoulder-width distance apart. Hold a dumbbell in each hand at the height of your shoulders, MasterClass instructs. Then, press the weights over your head before slowly bringing them back down.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

RELATED: 5 Simple At-Home Exercises To Keep Your Weight Down for Good

The chest press can be accomplished with a workout bench and dumbbells. According to Dr. Bohl, this particular exercise is "one of the best chest workouts you can do."

To perform this exercise, you'll lie down flat on your back, holding a dumbbell in both hands, WebMD explains. Position yourself so that your upper arms are parallel to the floor and form a 90-degree angle with your upper body. Your forearms should be perpendicular to the ground. Gradually bring the weights up before lowering them down with control.

For this final exercise, you'll set yourself up on a workout bench with one knee and arm planted on it. Face the floor, and keep your back even with the ground. Use your arm to support yourself on the bench, then lift and lower the dumbbellrowing it up toward your torso and then back down. This will work your biceps and upper back muscles.

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Alexa Mellardo

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7 Simple Dumbbell Exercises To Lose Weight in 30 Days - Eat This, Not That

I know it might sound a bit shallow, but Ive been on a mission to shed some pounds and look my absolute best this summer.

I mean, we all have our own motivations when it comes to weight loss, right?

Anyway, Ive been trying out this weight loss supplement called Leanbean, and I cant wait to share my experience with you.

Trust me. Youll want to stick around to hear about the results!

Leanbean is a weight loss supplement similar to PhenQ created specifically with women in mind, understanding that we may face unique challenges when it comes to shedding those extra pounds.

The goal behind Leanbean is to provide support tailored to womens needs and complement our active lifestyles.

One of the primary components of Leanbean is a 3g daily dose of Glucomannan, a natural dietary fiber derived from the root of the konjac plant.

This fiber is clinically proven to aid weight loss by expanding in your stomach, helping you feel fuller with less food and for longer periods of time.

This ultimately reduces your overall calorie intake and makes managing portion sizes a breeze.

The Leanbean formula is also intentionally low in stimulants, which means it wont interfere with your sleep patterns or cause unpleasant jittery feelings often associated with other weight loss supplements.

This is especially important for women who value their sleep quality and dont want to sacrifice it in the pursuit of a slimmer figure.

In addition to helping you control your appetite, Leanbean can also boost your energy levels and motivation, making it easier to stay committed to your fitness routine and daily tasks.

The supplement is packed with vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts that synergistically work together to support normal metabolism functions, ensuring your body is working efficiently.

Leanbean is designed to specifically help women maintain their active lifestyles, recognizing that we often juggle multiple responsibilities and need all the energy we can get.

By providing a gentle yet effective boost, Leanbean enables us to power through workouts, workdays, and everything in between.

The company behind Leanbean is so confident in the supplements effectiveness that they offer a 90-day money-back guarantee.

This means you can try it out risk-free, knowing that if youre not completely satisfied, you can request a refund.

This speaks volumes about their belief in Leanbeans ability to help women achieve their weight loss goals.

Id also recommend combining Leanbean with a good weight loss shake for best results.

Lastly, Leanbean is manufactured in top-quality facilities that adhere to strict quality control standards, ensuring that youre getting a safe and reliable product.

By choosing Leanbean, you can trust that youre incorporating a high-quality supplement into your weight loss journey, designed to help you achieve the best version of yourself this summer and beyond.

Leanbeans formula contains a mix of ingredients that not only support weight loss but also promote overall well-being. Heres a closer look at some key components and their benefits:

After looking through the Leanbean ingredients, Im impressed with whats inside.

After using Leanbean consistently for three months, Ive experienced some noticeable changes, and Im eager to share them with you.

Remember, Im sharing my genuine experience, and your results may vary. The goal here is to give you an idea of what you might expect from Leanbean.

During the first few weeks, I could feel the effects of Glucomannan. I noticed that my appetite was suppressed, and I didnt crave snacks as much between meals.

Taking Leanbean before eating helped me control my portion sizes, and I felt full without overeating.

The energy boost provided by Leanbean was also a pleasant surprise. I felt more energetic and motivated throughout the day, which made it easier to stick to my workout routine and stay focused on my daily tasks.

This energy boost didnt interfere with my sleep, which was a huge relief.

As for the vitamins and antioxidants in Leanbean, I cant say for sure if they directly contributed to my weight loss, but I felt healthier overall.

My immune system seemed to be functioning well, and I didnt experience any significant dips in energy or bouts of fatigue.

After three months of using Leanbean, I lost a considerable amount of weight, and Im quite happy with the results.

In total, I lost 29 lbs.

The supplement has definitely supported me in my weight loss journey, and I feel more confident in my summer wardrobe.

While Leanbean may not be a miracle solution, it was a valuable addition to my efforts, Id recommend giving it a try if youre looking for some extra support in achieving your weight loss goals.

Click here to visit the official Leanbean website and learn more about it today.

After reflecting on my personal experience on my weight loss blog about Leanbean and considering the benefits Ive gained from using it for three months, I would recommend giving it a try if youre a woman looking for some extra support in your weight loss journey.

Leanbean helped me manage my appetite, boost my energy levels, and contributed to my overall well-being.

Leanbean is not a magic pill, but it can be a valuable addition to a healthy diet and consistent exercise routine.

As for me, Ive decided to continue using Leanbean beyond the initial three months. I feel that it complements my lifestyle and helps me maintain the progress Ive made.

Ultimately, the decision to try Leanbean is a personal one, and I hope my experience can provide some insight into what you might expect if you decide to give it a go.

Remember, Leanbean comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it out risk-free and see if it works for you.

Good luck on your weight loss journey, and I hope you find the support you need to achieve your goals!

Click here to visit the official Leanbean website and kickstart your weight loss journey today.

This article is sponsored content. No endorsement by The Times of Israel of advertiser products or services, real or implied, is intended. The Times of Israel editorial team did not contribute to this article.

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Leanbean Review: Will It Really Help You Lose Weight? - The Times of Israel

Trendy diets are nothing new in the wellness world. From the old-school grapefruit diet to the ever-popular keto diet, finding ways to modify eating habits to support a weight-loss goal is something that people have been doing for decades.

One newer diet that has come onto the scene is the egg diet. If you guessed that following this would require you to eat some eggs, then you would be correct. Here we'll explain exactly what the egg diet is, which foods you can enjoy when following it, and whether it is worth trying.

Unlike diets like Whole30 and the South Beach Diet that have set rules surrounding what should and shouldn't be eaten when following them, the egg diet doesn't a formal plan, and there are many versions with some being more restrictive than others. But no matter which version you follow, this way of eating requires you to eat at least one egg daily.

Of all of the egg diets out there, the most restrictive version is the "egg only" diet, which quite literally only allows people to eat eggs for their meals and snacks. There are more liberal versions of the diet as well, that require ingesting one egg a day along with a low-calorie, low-carb, high-protein eating plan. When following this version of the egg diet, foods like snacks, ultra-processed foods and any beverages that contain calories are not allowed.

Since there is no standard version of the egg diet, a list of "allowed" foods (except for eggs) is impossible to provide. For those following the "egg only" version, the only food permitted is eggs. But for those who are not following this restrictive version of this diet, there are some foods that may also be permitted.

The Boiled Egg Diet, created by Arielle Chandler and explained in her 2018 book, includes:

This diet does not permit foods with added sugar, grains, starchy foods, higher-carb fruit and ultra-processed foods.

Like all diets, there are pros and cons to following the egg diet. Here are some top advantages and disadvantages of following this egg-focused diet.

Each version of the egg diet requires participants to eat at least one egg every day. Eggs are a versatile food that is a source of many important nutrients, including protein, healthy fat, vitamin B12, choline and vitamin D. Those following the diet may also reap some of the benefits of eating eggs, including hair and skin health, vision health and increased fullness from meals with eggs.

An American Heart Association advisory recommends that, for healthy individuals, consuming an egg a day is acceptable in a heart-healthy dietary pattern. Given the nutritional benefits and convenience of eggs, consuming up to two eggs per day is acceptable within a heart-healthy dietary pattern for older adults.

Low-carbohydrate diets, including the keto diet, are known for supporting weight-loss goals among certain populations. Because the egg diet encourages the consumption of low-carbohydrate and high-protein meals, following it may result in weight loss. And while there is no scientific research that supports this connection, some anecdotal reports connect the egg diet to positive weight-loss outcomes.

Even the most liberal version of the egg diet is highly restrictive, thanks to its "rules" of avoiding many nutritious foods, like starchy vegetables, fruits and grains. Weight-loss diets that require people to avoid entire food groups are notoriously challenging to follow in the long run.

It is true that the egg diet includes nutrient-dense foods (like eggs!). And some versions allow people to eat vegetables, nonstarchy fruits and other foods that provide some nutrition.

But eliminating entire food groups can result in nutritional gaps. For example, results of a systematic review showed that following a carbohydrate-restricted diet was linked to significant decreases in intakes of thiamine, folate, magnesium, calcium, iron and iodine.

Following a low-carbohydrate and high-protein diet that eliminates grains and prohibits snacking may not be the best diet choice for everyone. For example, among people trying to become pregnant, following a diet with restricted carbohydrate intake before pregnancy led to a 30% higher likelihood of having an infant with anencephaly or spina bifida. This is possibly due to inadequate intake of folate, which is a crucial nutrient for cell growth and development.

The egg diet is restrictive and can be unsafe when followed for a long time, especially if you try to follow the "egg only" version. Because of this, it is unlikely that following this diet would be recommended by any health care professional.

That said, including eggs in a balanced, nutrient-dense eating pattern that includes all food groups can be a healthy choice.

According to a study published in Heart, a moderate egg consumption (up to one egg per day) was significantly associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Other data, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, suggested that regular egg intake was associated with improved cognition among adults.

While you may lose weight by only eating eggs, this is not an evidence-based method for weight loss. Only eating one food can result in nutritional gaps, which can become dangerous.

The quantity of eggs that you eat on the egg diet varies depending on whichever version you are trying to adopt. The number of eggs consumed can range from only one egg each day to multiple.

Following any low-carbohydrate diet can result in some unsavory side effects, including constipation, fatigue, bad breath and headache. And those who are eating several eggs every day may ingest more than the recommended amount of saturated fat, which may have a negative effect on heart health.

The egg diet may be appealing to follow when trying to lose weight. But it can be restrictive, opening your body up to experiencing nutritional gaps, along with feelings of sluggishness, constipation and headache. Instead of adopting the egg diet, try a more evidence-based and balanced approach like the Mediterranean diet or the DASH diet, and consider adding one egg to your typical day of eating to reap its nutritional benefits.

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What Is the Egg Diet and Is It Safe? - EatingWell

I havent been able to read anything about the diabetes drug Ozempic, and its increasing use (and abuse) for weight loss. I couldnt bear to read that buzzy New York Magazine cover story or the one that followed in The New Yorker. I had to mute the word ozempic from Twitter. I couldnt even bring myself to read the heartfelt personal essays or tweets from other fat women that I respect and follow.

There was a moment there, a few years ago, when it seemed our thin-obsessed culture was shifting, ever so slightly.

There was a moment there, a few years ago, when it seemed our thin-obsessed culture was shifting, ever so slightly. We saw plus-size model Tess Holliday on the cover of Cosmopolitan UK and mainstream companies like Old Navy promising more size inclusivity. Conversations about body shaming and the dangers of constant dieting were starting to happen with more frequency in the mainstream.

But, I think we can agree, that moment has passed. Ozempic is not so much a cause as it is a very clear bellwether of this regressive shift.

I was a teenager when the heroin chic era of the 90s peaked, with its Calvin Klein ads and low rise jeans and Kate Moss quipping that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. The highest fashion of my youth was designed to highlight just how thin you could (or really, should) be.

So its perhaps not a surprise that I also had an eating disorder in my 20s. For me, over-the-counter diet pills and appetite suppressants were a big part of my illness. An even bigger part? Keeping it all a secret. I never told anyone I was taking diet pills. I hid them from my friends and roommates, sometimes even buying them from pharmacies several towns over.

And yet, I didnt always identify as someone who had an eating disorder. I was never officially diagnosed, because I never asked a doctor if what I was doing was safe. If I showed weight loss at an appointment, I was celebrated not questioned. As Dr. Deb Burgard said in the documentary "Fattitude," We prescribe to fat people the same things that we diagnose and treat in thin people.

Although the thing I wanted most in the world was to be thin, I didnt want anyone to know I had to diet to get there. This is why the discourse around Ozempic being a miracle drug feels so dangerously familiar. Because suddenly, after more than a decade of therapy and hard work learning to love my fat body, I recently found myself considering weight loss again. Late at night during my evening anxiety spirals, I played out the scenarios: What if I secretly started Ozempic? Could I find a doctor who would prescribe it? What if it worked and I dropped tons of weight? I started to imagine how I would keep the secret; how I would talk about my sudden transformation to close friends and family.

Its been terrifying to have these kinds of thoughts again. And its a reminder that I will always be in recovery. And that brings me back to the way the Ozempic discourse, and Ozempic use, is shaping and reshaping the pop culture and celebrity landscape. Its hard to admit, but one part of how I protect my heart when I am consuming social media is to fill it with positive representation of the fat community. Seeing a plus-size celebrity like Lizzo or Melissa McCarthy authentically being sexy and confident really does make a difference. It makes me feel less isolated as a person who embraces her larger body.

I want to be clear: No one owes us their body. Not even celebrities. I believe in body autonomy in all forms, which includes losing weight if thats something you choose to do with your body. But when we lose fat representation when celebrities suddenly lose weight or our fat icons lose the medias interest its fair to acknowledge a collective loss. I feel that loss right now.

That brings me back to the way the Ozempic discourse, and Ozempic use, is shaping and reshaping the pop culture and celebrity landscape.

And increasingly, there are fewer and fewer safe spaces available in which we can process that loss. I say this at a time when fat folks also had to watch a film about a disabled fat person, written by thin people and literally titled The Whale, win multiple Oscars including for the design of a fat suit.

The year is 2023, and achieving a thin body no matter the cost or consequence is still considered the ideal. This, despite plenty of evidence showing being fat isnt some kind of death sentence, and that fat stigma may actually create worse outcomes for many fat folks than any single number on a scale. (And the more we ignore addressing this stigma, the worse it gets.)

Being fat has always been radical in a society that values thinness. Now, for every story I find myself having to avoid, I seek out a story or a post about a fat joy. Most of us are just trying to move about the world in a body that refuses to conform to celebrity beauty standards. And there is no miracle cure in the world that will change the fact that fat people are still often paid less, are disproportionately at risk for suicide and depression, and receive terrible medical care.

The reality is, we dont need to be cured, or fixed, or shrunk down to fit a particular body ideal. And we dont need Ozempic.We just need to be treated with the same dignity and respect as anyone else.

Kate Bernyk is a writer and communications strategist living in Brooklyn, New York.

Original post:
Why weight loss 'cure' Ozempic is an eating disorder trigger - MSNBC

Tammy Slaton from 1000-lb Sisters recently revealed that she was thinking about giving up on her weight loss journey during a vulnerable social media post. From 1000-lb Sisters season 1, Tammy has been trying to lose weight in order to live a more productive life. While she has finally undergone her gastric bypass surgery, it seems like some days are more complicated than others.

1000-lb Sisters season 4 has shown a whole new side to Tammy, with the star having turned over a new leaf. After surviving her near-death experience in 1000-lb Sisters season 3 after her lung collapsed, Tammy was given a second chance at life. This summer, she was finally able to qualify for her weight loss surgery. Tammy chose to stay a bit longer at the medical center in order for nurses and doctors to keep an eye on her. Even though Tammy has been hitting the gym and eating right showing off her massive weight loss, sometimes she feels like giving up.

Tammy posted a video to her TikTok account, which showed her in a somewhat fragile position. The 36-year-old opened up about her struggles since being released from the Windsor Lane Rehabilitation Center and returning home to her Kentucky duplex. While wearing her glasses and a blue shirt, the 1000-lb Sisters star played a voiceover in the background, which stated no matter how hard the journey got, "it's important to keep going."

In the TikTok video, Tammy nodded her head in agreement at the part that talked about quitting. 1000-lb Sisters followers shared their support, telling "Tam Tam" she was doing great. Other followers of the TLC show shared how much of an "inspiration" Tammy was to them, and wished her luck on her weight loss journey. One follower noted how far Tammy had come since 1000-lb Sisters season 1, telling the reality TV star she was "stronger" than she realized.

Tammy has had quite the 1000-lb Sisters season, as she not only started to lose weight but also found love. In November, Tammy revealed that she had married fellow patient Caleb Willingham during an intimate ceremony at the rehab center. Now with her heart full, Tammy has been able to concentrate on her health goals, which her new spouse has supported. Even though Tammy may be having a difficult time making it over her next hurdle, she can succeed with the support of her family and fans if she keeps a positive outlook on life.

Source: Tammy Slaton/TikTok

Originally posted here:
1000-Lb Sisters: Signs Tammy Slaton Will Give Up On Her Weight ... - Screen Rant

There are just as many (if not more) downsides to raw potatoes as there are upsides. First of all, to most folks, they simply don't taste as good as cooked ones, because they're bitter and starchy. They also contain a number of harmful components.

Toxic glycoalkaloid chemicals, for instance, are common in raw potatoes (as well as green or sprouted spuds), and they can lead to diarrhea and nausea in consumers, according to Poison Control. Additionally, glycoalkaloid toxicity might inflict drowsiness, itchiness, and sensitivity on the eater. As odd as this fact may seem, glycoalkaloids exist to deter animals from eating the potato plant in the wild.

Furthermore, too many of those resistant starches can cause gassy bloating and stomach aches (counteracting what's supposed to be one of the upsides of raw spuds). This is because these starches aren't actually absorbed by your body; they are instead fermented by gut bacteria. Plus, specifically because these potatoes are uncooked and often unwashed, raw taters are more likely to be infected with foodborne illnesses.

Similarly, raw potatoes' plentiful protein trypsin inhibitors and lectin proteins are both anti-nutritious. In that same vein, raw potatoes also have less potassium, protein, and vitamin B6 than baked versions. All in all, raw potatoes are simply less digestible than cooked ones. So, what are people to do?

Original post:
Are Raw Potatoes Actually Safe To Eat? - Daily Meal

19 March 2023

Semaglutide is sold as Ozempic for use in diabetes and as Wegovy in weight-loss.

You cannot escape the hype around weight-loss injections.

Social media is full of before-and-after pictures. They are the source of wild gossip about Hollywood stars, and now the UK's National Health Service is going to pay for them.

You can understand the appeal. Excess weight affects our health and leads to stigma - and the mantra of "diet and exercise" has simply failed for most people.

But should we be calling semaglutide, the drug in question, a "miracle" or "skinny jab" when some doctors think it is as controversial as treatments get? Does the hype match the reality? Or are we failing to tackle the causes of obesity and just consigning people to a lifetime of medication?

Jan, from Kent, was one of the first people in the world to take part in the trials of semaglutide. It is sold as Wegovy for weight-loss and as Ozempic for diabetes, although some people have been buying this version to lose weight.

We all know somebody like Jan, who has tried every diet, and she has been battling her waistline her whole life.

Semaglutide mimics a hormone that is released when we eat. It tricks the brain into thinking we are full and dials down appetite so we eat less.

Once Jan started having the injections, her relationship with food was so transformational that she told me it was either down to the drug or "I've been abducted by aliens".

For the first time she could go into a cafe, see some millionaire's shortbread and not have her body screaming, "I need one".

Instead it was, "I don't feel hungry... my body was saying you don't want it, it wasn't me using willpower," she says.

The results of semaglutide are undeniable - at least for a while.

On average, people who were obese lost about 15% of their body weight when taking semaglutide alongside healthy lifestyle advice in a trial. Note this is not a "skinny jab" - 15% takes you from 20 stone down to 17.

That study showed the weight came off over the first year and then stabilised for the remaining three months of the trial. We do not know what happens when people take the drug for years.

Jan lost 28kg (more than four stone). It meant she could finally enjoy her 60th birthday present - a flight in a Tiger Moth aeroplane, having been over the maximum weight limit before. "I was flying in more ways than one, and boy did I enjoy it."

Jan after a flight at Duxford Aerodrome in September 2019, which she says would have been impossible before her four-stone weight loss while taking semaglutide

The results seem more compelling than your typical diet, which often starts well but then your depleted fat stores signal to the brain to seek food. That is why diets ultimately fail.

"More than 90% of people tend to end up back at the weight they were before they started on their dietary journey," says Prof Sir Stephen O'Rahilly, the director of the Medical Research Council's Metabolic Diseases Unit.

He sees these drugs as the "beginning of an exciting era" where drugs can help people who have "struggled for a long time" with weight that is damaging their health.

Jan's trial concluded, and she was no longer able to take semaglutide. Without the drug her brain was no longer being tricked into thinking she was full.

"I was quite upset because the weight was going back on," she told me - and she was "promising the world" to anybody who could give her the drug.

She tried other weight-loss injections, but ultimately chose to have major surgery and a gastric sleeve to reduce the size of her stomach, so she would feel full faster.

Jan has "no regrets" and still describes the drug as the "best thing that ever happened to me".

The weight comes back

However, her experience is far from unique and the weight gain after coming off semaglutide is swift. The best long-term data we have shows people regain two-thirds of their lost weight within two years of stopping.

"It's a drug that seems to need to be kept taken in order to ensure that weight doesn't return and that's, for me, a big problem," says Dr Margaret McCartney, a GP and champion of evidence in medicine.

The NHS is offering semaglutide for only two years, which is how long people can access weight loss clinics. Given the weight gain after coming off the drug, it is fair to ask - what is the point?

"It's really pretty awful for many people who are wanting to lose weight, and have struggled usually for years. If you get something that ends up working for you, and then for the NHS to go and withdraw that again, it does seem to me to be a bit unfair," says Dr McCartney.

There are, of course, circumstances where temporarily losing weight may be beneficial. Some surgeries and treatments are only offered to people below a set threshold, for example.

It is a new drug and the long-term safety is unknown. Side effects include vomiting, fatigue and an inflamed pancreas.

Medical victory or societal failure?

Personally, I cannot figure out whether we should celebrate that medicine has produced such a drug, or if it is actually the opposite - that we have failed so badly to tackle obesity throughout society that we now need drugs.

"Many of us have been wrestling with that," says Naveed Sattar, professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow.

He comes down on the side of pragmatism. Half the planet is projected to be overweight or obese by 2035, and excess weight is linked to type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Cheap calories have "fed into human biology of being tempted by food and overeating", he says.

And many NHS patients "have four or five conditions as a result of their excess weight, and at the moment we pay lip service to it", he says.

Dr McCartney argues we need to tackle how the world we live in fuels obesity rather than "expecting" people to put on weight "and then accept a medical intervention to treat it".

Prof O'Rahilly says that even if we solve the societal causes of obesity "there will be obese people and they will become ill", so he thinks the drugs will move us to a world of treating obesity "properly as a medical condition".

But these drugs remain controversial - and we have only discussed their use for improving health.

Further concerns are being raised about the impact on people, often young women, who are pressured to look a certain way when "beautiful" is often equated to "thin".

The role of celebrity culture, the availability of semaglutide privately through online-only consultations, and the impact on eating disorders are also fuelling questions.

Whatever you think about semaglutide, the debate around this drug, and the hype, is clearly not going away.

More from Inside Health

The rest is here:
Weight-loss: Are injections the answer to tackling obesity? - BBC

Every woman is beautifully unique in her own way. But one thing just about every woman despises? Dreaded, unwanted belly fat. It's usually uninvited and is pretty stubborn about leaving. Who wants that kind of company? If the answer is a hard "not me," get ready to take some notes. Eat This, Not That! got the scoop from Mike Bohl, MD, MPH, ALM, a member of our Medical Expert Board and a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach who has helped develop the Body Program at Ro. With his help, we're here with six great tips for women to lose belly fat and keep it off.

As women age, muscle mass declines, and fat increases. Belly fat is especially common, which is caused by lower estrogen levels, the Mayo Clinic explains. The result? Women typically put on extra weight around their waistlines. In the winter especially, you're likely stuck indoors and less active, which does not help the situation. But spring is in the air, which means you may be inspired to work on losing belly fatand keeping it off forever.

Ahead, Dr. Bohl provides six rules to weave into your lifestyle. Keep in mind, consistency with any exercise plan is key to achieving results. So if you're ready, let's get startedand next, don't miss 5 Flat-Belly Exercises To Look Younger & Fitter in Your 40s.

Cardio canand shouldbe your new best friend. Dr. Bohl explains, "When it comes to losing weight and keeping it off, having a solid fitness routine is key."6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

And research backs this up. According to a study by Duke University Medical Center, performing aerobic exercise is the most productive method to get rid of the abdominal fat that poses major health risks.

There are so many ways to perform cardio, and you can easily pass the workout time with a friend. Fit some in at a minimum of five days each week, Dr. Bohl suggests.

Strength training is another crucial component of a workout regimen when it comes to losing weight. "Strength training burns calories while you're at the gym and while you're home recovering. If you're going for a toned look, strength training is how you get there," Dr. Bohl says.

Adding lean protein to your meals is an excellent way to feel full without consuming a lot of extra calories. Dr. Bohl points out, "Lean proteinslike chicken, fish, and plant-based proteinsare an excellent source of nutrition and will pair well with your strength training."

Weight loss in general is all about a calorie deficit. You have to eat fewer calories than you burn.

Dr. Bohl tells us, "There's been a lot of research around whether a low-carb or low-fat diet is better for weight loss When you're designing your meal, instead of stressing about carbs versus fats, just focus on eating healthy versions of both. Healthy carbs include whole grains, and healthy fats include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats."

If you're wondering which carbs are the healthiest options to support your weight loss efforts, UPMC Health Beat explains veggies, fruits, and whole grains are all solid choices, as they're full of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. And when it comes to healthy fats, "good" unsaturated fatsaka the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats Dr. Bohl notesinclude foods like fish, nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

You may be surprised to hear that cheat days are totally fine every so often. It's also a pretty important way to assure you will keep off the weight once you take it off.

"The best diet is the one you actually stick to, and if you don't allow yourself to have any flexibility, you might just give it up altogether. So, if you really want sustained weight loss, don't worry about 'breaking the rules' here and there. As long as, overall, you stick to your outlined routine, you'll be happy with the results," Dr. Bohl stresses.

Weight loss is really about maintaining a solid diet and exercise routine. "But medical science is also realizing how important individual physiology is to weight status as well. If you feel like you've been doing all of the right things to lose weight but they're just not working, talk to your doctor," says Dr. Bohl.

Your doctor may be able to discuss medications that can be effective in helping you achieve permanent weight loss.

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Alexa Mellardo

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6 Tips for Women To Lose Belly Fat & Keep It Off - Eat This, Not That

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