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Editor's note: This article is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional regarding questions about diagnoses and treatment.

I started hormone replacement therapy in April, the same day Arkansas passed the first trans medical ban in the United States, barring trans youth from accessing gender-affirming care.

With the heaviness of the wave of anti-trans legislation on my mind, I felt fortunate to have access to an endocrinologist after nearly a year of back-and-forth with insurance and several attempts with less trans-competent doctors.

I wanted to start testosterone-based HRT to treat my lifelong gender dysphoria, or extreme distress related to my body and gender, that has affected me as a transmasculine nonbinary person. I started testosterone therapy to deepen my voice, make myself a little more muscular, and overall become more comfortable in my body.

As someone who has insurance that covers gender-affirming care and lives in a major city, I am incredibly privileged.

I microdose HRT, meaning I take a smaller amount of testosterone for more gradual changes over a longer period of time. When I told my endocrinologist in New York City that I wanted to stay on a microdose long-term, he said he could write me the prescription but had to be transparent about the lack of research available on it. When I asked him what changes I could expect for my body, he told me he didn't know, even after I pressed for more information.

The only place I've been able to turn to for concrete answers on how to achieve the results I wanted like a deeper voice and larger muscles was online platforms like Reddit.

Hormone replacement therapy as a form of treatment for the gender dysphoria that trans people experience has been around since the 1920s. But treatment protocols have been slow to shift.

Because of a lack of research on the effects of different HRT options, even trans-competent medical providers are left with few concrete studies to cite when patients ask questions, and physicians receive few hours of LGBTQ+-specific training.

One of the first questions I asked my doctor was which kind of injection I should opt for to get the most dramatic effects, which for me included a deeper voice, more muscle definition, and fat redistribution.

While small studies have suggested that subcutaneous injections (injection into the fat) could help retain testosterone in the body for longer between shots, my doctor told me there wasn't enough conclusive data to confirm this. I ended up opting for intramuscular injections and was dissatisfied with how long it took to see physical changes.

In the first month of taking HRT, the skin around my jaw thickened. When I went back to the doctor and asked how long it would take for my jawline to reemerge, he told me there wasn't enough research out there for him to give me a timeline.

Puffy-faced and feeling lost, I turned to the internet for understanding.

My friends who had started HRT before me recommended going on Reddit to find specific answers about where I should inject my T for the most effective results.

There I found several subreddits, like r/FTM and r/genderqueer, where people shared similar concerns and got their questions answered by a community of trans people who had taken testosterone. That's how I found out about the small study suggesting subcutaneous injections could keep testosterone in your system longer than intramuscular injections. So I switched, and I am much happier with the results.

My only sense of understanding about my body during this process came from other trans people willing to share their experiences with HRT.

Even close friends who have been on testosterone have been more helpful in some ways to my transition than my doctor.

One of my friends has a more radical endocrinologist willing to talk about experimental treatments that have anecdotally worked on patients, so I often chat with them about what they've learned so I can take questions back to my own doctor. My other friend lives on the internet and can name trans subreddits at the drop of a hat, so they offer their knowledge.

My friends and I doctor one another in many ways, trading information like playing cards.

Trans Reddit forums became a haven of support for me when so many of my medical concerns went unanswered through official channels. While I can only take the experiences of others with a grain of salt, they have been a huge comfort during a nerve-wracking process.

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I'm trans and take testosterone. Reddit helps more than my doctor. - Insider

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Is a mans beard length an honest signal of their psychological and physiological characteristics? Not really. According to a new study published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, there is no association between beard length and mens dominance or testosterone levels.

Male facial hair is an incredibly potent topic. Did you know that the history of male beards goes back to ancient times? As a woman myself, unfortunately, I cannot grow an enormous Santa-Claus-like beard but there were a few women, especially in the 20th century, who did grow a long beard and were famous for it! So maybe that is why this topic attracted my attention in the first place, explained study author Marta Kowal, a PhD student at University of Wrocaw. Why is it men, and not women, who possess facial hair? And is it true what some claim, that bearded men are dripping with testosterone? Is that fella with lumberjack shirts and longer beards really more dominant than the clean-shaven one? Curiosity is a great drive in science.

Physical appearance can be an indicator of ones underlying qualities, and thus, is a valuable source of information in the dating market. The male beard in particular is one of the most noticeable and sexually dimorphic traits, making it very easy to visually differentiate between the sexes. The presence of a beard may signal masculinity, dominance, aggression, strength, and even enhance perceptions of a mans age, confidence, and social status. Beards also influence self-perception, with bearded men feeling more masculine than non-bearded men.

Kowal and colleagues recruited 97 young and physically active men, who were in good health, not taking any hormone supplements, and had not smoked or consumed alcohol within 24 hours of the study. Given male testosterone decreases throughout the day, the experiment was conducted between 7:00 AM 11:00 AM. Participants reported their age, weight, height and beardedness. Beardedness was measured indirectly, via self-report by selecting a picture that mirrored participants self-perceived facial hair. It was also measured directly by using digital calipers. This study was among the first to use both direct and self-report measurements of beardedness. Next, participants provided saliva samples.

Participants then engaged in physical activity, cycling sprints on a stationary bike to induce a testosterone spike. They rested for 12-minutes, during which they completed a questionnaire assessing for levels of dominance, providing ratings to questions such as I usually make decisions for myself and others or It is me who influences others and not the other way round. Afterwards, participants provided saliva samples once again.

Prior studies have reported that testosterone is associated with the density and rate of beard growth, suggesting that beards may be a proxy for male masculinity and dominance. However, Kowal and colleagues found no such relationship.

There is this popular view that bearded men are more dominant and are even sparkling with testosterone than clean-shaven men. That if you want to be with a real man, you need to find one with a beard. However, our study provides no evidence for such claims, Kowal told PsyPost. Even though testosterone has been found to affect the density and rate of beard growth, men displaying their beards may not be truly signalling their dominance nor testosterone potential. So, sorry ladies, that beardy-looking fella in a lumberjack shirt may not have more testosterone than the clean-shaven gentleman sitting right next to him!

But with regard to study limitations, Kowal said, We need to remember that hormonal studies are more difficult to conduct, and thus, the sample size is not ideal to draw any general conclusions. Furthermore, our sample consisted of rather young men, ages ranging from 19 to 25.

Future studies should focus on beardedness and other markers of biological quality, such as susceptibility to disease or developmental instability expressed by fluctuating asymmetry. It would also be interesting to test our hypotheses among older individuals, such as middle-aged men, she added.

The study, Are Beards Honest Signals of Male Dominance and Testosterone?, was authored by Marta Kowal, Piotr Sorokowski, Agnieszka elaniewicz, Judyta Nowak, Sylwester Orzechowski, Grzegorz urek, Alina urek and Magdalena Nawrat.

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New study finds no relationship between beard length and dominance or testosterone levels - PsyPost

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Statins are known to help keep cholesterol levels healthy further reducing the risk of heart attacks or strokes. As with most things, there are side effects which one needs to be aware of. Erectile dysfunction and lowered testosterone are some of the side effects reported. What is the link?

Statins are commonly prescribed to help lower cholesterol however, the drug also appears to lower testosterone.

According to a study which evaluated nearly 3,500 men who had erectile dysfunction, the drug could be the cause.

"Current statin therapy is associated with a twofold increased prevalence of hypogonadism a condition in which men don't produce enough testosterone, said Dr Giovanni Corona, lead study author and researcher at the University of Florence, Italy.

He added: "Our study is the first report showing a negative association between statin therapy and testosterone levels in a large series of patients consulting for sexual dysfunction.

READ MORE:Pfizer booster vaccine side effects: Five of the most common symptoms after the third jab

Dr Corona and colleagues evaluated 3,484 men, average age 51, who visited an outpatient clinic at the University of Florence with complaints of sexual dysfunction between January 2002 and August 2009.

Of that total, 244 (or seven percent) were being treated with statins for their high cholesterol.

The researchers calculated the men's total testosterone as well as free testosterone, and the amount of unbound testosterone in the bloodstream.

When they compared men on statins to those not, the men on statins were twice as likely to have low testosterone regardless of which of the three commonly used thresholds for low testosterone they looked at.

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Another study published in Oxford Academic investigated the lipid-lowering drug and its possible link to erectile dysfunction.

A systematic review was carried out using computerised biomedical databases and internet sources relating to erectile dysfunction and statins.

A significant literature was identified, much from obscure sources, which included case reports, review articles, and information from clinical trials and from regulatory agencies, noted the study.

It added: A substantial number of cases of erectile dysfunction associated with statin usage have been reported to regulatory agencies.

While erectile dysfunction isnt a widely reported side effect of statins, researchers have explored the possibility.

The Yellow Card Scheme allows you to report suspected side effects from any type of medicine you're taking.

It's run by a medicines safety watchdog called the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The purpose of the scheme is to provide an early warning that the safety of a medicine or a medical device may require further investigation.

Side effects reported on Yellow Cards are evaluated, together with additional sources of information such as clinical trial data.

Excerpt from:
Statins side effects: The worrisome sexual symptom men need to be aware of - Express

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Nov 6th 2021

WASHINGTON, DC

CAROL HAD long suspected her everyday life in rural California would be easier if she were a man. Yet she was stunned by how true this turned out to be. As a butch woman (and not a big smiler) she was routinely treated with slight contempt, she says. After a double mastectomy and a few months on testosteronewhich gave her facial hair and a gravelly voicepeople, cashiers, everyone, suddenly became so goddam friendly.

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Yet Carol soon felt wretched as a trans man. At first, the testosterone she started injecting at 34 lifted her mood and energy levels. But after two years she began to suffer awful side effects. Vaginal and uterine atrophy (which can cause tissue to crack and bleed) was extremely painful. Her cholesterol levels rose and she had palpitations. She also became so anxious she started having panic attacks.

So she went on antidepressants, and they worked. It was a light-bulb moment, she says. I was like, I needed the antidepressants; I didnt need to transition. She realised her gender dysphoria, the painful feeling she was in the wrong body, did not, in fact, make her a man.

Nearly three years ago, after four years as a trans man, Carol became a detransitioner: someone who has taken cross-sex hormones or had surgery, or both, before realising this was a mistake. Her experience illustrates the dangers of a gender-affirmative model of care that accepts patients self-diagnosis that they are trans, now standard practice in Americas transgender medicine field.

No one knows how many detransitioners there are, but anecdotal evidence, and swelling memberships of online groups, suggests the number is growing fast. A recent survey of 100 detransitioners (69 of whom were female) by Lisa Littman, a doctor and researcher, found a majority felt that they had not received an adequate evaluation before treatment. Nearly a quarter said homophobia or difficulty accepting that they were gay had led them to transition; 38% reckoned their gender dysphoria was caused by trauma, abuse or a mental-health condition.

Carol believes the roots of her gender dysphoria lay in her childhood. An upbringing that was both fanatically religious and abusive rammed home two harmful messages. One was the importance of rigid gender roleswomen were there to serve; they were less than men. Her mothers endless fury that Carol would not bow to this notion of womanhood, which included wearing only dresses (I didnt even walk like a girl, whatever that meant) meant she grew up believing her way of being female was somehow all wrong. The other message was that homosexuality was an abomination.

Carols oh God moment came, as she amusingly describes, when she developed a heavy crush on her mothers female estate agent at 16. The realisation prompted a breakdown (though she didnt call it that at the time). First she fasted and prayed to God to take this away. Then she began drinking heavily and having one-night stands with men in the hope something would click. When she came out at the age of 20, many of her relatives excluded her from family gatherings.

It was in her early 20s, when many lesbians in her social circle (almost always the butch ones) started identifying as trans men that she began to think, This must be it! This is what is wrong with me! But she was told she had to live as a man for six months before being approved for treatment and the thought of using the mens toilet was intolerable. By this point, she had met the woman who would become her wife and found some stability.

But she was still deeply unhappy. I just feltwrong, she says. I was disgusted with myself, and if a nice answer comes along and says, this is going to fix it, guess what youre going to do? By her mid-30s, she no longer needed to see a therapist to be prescribed testosterone. (Planned Parenthood uses an informed consent model in 35 states, meaning trans patients do not need a therapists note.) Yet Carol did see a therapist, because she wanted to do it right. The therapist did not explore her childhood trauma, but encouraged her to try testosterone. Months later Carol had her breasts removed.

Detransitioning was the hardest thing she has done, she says. She was so terrified and ashamed that it took a year to come off testosterone. To her relief her cholesterol levels returned to normal in months. She still has some facial hair and a deep voice. Her mastectomy is like any loss: it dissipates but it never completely goes away.

She now spends a lot of time campaigning for other detransitioners stories to be heard. This is not easy work. Outspoken detransitioners are often maligned. One gender-medicine doctor has criticised the use of the term detransitioner, saying, with extraordinary cruelty, it doesnt really mean anything. Dr Littmans study found that only 24% of detransitioners told their doctors transitioning had not worked out. This may help explain why some dismiss the phenomenon.

Carol worries about girls who are taking puberty blockers to avoid becoming women, something she says she would have leapt at given the chance. And she worries about butch lesbians who are being encouraged to consider that they are in fact straight men. She now considers this homophobic. My wife told me recently that when I was transitioning she was on board for two months before realising, this is crazy. And she was right. She was being told, your wife is really a man so you are bisexual or straight. It was bullshit.

This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline "Portrait of a detransitioner"

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Portrait of a detransitioner as a young woman - The Economist

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GLITZ LIFESTYLE

Experts link womens longevity streak to lifestyle, situating men at a higher risk of contracting chronic illnesses. Martins Ifijeh writes

This gender gap in life expectancy is true for all societies, and it is also true for the great apes, said Perminder Sachdev, a doctor and professor of neuropsychiatry at the University of New South Wales in Australia who has studied human longevity.Sachdev, according to TheCable, also spoke of the main health issues that are contributing to why women tend to outlive men.

Men are more likely to smoke, drink excessively and be overweight, he said. They are also less likely to seek medical help early, and, if diagnosed with a disease, they are more likely to be non-adherent to treatment.As you go through some of the common health threats to men, and how to avoid them, also know that early diagnosis should be a top priority in healthcare for men.

Prostate CancerProstate cancer is common among men. Although many consider it reserved for the older population, it can occur in younger men as well.It is treatable if found in its early stages but often shows no symptom until it spreads to other parts of the body. Going for regular checkups, having a healthy diet, and exercising more often are some key healthcare tips to fend off the disease.

Heart DiseaseAccording to a report, one in 10 men aged 50 has a heart age 10 years older than they are. Imagine that!Heart disease mortality is also said to be higher in men.Ways to keep this disease at bay are by avoiding smoking and alcohol, adopting diets low in saturated fats, avoiding highly processed food. You should also embrace weight loss and physical exercise. But again, regular checkups are a must.

StrokeA stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells begin to die in minutes.A stroke is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment is crucial. Early action can reduce brain damage and other complications.There are three main types of stroke: Ischemic stroke, Hemorrhagic stroke and Transient ischemic attack (a warning or mini-stroke).The signs of stroke are: sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; and sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.The good news is that many fewer Americans die of stroke now than in the past. Effective treatments can also help prevent disability from stroke.

DepressionResearch has shown that, although both men and women suffer depression, men are less likely than women to recognize, talk about, and seek treatment for the same.The reluctance among men may be due to societal constructs which expect them to be strong.If youre a man struggling with depression, try regular exercise, journaling, communicating openly with friends and family, and seeking professional help.

High Blood PressureWhile common among both sexes, high blood pressure is more prevalent in men. Its not inevitable and can be prevented, delayed, and treated.If ignored, it can lead to heart and kidney failure, vision problems, and even blindness. Stress, lack of physical activity, and being overweight or obese increase the odds, as do genetics.Can you see the need for regular medical checkups now?

Skin CancerBy age 50, men are also more likely than women to develop melanoma, a form of skin cancer.This number jumps by age 65, making men 2 times as likely as women of the same age to get melanoma. This higher risk is likely related to more frequent sun exposure and fewer visits to the doctor.Men are also more likely to die from the disease.

Erectile DysfunctionA common health problem, especially for men with diabetes or prostate issues, is erectile dysfunction.Erectile dysfunction is most often caused by atherosclerosis the same process that causes heart attacks and strokes. There are a number of reasons why men develop erectile dysfunction, many of which can be treated.Its important to see a doctor so that they can rule out or treat any underlying medical conditions.

Testosterone DeficiencyTestosterone is the male sex hormone that is made in the testicles. Testosterone hormone levels are important to normal male sexual development and functions.Some men have low testosterone levels which could be called Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome (TD) or Low Testosterone (Low-T). Deficiency means that the body does not have enough of a needed substance.According to the American Urological Association, at least two out of 10 men older than 60 years have low testosterone.Experts believe that a healthy lifestyle such as weight loss and getting more physical activity will likely raise your testosterone levels.

Lung CancerLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in men. Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. According to the American Lung Association, each year more men are diagnosed with and develop lung cancer than in years past. Quitting smoking at any age can lower the risk of lung cancer.

Alcohol DeathsConsuming too much alcohol is dangerous for ones health as it increases your risk for cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon.But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), men face higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations than women do. Men take in twice as much as women and are more likely to increased aggression and sexual assault against women. Avoid taking alcohol.

DiabetesDiabetes is a chronic and metabolic disease that can lead to nerve and kidney damage, heart disease and stroke, and even vision problems or blindness if left untreated.A study found that men are almost twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes than women. Engaging in exercise, combined with a healthy diet, can prevent diabetes. Bottom line is, see a doctor regularly gents!

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Erectile Dysfunction, Diabetes among 11 Common Health Threats to Men - THISDAY Newspapers

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Researchers arent certain why the messenger RNA vaccines, one from Pfizer Inc. and partner BioNTech SE and the other from Moderna Inc., are likely causing the inflammatory heart conditions myocarditis and pericarditis in a small number of cases.

Some theories center on the type of spike protein that a person makes in response to the mRNA vaccines. The mRNA itself or other components of the vaccines, researchers say, could also be setting off certain inflammatory responses in some people.

One new theory under examination: improper injections of the vaccine directly into a vein, which sends the vaccine to heart muscle.

To find answers, some doctors and scientists are running tests in lab dishes and examining heart-tissue samples from people who developed myocarditis or pericarditis after getting vaccinated.

Myocarditis describes inflammation of the heart muscle, while pericarditis refers to inflammation of the sac surrounding the muscle.

Covid-19 itself can cause both conditions. They have also been reported in a smaller number of people who got an mRNA vaccine, most commonly in men under 30 years and adolescent males.

About 877 confirmed cases of myocarditis in vaccinated people under 30 years have been reported in the U.S., out of 86 million mRNA vaccine doses administered, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The risk is higher within seven days of the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the Food and Drug Administration says. Most myocarditis cases in vaccinated people are relatively mild, and patients get better on their own or with minimal treatment, doctors say.

The CDC recommends that anyone 5 years and older should get vaccinated, saying the benefits of preventing Covid-19 illness, hospitalizations and death far outweigh the risk of myocarditis, even in younger males.

Researchers have been trying to understand the link between the cases and vaccination, as health authorities expand the vaccination campaign by recommending boosters and broadening use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to younger children.

The FDA has, however, held up authorizing use of the Moderna vaccine in adolescents while it investigates the risk

Some theories about the vaccines link to myocarditis center on the spike protein on the surface of the coronavirus.

The spike protein helps the virus gain entry into human cells to replicate. The mRNA vaccines are designed to cause the body to make a certain version of the spike protein, which then sets off an immune response.

The immune response includes neutralizing antibodies that target the spike protein and thereby block the viruss ability to get inside cells and replicate. The immune response can protect a person against Covid-19 or lessen its severity if someone is exposed to the virus.

Yet there may be similarities between the spike protein and proteins found in the heart muscle, prompting the bodys immune defenses to mobilize against the heart, according to Biykem Bozkurt, a professor of medicine specializing in cardiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

The antibodies against the spike protein may have the unintended effect of acting against heart proteins, said Dr. Bozkurt, who co-wrote a review of vaccine-associated myocarditis in the journal Circulation in July.

This molecular mimicry" theory hasnt been fully tested in vaccinated people and doesnt explain why myocarditis only occurs in certain people, she said.

Some of the mRNA in the vaccines may also be taken up by heart cells known as cardiomyocytes, said Jay Schneider, a consultant in cardiovascular medicine at the Mayo Clinics Jacksonville, Fla., campus.

These cells may then produce the spike protein of the coronavirus, which could draw an antibody response against them, Dr. Schneider said. He said he has conducted lab tests and found that heart cells have taken up the Moderna vaccine and then expressed the spike protein.

Dr. Schneider hasnt yet published results from these experiments in a peer-reviewed journal, and said they should be interpreted with caution.

Some doctors have theorized that improper injections of the vaccines may be contributing.

The shots are supposed to be injected into the shoulder muscle, also known as the deltoid muscle. If the injection accidentally reaches a vein, it could lead to delivery of some of the vaccine to the heart through blood vessels.

Hong Kong researchers found that injecting mice intravenously with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine induced both myocarditis and pericarditis in the animals, according to results published online in August by the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

That myocarditis appears to happen more among younger males after vaccination than in other age and sex groups suggests a link to the hormone testosterone, which is usually at high levels in younger males, according to researchers.

Testosterone may heighten an inflammatory immune response, Dr. Bozkurt said, leading to myocarditis in some male adolescents and young men.

Some studies have suggested that Modernas vaccine carries a higher risk of myocarditis than Pfizers. If this difference is confirmed, it could be related to differences in dose levels, Moderna Chief Executive Stphane Bancel said. Modernas vaccine contains more mRNA per dose than Pfizers.

Some vaccine specialists have cited the dose difference as one reason that the Moderna vaccines effectiveness against Covid-19 appears to hold up for longer than Pfizers.

Mr. Bancel said the benefit-risk ratio for Modernas vaccine is still favorable for younger males.

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Researchers probe link between Covid-19 vaccines and myocarditis - Livemint

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BAGSVRD, Denmark, Nov. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Results from the STEP 5 phase 3b trial, presented today at the ObesityWeek2021 interactive congress, showed that adults treated with Wegovy(semaglutide 2.4 mg injection) achieved significant and sustained weight loss over the two-year study period. The STEP 5 trial investigated Wegovyvs. placebo, both used with a reduced calorie meal plan and increased physical activity for the treatment of obesity (BMI 30 kg/m2) or overweight (BMI 27 kg/ m2) in 304 adults with at least one weight-related comorbidity for 104 weeks (two years).1

In the STEP 5 trial, results showed that Wegovyused with a reduced calorie meal plan and increased physical activitysignificantly reduced body weight from baseline to week 104 compared to placebo (-15.2% vs. -2.6%, estimated treatment difference: -12.6% -points [95% CI: -15.3, -9.8]; p<0.0001)[*].The study also demonstrated that adults with overweight or obesity were more likely to lose at least 5% of their body weight with Wegovyvs. placebo (77.1% vs. 34.4%; p<0.0001).

"People with obesity try on average seven times to lose weight before seeking medical care. Once weight is lost, however, it all too often comes back, which is why it is critically important to find options to help people living with obesity lose weight and keep it off," said W. Timothy Garvey, MD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Nutrition Sciences at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. "Results from the STEP 5 clinical trial demonstrated that adults with obesity were able to lose weight whilst taking Wegovyand maintain the weight loss at two years, which can help us better treat and manage obesity as a chronic disease."

Based on 68-week trials, the most frequently reported adverse events with Wegovy were nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation and abdominal pain.2,3In the STEP 5 trial, the safety profile of Wegovy was in line with previous STEP phase 3a trials; 5.9% of patients treated with Wegovy and 4.6% of patients treated with placebo permanently discontinued treatment as a result of adverse reactions.1

"With current obesity treatments we tend to see a waning of the weight-lowering effects of the treatment over time. We set out to investigate if that would hold true also for semaglutide 2.4 mg. It is very encouraging for us to see that even after two years of treatment with semaglutide 2.4 mg, we still see a significant and sustained weight loss of 15%. We are very pleased with the promise these findings offer to people living with obesity. For many people,maintaining an achieved weight loss over time is an equally big challenge as achieving the weight loss in the first place," said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president, Development at Novo Nordisk.

About STEP 5 and the STEP clinical trial programmeSTEP 5 was a phase 3b randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that investigated the effect of semaglutide 2.4 mg as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention (500 kcal/day diet together with 150 minutes/week of physical activity) on sustained weight loss (for 2 years) in 304 adults with obesity, without type 2 diabetes.Participants were randomly assigned (in a 1:1 ratio) to once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo for 68 weeks.

The primary endpoint of the trial was a change in body weight (%) and a proportion of participants who achieved greater than or equal to 5% weight loss at week 104. Key secondary objectives included the proportion of participants achieving a body weight reduction 10% or 15% from baseline at 104 weeks and change from baseline to week 104 in waist circumference and systolic blood pressure.1

STEP (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity) is a phase 3 clinical development programme with once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg in obesity. The global clinical phase 3a programme consists of four trials and has enrolled approximately 4,500 adults with overweight or obesity.2In the STEP trials, the primary estimand (treatment policy estimand) assessed effects regardless of treatment adherence or initiation of other anti-obesity therapies. The secondary estimand (trial product estimand) assessed effects if all people adhered to treatment and did not initiate other anti-obesity therapies.

About Wegovy(semaglutide 2.4 mg) for weight managementWegovy(semaglutide 2.4 mg) is currently approved for weight managementas an adjunct to diet and exercise in the US and UK only and is under review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and several other health authorities.

Semaglutide is an analogue of the human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone, with 94% similarity to the native human GLP-1 molecule.4,5It induces weight loss by reducing hunger, increasing feeling of fullness and thereby helping people eat less and reduce their food cravings.4

About obesityObesity is a chronic disease that requires long-term management.6,7It is associated with many serious health complications and decreased life expectancy.8,9Obesity-related complications are numerous and include type 2 diabetes,7heart disease,7obstructive sleep apnoea,10non-alcoholic fatty liver disease11and certain types of cancer.12The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that obesity also increases the risk for severe illness and hospitalisation due to COVID-19.13,14

The global increase in the prevalence of obesity is a public health issue that has severe cost implications to healthcare systems. Approximately 650 million adults are estimated to live with obesity worldwide.15

About Novo NordiskNovo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases such as obesity and rare blood and endocrine disorders. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 47,000 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com,Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube.

References

[*]Based on treatment policy estimand results

SOURCE Novo Nordisk

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Wegovy Demonstrated Significant and Sustained Weight Loss in Two-Year Study in Adults With Obesity - PRNewswire

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We are approaching one of the best times of year in my opinion. I love the holidays. The smells, the decorations, the excitement in the air and especially the food. However, if you are someone who has been working on getting healthier and losing weight, this time may bring anxiety and stress.

But dieting through the holidays does not have to be a chore. It does not mean that you need to miss out on all the good foods and drinks either. There is one key word I use as the main goal for all of my clients: balance. You can enjoy foods and even imbibe without undoing your progress; you just have to keep everything in balance.Here are some tips.

If you are attending a family dinner, potluck meal or holiday party, bring a dish of something you want to eat and rely on that to fill your plate. Then you can still take smaller portions of the other, possibly decadent items, without feeling like youre blowing your whole diet.

Stick to regular meals prior to a holiday meal or party. I know, youve probably been taught to skimp on food throughout the day, so you have more calories for the big meal. Unfortunately, this rarely works like you think it will. When you eat lighter, you will typically end up being so hungry at the event that youll overindulge.

Fill up on protein. While the star of most holiday meals is the turkey, ham or prime rib, most of the side dishes are lacking in the protein department. Most side dishes are carb and fat heavy. So, fill up on protein, either before or during the meal. This will help you feel satiated and again, avoid overindulging.

My holiday trick when going to a catered event or one which serves primarily hors doeuvres is to have a ready-made protein shake about an hour before I leave. Its just enough to take the edge off.

Choose your indulgences strategically. This means that if you want to enjoy pie after dinner, dont also have cookies earlier in the day. Maybe it means you have pie but forgo the whipped cream. The pie will still be delicious on its own. Savor the bites of decadence you choose to eat and dont feel bad.Tip: This is the same advice Id give while on vacation.

Ultimately, choose memories over calories. Enjoy the time with your family and friends and be thankful that we can even gather this year. The problem with the holidays is using them as an excuse to over-indulge. One day of overeating is not going to undo all of your progress. But if you have Thanksgiving, leftovers for a few nights, then a Friendsgiving, then a holiday party, then you make cookies, then someone in your office brings more cookies and it keeps going and going, you can see how that will impact your body.

Additionally, if youve been dieting for a while, having one day of a large calorie surplus will be processed and expelled rather efficiently. Even if you arent dieting, the same thing will happen. Our bodies are well-oiled machines when it comes to single calorie surpluses here and there. It is very unlikely to change the big picture much. Sure, the scale may go up for a day or two, but thats usually due to eating more carbohydrates. Carbs require more water to break down in our body, so with increased carbs come increased water weight. But water weight is not fat and wont stick around long.

My advice: skip the scale until youre back in your routine and youll be thankful that you chose to be fully present with your family and friends, instead of worrying about if you ate too much cranberry sauce one day out of the year.

Fun fact: According to a 2016 study, the average American gains .2% at Thanksgiving time and .4% at Christmas time. That usually equates to around one pound between the two. So even if you go for it and really enjoy the holidays, one pound isnt a huge increase. The bigger point is that you stay in your routine and dont fall out of the good habits youve created, or it will be much harder to get back on track.

Leah Harding is a nutrition coach and mobile personal trainer. She specializes in helping people see food as an ally to reach their goals, both in and out of the gym. She previously worked out of Rincon Fitness and owned CrossFit Carpinteria/Foxwing Fitness. Contact her atleah@foxwingfitness.comwith questions or with ideas for future wellness articles.

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Handling the holidays while trying to lose weight - Coastal View News

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A report on more than 400,000 children showed those children gained weight during the pandemic at more than double the pre-pandemic rate, according to a CDC report.

"Increased weight means inflammation, and when you have inflammation in your body it can lead to numerous, numerous health conditions," said Vicki Pare, a Green Bay nutritionist.

Pare offered tips to work to lose weight or avoid weight gain.

"If [people] drink a glass of water before each meal, they will reduce the amount of calories that they would consume normally..." Pare said.

She also said rest is important.

"Quality of sleep [is] very important, because studies have shown that inadequate duration and quality of sleep are big risk factors to obesity."

Meeting the demand

At the Boys & Girls Club of Door County, CEO Jennifer Gentry noted children's moods when the club reopened during the pandemic.

"We saw kind of an interesting, lethargic nature to the children, many of whom were used to kind of sitting in front of the TV, or not being as active," Gentry said.

Some children at the Club gained weight during the pandemic, while other children lost weight, Gentry said.

To meet demand from children, the club expanded its homemade dinner offerings from three nights per week, to four.

"We're teaching them about vegetables, and what it means to grow your own food," Gentry said.

"We know what's going in the food, nothing is really a preservative that they can be getting out of a microwave meal.

Gentry said she has seen a rebound in the children, and the trend is now positive.

Photo Courtesy Jennifer Gentry, Boys & Girls Club of Door County

Getting Active

Casey Shea, a personal trainer in Green Bay, offered a no-cost tip to try to lose weight or avoid excessive weight gain.

"The simplest thing... 10 minute walks after your large meals," Shea said.

For an indoor option, "Implement chores, get up, go clean your room," Shea said.

"Having those breaking periods from sitting, that's going to be the best thing for you, just increasing your activity in any way possible."

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Children's Pandemic Weight Gain: Tips, advice on food and exercise - WGBA-TV

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Sleep and weight loss  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

If you check your weight before going to seep in the night and again in the morning, you may notice that you may weigh less in the morning primarily because you have lost water throughout the night as you breathed and sweated.

But even as our body rests, organs and organ systems do not switch off, and their working consumes calories, however less it may seem as compared to the waking hours burn.

It is not impossible to burn calories during the night. However, the loss of water weight is more significant than the loss of fat.

Edward Lane and Anna Davies write in Mens Health that getting a poor nights sleep doesnt just make you crankyit can also make you gain weight. After research, the sequence is assumed to be as below:

Repeatedly, research has highlighted the fact that just one night of bad sleep can slow down your metabolism the next morning, reducing the energy you expend by up to 20 per cent. according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

So, what is the secret formula or hacks that will reverse the course and keep your metabolism cranking overnight with a good night's rest? Mens Health advises the use of these simple steps.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a professional healthcare provider if you have any specific questions about any medical matter.

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6 ways to lose weight while you sleep: Get back the control of your metabolism - Times Now

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