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Festivities and weight gain go hand-in-hand. Most of us put on some extra kilos after bingeing on those appetising ladoos, barfis and other festive foods. And from the very next day, we all look for diet and detox plans that can help us flush out the toxins from the body and lose some weight easily. Same is the scenario at present when we are trying to get back in shape after a bit too much indulgence during Diwali and Bhai Dooj. While losing weight is no one-day affair, the inclusion of some detox drink in our weight loss diet can accelerate the journey and balance the metabolism for overall nourishment.

Keeping this in mind, we found you simple detox water that includes every nutrient you need to boost digestion, metabolism and detoxification; for the unversed, these factors further promote weight loss. The drink is made of tulsi (Holy basil) and ajwain (carom seeds) - both of which have extensive usage in traditional medical practice since ages.

According to the book 'Healing Foods' by DK Publishing House, tulsi is a storehouse of antioxidants that help prevent our body against free radical damages. If consumed daily, this medicinal herb may also promote metabolism and weight loss. Besides, it is enriched with immunomodulatory, antitussive and expectorant properties that help fight cough, cold and several respiratory troubles.

Also Read:5 Reasons Why You Should Sip On Tulsi Tea (Holy Basil) Everyday

There's no denying that fact that healthy gut helps promote weight loss. And ajwain since ages is known to boost gut health. It helps release gastric juices in the stomach, speeding up the process of digestion and prevents acidity and chronic gastric troubles. Alongside, it also makes for a great kadha when paired with tulsi that is deemed to fight seasonal cough and cold.

Also Read:9 Super Benefits Of Ajwain (Carom Seeds) For Hair, Skin And Health

You may include this detox drink in your everyday morning ritual for an overall healthy mind and body. But always remember, moderation is the key!

(Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)

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About Somdatta SahaExplorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call herself. Be it in terms of food, people or places, all she craves for is to know the unknown. A simple aglio olio pasta or daal-chawal and a good movie can make her day.

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Tulsi-Ajwain Water Can Be Ideal For Post-Diwali Detox And Weight Loss; How To Make It - NDTV Food

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Drink this detox tea to help you burn belly fat and shed festive weight in 7 days  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

New Delhi: For many people, the festive season is often an incredibly indulgent period of eating and drinking. However, overindulgence can cause bloating, fatigue, heartburn, breakouts, etc. Besides the toll it takes on your health, overeating can affect your ability to lose weight. Adding a natural detox tea to your diet can be beneficial, especially if youve overindulged in high-calorie foods. Detox diet plans have gained immense popularity all over the world, with many fitness enthusiasts claiming the popular trend can help with weight loss while eliminating toxins from the body. Heres a healthy detox drink - green tea - to help you shed those unwanted pounds, flush out toxins from your system, and reduce belly fat in a week.

Green tea is among the healthiest beverages widely consumed in the world. It is high in antioxidants, called catechins, that have been shown to boost weight loss. Studies suggest that these naturally occurring chemicals may rev up your metabolism and increase fat burning, which can help you lose weight. For instance, a 2008 study found that obese people who drank green tea for 12 weeks lost 7.3 pounds (3.3 kg) more weight than those who dont. Catechins, particularly epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), may boost weight loss besides providing several health benefits such as reduced inflammation, improved heart and brain health.

Green tea is considered as one of the most effective detox drinks. This is due to the fact that the active compounds in green tea support the bodys natural ability to detox. It is claimed that drinking green tea increases the enzyme activity that drives the first two phases of detoxification, supporting the liver.

Ingredients:

Preparation method:

Tip: If served cooled, you can add flavours such as mint, ginger, lemon or lime.

Green tea can be enjoyed as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Replacing high-calorie drinks such as soda and packaged juice can help reduce overall calorie intake and contribute to weight loss. Adding 2-3 cups of green tea to your daily routine may also offer protection against chronic disease. The bottom line is, a healthy diet combined with regular exercise can help you lose weight and prevent gaining harmful belly fat.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

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Drink this detox tea to help you burn belly fat and shed festive weight in 7 days - Times Now

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In addition to featuring an all new Personal Assessmentwhich will help people pinpoint the changes that will power their personal weight loss success, myWW+ delivers customized content powered by a smart personalization platform that uses machine learning and AI to identify the preferences of each unique member -- the more a member engages with the content and features, the more myWW+ delivers.

"As a human-centric technology company, we know how important it is for people to have a comprehensive app experience that helps them lose weight and get healthier so they can become the best version of themselves," said Mindy Grossman, WW CEO and President. "Our myWW+ program offers a sought-after holistic wellness solution that is also highly customizable to fit your life, no matter where it takes you."

One of the newest features with myWW+ is the Weekly Check-in - a personalized, holistic view of your progress within the app. Members can now review how their week went and automatically receive a Progress Report to see the full picture related to food, activity, mindset and sleep. For the upcoming week, members create an Action Plan by selecting suggested actionable goals or creating their own. Their weekly goal will be displayed to help maintain focus throughout the week. With these new tools that digitize and customize behavioral goal-setting, people will stay engaged and on track to successfully reach their goals.

"With our expertise in behavior change, we go beyond the basics of education and guidance and offer a personalized, action-oriented approach for our members," said Gary Foster, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, WW. "What's particularly compelling about myWW+ is that we have been able to scale behavior change like never before by taking science-based principles and translating them into digital tools to make the weight and wellness journey easier for all of our members."

In addition to understanding your progress and setting goals, myWW+ offers even more features focused on key wellness elements to make the weight loss journey easier and more successful, such as:

The app still includes popular features, such as food, water and activity trackers, the barcode scanner, and Connect - WW's members-only digital community. Access to the WW app is included with all subscription-based memberships on the myWW+ program. The program is rooted in WW's scientifically proven approach to weight loss and nutrition and grounded in the SmartPoints system and ZeroPoint foods. WW remains a category leader, having been ranked for a decade as #1 "Best for Weight Loss" by health experts in U.S. News & World Report's Best Diets rankings.

For more information, please visit http://www.ww.com.

About WW International, Inc.

WW Weight Watchers reimagined is a global wellness company powered by the world's leading commercial weight management program. We inspire millions of people to adopt healthy habits for real life. Through our engaging tech-enabled experience and face-to-face group workshops, members follow our livable and sustainable program of healthy eating, physical activity, and a helpful mindset. Leveraging more than five decades of experience in building inspired communities and our deep expertise in behavioral science, we aim to democratize wellness and to deliver wellness for all. To learn more about the WW approach to healthy living, please visit ww.com. For more information about our global business, visit our corporate website at corporate.ww.com.

For general press inquiries, contact: [emailprotected]

SOURCE WW International Inc.

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WW Launches New myWW+ with Major Enhancements to its Award-Winning App Designed to Help Make Losing Weight Easier - PRNewswire

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If youre trying to lose weight, aim at eating more fibre. A high-fibre diet can increase satiety, reduce hunger, decrease overall caloric intake, promote weight loss and improve your overall health. Also Read - 6 tips to lose weight if you have an underactive thyroid

Fibre is a complex carbohydrate that cannot be digested by the human body. As it is not digested, fibre neither provides nutrients or energy, nor it holds calories. However, it promotes a healthy digestive system and helps the body remove potentially harmful waste. Also Read - Overweight and pregnant: How to manage weight gain during pregnancy

There are two main types of fibre soluble and insoluble and both are beneficial to health. Also Read - 6 high-protein, low-calorie foods that can help you lose weight without feeling hungry

Soluble fibre: This type of fibre dissolves in the stomach to form a gel-like substance, which can trap fats, sugars and cholesterol. Thus, it helps to reduce blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and even aid in weight loss.

Insoluble fibre: This type of fibre does not dissolve in your stomach. Instead it absorbs water and increases in size. Insoluble fibre helps with digestion by providing bulk and moisture to stools.

Experts recommends consuming 19 to 38 grams of dietary fibre per day, depending on gender and age. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the daily fibre intake should be 25 grams per day for women and 38 grams for men. For women and men over 50, the recommended daily intake falls to 21 and 30 grams, respectively. However, many people are not eating enough fibre to meet these guidelines.

Taking a fibre supplement may help you to meet your daily fibre goals. You can find various types of fibre supplements including psyllium husk, glucomannan and inulin. These supplements come in many forms, including powders, capsules, and tablets.

However, eating whole foods is a better option to boost your fibre intake for weight loss or other health reasons. In addition to fibre, whole foods will provide a wide array of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are not available in supplement form. Whats more, fibre-rich foods are more satiating than a supplement.

Fibre comes exclusively from plants; you wont get fibre from meat fish or animal products (including dairy). Try to get both types of fibre by consuming a wide variety of plant-based foods.

Soluble fibre is found in beans, oats, apples, carrots, barley, citrus fruits, psyllium and peas. Foods rich in insoluble fibre include nuts, beans, vegetables, potatoes, cauliflower, wheat bran and whole wheat flour.

If youre looking for a more holistic food source of fibre as alternatives to supplements, chia seeds and flaxseeds are an excellent option for you. Chia seeds are 40% fibre by weight. A 28-gram or 1-ounce serving of chia seeds contains 11 grams of fibre. Chia seeds are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, iron, and calcium.

Just one tablespoon of flaxseeds can provide 3 grams of fibre. Flaxseeds are also an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants as well as contain decent amounts of vitamin B1, and copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and selenium.

Published : November 16, 2020 3:27 pm | Updated:November 17, 2020 9:42 am

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Fibre intake for weight loss: Choose whole foods rather than supplements - TheHealthSite

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Eating for weight loss can be delicious and exciting when done right, but all too often you can find yourself falling into the habit of making the same meals over and over. While there is merit to sticking to the foods you know, youre missing out on a whole world of flavors that can be integrated into your recipes which will help slim down your waist and shed those remaining pounds. In a departure from the classic weight loss staples, theres one food that nutritionists recommend you start cooking with so you can reap the benefits in your fitness results.

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Chicory, in either root or powder form, is the one ingredient you need to include in your cooking for weight loss, according to nutritionist Lisa Richards. She explains that the plant is loaded with inulin fiber which is fantastic for helping your body digest and absorb nutrients. She says, This form of fiber acts as a prebiotic, which feeds the good gut bacteria. Feeding this bacteria helps to ensure your gut health is in balance.

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Focusing on gut health is key for making sure your body is running smoothly and primed for weight loss. Richards continues, Improved gut health allows your body to properly digest and absorb nutrients, inevitably resulting in a widespread decrease in inflammation and weight loss. Inflammation, while not directly tied to the process of weight loss, will also affect the numbers on your scale, so its important to focus on treating inflammation as you try to lose weight.

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When integrating chicory into your cooking, Richards suggests adding the powder form into your regular recipes for some sneaky health benefits. She notes that chicory can also act as a delicious salad topping when mixed with cranberries and sauteed squash.

If you want to try a new side dish, consider sauteing the root with oil and some seasoning to have with your next meal. She adds that if youre looking to include more inulin fiber into your diet, onions, artichokes and asparagus are other options which can be added to your meals for the same results.

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Losing weight doesnt have to mean plain meals and repetition. While tried and true classics can be great for your body, adding chicory into your cooking is sure to diversify your meal plan and soothe your gut, making for a smooth weight loss process. Your body will thank you for providing it with ample fiber and nutrients, and will reward you with the results youre looking for!

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The Secret Ingredient You Need To Be Cooking With For Weight Loss, According To A Nutritionist: Chicory Root - SheFinds

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A diabetic dance teacher who played Russian roulette with her health for a decade by reducing her insulin medication to lose weight was told by paramedics who blue lighted her to hospital that she was just hours away from dying.

Amber Dumbill, 24, who needs insulin injections for Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition which prevents the body from making the hormone sending blood sugar levels sky high, started reducing her dose to control her weight developing a dangerous eating disorder called diabulimia.

A keen dancer, despite only being a size 14 at her heaviest, Amber, of Warrington, Cheshire, often performed in a leotard and tight-fitting exercise gear at school, so was constantly comparing herself to more petite girls in her class.

And, moving into student accommodation at 18, while studying musical theatre at university in Blackpool, Lancashire, she stopped taking insulin and doing finger prick tests needed to monitor her blood sugar levels causing her to shrink to a size eight.

But, six weeks into term, she woke one morning unable to get out of bed, was sick several times and called her mum, Kath, 56, who told her to phone an ambulance after she found blood spots in her vomit.

Amber, who is also a care home administrator, said: I was told Id have to wait four hours for an ambulance because I wasnt a priority, so I rang my mum again who told me to take more tests. The results were so high that when I rang 999 back and told them, they sent the ambulance straight away.

She added: By the time we got to the hospital, my lips were turning blue and one of the paramedics told me, If youd waited four hours for the first ambulance youd have been dead.

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of nine, by her teens Amber was already fudging her blood sugar results and taking less insulin than she should have been.

I was upset when I was first diagnosed, even though I had grown up around the condition, because my dad had type 1 diabetes, too, said Amber. Sadly he passed away six years ago, but it was unrelated to his diabetes.

My packed lunch changed overnight after the diagnosis going from white bread sandwiches and a chocolate bar to brown bread and a slimmers yoghurt, Amber continued.

It was boring and I hated not being able to eat like I used to unless I did PE, which meant I could have a chocolate bar.

By the age of 14, full of adolescent rebellion, Amber whose younger sister Mia, 20, does not have diabetes, started to defy her diabetic restrictions and, at one point, secretly ate up to 20 chocolate bars a day.

She said: As Dad was diabetic too, Id fake my blood sugar results by using his old syringe to draw a blood sample, before watering it down, so it would give a lower reading.

Looking back, I still cant believe its something I used to do and would strongly advise anybody against forging any kind of medical result.

And while her family thought her weight gain was pubescent puppy fat, she knew it was because of her chocolate binges.

My mum tried to speak to me about what was going on, but I didnt want to talk about it, she said. I felt attacked whenever she brought it up. She knew the chocolate bars she bought were disappearing, so would find new hiding places for them, but I always found them.

Everything changed when Amber read an article in her dads diabetes magazine one evening, which had been left in the bathroom.

She said: There was a story about a girl who had stopped taking her insulin to lose weight and who then went blind as a result. I ignored the bit about going blind and just thought, I can do that and still eat chocolate.'

I knew it was risky, but just thought nothing bad would happen to me, Amber added. I would look at class photos from school and hate the fact I wasnt the slimmest person in them.

Also, I was still doing ballet and having to wear a leotard and tights, so Id compare myself to the other girls. There was one at my dance class who always looked like a twig!

So, Ambers terrifying descent into diabulimia an eating disorder largely unrecognised by the medical profession began.

When a type 1 diabetic omits insulin, glucose cannot reach the cells, causing the body to burn fat as an alternative energy source which, in turn, produces an acidic by-product known as ketones which are toxic to the body, according to the support group Diabetics With Eating Disorders (DWED).

The resulting condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) leads to dramatic weight loss, but is fatal if left untreated.

And while diabulimics describe their disorder as the perfect diet gone wrong, because without taking insulin they can eat what they want without gaining weight, it can lead to blindness, kidney damage and death.

But, even hearing that she could have died, after her hospital scare at university, did not put Amber back on track.

Instead, she started taking her insulin again, but took less than was prescribed in case she gained weight.

Her wake-up call came after a conversation with her mum, a housewife, soon after meeting her new boyfriend, Ed Martin, 24, a sale assistant, through work in 2018.

I told Mum that Ed and I had been talking about the future, she said. Wed discussed getting married and having kids.

She just turned to me and said, You wont be having any kids if you dont sort out your diabetes.

That, together with the realisation that diabetes can cause complications in pregnancy even when it is properly managed, shocked me into realising what I was doing to myself.

Since managing her diabetes properly, Amber has been living a healthy balanced life.

But she is now keen to raise awareness of diabulimia, which remains a largely hidden condition, according to DWED who claim that, by the age of 25, some 60 per cent of Type 1 diabetics will have developed an eating disorder with 40 per cent of those affected admitting to skipping insulin to lose weight.

Amber said: I am so grateful that I turned my life around before it was too late, but if telling my story stops just one person with type 1 diabetes doing what I did, it will be worth it.

Psychiatrist, Professor Khalida Ismail, who runs the UKs first diabulimia disorder clinic at Kings College Hospital in London, warns that the condition can be fatal.

He said: Diabulimia is extremely dangerous but the fear that taking insulin causes weight gain is so strong that sufferers will stop taking it to lose weight.

You can look well and have a normal body size but if you stop taking your insulin you will have very high blood sugars which can cause all those diabetes-related complications. If a person with Type 1 diabetes does not take any insulin they will die very quickly.

For more information about Diabetics With Eating Disorders see http://www.dwed.org.uk

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Diabetic dancer who reduced her insulin to lose weight told by doctors she was 'hours from death' - Wales Online

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11:21 16/11/2020 Compiled by Virginia Van Wyk

There are many theories around when and what one should eat in order to lose or maintain weight. One widely-accepted belief is that we must eat breakfast and that most of our daily calories should be consumed at breakfast.

This idea is backed by numerous studies, one of which concluded:High-calorie breakfast with reduced intake at dinner is beneficial and might be a useful alternative for the management of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Ground-breaking research presented on 13 November at the American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions 2020, however, proves otherwise.

Author of the study and associate professor at John Hopkins University, Nisa M. Maruthur stated: We have wondered for a long time if when one eats during the day affects the way the body uses and stores energy.

This led Maruthur and a team of her colleagues to conduct a study investigating whether restricting meals to early in the day would facilitate weight loss.

The study involved 41 adults with a BMI that classified them as being overweight. Ninety percent of the participants were Black women who were either diabetic or prediabetic. Twenty-one of the participants were assigned to a time-restricted eating plan which limited them to eating at specific hours only, and they had to eat 80% of their daily calories before 13:00.

The remaining 20 adults ate at usual times but consumed 50% of their daily calories after 17:00. Weight and blood pressure of the participants were measured at four-week intervals.

The researchers hypothesised that participants following a time-restricted feeding pattern would lose more weight than those following a more traditional eating pattern.

Researchers were stunned by the results of the study, which found that across both groups people lost weight and their blood pressure decreased regardless of when they ate.

According to Maruthur, Most prior studies have not controlled the number of calories, so it wasnt clear if people who ate earlier just ate fewer calories. In this study, the only thing we changed was the time of day of eating.

These results prove that you wont necessarily gain weight if you were to eat bigger meals later in the day compared to eating a larger number of calories in the morning.

Image credit: iStock

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Weight loss and timing of meals - does it matter? - Health24

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The Baseball Writers' Association of America turned heads on Monday by releasing the 2021 National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. There were 11 new names joining the 14 holdovers from the 2020 iteration, but three names drew particular attention. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling headlined the list.

According to UPI, Schilling finished third behind Derek Jeter and Larry Walker last year, receiving 278 of 397 votes. These numbers gave him 70% of the vote, 20 shy of earning enshrinement. Clemens received 242 votes (61%) while Bonds had 241 (60.7%). These numbers fell shy of the required 75% for induction.

The all-time leader in home runs (762), Bonds also set the single-season record for homers with 73. He was a 14-time All-Star during his 22-year career but also faced allegations of steroid use. Bonds has remained out of the Hall of Fame and is running out of chances to hear his name.

"If they don't want me, just say you don't want me and be done with it," Bonds said about the Hall of Fame during an interview with The Athletic. "Just be done with it." Bonds will only be eligible for enshrinement for two more years. His name will be removed from the ballot following the 2022 vote.

Bonds never admitted to using steroids during his career. He reportedly told a grand jury that he used a substance that prosecutors say contain steroids. Federal prosecutors dropped the remaining charges against him in July 2015, ending a decades-long steroids case.

Similar to Bonds, Clemens faced allegations of steroid use in his career. He has strongly denied using steroids during his career. "I've been accused of something I'm not guilty of. ... I've never taken steroids or HGH," Clemens said during a congressional investigation into the use of banned substances.

While Bonds, Clemens and Schilling headline the list, there are 11 newcomers that face slim odds to be inducted. The list of newcomers includes: Mark Buehrle, A.J. Burnett, Michael Cuddyer, Dan Haren, LaTroy Hawkins, Tim Hudson, Torii Hunter, Aramis Ramirez, Nick Swisher, Shane Victorino and Barry Zito.

Unlike Bonds and Clemens, Schilling did not have steroid allegations. He instead sparked debates with his comments as an analyst and on social media. For example, he posted a meme comparing the percentage of extremists among Muslims and 1940s Germans. He has also made several comments in the past about the Clintons, Benghazi and the North Carolina "bathroom bill."

Voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame will be announced on Jan. 26, providing answers about some of the sport's biggest names and their legacies. If anyone receives the required 75% of the vote, they will be inducted on July 25 alongside Jeter and Walker. The two men were voted into the Hall of Fame in 2020 but had to wait one year for their ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Baseball Hall of Fame: Controversial Picks Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling Lead 2021 Ballot - PopCulture.com

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Editor's note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape's Coronavirus Resource Center.

As study after study piles up showing that those with obesity who become infected with SARS-CoV-2. are more likely to have severe disease, Medscape Medical News asked experts during the virtual ObesityWeek Interactive 2020 meeting if they had any advice for clinicians and patients.

Pichamol Jirapinyo, MD, MPH, associate director of bariatric endoscopy at Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, presented a study on those with obesity from New England hospitals which adds to the evidence that this is "a vulnerable population for COVID-19, like elderly or immunocompromised people," Jirapinyo told Medscape Medical News.

These findings reinforce the need for clinicians to be "more aware of complications of obesity and refer earlier for treatment," she added.

One audience member wanted to know if there are data showing whether people with a BMI above 35 kg/m2 who successfully lose weight subsequently have lower rates of hospitalization, ICU admission, and death if they become infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Jirapinyo said she is not aware of any such studies, but anecdotally, two of her patients who had endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty last fall (whose BMI dropped from about 38 kg/m2 to 30 kg/m2) and later became infected with COVID-19 had mild symptoms.

But David A. Kass, MD, director, Institute of CardioScience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, cautioned that the biology of COVID-19 is complex in patients with obesity "and immune system dysfunction is present as are physical factors that could limit breathing."

"Whether this gets reversed by weight loss is an attractive hypothesis, but at this point, it's still a hypothesis," he stressed to Medscape Medical News.

"There must be north of 600 or more studies by now with this message that obesity particularly severe obesity with a BMI of 35 kg/m2 and higher is a strong independent risk factor for worse COVID-19 outcome," Kass emphasized.

"[COVID-19] revealed to the public in a somewhat dramatic fashion that being very obese does put one at higher risk of this disease being more debilitating and even fatal," he added.

"Before this pandemic, many viewed obesity as only a problem if you have the other associated diseases hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, atherosclerosis, obstructive sleep apnea, etc."

"What was not as appreciated is that marked obesity changes the body in various ways all by itself altering metabolism, inflammatory signaling, immune surveillance, and responsiveness (including a less robust response to vaccines that has been written about as well)."

"This is a bit like having a genetic abnormality that makes you at higher risk for getting, say, cancer," he explained.

"It is there, it is real, it has an impact but it still does take other stresses to reveal the risk potential. COVID-19 did that with obesity," he said.

The study presented by Jirapinyo and colleagues identified 1680 patients with COVID-19 at six hospitals in March 2020. Patients were a mean age of 51 and had a mean BMI of 29.4 kg/m2, and 39% had obesity. Patients who required hospitalization were more likely to have obesity (46% vs 35%; P < .0001).

Obesity was a significant risk factor for hospitalization (odds ratio [OR], 1.7), ICU admission (OR, 1.8), and intubation (OR, 1.8; all P < .001), after controlling for age, sex, cardiovascular, pulmonary, liver, and kidney disease, and cancer.

Compared to having a normal weight, having severe obesity was also associated with roughly threefold higher risks of ICU admission and intubation after controlling for major comorbidities.

Naveed Sattar, MD, PhD, told Medscape Medical News that these latest findings are "highly consistent with other studies that point to excess adiposity as a potential modifiable risk factor for more severe COVID-19."

It "also strongly suggests that if people are worried about their risk for COVID-19 and want to improve their chances of a milder outcome, then it is reasonable to encourage them to make sustainable lifestyle changes that may lessen weight and improve their fitness levels," said Sattar, professor metabolic medicine, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom.

"But of course, the big worry," he added, "is that many are putting on weight due to lockdowns, less commuting to work, anxiety, and overeating and drinking, etc, so that many are struggling, and especially those at highest risk, such as those living in more overcrowded housing, etc. By contrast, more advantaged folk may have an easier time to improve lifestyles," he said.

The pandemic highlights that "we need a concerted effort on obesity prevention and treatment," according to Sattar.

"For years we have realized links between obesity and chronic cardiometabolic conditions," he said, "but to think excess weight may also be detrimental to acute effects of a novel virus running amok in the world has focused minds on obesity in a manner not seen before."

"Whether these new painful learnings lead to a more determined effort in countries to improve the obesogenic environment or to place more resources into prevention and management of obesity remains to be seen," he said.

Meanwhile, Matthew M. Hutter, MD, MPH, president, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, told Medscape Medical News that "COVID-19 and studies like this are now making many aware that obesity is not just a lifestyle choice or a cosmetic issue, but "a disease that needs to be taken seriously" and treated.

"Metabolic and bariatric surgery is a very safe and effective treatment for persons with obesity with a BMI > 40 kg/m2 or BMI > 35 kg/m2 and related diseases like diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, reflux, back pain, and many others," added Hutter, who is also professor of surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

"Recently, some metabolic and bariatric centers have seen an increase in patients considering surgery," he said. "Some say that COVID-19 has made them realize they need to do something to be healthier."

"Currently, less than 1% of those who could benefit from surgery are actually having it each year, Hutter noted, "and I think there are many who should seriously consider surgery to be healthier, live longer, and live better."

For more diabetes and endocrinology news, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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In Those With Obesity, Will Losing Weight Cut COVID-19 Severity? - Medscape

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If youre trying to lose weight, the scale can be a double-edged sword. When youre slaying your diet and exercise goals, stepping on it brings a wave of joy. But when you hit a slump or plateau, you might have the urge to throw it out the window.

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Your scale can be a useful tool in your health journey. But you need to know when and how to weigh yourself to get accurate and helpful info from it. Registered dietitian Chelsey Ludwiczak, RD, shares her expertise on how to use your scale to reach your health goals.

Your weight is just one piece of your overall health picture. So do you really need to weigh yourself?

Regularly weighing yourself can help you stay on track with your weight loss or weight maintenance goals, says Ludwiczak. Its like having a weekly budget. If you go over your budget one week, you want to know so you can fix it. If you dont realize youre overspending every week, it adds up.

The scale helps you keep track of your own weight so that you can change behaviors before 1 pound of weight gain becomes 5 or 10.

But theres an exception to the weigh-in habit. If you have a history of eating disorders or anxiety about the scale, avoid weighing yourself for now, Ludwiczak says. Speak with a psychologist or mental health professional about these concerns.

Its not how often you weigh yourself, but how you do it, Ludwiczak says. The key is consistency.

It should always be on the same scale, at the same time and wearing the same thing or without clothes, she explains.

If you want to step on the scale weekly, for example, do it on the same day each week. Your weight wont be consistent if you weigh yourself on Friday and Monday, she says. Many people have a different routine on the weekends. They might eat out more, drink alcohol or snack more. Compare that to Friday, if youve been eating consistently for five days, and youll see a big difference.

Youll also get a more reliable result if you weigh yourself first thing in the morning, as food and drink can change what the scale says for a few hours.

Some research says you should weigh yourself on Wednesdays because its the middle of the week. Ludwiczak says Wednesdays are good, but youre not tied to that day.

Many people like to see what they weigh on Friday because theyve had a consistent routine throughout the week, she explains. You see where your weight is after youve held a routine for five days. Then you can adjust your routine if youre not seeing results.

Certain things may cause a rapid change on the scale, sending you into a panic. But take a breath overnight weight gain is not a thing. Some people ask why they seemingly gained five pounds overnight, Ludwiczak says. We know that 3,500 calories equals one pound of weight gain. If youve gained five pounds overnight, its unlikely that you ate 17,500 calories. Its probably due to other factors.

Water retention is a major cause of an overnight change on the scale. You might be retaining more water if you:

If youre retaining water without an obvious reason, see your doctor.

Maybe youre not bloated, but your weight still went up overnight. In those cases, think about the last time you went to the bathroom. Constipation is another reason people see a rapid weight increase.

Even the most dedicated person can hit a weight-loss plateau, which is oh-so frustrating. But the number on the scale is a piece of your overall health, not the whole picture.

During any health journey, theres more than one way to measure success, Ludwiczak says. The scale is just one factor. You can also take body measurements once a week, such as your waist or thighs. Those measurements may show that youre losing inches instead of pounds, suggesting youre losing fat mass and gaining muscle, since muscle weighs more than fat.

Look in your closet for another way to check in on your health goals. Maybe your favorite pair of jeans fits better, even though you havent lost much weight, Ludwiczak says. This could be a sign that your body composition is changing, even though the scale isnt reflecting that.

Maybe youve got a number in mind, but your scale taunts you with another one. Dont give up. Its time to take some power away from the scale.

Youre more than that number, Ludwiczak says. Your scale isnt going to reflect all the positive changes you make. Think about how your food choices are making you healthier. Focus on the amazing mental and physical benefits of regular exercise. Maybe you have more energy to play with your kids. So many victories are not scale-related.

Follow this link:
When Is the Best Time to Weigh Yourself? - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

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