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Obesity is a global problem. Unfortunately, SA has not been spared this scourge, and according to the national department of health, about 30% of SA men and a whopping 68% of SA women are overweight. Apart from all the complex causes of obesity, the problem is compounded by the fact that we do not have effective treatments for obesity.

Even drugs that have been approved to treat obesity are only modestly effective, with average weight loss of only 35kg, and they often have horrible side effects. This creates a perfect storm: many people desperate for a solution to their weight struggles, and many willing to exploit this desperation through quackery. One such treatment that is being advertised by weight-loss clinics and spas is hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin, also known as the pregnancy hormone).

The idea of hCG as a weight-loss treatment originated from the work of Dr Albert Simeons, first described in the medical journal Lancet in 1954, and later in his book Pounds and Inches published in the same year. He recommended daily low-dose hCG injections in combination with a very low calorie diet (VLCD) as a cure for obesity.

Today, the hCG diet, also called the Simeons method or the lipolytic/fat-burning diet, is still being marketed as a route to fantastic weight loss. Advertisements include the promise of extreme weight loss (sometimes up to 1kg a day!), body reshaping to specifically burn abnormal fat such as the tummy roll, appetite suppression and a general feeling of wellbeing and self-confidence. The hCG diet is also endorsed by celebrity doctors.

Companies market a medical weight loss programme that includes a VLCD diet plan, supplements, medical supervision and personal support, along with vaguely labelled injections that upon closer enquiry turn out to be hCG injections. On other sites, one can buy hCG injections and drops, apparently without prescription, along with instructions for the VLCD diet. Products containing hCG can also be ordered on general online shopping platforms.

In one particularly egregious example, a qualified medical doctor with aesthetic medical practices in Johannesburg advertises the Simeons protocol and homeopathic hCG products which, by the definition of how homeopathic products are prepared, cannot contain any active hCG. They also have numerous false claims on their website, including that hCG is present in every human tissue, including males and non-pregnant women as well as pregnant women.

This is simply not true.

The hCG hormone is only produced by cells of a growing embryo during pregnancy, or by hCG-producing tumours, and therefore we do not normally have hCG in our bodies.

It is important to remember that hCG, like all other hormones, has considerable impact on how our bodies function. In women, hCG injections can stimulate ovulation and they form a routine part of fertility treatments. The hormone is also the culprit behind morning sickness during pregnancy.

In men, hCG injections stimulate the production of the male sex hormone testosterone, and as a result, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has listed hCG as a banned substance in male athletes. Even more worrying, hCG variants present in crude hCG preparations can fuel the growth and spread of cancers.

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This quack diet is a waste of money and potentially harmful: Doctors - TimesLIVE

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Remember when that science teacher John Cisna made headlines back in 2015 for losing more than 55 pounds in six months while eating only McDonald's foods?

How did he do it? By limiting his caloric intake to 2,000 calories per day and exercising regularly. While a diet largely consisting of French fries and burgers and other foods high in fats may not be ideal for your heart or arteries, Cisna's unique experiment proved that calorie regulation is the key to weight loss.

And in fact, a caloric deficit is the primary reason any specific type of diet can lead to weight loss. (Related: 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet.)

One observational study of a group of Paleo Diet followers found that followers of the heart-healthy diet lost an average of five pounds over a three week period, but this weight loss came not only with a shift to eschewing beans, grains, sugar, dairy, and certain other proscribed foods, but also with an approximate drop of 500 calories consumed per day.

Ketogenic diets, wherein followers consume lots of fats, some protein, and very few carbohydrates, have proven to be as or even more effective than low-fat diets for efficiency of weight loss. But in one study cited by Healthline, both the keto and low-fat dieters "reduced calorie consumption," with lowered caloric intake driving the weight loss.

A Mayo Clinic analysis of the Atkins Diet concluded that: "Because carbohydrates usually provide over half of calories consumed, the main reason for weight loss on the Atkins Diet is lower overall calorie intake from eating less carbs."

And on it goes as you consider the Dukan Diet, the HCG Diet, a vegan diet, and so forth. To lose weight, you must ingest less and burn more calories.

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The One Thing All Successful Weight Loss Diets Have in Common - Yahoo Lifestyle

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Beyonce during her Black Lives Matter tribute performance in 2016

By WI Web Staff Beyonc has joined ranks with Peloton to help keep fitness-conscious individuals in shape.

The superstar singers multi-year partnership focuses on Howard University and nine other historically Black colleges and universities by providing digital memberships that would allow full access to fitness classes within the Peloton app, according to the exercise equipment company.

Im excited to partner with a company that helps people, young and old, be the best versions of themselves, in an innovative and adaptable way, Beyonc said in a statement. Im proud to celebrate the students at HBCUs with this donation, to encourage them to find and embrace their own wellness regimens.

As a part of Pelotons company pledge of anti-racism and Beyoncs commitment to HBCUs, the initiative is also striving to give cultural access to health and fitness communities by creating internships and other undergraduate levels of support.

Over time, we developed a series of classes that exclusively feature an artists catalog with everyone from Dolly Parton to Jennifer Lopez, said Dara Treseder, Pelotons head of global marketing and communications. Our members loved them. So, we started to think and talk about how we could build upon the series and make it even more impactful for our members and the larger world.

The other participating HBCUs are Bennett College, Clark Atlanta University, Grambling State University, Hampton University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, Texas Southern University and Wilberforce University.

Each of the schools can expect digital memberships by the end of November.

Beyonc Partners with Peloton, HBCUs for New Fitness Initiative

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Beyonc Partners with Peloton, HBCUs for New Fitness Initiative Free Press of Jacksonville - Jacksonville Free Press

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Mila Clarke Buckley lived with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis for four years before learning in August 2020 that she actually had another type of diabetes: latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). She wants people to know that a diabetes-friendly diet doesnt have to be boring or leave one feeling hangry (a state of irritability that can result from a dip in blood glucose).

Thats why she shares such delectable images with her 37,000 Instagram followers and visitors to her Hangry Woman blog. Her recipe posts for grilled fish tacos and Jamaican jerk chicken wings are accompanied by mouthwatering photos.

Type 2 diabetes results when the body cannot properly process insulin, causing blood sugar (glucose) to rise too high. LADA, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease that is similar to type 1 diabetes, in which the bodys immune system attacks and destroys the cells that make insulin which is why it's also known as type 1.5 diabetes. LADA tends to happen later in life and much more gradually than type 1 diabetes.

People with any form of diabetes can experience blood sugar dips that produce that hangry feeling, also known as hypoglycemia. But rather than coming off as irritable, Buckley, a Houston resident, has a gregarious persona to match her blogs mission, which she says is to help people with diabetes feel less alone in their management but to also show them that you can live a happy, healthy life with diabetes and enjoy your favorite foods.

She says her new diagnosis wont change that mission. I lived with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis for four years that includes the feeling of shame, stigma, and being judged for what other people deemed my fault, and lack of access to the tools that would help me manage diabetes best. Although my [diagnosis] changed, it doesn't take away any of those experiences, and it doesn't mean that I experience them less. To me, it means having the opportunity to bridge the gap a bit more, and help all people with diabetes understand each other.

Buckley includes recipes for those who follow a ketogenic or keto diet, but before you try them, check with your doctor to make sure the regimen is right for you. If you take oral diabetes medication, the diet may increase your risk of hypoglycemia, and this high-fat, low-carb diet can pose other health risks to some. Plus, more studies are needed before keto can be recommended for everyone with type 2 diabetes.

Buckley's personal favorite blog post is titled, Diabetes Is Not a Joke, and it takes aim at the stigma that can be attached to the disease because of its link to diet. People often think diabetes deserves to be a punch line, but it's more serious than the jokes it often sets off, she says.

RELATED: What People With Type 2 Diabetes Must Know About the Keto Diet

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6 Black Influencers to Follow for Healthy-Eating Inspiration - Everyday Health

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Former WWE wrestler Ryback Reeves posted a gym selfie, with his t-shirtyanked up to show off aneight packas herevealed tohis 1.4 million Twitter followers: "7 weeks Vegan and bodyweight is 292 lbs." Ryback has always beenactive on social media and was never shy about his interest in veganism. He tweeted: "I just keep seeing improvements and energy increasing even more. Conditioning is at a very high-level cardio wise and doesnt have any intentions of eating animal or dairy products. Lab work completed yesterday so will see where we are at."

In an interview with the news outletGive Me Sport, Ryback said, I always ate a lot of vegetables, my main thing was that I never really looked at how I could replace or cut down on animal protein. He goes on to say, All I had to do was switch out my meats, I was already halfway vegan without knowing it I look better and Im stronger than Ive been.

Ryback recently captioned a picture of himself eating a plant-based meal with, Amazing dinner tonight with Jazmyne. Im learning so much about the Vegan community and they are truly unbelievable people with such compassion and loving hearts. So blessed to have been given the gift of full health back and am releasing the last bit of hate I have held onto.

It seems like every day another major athlete has been speaking out aboutditching meat and dairy and gainingphysical benefits from their new-found love of a plant-based approach. Cam Newton, David Beckham, Novak Djokovic, and Venus Williams have all recently touted how much they love their plant-based lifestyles. Another professional athlete, wrestler Austin Aries,recently spokeabout how he gets his protein on a plant-based diet.

Weekend warriors considering making the switchto plant-based proteincan find new meatless alternatives and great plant-based products hitting the shelves daily. Even without those substitutes, it'seasy to hit your fitness goals on a diet high in legumes, nuts, grains and vegetables.

For more on how to get your protein on a plant-based diet, check out Top 10 Sources of Plant-Based Protein and How to Get Your Protein From Plant-Based Meals.

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WWE Wrestler Ryback Reeves Announces His Switch to a Vegan Diet - The Beet

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HelloFresh is a meal kit delivery service that offers weekly shipments of recipes and groceries that allow you to make easy and appealing meals at home.

The service is a great way to reduce the burden of meal planning and grocery shopping. It is a good option if you enjoy cooking and do not want your meals premade but do not have much time for meal prep.

It is reasonably priced and may be a good fit for many households. However, it may not be the best fit for those with special dietary needs.

This article reviews how HelloFresh works and how it stacks up against other meal kit delivery services.

Each week, HelloFresh ships you a box of ingredients along with recipes that help you cook your own meals.

These boxes contain all the preportioned ingredients you will need to cook your meal, including sauces, seasonings, and garnishes.

You can choose a meal plan and allow HelloFresh to choose which meals you receive, or you can choose every meal yourself. HelloFresh offers a 20-meal menu to choose from each week.

You can also skip a week at any time.

HelloFresh offers six different meal plan options:

Within each of these categories, there is a little bit more room for customization. You can specify if you need to avoid beef, pork, or seafood.

Additionally, you can choose exactly which meals you would like to receive from the 20 meals available each week.

For example, if you are on the Calorie Smart meal plan but see a Family Friendly dish that you would like to try, you can easily swap out a meal to include that dish in your shipment.

HelloFresh also discloses allergens, including gluten, but does not currently offer dedicated gluten-free or allergen-free menus.

According to its website, HelloFresh focuses on sourcing high quality ingredients. The company includes fresh produce with most recipes, and some of it is organic.

It also sources hormone-free chicken and pork and sustainable, ocean-friendly seafood, according to its website.

Whats more, HelloFresh has a goal of promoting positive experiences in the kitchen. Any adult of any skill level can cook the recipes it provides using relatively simple methods and common kitchen items.

HelloFresh features appealing and interesting flavors across a variety of regional cuisines. Some examples of the recipes on its weekly menu include:

With the exception of vegetarian, pescatarian, and reduced calorie diets, HelloFresh does not cater to specialized diets.

It offers a variety of meals that may align with your personal dietary needs, but it leaves it up to you to decide whether each meal is a fit.

However, HelloFresh may not be ideal if you are strictly following a vegan, paleo, or keto diet. That is because many of its available options will not meet the requirements of these diets.

Additionally, if you are gluten-free or following an allergen-free diet, you may prefer a meal kit delivery service that caters specifically to these dietary needs.

While weight loss is no guarantee when using HelloFresh, one of the meal plans it offers is the Calorie Smart option.

Each of these meals clocks in around 650 calories per serving, and according to the HelloFresh website, they are dietitian-approved.

If you are eating at a calorie deficit, then you are likely to lose weight.

The calorie-controlled meals on HelloFreshs Calorie Smart plan may help you achieve this goal. However, weight loss is not a guarantee, even if you are receiving Calorie Smart meals (1).

HelloFresh costs about $811 per person, per meal. You can get the lowest price per serving by ordering the largest plan size: five recipes per week for four people.

Shipping is a standard $7.99 per box.

However, HelloFresh regularly offers new users free shipping and a discount on their first shipment or several shipments.

HelloFreshs most popular plan size is three recipes per week for two people. This works out to $8.99 per serving or about $55 per week, plus the cost of shipping.

This table compares and contrasts HelloFresh with some other popular meal kit delivery services.

Note that this table only includes meal kit delivery services, not services that deliver preprepared meals.

Several potential competitors will ship completely cooked and assembled meals to your door, including BistroMD, Fresh n Lean, and Freshly.

HelloFresh is a moderately priced meal kit that offers appealing meals with a focus on fresh ingredients, simple cooking methods, and bold flavors.

It is a solid option if you value the convenience of a meal kit and enjoy cooking but are still on a budget.

HelloFresh is more affordable than its competitors Sun Basket and Green Chef, but offers a more limited selection of meal plans that may not work for those with stricter dietary needs or preferences.

However, HelloFresh could be ideal for your household if you are not following a specialized diet and want more easy and flavorful meal options.

Get started with HelloFresh here.

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HelloFresh Review: Pros, Cons, and How It Works - Healthline

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Adelson, who said he was looking at an open grave due to obesity, said he has lost over 70 pounds in the past year, reducing his risk of serious illness if he contracts the novel coronavirus.

Being overweight is one of the complicating conditions for death with COVID-19 but obesitys even worse, said Robert Adelson, 68, an attorney who is the principal at Boston-based law firm Adelson & Associates. Im overweight, but Im not obese.

In the age of remote work and school, it can be easy for some adults and children to fall out of a daily routine, which can lead to meal skipping and mindless snacking, said Kylie Sakaida, a clinical dietitian at Massachusetts General Hospital. The pandemic has provided some people extra time to focus on their diet, she said, but for others, eating habits have been put on the back burner.

At the same time, Sakaida said, Covid-19 has provided an evidence-based incentive to lose weight.

Weve seen that obesity and related medical conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, are all risk factors for severe disease and death from the coronavirus, she said.

Sakaida said stress and boredom eating has skyrocketed amid the pandemic.

Prolonged periods at home, fewer social interactions, and continuous coverage of COVID-19 in the media might spark stress, she said, and lead to a greater dependence on comfort food.

Fewer and quicker trips to the grocery store also might lead to people to eat fewer fresh foods and more processed foods, Sakaida said.

To practice healthy eating habits during the pandemic, Sakaida recommends planning meals and snacks throughout the day. Setting phone reminders for mealtimes can also reduce mindlessly snacking. Because eating and working simultaneously might lead to overeating, she said it is vital to take a break from work and be present during mealtime. Keeping a clear, transparent water bottle close to the workspace can be a visual cue to drink more water and stay hydrated.

There are multiple factors that have contributed to peoples eating habits, Sakaida said. It would all be interesting to look back to see how this has affected people.

Adelson has been commuting to his office in Boston during the coronavirus pandemic, but the amount of work decreased in April, which he said made it difficult for him to resist snacking. Once work picked up, it was easier to not mindlessly eat.

When asked if he has advice for people who are working remotely with unlimited access to the kitchen, he said it is mind over matter.

If you adopt a set of attitudes, you can conquer the proximity to the fridge, he said.

Weighing 248 pounds and standing 5 feet 5 inches tall in October 2019, Adelson changed his eating habits after he was scheduled to have gastric bypass surgery. He had tried dieting before, he said, but typically ended up gaining more weight. It was not until he created a self-directed program, Robs Eat What You Love Diet Program, that he saw results and lost 76 pounds in eight months.

I really felt in September 2019 that Id be dead within five years, he said. At that point, I said, you know, do you want to just eat yourself to death?

Adelson said he suffered from sleep apnea and leg pain and predicted he would be confined to a wheelchair and his bed within a few years if something did not change.

Adelson eliminated eating after 7 p.m. and limited himself to three meals a day, among other techniques, losing the weight without medication, surgery, or exercise. In June, he started riding his bike two to three times per week, which he said has helped maintain his weight loss.

To eat less, Adelson said he prioritizes tasting over eating foods, a practice he describes as cutting his food into small pieces, pacing himself during meals, and savoring the flavor. Adelson also limits his consumption of bread and replaces snacks with spearmint chewing gum, according to an article he self-published in August.

Bunny Gorfinkle, a Florida resident and Adelsons aunt, said she and her family were concerned about Adelsons health for years and thinks Adelson seeing his overweight father at the end of his life forced him to adopt different eating habits.

Robert had determination, Gorfinkle said. He had a reason to think, I dont want to look like my dad and be in a wheelchair.

Julia Kahn, Adelsons wife, said it is important to model healthy eating habits to support loved ones who are trying to lose weight.

I like to relax when I eat, Kahn said. Hes learned to chew his food and taste his food rather than quickly shove it in his mouth.

Every day feels wonderful for Adelson, he said, because he feels like he has added decades to his life. He said he loves the renewed sense of energy, his appearance, and fitting into clothes he hasnt worn for 30 years. Adelson said he occasionally has bad days where he overeats but treats each day separately, allowing himself to bounce back. The thought of dying early due to obesity, he said, no longer crosses his mind.

Kami Rieck can be reached at newtonreport@globe.com.

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What stress eating? Dieting despite the pandemic, this Newton man has lost 70 pounds - The Boston Globe

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If you're hoping to lose weight and you've tried every fad diet in the book with no success, you may be wondering if hypnotherapy holds the key. But does it involve swinging a pocket watch in front of your face and clucking like a chicken? According to the experts hypnotherapy isnt a weight loss panacea, but if carried out correctly, it can be a useful tool to cultivate healthier eating habits.

We spoke to Dr Caroline Houlihan-Burne, clinical hypnotherapist at London Digestive Health; Uxshely Carcamo, psychotherapist and nutritionist at The Food Therapy Clinic; and hypnotherapist Simon Egerton, to separate hypnotherapy fact from fiction:

Hypnotherapy is precisely what it sounds like: therapy undertaken in a state of hypnosis. Most people assume hypnosis is a state of unconsciousness, but that couldnt be further from the truth. It merely refers to the trace-like state we all experience from time to time for example, when you zone out on a bus, get lost in a really good book, or become so absorbed by a task (say, painting) that you lose track of time. Its best described as a state of deep focus and relaxation.

The only difference between hypnosis and an everyday trace-like state? In hypnosis, you deliberately access this state in a similar way you might when following a guided meditation for therapeutic purposes such as stress relief, healing from trauma, or in the cause of hypnotherapy for weight loss, unlearning unhealthy behaviours.

Unlike stage hypnosis, hypnotherapy works with the individual as a powerful imaginative guide to behavioural change.

Unlike stage hypnosis which appears to manipulate hypnotherapy works with the individual as a powerful imaginative guide to behavioural change, says Egerton. It is, essentially, a deep relaxation that enables the unconscious to take on board agreed positive thought patterns.

In a typical session, the therapist will ascertain the clients outcomes and agree together strategies, ideas and motivations to achieve these, he continues. This is what will be reinforced within the session. There is no controlling element and the subject remains aware throughout. So it is particularly well suited to sessions online.

Hypnotherapy can be a very effective tool for weight loss, says Carcamo, but success depends on a range of factors. Firstly, its important that the messaging used within the hypnotherapy is appropriate and suitable for the client, she says. For example, many hypnotherapists will just convey in the hypnotherapy that the client should try to "eat less and exercise more", without addressing the underlying causes for the clients overeating.

Each individual is different, so theres no one-size-fits-all approach to hypnotherapy for weight loss. Different people have varying issues with eating, which may be related to types of food eaten for example, sweets, chocolate, cheese, crisps etcetera or behaviour such as snacking, portion size, or comfort eating,' says Dr Houlihan-Burne. Its really important to address the particular issues for an individual because the more personalised the hypnosis is, the greater the effect.

Additionally, using hypnotherapy in conjunction with other tools and disciplines including psychotherapy, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), and nutrition advice tends to be much more effective than just using hypnotherapy in isolation, says Carcamo. Consistency is also key. Research suggests that hypnotherapy and other relaxation techniques are much more effective for weight loss when they are used regularly, she adds. Consistency is an important factor in its effectiveness and in building new habits and thinking patterns.

In a meta-analysis published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, people who engaged in a combination of CBT and hypnosis lost significantly more weight than those who solely utilised CBT more than 9kg on average, while the latter lost around half than amount. They also maintained their weight loss over the course of an 18-month follow-up period, while the sole CBT group tended to regain some weight.

Hypnotherapy helps to break down eating habits that have become deeply ingrained in the unconscious mind, says Dr Houlihan-Burne. It works by tapping into your subconscious thoughts and behaviours. Habits are not fixed, and if there is a true desire to change, suggestions made in a relaxed hypnotic state can help to establish new healthier ways of eating, she says.

During your first session, the therapist should explain how hypnotherapy works, address any queries and allay any concerns, Dr Houlihan-Burne continues. I would then take some time discussing the individuals eating behaviour, lifestyle, and what they would like to achieve, before agreeing on realistic goals, she explains.

Suggestions made in a relaxed hypnotic state can help to establish new healthier ways of eating.

Then, theyll invite you to find a comfortable position and close your eyes. Your therapist will speak in a soothing tone, using specific language to put you at ease. Once her clients are in a relaxed state, says Carcamo, she incorporates tailored messaging that might include visualisations and metaphorical stories.

A hypnotherapy session can last anywhere from five minutes to an hour depending on the client and their needs, she says. The process will end with the client being invited to re-open their eyes and return to an alert-state. Youll usually be given a recording of the session to listen back to at home, which should help with reinforcement.

For many people, taking time out to have a professional assess their eating behaviour in terms of diet, activity levels, stress and general lifestyle helps unearth the root causes behind their unhealthy habits, says Dr Houlihan-Burne. Making small initial changes increases a sense of taking control, improving motivation and confidence to continue making lifelong changes to lifestyle and eating habits, she says.

When used appropriately and with the right messaging, hypnotherapy can help people manage stress, anxiety and low mood more effectively, says Carcamo, which are often factors that drive individuals to overeat.

As well as helping to build new habits and patterns of behaviour around food, hypnotherapy can also be a catalyst to boost confidence and self-esteem. Often when a client feels bad about themselves and their body, they turn to food to cope with how they are feeling, she says.

There are no negative side-effects involved in hypnotherapy for weight loss. Providing, that is, you listen back to the recordings at an appropriate moment. Plugging into your session while you operate a forklift truck is a no-no. Hypnotherapy is something that someone should only do when they are in a safe space where they feel comfortable, says Carcamo. For example, individuals should not listen to hypnotherapy recordings while driving or engaging in other activities, as they will not be as focused on what they are doing.

You should also choose your hypnotherapist wisely. I would advise seeing a hypnotherapist who is also a nutritionist when dealing with weight loss, says Carcamo. Inappropriate or uninformed messaging could encourage eating disorders and eventually lead to binge eating causing more harm than good. Its important to work with someone that has a sound grounding in nutrition and ideally, eating psychology too, she says.

The only other "risk" if you could call it that occurs when an individual is looking for a "magic wand" effect where they can continue eating what they like but still lose weight, says Dr Houlihan-Burne. In a state of hypnosis, the unconscious mind will only take on board suggestions made that are agreeable to the individual. If someone doesnt want to change their eating behaviour, their mind rejects the suggestions, and they continue behaving as they were before. Hypnotherapy requires a level of commitment to work.

Hypnotherapy varies from person to person. Some people are more susceptible to hypnosis than others, and therefore more likely to see benefits quickly. People who possess personality traits such as selflessness and openness tend to be the most responsive, according to a study by Zhejiang University College of Medicine. Ironically, then, those who are cynical about its efficacy are less likely to benefit.

People automatically find it easier to think, feel and behave towards food and eating in a way that is more acceptable to them.

After the session, people automatically find it easier to think, feel and behave towards food and eating in a way that is more acceptable to them, says Dr Houlihan-Burne. Depending on the individual, they may find they have less desire to eat unhealthy foods, feel more satisfied after meals, have less desire to snack and automatically veer towards more healthy choices.

Like any form of therapy, the length of time required varies from person to person. Where some people might feel one session is enough to bring about changes, others could benefit from eight, 12, or 14 sessions.

Some people just have one, however more usual is two to three sessions, says Dr Houlihan-Burne. Often, once the initial unwanted habits resolve, other unhelpful ones may become more prominent and need addressing.

Hypnotherapy is no magic bullet but when applied with care, it can help you forge a healthier relationship with food.

Hypnotherapy is often used as a support for weight loss, both for staying the course and, crucially, helping to keep at bay the "inner saboteur" that so often lurks within us, says Egerton. It can be invaluable in promoting new and positive thought patterns; greater self worth, improved self image and an orientation towards self-care and emotional wellbeing.

Last updated: 12-11-20

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Hypnotherapy weight loss: does it work? - Netdoctor

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As any regular caf goer could attest, the popularity of gluten-free diets has been skyrocketing for many years. Research conducted in 22 countries around the world found that in 2018, 24% of respondents regularly avoided gluten. Asking that same question 20 years earlier would have netted a very different response.

This global trend has been linked to the controversial diagnosis of Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity (NCCS), a condition in which sufferers experience digestive problems in response to gluten consumption. As you might expect, the link between gluten and digestive problems remains contested. Understanding how gluten affects the gut is a crucial part of assessing whether this dietary movement is merely a fad or based in solid science.

There are a wide range of symptoms that are attributed to NCCS, ranging from eczema to joint pain through to depression; however, one of the more common sets of symptoms resemble those of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In a report recently published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, a team of Australian researchers put the relationship between gluten and IBS under the spotlight.

The team ran an experiment with around 40 participants who self-reported as experiencing IBS-like symptoms as a result of NCCS. Before beginning the controlled diets they had their blood taken and were then moved onto a zero gluten, low FODMAP (another type of nutrient that has been implicated in IBS) diet.

FODMAP stands for fermentable oligo-, di-,mono-saccharides and polyols. They are short chain carbohydrates that are found in a wide range of foods, from fruits to grains and legumes. This group of nutrients is known to be poorly digested, however once again, their role in IBS is contested.

The participants diets were altered systematically. For a week at a time, the participants ate either a low gluten, no gluten, or high gluten diet. The participants were unaware of which diet they were on at any given time. Each participant tried each of the diets in a randomized order, and in between diets they reverted back to the no gluten, low FODMAP diet. At the end of each new diet, the patients had their blood tested for signs of digestive problems.

In order to test whether gluten does cause digestive problems, the first step is to agree on a way of measuring them. Commonly, this is done through assessing the symptoms that a patient presents with, but this approach can lead to a lack of precision when assessing the impact of different diets.

Another way to assess how gluten affects the gut is through inflammation, which can be measured with biological markers in the bloodstream. There are a range of candidates for this type of assessment. In order to make sense of the results of the Australian teams study, it is worth looking at what the biomarkers actually do. This involves a little bit of a deep dive into biochemistry, but bear with me.

The first biomarker is called I-FAPB-2, which is a protein that is expressed exclusively in the intestines. When the intestines are functioning normally, this protein transfers fatty acids across the cell membranes. If the cells that do this work get damaged and broken down, then these proteins can be found in the blood.

The second is called syndecan-1, which is another transmembrane protein, but it is expressed in many different cell types and tissues. It plays a role in cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell matrix interactions. In the context of the digestive system, these cell-matrix interactions are thought to be its key role. It is thought to help keep the layer of cells at the very edge of the intestines together. Like in the case of I-FAPB-2, when this layer is damaged, these proteins can be found in the blood.

The last two can be grouped together: LPS and sCD14. LPS is found in high concentrations in bacterial cell walls, and sCD14 is a human immune receptor designed for recognizing LPS. The theory here is that if the bacterial population in the gut is out of equilibrium or the intestines are damaged, then bacteria can be transported out of the gut into the blood stream. If this occurs, then the concentrations of both LPS and sCD14 will increase.

The key take-home message from this study is stunning in its simplicity. Gluten intake made absolutely no difference to the levels of any of the biomarkers. Whether a person was on the high gluten, low gluten, or no gluten diet, it had no impact on these markers of intestinal damage.

All of this would seem to act as a strong argument against the suggestion that gluten causes digestive problems. Of course, arguments could be made about whether these biomarkers are an appropriate proxy for measuring these issues. However, it is known that elevated levels of these biomarkers are present in other digestive diseases, like Crones disease. At the very least, these results show that gluten is unlikely to directly damage the intestines of healthy individuals.

There was only one biomarker that showed a significant increase as a result of any diet. When blood was taken at the end of the gluten free/low FODMAP diet, syndecan-1 levels were significantly lower than when patients were eating normally. Given that subsequent changes to gluten levels did not change syndecan levels, this suggests that lowering FODMAP intake lowers the amount of syndecan in the bloodstream.

A 2018 review of the studies into the link between FODMAPs and IBS found that there was insufficient evidence to recommend a FODMAP diet to IBS sufferers. This study examined nine earlier experiments that looked at the effect of altering FODMAP intake on the symptoms of IBS.

This same review found a large degree of variation between the different experiments, and commented that the three most rigorous studies showed the least variability in their results, but also the least improvement in symptoms.

This most recent data on the effect of FODMAPs on inflammation of the intestines certainly adds some weight to suggestions that these nutrients play a role in IBS. However, these results must be read in the context of earlier studies, and more work remains to be done.

Dietary science is inevitably a controversial field. The human digestive system is impossibly complex, poorly understood, and a great deal of money can be made selling particular diets as cure-alls to digestive ailments.

While the work reported in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research shows fairly conclusively shows that gluten does not cause damage to the intestines, the volunteers who participated in the study had digestive problems that they presumably thought were alleviated by removing gluten from their diets. Whether this effect is purely down to a placebo effect or there is some physiological process at play has not yet been resolved.

Understanding how gluten affects the gut is, however, a question that can be resolved and work like this, that looks systematically at the effects of nutrients like gluten and FODMAPs, is the only way that the questions in this space will ever be answered.

Reference: M Ajamian et. al. Effect of Gluten Ingestion and FODMAP Restriction on Intestinal Epithelial Integrity in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Self-Reported Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity, 2020, Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201901275

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Changing gluten intake found to have no impact on gut inflammation in healthy individuals - Advanced Science News

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Yale researchers have linked the AgRP neurons in the hypothalamus with over-exercising compulsions in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Beatriz Horta 12:44 am, Nov 12, 2020

Staff Reporter

YaleNews

Yale scientists have found specific neurons in the brain can regulate the symptom of over-exercising in patients with anorexia nervosa.

School of Medicine research affiliate Maria Consolata Miletta, the first author of the study, said the researchers used a method called the activity-based anorexia model, in which mice on a low-calorie diet who have a running wheel in their cages will over-exercise. The scientists found that specific agouti-related peptide, or AgRP, neurons located in the hypothalamus will show greater activation and stimulate the reward systems in the brain when mice are over-exercising while fasting.

According to Tamas Horvath,the chair of the comparative medicine department, who was also an author in the study, this implied that these neurons cause people to undergo vigorous exercise in nutrient deficient conditions one of the main symptoms of anorexia nervosa.

The animals in which we activated these neurons, they were running better and had better stamina, Horvath said. They would actually run much better than control animals where we didnt do anything.

Horvath said that the AgRP neurons have been a research interest of his since he became a postdoctoral associate at Yale in 1990. He explained that many behaviors are altered when our bodies display hunger, which is due to the hormonal and neurological effects of a lack of energy. Located deep in the brain in the hypothalamus these neurons have been shown to be affected by the hormone ghrelin, which is released when a person is hungry.

In a previous study, Horvath and his colleagues found that AgRP neurons mediated the feeling of reward in compulsive behaviors from fasting mice. This finding led them to hypothesize that these neurons could also be activated in disorders with compulsive behaviors, including anorexia.

The paper is arguing that these neurons are fundamentally important to properly allocate available fuels that you are having in your body, stored at the time of low nutrient availability, Horvath said. Through that, theyre capable of supporting functions such as exercise.

According to Miletta, anorexia nervosa is the psychiatric disorder with the highest mortality rate, so a study like this could be imperative in changing the way scientists think about the disease and therapeutic approaches and potentially save lives. Current treatment involves the administering of antidepressants to control harmful behaviors such as over-exercising.

Horvath stated that their findings could change the way the field thinks about an anorexic patients ability to control their self-image and compulsive behaviors. Neurons located in deeper brain areas, such as the hypothalamus, are not necessarily under conscious control and may not be affected by treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

If you have a mindset of if I undergo behavior therapy, if I conceptualize and think about things, I am going to be able to be in charge, that may or may not work because these neurons are deep inside and you are not capable of controlling them, Horvath said.

Miletta also described the other finding of the study when food-restricted mice were later given a high-fat non-restricted diet, they had lower death rates compared to mice who later received a regular non-restricted diet. This indicates another potential treatment change for anorexic people, where those in recovery are given high fat diets in the refeeding phase the stage in anorexia treatment where doctors have patients start to slowly eat again. The researchers have speculated that this might improve their overall outcome and increase their chance of survival.

According to senior research scientist at the Yale School of Medicine Xiao-Bing Gao, one of the studys most important findings is the implication that anorexia, a psychiatric disorder, could have symptoms rooted in an area of the brain commonly associated with basic physiological functions such as body temperature regulation.

It seems reasonable to hypothesize that [anorexia nervosa] patients consciously make changes in ways how they view their images and make decisions on how they deal with the problems by altering their energy metabolism, Gao wrote in an email to the News. However, it is also possible that physiological processes investigated in this study and others may un-consciously or sub-consciously shape their decision-making as well.

Horvath showed some optimism regarding a possible drug to aid in the treatment of anorexia. Since the hypothalamus is located outside of the blood-brain barrier which prevents many chemical compounds from entering the brain scientists may be able to develop a drug that limits the activation of these neurons in patients with anorexia.

He stated that in the past that it has been difficult to convince funding agencies and other researchers that these primitive neurons could have an effect on the symptoms of psychiatric disorders. This was mostly because researchers did not believe that there could be such deeply-rooted causes to psychological behavior which is mostly controlled by the brains cortex.

According to Miletta, the team is working on determining what kinds of fatty diets would be the best option in decreasing anorexia death rates.

We also hope that our work [help fight] the stigma around anorexia which is usually considered a psychiatric disease but which might be considered a metabolic-psychiatric disorder, she wrote.

According to Director of the National Institute of Mental Health Thomas Insel, anorexia nervosa has a mortality rate of around 10 percent.

Beatriz Horta | beatriz.horta@yale.edu

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Yale study finds neurons that regulate over-exercising in anorexia - Yale Daily News

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