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One diet typically doesn't work for all but those who have type 2 diabetes may fare better following one specific diet than othersespecially programs that only target calorie restriction. New research suggests that reducing carbohydrate intake coupled with increased exercise may be the ticket to weight loss for people with this condition.

The 2019 studywhich was conducted by a team of researchers in the Netherlands but just recently presented at the 2020 European and International Obesity Congressaddressed that calorie restriction alone may not be an effective weight-loss method for those who have insulin resistance caused by type 2 diabetes.

Insulin resistance occurs when your pancreas has to make more insulin to help glucose (sugar) enter into cells in your muscles and fat, and it's often associated with prediabetes which can lead to type 2 diabetes if not managed through diet and exercise. Having this condition can prevent weight loss depending on the types of food you eat. As many as 75% of people with obesity may also have insulin resistance. (Related: What Happens to Your Body When You Drink a Smoothie Every Day)

The study compared three types of diets geared toward promoting weight loss in 344 patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The three diets included a calorie-restriction diet, a low-carb diet, and the 66 dieta low-carb program that occurs in three phases. After monitoring participants for a year, researchers found the 66 diet was twice as effective as just calorie-counting alone. On this diet, not only did patients lose more weight, but they also reduced insulin resistance and lowered blood pressure.

So, what does the 66 diet look like exactly? Over the course of three phases, you keep your carb consumption low as well as your overall intake of processed foods. At the same time, you increase the amount of protein and fiber in your diet and incorporate vegetables into every meal. When following the 66 diet, the emphasis isn't around the number of calories you consume, but rather the quality of your calories.

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In phase one, patients limit their carb intake to just 36 grams per day while also increasing their protein intake to 1.2 grams or more per kilogram of body weight. The goal here is to cut alcohol and get protein from fish and plant-based sources such as nuts and beans. Note, this preliminary phase parallels the keto diet except the main objective with this low-carb diet is to increase protein intake. The keto diet on the other hand focuses more on elevating fat consumption.

Things change pretty dramatically in phase two because then you can slowly start introducing more carbs into your diet. By phase three, you can increase your carb intake even more. When patients stop losing weight, that indicates they've reached the carb intake that's best for them to maintain a healthy weight.

"This is a very individual need," said Ellen Grovers, registered dietitian and lead author of the study, in an online presentation. "Everyone has their own carbohydrate need, and this also counts for healthy people."

All patients were also instructed to exercise at least two to three times per week for an hour a day for the duration of this study.

At least 43.2% of patients who followed this special diet lost at least 5% of body weight in one year and 40% stabilized their blood glucose levels. For those who followed a standard low carb diet, 41.7% lost at least 5% of their body weight whereas only 23.3% of participants in the calorie-restricted group lost the same.

What's even more telling is that nearly 23% of participants who followed the 66 diet lost 10% or more from their weight at baseline, compared to just 17.3% and 10%, respectively, in the low-carb and calorie-restricted groups.

So, as you can see not only did patients following the 66 diet lose the most weight, but they also improved their blood glucose levels.

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This Diet May Lead to More Weight Loss Than Cutting Calories, New Study Finds - Yahoo Lifestyle

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WKU announced Friday that two professors will participate in statewide programs that seek to develop innovations in health-related fields including a rapid test for the coronavirus.

Moon-Soo Kim, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, is collaborating with Southeast XLerator Network to develop a rapid test for the coronavirus.

The availability of a simple, rapid and portable device for detecting SARS-CoV-2 will allow for rapidly tracking sources and the spread of COVID-19 virus and the early treatment of infectious diseases, Kim said in a press release. We will combine a recent molecular diagnostic tool and microfluidic technology, aiming for developing a simple and rapid point-of-contact method.

Jason Crandall, associate professor of Exercise Science & Kinesiology and Co-Director of the Center for Applied Science in Health & Aging, is participating in the University of Louisvilles LaunchIt program to educate young entrepreneurs.

Crandall is also involved in Bingocize, a program that combines bingo with exercise in order to keep senior citizens physically and mentally healthy.

Crandall secured a $2,500 grant for the course and plans to expand the program to cater to children with disabilities and corporate training exercises.

Bruce Schulte, Associate Vice President for Strategy, Performance and Accountability and Executive Director of the WKU Research Foundation, said the work that Kim and Crandall are doing is important to the goals of the university.

Both faculty members have been active researchers with external grants facilitated through the Office of Research and Creative Activity, Shulte said in an announcement. Their recent endeavors also include applied research with the potential for commercialization, which is a component of WKU's Innovation campus.

Michael Collins can be reached at michael.collins527@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter @mjcollinsnews.

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WKU professors take part in statewide programs including developing a rapid test for COVID-19 - College Heights Herald

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Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes significant and sudden changes in mood that involve episodes of mania and sometimes depression.

There is no cure for bipolar disorder, so patients must learn to manage their symptoms through a combination of medication and therapy.

As with any mental health condition, treatment for bipolar disorder is best guided by a health professional. And with the right combination of meds and therapy, people with bipolar disorder can learn to control their impulses and lead a fruitful life.

Daily prescription medication is a part of almost every bipolar treatment plan. Medication is typically prescribed alongside therapy, as an initial treatment option.

It can take two to six weeks to see the full effects of any psychiatric drug. About 40% of patients with bipolar do not adhere to their medications, resulting in exacerbated symptoms. Even if you feel your mood is stable, you should never stop taking medication prescribed for bipolar disorder without the supervision of your care provider.

"It's important to work with your prescribing physician, usually a psychiatrist, and maintain consistent communication about any symptoms you might be experiencing," says Myra Altman, MD, Vice President of Clinical Care at mental health wellness platform Modern Health.

The first line of treatment for bipolar disorder often ends up being a mood-stabilizing medication, says Christine Crawford, MD, a psychiatrist and Associate Director of Medical Student Education at Boston Medical Center

In fact, about 50% of people diagnosed with bipolar take a mood-stabilizing medication.

Contrary to popular belief, the goal of mood stabilizers isn't to numb your feelings, but to keep them from swinging too far in either manic or depressive directions. They also help with impulse control.

While researchers are still unsure exactly how mood stabilizers work, it is thought they decrease abnormal brain activity. These drugs stabilize and calm areas of the brain that have become overstimulated and active as well as prevent this state from occurring.

Common mood stabilizers include lithium (Lithobid) and sodium valproate (Depakote).

Some people, especially those with type II bipolar, experience more depressive episodes than manic episodes. Therefore, in addition to mood stabilizers, these individuals may be prescribed an antidepressant or antipsychotic medication. About 34% of bipolar patients are on antidepressants.

A 2018 paper in the International Journal of Bipolar Disorders noted that there is some concern over whether antidepressants can cause people with bipolar disorder to experience rapid cycling, meaning they have four or more manic depressive episodes a year. This is why doctors prescribe antidepressants in addition to other medication and not as a primary treatment.

Based on a 2018 review published in the International Journal of Bipolar Research, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) a class of antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) are considered more stabilizing for people with bipolar disorder than tricyclic antidepressants, such as desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor).

For more information, read about how antidepressants work.

Antipsychotics are the second most common form of medication used to treat bipolar disorder after mood stabilizers. Those who experience more intense manic episodes characterized by high energy and impulsive decision-making may be prescribed an antipsychotic medication.

These medications control dopamine activity in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced by your body that allows you to experience pleasure. By controlling dopamine activity, medications can limit the intensity of the risk/reward impulses a manic episode can cause.

Common antipsychotics include:

If you have another mental health condition, such as generalized anxiety disorder, in addition to bipolar disorder, you may also be prescribed an anti-anxiety medication.

A 2015 medical review published in Lancet Psychiatry assessed the data of 40 separate studies. It found that 45% of people with bipolar disorder will also experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lifetime.

Anti-anxiety medication in the benzodiazepines family such as clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), and diazepam (Valium) may be prescribed to work with a mood stabilizer, like lithium, to control anxiety if you have bipolar.

Side effects of medication will not only vary across individuals but also depend on which combination of drugs you are taking, Altman says. Potential side effects might include:

More serious issues, such as kidney damage, can be longer-term side effects of these medications.

"Your doctor will be able to help adjust or alter your treatment if you are pregnant, nursing, or face a change in your medical condition that might impact your medication plan," Altman says.

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, refers to treatment techniques that involve speaking to a mental health professional in order to better understand one's feelings, symptoms, and how to address them.

"Therapy is a very important part of all psychiatric patients," says Crawford. "If you have manic episodes that have resulted in significant consequences in your life, therapy can help you work through that."

Common forms of psychotherapy used to treat bipolar disorder include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that focuses on awareness and cognition, says Crawford. CBT is effective for people who have bipolar disorder because it encourages them to understand how their thought patterns relate to feelings, emotions, and then translate into actions.

For example, CBT can help someone identify symptoms of a depressive episode, like feeling worthless. While normally that feeling may cause someone to stay in bed and thus, reaffirm the belief they're worthless CBT encourages a patient to choose an alternative coping mechanism to respond to that emotion like journaling.

A 2017 data analysis published in PLoS One compiled results from 19 randomized controlled trials and compared participants with bipolar who received CBT treatment in addition to medication with participants in control groups who did not receive CBT but still received medication. The analysis concluded that CBT was moderately more effective than medication alone in improving depressive symptoms, mania severity, and lowering the relapse rate.

Family-focused therapy (FFT) allows people with bipolar to incorporate family members or significant others into the treatment process. This helps loved ones become more knowledgeable about symptoms, side effects, and ways they can help.

Crawford believes family-focused therapy to be incredibly important. "Think about it like a three-legged stool. For some people, the three legs would be social support [like family], medication, and therapy. If you don't have all three legs in place and they aren't [each] structurally strong, things aren't going to be that great for the patient."

Plus, Crawford says, "Having social support just makes a person feel more connected and less isolated. We know that people who have more social support tend to have better outcomes."

For example, a 2019 review published in Focus found that people with bipolar disorder who underwent family-based therapy in addition to individualized treatment experienced fewer relapses or losing control of symptoms required fewer hospitalizations, and experienced fewer symptoms of depression than people who received individualized therapy alone.

Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) is designed to help people improve their moods by understanding and working with biological rhythms like their sleeping patterns. It helps patients develop techniques to consistently take medications and manage symptoms during stressful life events. It also reduces disruptions in sleep and appetite patterns that may trigger symptoms by encouraging a patient to sleep more or eat better.

A 2007 medical review published in Dialogues of Clinical Neuroscience analyzed the results of two studies involving a total of 468 patients with bipolar disorder. It found that in both studies, IPSRT, alongside medication, reduced the number of episodes over two years.

For those who find medication and therapy are not alleviating their symptoms, other treatment options are available. These include:

"Whenever there is a concern about keeping a person safe or concern that they may cause other people harm, that can be considered a cause for hospitalization," Crawford says.

If someone with bipolar is experiencing an episode of intense mania or depression, this can impair their judgment and put them at risk of harming themselves or others. For example, mania can cause thoughts of self-harm and result in high-risk behaviors, such as spending a lot of money, taking recreational drugs, and having unprotected sex. That's when they should consider submitting themselves to a hospital.

Hospitalization removes people with bipolar from an environment where they place themselves at risk. Hospitalization can also provide opportunities for meeting with a therapist and receiving a thorough mental health assessment by a team of professionals.

If a person is hospitalized for bipolar, they will stay until their symptoms stabilize. This could take anywhere from a few days to a week or two according to Crawford.

Day treatment programs are for people with bipolar disorder who don't need to be hospitalized but still require acute care.

These programs, which take place at dedicated mental health rehabilitation or hospital facilities, provide a full day of therapy and medical treatment. Day programs sometimes integrate group therapy or holistic wellness treatments.

The length of day treatment programs varies depending on the patient and their symptoms.

No lifestyle change can act as a substitute for treatment from a medical professional. However, some research indicates certain lifestyle choices can improve bipolar disorder outcomes.

Avoid smoking and using controlled substances as they may make symptoms of bipolar disorder worse. A disrupted sleep cycle can also trigger bipolar episodes.

A 2016 paper published in Translational Psychology studied a group of 50 teenagers who worked out for 20 minutes on a stationary bike. After the exercise, the participants underwent an MRI. Results found that in the 30 teenagers who had bipolar disorder, the brain centers that control attention and impulse control both improved, at least temporarily. This indicates exercise may temporarily relieve symptoms of bipolar.

Data on how exercise impacts bipolar is conflicting because it appears that people with bipolar disorder may be more likely to live a sedentary lifestyle, and therefore, would benefit from more exercise whether or not they have bipolar.

Nutrition also plays a role in bipolar symptoms. A 2012 study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found strong evidence that omega 3 nutritional supplements can help treat depressive symptoms of bipolar though not symptoms of mania.

There is some clinical evidence that alongside medication and therapy, a healthy diet with healthy fats, vitamin D, folic acid, and zinc may enhance feelings of control in those with bipolar.

While bipolar disorder is a lifetime condition, that doesn't mean that those affected can't live a fulfilling life. Proper treatment can help one enhance their quality of life and manage their symptoms. Most treatments for bipolar disorder include some combination of medication and therapy, but It's important to speak with a doctor to find the right treatment plan for you and your goals.

As Altman says, "Just because you have been diagnosed with bipolar, does not mean you need to be defined by your condition."

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How to treat bipolar disorder with medications and therapy to get the help you need - Insider - INSIDER

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The short- and long-term impacts of the space environment on the human body is still a great unknown, and one that a number of research groups are trying to get to the bottom of. The results of an interesting experiment in which muscled-up mice were sent into space has shed some new light on the matter, revealing that these brawny rodents could retain their muscle mass in low-gravity when engineered to lack a certain protein.

While there is a lot we dont know about human physiology and space, we do know that weightlessness can cause bones to lose calcium and muscles to lose mass as they atrophy. Weve seen a few inventive approaches to counteract this process and ensure the health of astronauts, including skin-tight body suits and human centrifuges, but the authors of the new study have instead sought answers by diving into genetics.

The team was led by Professor Se-Jin Lee at The Jackson Laboratory, who more than two decades ago discovered a protein called myostatin that limits muscle growth in mice and which could be turned off to allow for considerable muscle gains. As it turns out, this protein plays the same role in a number of species including humans, spawning a number of research projects geared towards developing a form of exercise pill to tackle obesity and other health problems.

Last December, Lee and his team launched 40 mice into space for a 33-day stint living aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This included a group of regular mice, a group of so-called "Mighty Mice" engineered to be missing the myostatin gene, and another group that were given a compound called ACVR2B/Fc that inhibits not just myostatin, but a protein that complements it called activin A.

These were compared to similar groups of mice kept on Earth in conditions replicating those on the ISS, but without microgravity. Unsurprisingly, the regular mice lost considerable mass during their stay on the ISS, between eight and 18 percent of weight in individual muscles and 11 percent of their bone density, compared to the regular mice on Earth.

Meanwhile, the group engineered to lack myostatin maintained their muscle mass and the group receiving the ACVR2B/Fc compound actually gained muscle mass and exhibited an increase in lean body weight of 27 percent, compared to the same group on the ground which gained 18 percent lean body weight. Both of these groups of mice also showed an increase in bone mineral density.

Using molecular analysis, the researchers also delved into the differences between these groups of mice, revealing large differences in protein levels, expression of dozens of genes and signaling pathways linked to muscle and bone maintenance.

The team hopes improving our understanding of muscle mass and bone density in this way, along with the different factors that influence them, can guide the development of specialized exercise programs for astronauts traveling into deep space. Additionally, this kind of research could lead to new therapies for people with limited mobility on Earth who suffer from ailments like muscle atrophy and bone fragility.

The research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Source: The Jackson Laboratory

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Engineered "Mighty Mice" sent to space retain their mass in low gravity - New Atlas

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Bishop Edwards (CFA23) moving within his 14-foot square during instructor Liz Ronckas improv dance class at FitRec September 3. The yellow tape grid is there to ensure physical distancing.

Campus & FacilitiesNo locker rooms available, no pickup games, and masks on are among many changes

For starters, forget about locker rooms. Show up in your gym clothes. Masks are required and physical distancing strictly enforced. And dont expect to find a pickup game when and if the B-ball courts reopen to informal recreationyoull be shooting baskets by yourself.

Preparing a giant facility like the Fitness & Recreation Center to reopen during a pandemic requires lots of careful planningand some hard decisions.

We are asking people to come dressed and ready for their activity, use the facility for the allotted time, and exit immediately after, says Tim Moore, executive director of FitRec, which normally serves more than 6,000 people a day at this time of year. If youre going through the building to get to a PE class, we have a traffic pattern set up. Youll go in and out of certain doors. You cant come early and hang out.

Students with physical education and academic classes in the building returned September 2, and for the moment theyre the only ones allowed inside. FitRec staff will be assessing the numerous precautions theyve put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. That will help them prepare for the return of students for club sports and informal fitness and recreation later this month. And only sometime after that will faculty and staff be allowed back in, during limited hours.

Capacity is limited to 40 percent of normal. There are occupancy limits for every space. And youll need to reserve your time, even for an informal workout. There will be limits of 90 minutes for swimming and general recreation, to allow staff time for scheduled 30-minute cleaning periods. Overall hours will also be shortened.

Everything that we do will be different, Moore says, as it is with I suppose every other program, every residence hall, dining hall, whatever. It will be a different experience.

To enter FitRec you are going to need to swipe in with your BU ID and show a green badge from the Healthway portal, as well as wear a face covering. Youll use a hand sanitizer station as soon as you entermore than 50 have been set up. And you need to keep your mask on throughout your workout no matter what youre doingwith the lone exception of swimming.

If youre not registered for a class scheduled in FitRec, you will not be permitted in. And if you are registered, youre going to get in only for that class, and once the previous class has left. Swiping IDs on entrance will also facilitate contact tracing, in case there has been a COVID exposure.

FitRec is asking people in PE classes to bring two masks, so they can put a fresh one on when they leave.

Classes will be de-densified, and physical distancing, disinfection, and personal hygiene protocols will be strictly enforced. In classroom situations theyre requiring six feet between desks, but in classes with physical activity, they have taped out 14-foot-by-14-foot boxes on the floor. Every protocol will meet, or more often, exceed state standards for fitness clubs. Some gymnasium courts will be taken over with fitness machines to allow that physical distancing.

We are asking people to come dressed and ready for their activity, use the facility for the allotted time, and exit after.

We operate in a high-touch environment in Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance [PERD], so we are going to try to limit the amount of touch points, Moore says. We are going to have to sanitize or disinfect any touch points that are used, on equipment, floors, mats, machines, dumbbells, you name it. And we are going to depend on the user to be a part of that cleaning community. Every time you touch something, you need to clean it off, before and after.

Numerous signs and other visual aids, such as arrows on the floor, throughout FitRec will help users figure out how to navigate the new normal. Additional staff will be on the front lines cleaning, giving directions, making sure everyone is wearing their masks.

Bring a full bottle of water. The drinking fountains will be shut off, although bottle-filling stations will be available. Avoid bringing personal items as much as possible, since the locker rooms are not in use. The water to the showers has been shut off, and there is no towel service. The day lockers outside the locker rooms may become available later in the semester.

Toilets and sinks will be available for those who need them, but everyone is urged to use the facilities at home before coming to FitRec, again to encourage physical distancing and fewer surface touching.

The 34 club sports teams will likely have only no-contact practices, at best, because of course there will be no games with other schools. Travel and competition are off the table for the foreseeable pre-vaccine future. And some teams, such as the golf and equestrian teams, will not even practice because its necessary to travel to a golf course or a stable. And club sports participants will need that green badge on their Healthway app to participate.

Intramural sports will all be conducted remotely, using e-sports. Registration is underway here.

Cash payments have been eliminated to reduce risk of viral transmission. Payment can be made online by credit card.

Adult instruction in the areas of Aquatics, Dance, Outdoor Programs, Fitness, Mind/Body, and Sports will be unavailable until further notice, as will the BU FitWell Center at the Blackstone Community Center on West Brookline Street in Boston. In-person group exercise, in-person personal training, and all in-person private lessons are discontinued until further notice. Personal training is done online only.

Even later this fall, when its hoped that faculty and staff will be allowed to return, no alumni or community members will be permitted to use FitRec.

Some programs and facilities are simply shuttered until the pandemic passes: there are no performances in the Dance Theater, and the climbing wall and Sailing Pavilion are shut down. Spaces are no longer being rented out for functions, workshops, or local school events.

Until things get back to normal, users are encouraged to visit the FitRec website for updates and to follow the How to Keep Moving series to maintain their exercise regimens.

We hope down the road, if everything progresses in a positive way, we are going to be able to go back and look at how we can serve the community more thoroughly, Moore says. But its going to take time. We ask people for their patience. Wed like to have all of our members back right now, but we need to do it as safely as possible.

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Like Everything Else, FitRec Will Be Different This Fall - BU Today

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There's new evidence that the high-fat, low carb keto diet might have benefits for reproductive health.

In new case reports, two men with obesity who lost weight on a very low calorie keto diet saw significant improvements in both sperm count and quality, according to research from the Universidade de SoPaulo, Brazil, presented at the 2020 European and International Obesity Congress,

In the first case, the patient lost nearly 60 pounds in the three-month dieting period, dropping his body fat percentage from 42% to 34%. Subsequently, his sperm quality improved by nearly 100%, based on the percentage of motile sperm in a test sample. His testosterone levels also more than doubled.

The second case report was of a patient who lost less weight, 20 pounds in three months, dropping from 26% to 21% body fat. His sperm quality also improved, but he saw even more significant benefits to sperm count, with over 100 million more sperm tested in the final sample, an increase of nearly 30%. Interestingly, his testosterone levels decreased slightly.

These results were based on the dieting plan called Pronokal, a highly-studied commercial weight loss method launched in Spain in 2004, which differs from traditional keto in that it's both low-carb (fewer than 50 grams a day) but also limited to 800 calories a day.

Two patients is hardly a large enough sample size to draw broader conclusions about keto and sperm count. But existing evidence supports the notion that low-carb diets could have benefits for sexual health, as increasing fat consumption appears to support healthy sperm levels.

Previous research has also linked higher levels of dietary fat intake to increased testosterone.

One caveat to these findings is that extremely restrictive diets can have side effects, particularly in the long term, and very low calorie diets in particular should only be done with medical supervision.

It's also not only the keto diet specifically that's linked to better sperm count, quality, and other measures of fertility.There's evidence healthy dietary changes of any sort can boost sexual health.

The Mediterranean diet, for instance, has been linked to improvements in erectile dysfunction. In a 2004 study, a healthy diet and exercise program helped improve erectile dysfunction in obese men.

A 2019 study found eating processed foods was linked to poor sperm count, while eating more fish and veggies was linked to better sperm count, which is also related to sex drive and overall sexual function.

The DASH diet, which limits red meat and full-fat dairy in favor of fruits, veggies and whole grains, is also linked to higher sperm count, according to research.

That suggests that the benefits may be less related to any one dietary pattern, such as keto, and more about improvements to overall health that affect every area of the body.

Read more:

There's now evidence that junk food like pizza and chips could reduce your sperm count, but eating fish and veggies may improve it

A vegan diet can boost erections, according to a new Netflix documentary. Here's the reality.

Going on a low-carb diet could be more effective for weight loss than cutting calories, especially for people with insulin resistance

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Kate Middleton green juice

Another favourite breakfast of Kate Middleton's is porridge.

Porridge has been found to help with slimming.

Numerous studies have shown porridge is one of the best choices to start the day for stable and steady weight loss.

Porridge is full of fibre, which keeps you fuller for longer. One US study found of 22,000 adults, those who ate porridge had lower body weights and smaller waists than those who didnt eat it.

David Wiener, Training Specialist at Al-based fitness and lifestyle coaching app Freeletics told Express.co.uk how consuming turmeric can help aid weight loss.

David says: Turmeric contains a natural anti-inflammatory compound called curcumin, which helps your body to fight foreign bacteria and also helps to repair damage.

While acute inflammation is beneficial for your body and allows for effective fighting bacteria, long term internal inflammation has recently been linked to a number of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and some cancers.

Thus, including turmeric in your diet can help control inflammation for long term health benefits.

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Kate Middleton has certain breakfast everyday to maintain size six figure and flat stomach - Express

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New data presented at the recent European and International Congress on Obesity suggests testosterone therapy may be a helpful treatment for some men suffering from obesity. The research finds long-term testosterone therapy can, in some cases, be as effective as bariatric surgery in morbidly obese subjects.

Low testosterone levels have consistently been detected in severely obese men, and obesity has also been noted as a common symptom of hypogonadism, a clinically diagnosed condition where men cannot produce average levels of testosterone. This complicated bidirectional relationship between obesity and low testosterone has been referred to as a vicious cycle by some researchers.

Farid Saad, from the UAEs Gulf Medical University School of Medicine, has been investigating the relationship between testosterone and obesity for over a decade. His latest research examines 15 years of data from a German registry tracking men with hypogonadism.

Saad and his colleagues looked at data from 471 obese men with hypogonadism, 276 of whom received long-term testosterone therapy, while 195 chose not to undergo hormone treatments, thus serving as a functional control group.

Across a follow-up period of about eight years, the data shows the testosterone group dropping 23 kg (50 lb) in weight, on average. The men in the control group not receiving testosterone therapy showed an average increase in weight of 6 kg (13 lb).

Waist circumference, body mass index, and visceral fat measurements all improved in the testosterone group compared to the control. Even more strikingly, the overall mortality rate of the testosterone group was significantly lower than the control by the end of the follow-up period: 7.6 percent vs 32.3 percent. Plus, over 20 percent of men in the control group developed type 2 diabetes across the study period, whereas no men in the testosterone group developed the metabolic disorder over the same timeframe.

"Long-term testosterone therapy in hypogonadal men resulted in profound and sustained weight loss which may have contributed to reductions in mortality and cardiovascular events, says Saad. Untreated men with hypogonadism gained weight."

Zooming in on those most obese subjects, the researchers found 76 men could be classified in the highest risk class 3 category of obesity. This category is occasionally referred to as morbid obesity, and bariatric surgery is often recommended as an effective treatment.

Of the 76 men in this category, 59 received testosterone therapy, and the remaining 17 served as controls. In this sub-group, the testosterone cohort lost an average of 30 kg (66 lb), while the control group gained an average of 5 kg (11 lb). Saad notes the weight loss and general metabolic improvements seen in this morbidly obese cohort following long-term testosterone therapy resemble benefits seen with bariatric surgery, suggesting this may be a useful alternative treatment option.

"Long-term testosterone therapy in men with hypogonadism and the most severe level of obesity resulted in profound and sustained weight loss in a magnitude comparable to that achieved with metabolic (obesity) surgery, says Saad. Side effects and complications may be in favor of testosterone therapy.

These results of course need broader validation before testosterone therapy can be widely recommended as a treatment for obesity in men. The data gathered in this new research is limited to a very specific cohort of older men with clinically diagnosed hypogonadism.

The new research was recently presented at the European and International Congress on Obesity.

Source: European Association for the Study of Obesity via Eurekalert

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New evidence testosterone therapy is effective obesity treatment in men - New Atlas

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Obesity has emerged as a significant risk factor for poor outcomes in patients infected with COVID-19. Based on how doctors and others in health care have previously treated patients with obesity or overweight conditions, my guess is that many will respond by declaring: Well, its their own fault for being overweight!

In the spirit of recognizing that people who struggle with weight loss include our family and friends, let me propose a different sentiment.

To those who we have shamed for having excess body weight and/or failing diets: You were right, and we are sorry. After giving you undoable tasks, we ridiculed you. When you tried to tell us, we labeled you as weak and crazy. Because we didnt understand what you were experiencing, we looked down on you. We had never felt it ourselves. We did not know. And for that, we apologize.

This is just one version of the apology we owe our fellow human beings whom we told to lose weight using diet and exercise. Then, when it didnt work, we blamed them for our treatment plan failures and smothered their feedback with prejudice and persecution.

As a physician and researcher, I have worked in this space for many years. I have witnessed firsthand the life-altering power of preexisting ideas, judgments and stereotypes. I have seen how unfounded, negative ideas are woven through virtually every interaction that those struggling with weight loss endure when seeking help.

And there are tens of millions of them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies more than 70% of U.S. adults as overweight, and more than 40% as obese. Those numbers continue to climb, and even when some manage to lose weight, they almost always gain it back over time.

To illustrate, imagine that I am your doctor. You have a body rash (which represents the condition of being overweight or obese), and you make an appointment with me to discuss a treatment plan.

During your visit, my office staff uses stigmatizing language and nonverbal signals that make it clear we are annoyed at the idea of dealing with another rash person. We invoke a set of assumptions that dictate the tone of our relationship, including the notions that you are lazy or ignorant or both. You will sense my disgust, which will make you uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, health care providers commonly treat patients who struggle with weight loss by assigning stereotypes, snap judgments and ingrained negative attributes including laziness, noncompliance, weakness and dishonesty.

After this uncomfortable exchange, I will prescribe a treatment program for your rash and explain that its quite straightforward and easy to use. I will point you to several resources with pictures of smiling people with beautiful skin who never had a rash to emphasize how wonderful your outcome will be. Its just a matter of sticking to it, I will say.

Back at home, you are excited to start treatment. However, you quickly realize that putting on the cream is unbearable. It burns; your arms and legs feel like theyre on fire shortly after you apply the treatment. You shower and wash off the cream.

After a few days, you try again. Same result. Your body will not accept the cream without intolerable burning and itching. You return to my office, and we have the following conversation:

You: Doctor, I cannot stick to this plan. My body cannot tolerate the cream.

Me: This is exactly why doctors do not want to deal with rash people. Im giving you the treatment and you wont stick to it. I put the cream on myself every morning without an issue.

You: But you dont have a rash! Putting this cream on when you have a rash is different than putting it on clear skin. I do want to get rid of my rash, but I cannot tolerate this cream.

Me: If you dont want to follow the treatment, thats up to you. But its not the cream that needs changing. It is your attitude toward sticking with it.

This exchange illustrates prejudical behavior, bias and a disconnect between a providers perceptions and a patients experience.

For someone who wants to lose weight, the experience of a diet and exercise prescription is not the same as for a lean person on the same program. Perceiving another persons experience as the same as ones own when circumstances are different fuels prejudice and bias.

That night, though, you cant help but wonder: Is something wrong with me? Maybe my genes or thyroid or something? The cream seems so fun and easy for everyone else.

At this point, the blame unconscionably lands on the patient. Despite an undeniable explosion of this rash, and abysmal treatment adherence rates while we have been touting the cream, we stubbornly maintain it works. If the rash is expanding, and hundreds of millions of people are failing treatment or relapsing every day, well its their own fault!

As time goes on, you feel increasingly discouraged and depressed because of this untenable situation. Frustration wears on your sense of optimism and chips away at your happy moments. You have this rash and you cant tolerate the treatment plan, but no one believes you. They judge you, and say you choose not to use the cream because you lack willpower and resolve. You overhear their conversations: Its her own fault, they say. If that were me, I would just use the d#$% cream.

This is the very definition of prejudice: an opinion, often negative, directed toward someone and related to something that the individual does not control. Although it has been extensively demonstrated that the causes for overweight and obesity are multifactorial, the myth that its the patients fault is still widely accepted. This perception of controllability leads to the assignment of derogatory stigma.

That evening you sit alone. You think theres not a single person on the planet who believes your body wont tolerate this treatment. Society believes you brought this on yourself to begin with; there doesnt seem to be a way out.

We have driven those with overweight and obesity conditions to this place far too many times. We have set them up to take the fall for our failed treatment approaches. When they came to us with the truth about tolerability, we loudly discredited them and said they were mentally weak, noncompliant or lazy.

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So where do we go from here? If we agree to stop stigmatizing, stereotyping and blaming patients for our treatment failures, and we accept that our current nonsurgical paradigm is ineffective what takes its place?

For starters, we need a new approach, founded on respect and dignity for patients. A fresh lens of acceptance and suspended judgment will allow us to shift our focus toward treatments for the body, rather than mind over matter, which is a concept we use for no other medical condition. A perspective based in objectivity and equality will allow caregivers to escape the antiquated blaming approach and perceive those with overweight or obese conditions in the same light as those with other diseases. Only then will we finally shift the paradigm.

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A doctor's open apology to those fighting overweight and obesity - The Conversation US

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Many of us love ordering a takeaway as a weekend treat but it can easily see us consuming hidden calories in their hundreds and sometimes thousands.

Foods like pizzas, burgers and curries with all the extras might be delicious, but they're also laden with excess salt and saturated fat.

In a bid to curb the growing obesity crisis, Public Health England is urging takeaway and delivery suppliers to voluntarily cut calories by as much as 20% over the next four years.

The move comes as its estimated that around one in every four adults and around one in every five children aged ten to 11 are obese in the UK.

Until widespread change comes into place, there are ways you can enjoy a less calorie-laden takeaway - and it doesnt mean crunching on salad.

Nutritionists shared some easy tips for ditching the high-fat, fast foods without feeling like you've missed out:

Newsflash: if youre ordering a takeaway and you have a perfectly good kitchen nearby, you dont need to buy a whole meal.

Nutritionist Jenna Hope says: If youre ordering a curry, you can serve it with some cooked vegetables at home rather than ordering fried rice."

This will save you and your family both calories and money in the long-run.

She also suggests adding your own vegetable-based toppings to pizza rather than opting for extra cheese or unhealthy extras from a restaurant.

Stuffed crusts too, are a no-no - and opt for thinner crusts to save on unnecessary calories.

All those starters and side-dishes can add a lot of extra saturated fat and calories into your meal. As a reminder, the recommended daily calorie intake is 2,000 calories a day for women and 2,500 for men.

Jenna says: Often, theres no need to go for the dough balls, naan bread or extra dips when youre ordering a takeaway."

Usually youll find that a main meal is more than enough to fill you up without leaving you with that uncomfortable bloated feeling.

Meal deals can often trick us into buying more food than we need as were convinced were getting a good deal.

However, if youre trying to lose weight, buying dessert can add hundreds of calories onto your overall total.

If youre ordering a takeaway at home theres no need to buy the brownies which are advertised along with the main, stresses Jenna.

Getting into the habit of buying dessert with every takeaway can quickly add up on the calories.

No surprises here.

Fizzy drinks are packed with empty calories, says Charlotte Bierens, head of nutrition at complete meal brand Jimmy Joy.

Plus, theyre high in sugars which can wreak havoc on your teeth and skin, and can increase your risk of developing diabetes in the long-run.

She suggests trying to get into the habit of drinking a glass of water during a takeaway meal.

When it comes to losing weight every calorie counts, and the simplest thing like adding mayonnaise or kebab shop chilli sauce can hike up your count.

Most of the time youll be able to add your own dressing or sauce for far fewer calories, says Hope, who recommends buying low-fat alternatives from the supermarket and keeping them in the fridge.

If your local takeaway has a secret sauce that you simply cant live without, then ask them to serve it in a container on the side.

This way, nutritionist Jenna Hope says you're more on control of the portion size - and she believes this trick can shave thousands of calories off your Saturday night treat.

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Five ways to reduce the calories in your favourite takeaway meal - MyLondon

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