The People's Perspective on MedicineArticles categorized as Weight Control
Will Artificial Sweeteners Help You Lose Weight?
The evidence that artificial sweeteners help you shed pounds is very weak; observational studies link sugar substitutes to weight gain.
Are Non-Sugar Sweeteners a Healthy Choice?
Non-sugar sweeteners may not offer the expected health benefits. In fact, sugar substitutes may increase inflammation or blood clotting.
Will Boosting Your Step Count Save Your Life?
A study of American adults shows that people who manage a step count of at least 8,000 a day have a lower chance of dying in the next decade.
Show 1383: How to Calm Your Mind with Food
If you find yourself struggling with anxiety, take a look at your food choices. You can calm your mind with real food, including greens.
If You Are on Medicare & Overweight You May be Eligible for Wegovy
Medicare Part D will now pay for Wegovy (semaglutide) to help millions of overweight people reduce their risk of heart attacks and strokes.
What Could a Ketogenic Diet Do for You?
A low-carb high-fat ketogenic diet might be helpful for people struggling to lose weight, lower blood sugar or manage mental illness.
Show 1367: How to Evaluate Prescription Drugs
In this interview, Dr. Aaron Carroll describes tools used to evaluate prescription drugs and the importance of personal experience.
Is the Diabetes Drug Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Better Than Ozempic for Weight Loss?
Will Mounjaro (tirzepatide) become the next big weight loss drug? How does it compare to Ozempic? What side effects should you be aware of?
How Well Does the New Weight Loss Medicine Work?
Shedding pounds fast has become a hot topic with new weight loss medicine liraglutide and semaglutide (Wegovy). What are the pros and cons?
Does the Name Zepbound Signal Huge Weight Loss?
Ozempic and Wegovy are in short supply. Weight loss is a BIG market! What do you think about the name Zepbound? It's the latest obesity drug!
Can Restricting Eating Time Help Control Blood Sugar?
Restricting eating time to early in the day may improve insulin sensitivity, reduce blood sugar response to meals and help with weight control.
Show 1362: Lowdown on New Medicines for Treating Obesity –Part 2
In this episode, we consider the benefits and considerable risks of drugs like Wegovy for treating obesity. Our guest says eat real food!
Does Time-Restricted Eating Help With Weight Loss?
Time-restricted eating that limits meals to the same 8 to 10 hour period every day improves metabolic markers and promotes weight loss.
Show 1361: The Lowdown on New Medicines for Treating Obesity
Prescribing new medicines for treating obesity has let our guest help many patients unable to lose weight by other means.
Is Wegovy Wonderful for Women with PCOS?
Women with PCOS frequently have trouble controlling their weight. Semaglutide (Wegovy or Ozempic) can help when diet and exercise don't.
Curcumin from Turmeric Helps People Manage Their Weight
A large meta-analysis concludes that curcumin from turmeric can help heavy people reduce their body mass index and waist circumference.
The Dark Side of Cortisone Shots: Joint Deterioration
When your knees, hips or shoulders hurt, you want rapid relief. Cortisone shots seem like a simple and fast solution. Are there any risks?
Is It Safe to Take Alli for a Long Time?
Alli is an over-the-counter weight loss pill that lowers cholesterol too. Can you safely take Alli for a long time?
Show 1332: What Everyone Gets Wrong About Weight Loss
Pediatric neuroendocrinologist Robert Lustig explains what everyone gets wrong about weight loss and why drugs are not the best solution.
Are People More Likely to Stick to Their Diets If They Get Paid?
Financial incentives to help people stick to their diets are not perfect, but they can help folks lose excess weight.
Show 1279: Challenging Dietary Dogma on Weight Gain (Archive)
Our guests are challenging the dietary dogma on weight gain, that we put on weight because we eat too much and move too little.
Could Step Counters Help Us Ward Off Dementia?
In studies that coupled step counters with coaching by health professionals, volunteers increased their physical activity.
Do People Shop Differently If They See Calorie Information?
Putting calorie information on prepared supermarket foods helped reduce the purchase of high-calorie bakery and deli items slightly.
Are Your Dietary Supplements Contaminated with Drugs?
Does the FDA do its job? A new study asks: are dietary supplements contaminated? Some companies get warning letters but their products remain
Are American Children Becoming Obese?
Data indicate that American youngsters are becoming obese at an alarming rate. How can we prevent this problem?
Show 1257: The Metabolical Results of the American Diet (Archive)
Dr. Robert Lustig describes how processed food is driving inflammation and subcellular pathologies that underlie chronic disease.
What Is the Best Diet to Lower Cholesterol?
If you focus on vegetables, fruits and whole grains and avoid processed foods, you're on a good diet to lower cholesterol.
Sleeping a Little Longer Can Help You Cut Back on Calories
Scientists find that sleeping a little longer is associated with eating a bit less. This could be an important tactic for weight control.
Should You Give Your Child Skim Milk?
Parents have been urged to offer their kids skim milk once they are more than two years old. That's thought to keep them slim, but the data don't hold up.
Should We Look at Weight Gain in a Different Way?
What do scientists believe about weight gain–and what do they really know? The answers could make a difference for all of us.
Is Inexpensive Food Undermining Public Health?
Agricultural subsidies of crops like wheat and corn make processed foods affordable, but they may be undermining public health.
Why Don’t Weights on Doctors’ Scales Agree?
A 5-pound difference among weights measured on doctors' scales in the office suggests a lack of attention to detail and accuracy.
How to Choose Whole Grains for a Longer Life
Analyses of many long-term studies shows that eating whole grains for a longer life works best when people get at least three servings a day.
Tai Chi Can Help Control Waist Size
Practicing tai chi can help reduce the waistline, control body weight and raise good HDL cholesterol. It also helps improve balance and sleep.
When Do You Get the Most Benefit from a Workout?
Exercise at any time can be helpful, but an evening workout offers special advantages for blood sugar control.
Show 1248: How to Keep Moving and Feel Better During COVID-19
Have pandemic restrictions interfered with your exercise routine? Dr. McGonigal describes how to feel better with new approaches to movement.
Is a Green Mediterranean Diet Healthy for Your Heart?
A green Mediterranean diet relying on plant protein instead of meat or fish lowers LDL cholesterol, blood pressure and insulin resistance.
Is a Late Dinner a Problem?
People who eat a late dinner have higher blood sugar levels overnight and burn less fat than those who eat earlier in the evening.
Show 1216: How Sugar Interferes With Healthy Decisions
When we need to make healthy decisions about what we eat and drink, we need to find ways to deflect the allure of sugar for our brains.
Can You Change Your Microbiota With Diet?
A gold-standard randomized controlled trial of diet found it is very difficult to change your microbiota long-term.
Does Taking Belviq to Lose Weight Increase Your Risk for Cancer?
The FDA has just asked the maker of lorcaserin (Belviq) to lose weight to withdraw it due to an increased risk of a cancer diagnosis.
Show 1189: What the Heck Should We Be Eating?
If you've ever wondered, "What should we be eating?" you'll want to listen to Dr. Mark Hyman tell why cooking tasty food doesn't have to take lots of time.
Will Contrave Help You Lose Weight Safely?
Contrave is a combination drug for obesity. Is it a good way to lose weight safely?
To Control Your Weight, Be a Healthy Vegetarian
Spanish scientists find that a mostly vegetarian diet with vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and olive oil may help you control your weight.
Show 1145: Are Big Corporations Hacking the American Mind? (Archive)
American corporations are exploiting our desire for pleasure and hacking our bodies and brains. It doesn't make us happy. How can we reverse this trend?
Could TV On All Night Make You Gain Weight?
New research shows that women who leave the TV on while they are sleeping are more likely to gain weight over the next five years.
Will a Keto Diet Help Eliminate Your Knee Pain?
One reader reports that following a keto diet eliminated her knee pain. Researchers have confirmed that a low-carbohydrate diet can reduce pain.
Are Dog-Walkers at Risk for Broken Bones?
Dog-walkers get more exercise, but they must take care not to end up in a tumble that could break a bone.
Will Drinking Diet Soda Raise Your Risk of Stroke?
Data from the Women's Health Initiative suggests that heavy diet soda consumers are more likely to suffer strokes and heart attacks.
Show 1149: Is Cutting Carbs More Important Than Cutting Calories?
New research shows that people use more energy on a low-carb diet. It suggests that people cutting calories should pay attention to which calories they cut.
Can Mindfulness Help You Lose Weight?
Researchers found that mindfulness training helped volunteers resist fast food and lose weight. Might this approach help you?
All Calories Are Not the Same
Does it matter where your calories come from? A new study shows that maintaining weight loss is easier on a low-carb dietary pattern.
Low-Carb Diet Research Arouses Reader Outrage
Many readers are upset about the new low-carb diet study published in the BMJ. Find out what the fuss is all about and read their comments in this post.
The Low-Carb Diet Wins Diet Wars…Again!
An interesting new study pits low-carb against higher-carb diets. When it comes to maintaining weight, the low-carb diet wins handily.
Could a Supplement Help You Lose Belly Fat?
Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, has a reputation for fighting belly fat. Studies show it doesn't work very well and has some drawbacks.
How Good Should You Feel About BPA Substitutes?
Manufacturers are replacing the endocrine-disrupting plasticizer BPA with other compounds. Are these BPA substitutes really safer?
Are High Carb Diets Better Than Low Carb Diets?
In a long-running cohort study, people getting about half their calories from carbohydrates had a better chance of long life than those eating either low carb or high carb diets.
Better Diet for Poor Americans Is Not a SNAP
The last fifteen years have seen some increases in diet quality for most Americans, but not for poor people on SNAP assistance. Disparities in diet quality are increasing.
When Do Americans Develop a Sweet Tooth?
A study suggests that children under two years old have a sweet tooth. Their diets have a surprising amount of added sugar.
Make Sure Your Vegetarian Diet Is High Quality
Recent research suggests that people who follow a high-quality vegetarian diet rich in minimally-processed plant foods control their weight and their blood sugar better.
Show 1126: Can You Find Your Best Diet?
Scientists tested low-carb vs low-fat and tried to find markers that would show which one is best for who. Your best diet is the healthiest one you can follow indefinitely.
Will You Live Longer with a Healthy Lifestyle?
American adults who embrace five elements of a healthy lifestyle can expect to live a decade longer, on average, than those who are less conscientious.
How to Time Your Meals to Control Blood Sugar
Research shows you should time your meals to get more calories early in the day. That eating pattern improved blood sugar control and reduced insulin requirements. It also led to weight loss.
Can You Blame Your Gallstones on Fenofibrate?
Fenofibrate taken to lower cholesterol or triglycerides could end up triggering gallstones. A gallstone attack may result in a severe stomach ache.
Do You Change Your Order If You See Calorie Counts?
Researchers conclude that calorie counts on menus or menu boards may help people choose less caloric items when they eat out.
Is There a Diet That Will Work Best for You?
No one diet is right for everyone; people who want to lose weight need to pay attention to exactly how they respond to a healthy diet.
How Does Your Neighborhood Affect Your Waistline?
Living near several exercise facilities (and using them?) can help you keep your waistline from expanding. Watch out for the fast food joints!
Will Cinnamon Help You Stay Slim?
How can you use cinnamon to lower your cholesterol, control your blood sugar or help you stay slim? Try a water-based extract for safety.
Do Tea Drinkers Have Better Weight Control?
Research on mice suggests that tea drinkers may have better intestinal microbes for maintaining a healthy weight. Both green and black tea work.
Show 1094: Does It Matter When You Eat?
If your hectic life means you don't have regular meals, learn how when you eat can affect your health almost as much as what you eat.
Get Your Exercise by Walking the Dog
Walking the dog accounts for at least 20 minutes a day of moderate physical activity for older people in Great Britain. How long do your walks take?
Fruit Juice Seems Healthy, But Not for Babies
The American Academy of Pediatrics has a new policy recommending that infants under a year old should not drink fruit juice.
Show 1020: How to Lose Weight Without Feeling Hungry (Archive)
Have you tried to shed pounds but given up because you were tired of feeling hungry? Dr. David Ludwig offers a solution that makes sense.
Stopping Zyprexa Safely So You Can Lose Weight
A reader has gained a lot of weight while taking olanzapine and now would like to lose those pounds. Can she find a way of stopping Zyprexa safely?
Do Non-Sugar Sweeteners Boost Inflammation?
Laboratory research shows that non-sugar sweeteners found in diet beverages can increase inflammation and the activity of fat storage genes.
How Do TV Dinners Make You Fat?
People who eat home-cooked family meals without television are less likely to be too heavy than those who eat TV dinners.
How Bad Is It to Eat Saturated Fat?
Many of us worry that consuming saturated fat will boost our chance of a heart attack. A study from Norway suggests we should worry about processed food.
How to Lose Weight by Skipping Supper
Preliminary research suggests that skipping supper by eating earlier can reduce hunger pangs and may help people drop pounds.
Does Diet Soda Really Help You Lose Weight?
Women who drank water instead of diet soda were slightly more successful in their weight loss efforts.
Bigger Lunches Lead to More Weight Loss
Dieters were able to manage more weight loss when they ate more of their daily calories at midday rather than in the evening.
Artificial Sweetener Research Is Clouded by Conflicts
An analysis of artificial sweetener research finds that many studies have conclusions in line with the interests of the reviewers.
How to Use Time Management to Eat Better
Ordering your food hours before mealtime helps people make healthier food choices and eat better. How could you put this to work for yourself?
How to Eat Like an Italian and Stay Slim
Italian scientists report that people eating pasta as part of a Mediterranean eating plan are able to maintain their weight and their waist size.
Why Are So Many People Overweight?
New data shows that more Americans than ever are overweight, which puts them at risk for arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and premature death.
Will Diet Soda Protect You from Diabetes?
It makes sense to ask Could diet soda protect you from blood sugar problems, since you're not consuming sugar. But a recent study has disappointing news.
Will Herbs for Weight Loss Hurt Your Liver?
While it seems safe or even beneficial to sip green tea, taking green tea extract in a product with herbs for weight loss could result in liver injury.
Will Mom’s Diet Soda Make Baby Fat?
A new study links mom's diet soda consumption during pregnancy to a greater risk that the infant will be overweight at one year.
Do Peas and Beans Help You with Weight Loss?
In 21 studies, people who ate more peas and beans lost a little bit more weight than those whose diets did not contain legumes.
Will BPA-Free Bottles Make You Fat?
Concerns about endocrine disruptors have consumers searching for BPA-free products, but research suggests that a substitute makes fat cells grow.
How to Cut Sugar from the American Diet
Eating fewer packaged snacks, especially sweet snacks and baked goods, would help Americans cut sugar from their diets and control their weight.
How to Improve Your Health by Losing a Little Weight
Losing a little weight, even 5 percent of the initial poundage, can lower liver fat, improve organ-specific insulin sensitivity and reduce triglycerides.
Should People with a High BMI Be Penalized on Health Insurance?
A high BMI of 30 or above may classify a person as obese, but it does not tell enough about their state of health.
What Is the Best Breakfast for Youngsters?
In one study, scrambled eggs were the best breakfast for getting children to eat fewer calories at lunchtime. Cereal or oatmeal weren't as good.
Do Colorful Fruits and Veggies Prevent Weight Gain?
To prevent weight gain, a new study suggests it makes sense to pile your plate with colorful vegetables and fruits every day.
Cashiers Have Higher Levels of BPA from Handling Receipts
Because cash register receipts contain BPA, cashiers have higher body burdens of this potentially harmful chemical.
Should You Skip Breakfast?
If you skip breakfast, you may consume fewer calories, but it is not clear that you will lose weight or live longer.
Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery Flag Over Time
Weight loss surgery can achieve dramatic results, but without significant changes in behavior, the pounds and metabolic disturbances may creep back.
Contrave Side Effects: Benefits and Complications of Weight Loss Pill
Contrave is a hot new weight loss pill. How well does it work and what are the side effects? Is this the magic answer to obesity or an overhyped drugs?
Saxenda Injections Help People Achieve Weight Loss
The repurposed diabetes drug liraglutide, under the brand name Saxenda, works better than placebo injections to help people lose weight.
Experts Say Forget About Fat to Help Americans Stay Fit
Dietary guidelines that limit total fat have been counterproductive, say nutrition scientists. Instead, forget about fat and have people eat more veggies.
Measuring Weight Loss Helps Men Manage It
Stepping on the scale and recording weight every day makes a difference for weight loss; scientists do not know why men benefit more than women.
Is Belviq a Magic Wand for Weight Loss?
The new diet drug Belviq can help modestly with weight loss, but patients should be aware of dangerous complications and interactions.
Listening to Stories Prepares Young Children’s Brains for Learning
Children who frequently listen to their caregivers reading stories have more activation in language-learning areas of the brain.
Limited Evidence for Popular Weight Loss Programs
Relatively few good studies establish the effectiveness of well-known weight loss programs.
Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals May Add to Inflammation
Inflammation contributes to chronic disease; pollution from pesticides lodges in fat and triggers inflammation.
Does Diet Soda Add to Abdominal Fat?
San Antonio seniors who drank diet soda added inches to their waistlines.
Mediterranean Diet Can Be Modified and Still Maintain Its Benefits
Swedish volunteers following a modified Mediterranean diet using walnut or canola oil instead of olive oil improved their blood fats and lost weight.
Tracking Activity with a Phone App
How well do phone apps work for tracking activity?
Green Coffee Bean Ads Are Judged Misleading
The FTC has ruled that ads touting green coffee bean extract as a weight loss aid were misleading and consumers deserve refunds.
Healthy Habits Love Company
In changing habits to healthier behaviors, spousal support makes a big difference.
Getting a Fitness Tracker to Work with You
Using a fitness tracker to provide feedback on exercise and its results can be a great way to reinforce healthy habits.
Calorie Counts to Appear on Many Menus
When calorie counts show up on menus, consumers will be better able to estimate how much they are eating.
Action-Packed Viewing and Mindless Munching
Action-packed TV programming encourages overeating.
Drinking Diet Soda Is Not an Easy Way to Lose Weight
It seems logical that switching to non-caloric carbonated beverages would help you lose weight, but it doesn't work. Drink water instead!
Chocolate Lovers Weigh Less
People who eat chocolate at least twice a week are no heavier (even a little lighter) than those who eat no chocolate.
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