The hottest Obesity Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health & Wellness Topics

New Guidelines for Weight Loss Surgery?

Weight and Healthcare • 379 implied HN points • 23 Nov 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Guidelines Obesity Metabolic health Risks
  1. New guidelines for weight loss surgery have been released by organizations representing those who profit from these surgeries. These guidelines aim to expand the market for weight loss surgeries by lowering BMI thresholds and targeting younger patients.
  2. The guidelines rely on questionable ideas such as pathologizing higher-weight bodies and setting low expectations for weight loss surgery outcomes.
  3. There is a lack of long-term data supporting these new guidelines, raising concerns about the risks and efficacy of weight loss surgeries, especially for children and adolescents.

The New York Times Lobbies for Diet Drugs

Weight and Healthcare • 559 implied HN points • 04 Jun 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Obesity Weight Loss Insurance Coverage Medical Industry
  1. The New York Times article lobbies for diet drugs by quoting doctors who have financial ties to the diet industry.
  2. The article medicalizes body size, promotes weight loss drugs, and pushes for insurance coverage without addressing weight stigma or offering weight-neutral solutions.
  3. It fails to mention the connections between weight loss drugs and financial interests of the quoted doctors, highlighting potential bias in the promotion of weight loss therapies.

No, We Shouldn't "Try Anything For The Obesity Epidemic”

Weight and Healthcare • 439 implied HN points • 24 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Healthcare Industry Weight Stigma Health Inequality
  1. Fat people should not be treated as an epidemic - the concept is harmful and profit-driven.
  2. There is a lack of research on long-term efficacy or harm of interventions imposed on fat individuals.
  3. Fat people deserve ethical, evidence-based healthcare focused on supporting their bodies, not punishing them for being fat.

Intentional Weight Loss is Incompatible with Eating Disorders Prevention and Treatment – Even if Weight Watchers Disagrees

Weight and Healthcare • 499 implied HN points • 21 May 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Eating Disorders Healthcare Obesity Diet Industry
  1. There is no evidence-based weight loss intervention; most people regain weight after short-term losses.
  2. Pathologizing higher-weight bodies contradicts ending weight stigma and providing ethical treatment.
  3. Promoting intentional weight loss requires ignoring failure rates, risks, and harms, incompatible with true health support.

Compassion for Fat Patients Doesn't Replace Actual Healthcare

Weight and Healthcare • 379 implied HN points • 20 Jul 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Healthcare Compassion Weight Stigma
  1. Compassion is important, but it should not replace evidence-based healthcare for fat patients.
  2. Believing that being in a higher-weight body is a health condition rooted in weight stigma is problematic.
  3. Fat patients deserve compassionate, ethical, evidence-based healthcare that supports their health without focusing solely on body size.
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How Ozempic Will Change Cities

The New Urban Order • 119 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Medication Diet Physical activity Urban planning
  1. Nearly 3 out of 4 Americans over 20 years old are either overweight or obese, and as medications like semaglutide become more accessible, it may lead to significant changes in eating habits and society.
  2. While semaglutide can help reduce the obesity epidemic, it won't address the root causes such as predatory marketing of unhealthy foods, poverty, or lack of access to safe places for physical activity.
  3. The impact of medications like semaglutide on reducing obesity and changing eating habits could have far-reaching effects on various aspects of cities, from restaurants and transportation to parks and employment.

Reversing obesity != getting shredded

Experimental Fat Loss • 141 implied HN points • 21 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Metabolism Diet Nutrition Fitness
  1. Reversing obesity is not the same as achieving a shredded body like bodybuilders do.
  2. Starving yourself to extreme levels, like bodybuilders do, is not a sustainable or healthy method to reverse obesity.
  3. Using a strategy meant for bodybuilders, such as extreme dieting, to reverse obesity can be detrimental to your health in the long run.

Seed Oils explain the 8 Mysteries of Obesity

Experimental Fat Loss • 176 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Nutrition Metabolism Diet Wellness
  1. Obesity is caused by long-term dysfunction of mitochondrial energy metabolism, mainly due to changes in food intake starting in the late 1800s and increased seed oil consumption since the 1930s and 1970s.
  2. The drastic increase in obesity rates since the mid-1970s can be attributed to the rise in seed oil consumption, such as the introduction of canola oil in the 1970s.
  3. The ongoing obesity crisis, even since 2010, has seen a massive increase due to a 50% rise in seed oil consumption like soybean oil.

Does Fatness Really Cost the Workplace $73 Billion a Year? A Weight Loss Company Wants You To Think So

Weight and Healthcare • 239 implied HN points • 12 Mar 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Science Diet Industry Obesity Fat Activism
  1. A weight loss company used a study to push for lap band surgeries by exaggerating the cost of workplace 'fatness'.
  2. The study funding source being a pharmaceutical company raised concerns about biased results.
  3. Issues in the study include unreliable self-reported data, flawed statistical analysis, and assumptions linking productivity loss to weight.

Calories In, Calories Out

The Heart Attack Diet • 59 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Weight management Obesity Metabolism Appetite
  1. Calories In, Calories Out concept is often misunderstood. It's about the balance of calories consumed and calories burned.
  2. Obesity can be a complex issue influenced by various factors like appetite and metabolism. Some individuals struggle with constant hunger which leads to overeating.
  3. Understanding the reasons behind abnormal eating patterns and appetite can help in addressing obesity and finding solutions.

Is Being Fat Really a Chronic, Lifelong Health Condition?

Weight and Healthcare • 279 implied HN points • 27 Oct 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Health Conditions Weight loss industry Body positivity Health care
  1. The American Medical Association declared obesity a disease despite recommendations against it, leading to issues with pathologizing body size.
  2. There is a push by weight loss companies to label being fat as a 'chronic, lifelong health condition' to expand their market and profit, which may not be scientifically sound.
  3. Blaming health conditions on fat bodies instead of addressing weight stigma and inequalities can lead to harmful interventions for fat individuals.

Obesity and Alzheimer's Disease

Neuro Athletics • 50 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Alzheimer's Genetics Treatment Public Health
  1. Obesity during middle age can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other serious health conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
  2. Genes associated with obesity, especially those inherited through the maternal lineage, can play a role in the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
  3. Understanding the impact of altered adipokines, potential treatments like Ozempic, and the interplay between obesity and Alzheimer's disease is crucial for public health challenges.

Pharma Darlings

Natural Selections • 11 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Pharmaceuticals Obesity Diet Public Health
  1. New weight loss drugs like GLP-1 RAs are popular, but they come with risks and might not be as safe as people think. There are concerns about muscle loss and other health issues.
  2. The food we eat is often unhealthy and can contribute to weight gain and poor health. Many foods are processed with chemicals that are not good for our bodies.
  3. Instead of relying on quick fixes like pills, focusing on better eating habits and exercise could lead to healthier lifestyles. Simple changes like controlling carbs and eating more protein can make a difference.

Deadly Side Effect of Popular Weight Loss Drug Revealed - Is It Worth the Risk?

semaglutide • 39 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Medication Side Effects Obesity Treatment
  1. Be wary of potential deadly side effects of popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
  2. Weight Watchers and NHS are incorporating weight loss drugs like Wegovy into their programs.
  3. The high costs and potential health risks associated with weight loss medications raise concerns about accessibility and effectiveness.

Three Different Kinds of Obesity

The Heart Attack Diet • 39 implied HN points • 03 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Eating Disorders
  1. There are three different kinds of obesity: one where the body's hunger regulation is slightly off, one with constant intense hunger, and one where the body thinks it's already at a high fat level.
  2. Some individuals may experience obesity due to an overactive hunger signal that causes them to always feel hungry, leading to constant cravings and overeating.
  3. Another type may involve a skewed perception of body fat, leading to extreme efforts to avoid eating and maintain a lower weight, even to the point of severe thinness and health risks.

Ancestral PUFAs?

The Heart Attack Diet • 39 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Genetics Obesity Evolution Diseases
  1. Southern Europeans have traditionally consumed large quantities of olive oil, which is rich in polyunsaturated fats.
  2. Southern European cultures have potentially evolved over time to metabolize polyunsaturated fats better than other populations.
  3. Descendants of Southern Europeans in America may have inherited a resistance to the obesity epidemic due to a long history of consuming olive oil.

Is obesity really a disease? It's complicated.

Julia Belluz • 7 implied HN points • 19 Sep 24
🏥 Health Politics Obesity Public Health Healthcare Policy Nutrition
  1. The medical community struggles to define obesity as an illness since BMI isn't a reliable diagnostic tool. There's no clear agreement on what symptoms or signs indicate that someone has obesity as a disease.
  2. Many countries don't see obesity as a disease because of this lack of definition. This misunderstanding can lead to the harmful idea that obesity is just a personal choice rather than a complex issue.
  3. With new medications and ongoing discussions, the medical community is starting to rethink how to define obesity. The next step is addressing the broader social and environmental factors contributing to obesity.

A miracle drug to end obesity?

SatPost by Trung Phan • 69 implied HN points • 11 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity
  1. A new drug developed for one purpose, treating diabetes, is proving to be very effective for treating obesity.
  2. The drug class GLP-1 agonists, with active ingredient semaglutide, shows promise for weight loss with potential market growth.
  3. Despite the promising results, there are drawbacks to consider, such as side effects, cost, and the need for continuous treatment.

Why the Fuck is Everyone so Fat?

The Heart Attack Diet • 19 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Diet Medical Research
  1. The article questions why obesity is widespread and suggests it may be linked to something in the environment, particularly in processed food.
  2. There is a debate between medical science attributing obesity to sloth and gluttony and alternative ideas such as poisoning by environmental contaminants.
  3. The text highlights the lack of understanding about what specifically in processed food contributes to health problems like obesity.

Appetite is the Key to the Obesity Epidemic

The Heart Attack Diet • 19 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Appetite Metabolism
  1. Some individuals feel hungry constantly, spending hours resisting hunger or eating until their stomachs hurt.
  2. Feeling physically full is different from stopping wanting food. It's about reaching a point where you don't desire to eat more even if food is available.
  3. The absence of the feeling of satiety can lead people to overeat until their stomachs hurt, contributing to the mystery of the obesity epidemic.

Obesity in the US Army

The Heart Attack Diet • 19 implied HN points • 26 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Healthy Eating Exercise Weight management
  1. Weight loss advice given to US Army servicemen often focuses on eating less and exercising more, which may not be a sustainable long-term solution.
  2. Short-term weight loss results can be achieved by simply focusing on calorie intake and expenditure.
  3. Starving oneself to lose weight may not lead to long-term health improvements and can result in cyclical weight gain.

We Used To Eat A Lot More Without Becoming Obese

Unfashionable • 15 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Metabolism Obesity Diet Research
  1. Historically, people used to eat more without becoming obese, challenging the 'calories in, calories out' theory.
  2. Studies show that children in the past consumed significantly more calories than recommended today, even without modern concept of workouts.
  3. The Ray Peat community suggests that historically, people had faster metabolisms, which could explain the paradox of declining calorie intake and rising obesity rates.

Less Meat, More Plants: A Rules of Evidence Controversy Pt I

Unsettled Science • 3 HN points • 20 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Diet Plant-based Obesity
  1. Eating plant-based diets tends to be healthier than consuming a lot of meat, especially processed meat, which is linked to heart disease and diabetes.
  2. The controversy lies in the differing levels of evidence - observational studies show plant-based diets may be healthier, but randomized controlled trials do not strongly support this.
  3. The GRADE methodology challenges the reliability of evidence from observational studies in nutrition, raising questions about long-standing dietary advice.

003: The Sugar Conspiracy — Trading One Nutritional Boogeyman for Another

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 28 Apr 16
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Obesity Physiology History Insulin
  1. Move beyond labeling nutritional boogeymen like sugar or saturated fat and aim for a nuanced understanding of their roles in our diets.
  2. Understand the historical context of figures like Ancel Keys, the process of de novo lipogenesis, and the complex relationship between insulin and fat storage when considering dietary villains.
  3. Avoid simplifying complex nutritional concepts and acknowledge the need for a more sophisticated view of nutrition and health.

Dear Diary/Dairy

Splattern • 0 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Sustainability Obesity Food Systems
  1. Poor nutrition is a serious health issue in the US, causing more deaths than smoking. Processed and fast foods are major contributors to this problem.
  2. Just over a quarter of Americans manage to maintain a healthy weight despite the odds. This suggests that some people are successfully prioritizing good nutrition and exercise.
  3. Switching to organic farming might not fix our environmental problems. Reducing dairy and meat consumption could be more effective for lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Fructose, Public Policy, and The Low-Fat Re-Education Camp (Short Post)

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 0 implied HN points • 03 May 11
🏥 Health Politics Public Policy Nutrition Obesity Cholesterol
  1. There is a need to modify public policy to reduce fructose consumption, such as ending corn subsidies to discourage junk food consumption.
  2. Although important to address public health concerns like obesity and chronic diseases, caution is necessary to avoid government overreach in determining individuals' diets.
  3. Avoid setting the precedent that the government should dictate dietary choices as it may lead to potential restrictions on other food components in the future.

Zepbound to Spark Semaglutide Price War?

semaglutide • 0 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication Obesity Weight Loss FDA Approval
  1. Zepbound, a new weight loss drug, is approved by the FDA and competes with established drugs like Wegovy.
  2. Zepbound may lead to a price war in the weight loss drug market, potentially resulting in lower prices for consumers.
  3. Zepbound's unique combination of hormones helps with weight loss and Eli Lilly is already working on even more potent drugs in the future.

Let Us Honor Ancel Keys, Our Patron, As We Cherry Pick Studies to Bash Fructose (Revised and Extended)

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 0 implied HN points • 28 Apr 11
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Obesity Diet Research Health Effects
  1. Critically analyze and avoid cherry-picking studies to maintain honesty and accuracy in discussions.
  2. High-fat diets can induce obesity in laboratory animals even without added sugar.
  3. Overall dietary patterns, nutrient-density, and metabolic effects have a bigger impact on health than isolated dietary components.

Is Insulin Resistance Really Making Us Fat?

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 0 implied HN points • 18 Nov 10
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Metabolism Obesity Hormones Medical Research
  1. Insulin resistance is not the sole cause of obesity; leptin resistance plays a critical role in the development of obesity.
  2. Leptin is a hormone that influences appetite and energy expenditure; obese individuals often have high levels of leptin, indicating leptin resistance.
  3. Insulin resistance and leptin resistance can coexist, but genetic animal models suggest that leptin resistance may be a more significant factor in causing obesity.