The hottest Weight Loss Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health & Wellness Topics

Wegovy’s So-Called “Long-Term” Study

Weight and Healthcare • 758 implied HN points • 27 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Obesity Medical Research Nutrition
  1. The study on Wegovy's long-term effects raised concerns about the definition of 'long-term' in the context of a 2-year study.
  2. The conflicts of interest among the study authors, who receive funding and support from Novo Nordisk, the drug manufacturer, raise questions about the study's credibility.
  3. The study revealed high rates of adverse events among participants taking Semaglutide, emphasizing the risks associated with such weight loss medications.

Not Blaming Fat People For Failed Weight Loss Isn't Enough

Weight and Healthcare • 738 implied HN points • 23 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Healthcare Weight Stigma Fat Activism Body positivity
  1. Healthcare practitioners often blame and shame fat patients for failed intentional weight loss, creating barriers to compassionate care.
  2. The weight loss industry acknowledges the failure of behavioral weight loss interventions, but their push for risky methods like drugs and surgeries is dangerous.
  3. Instead of blaming fat people for weight loss failure, healthcare should focus on respecting and affirming their humanity while supporting their health.

Study Tests the Validity of Weight Loss Research Claims

Weight and Healthcare • 758 implied HN points • 29 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Research Health Benefits Dieting
  1. Weight loss research often relies on the energy deficit approach despite a high failure rate, leading to misrepresentation of evidence.
  2. Claims suggesting 5-10% weight loss offers significant health benefits lack substantial evidence and may not be accurate.
  3. Weight loss studies tend to overlook adverse effects of dieting, neglect other clinical outcomes beyond weight loss, and maintain an overly optimistic tone despite high failure rates observed in long-term interventions.
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Wegovy Side Effects and Informed Consent - Part 2

Weight and Healthcare • 579 implied HN points • 04 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication Informed consent Side Effects Healthcare Weight Loss
  1. Wegovy is a weight-loss drug that has not been around for a long time, as it is a repurposed version of another drug called semaglutide, with evolving risks and warnings.
  2. Wegovy and Ozempic differ in dosage and treatment purpose, with Wegovy aiming to maximize weight loss side effects at a high dose that exceeds the maximum dose of Ozempic.
  3. Informed consent conversations with healthcare practitioners are essential, especially when considering drugs like Wegovy with significant side effects and dosage differences.

Friday Q&A: assessing COVID risk; Ozempic/Mounjaro; booster shots; & CBD gummies for sleep

Are You Okay? • 459 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19 Medication Weight Loss Vaccination Mental health
  1. It's important to balance the risks associated with COVID-19 with the desire for social interaction and living a fulfilling life.
  2. Protecting against serious COVID outcomes involves getting vaccinated and optimizing health, while preventing infection means avoiding sick individuals and wearing masks in crowded indoor spaces.
  3. Decisions regarding COVID risk mitigation should be personalized, taking into account individual vulnerabilities and risk tolerance, and it's advised to consult with a healthcare provider for tailored advice.

Reader Question: What is Relapsing Remitting Obesity

Weight and Healthcare • 639 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Weight Loss Diet Industry Health Issues Body positivity
  1. Relapsing Remitting Obesity is a term used in the context of repeated weight loss attempts followed by long-term weight gain.
  2. This concept of weight cycling has been shown to have serious negative impacts on health outcomes, which may be wrongly attributed to body size.
  3. The re-branding of weight cycling as Relapsing Remitting Obesity by the weight loss industry serves as a marketing tactic to perpetuate the cycle of failed products and interventions.

Weight Loss Industry Big Think - Expanding the Market -Part 2

Weight and Healthcare • 459 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Weight Stigma Research Methods Insurance Coverage
  1. The weight loss industry strategically turns existing higher body weights into disease diagnoses to expand its market.
  2. They aim to exploit insurance coverage and exaggerate risks associated with higher weights to increase profits.
  3. The industry targets all age groups and sizes, pushing for wider definitions of overweight and obesity to sell interventions and expand its customer base.

Weight Watchers Expands Their Harmful Model - Adding Prescription Drugs

Weight and Healthcare • 738 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Prescription drugs Medical Industry Body positivity Pharmaceuticals
  1. Weight Watchers is expanding their model by adding prescription drugs, showing a pattern of prioritizing profits over people's well-being.
  2. Weight Watchers acquired Sequence, a telehealth company prescribing weight loss drugs with risky side effects and questionable efficacy.
  3. The company's approach includes misleading weight loss claims, lack of transparency, and a focus on short-term financial gains rather than long-term health.

Weight Loss Surgery and Kids Part 1

Weight and Healthcare • 519 implied HN points • 29 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Children Surgery Healthcare Obesity
  1. The study questions the effectiveness of nonsurgical weight management programs in children and emphasizes the need for long-term outcome data, especially regarding weight loss surgery.
  2. The conflict of interest with the authors, who have significant ties to weight loss companies and surgery programs, raises concerns about the objectivity of the study's findings.
  3. Lack of control groups, short follow-up periods, and small sample sizes in the research undermine the conclusions supporting weight loss surgery for children.

Beachbody's Pseudo Rebrand – I Tried It So You Don’t Have To Part 2

Weight and Healthcare • 519 implied HN points • 24 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Fitness Body Image Nutrition Weight Loss
  1. Beachbody's rebrand to 'Bodi' still heavily focuses on weight loss rather than health.
  2. The programs offered by Beachbody continue to emphasize slimming, sculpting, and weight loss, lacking representation for diverse body types.
  3. Beachbody's MLM structure and 'wellness coaches' perpetuate the narrative of weight loss over true health and fitness goals.

This new class of weight loss drugs are costly - but is there a greater price to ignoring the problem?

Second Opinion • 511 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Obesity Medication Chronic Disease
  1. Obesity is a complex chronic disease that needs to be treated seriously.
  2. New weight loss drugs are effective and show promising results, but they are costly and come with side effects.
  3. It's important to consider a variety of evidence-based solutions, including lifestyle interventions, in tackling the obesity epidemic.

Study Misleads About Efficacy of Weight Loss Interventions in Children

Weight and Healthcare • 499 implied HN points • 20 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Efficacy Interventions Weight Loss Children
  1. The study discussed how weight loss interventions in children might not be as effective as previously thought. The research highlighted issues with how body size changes are linked to health outcomes.
  2. The study pointed out flaws in assuming that weight loss directly improves health outcomes. It emphasized the importance of considering the impact of behaviors on health, rather than just focusing on weight change.
  3. The study recommended being cautious about interpreting weight loss as the main driver for health improvements. It highlighted the need to question biases and assumptions about the relationship between weight loss and health outcomes.

ex150ish-5

The Heart Attack Diet • 139 implied HN points • 11 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Diet Weight Loss Ketosis Well-being
  1. The author is considering revisiting the ex150 diet plan for weight loss due to previous success with it
  2. Predictions include entering ketosis, experiencing water-weight loss followed by gain, and potential decrease in thyroid dose
  3. Expectations are set for ongoing weight loss post-diet phase and possible weight gain if the diet is not effective

TGIF: Nutrition News

Unsettled Science • 818 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Weight Loss Diet Obesity Military
  1. Ketogenic diet can help reduce alcohol cravings based on a small study, which also showed benefits in mice and humans.
  2. NIH is investing $190 million in short-term nutrition studies with questionable value, sparking concerns about meaningful data and focus.
  3. Weight-loss prescriptions among U.S. service members, along with rising obesity rates in military, raise questions about the effectiveness of current dietary guidelines and the impact on national security.

The Truth About ObesityWeek - Part 2

Weight and Healthcare • 439 implied HN points • 28 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Weight Loss Healthcare Research Mental health
  1. ObsityWeek focuses on promoting the weight-centric paradigm in healthcare by connecting weight with health and disease, potentially leading to harmful practices.
  2. Corporate influence is prevalent at ObsityWeek through sponsored symposia and key lectures, where pharmaceutical companies push for weight-centric treatments like medications and surgeries.
  3. There is a disconnect at ObsityWeek between celebrating weight loss industry figures and the lack of progress in reducing the population of higher-weight individuals, highlighting the profit-driven nature of the field.

ex150ish-5: One Week In

The Heart Attack Diet • 119 implied HN points • 17 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Diet Weight Loss Ketosis Well-being Recipes
  1. The author experimented with a strict diet of beef, tomatoes, cream, butter, and other items, experiencing a mix of fatigue, headaches, and possible sickness, but also moments of increased energy and weight loss.
  2. Despite feeling unwell initially, the author eventually started feeling better and experienced a significant drop in weight, aiming to reach a stable state of ketosis.
  3. The author shared a new pickled cabbage recipe received from their mother, highlighting its pleasant taste when paired with beef, tomato curry, and cream, emphasizing its cost-effectiveness and deliciousness.

Study examines at connections between weight loss programs and depression and anxiety in adolescents

Weight and Healthcare • 439 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Adolescents Weight Loss Anxiety Depression
  1. Professionally run weight loss programs for adolescents may not increase depression or anxiety and could even lead to a slight reduction in symptoms, based on the study findings.
  2. The study's short follow-up period of up to 15 months raises concerns about the long-term effects of weight loss programs on mental health, especially considering weight regain patterns.
  3. Authors of the study have potential conflicts of interest, raising questions about their motivations and the credibility of their recommendations.

The Validation and Frustration of Stunkard et al.

Weight and Healthcare • 619 implied HN points • 11 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Research Body positivity Medical Science Healthcare systems
  1. Stunkard et al.'s 1959 study on weight loss interventions revealed the ineffectiveness and harmfulness of most programs from as early as the 1950s.
  2. The study highlighted common flaws in weight loss research, such as short-duration studies, lack of specific data on individual outcomes, and the exclusion of unsuccessful participants.
  3. It's frustrating to see that the failure of weight loss interventions has been consistently validated since the 1950s, yet the weight loss industry continues to grow, offering dangerous and expensive solutions.

Dubious Justifications Behind Request to WHO to Declare Diet Drugs "Essential" Part 2

Weight and Healthcare • 479 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Weight Stigma Research Methods
  1. The request for WHO to declare diet drugs as essential is based on questionable justifications from studies with limited data and potential conflicts of interest.
  2. Global recommendations for diet drugs are primarily supported by research conducted on a predominantly white population, raising concerns about generalizability.
  3. Financial ties between pharmaceutical companies and organizations providing recommendations for diet drugs highlight potential biases and conflicts of interest in the decision-making process.

Weight Loss Surgery and Kids - Part 3

Weight and Healthcare • 399 implied HN points • 02 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Nutrition Surgery Adolescents Research
  1. The study on gastric bypass surgeries in adolescents had limited sample diversity and was done using an original technique which affects the generalizability of the findings.
  2. The follow-up period for surgical outcomes was insufficient considering the lifelong impact of the surgery on adolescents, leading to potential nutritional deficiencies and adverse events.
  3. Short-term and long-term complications post-surgery, including additional surgeries, show the high risk and necessity for ongoing monitoring and support in adolescents who undergo weight loss surgery.

ex150ish-5: Second Week

The Heart Attack Diet • 99 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Weight Loss Ketosis Clarity
  1. The author experienced significant weight loss on a specific diet plan in just two weeks, along with visible physical changes like looser clothes and belt adjustments.
  2. Despite the weight loss success, the author faced challenges such as fluctuating energy levels, occasional headaches, and concerns about rapid weight loss.
  3. Towards the end of the experiment, the author introduced milk and keto-electrolytes to potentially transition to a different eating pattern and avoid sudden carb intake.

Will the WHO Declare Dangerous Diet Drugs Globally Essential? Part 1

Weight and Healthcare • 439 implied HN points • 08 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication Weight Loss Research Nutrition
  1. The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes lists of essential medications, considering factors like disease prevalence, public health relevance, efficacy, and safety
  2. A request has been submitted to add glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) to the core list of essential medications for the treatment of obesity, sparking debate
  3. The request faces skepticism due to the process of selection, lack of specialized knowledge in the requesting group, and potential conflicts of interest

Friday Q&A: about menopause providers; ozempic; when to see a therapist; & … do physical exams matter?

Are You Okay? • 359 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Menopause Weight Loss Therapy
  1. Finding a reputable menopause doctor can be done through organizations like the North American Menopause Society for certified practitioners or by educating your own doctor about the latest data on hormone replacement therapy.
  2. The use of Ozempic for weight loss raises ethical concerns for some individuals, especially if they have a history of yo-yo dieting. It's important to carefully consider the implications before starting this medication.
  3. The Q&A post covers various health topics like menopause providers, Ozempic use, seeing a therapist, and the relevance of physical exams, providing valuable insights for readers.

Study Finds Doctors’ Weight Loss Advice Is Rarely Effective

Weight and Healthcare • 599 implied HN points • 11 Jan 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Body positivity
  1. Study found that doctors' weight loss advice is usually not effective, including generic suggestions like 'eat less, move more'.
  2. Doctors receive minimal education on nutrition and weight management, making it unfair to expect them to provide effective weight loss advice.
  3. Moving to a weight-neutral paradigm can improve doctor-patient interactions by focusing on health rather than body size, potentially benefiting patient care.

My guess why potatoes creates weight loss

Metabolic Repair • 8 HN points • 24 Aug 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Dieting Metabolism Weight Loss Health Science
  1. Eating a lot of potatoes may help you lose weight because they can reduce your appetite and cravings. This might be similar to how some weight-loss medications work.
  2. Potatoes might also increase your body temperature and metabolism, making you burn more calories just by being active. The effects can vary from person to person depending on their unique body and genetics.
  3. A mostly potato diet is low in fat and iron, which may also contribute to weight loss. This combination can change how your body feels about food and potentially help you eat less.

Let's Talk About Noom

Weight and Healthcare • 619 implied HN points • 07 Dec 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Dieting Research Body positivity
  1. Noom's claims of being a brand new way to lose weight while also helping to keep weight off for good are inconsistent. Long-term efficacy cannot be proven with short-term results.
  2. Short-term weight loss statistics from Noom might not reflect sustained success, as most participants tend to regain weight within a few years, similar to other diet programs.
  3. Studies on Noom's effectiveness often involve low retention rates and short follow-up durations, which are not sufficient to support their marketing claims of long-term weight loss maintenance.

Weight Loss Surgery and Kids Part 2

Weight and Healthcare • 299 implied HN points • 12 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Surgery Children Research Obesity
  1. The study on weight loss surgeries did not focus on pediatric populations, making its relevance to children in question. The short follow-up periods in the study are concerning for assessing long-term implications of surgeries.
  2. The study authors' potential conflicts of interest raise concerns about the objectivity of their research, especially when making recommendations for surgical treatments, including for children.
  3. The study's methodology and statistical analysis may not present a comprehensive view of the risks and effectiveness of weight loss surgeries, potentially downplaying negative outcomes and psychological impacts.

Questions on plant compounds and heart disease, balancing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, food intolerances, nutrient cofactors for genetic defects in branched-chain amino acid metabolism.

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 519 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Genetics Supplementation Metabolism Weight Loss
  1. Plant foods and their phytochemicals can help reduce arterial plaque.
  2. Balancing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is crucial for health; consider arachidonic acid intake and cumulative EPA over years.
  3. Branched-chain amino acid metabolism requires B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and more; extra support may be needed during weight loss.

How To Solve The So-Called "Obesity Epidemic" Today

Weight and Healthcare • 499 implied HN points • 21 Dec 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Body positivity Public Health Weight Loss Fatphobia
  1. Stop talking about the 'obesity epidemic' as it is a concept that harms fat people and promotes weight stigma.
  2. The idea of an 'obesity epidemic' is not supported by accurate definitions and encourages harmful behavior towards fat individuals.
  3. Public health efforts should focus on increasing access, reducing barriers, and providing shame-free healthcare rather than perpetuating the 'obesity epidemic' narrative.

Weight Loss Drugs Part 3 - Wegovy and Tirzepatide

Weight and Healthcare • 738 implied HN points • 17 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Medication Side Effects Pharmaceuticals Research
  1. Weight loss drugs often lead to short-term weight loss followed by weight regain, with participants regaining a significant amount of weight and cardiometabolic gains after going off the drug.
  2. Wegovy and Tirzepatide, new weight loss drugs, show a pattern of rapid weight loss at the beginning, then levelling off, and potential weight regain later. Side effects of these drugs are serious.
  3. Pharmaceutical companies aim for profits by keeping patients on expensive weight loss drugs long-term, despite minimal evidence of long-term weight loss benefits and significant harm from side effects.

Weight Watchers - Up To Their Old Tricks

Weight and Healthcare • 559 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Body Image Fitness Health Research
  1. Weight Watchers rebranded and uses language around health and wellness to try to improve their image, but their profit model still relies on weight cycling and short-term weight loss.
  2. Weight Watchers employs deceptive marketing tactics, showcasing weight loss results without providing clear disclaimers on realistic outcomes and promoting weight loss over health.
  3. Despite Weight Watchers' attempts to appear health-focused, their core model is profit-driven, leading to cycles of weight loss and regain for customers, benefiting the company financially while potentially harming individuals.

Novo Nordisk Marketing Diet Drug to Adolescents

Weight and Healthcare • 459 implied HN points • 04 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Medication Weight Loss Health Risks Research
  1. Novo Nordisk is marketing a weight loss drug to adolescents, with potential harmful side effects like gallbladder problems and low blood pressure.
  2. The weight loss from the drug may be partly due to flu-like symptoms caused by the medication, and long-term weight loss maintenance is challenging.
  3. Continued use of the drug for adolescents is concerning due to health risks, potential side effects, and the high cost of the medication.

Testing the Edmonton Obesity Staging System

Weight and Healthcare • 259 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Healthcare Weight Loss Research Body Image
  1. The Edmonton Obesity Staging System classifies people based on health issues, but fails to prove the necessity or effectiveness of weight loss interventions for higher stages.
  2. The study authors have conflicts of interest in the weight loss industry, promoting a body-size-as-disease paradigm without concrete evidence of its benefits.
  3. Health-supporting behaviors like fruit/vegetable consumption and fitness were shown to be more important than weight management in improving health outcomes.

Ghosts of Diet Culture Present

Weight and Healthcare • 459 implied HN points • 28 Dec 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Body positivity Health Impacts Diet Industry Weight Stigma
  1. Diet culture thrives on evil marketing seasons like the holidays, New Years Resolution season, and swimsuit season, making billions of dollars convincing people to try unproductive weight loss methods.
  2. Intentional weight loss often fails in the long term, leading to weight regain and potential negative health impacts like increased mortality, yet the diet industry continues to profit massively from repeat business.
  3. Weight stigma is a real issue, impacting individuals regardless of their body positivity, and many still believe in the myth that weight loss leads to better health despite evidence showing otherwise.

The Signal And The Noise

The Heart Attack Diet • 119 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Diet Weight Loss Metabolism
  1. Measure your weight and waking temperature daily at the same time, and focus on the trend of the seven-day average for better insights.
  2. Avoid influencing measurements that do not impact your main goal, listen to your body's signals of hunger, and be cautious of using willpower for weight management.
  3. Be mindful of the effects of circadian rhythms, weekly variations, and water weight on your body measurements, and strive to minimize noise by staying consistent.

150 Lbs Lost

Inland Nobody • 400 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Mental health Self-Acceptance Healthy living Personal Growth
  1. The first step in achieving a big goal, like weight loss, is ensuring your mental well-being. You need to muster all resources, manage your willpower, and address any mental health issues.
  2. Self-love is crucial for weight loss success. Shaming oneself or others does not lead to long-term positive results. Loving yourself and finding what works for you are key components.
  3. Weight loss is a journey of trial and error. Improvement happens throughout the process, not just at the end goal. Be patient with yourself, learn from setbacks, and keep adapting.