The hottest Weight Loss Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

ex150vinegar review: lost 4-6lbs, but nothing crazy

Experimental Fat Loss • 134 implied HN points • 19 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Using vinegar, like apple cider vinegar, may help some people lose a few pounds and reduce appetite. It's not a miracle solution, but it can support weight loss when combined with a healthy diet.
  2. Research shows that vinegar can have positive effects on body weight and fat in various studies, with people losing noticeable amounts of weight in as little as 12 weeks. This suggests that vinegar could be a simple addition to a weight loss plan.
  3. It's really important to be careful with vinegar since it can be harmful to teeth and the esophagus if taken undiluted. Finding safe ways to consume it, like mixing it with other drinks, is a good idea.

Weight Watchers - Up To Their Old Tricks

Weight and Healthcare • 559 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  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 Weight Loss
  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 Weight Loss
  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
  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.
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The Signal And The Noise

The Heart Attack Diet • 119 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  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.

One Year of the Heart Attack Diet

The Heart Attack Diet • 139 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Polyunsaturated fats might be a likely cause of obesity and modern diseases, leading to weight gain and negative health effects.
  2. The traditional 'eat less, exercise more' weight loss advice can be ineffective, and experimenting with different diets and food components may lead to varying results.
  3. Sulphite preservatives and high polyunsaturated fat content in certain foods can have adverse effects on health, causing issues like hangovers and weight fluctuations.

Who Says Dieting Fails Most Of The Time?

Weight and Healthcare • 1198 implied HN points • 06 Nov 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Various studies from different time periods show that intentional weight loss through dieting has a high failure rate, with most individuals regaining lost weight within a few years.
  2. Even when weight loss is achieved, it may not necessarily lead to improved health outcomes or reduced mortality risks, compared to focusing on behaviors like exercise and healthy eating.
  3. The research emphasizes the importance of moving away from the traditional focus on body size manipulation to a more evidence-based approach that supports people's health through behavior changes and access to resources.

TGIF: Nutrition News

Unsettled Science • 818 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  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 NoYoYo Protocol

Prime Cuts Newsletter • 216 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Popular weight loss approaches may not be sustainable, leading to the YoYo Effect.
  2. The NoYo Protocol offers a blueprint for sustainable weight loss without the YoYo cycle.
  3. The protocol includes specific behaviors like eating high protein and fats, avoiding calorie restrictions, intermittent fasting, and focusing on the psychology of creating a lean self-concept.

Weight Loss Research Should Be Five Years Long - At Least

Weight and Healthcare • 479 implied HN points • 22 Oct 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Weight loss research should be at least five years long to capture long-term outcomes accurately.
  2. The weight loss industry often conducts short-term studies that may overlook weight regain and potential harms of interventions.
  3. There is a need for systemic change in how weight loss interventions are researched and marketed to protect patients from ineffective and potentially harmful treatments.

ex_kempner review: CICO and FO

Experimental Fat Loss • 127 implied HN points • 22 Jun 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. A very low-calorie diet, like the Kempner rice diet, is extremely hard to stick to. People often feel constantly hungry and unsatisfied with their meals.
  2. Drastic calorie restrictions may lead to temporary weight loss but often result in rapid weight gain once normal eating resumes. This can create a cycle of yo-yo dieting.
  3. Individual experiences with diets can vary greatly. Some people might succeed on a strict diet while others struggle, highlighting that dieting is not one-size-fits-all.

One Year of the Heart Attack Diet II: Metabolism

The Heart Attack Diet • 119 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Metabolic issues like hypothyroidism can have symptoms that doctors may label as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, or Major Depression. It's essential to explore treatment options that work for you.
  2. Diet changes, like cutting out polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), may have a significant impact on metabolism and overall health. Consider avoiding PUFAs for potential improvements.
  3. It's crucial to be mindful of the impact of certain foods, like peanuts or palm oil, on metabolism. Forswearing polyunsaturated fats is advised for better health outcomes.

Does This Study Really Show How To Maintain Weight Loss?

Weight and Healthcare • 439 implied HN points • 05 Nov 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. The study on maintaining weight loss analyzed a small sample of participants who were considered 'successes' by Weight Watchers, a fraction of their total enrollment.
  2. The study included participants who had lost weight and maintained it for just one year, even though research shows weight regain within five years is common.
  3. Many responses in the study highlighted motivations like escaping weight stigma and persevering through challenges, raising questions about the effectiveness of weight loss maintenance strategies.

Bears, Famine, and Dieting Failure

Weight and Healthcare • 678 implied HN points • 18 May 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Intentional weight loss often results in short-term weight loss followed by long-term weight regain due to the body's biological response to famine-like situations and physical activity.
  2. The body undergoes physiological changes during weight loss attempts to protect against perceived food scarcity and increased physical activity, making long-term weight loss challenging.
  3. Research shows that the majority of intentional weight loss efforts are unsustainable in creating significant long-term weight loss, raising questions about the ethical and evidence-based nature of weight loss interventions.

Quick Guide: Will Weight Loss Improve/Cure This Health Condition?

Weight and Healthcare • 379 implied HN points • 03 Dec 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Weight loss may not necessarily improve health conditions; health changes may stem from behavior changes instead.
  2. Unintentional weight loss or weight loss through methods like liposuction may not lead to the same health benefits as intentional weight loss.
  3. The presence of a health issue in thin individuals suggests that weight loss might not always be the solution; alternative treatments beyond weight loss exist.

On The Need for a New Theory

The Heart Attack Diet • 159 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. PUFAs are believed to be the root of obesity and metabolic health issues, but the direct evidence does not fully support this theory.
  2. A new theory is needed to explain weight loss and metabolic changes that go beyond solely cutting out PUFAs.
  3. Protein restriction may play a crucial role in weight loss and metabolic health, and could have a significant impact on dietary success.

Reader Question: How Do I Push Back Against Workplace Weight Loss Challenges?

Weight and Healthcare • 419 implied HN points • 08 Oct 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Facing workplace weight loss challenges can be intimidating, especially for larger individuals who may feel triggered or stressed.
  2. Pushing back against such challenges can involve addressing concerns about health, defending against body size discrimination, and advocating for weight-neutral interventions.
  3. It's crucial to remember that workplace weight issues are not your fault, and there's value in advocating for a healthier focus on well-being rather than just weight.

Why One Donut Isn't Enough

Inland Nobody • 80 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
🍲 Food & Drink Weight Loss
  1. Not all foods fill you up the same way. Some might feel like they have fewer calories than they actually do, making it easy to eat more.
  2. Processed and tasty foods can trick your hunger signals. Foods like fast food often leave you feeling hungry even after consuming a lot of calories.
  3. Managing weight involves eating less than you burn while also feeling full. Choosing foods that satisfy you is key to avoiding constant hunger.

Protein Restriction Paradox

The Heart Attack Diet • 139 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Giving up PUFAs doesn't directly lead to immediate weight loss, contrary to popular belief.
  2. Brad Marshall bravely remains honest about his weight despite selling supplements for metabolic issues.
  3. Protein restriction may lead to weight loss in mice by increasing calorie output, revealing a paradox in the diet approach.

Responding to Weight Loss Recommendations

Weight and Healthcare • 379 implied HN points • 26 Oct 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. When considering weight loss interventions, ask for five-year data to evaluate long-term effectiveness and potential side effects.
  2. Advocate for systemic change to focus on weight-neutral interventions to support health directly rather than simply aiming for weight loss.
  3. Challenge the current practices in weight loss research and intervention approval processes to prioritize transparency, honesty, and true informed consent.

The Harm of Weight Cycling

Weight and Healthcare • 738 implied HN points • 09 Feb 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Failing at weight loss attempts can have harmful consequences like weight cycling, which is associated with increased inflammation, hypertension, insulin resistance, and higher mortality.
  2. Weight cycling, common in intentional weight loss efforts, leads to adverse health outcomes and psychological distress.
  3. Despite the low success rate and potential harm of intentional weight loss, it continues to be prescribed, highlighting weight bias in healthcare and the influence of the weight loss industry.

The New York Times Lobbies for Diet Drugs

Weight and Healthcare • 559 implied HN points • 04 Jun 22
🏥 Health Politics Weight Loss
  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.

Some Successful Predictions of the Old Theory

The Heart Attack Diet • 139 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Eating too much polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) can clog your metabolism and lead to weight gain, tiredness, and other health issues.
  2. Avoiding PUFAs and sulfites can lead to improvements in energy levels and well-being.
  3. Old theories about diet and metabolism may help explain personal experiences, but new information and adjustments to these theories may be necessary over time.

A Signal Boost for a New Seeker

The Heart Attack Diet • 79 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Experimenting with a diet focused on starch and animal fats, minus vegetable oils and high protein, resulted in significant weight loss for the author.
  2. The author has seen improvements in digestion, skin, energy levels, and satiety while following this unique diet approach.
  3. The website of George from codingbackwards.org, who is on a similar diet journey, is described as charming and hand-coded in html, providing a nostalgic feel.

Reader Question – What’s the Deal with Lark Health?

Weight and Healthcare • 359 implied HN points • 02 Nov 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Lark Health is primarily a weight loss program marketed as a diabetes prevention and overall health coaching service, but its actual effectiveness in sustainable weight loss is questionable.
  2. Results from a study on Lark Health showed that only a small percentage of participants completed the program and the average weight loss achieved was minimal, raising concerns about the program's real impact.
  3. Despite claims of 'clinically proven results,' Lark Health's focus on weight loss rather than holistic health raises ethical questions, especially as it is backed by the CDC and marketed through insurance companies and employers.

If Weight Loss Is A Prescription

Weight and Healthcare • 419 implied HN points • 10 Sep 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Weight loss interventions are often recommended as a healthcare intervention, but evidence questions both their effectiveness and safety long-term.
  2. Research shows that most weight loss is short-term and often results in weight regain, raising doubts about the long-term efficacy of weight loss methods.
  3. Not only does weight loss failure pose harm, but the blame game surrounding unsuccessful weight loss attempts can also have negative psychological impacts.

ex150-13 report: Man discovers food

Experimental Fat Loss • 198 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Eating the same meal for a long time led to small weight changes, showing routines can affect weight loss positively.
  2. Trying a variety of foods after years of strict diets resulted in surprising satiety, even from sugary snacks.
  3. Lowering linoleic acid levels might improve overall health and satiety, suggesting dietary adjustments can have significant effects.

Can Exercise Be Unhealthy?

Are You Okay? • 199 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Decouple exercise from weight loss and worthiness to establish a healthier relationship with physical activity.
  2. Exercise doesn't always directly lead to weight loss, so focus on making exercise fun, social, and sustainable instead of solely aiming for shedding pounds.
  3. Mix up your exercise routine to prevent overuse injuries and set realistic goals for long-term success, while allowing yourself rest days without feeling guilty.

Protein Cravings

The Heart Attack Diet • 119 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Protein cravings can indicate a possible deficiency, leading to extreme hunger and specific food desires.
  2. Low protein intake may result in the body sending strong signals for necessary nutrients, like craving cheese or steak.
  3. Maintaining a balance in protein intake can potentially impact weight loss and energy levels over time.

Weight Loss Sales Pitches Are Not Informed Consent Conversations

Weight and Healthcare • 399 implied HN points • 07 Sep 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Healthcare practitioners should provide informed consent, including risks and failure rates, instead of aggressively marketing weight loss interventions.
  2. Red flags for healthcare providers selling weight loss include not mentioning alternative options, minimizing risks, and promoting commercial weight loss programs.
  3. Using neutral language like 'fat' instead of medicalized terms like 'obese' is important in discussions about weight and health.

Weight Loss Surgery - Long-Term Outcomes and Informed Consent

Weight and Healthcare • 519 implied HN points • 11 May 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Weight loss surgeries, such as the Lap Band procedure, have serious risks and high rates of complications and re-operations.
  2. Long-term outcomes and informed consent for weight loss surgeries lack substantial research beyond ten years, making it difficult to have fully informed conversations.
  3. Informed consent for weight loss surgeries should involve a detailed discussion on the transformative impact on the digestive system, lack of long-term data, potential negative health implications, and the importance of considering weight-neutral healthcare options.

Xmas Mom Test

The Heart Attack Diet • 99 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. The author is facing a challenging 'Xmas Mom Test' where they expect to overeat while at home with their family, putting their weight loss theories to the ultimate test.
  2. Despite having various theories about weight loss and thyroid function, the author is unsure of what will happen during the test, highlighting the complexity of the human body's response to different diets.
  3. The author will observe trends in weight gain, appetite changes, and thyroid dose during the test, aiming to understand the impact of different dietary factors on their body's homeostasis.

Weight Loss (Bariatric) Surgery and Type 2 Diabetes

Weight and Healthcare • 519 implied HN points • 07 May 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. Studies comparing weight loss surgery to traditional medical management for type 2 diabetes often have biased outcomes, leading to a skewed view of effectiveness.
  2. Traditional medical management for type 2 diabetes often focuses on weight loss, which can be ineffective and sometimes worsen blood sugar control for fat patients.
  3. Research on weight loss surgeries tends to overlook or downplay adverse effects, leaving uncertainty about long-term outcomes and quality of life post-surgery.

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
  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.

ExFatloss 2024: Year in Review

Experimental Fat Loss • 205 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. In 2024, there were many experiments and personal weight changes, with weight fluctuating but often hovering around the lowest point in several years.
  2. Tools like the Omega Tracker and various calculators were created to help people understand their dietary impact and weight loss journey better.
  3. There are new goals for the future, focusing on sharing knowledge and enabling others to experiment with their diets rather than just personal progress.

Xmas Mom Test: Fiddled Results

The Heart Attack Diet • 79 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss
  1. The author experienced significant weight fluctuation during the Xmas Mom Test period, gaining 3.4 kilos in three weeks but then surprisingly losing 2 kilos in a day.
  2. The author decided to fiddle with their weight data to present a more smoothed-out version on the graph, feeling guilty about doing so but choosing transparency by openly discussing it.
  3. This incident highlights the complexities and challenges of accurately tracking and interpreting weight changes over time, even with careful monitoring and data recording.