Browse the evidence

A clinical decision support system (CDSS) that integrates patient-centered pre-visit questionnaires with provider alerts significantly increases primary care practitioners' self-reported frequency of counseling on behavioral interventions, referring to weight-loss programs, and discussing anti-obesity medications.

For primary care providers, using a clinical decision support system that allows patients to complete a pre-visit questionnaire about their weight management interest can significantly increase the likelihood of you counseling on behavioral changes, referring patients to weight-loss programs, and discussing anti-obesity medications. This approach works by reducing the friction of initiating these conversations and integrating seamlessly into your electronic health record workflow.

Weight-neutral nutrition and exercise counseling can improve insulin sensitivity in patients with stage 1 obesity, as measured by the Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI).

If you have stage 1 obesity and metabolic issues, try focusing on improving diet quality (more fiber, less sodium, healthy fats) and increasing physical activity without stressing about the number on the scale. This approach can improve your insulin sensitivity for some people, even if you don't lose weight.

Psychological distress (stress, anxiety, depression) and environmental barriers (food insecurity, poor neighborhood quality) significantly increase the risk of weight regain after intentional weight loss by driving disinhibited eating and reducing behavioral adherence.

If you are struggling to maintain weight loss, look beyond just calories. Assess your stress levels, mental health, and your physical environment (food access, neighborhood safety). High stress and poor food environments are proven drivers of weight regain. Addressing these external and psychological factors is essential for long-term success, not just willpower.

Impulsiveness (measured by BIS-11 and MCQ) and temporal discounting (preference for immediate rewards) are significant predictors of weight regain, as they correlate with higher caloric intake and poor adherence to dietary restrictions.

If you find it hard to stick to your diet, it might not just be a lack of discipline. Your brain's tendency to prefer immediate rewards (like tasty food) over long-term goals (like health) plays a role. Recognizing this 'impulsiveness' can help you implement strategies to manage it, such as removing triggers or planning ahead.

Self-selection of behavioral weight loss programs (DPP vs. HWL) in adults with obesity results in balanced enrollment (approx. 50/50 split) without significant bias from BMI, age, or baseline health conditions, though race, income, education, and prior weight loss history do influence program preference.

If you are designing or choosing a weight loss program, offering a choice between different behavioral models (e.g., strict logging vs. biological focus) does not inherently break the study or skew results. However, be aware that race, income, education, and past weight loss history may influence which program a participant prefers. Matching the program to these factors may improve initial engagement.

Lifestyle interventions, specifically the Mediterranean diet and moderate-to-vigorous exercise, improve psoriasis symptoms and quality of life, independent of weight loss.

Start with lifestyle changes. Adopt a Mediterranean diet, which has anti-inflammatory properties that can help your psoriasis regardless of weight loss. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, plus strength training. If sweating bothers your skin, try swimming or other low-impact activities. Be patient and gradual to avoid discouragement.

Oral GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., orforglipron) provide comparable efficacy to injectable formulations while improving accessibility by eliminating cold-chain requirements.

If you prefer pills over injections, oral GLP-1 medications like orforglipron are a viable option. They work similarly to shots but are taken daily by mouth, which may help you stick with the treatment longer. They are also easier to store and distribute globally.

Subsidized participation in commercial weight management programs improves engagement and reduces attrition compared to non-subsidized participation, without compromising weight loss outcomes.

If you cannot afford a commercial weight loss program, look for subsidies from your health insurance or employer. Financial assistance can make these programs more accessible and help you stay engaged without increasing your out-of-pocket costs.

Technology-assisted obesity interventions, including digital platforms and AI-driven adaptive interventions, can produce clinically meaningful weight loss and improve equity by increasing reach to marginalized populations.

Digital weight loss programs can be effective and affordable. If you have a smartphone, you may have access to these programs. Look for options that offer human support if you need extra motivation, as combining technology with coaching yields better results.

A digital weight loss program augmented with a human-enhanced kick-off session yields significantly greater 3-month weight loss (-4.06%) compared to a fully automated program (-4.57%), though the difference was not statistically significant in this pilot.

If you are motivated and can lose weight quickly (2% in a month) using an app, you might not need extra human coaching. If you struggle, a brief check-in or more intensive counseling can help. The app itself is the core driver.

Females perceive supervision during resistance training as more important than males, particularly regarding technical coaching and safety.

Female trainees may benefit more from seeking supervision than male trainees, as they perceive it as more important for technical learning and safety. Trainers should ensure they provide adequate technical coaching and safety oversight for female clients.

Among US women, younger age, Black race, lower income, less than 12 years of education, obesity (BMI ≥ 30), and current smoking are significantly associated with reporting both poor diet and low physical activity.

Public health initiatives targeting diet and physical activity should prioritize younger women, Black women, those with lower income and education levels, and current smokers, as these groups show the highest prevalence of combined poor diet and inactivity. Interventions should address socioeconomic barriers rather than assuming uniform access to resources.

Patients prefer surgical weight loss over medical interventions, even when medical interventions offer similar weight loss, but are willing to use adjuvant AOMs post-surgery for additional loss.

Even if a medication could make you lose the same amount of weight as surgery, most patients still prefer surgery. This suggests that surgery offers benefits beyond just the number on the scale, such as durability or health improvements, which patients value highly.

A post-operative 'Difficulty to control eating' score of ≤7 at 3 months after sleeve gastrectomy independently predicts achieving ≥25% total weight loss at one year.

If you had sleeve gastrectomy, use a validated eating control questionnaire (like the CoEQ) around the 3-month mark. A low score on 'difficulty to control eating' (≤7) is a strong signal you will likely achieve significant weight loss (≥25%). If your score is high, seek early behavioral intervention to improve control, as this is a better predictor of success than how much you weighed in the first few weeks.

Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) significantly improves self-esteem, body image, and health-related quality of life, with the greatest gains occurring within the first 12 months post-surgery.

Expect a significant boost in self-esteem and quality of life within the first year after surgery. Be prepared for a period where your external appearance changes faster than your internal self-image, which can cause temporary discomfort.

Family involvement and structured family therapy significantly enhance postoperative weight loss, adherence, and psychosocial outcomes.

Involve your family in your postoperative care. Structured family therapy can significantly improve weight loss and psychosocial outcomes. Address any family resistance through open communication and counseling.

Interdisciplinary Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (IT+CBT) effectively supports weight loss and improves quality of life in adults with obesity.

Interdisciplinary Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (IT+CBT) combines goal setting, impulse control, and problem-solving with cognitive strategies to help patients achieve and maintain weight loss. A small study showed it was superior to health education or physical exercise alone. It requires commitment to therapy sessions.

CrossFit practitioners exhibit a high prevalence (77.7%) of dietary supplement use, primarily whey protein and creatine, driven by goals of performance enhancement and muscle hypertrophy, yet often lack professional nutritional guidance.

If you do CrossFit, you are likely taking supplements, most commonly whey protein or creatine. The main reasons people take them are to build muscle and improve workout performance. However, a majority of users do this without professional advice. To ensure safety and efficacy, consider consulting a sports nutritionist or physician to verify that your supplement choices and dosages align with your specific training intensity and health goals.

Higher knowledge of macronutrients and positive attitudes toward basic nutrition are significantly associated with lower Body Mass Index (BMI) in student-athletes, whereas nutritional practices do not significantly affect BMI distribution.

For student-athletes, improving your understanding of macronutrients and fostering a positive attitude toward nutrition (like hydration and healthy food) is statistically linked to a healthier BMI, even if your actual daily eating habits aren't perfect. Prioritize education and mindset shifts alongside your training.

Attitudes toward basic nutrition have a statistically significant but weak impact on BMI distribution, with a beta coefficient of -0.153 and a p-value of 0.007.

Having a positive attitude toward nutrition (e.g., valuing hydration and healthy food) is weakly linked to lower BMI. While important, attitude alone is not a strong predictor of weight status.

Bodybuilders who consume dietary supplements primarily rely on trainers and nutritionists for information sources rather than medical doctors, leading to the use of common supplements like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Whey protein.

If you are a bodybuilder, be aware that your supplement choices are heavily influenced by your trainer and nutritionist. Ensure these sources are well-informed about the latest research, as they are your primary information channel. Common supplements like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Whey protein are widely used, but verify their necessity and dosage with a qualified professional.

Bodybuilders who consume dietary supplements do so primarily to increase performance, meet increased nutritional needs from exercise, and prevent injury/improve recovery.

If you are using supplements to enhance performance or meet nutritional needs, ensure you are also focusing on proper training, nutrition, and recovery. Supplements should complement, not replace, these foundational habits.

Mainting fat-free mass through resistance training and protein supplementation is a viable strategy to mitigate Brugada syndrome risk.

Consider incorporating resistance training and adequate protein intake to build fat-free mass, as this may help protect against Brugada syndrome. Discuss this with your doctor, as specific protocols are still being validated.

University students, particularly males, frequently consume protein supplements (often ~24g/day) primarily to build muscle mass, despite having a high incidence of gastrointestinal side effects and a significant lack of knowledge regarding the actual health risks.

If you are a university student using protein powder to build muscle, be aware that nearly 60% of users in this study experienced side effects like stomach issues or headaches. You likely do not need more than 24g per serving, and taking more than 40g offers no extra muscle benefit. Instead of relying on gym buddies or social media, consult a nutritionist to ensure you are not exceeding safe or necessary limits.