Browse the evidence

A technology-based intervention combining weekly telephone counseling with WiFi scale monitoring is not effective in reducing excess gestational weight gain among women with overweight or obesity compared to treatment as usual.

For pregnant women with overweight or obesity, using a WiFi scale and weekly phone calls with a dietitian starting in the second trimester does not appear to be enough to prevent excessive weight gain compared to standard care. The intervention failed to show benefits, suggesting that more intensive or earlier-starting interventions may be required for this high-risk group.

Time-restricted eating (TRE) with a maximum 10-hour daily eating window is feasible for adherence during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy in individuals at increased risk of gestational diabetes, but it does not improve glycemic control or cardiometabolic outcomes compared to usual care.

If you are pregnant and at risk for gestational diabetes, trying a 10-hour eating window (e.g., 9 AM to 7 PM) for 5 weeks is safe and feasible, but do not expect it to lower your blood sugar or weight. You may feel hungrier in the evenings, but you can still adhere to the schedule. Consult your doctor before starting.

Primary care providers' lack of familiarity with anti-obesity medications (AOMs) and concerns about drug safety are primary barriers to prescribing pharmacotherapy for obesity.

If you are a provider, your hesitation to prescribe weight loss medication due to 'safety concerns' or 'lack of familiarity' is a major barrier to patient care. The paper suggests that increased familiarity with newer, highly effective AOMs (like semaglutide) and updated training can overcome these barriers. You should prioritize updating your knowledge on current pharmacotherapy guidelines to ensure patients receive evidence-based treatment.

Prior use of anti-obesity medications (AOMs) does not alter patient motivations for seeking bariatric surgery, as patients prioritize health and longevity regardless of prior pharmaceutical weight loss history.

If you are considering bariatric surgery, your history of using weight loss drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy likely won't change your reasons for wanting surgery. Most patients, regardless of drug history, want surgery to live longer and feel healthier, not just to hit a specific number on the scale. You can still use these drugs after surgery to help you lose even more weight if you are open to it.

Lower educational attainment is associated with higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, although this association becomes less pronounced after adjusting for other socioeconomic and demographic variables.

Education level is linked to health outcomes, with less education correlating with higher rates of hypertension and diabetes. Public health efforts should focus on providing accessible, easy-to-understand health information and care for individuals with lower educational attainment to reduce these disparities.

Higher socioeconomic status (income and education) is associated with higher recognition of nutrition labels, yet this recognition does not necessarily translate to actual usage or improved dietary intake, particularly in elderly and low-education populations.

Knowing a label exists isn't enough; you must be able to read and use it. If you are older or have less formal education, standard back-of-package labels may be too complex. Advocate for or look for front-of-pack 'at-a-glance' labels (like warning labels or traffic lights) which are easier to process quickly. Recognition of labels correlates with higher income and education, so be aware that these tools may be less effective for you without additional education on how to interpret them.

Financial policy measures, such as fiscal interventions, are required to effectively reduce meat consumption, as individual voluntary changes alone are insufficient.

Support policies that make healthy, sustainable food more affordable and accessible. Individual efforts are important, but systemic change through policy is necessary for widespread impact.

In Malaysian reproductive-age women, diabetes mellitus and passive smoking are significant predictors of bone fractures, whereas active smoking and physical activity levels are not.

For women aged 35-49, avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke is crucial for bone health, potentially more so than avoiding active smoking. Managing diabetes is also critical, as it significantly increases fracture risk. These factors outweigh micronutrient intake levels in predicting fractures.

Endoscopic Bariatric Therapies (EBTs) such as ESG and intragastric balloons are largely unknown to patients, with 78.2% unaware of their existence as weight loss options.

Most patients do not know that endoscopic weight loss procedures (like ESG or balloons) exist. If you are seeking weight loss, ask your provider about all options, including endoscopic therapies, as they may not be discussed unless you ask.

Sustained ad libitum consumption of an ultra-processed diet for two weeks does not significantly alter sweet or salty taste detection thresholds or preferences compared to an unprocessed diet.

Eating ultra-processed foods for two weeks does not change your basic ability to taste salt or sugar, nor does it change what you prefer. If you are overeating on these foods, look at factors like eating speed or energy density rather than assuming your taste buds have adapted.

Seasonal variations in glycemic control (HbA1c) and body mass index (BMI) in older adults with type 2 diabetes are preserved and not disrupted by lifestyle modifications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

For older adults with type 2 diabetes, do not assume that pandemic-related lifestyle changes (like staying home more) will necessarily disrupt your seasonal blood sugar patterns. The body's seasonal metabolic rhythm (typically better control in autumn, higher in spring) appears robust and may persist even when daily habits change. Focus on managing these known seasonal fluctuations in your treatment plan rather than expecting lifestyle changes to reset your baseline metabolic rhythm.

Greater dietary diversity (variety of foods) is associated with suboptimal eating patterns, higher energy intake, and increased risk of weight gain and obesity in adult populations.

Stop trying to eat a wide variety of foods as a strategy for weight loss. Instead, focus on eating a healthy pattern that emphasizes plant foods, protein, low-fat dairy, and limits sweets and processed foods. Variety in the context of a modern food environment often leads to consuming more calories and less healthy options.

Barriers to implementing weight management services in community pharmacies include lack of pharmacist time, lack of private consultation areas, and difficulty in following up with patients.

To effectively provide weight management services, pharmacies need to address operational barriers such as lack of time and private consultation areas. This may involve scheduling dedicated time for counseling and designating private spaces for patient interactions.

GLP-1 receptor activation in the brain reduces the reward value of food, suggesting potential therapeutic applications for treating addiction to food and substances of abuse.

Research suggests that GLP-1 medications might help treat addiction by changing how your brain rewards food or substances. If you struggle with addictive behaviors, this emerging area of science offers hope for treatments that target the brain's reward system directly.

Collegiate student-athletes have low knowledge of nutritional supplements and third-party-tested (TPT) logos, and this lack of recognition does not correlate with their actual use of TPT supplements.

If you are a collegiate athlete, do not assume that recognizing a third-party testing logo means you are using safe supplements. The study shows that knowing the logo does not predict whether you actually use TPT products. Your overall knowledge of supplements is likely lower than you think (median 33% correct). To mitigate doping risk, do not rely on logos alone. Verify every specific product batch on the testing organization's official website, regardless of whether you received nutritional counseling from your athletic department.

Access to obesity treatment in Canada is inequitable, with patients having high socioeconomic status being overrepresented in treatment programs compared to the general population of people with obesity, who are more likely to have lower socioeconomic status.

If you have a lower income, you may face barriers to accessing obesity treatment due to lack of insurance coverage. Advocate for yourself and your community for better access to affordable treatments. There are resources and programs that may help, and discussing financial concerns with your doctor is important.

Patients often learn about semaglutide and tirzepatide from social media and support groups rather than healthcare providers, who act as 'gatekeepers' rather than initial educators.

If you are interested in semaglutide or tirzepatide, do not assume your doctor will bring it up. You likely learned about it from social media or friends. Bring this information to your appointment, as providers may not be the initial source of this information but are necessary for safe access.

Tirzepatide use is strongly associated with a high frequency of dosing errors, particularly incorrect dose administration, which increases significantly over time and correlates with strong statistical safety signals.

If you are using tirzepatide, be aware that dosing errors are the most common side effect reported. The once-weekly schedule and mandatory dose increases can be confusing. Use a calendar or app to track your injections and strictly follow the titration steps to avoid mistakes.

Tirzepatide is associated with injection-site reactions, particularly pain, which are consistent with the class of GLP-1/GIP agonists and are typically mild and transient.

Injection site pain is a common side effect of tirzepatide. It is usually mild and goes away. Proper injection technique and counseling can help reduce this discomfort and help you stick with your treatment.

Primary care physicians' proactivity in prescribing pharmaceutical weight loss treatments is significantly correlated with their belief in the efficacy of those treatments and their specific knowledge of the agents, whereas lack of knowledge is the predominant barrier for less proactive physicians.

For primary care physicians, the key to expanding obesity treatment options is not just access to drugs, but targeted education and clear guidelines. Physicians who feel knowledgeable and confident are significantly more likely to prescribe effective pharmaceutical interventions like liraglutide. Updating guidelines and providing continuous education can directly increase proactive prescribing.

Cultural insularity, defined as the greater role of cultural identity in food choices, is positively associated with higher BMI in French populations.

If you live in a culture where food is central to identity, weight management may feel like a betrayal of your community. Recognize that 'cultural insularity'—letting cultural norms dictate food choices—is a real, measurable factor linked to higher BMI. To manage weight, focus on integrating health into your culture (e.g., modifying traditional dishes) rather than rejecting your heritage, as this reduces the psychological resistance to change.

In routine clinical practice, sporadic individual dietary consultations do not significantly improve adherence to the Mediterranean diet in patients with type 2 diabetes.

If you have type 2 diabetes, simply attending a dietitian appointment once or twice a year is unlikely to change your diet significantly. To get results, you need intensive, ongoing support that provides concrete tools and food, not just sporadic advice. If you feel you already know how to eat well, focus on maintaining that consistency rather than seeking more general advice.

The protective effect of psychological resilience on physical disability and grip strength is attenuated in individuals with frequent hospitalizations (2+ per year).

If you have been hospitalized frequently, psychological resilience might not be enough to maintain your physical strength on its own. This doesn't mean resilience is worthless, but it suggests that for those with high medical burden, resilience must be supported by robust medical care and physical therapy. Focus on preventing hospitalizations to allow resilience to do its protective work.

The bitter taste of polyphenol-rich oils (e.g., olive, flaxseed) significantly limits dietary acceptance and ingestion, thereby reducing the cardiovascular health benefits of these fatty acids.

If you dislike the bitter taste of healthy oils like olive or flaxseed, don't skip them. Use processing tricks like heating the oil (for cooking), storing it cold, or mixing it with flavored foods (like milled flax in muffins) to mask the bitterness. This makes it easier to actually eat them and get the heart benefits.