Browse the evidence

A 3-week interdisciplinary dermatological rehabilitation program significantly improves cardiorespiratory fitness (peak wattage) and reduces BMI in patients with psoriasis, thereby addressing key cardiovascular risk factors.

For psoriasis patients, seeking comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation that includes physical training and nutrition counseling can significantly improve heart health markers like fitness and weight, not just skin appearance. This holistic approach addresses the systemic nature of the disease.

The transition to fatherhood during young adulthood (ages 19-39) is associated with longitudinal declines in cardiovascular health, specifically characterized by reduced physical activity, increased sedentary behavior, reduced sleep, poor diet quality, and increased body weight.

If you are becoming a first-time father, expect your health metrics to potentially decline due to lifestyle disruptions. Prioritize sleep and simple dietary choices early on, as these are the areas most likely to suffer. Recognize that stress and anxiety are common triggers for poor health behaviors during this period, and plan for them proactively rather than reacting to them.

Higher adherence to the PURE diet score is significantly associated with lower odds of depression and anxiety in adults at high cardiovascular risk, with the association being statistically significant in women but not in men.

Focus on adding fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish, and whole-fat dairy to your daily diet. This pattern, known as the PURE diet, is linked to lower risks of depression and anxiety, especially in women. You do not need to strictly eliminate animal products or dairy to see benefits; the key is overall dietary quality and nutrient density rather than extreme restriction.

A remotely delivered, 12-month GLP-1RA (semaglutide) supported weight management program achieves significant weight loss (mean 19.1% of starting weight) in participants who maintain an active subscription, but high withdrawal rates (60.4%) limit generalizability.

If you have obesity and are considering a GLP-1RA like semaglutide, a remote program can help you lose significant weight (around 19% on average) if you stick with it. However, be aware that many people drop out, often due to side effects or cost. To succeed, you need to be committed to the weekly injections and the digital support, and understand that stopping the medication likely leads to weight regain.

Virtual weight care programs prescribing a broad range of antiobesity medications alongside behavior change achieve clinically significant weight loss (mean 8.0% at 12 months) in real-world settings, with higher engagement correlating with greater weight loss.

Engage with a structured virtual weight care program that combines medication with behavioral support. Higher engagement with the program (logging weight weekly, interacting with coaches) correlates with greater weight loss (up to 12%). You do not need the most expensive medications to achieve significant results; a broad range of medications, when paired with consistent engagement, can lead to clinically meaningful weight loss.

Tirzepatide produces significantly greater long-term total body weight loss and fat mass reduction compared to Semaglutide in real-world clinical practice, with effects becoming distinct after 6 months.

If you are choosing between Semaglutide and Tirzepatide for long-term weight management, Tirzepatide offers significantly greater weight loss after 12 months. To maximize results and protect your muscle, you must combine the medication with a program that includes strength training twice a week and a protein intake of 60-90 grams daily.

Females experience significantly greater weight loss than males when treated with incretin-based obesity medications (Semaglutide and Tirzepatide).

If you are male, expect that your weight loss may be slower than that of female peers taking the same medication. This is a known biological response. Do not be discouraged; the medication still provides significant metabolic benefits and fat loss, even if the scale moves slower.

Resistance training load (intensity) does not significantly impact skeletal muscle hypertrophy, provided sets are performed to or near volitional fatigue.

You do not need to lift heavy weights to build muscle. Whether you use light weights for many reps or heavy weights for few reps, muscle growth is similar as long as you work close to failure. This allows you to choose loads that feel good for your joints.

Intensive lifestyle interventions in Saudi Arabia achieve an average weight loss of 4.1%, which is favorable compared to other published interventions but fails to meet the >5% threshold for significant comorbidity risk reduction.

Intensive lifestyle interventions in Saudi Arabia yield modest weight loss (4.1%). While not enough to fully reverse comorbidities, it is a positive step. Psychological support is crucial to prevent dropout.

Bariatric surgery in Saudi Arabia achieves an average weight loss of 18% (33.6 kg) at 6 months, with high rates of sleeve gastrectomy and a young patient demographic.

Bariatric surgery in Saudi Arabia is highly effective, with an average 18% body weight loss at 6 months. It is predominantly performed on young women via sleeve gastrectomy.

Long-chain saturated fatty acids (LCSFA, C12-C18) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), whereas short- and medium-chain fatty acids (SCFA/MCFA, C4-C10) are associated with neutral or potentially beneficial effects on CVD risk.

When evaluating saturated fats, distinguish between long-chain (found in meat and cheese) and short/medium-chain (found in dairy fats, coconut oil). Current evidence suggests long-chain fats may increase CVD risk, while short and medium-chain fats may be neutral or beneficial. Focus on the source and type of fat rather than avoiding all saturated fats indiscriminately.

Replacing saturated fatty acids with refined carbohydrates or animal protein increases CVD risk, whereas replacing them with unsaturated fats, plant protein, or complex carbohydrates reduces or has a neutral impact on CVD risk.

If you reduce saturated fat, ensure you replace it with unsaturated fats (like olive oil or nuts), plant proteins (beans, lentils), or complex carbohydrates (whole grains). Avoid replacing saturated fat with refined carbohydrates (sugar, white flour) or animal proteins, as these substitutions may increase cardiovascular risk.

Highly processed foods containing 'acellular' nutrients (refined starches/sugars lacking cellular structure) promote obesity by altering gut microbiome composition, increasing host nutrient absorption, and reducing microbiome energy use.

Choose whole, minimally processed foods over refined, 'acellular' carbohydrates (like white flour or sugar). The intact cellular structure of whole foods feeds your gut microbiome, which helps regulate how much energy you extract and store.

GLP-1 analogues (Semaglutide and Liraglutide) are recommended for MASLD patients with BMI >27 kg/m2 and CVD risk factors when lifestyle intervention is insufficient, offering significant weight loss and CVD risk reduction.

If lifestyle changes alone haven't reduced your weight or CVD risk, and your BMI is above 27, ask your doctor about GLP-1 analogues like Semaglutide or Liraglutide. These medications can help you lose significant weight (up to 15% with Semaglutide) and improve your heart health.

Eating rate is a primary driver of increased calorie intake, and slowing consumption through product reformulation represents a viable public health intervention to reduce energy intake.

To reduce calorie intake without changing what you eat, focus on slowing down your eating speed. The paper identifies eating rate as a direct driver of calorie consumption. You can leverage this by reformulating your food environment (e.g., choosing foods that require more chewing or are harder to eat quickly) or simply by consciously eating slower to allow satiety signals to register.

The dual GLP-1R/GCGR agonist BI 456906 produces clinically meaningful body weight loss (up to 13.8% over 16 weeks) in adults with overweight/obesity, driven by target engagement at both receptors.

BI 456906 is a once-weekly injection for people with overweight or obesity that works by targeting two hormones (GLP-1 and Glucagon). In early studies, it led to significant weight loss (nearly 14% over 4 months). The main side effects are gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting), which are common but often manageable. It is designed for people who may not achieve sufficient weight loss with single-target therapies.

Phenotype-tailored interventions improve specific cardiometabolic risk factors, including waist circumference and triglycerides, more effectively than standard lifestyle interventions.

Focus on reducing waist circumference and triglycerides by adhering to a phenotype-tailored plan that ensures a consistent caloric deficit and appropriate physical activity, as this approach has been shown to improve these specific risk factors more than standard advice.

Phenotype-tailored interventions preserve lean mass percentage and resting energy expenditure (REE) better than standard lifestyle interventions.

To maintain muscle and metabolic rate during weight loss, follow a phenotype-tailored plan that includes specific exercise (like HIIT for low REE) and protein timing, as these strategies help preserve lean mass better than standard advice.

In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and obesity, weight loss therapy should prioritize selective fat mass reduction while preserving lean body mass (muscle) to avoid worsening sarcopenia and surgical risk.

If you have IBD and are overweight, your weight loss goal is different from the general population. You must prioritize keeping your muscle mass. Standard diets that just cut calories might hurt your muscles. You need a plan that specifically protects lean body mass, likely involving higher protein intake and monitoring muscle function, not just the scale number.

In patients with type 2 diabetes duration greater than 10 years, GLP-1RA plus basal insulin fixed-ratio combinations (iDegLira, iGlarLixi) may be numerically more effective for HbA1c reduction than tirzepatide, suggesting tirzepatide is better suited for early-stage disease.

For patients with type 2 diabetes for more than 10 years, GLP-1RA plus basal insulin fixed-ratio combinations may offer better glycemic control than tirzepatide alone, making them a strong option for long-standing disease.

Withholding GLP-1 receptor agonists for at least three half-lives before elective surgery is recommended for weight management patients to minimize retained gastric contents.

For weight loss patients: Check the half-life of your specific drug (e.g., Semaglutide ~7 days, Dulaglutide ~5 days). Stop taking it at least 3 times that duration before your scheduled surgery. For example, if you take Semaglutide (7-day half-life), stop at least 21 days before surgery. Consult your doctor for a bridge plan for blood sugar if applicable.

For patients with Type 2 Diabetes, prolonged cessation of GLP-1 receptor agonists may worsen peri-operative glycaemic control, requiring individualized management and endocrinologist consultation.

If you have Type 2 Diabetes, do not simply stop your GLP-1 drug without a plan. Stopping it can cause your blood sugar to rise dangerously high during surgery. You need a personalized plan from your doctor and likely an endocrinologist to manage your sugar levels during the period you are off the drug.

Implementing national produce prescription programs for US adults with diabetes and food insecurity prevents cardiovascular disease events and generates quality-adjusted life years while being highly cost-effective.

For policymakers and healthcare systems, integrating produce prescriptions into care for diabetic, food-insecure patients is a financially sound investment that improves long-term health outcomes and reduces overall societal costs.

Specific genetic variants (e.g., FTO, TCF7L2, FABP2) modify the body's response to macronutrient intake, such that high-protein or specific fat/carbohydrate ratios yield different weight loss or metabolic outcomes depending on the individual's genotype.

If you have known genetic risks (like FTO variants), standard high-carb or low-fat diets might not be optimal. Consider discussing with a professional whether a high-protein or specific fat-modified diet aligns with your genetic profile for better weight management.