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Apr 18

3 Weight-Loss ETFs to Profit From the Obesity Drug Boom – InvestorPlace

People are interested in ETFs for weight loss because of Oprahs TV show Shame, Blame, and the Weight Loss Revolution, which was about weight loss drugs. A lot of people are upset that shes talking to patients and doctors about using prescription drugs to lose weight, but its still causing a stir.

Its also big news that Oprah is leaving the Weight Watchers board. The fact that she backs drugs like Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic shows how times are changing for everyone. Its always been hard for the famous talk show host to lose weight. But because she was so famous, everything she suggested to lose weight sold out very quickly.

In other words, we see the same pattern with drugs that help people lose weight. Because of Oprahs ABC special, the dieting business and the practice of dieting are changing. This is like what happened when she really tried to lose weight in 1998. The only difference is the methodology shes adopting.

But be careful while Oprah fights the social shame that comes with losing weight with Ozempic. Not only does Ozempic have side effects, but a lot of new medicines need testing.

Then, what is the safest thing to do with this trend? Investing in the best exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for weight loss can open up a lot of health and fitness-related doors for you. While Oprah plugs diet pills, lets look at three exchange-traded funds that can help you lose weight.

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The iShares US Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSEARCA:IHF), up 11% in the past year, boasts a competitive expense ratio of 0.40% and a dividend yield of 0.78%. It is riding the Oprah momentum, which is turning back the clock to the late 90s.

The expense ratio indicates the amount you will pay to own a fund over the course of a year. In this case, it is pretty reasonable, meaning there are no complaints to management. The yield might seem a bit ordinary, but this is an ETF we are talking about.

At the end of last year, IHF divided its shares five-to-one to reduce their value and increase the number of outstanding shares, which improved accessibility.

One of the oldest weight-loss ETFs available, IHF focuses on the healthcare and nursing home industries and tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Select Health Care Providers Index.

Its reduced volatility in correlation with the market overall as a whole gives it the attributes of medium risk, which exhibits a beta of 0.72 and standard deviation of 17.20% over a 3-year historical time period.

IHFs portfolios top holdings, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), CVS Health (NYSE:CVS), Cigna (NYSE:CI) and Humana (NYSE:HUM), at 22%, 4%, 10% and 4%, respectively, offer many wellness programs that can ride the current Oprah momentum to the bank. These programs include diet plans from Humana, over-the-counter weight loss supplements at CVS MinuteClinics, nutritional counseling from Cigna and weight management plans through UnitedHealths Optum.

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Janus Hendersons The Obesity ETF (NASDAQ:SLIM) tracks the performance of global companies offering obesity-related services, but the twist is that several fields fall under this category. Just as we saw with IHF, there is no singular way to invest in healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, plus-size clothing, weight loss programs and medical devices.

The Obesity ETF invests at least 80% of its net assets in the stocks that comprise theSolactive Obesity Index. Its lack of diversity compared to other exchange-traded funds means it may favor investing in specific companies or industries.

At $11.63 million in net worth, SLIM offers a dividend yield of 0.57%. The funds disastrous losses as of late a year-to-date total loss of 11.27% are due to the unpredictable nature of the healthcare industry.

Companies involved in treating diabetes and obesity account for about three quarters of SLIMs assets. Regarding ownership, Novo Nordisks (NYSE:NVO) 20% and DexComs (NASDAQ:DXCM) 13% are at the top.

As a weight loss product manufacturer, SLIM owns Novo Nordisk and Herbalife (NYSE:HLF). Obese adults can take one of two weight management medications made by industry giant Novo Nordisk: Wegovy or Saxenda. Among Herbalifes many health and weight loss aids are protein shakes, bars and teas. Its worth remembering that Wegovy is a name that has been popping up a lot ever since Oprah decided to create a major cultural boost for these prescription drugs.

Several prominent companies are part of its portfolio, including Tandem Diabetes Care (NASDAQ:TNDM), Insulet Corporation (NASDAQ:PODD), and DexCom. Weight loss aids made by these companies, which boost metabolic health, make managing diabetes easier. Healthcare providers and medical device manufacturers all have an indirect interest in helping with weight management.

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VanEck Pharmaceutical ETFs (NASDAQ:PPH) focus on pharmaceuticals makes for an interesting analysis. Its the main beneficiary of the Oprah-led boom.

The ETF has increased by more than 7% to $85.44 in the last year. Shares are issued and redeemed on demand by this open-ended investment company. On Mar. 31, net assets and share class size totaled $543.2 million.

With a net expense ratio of only 0.36%, this shows the funds operational expenditures are managed effectively.

VanEck Pharmaceutical ETFs portfolio helped develop weight-loss and treatment drugs. Tigepatide, sold as Mounjaro, has made Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) a weight loss pharmaceutical giant. Tirzepatide, first approved for type 2 diabetes, regulates hunger and insulin secretion by blocking GLP-1 and GIP receptors. This medication can reduce weight by 20% in overweight or obese non-diabetics.

Novo Nordisk has benefited from semaglutide, which is sold as Wegovy for obesity and Ozempic for diabetes, two names linked to Oprah and her new attitude toward weight management. This chronic weight management program helps patients lose 15%, making Wegovy famous.

On the date of publication, Faizan Farooque did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.comPublishing Guidelines.

Faizan Farooque is a contributing author for InvestorPlace.com and numerous other financial sites. Faizan has several years of experience in analyzing the stock market and was a former data journalist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. His passion is to help the average investor make more informed decisions regarding their portfolio.

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Apr 18

Tori Spelling Took Mounjaro to Lose Her Baby Weight – PEOPLE

Tori Spelling revealed that she took type 2 diabetes drug Mounjaro for weight loss.

On the April 16 episode of her podcast misSPELLING, the Beverly Hills, 90210 star, 50, discussed her decision to try Mounjaro, an FDA-approved prescription medication for people with type 2 diabetes. It's a brand name for tirzepatide also known as Zepbound which has been proven to be highly effective for weight loss by reducing appetite and improving how the body breaks down sugar and fat.

Mounjaro is similar to Ozempic and Wegovy brand names for semaglutide which work in the brain to impact satiety, and have been trending in Hollywood circles for weight loss.

I did Mounjaro and everyone admits it now. Its a different time so I dont feel shamed saying that, Spelling said on the show.

The actress said took the drug in order to lose her baby weight. She said shes really fortunate because she was able to lose her baby weight after giving birth to four of her children, praising her good genes from her thin parents.

However, Spelling admitted that she struggled to lose weight after welcoming her fifth child, son Beau, back in 2017. I couldnt lose the weight, she explained. At my heaviest, I was 120 lbs. my entire life. And after Beau, I was 160 lbs.

I couldnt lose the weight and the doctor was like, Well, its an age thing, added Spelling, who had Beau at age 44.

Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic

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Although Spelling said she never works out and hates drinking water, she said she tried everything to lose weight including exercising and intermittent fasting.

I did whatever anyone told me to do that was safe and it just wasnt working, she said. The weight wouldnt come off.

Spelling said she then visited her doctor who prescribed her to Mounjaro, in addition to hormones as she was approaching menopause.

She put me simultaneously with the hormones on Mounjaro, she said. Im no longer on it but I did lose weight and I havent been on it since the end of January.

In addition to Spelling, other stars have shared their experiences using Mounjaro including Tracy Tutor, Dolores Catania, Gracie McGraw, Boy George, Whoopi Goldberg and Lauren Manzo.

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Apr 18

Where Is Charles Bridgeman From ‘My 600-lb Life’ Now? He’s Lost a Significant Amount of Weight – Distractify

While Charles qualified for weight loss surgery, he declined the offer, claiming he didn't want to move to Houston and leave his family.

TLC's My 600-lb Life highlights the weight loss attempts of severely obese individuals across the country as they work with esteemed bariatric surgeon Dr. Now.

The individuals the show features all have one thing in common: They're addicted to food and the feeling it gives them.

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During the Season 12 finale, we meet Charles Bridgeman from Everett, Wash., who knows all about grappling with a life-threatening addiction. While food was always a comfort for him, he was addicted to meth for a decade. His addiction prompted his mom and grandma to kick him out, leaving him homeless for quite some time and even resulting in him getting arrested.

Fortunately, Charles went to rehab and got clean a few years back. But this shining achievement was eclipsed by the fact that he seemed to have replaced drugs with food.

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When we meet Charles, who is in his early 30s, he is living with his brother, Brad, and sister, Cheyana. Brad's full-time job has become taking care of Charles, who cannot make himself food and can only walk a few steps at a time before needing to rest.

Charles's journey on My 600-lb Life was an interesting one. He and Dr. Now butted heads several times and Charles often didn't follow Dr. Now's directions. Usually, when this happens on the show, the individual ends up gaining weight and getting farther away from their goal.

However, Charles did lose weight, and Dr. Now did end up approving him for weight loss surgery. But Charles had seemingly gotten so comfortable at home with Brad, who kept him on track, that he declined the offer. He said didn't want to move to Houston for the surgery and leave his family, even if it was only temporary.

At the end of the episode, Charles said he wanted to continue his weight loss efforts in Everett and possibly reconsider surgery in the future. That said, where is Charles now? Did he ever get bariatric surgery, and was he able to continue losing weight on his own?

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Charles and his brother Brad in Dr. Now's office in Houston, Texas

Since his time on My 600-lb Life, Charles appears to be doing very well. According to his Facebook profile, he is still living in Everett, Wash., and has continued to lose weight.

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Charles has been spending time with his dogs and recently took them to the dog park, illustrating that he's still making an effort to go outside and do more activities.

However, the biggest update is Charles's current weight. At the beginning of his episode, he was believed to be over 700 pounds. After adopting Dr. Now's diet plan and developing an exercise routine, he was down to 604 pounds by the end of the episode, losing well over 100 pounds on his journey.

That being said, in September 2023, Charles revealed some exciting news: "Omg down to 385," he wrote on Facebook.

It's unclear if this substantial weight loss was strictly from dieting or if Charles did get bariatric surgery, which would likely expedite his weight loss. However, we are glad to hear that Charles hasn't given up and is continuing to lose weight.

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Where Is Charles Bridgeman From 'My 600-lb Life' Now? He's Lost a Significant Amount of Weight - Distractify

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Apr 18

What is the slow-carb diet? A beginner’s guide – Women’s Health UK

Not all

The meal plan was created by entrepreneur and podcaster Timothy Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman. In his 2010 book, Ferriss outlines his trademarked slow-carb diet which involves eating meat with legumes and vegetables for almost every meal of the day and swapping refined carbs with slow carbs AKA ones that take longer to digest.

Although slow carb isn't an official nutrition term, the trendy diet remains popular for weight loss. But what can you eat on a slow-carb diet, and is it actually safe to try? Here are the benefits, risks, foods list, and things to keep in mind when trying it for yourself, according to a registered dietitian.

Meet the expert: Brigitte Zeitlin, is a registered dietitian and owner of BZ Nutrition in New York City.

First, what is a slow carb? The phrase relates to the concept of simple versus complex carbs: Simple carbohydrates move through the body at a faster pace than complex ones such as legumes or dark leafy greens, says Brigitte Zeitlin, a registered dietitian and owner of BZ Nutrition in New York City. Simple carbs end up being less filling and satiating plus, they spike your blood sugar compared to complex ones due to the removed fibre. In short: complex carbs = slow carbs.

The slow-carb diet involves eating five main food groups (animal protein, vegetables, legumes, fats, and spices) across four meals a day for six days of the week, and focusing on carbs that take longer to digest. You get one free day per week on which you can eat whatever you want, Zeitlin says.

The idea is to follow a very low-carb regimen on the premise that it will increase your bodys ability to break down fat for energy and reduce your overall fat stores, Zeitlin says and in turn, reduce your body weight. By following the slow-carb diet, you might be able to lose 10-20 pounds (4-9kg) in one month even without exercising, per the founder's website. You're also welcome to take various supplements (like calcium and magnesium) while doing the diet, but they aren't a requirement, per the website.

The slow-carb diet is based on the following five fundamental rules, per the founder:

If you are on this diet to lose weight, then you need to avoid all processed carbohydrates (like breads, pastas, cereals, baked goods, etc) for six days per week. If you are on the diet to increase your muscle and strength, then youre allowed to eat these foods within 30 minutes of finishing a resistance-training workout.

The slow-carb diet encourages you to re-make the same meals from the approved five groups of foods (animal protein, vegetables, legumes, fats, and spices). That said, eating a variety of different foods boosts your health and helps you manage your weight, per the CDC so while it's helpful to stick to a few weight loss-friendly foods, don't feel like you have to restrict yourself entirely.

The slow-carb diet boasts the importance of drinking water and other unsweetened tea or coffee drinks. Consuming alcohol, juice, smoothies, or any calorie-filled beverage is discouraged. (If you love a treat and can't stay away, try a low-calorie cocktail or healthy smoothie that will satisfy your sweet tooth and support your health goals.)

This diet bans all fruit intake on the premise that they contain too much sugar for weight loss. However, it's worth noting that many experts still recommend fruit on a weight loss plan.

Based on the slow-carb diet guidelines, you can eat and drink anything you wish on one day per week of your choosing. You may have heard this called a cheat day, but we prefer taking a break. Enjoy yummy foods and make note of how your body feels you even may find that your new routine has changed how you view healthy, satiating meals.

The diet is based on five main food groups: protein, legumes, vegetables, fats, and spices. The founder recommends eating these exact foods over and over without adding new options but of course, no diet is one-size-fits-all, and you're encouraged to find nourishing foods that work for you and your lifestyle. In the meantime, here are the suggested foods for the slow-carb diet:

One of the main rules of the diet is that you're encouraged eat the same things over and over to get you in a routine a variety of meals is not necessarily the goal or purpose here. The following are a few examples of meals you could enjoy that fit the slow-carb diet bill, according to Zeitlin:

The diet cuts out processed foods, sugary beverages, and other less-nutritious foods, and doing so can certainly yield weight loss results. Allowing for a day of eating whatever you want may help some people feel less deprived, too. (However, the opposite can also be argued).

The online reviews about the slow-carb diet are mixed, but there are certainly lots of positive ones. Even if you don't actually apply any of the techniques, this book will likely make you think about your overall health in a different way, one reviewer wrote on Amazon. There is a wealth of information in this book, and it has helped me lose weight, gain strength, and run faster in the last 12 months.

The same reviewer went on to explain: Like most of Ferriss' work, it could easily be misunderstood. Be clear that it isn't about shortcuts or 'hacks' it's about efficiently getting maximum benefit from the minimum input but that 'minimum input' still requires effort and dedication. You'll get out what you're prepared to put in. (That's only *one* person's opinion, of course, but valid points.)

There are very few pros to fad, restrictive diets like this one, according to Zeitlin. You can definitely lose weight, but she warns it may not be sustainable for everyone. As soon as you reintroduce the healthy food groups that have been removed, like whole grains and fruits, you will regain weight and likely gain back more weight than you originally lost, Zeitlin says.

Zeitlin also warns that you may feel guilty about falling off the plan, and you may end up going overboard on the restricted foods if you feel deprived while omitting simple carbs, alcohol, and more six days of the week. Additionally, the concept of a free or "cheat" day can create a messed-up relationship with food, reinforcing the notion that they are 'good' foods and 'bad' foods, when some of those 'bad' foods are vitamin-rich fruits and whole grains, she adds.

The choice is ultimately yours, and you know your body and personality best. Some people have an easier time losing weight by following structured guidelines and strict shopping lists, while others (like people with a history of disordered eating) may find that type of heavy guidance and rigidity harmful or even downright dangerous.

Zeitlin personally doesnt recommend trying an overly restrictive diet like the slow-carb diet. Diets that encourage cutting food groups out completely dont support your health goals long-term and can leave you yo-yo-ing up and down with your weight, she says.

If you are trying to lose weight, Zeitlin recommends concentrating on foods you should be adding in versus taking out, she says. This includes adding in more veggies, lean proteins, whole grains instead of white flour, and fruits. Keep your grains and fruits to two servings each per day and dont forget to add in more water, along with sleep and physical activity, she says.

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Apr 8

‘Oatzempic’ Isn’t the Weight Loss Hack You Think It Is – Glamour

So-called wellness hacks may come and go, but unfortunately diet culture is forever. And its trends like TikToks latest obsession with the oatzempic drink that canand doperpetuate the latter. (See the Slimfast consumer to almond mom pipeline.)

Oatzempica mixed beverage that social media users claim helps with weight lossisnt anything new or groundbreaking. Nor does the TikTok disinformation cycle have any shortage of controversial or unsubstantiated beauty fads and nutritional claims. However, the oatzempic challenge is specifically giving me flashbacks to the horrible get thin quick by solely drinking your calories culture of the early aughts Because, well, thats all it is.

Despite its punny name, oatzempic has nothing to do with Ozempic, Wegovy, or any other weight-loss injections: Its just a drinkable meal replacement. Whats more, unlike actual GLP-1 medications, the oatzempic drink is not an FDA-approved medication, nor are there studies, doctors, or dietitians who can speak to its efficacy or safety. Further, doctors and dietitians dont cosign the oatzempic drink challenge as any form of health, wellness, or even weight-loss regimen.

Heres everything you need to know about the oatzempic drink youre seeing all over your FYP, as explained by a doctor and nutritionist.

As we said before, oatzempic is not Ozempic. Its merely a mixed beverage comprising oats, lime, water, and cinnamon. On its own, thatswell, unappetizing, but nothing too egregious, right?

Right. But the corresponding oatzempic drink challenge thats going viral is not medically or nutritionally sound. The challengewhich stems from one TikTok users claims that exclusively consuming the beverage and intermittent fasting for two months can result in 40 pounds of weight lossasks participants to do the same. This took the app by storm, with thousands of comments on the original video from users alleging that theyve since adopted the regimen.

Doctors and weight-loss experts, however, dont recommend it. For one, 40 pounds of weight loss in two months is excessive. As a general rule of thumb, a progressive weight loss of one to two pounds per week is considered safe and sustainable, registered dietitian Michelle Cardel, PhD, head of global clinical research and nutrition at WeightWatchers, tells Glamour. Two months of healthy weight loss should amount to somewhere between 8 and 16 poundsnot even close to 40.

Whats more, Dr. Cardel adds, is that while pairing this drink with your breakfast or having it as a snack may be okay, she doesnt suggest it it as a meal replacement It is not a sustainable approach for long-term weight loss or maintenance.

So, does drinking oatzempic really cause weight loss? It may be possiblebut not in any healthy way. Exclusively consuming oatsand no other foodwould likely put participants at a significant caloric deficit, which can and does lead to weight loss. However, it also puts them at a steep nutritional deficiency.

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Apr 8

Walking For Weight Loss: How To Burn Calories And Lose Weight – Women’s Health

Looking for a simple, yet effective workout to help you achieve your weight loss goals? Take a walk (seriously).

Walking is a great exercise because almost anyone can do it, at any time, without any equipment, says Grayson Wickham, DPT, CSCS, founder of Movement Vault. It's also low-intensity and easy on your joints, Wickham says, which is helpful if you want to take it easy and avoid injury during your workout.

Whether you prefer going for a stroll in nature or cueing up a podcast and doing laps at the gym, there are many ways to reap the benefits of walking. Heres what you need to know about walking for weight loss and helpful tips for getting your steps in, according to experts.

Meet the experts: Grayson Wickham, PT, DPT, CSCS, is the founder of Movement Vault. Susane Pata, CPT, is a certified group fitness instructor and content strategist for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Alissa Palladino, RDN, CPT, is a registered dietitian and personal trainer based in Atlanta, Georgia.

The short answer? It depends. An individual can typically burn up to 5,600 calories a month from walking alone, which is roughly 1.6 pounds, according to Susane Pata, CPT, a certified group fitness instructor and content strategist for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). However, the exact number is dependent on a persons individual calculations that take weight, level of conditioning, and training capacity into consideration.

It also depends on whether or not you're in a calorie deficit, in which you burn more calories than you consume, Wickham says. Any type of movement you engage in throughout the day can help you increase your overall calorie expenditure, he saysbut since walking doesn't burn quite as many calories as, say, running or sprinting, you'll probably see more weight loss progress if you combine your walking routine with other high-intensity workouts.

"For example, if you only have 30 minutes to exercise and your goal is to burn the most calories during your 30 minutes, walking isnt the best choice to accomplish this goal," Wickham says. "You will burn far more calories if you increased the intensity of your exercise with things like jogging, lifting weights, sprinting, a HIIT workout, or some combination of these."

Although you may have heard that 10,000 steps a day is the "gold standard" for walking, that number is somewhat arbitrary and may not be appropriate for everyone, says Alissa Palladino, RDN, CPT, an Atlanta-based dietitian and certified personal trainer. Walking goals need to be tailored to an individuals current fitness level, health status, and lifestyle, she says. You may want to set a lower or a higher goal for yourself depending on a variety of factors.

Although it's hard to calculate the exact number of steps you need to lose weight, generally speaking, walking for 30 minutes per day should add up to roughly 100 to 200 calories burned, says Pata. "Doing 30 minutes worth of walking for seven days can create a weekly caloric expenditure of 700 to 1,400 calories. These numbers can add up in the long run and result in weight loss for someone who is overweight and was previously sedentary," she says.

To figure out how much walking you need to do to lose weight, it can help to identify your resting metabolic rate (RMR), which helps you calculate how many calories you need to burn for a calorie deficit. You can speak with a certified trainer or use an online calculator like this one from NASM.

"Stretching and activating specific muscles before your walk will help you decrease your chance of pain and injury during and after your walk," says Wickham. "If you have pain during your walk, this is your body telling you that you really need to start dedicating time to your joint mobility. Everyone should be able to perform a basic life task such as walking without pain."

Doing lunges before a walk can also help, he says. "Performing a set of 10 walking lunges every so often can help you build stronger legs, and gain muscle mass," says Wickham. "Gaining lean muscle mass will increase your resting metabolic expenditure, which means you will be burning more calories at rest. This all leads to increased weight loss."

If you're looking for more intensity, a weighted vest or backpack will increase the demand on your body during your walks, says Wickham. "Typically, anything that makes an exercise more challenging will lead to an increase in calories burned," he adds.

Driven by numbers? Try tracking your steps with a mobile app or smartwatch. This can help you view your progress and stay focused on your movement goals. "Data tracking can help motivate individuals [toward] goals, accomplishments, and help make up for any deficits throughout the week," says Pata.

You don't necessarily have to run to lose weight, but to amp up your walking workouts, try jogging or running slowly for as little as 10 seconds and then walk for two minutes (and repeat). "Adding in short jogs or runs during your walk will help you increase the intensity of your workout, which can help you accelerate your weight loss," Wickham says.

To get creative (and work your leg muscles), you can also practice walking backward, says Wickham. "Walking backward works your quadricep muscles more than walking forward, which can help you maintain healthy and strong knees." Just make sure you're in a safe environment for this (and be aware of other pedestrians).

Sometimes, all it takes is the right song to pump you up. Playing uplifting tunes while you're out and about can make your walking experience more enjoyable. To fully immerse yourself, Pata suggests creating a workout playlist of your favorite songs that lasts the length of the walk. It'll fly by before you know it!

Drinking water is an important part of weight loss, so don't forget to bring your favorite bottle along. "Staying properly hydrated is key for optimal health," says Wickham. "The healthier and more hydrated you are, the better your weight loss journey will be." Not to mention, the H2O will keep your energy up and help you log more miles.

If you're already taking stock of what you eat with a food diary app, it may be helpful to jot down how many calories you're burning by walking. This helps keep you aware of your actions and how it measures up against your weight loss goals, says Pata. That said, counting calories isn't the healthiest option for everyone, so be mindful of choosing a method that works best for you.

To reap the full benefits of walking for weight loss, you have to commit to walking at a regular schedule, whether that's once a day or a week. "Health is a lifestyle, not a quick fix," says Wickham. "Find ways that you can add in your walks that will help stay consistent. The more often you walk, the more weight loss you will have." Pro tip: Take the stairs instead of the elevator, get off the bus or train a few stops early and walk home, or invest in an at-home treadmill to get your steps in.

Next, treat yourself to some nice sneakers that you only use for walking, Pata says. "This creates a 'get-in-the-zone' attitude when you put them on and [encourages] an enjoyable walking experience." From walking shoes for flat feet to podiatrist-recommended options, there are plenty of pairs to choose from.

Penciling in your workouts will make it that much more likely that you'll follow through with your goals. "You know what they say...schedule it or you wont do it. Choosing one time every day to perform your walks will help you stay consistent," says Wickham. "Prioritize your walks and plan around them to ensure you get them in every day."

"You can use Google Maps to plan out your walking route so that you know exactly where you will be walking and the distance you will be walking," Wickham adds. Just be aware of your surroundings, practice safety, and share your location with someone you trust just in caseespecially if you're walking solo.

As a general tip, have the right apparel on hand for rain, cold, or hot weather, says Pata. This will help you stay prepared and less likely to miss a walk session due to less-than-ideal conditions.

To make sure you still exercise on bad weather days, have a rainy-day back-up plan, like keeping a bag packed for the gym or going to the nearest mall to do some laps, Pata recommends. Youll be less likely to forget working out altogether if you have a plan B in place.

Asking someone to keep you company while you get some steps in is a great way to maintain relationshipsand it will help keep you consistent with your walks, says Wickham. You can even suggest coffee and a walk, Pata says, which is a great way to be social and get movement in at the same time.

If you can't be in-person, schedule a catch-up call with someone while you walk. Besides rekindling or maintaining relationships, [a phone call] will make time go by more quickly and the walks may begin to become enjoyable over time, says Pata.

Emily Shiffer has worked as a writer for over 10 years, covering everything from health and wellness to entertainment and celebrities. She previously was on staff at SUCCESS, Men's Health, and Prevention magazines. Her freelance writing has been featured in Women's Health, Runner's World, PEOPLE, and more. Emily is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she majored in magazine journalism at the Medill School of Journalism and minored in musicology. Currently residing in Charleston, South Carolina, Emily enjoys instructing barre, surfing, and long walks on the beach with her miniature Dachshund, Gertrude.

Lauryn Higgins is a freelance journalist whose work focuses primarily on public health. Her work tracking the coronavirus for The New York Times was part of a team that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. When she's not working she loves spending time in her kitchen and garden, taking barre classes and cuddling with the love of her life, her 90-pound bernedoodle, Gus. Her work has also appeared in NPR, Salon, Teen Vogue and Well + Good.

Ashley Martens is a wellness writer based in Chicago. With a lifelong passion for all things health and wellness, Ashley enjoys writing about topics to help people live happier and healthier lives. With a foundation in fitness, food, and nutrition, Ashley covers it all including sexual health and travel topics. Ashley is also a NASM-certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor.

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Walking For Weight Loss: How To Burn Calories And Lose Weight - Women's Health

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Apr 8

Oatzempic is going viral for promising quick weight loss. Is it safe and should you try it? – AOL

Oatzempic is the latest nutrition trend to hit TikTok. The clever name pays ode to the popular weight loss drug Ozempic, since many say consuming the oat-based drink leads to dramatic weight loss. Some even claim that oatzempic, which has no affiliation with the weight loss medication, can help you lose up to 40 pounds in 2 months.

Although the name is clever, its important to remember not to believe everything you see on social media. Heres what you need to know about the oatzempic trend and whether or not you should try it.

Oatzempic is a simple blended drink with cup of rolled oats, 1 cup of water, a dash of cinnamon and a squeeze of lime juice. The name combines oats and Ozempic, a diabetes medication that regulates blood sugar and curbs appetite, resulting in weight loss.

Props to whoever came up with the catchy name, but oatzempic doesnt include any weight loss medication. Its merely an oat-based smoothie.

People on TikTok are drinking #oatzempic to lose weight for their wedding or achieve their summer bod. Some who drink it daily claim that it keeps them full, which isnt surprising given the fiber content of oats. Research suggests that the beta-glucan fiber in oats positively impacts hormones that regulate hunger and appetite. The review also suggests a link between eating oats and long-term weight management and lower incidences of obesity.

Oatzempic has about 140 calories, less than most people consume in a single snack. As a result, drinking oatzempic as a meal replacement results in a calorie deficit and may cause weight loss. Yet, drastically cutting calories often causes extreme hunger and overeating, which may hinder weight loss efforts.

Losing 40 pounds in two months sounds appealing, but its extreme and not recommended. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that people who lose weight graduallyabout 1 to 2 pounds per week are more likely to maintain weight loss. Although weight loss differs for everyone, losing about 5 pounds per month is a healthy goal.

As appealing as quick weight loss sounds, no miracle drink or food can help you magically shed pounds. Losing weight comes down to small diet and exercise changes over time.

A study of over 4,000 people who lost weight as part of a structured weight loss program shared how they kept the weight off for more than three years. They cited tactics such as eating nutrient-dense foods, monitoring food intake, engaging in physical activity, goal setting and celebrating small achievements.

As a dietitian, I recommend oats (and even named them my favorite whole grain). They are a healthy and affordable breakfast staple that provides fiber and protein. And eating oats has been linked to lower levels of cholesterol. But, theres no proof that oatzempic leads to dramatic weight loss. Rather than blending oats with water and lime juice, make a hearty bowl of oatmeal and enjoy chewing your food instead.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

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Apr 8

‘Lose weight quick’ online schemes don’t work. Dr. Mike offers these 5 tips instead – Yahoo News UK

Season 9 of the CNN podcastChasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Guptaexplores the intersection between body weight and health. We delve into a wide range of topics, including the evolutionary reasons behind why losing weight is so hard and how to talk to kids about weight. You can listen here.

(CNN) The internet and social media are rifewith marketing ploys: Its hard to surf the Web or scroll through platforms such as Instagram, Facebook or TikTok without having a slew of ads pop up left, right and center about exactly what you were just viewing. The cookies and algorithms (and other tricks of the trade) follow online users everywhere.

The bombardment seems particularly merciless if you are searching for lose weight or eat healthy or watching any adjacent reel, story or video. Advertisers and influencers are eager to get your eyeballs on a product, protocol or procedure. Sometimes whats promised seems like it could, maybe, work but how can you really tell if its legit? Whose advice should you follow?

Enter Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, who has made it his mission to debunk medical misinformation and educate people. Better known as Dr. Mike, he is a practicing family medicine physician in Chatham, New Jersey, who shares his expertise with millions of YouTube and social media followers. These so-called snake oil sellers and their dubious miracle cures are not new, he said; he calls them I Know All experts, a term he coined in a 2017 TED Talk.

I think its not a new phenomenon. Ponce de Lenwas searching for the fountain of youth many years ago, and yet were still doing that to this day, Dr. Mike recently told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the podcast Chasing Life. I just think that the strategies have changed because we have this new added tool of social media that traditionally doctors, who are evidence-based, have shied away from.

Dr. Mike said the I Know All experts and their too-good-to-be-true products flourish in the gray zone where science does not yet have clear answers and social media and the internet amplify their voices.

Story continues

It allowed a prime opportunity for these IKA experts to come in and claim that they have all the answers. And thats really just a form of trust hacking through mass confidence, as if they know whats going on with you, he said.

(Thats) in dark contrast to what a physician is trained to do: We come in and we dont claim to know the exact diagnosis. We create one diagnosis along with a differential of other options. It could be, when we recommend the treatment, we hedge and say it works X percentage of the time. But these IKA experts trust-hack and say, I know whats wrong with you. I know this is going to work for you. Take my miracle potion. And that sells very, very well.

To listen to more of Dr. Mikes conversation and learn why certain seemingly cant hurt, might help approaches to weight loss such as tummy teas, fad diets and colon cleanses could actually be dangerous, click on the player below.

With so much misinformation floating around the internet and social media especially around the topic of weight loss what can you do to make sure youre not going down an ill-advised rabbit hole? Dr. Mike has these five tips.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Dont trust 99% of things you see on social media; be a healthy skeptic. Thats how l like to say it, said Dr. Mike, noting that there are many sources of information both governmental, such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Preventions FoodSafety.gov, and academic, such as the site run by Harvard Medical School that are trustworthy. (Those websites usually end in .gov, .edu and .org.)

There was a funny commercial I forgot what it was for; I believe insurance and there was a woman going on a date with a gentleman, and he completely lied on his profile. And he was, like, Always trust what you see on the internet. And thats a lot (of) how I feel about supplements online and people talking about supplements online: That if it feels too good to be true, allow that inner skeptic in you to further test it, either by doing some more in-depth research on your own if youre comfortable, or bringing it up at your next visit with your primary care doctor.

Speaking of primary care physicians, prioritize building a relationship with a good medical professional.

Thats the biggest tip I would give: to create a long-lasting relationship with a primary care doctor, said Dr. Mike, adding that he sees people in their 20s and 30s using urgent care as their primary care source.

Thats not what urgent care is meant to be, he said. Its not going to give you good outcomes. Youre not going to form a good relationship. Youre not going to get the benefits of having a longitudinal relationship with a single provider. So, those are important.

Dr. Mike said such a relationship is especially important when it comes to weight loss, because how in the world can you help someone sustain weight loss if theres no continuity of care? Its, by definition, mandatory for it.

When it comes to weight and weight loss, there are many important factors involved, so dont fall into the trap of obsessing over one, whether that be the one right diet, the one perfect food or the one must-take supplement.

Zoom out of just thinking about, What I can take or what I can eat? and understand that theres a lot of other things that impact your weight, Dr. Mike said.

So, getting seven to nine hours of sleep as an adult, during the same hours of the night, consistently is going to be important for good weight control. Getting 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity is going to be important.

Dr. Mike also suggests making small adjustments to your daily habits: Skip the elevator and use the stairs instead, and for short distances, leave the car in the garage and do errands on foot. These things are going to add up and actually lead you to have better control of your weight, he said.

When it comes to weight, dont underestimate the role of your mental health.

(Make) sure that you get help when it comes to mental health issues and concerns, Dr. Mike said. Because if youre not in a good mental health place, its very easy to have food become almost a self-treatment for either unhappiness or anxiety. And those conditions both depression and generalized anxiety disorder are treatable conditions, by either getting therapy, perhaps some medication if thats warranted in your condition.

And you might not even connect weight and mental health but it plays an incredibly potent role in helping you not just get to a healthy weight but stay and maintain a healthy weight.

Understand some basic principles about the food you consume, so you dont, for example, vilify or lionize a single food or ingredient.

For example, Dr. Mike said he recently had a guest on his podcast who tried to equate a chocolate kiss to a grape.

We have to put that in perspective. While you may compare them based on their sugar content, thats one way to categorize them, Dr. Mike said. But then if you compare them to how many nutrients that are valuable to us like vitamins, fiber, etc. in grapes versus chocolate, the grapes are clearly healthier.

So avoid trying to oversimplify nutrition with these hard-and-fast rules, and instead just try and give yourself a general understanding of how foods work. Because when youre not as strict and youre not as hard-and-fast in your thinking about food, you actually create a healthier, long-lasting relationship with food that will give you better outcomes in maintaining a healthy weight.

We hope these five tips help you think more clearly about food, weight and what you see or hear about them on the internet. Listen to the full episodehere. And join us next week on theChasing Life podcast when we explore how different diets (keto vs. low fat vs. vegan) and the timing of when we eat can affect our weight and health.

CNN Audios Jennifer Lai contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

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Apr 8

My baby boomer mom was always dieting. I started doing it too, and finally broke the cycle when I became a mother. – Yahoo Lifestyle UK

Nicole Chapman is determined that her daughter, Sofia, won't feel negative about her appearance and weight.Courtesy of Nicole Chapman

Nicole Chapman was raised in a household terrified by the numbers on the scale.

Her baby boomer mom influenced her, and she followed some of the same starvation diets she'd tried.

Chapman broke the damaging cycle because she didn't want to pass the habits to her young daughter.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nicole Chapman. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My 4-year-old daughter, Sofia, was due for a bigger car seat earlier this year. I helped her stand on the scale to check if she met the weight requirements.

The scale registered 34 pounds. She weighed enough to make the transition. "Yay," I said. "You're so strong."

Sofia looked delighted. "Look at my muscles!" she said. We celebrated that she'd gotten heavier something I'd never done as a child.

My baby boomer mom raised me to dread getting on the scale, to fear every pound I gained. There was no ill intent we love each other dearly but the effect was damaging.

Motherhood made me break the cycle of disordered eating in our family. I'm determined that Sofia feels proud of her body at any size.

Mom weighed herself every morning. She'd come out of the bathroom and make comments that have stuck with me since I was 6. "I've gained weight," she'd say. She'd poke at her stomach in disgust.

A nice dress would tempt her while we were shopping. "I can't wear that until I've lost a few pounds," she'd say. If a special occasion were coming up, like a wedding or vacation, she'd start a fad diet about a month beforehand.

They included the cabbage soup diet and a plan that involved eating only 500 calories on two days of the week.

She hated exercising. If she did it, she wanted to "burn off " calories. Low-calorie food was good. High-calorie food was bad. There was no in-between.

Story continues

Her target weight was always 112 pounds. Her self-esteem was tied to that figure. As I got older. I fell into the same trap.

We did a low carb, high-protein plan together. We both tried shakes. I went on to do a "master cleanse" consisting of lemon juice, salt water and herbal tea.

But none of the diets were sustainable. Like my mom, I'd follow them for a while and then give up. My weight was like a yo-yo between my teenage years and my mid-30s.

By the age of 21, I had a demanding job in the film industry, but I'd force myself to go to the gym five days a week. My motivation to exercise was always to get slimmer. I was a cardio bunny who did a lot of high-intensity interval training. It didn't help my stress levels and I felt burned out at work and at home.

Then, in 2016, I switched careers. I developed an interest in strength training and qualified as a personal trainer. A considered diet and exercise program made me feel physically and emotionally balanced.

But it wasn't until after my daughter was born in the fall of 2019, that I realized how much the disordered eating had taken out of me and my mom.

I weaned Sofia when she was 6 months old. Like many new parents, I kept track of everything she ate by writing it down. After a while, it reminded me of the log that Mom and I kept for our daily calorie intake.

I thought about all the time we wasted worrying about food. I don't blame her her generation was raised to embrace the idea of looking thin, influenced by models such as Twiggy and advertisements for slimming products but I'd inherited my body insecurity from my mom. The habit cycled through our family.

I didn't want to pass it on to Sofia. These days, I shut down negative talk about weight. I'll challenge my mom if she talks about "burning off" calories or "earning" a treat after going to the gym.

If I'm carrying Sofia, and it's hard to manage, I never say, "You're too heavy." Instead, I'll say, "I am not feeling as strong today."

We discuss the concepts of power and strength, like when we weighed Sofia for her new car seat. I'll tell her that her legs allow her to run faster and climb higher. The parts of her body are power tools.

I've created an online fitness program that doesn't involve calorie counting or restriction. It explains how strength training burns fat and makes you strong so daily tasks become easier.

As for my mom, she's 72 now. She's unlikely to stop watching her weight any time soon. But she understands my point of view. She's proud of me, Sofia, and our future as two strong women.

Do you have a powerful story to share with Business Insider? Please send details to jridley@businessinsider.com.

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Mar 31

Could weight-loss drugs eat the world? – The Economist

The Gila monster is a poisonous North American lizard that measures around 50 centimetres and sports a distinctive coat of black and orange scales. This lethargic reptile, which mostly dwells underground and eats just three to four times a year, is the unlikely inspiration for one of pharmas biggest blockbusters: a new generation of weight-loss drugs that has patientsand investorsin a frenzy. Originally made for diabetes, evidence is growing that they also have benefits in diseases of the heart, kidney, liver and beyond.

Since the late 1980s scientists believed that a gut hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is secreted by the intestines after a meal, could help treat diabetes. GLP-1 increases the production of insulin (a hormone that lowers blood-sugar levels) and reduces the production of glucagon (which increases blood-sugar levels). But GLP-1 is broken down by enzymes in the body very quickly, so it sticks around for only a few minutes. If it were to be used as a drug, therefore, patients would have faced the unwelcome prospect of needing GLP-1 injections every hour.

In 1990 John Eng, a researcher at the Veterans Affairs Medical Centre in The Bronx, discovered that exendin-4, a hormone found in the venom of the Gila monster, was similar to human GLP-1. Crucially, the exendin-4 released after one of the monsters rare meals is more resistant to enzymatic breakdown than GLP-1, staying in its body for hours. It took more than a decade before exenatide, a synthetic version of the lizard hormone, created by Eli Lilly, an American pharma giant, and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, a biotech firm, was approved to treat diabetes in America. This breakthrough spurred other firms to develop more effective and longer-lasting GLP-1 medications as a treatment option for diabetes, beyond injections of insulin.

Scientists had also been aware that GLP-1 had another side-effect: it slowed the rate of gastric emptying, which allows food to stay in the stomach for longer and suppresses appetite. But the potential weight-loss benefits were not seriously pursued at first. It was only in 2021 that Novo Nordisk, a Danish firm, showed data from a clinical trial where overweight or obese patients were put on a weekly dose of its GLP-1-based diabetic drug, semaglutide, which was then being marketed under the name Ozempic, for 68 weeks. The results were dramaticparticipants had lost 15% of their body weight, on average.

The medicines that mimic the GLP-1 hormone then became blockbusters. With close to half of the worlds population expected to be obese or overweight by 2030, according to the World Obesity Federation, demand for these drugs is surgingBloomberg, a data provider, estimates that these medications will hit $80bn in yearly sales by then. The market is projected to grow by 26% per year in the next 5 years, compared with16% per year for oncology drugs and 4% per year for immunology medicines, the two other biggest areas.

So far only three GLP-1 drugs have been approved to treat obese or overweight individuals: liraglutide and semaglutide, developed by Novo; and tirzepatide, made by Lilly. But the market has already attracted a wave of competitors (see chart 1). Bloomberg tracks close to 100 wannabe drugs in the development pipeline. Most new therapies hope to outdo semaglutide and tirzepatide by crafting drugs that are easier to take, cause fewer side-effects or deliver more effective weight loss (see chart 2).

Start with convenience. Both semaglutide and tirzepatide are injections that need to be taken weekly. Stop the dose and most of the weight returns within a year. Amgen, a large American biotech firm, is developing an anti-obesity drug that relies on doses once a month, and hopes the weight-loss effects will last even after treatment ends. AMG133 activates receptors for GLP-1 while blocking receptors of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), a hormone secreted in the small intestine in response to food intake that stimulates the production of both insulin and glucagon. The company is now conducting clinical trials to find out if patients can, over time, be gradually weaned towards smaller doses.

Switching from injections to pills would also make the drugs a lot more tolerable for those who dislike needles. Novo is working on an oral version of semaglutide that works just as well as its jabs. But the pill requires 20 times the amount of the active ingredient as the injection, and must be taken daily. With semaglutide in short supply, Novo has had to push back the oral versions launch. Lilly also has a daily pill that targets GLP-1 receptors called orforglipron in late-stage clinical trials.

Another drawback of GLP-1-based medicines is the nausea and vomiting that frequently accompanies their use. Zealand Pharma, a Danish biotech firm, is developing a drug that is based on a different hormone called amylin, produced in the pancreas along with insulin in response to food intake. But unlike GLP-1, which suppresses appetite, amylin induces satiety, or the feeling of fullness after a meal.

Adam Steesburg, boss of Zealand, says that in most people a hormone called leptin is released from fat tissue that signals to the brain that the body is full. Obese individuals are insensitive to that hormone. Clinical studies have shown that analogues of amylin can make people sensitive to leptin again, helping them to stop eating earlier. Feeling full, rather than lowering appetite, may also reduce the feeling of nausea. Mr Steesburg says that results from early-stage trials suggest that its drug could achieve similar weight loss as GLP-1 drugs, but with less nausea and vomiting.

Besides pesky injections and nausea, a bigger concern is that patients on these drugs do not just shed fat, they also lose lean muscle mass. Some patients drop almost 40% of their body weight in lean mass, a serious concern for older patients. To counter this, companies are trying out, alongside GLP-1 drugs, medicines originally designed to treat muscle atrophy.

Regeneron, an American pharma company, is testing drugs that block myostatin and activin, proteins that inhibit muscle growth in the body. Taken with semaglutide, the combination can potentially boost the quality of weight loss by preserving lean muscle. Similarly, BioAge, a California-based biotech, is testing a drug that activates the apelin receptor that can be taken alongside Lillys tirzepatideApelin, a hormone secreted after exercise that acts on skeletal muscle, the heart and the central nervous system to regulate metabolism and promote muscle regeneration. In obese mice, the combination led to greater weight loss compared to tirzepatide alone, while preserving lean body tissue.

The slimming drugs arent just for shedding pounds. Because obesity is linked to over 200 health issues, including strokes, kidney problems and fatty liver, GLP-1 drugs are proving useful for more than just obesity.

A recent clinical trial by Novo that ran for five years and enrolled more than 17,500 participants found that semaglutide cut the risk of serious heart issues like heart attacks, strokes, or death from heart disease by 20%. Novo believes that the heart benefits of the treatment are not due to weight loss alone, because the reduction in the risk of cardiovascular problems occurred early, before patients lost weight. In March semaglutide was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for reducing the risk of heart disease in obese or overweight people, the first time a weight-loss medication has been approved for this purpose. Results from another clinical trial have shown that semaglutide reduced the risk of kidney-disease-related events by 24% in patients with type-2 diabetes.

Another weight-loss drug, survodutide, being developed by Boehringer Ingelheim, a German drug company, and Zealand, has shown promising results in being able to treat a serious liver condition called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). This is caused by the build-up of excess fat in the liver and can lead to liver cancer or liver failure. In a recent trial of 295 patients, 83% saw significant improvement in their condition when treated with survodutide, compared with 18% of those on a placebo. Survodutide targets receptors for GLP-1 and glucagon. Waheed Jamal from Boehringer Ingelheim says that there is evidence that glucagon breaks down more fat in the liver compared with GLP-1 and reduces fibrosis (build up of excessive scar tissue in the liver).

While a lot of focus has been on the action of these medicines on improving metabolic health, scientists are now uncovering that these drugs also engage with the brain and immune system, by interacting with GLP-1 receptors in the brain.

Daniel Drucker, a diabetes researcher at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, found that in mice suffering from extensive inflammation throughout the body, GLP-1 drugs reduced the condition, but only when the receptors in the brain werent blocked. When the brain receptors in mice were either blocked or genetically deleted, the anti-inflammatory properties of the drugs were lost. This suggests that the GLP-1 drugs tame inflammation by acting on the brain cells.

For some this suggests that these drugs might be useful for treating brain disorders that are characterised by inflammation, such as Alzheimers disease and Parkinsons disease, both of which are characterised by inflammation in the brain. Since 2021, Novo has been conducting a clinical trial involving more than 1,800 patients to test whether semaglutide helps patients with early stages of Alzheimers. This study is expected to be completed by 2026.

Dr Drucker sees the anti-inflammatory qualities of GLP-1 medications as key to their versatility. He notes that besides Alzheimers and Parkinsons, chronic inflammation is a factor in many complications for people with type-2 diabetes and obesity, and affects organs like the kidneys, heart, blood vessels, and liver. If these drugs eventually help in treating these conditions, Dr Drucker believes that their inflammation-reducing properties could explain part of their success.

The appetite-suppressing effects of these drugs has also raised interest in their ability to curb cravings for other substances. Researchers in Denmark investigated the effect of GLP-1 drugs on people with alcohol-use disorder. In the study of 130 people, they found no difference between patients who used the drugs (alongside therapy) compared with those using a placebo. However there was a reduction in alcohol consumption in obese patients. When the researchers looked at the brain activity of the patients by showing them pictures of alcoholic drinks, for those in the placebo groups the reward centres of their brains lit up. For patients on GLP-1 drugs, the activity of the brain in the areas associated with reward and addiction was attenuated, indicating a direct brain effect. Some researchers are now actively exploring whether the drugs might have an impact on how people use other addictive substances such as tobacco or marijuana.

All of these findings are still early. Developing new drugs is costly and time-consuming. There are steep failure rates. Successes in the lab may not work in people, and results in small groups may not replicate in larger ones. But with the potential to treat dozens of conditions well beyond obesity and diabetes, hope around the new drugs will only grow.

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