June 30, 2017 — When words start spilling from the mouths of toddlers, parents get a thrill. The thrill turns to a bit of panic when an offensive word spills out. The toddler gets attention. Parents find themselves on a long road of teaching by example. Offensive words certainly grab attention, but then they just get in the way. […]
June 29, 2017 — Yogurt fashion is shifting again. Several years ago, people got the hint that all that low-fat yogurt was loaded with sugar. Greek yogurt became a thing. Chobani was hot. Yoplait started tanking. Now low-fat Greek yogurt seems stale. Too tart. Yoplait is seizing the opportunity by going back to its roots in France and launching […]
June 28, 2017 — Obesity rates started soaring almost four decades ago. Multiple presidents and surgeons general have called for action to address it. You might think we would have an answer by now to the most basic question: why? But we don’t. And this week, the Endocrine Society presented the facts in a scientific statement. It calls for […]
June 27, 2017 — Think of an industry reaping boundless profits from intellectual property. In the midst of constant change, a few strong competitors defy the odds and continue to dominate. You might be thinking of software or pharmaceuticals. But in fact, these words describe the business of publishing science. Perhaps you’ve noticed that things are a little pricey […]
June 26, 2017 — If you thought that gluten-free everything would be a fast fading memory, think again. Ever more gluten-free products are screaming for your attention. Looking for lipstick without gluten? You got it. Or better yet, you can join the Arbonne multi-level marketing network and help to fill the world with it. Gluten-free marketing is going strong. Setting […]
June 25, 2017 — This past week saw three bits of steady progress on the new generation of obesity drugs: lorcaserin, liraglutide, and semaglutide. It’s all movement in the right direction. Lorcaserin Cardiovascular Outcomes Study Progressing Nicely A huge cardiovascular outcomes study is underway with 12,000 patients receiving either lorcaserin (Belviq) or a placebo. The goal is to learn […]
June 24, 2017 — A few weeks ago, the FDA announced an indefinite delay in the new Nutrition Facts label. This label discloses what’s in every food product sold in the U.S. It would — for the first time ever — give consumers information about how much added sugar is in a product. Howls of Protest When this delay surfaced, howls […]
June 23, 2017 — The Harvard Blackburn Course in Obesity Medicine never fails to nourish us with fresh thinking about obesity. In opening the course yesterday, Lee Kaplan explained that treating obesity as a disease means dealing with it as we would any other chronic health condition. And in an age of personalized medicine, that certainly means one size fits all […]
June 22, 2017 — We have a complex, chronic disease in our midst. It’s a challenging puzzle. It develops over time. This disease debilitates people and dramatically diminishes the quality of their lives. It comes in many forms and it’s tough to cure. We’d rather prevent it and we’re finding ways to do that. But with millions of people […]
June 21, 2017 — Some responses to USPSTF recommendations for screening and care for children with obesity leave us shaking our head. Five million children are living with severe obesity in the U.S. Intensive behavioral therapy works to improve their weight and health status. Less intensive advice to lose weight is largely ineffective. And yet, policymakers balk: “It could […]
