News Archive for June, 2018

New research in Lancet Planetary Health finds that air pollution is adding to the global burden of diabetes. In fact, researchers estimate that it contributed to 3.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes in 2016 alone. Published yesterday, the study suggest that cuts in air pollution might help reverse global trends toward a crushing […]

Yesterday, we received a very welcome bolt of good news. Suddenly, the outlook for training a new generation of obesity medicine physicians looks much brighter. The Obesity Society and the Obesity Medicine Association have come together to launch the Obesity Medicine Fellowship Development Program. The goal is to build the framework for training more physicians […]

On Richard Nixon’s last day in the White House, cottage cheese was at its peak. Since then, it’s been four decades of decline for this high-protein, savory treat. In the seventies it was the quintessential ingredient for a diet plate. No wonder it took a dive. Now trendspotters keep saying it’s on its way back […]

This week, the UK is taking even bolder action to reduce childhood obesity. A new obesity plan aims to cut England’s rate of childhood obesity in half by 2030. How, you ask? The answer involves marketing restrictions, restaurant calorie labeling, and a Daily Mile for primary students. All this comes on top of a sugary […]

If you want help with obesity from a healthcare provider, the typical experience is disappointing. Most providers don’t understand the physiology of this condition. And they assume that dieting and exercising will clear it right up. But the good news is that better options are growing. More and more providers are learning the skills necessary […]

The headlines are jolting. Body positivity causes people to think they aren’t obese, says Newsweek. It is a threat to public health, the reporting suggests. Unfortunately, many other publications came up with similar stories. A new study Friday in Obesity prompted this sensationalism. In her paper, Raya Muttarak does not make the claim of cause and […]

The anger industry is booming all over the world. Outrage seems to win arguments because many people grow tired of rage and walk away. It’s a pretty good business model for cable news right now. But it carries a risk. Anger sometimes leaves people thinking they’ve won an argument. In fact, though, they’re losing a […]

The wheels of government grind slowly. Especially when they need to reverse direction. But surprisingly, FDA did indeed reverse itself this week on a confusing bit of added sugar labeling. Maple producers have been howling about FDA’s plan to say that all of the sugar in pure maple syrup is “added.” Finally, FDA relented. An […]

Writing in the Washington Post, dietitian Rebecca Scritchfield has a simple cure for weight stigma in healthcare. Stop weighing heavier patients, she says. Healthcare might improve. To make her point, she tells the story of Bernie Salazar. He was an “at-home” winner of The Biggest Loser. Visiting with a relatively new doctor, he felt shame and […]

Everywhere we turn, marketers are selling health and wellness. Today, our hotel is telling us, “Eat Well. Enhance Your Well-Being.” Who knew they cared so much? Yesterday, some of the sharpest minds in consumer health gathered to consider the future of consumer self-care. These people are seeking innovation for consumer health. And of course, they […]