Archive for July, 2018

Are All Peer Reviewed Studies Equally Trustworthy?

July 31, 2018 — The words “published in a peer reviewed journal” are sometimes considered as the gold standard in science. But any professional scientist will tell you that the fact an article has undergone peer review is a long way from an ironclad guarantee of quality. To know what science you should really trust, you need to weigh […]

Resistance to Facts Pops Up in Nutrition Research

July 30, 2018 — A popular meme tells us that we’re living in a post fact era. Consistent with that idea, Julia Shaw writes in Scientific American that she’s a scientist and she doesn’t believe in facts. But on the other side of the fence, we have folks like Daniel Engber telling us it’s a bogus story. Resistance to […]

Monetizing Outrageous Health Claims

July 29, 2018 — We live in an age of truth decay. Rand researchers have a book for you on the political phenomenon. But you can also find a business model for health and wellness that relies on a disregard for facts. In the New York Times Magazine this week, Taffy Brodesser-Akner explains Gwyneth Paltrow’s strategy for monetizing outrageous health […]

Does Meal Timing Really Matter for Health and Weight?

July 28, 2018 — It’s becoming a popular story. Maybe you shouldn’t worry so much about what you eat. Instead you should focus on when you eat. Meal timing is a hot concept among health writers right now. Professor Satchin is selling a new book, The Circadian Code, with a promise to “transform your health.” The New York Times ran […]

High School Memories and Overcoming Obesity

July 27, 2018 — Growing up, I was the definition of meek. I also carried more weight on my frame and towered above my peers. Despite this, I was a good friend to my fellow elementary schoolers. However, In addition to my timid yet friendly nature, I was also painfully aware of my obesity from a young age, which affected […]

Politics Are Truly Beside the Point in Obesity

July 26, 2018 — “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.” Groucho Marx (borrowing words from Ernest Benn) explained perfectly why politics aren’t helpful for dealing with obesity. If you want a case in point, we will send you to a new essay in The American Conservative […]

Midway in an Amazing Year, Thank You!

July 25, 2018 — This moment seems right for saying it. Thank you! This year is shaping up to be amazing. That’s because more and more of you are reading what we share here every day. So far this year, we have more than 65,000 readers – an increase of 20% over the same time last year. This month, that spike […]

Bachelor Scurvy, Bariatric Surgery, and Social Support

July 25, 2018 — The newest case history in the New England Journal of Medicine offers a vivid picture of some important pitfalls after bariatric surgery. We learned a new diagnosis – bachelor scurvy. But most of all, it gives a vivid reminder of the importance of social support after surgery. Leg Weakness, Falling, and Anemia Susan Bennett and colleagues […]

Such a Shame About Severe Childhood Obesity

July 24, 2018 — Today we have another round of headlines, clucking about childhood obesity. Unfortunately, the UK is setting new records for severe childhood obesity. It’s such a shame, they say. Obesity is entirely preventable, said Max Davie to reporters. Davie is the officer for health promotion in the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. A Ten-Fold Increase […]

Talking to Your Healthcare Provider About Obesity Care

July 23, 2018 — Unfortunately, this is a conversation that doesn’t happen very often. By this, we mean talking to your healthcare provider about obesity care. In fact, Andrew Stokes and colleagues found that only about ten percent of people with obesity talk to any healthcare provider about it. Only four percent actually talk to a doctor. And talking […]