July 31, 2019 — Four principles describe a common framework for healthcare ethics: autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. That first one, respect for autonomy, requires telling the truth. But unfortunately, it can come into conflict with beneficence – the moral obligation to do good for others. So which comes first? Tell the truth as you find it? Or look […]
July 30, 2019 — Sadly enough, we live in an age of angry tweets and venting spleens. So it is in nutrition and obesity (as well as politics) these days. We’ve found that five subjects – whatever you say – will attract responses that are too hot to handle. In our view, this is a reason to try to […]
July 29, 2019 — It’s time to confess. We are tired of people – scientists, advocates, and health reporters alike – who claim they have the answer for weight loss. Or obesity. It’s just not true. For just about any option, the truth is that results will vary. Case in point: dietary strategies. Right now, word of mouth and […]
July 28, 2019 — We all love to beat up on BMI. That measure may be good for epidemiologists who need a way to define obesity in a population. But it’s not so good for defining obesity in an individual. For that matter, it’s not the definition for obesity itself. Obesity is excess adiposity that harms health. And a […]
July 27, 2019 — It’s getting tougher all the time to have an honest conversation that touches on health and weight. Maybe that’s a good thing. But, from time to time, it gets out of hand. Dietitians sometimes find themselves caught between clients who want to lose weight and colleagues who are pushing hard on the principles of Health […]
July 26, 2019 — It’s no guarantee. But with all else being equal, you may find that you have a certain metabolic edge if most of the food you eat comes earlier in the day. New research published by Eric Ravussin and colleagues in Obesity tells us why. Eating early in the day seems to help with hunger. In […]
July 25, 2019 — In business, we call this cross-brand marketing. We also call it stupid. Forever 21 has been sending out Atkins diet bars to customers who order from its plus-size clothing collection. In a culture where diet has become a four-letter word, this is not smart. my mom ordered some clothes from @Forever21 ‘s plus size collection […]
July 24, 2019 — Are we doomed to complete the full cycle of macronutrient obsession? First it was fat. Starting in the 1980s fat was at the root of all our dietary woes. Next came carbs. Low carb and keto diets are still a hot topic of discussion and debate among folks who are certain they have the answer […]
July 23, 2019 — The trend is unmistakable now. Life expectancy in the U.S. is stalling. A new analysis in Population and Development Review brings a fresh perspective to this troubling trend. The foundations lie in rural white America and the fuels for these trends are obesity, opioids, and smoking. Poor Prospects for Rural, Non-Hispanic Whites Irma Elo and […]
July 22, 2019 — If you look online or in stores, it’s hard to miss. Popular culture holds up the 100-calorie snack pack as some kind of panacea. For example, Amazon has shopping lists for 100-calorie snacks. Healthy eating websites offer advice for “super healthy” snacks under 100 calories. Snack food marketers are onboard, too. They brag about promoting […]
