Follow the accumulating evidence and observations that shape our view of health policy and obesity
November 13, 2019 — “We can’t treat our way out of this.” That simple declaration about the rising prevalence of obesity among children and youth has profound consequences. One of those consequences is children, youth, and families left without options for dealing with a serious health problem. For one thing, good obesity care is hard to find and hard […]
November 12, 2019 — It came at the end of a discussion about obesity care that opened the Annual Forum of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchasers Coalitions. With sharp questions, Neil Goldfarb captured a core frustration about obesity care. “Why are we even having this conversation? Think about any other disease. Do we even hesitate to cover needed […]
November 11, 2019 — Once you pop, you can’t stop! This tagline for the launch of Pringles chips captures the essence of dietary fears about hyper-palatable foods. Does hyper-palatability drive the risk of obesity linked to ultra-processed foods? Sometimes policy makers give this supposition, though unproven, the status of a fact. But it needs more study. And if we’re […]
November 10, 2019 — Can we talk? Well, if you’re not in our buddy club, maybe not. More and more it seems like we have difficulty in listening to people who don’t think like us. If you haven’t noticed this in politics, you’re not paying attention. But we also see it happening in the study of obesity, nutrition, and […]
November 9, 2019 — We’ve had our full dose of Las Vegas. But ObesityWeek has given us more to think about than shows and casinos. With record attendance of 5,800, it was more than any one person could absorb. No doubt, everyone has returned home with a different experience from ObesityWeek. So here are our ten top take-home messages. […]
November 8, 2019 — “I don’t have the answer, but I intend to be provocative.” With those words yesterday, Barbara Corkey opened her challenge to conventional thinking about obesity. After more than three decades, obesity prevalence keeps rising. Along with trend, diabetes rates are rising, too. Why have we so clearly failed to reduce obesity and diabetes? Perhaps we […]
November 7, 2019 — The role of intermittent fasting (IF) and circadian rhythms is a subject of intense interest for people focused on obesity. How can you tell? Just look at the packed hall yesterday at ObesityWeek 2019 for the Blackburn Symposium. In a cavernous room with seating for more than a thousand people you could not find a […]
November 6, 2019 — Bad habits and bad choices. That’s where the public thinking lies on the subject of obesity. So at ObesityWeek yesterday, a string of researchers told us about their efforts to close the information gap on obesity. They’re looking for ways to warn people about sugary drinks. They’re trying to figure out if posting calorie counts […]
November 5, 2019 — Success begets success. That’s a core message we’re taking away from a late-breaking forum on emerging anti-obesity medicines. Pharmaceutical researchers reviewed an impressive range of innovations that promise to set a higher bar for effective obesity care. All of this came before ObesityWeek kicks into high gear today. Building Upon Success Mads Tang-Christensen opened the […]
November 4, 2019 — With the opening of ObesityWeek today, we’ll see smart clinicians and scientists taking on tough questions right from the start. We have the privilege to moderate a panel discussion in the opening session. It’s a privilege because three researchers and clinicians will bring their best thinking and science to the dilemma of nihilism in childhood […]
