The FDA warned yesterday that the popular diet drugs alli and Xenical can cause serious liver damage. From the data published — 13 documented cases among millions of people that have taken the drugs — this is an extremely rare occurrence and not something that should cause alarm if you are on either medication. However, it is an important reminder that any drug can have serious side effects and should only be taken as a last resort or at least after giving other, safer solutions a serious try. Alli has been criticized my many for other lesser side effects including what must be a very inconvenient problem of anal leakage.
Posts Tagged ‘obesity’
Popular Diet Drugs alli and Xenical Can Cause Liver Disease
May 27th, 2010
How Many Calories are in my Wine?
May 26th, 2010
My friend slaps his belly, claiming to have no idea why he can’t lose the last 15 pounds. ”I run, I watch what I eat, what’s going on?” he laments, while a glass of wine sloshes in his hand.
With the reported health benefits associated with wine, it’s easy to justify a glass or two with dinner. But wine contains a lot of sugar and alcohol, which equals calories. A lot of them.
Depending on the wine, a single 5 oz serving will contain anywhere from 100 to 250 calories. If your serving size is bigger, which is likely if you are using the larger glasses that have become popular in recent years, then your calorie intake is going to be that much more. My belly-slapping friend, who was sipping a Cabernet out of a large Riedel glass, probably only had two glasses at dinner that evening. Even though the glass looked less than 1/2 full, each glass probably contained at least 7 oz. In total, he consumed anywhere between 350 and 550 calories on top of his normal food intake for the day. At that rate, several times a week, it won’t take long before he’s packing on pounds. From a calorie standpoint, he might as well be eating an extra Big Mac after dinner every night.
I love wine with dinner and am a big believer in not only the health benefits, but the social benefits that come from sharing a bottle of wine with friends. But if you are trying to lose weight, wine may be your enemy.
If you want to learn more about how wine, and alcohol in general can fit into a weight loss plan, you can always ask our nutrition specialists on iChange. It’s free.
The History of Weight Loss
April 30th, 2010
I did some research this week on the evolution of weight loss programs. We often refer to iChange as the “next generation” of program, using internet and mobile technology to be a “virtual support system.” But to make a claim about next generation, I wanted to understand the older generations that we are building upon. Here’s what I learned:
The Weight Loss Stone Age (before 1960). Prior to the founding of Weight Watchers and the emergence of many of the popular diet programs we know today, the concept of dieting and weight loss was at best, unsophisticated, and at worst, absurd. If you needed to lose weight, you were pretty much on your own, or in extreme cases, you would receive help from the family doctor. There were a few “fad” diets that started as early in the 1800’s, many of which are laughable today (although many of today’s diets are still laughable). Some favorites:
- Alcohol Diet. References to diets go as far back as 1087, when French Royal William the Conqueror found himself so obese he couldn’t mount a horse. His solution? Lock himself in his room with only alcohol to consume. He was able to remount his horse but reportedly later died of abdominal injuries when he slipped from his saddle.
- Vinegar Diet. Popularized by British poet Lord Byron in 1820, the soaking-food-in-vinegar diet helped him lose a reported 60 pounds.
- Cigarette Diet. In 1925, Lucky Strikes cigarettes launched a campaign for smokers to “Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet.”
- Tapeworm Diet. In the 1950’s there were reports of a pill that contained a tapeworm, with the idea being that you can eat as much as you want as long as you let your personal tapeworm digest your food for you. One reported dieter, opera singer Maria Callas, lost 65 pounds on the diet.
Support Systems (Started with Weight Watchers in 1961). In the 1940’s and 1950’s the concept of group counseling and support emerged as a highly effective means of helping individuals with health-related issues. The Mayo Clinic began using group therapy for patients and Alcoholics Anonymous emerged as a gold standard for addiction recovery. Weight Watchers adapted the support system model into their group weight loss programs in the 1960’s. Since then, millions of people have participated in Weight Watchers groups, and it continues to be a $1 billion/year business for the company.
Popular Diet Books (starting in late 1960’s). The 1960’s saw the emergence of diets that look familiar to us today. The low-carb dieting fad became popular with the Stillman Diet (published in 1967), and followed up in 1972 with Dr. Robert Atkins’ book, Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution. While moderately popular at the time, Dr. Atkins’ book was roundly criticized in the medical community for a lack of scientific evidence. Of course, many doctors embraced his theories several decades later. Other popular diets included the Scarsdale Diet (1978) and The Cambridge Diet (1980s).
Self-Managed Web Programs (starting in late 1990’s). Over the last 10-12 years we’ve seen amazing growth in online programs that make dieting a more convenient exercise. Many programs offer online meal plans as well as online trackers to record and monitor progress. Some have migrated to mobile devices giving people the ability to track progress on the run. Although Weight Watchers was founded on the principal of group interaction, their popular Weight Watchers Online has focused on giving individuals tools to manage themselves.
The Next Generation: Virtual Support Systems (today). We believe the next big wave in weight loss, and health management in general, will be to use technology to help people connect with practitioners, counselors, and support groups to get the help they need to be successful. Weight Watchers revolutionized the offline version of group support for weight loss in the 1960’s which continues to be effective to this day. But having to go to a remote strip mall every Tuesday at 7pm for your weigh-in and group meeting seems out-of-date in an age where technology can help bring the support to you. Our belief is that as individuals have become more comfortable socializing with others online, it only makes sense that they will quickly evolve to the point that receiving advice and support for health-related issues will become second nature. We hope that iChange will be a leader in this next phase of evolution.
Blaming Ronald McDonald
April 20th, 2010
The clown in the yellow and red jumpsuit is getting some heat from a Boston group called Corporate Accountability International (also responsible for Joe Camel’s demise). They claim that the clown has too much influence on children’s eating habits. Their position seems to be backed up by a majority of American parents.
While not a fan of the McDonalds, I have trouble attacking Ronald himself who, ironically, rarely pushes junk food these days. You’re more likely to see him promoting the Ronald McDonald houses which do tremendous good for underprivileged children and families.
I have to admit a certain attachment to the clown. He was a part of my childhood when he frequented our television sets during Saturday morning cartoons. While he frightened my younger sisters, he impressed me with his ability to laugh off the unruly Hamburgler and befriend the mutant-blob, Grimace. Who wouldn’t want to hang out with such a good guy?
Let’s not blame Ronald. He’s a vestige of the past, before clowns starred in horror films, and McDonalds was an infrequent treat for otherwise fairly healthy kids. Let him enjoy his less public role of entertaining children at Ronald McDonald houses, and instead focus on the real reason our kids eat Big Macs. We, their parents, let them do it.
The New KFC Double Down — only 33% More Sodium than a Big Mac!
April 12th, 2010
Who needs bread?
KFC just launched the TurDucken* of fast food sandwiches — the KFC Double Down. I was light headed just reading through the ingredients: ”two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe® or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel’s Sauce. This product is so meaty, there’s no room for a bun!”.
It never occurred to me to bookend my bacon and cheese sandwich in fried chicken. It makes me question whether bread has a role in any of my future sandwiches.
According to the KFC website, the basic sandwich is 540 calories, 29 g fat, and a whopping 1380 g sodium, over 1/2 the daily recommended maximum. Combine it with a side of KFC potato wedges and you’ll be right at the daily limit.
Here’s what I want to know: can we tax the Double Down to help pay for the increased cost in healthcare that will directly result from eating this sandwich?
*TurDucken is a small deboned chicken stuffed in a duck which is stuffed in a turkey. A flavorful Thanksgiving alternative to a boring old fashioned turkey.
Who is Behind the Lap Band Ads in Los Angeles?
April 12th, 2010
February 3, LA Times, Glenn Koenig
As a Los Angeles county resident, I’m used to seeing billboards promoting personal “improvement”, ranging from breast augmentations to laser hair removal. However, I’ve never seen anything like the 1-800-GET-THIN ads that now occupy nearly every freeway billboard in Los Angeles. Driving between LA and our office in Fullerton, I must see over a dozen of these ads. They have also bought up the LA airwaves, so that every 10 minutes or so my radio plays the catchy, “Let your newwwww life begin … call 1-800-GET-THIN!”
So who’s behind these ads?
According to a series of LA times articles here, here and here, the masterminds behind the 800-GET-THIN company are a pair of brothers with a history that should make anyone think twice about ever calling the 800 number. From one article:
The people behind TopSurgeons are the Omidi brothers — Julian, whose medical license was revoked in 2009, and Michael, who was placed on three years’ probation for gross negligence in 2008,according to the Medical Board of California. TopSurgeons attracts customers in part by pitching the lap-band to people who, according to conventional medical guidelines, shouldn’t need major surgery to shed weight.
The Omidis formerly operated the Wilshire Boulevard facility as the Almont Ambulatory Surgery Center. Almont lost an important federal certification last summer after inspectors determined that conditions there posed “immediate jeopardy to the health and safety” of patients. The government’s cancellation of the clinic’s certification, which was effective July 20, meant it could no longer receive payments from Medicare and Medicaid for treating the programs’ members.
According to the LA Times article, the Omidis were affiliated with another weight loss surgery center that occupied the same space as the current center, but which was shut down by authorities. Some of the documented violations:
* The inspectors found unsanitary conditions in the surgical areas. Medications and supplies to treat complications from anesthesia were expired or missing, though 23 patients were waiting for surgery.
* Surgical instruments weren’t being properly disinfected. Medical supplies that were supposed to have been tossed after use on a single patient were being reused. Two employees had positive tests for tuberculosis, but there was no record that they got required follow-up chest X-rays.
* The crash cart, which carries equipment and supplies for cardiac emergencies, contained opened and expired drugs and supplies, including some more than 4 years old. Other drugs and supplies, including emergency drugs, were months or years past expiration. Filled and inadequately labeled syringes were found in the operating room. Most of the scrub sinks weren’t working.
* Patient records, which contain such confidential information as psychological exams, were left where unauthorized people could read them.
What’s the lesson? Be suspicious of any health care company that seems to be spending more on advertising than patient care. And no matter how catchy the jingle, don’t dial an 800 number until you’ve done some research on who is going to pick up the line.
What Role Does Sleep Play in Weight Loss?
April 6th, 2010
Sleep is a frequent topic among iChange members. Lack of it seems to lead to higher levels of hunger, poorer decision-making, and generally, a higher chance of letting the best intentions fly out the window. Our nutritionists and dietitians counsel members on sleep, encouraging them to set a regular sleep schedule and get at least 7-8 hours per night. But what does the science say about the connection between sleep and weight loss?
The answer is that there is a direct correlation between lack of sleep and increased hunger but there haven’t been enough studies to show a causal relationship (meaning that lack of sleep CAUSES increased hunger, and therefore weight gain). The Washington Post does a nice job covering where research is on the subject here.
However, just because the scientists haven’t yet designed a study to show that sleep deprivation isn’t a direct cause of weight gain doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Most nutritionists we speak with have ample anecdotal evidence that there is a causal relationship and the belief seems to be penetrating mainstream medical thought. Dr. Michael Aziz, doctor of internal medicine and founder and director of New York City’s Midtown Integrative Medicine and author of The Perfect 10 Diet points to proper sleep as an important aspect of weight loss. Some of his tips from the Washington Post article:
– “Go to sleep and wake up at the same time most days.” We can perhaps slide a bit on weekends, Aziz says, but usually we should aim to be in bed at — are you ready? — 9:30 or 10 on weeknights.
– Eat your last meal one to two hours before going to bed.
– Avoid what are commonly called simple carbohydrates and “sugary stuff” at that meal or at bedtime. Such foods will bump up insulin production. “When our insulin is very high, we can’t get to sleep,” he says. Instead, choose whole-wheat crackers, which can control insulin. Or eat turkey or bananas, both of which contain tryptophan, which is believed to trigger sleepiness. Lettuce, too, has a “long history of helping people get to sleep,” Aziz says.
– Avoid caffeinated coffee, tea and soda. And alcohol, which Aziz says “can make us go to sleep, but it’s not the deep sleep” that we need to produce growth hormone (which in turn helps regulate insulin).
– Practice good sleep hygiene. That means turning off all electronics, including the TV, and creating as quiet a sleep space as you can. Lower blinds and turn off lights so your room is as dark as possible. Make sure the room temperature is comfortable. Consider taking a warm bath or doing some gentle stretches — but not heart-pumping exercise — before turning in.
So sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite.
Eat Like a King for Breakfast
April 1st, 2010
New research suggests that breakfasts high in fat can help you burn fats more easily during the rest of the day. That’s great news for all of us bacon, egg, and sausage lovers out there. The theory is that breakfast will program your metabolism for the rest of the day. If you start with fat, you’ll burn more fat. Start with carbs and your body is programmed just to break down carbs efficiently.
Mice fed a high fat meal after waking remained healthy, but those given a carb-rich breakfast, followed by a fatty dinner, did not fare as well. Co-researcher Professor Molly Bray added: “Our study seems to show that if you really want to be able to efficiently respond to mixed meals across a day, a meal in higher fat content in the morning is a good thing.”
This looks like very early-stage research, so stay tuned for more information.
Baby Fat is so 2009
April 1st, 2010
The New York Times published an article on research that suggests that lifelong obesity can start at infancy or even in the womb. By the time a child is in kindergarten, it may be too late to intervene.
The new evidence “raises the question whether our policies during the last 10 years have been enough,” Dr. Taveras said. “That’s not to say they’ve been wrong — obviously it’s important to improve access to healthy food in schools and increase opportunities for exercise. But it might not be enough.” Much of the evidence comes from an unusual long-term Harvard study led by Dr. Matthew Gillman that has been following more than 2,000 women and babies since early in pregnancy.
But do we risk stigmatizing someone under the age of 5 as overweight or obese if we try to intervene at such a young age? As a parent, I’d rather suffer the uncomfortable conversation with my pediatrician that we change my 2 year old’s eating habits now than address it during elementary school or later.
Weight Watchers Online Bullies
February 22nd, 2010
Welcome to the Community
We had an interesting forum discussion on iChange about Weight Watchers Online bullies. One person’s comment:
“Not a reflection on WW themselves, but I was in the online community there and there were a group of bullies that seemed to make it their goal to make fun of and point out the weaknesses of others. They would get kicked off but then make a new user profile and be right back on again. I don’t know if that’s still happening but it was a major reason why it didn’t work for me to do the online program with them.
Community is definitely important. Encouraging folks to lean on each other and form support groups is crucial-especially because some of us are in situations where we have saboteurs in our home environments.”
Others chimed in that this is a problem they also have seen on Weight Watchers Online.
iChange is structured so that our experts and Group Leaders ensure that the online conversations are productive and encouraging. As we grow, we will continue to refine our systems to keep iChange a safe place to control weight and stay healthy. Our hope is that we can keep the bullies at bay.
