CHENNAI: This World Health Day, Evergreen Club, an online community for older adults, has launched a campaign #WhatsYourHealthy.The digital campaign features a video with the young and the elderly engaging in different routines for a healthy lifestyle, emphasizing the fact that there is no one version of being healthy. Everyones definition of a healthy lifestyle is not the same. The way you lead life, and the choices you make along has a direct effect on our mental and physical health. And we want to showcase different ways that the elderly are staying active, says Tapan Mishra, the clubs founder. Evergreen Club provides a variety of sessions that are specially designed for the overall wellbeing of older adults, above the age of 50, considering every aspect of healthy living, be it mental or physical. The experts and hosts of sessions on this platform are trained to keep reiterating to the members to listen to their body while they take in account the feedback from members to accommodate and change session routines.Evergreen Club is designed to help seniors live a more fulfilled and empowered life, while catering to their social needs and providing a sense of belonging.

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World Health Day: Evergreen Club launches #WhatsYourHealthy campaign - Times of India

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As a health editor and marathon runner, I put them to the test.

When I first heard that lululemon was launching female-first footwear, I was intrigued. Im a runner, you see, and I know how fussy we runners can be about our footwear. Are they springy enough for race day? Supportive enough for long runs? Simple enough to be functional, but also stylish enough that you could wear them with your work outfit?

Launching a whole new category and contending with the likes of Nike, adidas, and New Balance (all of who feature on my round-up of the best running trainers for women) seemed like a bold move. So I jumped at the opportunity to be one of the first four UK journalists to try them.

Some stats on the shoe for you, before I share my review: the blissfeel running trainer was designed from the scans of over a million foot scans, and is unique in that its one of the first-ever shoes (just behind the adidas female-focused ultraboost last December) to be designed specifically for women. Mad, isnt it, that in 2022, the majority of shoes are still designed for the male fit.

Thats where the blissfeel promises to be different and where my interest, as a health editor, was piqued. Could a clothing brand truly design shoes well? And would they stand the test of time over a longer distance?

Keep scrolling for my honest review.

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Womens blissfeel Running Shoe 138 | lululemon

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First up: know that the shoes were developed over a period of four years with a team of designers, biomechanics experts, foot morphology pros, and more. Based on over a million womens foot scans, they created what they thought was the perfect shoe then enlisted hundreds of volunteers to actually put them to the test over thousands of miles.

They share that they let the feedback shape the shoe thats now on sale which all sounds pretty snazzy, right? But did the shoe stand up to the test when I tried it?

Initial thoughts and point one of my lululemon blissfeel review: the shoes are gorgeous, and come in a range of ten colourways, including a green ray the pink and green pictured above water drop blue, mink berry pale pink, and triple black (yep, you guessed it) all black.

Once Id put them on for my first test in them a 5km along the Hudson River in New York I noticed that theyre cushioned and springy without feeling too, well, cushioned. Ever tried shoes on and felt a bit like a clown because of how much youre suddenly bouncing around? These pave a good middle ground, and when you run in them, you clearly feel the return.

Wearing them to an early morning high intensity interval training workout the next day highlights one of the standout pros of the trainer, for me. While theyre been designed with running in mind, theyre a great all-rounder, IMO cushioned enough to support you through mid-distance runs, but not so cushioned that they wont work for weight training, too. Winner, winner.

MC health editor Ally Head with Track & Field athlete and lululemon ambassador Coleen Quigley

Theyre designed for neutral runners again, ticking the all-rounder box and my feet felt supported but also comfortable, too. I have slightly wider feet and there was no issue with the upper being restrictive or too tight. Support-wise, theyre most similar to an ON Running Cloudstratus shoe or HOKA Mach, and on the comfort front, theyre definitely parallel with my forever favourites, the adidas Ultraboost.

I think one review on Shape sums it up quite well They felt light, bouncy, supportive, and exactly what I look for in a running shoe as someone who runs more casually (aka I dont run races or long-distance, typically). Theyre absolutely great all-rounders for lulus demographic women who run semi-regularly who likely head to Reformer Pilates, yoga, and the occasional HIIT class too.

My honest lululemon blissfeel review? Im a big fan of the design for short to mid distances and to lace up for 5km, 10km, and half marathons soon. Not forgetting to wear to the gym, work, and every event in between..

I really rate the blissfeel as an all-rounder, but Id opt for a slightly more cushioned shoe for things like sprints or speedwork same for seriously long-distance runs or marathon training.

They also run a little small, so do make sure to size up at least half a size or even a whole size when buying. Better still head in-store to try them on for yourself, but do remember that youre meant to go up half a size with workout shoes anyway to account for foot swelling.

Do keep an eye out later in the year for the Chargefeel, a hybrid shoe designed for both high-intensity gym training and short runs, the Restfeel, an elevated slide for post-workout, and the Strongfeel, a training shoe designed for multi-directional movement.

What do you reckon? *Adds to basket immediately*

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lululemon blissfeel review: I'm a health editor and this is my honest take - Marie Claire UK

No matter what classic bodybuilding exercise you can think of, theres a likely chance it can be traced back in some way to the sports GOAT, Arnold Schwarzenegger. In this instance were talking about that very popular arm-pump finisher called 21s, a protocol Schwarzenegger often incorporated in his biceps routine.

For those not completely familiar with this dumbbell curl variationwhich utilizes both full and partial reps to maximize blood flow to your biceps to give you an Olympia-size pumpit goes like this: Starting with hands fully extended at your sides, perform seven partial reps from the bottom to the midpoint of the lift, when your forearms become parallel with the floor. From there, do seven more reps from the midpoint to the top, before finishing with seven full reps.

If done properly, your arms should be torched by the time you reach rep 21, with your biceps especially screaming. But oftentimes, because it is such a taxingly tedious move, guys get sloppy in the final sprint of full reps and fail to reach the 21s total potential.

There's just no discipline in the way they're done, people rush through them, says Mens Health fitness director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S.. And as a result, they don't get the biceps pump they should, and they don't develop the mind muscle connection that they really can.

It may seem like biceps blasphemy to tweak a move Schwarzenegger worked to perfection, but this quick curl correctionwhat Samuel calls a Pause Biceps Curl 21will extend the work time for this set to allow you to maximize your biceps pump. That should be your main focus when you're including something like 21s in your training, after all.

To improve your biceps-ballooning mechanics, Samuel suggests these fixes:

By working this way and adding these pauses," he says. "Your set is going to take longer and you're going to have to go lighter, but you're going to get a much more vicious pump out of this.

For more tips and routines from Samuel, check out our full slate of Eb and Swole workouts.

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Pause on Your Bicep Curl 21s Workouts to Build Bigger Arm Muscles - Men's Health

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age that affects at least one in every 10 women in India and its symptoms include missed, irregular, infrequent or prolonged periods and excess androgens that cause acne and unwanted body and facial hair in girls. It increases the risk of other health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure, darkened skin or excess skin on the neck or in the armpits, mood swings, pelvic pain and/or weight gain but not all women suffering from PCOS may have cysts on their ovaries.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Nutritionist Nikita Oswal shared, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex condition that affects a womans hormone levels. It causes a womans body to produce higher than normal amounts of male hormones than female hormones. This hormone imbalance causes their body to skip menstrual periods and it becomes harder for them to get pregnant and even causes early-menopause. Many women miss their periods or are worried about a late period because of their sudden lifestyle changes like eating habits, too much stress, anxiety, night shifts, or lack of physical exercise in daily life which contributes to PCOS."

She added, PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disturbances affecting women all over the world. While obese or overweight women are at greater risk for PCOS, some women with normal weight may be affected by hormonal status as well. PCOS not only affect a woman's hormonal levels but can impact her appearance. The abnormal flow of your hormones can also affect your skin and hair.

Dr B Gowthami, Consultant - Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Milann Fertility and Birthing Hospital in Bangalore's Kumarapark, revealed, PCOS is the most common hormonal disturbance not only manifested as menstrual irregularities and infertility and also affect skin and health hair in the form of acne, excess facial hair, thinning of hair etc. The main trigger for PCOS is believed to be insulin resistance that means body does not respond normally to insulin and thereby insulin secretion from pancreas which again triggers inflammation and weight gain. These high insulin causes anovulation and also promotes testosterone secretion from ovaries.

Effects of PCOS on skin:

Highlighting that women with PCOS often face unique challenges with their skin that leads to depression and lack of confidence in women, Nutritionist Nikita Oswal shared a few skin issues that are extremely distressing:

1. Acne-: Acne-prone PCOS usually appears on the lower part of the face, including the jawline, cheeks, chin, and upper neck. There are a few tips related to diet like, try including foods such as tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, nuts, salmon, olive oil, berries and turmeric that contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Women who have had acne since adolescence or for the first time after 25 should get tested for PCOS.

2. Acanthosis nigricans-: This is a skin disease characterised by a dark brown colour, with excess of the skin showing a green, prominent firmness. It affects skin folds in the armpits, groin and back of the neck. Insulin resistance and obesity are two contributing factors, which lead to this skin condition. Also in PCOS, the body does not normally respond to insulin, thus increasing insulin secretion from the pancreas.

3. Hirsutism-: It is the result of excessive release of male hormones, also known as unwanted facial hair, which is very common in PCOS patients. The condition of the skin mainly affects the chin, chest, thighs and sides.

4. Seborrheic dermatitis-: A common skin condition, seborrheic dermatitis, can cause a rash on a scale with shiny spaces. It affects the oily areas of the skin such as around the nose, between the eyebrows and behind the ears. It can also cause oily skin and dandruff.

Echoing the same, Dr B Gowthami, said, Acanthosis nigricans is a skin disorder characterised by black patches on the back of neck , armpits and other skin folds. It is due to insulin resistance and obesity. So PCOS patients might have these kind of skin patches. With weight reduction and low glucose diet and regular workout we can decrease insulin resistance and so its manifestations.

She added, Most common skin problems in PCOS are acne and pimples. Causes for this are also due to high androgen levels which stimulate sebaceous glands in skin to secrete more sebum, clogging, inflammation and thereby acne flare up. Acne in PCOS are generally resistance to standard acne treatment and they may need at least 3 months intensive treatment. Other problems are seborrheic dermatitis dandruff, female pattern hair loss etc.

Effects of PCOS on hair:

According to Nutritionist Nikita Oswal, as a womans body begins to produce more androgens during PCOS, it can promote unwanted hair growth and can also lead to hair loss or hair thinning, present mainly in the crown and frontal area but is often ignored until a major portion of the scalp becomes visible but is a very common symptom of PCOS. She listed the most common areas of excess hair growth that include:

Over the lips

The location of the beard (jawline)

Breasts

Lower abdomen

Inner thighs

Lower back

Dr B Gowthami shared, Unwanted facial hair is the annoying cosmetic issue in PCOS patients. It is also known as Hirsutism and it is a result of excess male hormone secretions. For this also, weight reduction works by controlling serum sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in turn to control male hormones. In uncontrollable cases androgen lowering medications are available.

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Fitness experts reveal effects of PCOS on skin, hair health - Hindustan Times

Diabetes is on the rise and nobody is really talking about it. According to the World Health Organization, "The number of people with diabetes rose from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. Prevalence has been rising more rapidly in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries." Chances are you know someone with diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, "37 million Americans, or 1 in 10 people have diabetes" and describes the diabetes as "a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most people's bodies naturally produce the hormone insulin, which helps convert sugars from the food we eat into energy that the body can use or store for later. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make insulin or doesn't use its insulin well, causing your blood sugar to rise. High blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems over time. With type 1 diabetes, the body can't make insulin. If you're diagnosed with type 1, you'll need to take insulin every day to survive. With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn't use insulin well. The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes." Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with Dr. Seema Bonney, the founder and medical director of the Anti-Aging & Longevity Center of Philadelphia who explained signs of diabetes to watch out for and why cases of the disease are increasing. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

Dr. Bonney says, "When your body is making more insulin in response to excess glucose, you become insulin resistant. One of the signs of this is weight gain, often in the abdominal area. So if you feel your clothes fitting snugger and more uncomfortable, this could be a sign. However weight loss without trying is a sign of type 1 diabetes which usually occurs earlier in life."

Dr. Bonney explains, "If you have excess glucose floating around, your kidneys are working overtime to filter and absorb excess glucose. When your kidneys ability to do this is overwhelmed, the extra glucose is urinated out which drags fluids with it, and causes you to be dehydrated. This dehydration triggers your third mechanism."6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

According to Dr. Bonney, "In a person with diabetes, fluid can move into and out of the eye due to high blood sugar levels, which causes the lens of the eye to swell. As the shape of the lens changes, blurriness results because the lens isn't able to focus light properly on the back of the eye."

Dr. Bonney says, "Rising rates of obesity are a major contributor here. We tend to eat on the go and treat meals as something that needs to be quickly checked off instead of being intentional about what we eat. We have more options these days as far as fast foods go so if you're in a rush or ordering in at the office, choose salads and bowls with healthy options."

RELATED: Habits Secretly Increasing Your Abdominal Fat, Say Physicians

Dr. Bonney emphasizes, "Not eating smart. Eating sugary foods, foods full of simple carbs instead of plates mostly full of vegetables is a risk factor.Another risk factor is physical inactivity. make sure to build a plan for some type of daily exercise whether it be a brisk walk or a bike ride. Track your steps so you know where you stand. Knowledge is power."

RELATED: The #1 Sign Your Blood Sugar is "Way Too High"

"Lifestyle changes are key here with diet being the largest contributor here the foods you eat or don't eat will help you avoid developing diabetes," says Dr. Bonney. "Building a plan for fitness and making it part of your lifestyle is key. Making sure you keep an optimal BMI incorporating both a healthy, smart diet as well as a plan for fitness keeps weight in check."

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"Consequences of long term diabetes include weight gain which is not only inflammatory in and out of itself, it also increases your risk of every disease process," Dr. Bonney shares. "It can also cause neuropathy where you have numbness and tingling of your extremities which cause difficulty with physical activities.It also increases risk of infection."

More here:
I'm a Doctor and Here's the #1 Sign You Have Diabetes Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Imagine that you could lose weight without going on a diet.

Imagine that you could repair your broken relationship with food, with hunger, with your own skin, and in the process shed those 10 pounds youve been wanting to lose. Imagine that you could simply learn how to get in touch with your body thoughtfully, mindfully and teach yourself not to crave foods that dont nourish you. Imagine that you could transcend Americas toxic diet culture, and at the same time, you could also be really, really skinny.

Thats the dream that Noom, a buzzy weight loss app targeted to young people, has been selling for years. With Noom, every day is No Diet Day, it declared on Instagram last May. And yes, we also help people lose weight, it added in the caption. Nooms messaging insists that it teaches users healthy, sustainable habits that leave them feeling happy and satisfied as the pounds melt away.

The no-diet diet angle paid off. In February, the Wall Street Journal reported that Noom was valued at $4.2 billion in May 2021, and late last year it expected its 2021 revenue to total more than $600 million. It was even circling the possibility of an initial public offering for early 2022, with a prospective valuation of $10 billion.

But the Wall Street Journal didnt think that IPO was going to happen anytime soon. Nooms key differentiator applying psychology to achieve long-term weight loss has recently backfired, it explained. Critics say that Noom is just another diet app at best, and a deceptive gateway to disordered eating at worst.

The idea that there could be a way to lose weight without having all of the psychological and emotional hang-ups around food and diet culture is super appealing, says Meredith Dietz, the reporter behind the recent Lifehacker article headlined Fuck Noom. But I dont think Noom actually delivers.

Virginia Sole-Smith, the journalist behind the fat activist newsletter Burnt Toast and a high-profile critique of Noom in Bustle last October, agrees.

In an interview, Sole-Smith said she was drawn to reporting on Noom in part because of the client base that its not like regular diets ad campaign was drawing on. I was hearing from a lot of people who were doing it who didnt think of themselves as dieters and wouldnt want to be doing a diet, Sole-Smith says. They were like, Well, its helping me rethink some of my habits and unpack some of my issues with food. And then a few months later, I would hear from them again being like, Actually, its ruining my life.

The fight between Noom and its critics is part of a larger cultural war that has begun to play out over the past 10 years over how we should think about food, weight, bodies, and health.

In one corner is the traditional diet culture most American women grew up in, which holds that weight is a crucial indicator of health. Under this system, its an article of faith that if you simply exercise a little willpower and expend more calories than you take in, you will lose weight. It is also an article of faith that its important for your overall wellness and your personal happiness that you be thin at all costs.

In the other corner are the rising anti-diet and Health at Every Size movements. Citing a mounting pile of research, these groups hold that the correlations between weight and health are not nearly as straightforward as diet culture would have you think. Whats more, they add, most diets do not result in long-term weight loss and can even damage your metabolism in the long run.

There is no other product that could have a 5 percent efficacy rate and be peddled as hard as diets are peddled, says Sonya Rene Taylor, founder of the digital media and education company The Body Is Not an Apology, citing a widely quoted study from 1959. (While the 95 percent number has been called into question, other studies do consistently show that the vast majority of diets fail.) And yet corporations still sell diets and sell the idea of a smaller body as a more valuable body, as an inherently healthier body, as a better body.

Noom appears to be trying to split the difference between traditional diet culture and the rising anti-diet movement. It positions itself as a program that teaches users to lose weight the smart, healthy way, following the tenets of the body positivity movement while still helping users make their bodies healthier.

Its critics say that beneath the buzzy wellness vocabulary and millennial pink branding, Noom is just another diet app. What makes it different from Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and their ilk is that Noom is all dressed up in the rhetoric that activists have been using for decades to try to take down diet apps once and for all.

While Noom celebrates No Diet Day on Instagram, in practice, it works like a classic low-calorie diet. After registering, users are prompted to set a goal weight and to decide how quickly they want to lose weight. Noom will then generate a daily calorie budget that users are expected to follow, and it instructs users to log their food every day to make sure theyre staying on track.

While a stated part of the Noom philosophy is that no foods are off-limits, it does give users a stoplight system to classify their foods. Green foods may be eaten in large quantities, yellow foods are to be eaten in moderation, and red foods are to be limited. Because Nooms system is based around the idea of caloric density, red foods reportedly include not only classic diet villains like desserts and potato chips and red meat, but also wellness favorites like nut butter and full-fat dairy. Green foods are those that contain a lot of water, like fruits and vegetables. Yellow foods include seitan, lentils, and avocado. (Noom doesnt make the full lists of color-coded food available publicly, but other sources have compiled more comprehensive lists.)

In addition to the calorie budget and the stoplight system, users get a Noom health coach, a peer support group, and daily lessons on the psychology of eating. The whole package costs $199 for an annual subscription, or $60 by the month.

Some users say Noom is a great experience. Emily Gonzales, a 35-year-old labor and delivery nurse based out of LA, was on Noom from May 2019 to August 2020. She says she lost 190 pounds and succeeded in alleviating her Type 2 diabetes. (Two studies suggest that a very low-calorie diet can improve diabetes control and perhaps reverse Type 2 diabetes in people with obesity, although symptoms may eventually return and reversal may not be possible for everyone with Type 2 diabetes. Per the CDC, a healthy rate of weight loss is one to two pounds per week.)

Ive tried everything, on and off, my whole life, Gonzales said over Zoom. Ive done Nutrisystem. Ive done Medifast, which is like five shakes a day and one real meal. I tried low carb. I tried starving myself.

Gonzales says she always lost weight on the diets she tried before, but as soon as they were over she would go back to her normal eating habits and gain the weight right back. She could never figure out why certain foods were supposed to be good and other foods were supposed to be bad on any particular diet, so she could never stick with the habits she made there.

Noom, she says, is different: They teach you the why. She knows which foods are dense in calories and which are high in water, and she says that eating less calorie-dense foods keeps her fuller for longer.

Im never hungry, she says. I eat tons of veggies, tons of fruit. Gonzales is currently on a diet of 1,400 to 1,800 calories a day and plans to continue on it, although she no longer tracks her calories daily. (Health professionals recommend women eat around 2,000 calories per day, although this number is highly variable depending on levels of physical activity, metabolism, age, height, and more.)

Other Noomers didnt have such a good time. Sara Davis, a 40-year-old marketing and communications writer in Philadelphia, says she turned to Noom in 2018 for help managing her chronic illness.

I had read a lot of fat acceptance blogs, so I knew that diets didnt work, Davis says. She has Hashimotos thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder that can include weight gain among its symptoms, and she had been gaining weight steadily for years.

It obviously negatively impacted my life in many ways, Davis says. I experienced body dysmorphia. I had to buy new clothes every year. I was seeking out ways to manage my weight that didnt seem to be diets.

For a while, Davis went to a nutritionist, who taught her to keep a food journal and watch her calories in and her calories out. Then she switched jobs and found that her new insurance wouldnt cover the treatment. Noom presented itself as an affordable solution: a way to lose weight that wasnt really a diet.

Once she signed up for a free two-week Noom trial, Davis found herself disappointed. She was already tracking her daily exercise and food intake in a series of detailed charts and graphs. She already had a basic understanding of nutrition, so Nooms daily tips and calorie-tracking systems werent doing much for her. It talked to me like I was very stupid, she says.

The one big change Noom did offer Davis was that it cut her daily calories, by a lot. She was already eating a fairly small daily allowance of 1,500 calories, but Noom brought her down to a 1,200-calorie diet. Thats what nutritionists consider the bare minimum required for most women to sustain daily living. Some of them call it a starvation diet. (Noom announced last November that it would no longer recommend 1,200-calorie diets and raised the level by 10 percent, setting a new minimum recommendation of 1,320 calories for women.)

As a person with Hashimotos thyroiditis, I always struggle with energy and mood and just being tired all the time, Davis says. But on 1,200 calories I was very tired. I could not think. Very achy. And then it made me mean. I was so irritable. I was snapping at people. I was impatient. I had kept having to apologize for things that I said. I was not myself during that period.

Davis decided to cancel her Noom membership before the free trial was over. She found, though, that Noom had gotten into her head: She kept counting calories and she kept trying to restrict them as much as possible.

After a few months, she decided she wanted more structure in her weight loss efforts. She applied to enter a weight loss study at the university where she worked.

There was just one problem. To enter the study, you had to go through a psychological screening first. Once Davis had been screened, she was told she couldnt join the study. Instead, she was given a reference to a disordered eating clinic.

So that was for me a wake-up call, Davis says. I was doing things that are considered normal by some by Noom, by the general culture. But theyre actually not. Theyre maladaptive behaviors. Theyre disordered behaviors.

Now every time Davis sees a Noom ad, she says, she reports them as a scam.

Davis and Gonzales had extreme experiences with Noom. A lot of people go through Noom without either curing their chronic illness or getting a diagnosis of disordered eating. Instead, many people have the same experience almost everyone has on a diet: They lose some weight, stop the diet, and then gain it back.

Yves Grant is a 50-year-old technical writer who joined Noom in 2019 after seeing a Facebook ad. I was the type of person that never had to watch my weight because I had a high metabolism or whatnot; I could eat whatever I wanted, he says. But at that time I was getting older and getting heavier. He liked that Noom advertised itself as offering community support, and that it told him it wouldnt be a diet but a lifestyle change.

In practice, Grant says, Noom didnt quite live up to his expectations. He thought hed get more personal attention and concrete tips from his health coach, who he says mostly offered reflective questions. While the daily psychological tips were useful, they rapidly got overwhelming.

But the food tracking and calorie restriction, he says, really were useful. Between May and August 2019, he lost 30 pounds, and he says he grew to enjoy the feeling of hunger.

After that initial drop, Grants weight loss plateaued. Around April 2020, he lost interest in Noom and stopped logging in, and he never renewed his membership. Now, he says hes gained back half the weight he lost, in part because he found the diet unsustainable. Never eating potato chips, never? he says. At one point on Noom, he began keeping a list of all the foods that he loved and felt he could no longer have.

Still, Grant doesnt blame Noom for his regained weight so much as he blames his own bad habits. If he wants to lose weight again, he says, he knows what he has to do.

They work for me! he says. Id love to see them succeed.

The anti-diet movement has been around since at least the 1960s, but only more recently has it begun to acquire cultural cachet, due in large part to social media. It has many branches: anti-diet, fat acceptance, body positivity, body neutrality. Its been pushed forward by dozens of journalists and food professionals and bloggers and authors. In recent years, nutritionist Christy Harrisons book Anti-Diet helped mainstream the concept of intuitive eating, while the popular podcast Maintenance Phase from journalists Michael Hobbes and Aubrey Gordon has been debunking the junk science behind diets.

At the center of the anti-diet movement are two scientific claims. The first is that the relationship between weight and overall health is unclear, and that its possible to be both a healthy fat person and an unhealthy thin person. The second is that most of the time, dieters end up gaining back all the weight they lost and then some within five years of the initial diet. So even if it were clear that being thin is important for health, that information wouldnt do much for most fat people.

The data on the first claim shows it to be mostly true, with caveats. A 2014 meta-analysis in the scientific journal World Obesity found that between 6 percent and 75 percent of those classified as obese were metabolically healthy, depending on the definition used for metabolic health. Another meta-analysis, this one in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2013, found that while those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 and above had a higher mortality rate than those with a BMI considered normal, lower grades of obesity were not associated with a higher mortality rate, and those who were moderately overweight had a significantly lower mortality rate. (Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a BMI of 18.5 to 25 is considered normal, and 30 and above is considered obese.) Finally, a third meta-analysis in 2014 found that overweight and obese people who were fit had similar mortality risks as normal-weight people who exercised, while people who didnt exercise had twice the mortality rate, regardless of BMI.

All of these studies may be impacted by fatphobia, which, as Sole-Smith wrote in Scientific American in 2021, shows up in the questions that researchers dont ask questions like what other risk factors might disproportionately affect fat people, such as poverty, smoking, or the unhealthy effects of yo-yo dieting. Fatphobia even affects the way we measure obesity. While our medical system is built on the idea of the Body Mass Index as an effective measure of obesity, the BMI was originally designed to study populations, not individuals, and was based entirely on the average height and weight of white European men. The CDC and National Institutes of Health adopted their current BMI standards for obesity in 1998, on the advice of a private organization whose top donors were pharmaceutical companies making diet pills.

The data on the second claim is much more straightforward. Studies consistently show that it is very, very rare for dieters both to lose weight and to maintain their weight loss. One 2015 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that for people classified as obese, the probability of attaining a BMI-normal weight is 1 in 210 for men and 1 in 124 for women. For people classified as morbidly obese, the probability goes down to 1 in 1,290 for men and 1 in 677 for women. Another 2015 study in World Obesity found that nearly all dieters gain back the weight they lose within five years, and one-third regain more than they lost.

While the science around weight is murkier than anyone would like to admit, there seems to be a fairly clear reason why dieters tend to regain their weight so consistently: Human bodies dont like scarcity. If you restrict your calories, after an initial period of losing weight, studies suggest that your metabolism will slow. It will become easier, not harder, for you to put on weight. And your body will crave more calories, with more and more strength, until you break your diet and, often, find yourself binge-eating uncontrollably.

So why, anti-dieters want to know, do we bother dieting at all? Why have we allowed an entire industry to rise up around telling people to do this impossible thing, especially if its not clear that its even medically necessary? What do we get out of dieting except alienation from our bodies, a deeply disordered relationship to food, and a dysfunctional metabolism?

In fact, anti-dieters argue, dieting can damage the very bodies it promises to heal. In addition to slowing the metabolism, frequent dieting is associated with higher mortality rates and can double the risk of death by heart disease in patients with coronary artery disease. It can also damage the mind. One study finds frequent dieting is associated with high rates of depression. Dieters can become overwhelmingly fixated on food. In the Minnesota Starvation Study of 1944, 36 male volunteers were kept in a state of semi-starvation for six months on a 1,570-calorie-a-day diet. Before long, they became obsessed with food, fantasizing about it and discussing it at all hours. Now doctors consider extreme preoccupation with food a symptom of starvation, in part because of this study.

Moreover, the boundaries between dieting and eating disorders can easily become porous. Anti-diet books like Intuitive Eating are pitched to dieters who have found themselves estranged from their bodys hunger and satiation signals and need to relearn how to eat. Meanwhile, in the pro-ana forums and hashtags where self-identified anorexics enable one another, posters brag about teaching themselves to enjoy the feeling of hunger.

In 2016, a woman who well call Amy finished her graduate degree in nutrition and her dietetic internship, making her a board-certified dietician. It wasnt an easy journey for her. Its not uncommon for many people in the nutrition field to get there by way of their own disordered relationships with food, and Im definitely in that camp, she says.

Amys plan was to help other people take control of their relationships with food, in the way she craved taking control of her own. They would all learn to eat less and more healthfully, to keep their bodies slim. As she kept exploring nutrition after graduating, Amy began to encounter new ways of thinking about food.

First, she learned about mindful eating, the practice of paying close attention to the food you eat and your bodys response to it. From there she learned of intuitive eating, the practice of rejecting all food rules and allowing your body to guide your eating. Then she began hearing about Health at Every Size, the movement that argues that its possible to live a healthy life no matter what your weight is.

I started reading the research from that lens, rather than my very much weight-biased lens, Amy says. Everything started to line up and I was like, Oh my gosh, this makes so much sense. It really turned my world upside down.

Amy was fascinated enough by what she learned about intuitive eating and body positivity to want to incorporate both into her growing practice as a nutritionist. She wanted more experience using both of them under someone elses supervision before she was ready to go into private practice. When she heard about a promising weight loss company that seemed to be using a lot of the rhetoric of intuitive eating, she jumped at the chance to interview for a job there.

In March 2018, Amy began working as a health coach for Noom. I was optimistic that there would be opportunities to use intuitive eating, especially since they incorporate it in their curriculum, she says. Now, she says, I think I was probably lying to myself.

(Amy asked not to be identified by her real name due to a nondisclosure agreement she signed with Noom. Vox has verified her employment with the company.)

As Amy put in her time at Noom, she found herself gradually losing faith in the company.

The health coaches, she says, were perennially understaffed. While the companys goal was to have each coach working with 300 users a week, at peak season, Amy says she found herself handling 800 active users a week. In an emailed statement, Noom said, We dont publicly break out the ratio of Noom Coaches to users, but caseloads are closely monitored to ensure that all users are receiving the support they need to reach their goals.

Amy says the staff received a cash bonus for the extra work, and she thought all her colleagues were supportive and well-intentioned. She was worried, though, about the users she was supposed to be coaching.

They were starting to see that theyd lost some weight but now they were gaining some back, she says. They were having a lot of difficulties. They were having a lot of food preoccupation. They were having all these really classic signs of starvation.

Amy tried to work closely with the cases she was assigned to. She would tell them that the calorie budget they had been assigned was a minimum, not a maximum, to try to keep people from starving themselves. Still, she found herself fighting against the design of the app, which flared bright red warning signs whenever users went over their calorie budgets. The high workload also meant she never had time to pack all the nuance into her conversations with users that she wanted to.

In September 2018, HuffPost published a feature story from future Maintenance Phase co-host Michael Hobbes titled Everything You Know About Obesity Is Wrong. It was widely read and widely shared across the internet, including inside of Noom.

That was one of the biggest articles that had come out in the mainstream [news] since I had been aware of the [size-]inclusive paradigm, so that was really exciting for me to see it getting that kind of coverage, Amy says. However, the response to it at Noom was not satisfying to me.

In his article, Hobbes argues that our cultures overwhelming focus on shaming fat people into losing weight is cruel, unproductive, and anti-scientific. Its time for a paradigm shift, Hobbes wrote. Were not going to become a skinnier country. But we still have a chance to become a healthier one.

Amy says that she had a productive conversation about the article with her supervisor, and that she saw plenty of her colleagues discussing it in good faith. People were starting to question some of the things that overall Noom was perpetuating, she says.

Ultimately, though, Amy felt that Nooms response to the article was dismissive. That, she says, is when she knew she couldnt stay at Noom.

It really just started grating on me, the whole curriculum they have, the way they explain it. Hearing their ads on NPR basically any time I turned the radio on, she says. It just got really frustrating to hear the message over and over again that were not a diet when they very clearly are.

Shortly after the HuffPost article came out, Amy transitioned from full-time to part-time. Six months later, she had enough money to leave for good and focus on developing her private practice as an anti-diet dietician.

Meanwhile, Noom was flourishing with the onset of the pandemic. Stressed stay-at-home workers began obsessing over whether they were putting on the Covid 15, and Noom was ready and waiting for them.

As Noom kept scaling up, the backlash was building. In January, Alina Stone tweeted, every noom ad is like were NOT a diet. were an eating disorder :). The joke was enough to get Noom trending worldwide, with former Noomers sharing their stories in the replies. (In an emailed statement to Vox, Noom director of communications Sara Cohen said, We take eating disorders extremely seriously and have since the earliest days of building our product.)

I was just kind of tired of hearing the ads and tired of them pretending they were not a diet, Stone says in a Zoom interview. It was constant, in podcasts and on YouTube. And its really hard to skip the ads on YouTube! They can use these buzzwords and catchphrases all they want, but its a diet.

For ex-Noomers, the anti-diet nutrition principles that the company claimed to teach arent quite neutral territory anymore. In her private practice, Amy says she regularly sees clients who went through Nooms program. When she tries to introduce intuitive eating concepts to them, she finds that she tends to have problems.

It takes a lot of work to go through these lessons again, she says. Theyre like, Oh, yeah, I understand that. And then when theyre talking, its kind of like, Im hearing that you dont [understand it], because of the way that Noom has discussed some of these topics. Its really keeping people in this disordered relationship with food.

Sonya Rene Taylor, the founder of The Body Is Not an Apology, says she wasnt surprised to see Noom present itself with co-opted anti-diet language. I expect capitalism to capitalize, she says. That doesnt mean, she adds, that Noom isnt hurting people.

At the end of the day, any modality that tells you that somehow youre wrong, that your natural body cues are failing you, and that somehow youre going to opt into a better life by being some other kind of body cant do anything but fuel oppression, Taylor says. And anything that fuels oppression is inherently, innately harmful.

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Noom: What is the weight loss app and does it work? - Vox.com

Weight loss is of great concern among todays generation, especially among youngsters who aspire perfect body shapes as per the assumption of society. The ideal body shape expectation in many areas of work, social pressure to look thin and the fear of being missed out in this competitive world often take people to the wrong dietary practices.

According to The American Dietetic Association, a fad diet is a type of diet that ensures instant weight loss without any need to perform exercise or physical activities but does not rely on clear scientific evidence and is thus considered to be an unsafe diet that can increase the risk of health conditions such as kidney damage, ketosis and disruption of fluid. In this article, we will discuss fad diets in detail. Take a look.

What are fad diets?

As aforementioned, fad diets are diet types that promise effective weight loss but are based on anecdotal evidence and short-term results. According to a study, fad diets offer the consumption of tasty and our favourite foods, but severely restricts certain food categories.

They are low-kilojoule diets or say those that provide less energy than an individuals requirement. If carried out successfully for a longer period, a fad diet with less energy intake can result in long-term weight loss.

The study adds that the idea behind these diet types is to modify eating patterns and maintain physical activity so that balanced eating consisting of all nutrients is achieved.

Another questionnaire-based study on early adulthood girl models with an average age of 21 says that the type of fad diet which is highly carried out by models is consuming low-fat drinks such as slimming tea and fibrous drinks, with the intake of just one type of food, either protein or carbs or fruits and vegetables. The drinks may help eliminate fat around 57.6 per cent while sticking to just one food type may cause a reduction of around 55.7 per cent fat.

Examples of fad diets

Some of the diet types that can be considered as fad diets include:

1. Ketogenic diet

2. The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet

3. Vegan diet

4. The Pritikin Principle

5. Atkins diet

6. Cambridge Diet

7. Paleo Diet

8. Volumetrics Weight-Control Plan

9. SlimFast diet

Note: Some of the Fad Diets like Ketogenic and Atkins diets are considered to be healthy with many benefits.

How to identify a fad diet?

You can identify a fad diet when it:

1. Promises instant weight loss.

2. Ensures that food can help change body chemistry and help lose weight.

3. Claims effective weight loss based on testimonials only or anecdotal studies.

4. Claiming weight loss by endorsing celebrities or influencers.

5. Restrict food groups like removing gluten or carbs from the diet.

6. Promotes a food combination as a quick fix for weight management.

7. Claims weight loss based on before and after photos.

8. Requires you to invest a lot of money to get the advantages of weight loss pills or prepackaged meals.

Why do fad diets dont work?

Fad diets often cause people to deprive them of their favourite foods or a food category, which backfires and often results in overconsumption of these foods.

Overconsumption

Fad diets often cause people to deprive them of their favourite foods or a food category, which backfires and often results in overconsumption of these foods.

Avoidance of certain food categories without any related medical condition

An associate professor Christopher Gustafson at the University of Lincoln, who is also a co-led of a study published in the journal Appetite says that people without Celiac disease or any gluten sensitivity are often seen to avoid the consumption of gluten diets to follow the fad diet and reduce weight. This causes them to miss out on essential nutrients even if they are not allergic to them and cause them some kind of nutritional deficiencies.

Causes deficient in micronutrients

Though fad diets result in effective weight loss, they may cause micronutrient deficiencies, says a study. These diets cause less consumption of one or the other foods and result in less intake of nutrients than the daily recommended amounts, causing deficiency in micronutrients.

May cause eating disorders

People, especially celebrities, try harder to get an ideal body shape. This often triggers dissatisfaction with their body image and leads them to some kind of eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa.

Health problems related to fad diets

Fad diets are unsafe because they may cause certain health problems like:

1. Chronic energy efficiency

2. Diverticulitis

3. Constipation

4. Headache & Nausea

5. Micronutrient deficiencies

6. Fatigue and weakness

7. Dehydration

Are there any health benefits of fad diets?

Instant weight loss is one of the primary benefits of fad diets, be it in an unsafe way. According to the Sports Dietician Australia, some of the health benefits of fad diets like the paleo diet, keto diet and Atkins diet may include good skin health, good digestion and good overall health in the long run.

What to do?

Instead of following a fad diet, one should focus on following a balanced diet type that includes all the nutrients and should also include your favourite foods (in small amounts) without causing deprivation. Therefore you should, Consume all food types that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Consume plenty of water. Avoid packaged foods as they are high in salt and sweeteners. Instead, opt for natural sweeteners like jaggery. Limit alcohol intake

Understanding your body is the most important factor in maintaining a healthy diet. Experts say that simply following a diet type for weight loss is unhealthy in the long run and may increase the risk of diseases. Therefore, if you want to lose weight, make plans by consulting a dietician or a nutritionist or a medical expert and then make a diet plan based on your medical condition. Never expect results in a short period and remember, that all good things take time.

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What are fad diets? Why are they popular instead of being unsafe? - Free Press Journal

Visceral fat is a hidden health issue not talked about as much as it should be. While most people know about subcutaneous fatthe fat that you can see and pinch, many don't know about visceral fat, which is located deep in your abdomen. It wraps around your vital organs and can cause serious health issues like some cancers, stroke, type 2 diabetes and more. Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with Dr. Seema Bonney, the founder and medical director of the Anti-Aging & Longevity Center of Philadelphia who revealed three ways to lose visceral fat and what causes it. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

According to Dr. Bonney, "Diet is at least 80% of the equation when getting rid of visceral fat. Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables of every color. Some studies have shown that more calcium and vitamin D in your body is linked to lower amounts of visceral fat. Reduce or eliminate sources of sugar in your diet and simple carbs that turn into sugar. Avoiding processed foods will also help you lose and keep off visceral fat. Increase your intake of lean proteins and reduce intake of red meats. It's key to eat smart while some foods help you reduce visceral fat, others help you gain it so avoid foods with trans fats as well. At our longevity practice, our health coach helps patients read food labels to avoid ingredients like partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup."6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Dr. Bonney states, "Long-term lifestyle changes like making sure you exercise daily is key to losing visceral fat. And as far as the kinds of exercise you can do, specifically cardio is best when attacking visceral fat. In general, it's so important to keep moving. If your job is sedentary, get a standing desk and make sure to get some steps in every hour. If you can walk instead of driving close distances, opt for the walk. be sure to build some exercise into your daily regimen. Ideally you want to do 30 min of exercise daily, but studies have shown us that even 10 minutes of daily exercise enhances longevity!"

"Getting enough sleep is part of the plan to reduce visceral fat," says Dr. Bonney. "It's not only important for optimal physical and mental health as well as a healthy cardiovascular system. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology demonstrated that lack of sufficient sleep led to a 9% increase in total abdominal fat and an 11% increase in abdominal visceral fat. So beef up your sleep hygiene and track your sleep to see if this needs to be addressed with your functional medicine physician."

RELATED: Signs Your Gut is "Unhealthy," Say Physicians

Dr. Bonney says, "There are 2 kinds of fat in our bodies there's the subcutaneous fat you can pinch and feel and there's visceral fat deeper fat that wraps around our abdominal organs. You may not even know you have visceral fat because you can't feel it or see it. We have seen patients with flat tummies that still have visceral fat. Neither type of fat is optimal; however, the bigger problem with visceral fat is that it raises your risk of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, high cholesterol among other disease processes.Visceral fat is more sinister because it makes inflammatory proteins that damage blood vessels as well as tissues and organs inside the body."

RELATED: Habits Secretly Increasing Your Abdominal Fat, Say Physicians

Since you can't see or touch visceral fat, most people don't know it's there. Dr. Bonney shares how you can measure it. "Sometimes it's evident by your waistline and BMI. If you see your waist size going up, your pants being too snug in the belly area, this is evidence that you are gaining visceral fat. We have noted many men especially who have large bellies above their waist who over time get used to that fat, but it is a major red flag and needs to be addressed. Since our focus is optimizing health, we do a deeper dive into looking for visceral fat. We check waist sizes, BMIs, and do body composition scans on our patients that help tell us if they have visceral fat."

RELATED: I'm a Virus Expert and if You Have This Symptom, Get Help

Dr. Bonney says, "Not getting enough exercise and physical inactivity leads to a significant increase in visceral fat. High amounts of exercise on the other hand, can lead to significant decreases in such fat, even in a short period of time. Eating foods high in trans fats which are found in dairy and meats as well as in processed and deep fried foods will raise visceral fat. Trans fats cause a redistribution of fat tissue into the abdomen and lead to a higher body weight, even when the total dietary calories are controlled. Other foods to avoid are sodas, processed baked goods, and foods sweetened with fructose."

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Melt Your Visceral Fat Fastest This Way, Say Experts Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Losing weight and shrinking excess belly fat can be a long and exhausting process to actually see results. But looking at a diet that keeps you full and satisfied, while also contributing to shedding some extra pounds sounds like the perfect place to start for long-term changes.

Including more protein in one's diet can foster weight loss in a number of ways. When combined with exercise, a high intake of protein helps build more lean muscle, and "lean muscle helps to burn more calories throughout the day," Medical News Today reports.

However, high protein foods can also "help with weight loss by decreasing hunger and promoting a sense of fullness," explains Brittany Dunn, MS, RDN, CD, who specializes in sports nutrition and has experience working with and educating athletes through Dunn Nutrition. High protein diets are extremely effective in weight loss, because "they preserve muscle mass and prevent decreased metabolism," she says.

A common misconception when it comes to high protein meals, is that many people want to overcompensate with the intention of losing more body fat, explains Dunn. Many people believe that "food sources of protein are not enough to contribute to a high protein meal plan and that supplementation is necessary," when in reality, "whole foods can provide enough and oftentimes, even more protein than expected," she says.

You should be eating "between 1.6 and 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight" on a daily basis, if you're working towards overall weight loss, according to the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

"Very few Americans consume inadequate amounts of protein," says Dunn. "However, if you do find yourself struggling to achieve enough protein in your diet, here are some tips: thicken sauces or soups with blended legumes (such as lentils) or [layer] tofu and sweet potato curry over steamed veggies."

To look into the nitty-gritty of what foods pack the best protein punch, here are six high-protein foods to help you reach your weight loss goals and shrink that waist! Then, for more weight loss tips, here are the Eating Habits to Lose Abdominal Fat As You Age, Say Dietitians.

What may seem like an obvious choice, choosing specific meats as a source of protein in your diet can make all the difference when it comes to shedding fat. Lean meats in particularsuch as skinless chicken, turkey, pork loin, bison, white flesh fish, salmon, and shrimpwill contain a high level of protein with low calories, healthy fats, and more often than not, less processed ingredients compared to red meat, Medical News Today explains.

When prioritizing eating lean meats, you can "limit the amount of saturated fat [you] consume to less than 10% of calories per day," according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

What does this mean in terms of weight loss? When you consume more high volume foods full of nutrients, like lean meat that are lower in calories (generally), you don't have to fill up on a larger portion to feel full and you will stay full for longer, explains Mayo Clinic.

Eating more fish like salmon and shrimp helps contribute sources of iodine and essential omega-3 fatty acids to filter good thyroid health and stable metabolism. Both of which support overall weight loss by helping keep overeating under control and also sustain fullness.

Another piece of the puzzle is how you cook your lean meats can help contribute to fat loss. To continue trimming excess weight, The Community Health Center (CHN) says "prepare your meat [by] grilling, broiling, or roasting to lower the amount of saturated fat."

If you love a classic Italian Wedding soup, Dunn recommends subbing in some turkey meatballs to give you a leaner protein power boost. You also could also spice up your shrimp with a shrimp fajita salad or curled up in a wrap, she says.

For more meat options to choose from, take a look at The Best Forms of Lean Protein You Can Eat

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A plant-based source of protein that you can throw into just about any meal for an extra boost chickpeas.

"Chickpeas are what's known as a complete protein because they contain all nine essential amino acids," which play a key role in metabolism and body function, according to Cleveland Clinic. The high protein and fiber contents of chickpeas help to keep you fuller longer, which is important if you're trying to lose weight and maintain it.

Chickpeas are also a great choice because they are considered a legume, which has the nutrient value of high protein foods as well as vegetables, according to a review in Nutrients. The review also points out that the vast nutrients in chickpeas have major effects on losing weight by controlling the body's glucose and insulin responses. Both of which play their part in easing digestion and slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates, so you're full of energy while consuming a low-calorie food.

One way to incorporate chickpeas more into your diet is by adding a "legume based hummus on sandwiches and wraps," says Dunn.

Whole-grain foods are another group that has huge rewards in terms of protein. Quinoa for examplecan act as a carb-like substitute for rice or pastais considered a complete protein, which is made up of the nine of the essential amino acids your body needs. The plant-based protein source will easily fill you up and support your fat loss goals, by contributing to building more muscle and a strong metabolism.

Quercetin and kaempferol, the two flavonoid plant compounds in quinoa, also help with weight loss by protecting your gut cells and supporting strong metabolites. Having strong metabolites will help fuel your metabolism to function efficiently in turning food into energy versus the alternative (fat). But, be careful what you pair with this protein-packed food because combining quinoa with high calorie and fatty foods could hinder your fat loss journey more than support it.

There's nothing wrong with enjoying a healthy carb with high protein content, especially when you're trying to lose fat. Black beans are a complex carbohydrate that is gluten-free and plant-based and sources both high levels of protein and healthy fiber. One study saw major weight loss results after including beans and legumes as a leading source of protein over the span of eight weeks.

The subjects of the study found they had lost significant body fat, reduced their waist circumference, and lowered their blood pressure and total cholesterol. Beansespecially black beanscan help lower the body's leptin levels, also known as the hormone that regulates the appetite. With a controlled appetite and a body full of healthy protein and fibers, you have a greater chance of losing more fat over time.

Dunn recommends filling up on a protein-packed burrito bowl with black beans, grilled chicken breast, grilled veggies, and salsa. Another meal to help implement more beans in your diet is our Vegetarian Black Bean Omelet Recipe.

Dairy products don't have the best reputation in supplementing a solid fat loss journey, but for many people consuming more dairy on a daily basis can potentially accelerate weight loss. Turning to fat-free milk, certain cheeses (such as cottage cheese), and low-fat Greek yogurt, can support your body's need for natural dairy-based nutrients (such as calcium) and a high source of protein.

The Journal of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity conducted research on participants in a reduced-calorie diet consuming three to four servings of dairy (in different types) a day, over the span of 24 weeks and many lost a great percentage of total body weight.

"It's clear from our research that the unique combination of essential nutrients in dairy foods has a powerful, positive impact on metabolism and weight loss," said lead researcher Dr. Michael Zemel, Ph.D., the director of the UT Nutrition Institute, in the journal review.

The study found that the calcium levels paired with the reasonable protein properties in dairy products contribute greatly to weight loss as they speed up the body's metabolism and improve natural energy storage.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Looking to sneak in extra protein? Try blending up a well-rounded smoothie with your choice of greek yogurt, low-fat milk (or a high protein non-dairy substitute), fruit, and veggies, Dunn says. If you're not a big smoothie fan, she also recommends topping Greek yogurt with seeds/nuts, nut butter, and hemp hearts.

Whey protein, in its original form, is mainly found in dairy products like milk and cheese. It's created during the curdling process of making milk and cheese and contains a total of eight protein groups and nine essential amino acids, explains Cleveland Clinic. The most important group of whey, in terms of fat loss, is the branched chain of amino acids (BCAA's)leucine, isoleucine, and valinewhich foster significant muscle growth.

It's highly recommended to consume whey protein for fat loss because it supplements more lean muscle throughout the body (similar to meat), which burns calories at a higher rate than body fat, says Dunn.

There's a reason why whey protein is one of the most commonly used and researched protein powders on the market. While protein powder isn't necessarily a food, it's great for on the go and can be blended or mixed into so many staple meals and drinks that are already part of your diet (plus, the wide variety of flavors can add even more taste to your food intake).

Here are The Healthiest Protein Powders for Weight Loss.

Read more:
6 High-Protein Foods That Shrink Belly Fat, Says Dietitian Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

In the hustle-bustle of everyday life, we tend to ignore the most important aspect of life- our health. Every year, April 7 is observed as World health day (WHD) to mark the founding of WHO in 1948. A sedentary lifestyle and habits such as overexposure to screens and consumption of carbohydrates can adversely affect our health. On the other hand, some exercise and a healthy diet go a long way.

On this World Health Day, CitySpidey talked to some residents from Delhi NCR to know about what they do to keep healthy-

Priya Agarwal,

a software engineer says, a resident of Cherry County, Coconut is one such elixir which can be considered a gift of God. I drink it regularly. What we do is what our children learn. Everyone knows that food and exercise are the best pair to make us fit and healthy, but in our present-day busy routine, we often do not find time, but we must take out time deliberately for exercising."

Shashi Bala,

resident of Nirala aspire and mom of two says, I start my mornings with cycling, a few other exercises and a healthy breakfast. I try to consume natural things instead of supplements. If you want to lose weight, follow the diet for weight loss or meet specific fitness goals. Sports can help wonders in maintaining good health."

Also read |Say hello to good health with these lifestyle habits

Vijay Malik (23) resident of Mahagun Puram, Ghaziabad is a gold medallist and two times trophy winner in the National game bodybuilding held in Meerut and Mr U.P in the bodybuilding championship by the BFSA federation. He says, I am a regular gym-goer, a workout freak and a highly active person. Being a video editor, I have a very tough schedule, still, I manage to take out time twice for my workout. Those who say that they don't have time, are the ones who are not dedicated towards their health.

Manish Kumar,

a resident of EcoVillage 1 says, To remain fit, I follow a strict plan of per day 50 km cycling ride with my companions every day. I wake at sharp 4.45 am and I am on-road cycling from 5 am to 7 am. I have never followed any diet plan but yes, our cycling is a rigorous task and in this, we increase our calcium intake."

Amit darshan,

a resident of Himalaya Pride says, There are five things that come to my mind when we talk about good health. One must always take a healthy diet. Exercising regularly is a must. Smoking and drinking should be limited. Weight should be controlled, and the consumption of alcohol should be limited. The key to a healthy life is happiness, I live happily and I keep my surroundings happy.

Amir Haider,

resident of sector 90 says, Sedentary lifestyle is the most unhealthy lifestyle, it leads to high blood pressure, heart diseases, obesity, diabetes and many other health issues. I believe in being active, by engaging myself in regular workouts and they are also a great stress buster. Many times, when I am not able to go to the gym, I prefer to take the stairs despite taking the lift."

He continues, I am observing Roza these days, still I am not skipping my gym. I keep fast and take fruits in the afternoon and evening open Roza in the office and still never skips gym.

Cdr. Narinder Mahajan,

a resident of Arun Vihar says, To lead a healthy life, I follow a very simple fundamental rule. No worries, No hurries and No curries. I am an ardent lover of everyday morning walks and also laughter yoga. One must never do fad diets. Everything should be eaten, but yes, in moderation. Every six months one must undergo all blood tests to ensure all the parameters. I had my bypass surgery 23 years back yet I am fit and fine today, it is all because I followed a healthy lifestyle."

Sanjeev Kumar,

resident of Assotech Windsor Court says, In the morning some Yoga and indoor exercise around 30 to 40 minutes. At night, I walk for around 4 to 5 km post-dinner. A good night's sleep is a must to stay healthy.

Tanushri Jha, a resident of Cherry County, Noida Extension says, The first step towards improving the health is identifying a bad habit. Everyone needs to set small goals, change the bad habit into good habits and by choosing healthy surroundings."

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World health day-residents from Delhi NCR share their fitness regime - CitySpidey.com