Category Archives: Lose Weight Fast

Being in your best shape is a lifestyle choice, and actor Navin Waqar seems to have aced at doing it right.

In a recent Instagram post, Waqar revealed her workout routine and diet plan and how the combination of the two has helped her achieve her body goals.

For starters, Waqar makes it clear that every person has different needs and should pursue a regimen customised to them.

"Everyone has different needs when it comes to working out. My aim is to lower my fat levels. For that I people lift heavy but I'm doing a mix of HITT/Tabata/Circuit training for now. It's hard but it works."

By focusing on fat-loss rather than targetting weight-loss, Waqar says it has built her stamina and endurance big time.

If one cuts down on food intake, the weight you lose will be both muscle and fat. The goal to successful weight loss is to preserve as much muscle as possible, and maybe even gain some, while at the same time lose as much bodyweight as possible. In the long-run, this helps in maintaining your weight.

When it comes to her diet, Waqar believes in balance. But more importantly, it's what you eat that seems to make all the difference.

She starts the day with overnight soaked oats for energy and proceeds to snack on blueberries, sugar-free/whole wheat cookies, almonds and dark chocolate.

And if that wasn't enough, her carbs include, "brown rice and roasted/steamed veggies. Chicken, fish, eggs and lean meat, in addition to seafood, is a must protein."

Waqar says what seems to work best for her is that she "counts her calories."

With a diet plan that has us salivating at the mouth, who needs to count calories? But one thing's for sure, Waqar's focus and consistency, guided by her trainer Ammar Qadir, has not only yielded desired results but has inspired those of us looking to get moving.

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Navin Waqar's fitness routine focuses on fat loss rather than weight loss - DAWN.com

The hits keep coming for Ohio State. Not only did the Buckeyes lose key freshman DJ Carton a few weeks ago as he looks to work on his mental health, but Kyle Young, Duane Washington and Luther Muhammad have all missed games in Big Ten play. It has been hard for coach Chris Holtmann to nail down a consistent rotation as he constantly has to switch things around.

Ohio State may be safely in the NCAA Tournament, but its still looking to improve its seeding in the Big Ten Tournament as well as for March Madness. The Buckeyes are just 8-8 in league play and has a chance to move out of the 8/9 game and therefore avoid a potential game against Maryland in the quarterfinals in Indianapolis next month.

Thursday, however, brought another blow to Holtmanns group. This time, its Young and freshman wing Alonzo Gaffney.

Neither will play for the Buckeyes at Nebraska. This was first reported byJon Rothstein of CBS Sports and has now been confirmed by Bucknuts. Gaffney has played just 27 total minutes in Big Ten play, but Young has started every game he has played in. Rothstein reported that Young will miss the game with an ankle injury, while Gaffney is sick.

This isnt a surprise, as Young went down with a high ankle sprain in the Buckeyes win over Maryland on Sunday. High sprains typically pose longer recovery times than low ones, and Young put barely any weight on his left leg while being helped off the court. Holtmann didnt say after the win how long Young would be out for.

Kyle is, what has been described to me right now, is a high ankle sprain and he's still in the process of getting it looked at and worked on, Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann said after the game. He's had really, really hard, bad luck. I just feel terrible for him.

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Young missed games against Wisconsin and Maryland in early January after having an appendectomy Ohio State lost both games without Young and is 7-5 since he returned. The Buckeyes will play their first Big Ten Tournament game two weeks from today if they dont move significantly up or down the standings, and theyve got key matchups with Michigan, Illinois and Michigan State to end the regular season.CBS Sports bracketologist Jerry Palm pegged the Buckeyes as a No. 6 seed in his latest projection, released Monday morning. A loss to Nebraska would likely end up as a Quadrant 3 setback, and one of Ohio States top selling points with respect to its resume is that it is undefeated against Quadrants 3 and 4. The Buckeyes could also use a road win, as theyre just 4-7 away from Value City Arena this season.

Excerpt from:
Ohio State will be shorthanded at Nebraska on Thursday - 247Sports

From Good Housekeeping

As a Registered Dietitian who has successfully lost 30 pounds and maintained it for five years, I can tell you firsthand that the dieting part of weight loss isnt the hard part. Its what happens after the diet is over that is the true struggle. The maintenance phase that comes post-diet requires a delicate balance of maintaining your healthy habits while also incorporating more decadent foods in moderation. Praised by fitness moguls such as Kim Kardashians trainer Melissa Alcantara, reverse dieting is touted as the diet after the diet solution.

Reverse dieting is popular in the fitness competition world, as many bikini body pros start reverse dieting after a competition. These physique athletes often excessively restrict food prior to competition, and post-competition end up facing rapid weight gain since they have difficulty easing back into a normal diet. Reverse dieting provides a solution for these individuals and involves a very gradual yet controlled increase in daily caloric intake after a prolonged period of restriction. Typically, reverse dieters will increase their calories by 50-100 calories per week for about 1-3 month, or until they reach their target or pre-diet intake.

Although there is very limited research on reverse dieting, proponents of this diet trend suggest that the small caloric surplus can help recover your metabolic rate without rapid fat gain. Many claim that reverse dieting can also reduce the risk of binge eating after prolonged caloric restriction, so theoretically it may help ease individuals back into a normal diet. However, there is no current research to support that reverse dieting will help you lose weight.

The bottom line: Making gradual changes is key with anything, and it does take your body time to adapt to change. The problem with reverse dieting is the prior restriction period that gets you to try reverse dieting in the first place. Approach weight loss in a sustainable manner and utilize small caloric deficits daily. The goal with any diet or change in your eating pattern should be for it to turn into a lifestyle and not something that warrants a diet after the diet. Eat intuitively, listen to your body, and stay active to keep your metabolic rate high.

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What Is Reverse Dieting and Can It Help You Lose Weight? - Yahoo Lifestyle

Deontay Wilders excuse for losing to Tyson Fury doesnt carry much weight with many people.

The dethroned WBC champion left Las Vegas MGM Grand bruised and battered having felt the full force of Tyson Furys punches, yet claimed his 40lbs ring walk costume was to blame for the loss.

Its my own fault. My uniform I wore was very heavy for me. I had no legs from the first round on, he said, explaining he only tried on the extravagant outfit the night before.

My main focus was to survive with my legs, and not on the principles I know and normally think of. I couldnt follow up with the game plan because of my legs. I couldnt do anything.

Many from promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren to fellow heavyweight Dillian Whyte have laughed at his excuse and his reason for the seventh round loss will mean even less considering Wilders previous claims about his fight preparation.

Footage of a December 2018 interview with Joe Rogan has been circulating showing him claim to train with a vest HEAVIER than his ring walk attire.

We want to activate the twitch muscles, he said.

We do everything with rapid speed. If Im doing anything that consist of me moving my feet or sprinting, I wear a 45lbs vest on me in all my exercises and everything I do to have that extra weight on me.

Yes, he is not training to such an extent in the moments before a 12-round heavyweight title fight, but critics would rightly argue his legs should be able to deal with reduced weight in a walk to the ring.

Slow twitch muscle fibres are good for endurance activities like long distance running or cycling.

They can work for a long time without getting tired. Fast twitch muscles are good for rapid movements like jumping to catch a ball or sprinting for the bus. They contract quickly, but get tired fast, as they consume lots of energy.

BT Sport

And it has been revealed Wilder was wearing the expensive suit designed to celebrate Black History Month for 15 minutes BEFORE even beginning his walk.

Speaking to talkSPORT, boxing journalist Dan Rafael said: That was a heavy looking costume and Deontay told me he was wearing the gear for like 15 minutes before walking to the ring not the helmet, but the whole get-up and then you put the helmet on, it restricts your breathing a little bit.

If you watch the fight, you know it was a very long and protracted, dramatic ring walk.

Regardless, it is thought Wilder will work with Los Angeles-based designers Cosmo & Donato again possibly for the third fight, which will take place later this year in America.

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Deontay Wilder blamed ring walk outfit on defeat to Tyson Fury, but previously claimed he trained with - talkSPORT.com

After a four-year hiatus, The Biggest Loser is back. Now airing on the USA Network, fans of the show have a whole new cast to cheer for. This season, 12 new contestants will tackle fitness challenges, learn about nutrition, and participate in group discussions to develop healthier habits and lose weight. In the end, the person who loses the most weight will be named "The Biggest Loser."

Along the way, one person will be eliminated each week. Until we see who is this season's ultimate winner, here's a running list of the eliminated cast of this season's The Biggest Loser. Spoilers ahead!

And remember: contestants on The Biggest Loser may drop weight fast, but experts recommend slow weight loss. The amount of weight a person can safely lose in a week is dependent on a variety of factors including total weight, activity level, and muscle mass, but it's generally advised to lose a half-pound to one-pound per week.

Despite losing four pounds, Katarina went home in week five. She was very upset and later explained to Cheatsheet, "When youre on that [Biggest Loser] scale, and you see four pounds, and you look disappointed, youre not disappointed that you lost four pounds. Youre disappointed that this four pounds might not keep you there. . . especially when you have men that can lose eight, ten pounds at a time.

In week four, Delores went home after losing just one pound. She was visibly upset and said, "I'm following the plan. I then hear someone tell me to give more. I give more, and that's still not enough." Her coach, Steve Cook, praised the effort Delores put in and said, "Losing weight isn't always this perfect science." The number on the scale can fluctuate or stall for a variety of factors including bloating and whether you've had a bowel movement.

Dom began his journey weighing 323 pounds and left the show weighing 298 pounds. He lost four pounds in week three, but that wasn't enough to keep Dom on the show. However, he feels much better since losing the 25 pounds on the show. "I can actually go to the park now, take my daughter, and run around with her," he said.

Phi weighed 345 pounds during week two, down from 351 the previous week. All total she lost 12 pounds before departing the show. Although her time was cut short, Phi says she will maintain her healthy habits at hone. "I'm just ready to show my team and everyone that the journey didn't stop here. This is only the beginning," she said.

Robert lost 13 pounds in week one. However, this figure was 3.18 percent of his body weight, which was the lowest percent of any other competitor, according to US. In an interview with PopCulture in February 2020, Robert revealed he lost another 48 pounds once he left the show.

Originally posted here:
Here's Who Was Eliminated on 'The Biggest Loser' in 2020 - Men's Health

Jena Ardell/Moment via Getty Images How to cook bacon

Theres no denying that bacon is one of the most iconic breakfast foods, but it isnt especially easy to cook correctly. Frying bacon on the stove can be a little dangerous as the fat renders and splatters, and its easy to end up with an unevenly cooked final product. But how can you cook bacon the right way?

Brown Eggs Or White? And Other Grocery Questions Answered

The answer involves a surprising ingredient: water.

The fine folks at Americas Test Kitchen figured out that adding just a little water to your frying pan yields deliciously crisp, evenly cooked bacon with none of the hazards traditionally associated with making this favorite food.

First, place your bacon in the pan and add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan before turning the stove to high heat. When the water has boiled, lower the heat to medium, and once the water has evaporated, reduce the heat to low. Continue to cook the bacon until its at your desired crispiness.

Because this method reduces the splatter of pork fat, it allows you to multitask more easily. So go forth and make those perfectly scrambled eggs at the same time and have a delicious breakfast.

If you didnt know that water helps to control your wild-cooking bacon, dont sweat it. Bacon is just one of the 15 foods you didnt know you were cooking incorrectly.

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This surprising ingredient is the secret to making the perfect bacon - msnNOW

Day Our World Crumbled: The Human Cost of Inaction on Road Safety show the personal side of traffic crashes.

(Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety)

On a recent evening, a busy thoroughfare in Stockholms Central Station boasted a unique exhibition: a huge pile of 3,700 pairs of old shoes and two crashed vehicles. It wasnt an edgy installation by an up-and-coming emerging artist. It was a memorial to the 3,700 lives lost every day in traffic crashes around the world.

The empty shoes are powerful, visual, symbolic representations of statistics which are so often abstract and impersonal, Rochelle Sobel told Forbes, intended to convey the enormity of the issue and its daily toll. Ms. Sobel is founder of the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT). Her son Aron died in a bus crash in Turkey in 1995. He was a twenty five year old medical student completing his final rotation by volunteering in a hospital abroad.

a memorial to the 3,700 people who die every day on the worlds roads.

(Ahlstrom/Elquist via the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety)

The temporary exhibition, designed to show the human side of the global road safety epidemic that every year kills about 1.35 million people and severely injures some 50 million more, was organized by the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, a nonprofit, which represents more than 240 member NGOs working in road safety (including ASIRT) from more than 90 countries.

The installation opened for several days to coincide with the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Stockholm from February 19-20, organized by the Swedish Government and the World Health Organization. Hundreds of government officials and road safety groups and experts gathered from about 140 countries. The exhibitions goal was to highlight the dangerous, urgent and preventable consequences of inaction on road safety around the world and to call on world leaders to take action, the Global Alliance said.

The two crashed cars at the exhibit, from the same manufacturer but destined for different regions of the world, demonstrated the danger faced by citizens in countries with lower vehicle safety standards. The display was arranged in collaboration with the Global New Car Assessment Program (Global NCAP), a nonprofit based in London that serves as an umbrella organization for new-car assessment programs globally that offer consumers information about the safety levels for models sold in their markets.

In the first test of its kind, Global NCAP crashed one of the best-selling pickup models in Africa, the 2019 Nissan NP300 Hardbody, into a second-hand Nissan Navara NP300 manufactured in Europe in 2015. The car-to-car crash test graphically demonstrated the inequities currently applied by Nissan and other car makers to vehicle safety in Africa.

destined for different regions in the world, demonstrated the double standard in vehicle safety.

(Ahlstrom/Elquist via the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety)

The difference in safety performance between the new African model and the second-hand European version is a matter of life and death, the group reported, noting that the driver in the African Nissan would have likely sustained fatal injuries, but the driver of the equivalent European model would have probably walked away from the crash.The European car was fitted with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a life saving crash avoidance anti-skid system, but the new African version was not.

It is misleading, dishonest and an unacceptable double standard said David Ward, Global NCAPs president and chief executive, addressing a group of journalists in advance of the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference. Major brands should know better. Nowhere in Africa are the United Nations minimum standards applied, he said. Africa has the most dangerous road network in the world. (The United States currently only requires six of the eight recommended U.N. vehicle standards; in the European Union, all eight are mandatory.)

Its completely false to think that regulations will result in huge costs, Mr. Ward added. And we cant expect the private sector to do it on its own.

To coincide with the international conference, the Global Alliance released its new report: The Day Our World Crumbled: The Human Cost of Inaction on Road Safety based on a survey of 5,606 people from 132 countries that combines statistical analysis with personal stories. The report details the impact road collisions have on the everyday lives of crash victims, their families, and the wider community. Crashes often lead to a series of negative outcomes that can change the course of a victim and their familys lives. Those without formal education, for example, are more sharply affected, reported a higher frequency of losing jobs or income, of staying home to care for an injured victim, and of incurring a disability. They and their children are also more likely to abandon school. Road crashes, the report stated, therefore, are perpetuating social inequality,

Some highlights from the report:

Road crashes can affect income and education:

Those with lower educational levels, often corresponding to lower income, are the most affected:

The emotional impacts affect peoples daily lives:

The report brings forth the voices of real people who testify to the disastrous long-lasting consequences that crashes cause: the never-ending pain, grief, loss, and fear of losing family members, the difficulties of living with the impacts of a crash, and the anger that these deaths and injuries could have been prevented, Lotte Brondum, executive director of the Global Alliance, said in a statement. Our leaders must show that they hear and understand what is happening on the streets in their countries and value their citizens lives by taking action now.

Many deaths could be prevented if governments implemented the policies, enforcement, road and vehicle standards, and post-crash care recommended by the W. H.O., the group said.

Many of us brought the shoes of our loved ones to Stockholm to place them on the pile during the ceremony, said Ms. Sobel, the chair of the Global Alliances board of directors. At the exhibitions opening, she read a poem she composed as she placed her son Arons shoes with the others:

With aching hearts, we place our loved ones shoes upon the pile

And watch them tumble as they find their place among the others.

Shoes of young and old commingle, shoes of many countries and countless broken dreams

Shoes that once walked or danced or skipped or raced or played or shuffled slowly

Cruelly stilled in a single moment, on a single road

Now inert, unmoving, frozen in time.

Shoes that took first steps , or trudged to school, or rushed to catch a ball, or marched down aisles in triumph, or faltered, heavy with the weight of years.

Shoes that leaped to catch tomorrow on its wing, or simply pedaled to complete their daily chores.

These shoes are our sacred monuments to what was and will never be again.

With resolute hearts , we place our loved ones shoes upon the pile

And repeat the vow we made to them and to ourselves;

We will never rest, nor will we be silent

For these shoes are our sacred promise that the time will soon come

When all shoes will bear the precious weight of loved ones

Returning safely home.

Click here to read the full report, here to learn more about the Global Alliance, and here for more about Global NCAP.

Tanya Mohn covers road safety and consumer travel issues for Forbes. She is a regular contributor to The New York Times, and has reported for the BBC, NBC News, ABCRead More

Tanya Mohn covers road safety and consumer travel issues for Forbes. She is a regular contributor to The New York Times, and has reported for the BBC, NBC News, ABC News, PBS, HBO and CNBC. She recently received an International Center for Journalists World Health Organization Safety Reporting Fellowship, and an award for her road safety reporting from the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT). Follow her on Twitter @tanya_mohn.Read Less

Originally posted here:
Graphic Display Highlights The Human Cost Of Road Crashes - Forbes

Florida Today Published 4:00 a.m. ET Feb. 26, 2020

What will it take to restore speed bumps?

County Commissioner Smith doesn't believe the residents of Tropical Trail show enough support for replacing the speed bumps that were removed when the road was resurfaced.

A survey of residents of only the south end of the trail showed two-thirdsof respondents wanted the speed bumps replaced. If this were a general election we would call this a clear majority and the people choosing not to participate would not have the right to have their voices heard. The decision to forego this result clearly denies the will of the people. Instead, based on some arbitrary calculation, this is not "enough" of a majority to be heard?

I have been a resident of Tropical Trail for 20 years. I had the opportunity to drive the trail at 11 a.m. Sunday.I counted 57 bicyclists, 23 runners, and threedog walkers. To say this is not a residential street denies reality. Vehicle speed and usage has definitely increased since the speed bumps were removed. We have had two significant accidents directly related to speeds well in excess of the limit since removal.

Unfortunately, it seems the cost of replacing the bumps will have to be paid with a tragic and senseless loss of a life.

Robert Underill, Merritt Island

Residents of South Tropical Trail want Commissioner Curt Smith to reverse his decision against reinstalling speed bumps on this scenic road.(Photo: ISADORA RANGEL)

Pedestrians should be following law, too

Florida State Statute 316.130 (8) states: "No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield."

Pedestrians in parking lots: As the vehicle driver, I'll take the weight of responsibility on this. Would it be too much to ask you to "Look left, look right" before blindly walking into the path of my car? I know you're preoccupied and in a hurry but assuming I see you in time to avoid hitting you is a preoccupation you ought to retire, safely, from.

Steven T. Smith, Indian Harbour Beach

'Affordable' is key word here

I am a registered Democrat and consider myself some what liberal (a dirty word in some sectors) but I do have to send a message to Bernie and Elizabeth. I feel that most Americans do not want a Medicare for All system or free education, etc. I feel what Americans want is affordable health care and affordable education be it vocational or college.

While your liberal ideals are commendable, making health care and education affordable is a whole lot easier to achieve than what would amount to a complete upheaval of the current system. Who can be against affordable health care and education?

To make health care affordable you must change the current fee for service systems that are in place. At one time we had Pell Grants for students and a significant number of other programs which reduced the need for student loans. These are difficult problems to solve but they can be solved if America wants to solve them.

Leonard Shaffer, Cocoa Beach

Bloomberg nod draws boos

If I had a child at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, I would be on my way there with a U-Haul truck just as fast as I-4 would allow.

After reading the ridiculous guest columnwritten by their R. Bruce Anderson, endorsing Michael Bloomberg for president, it is clear that the board of regents has their heads stuck somewhere dark to allow this sort of thinking to be presented to our future generation.

This fellow is so far away from reality that he wouldnt know it if it slammed him in the behind.

Robert Wilson, Melbourne

Immigration, deportation and tax dollars

Imagine you had a house for rent and a family that saw the sign broke in, Took over the house, and when you asked them to leave they called the government and the government told you that not only could you not make them leave, but you have to keep paying the mortgage, taxes and insurance, feed them, provide medical care and get their children to school at your expense.

My guess is most people in that situation would feel that was unfair, but essentially that is what open borders, and refusing to deport people illegally in the country, is all about.

I would like to propose a simple solution that I think could get politicians of both parties to support deporting those illegally in the country: Limit allocation of federally collected tax dollars, to be based only on the number of people legally in each state.

Want to bet when they had to pay for the needs of those illegally in the country with the help only of the state's own taxpayers, that they might not be so supportive of open borders and people coming into the country without federal authorization? And maybe return to policies of years past, to be sure those seeking to live in the U.S. can support themselves and werent bringing in diseases that could harm U.S. citizens?

Just wondering if others might agree.

Ilene Davis, Cocoa

Read or Share this story: https://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/02/26/letters-and-feedback-feb-26-2020/4850924002/

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Letters and feedback: Feb. 26, 2020 - Florida Today

Drew Barrymore has called her body a roller coaster, but she was definitely on a high after shedding 20 pounds for the final season of Santa Clarita Diet. And just last week, Barrymore, 45, took to Instagram to gush over the fitness trainer who got her there: Marnie Alton, whom she calls one of the greats.

She came to me and said she wanted to lose weight, yes, but it was more about her character, Alton, the founder of M/Body, an LA-based studio focusing on cardio and sculpting classes, tells The Post. Its a lot of pressure to be on TV. Her character had to move ... running in heels and digging holes.

Altons classes are a tough mix of barre, yoga and dance, and focus on three main pillars: sculpting, sweating and stretching.

The pair first met in the mid-aughts, when Alton was teaching a class at LAs Bar Method and theyve been great friends, says Alton, ever since.

We tailored Drews workouts in ways to work with her body, so she could do the classes in hotel rooms, says Alton, 43. We used moves from my classes focusing on activating muscles and doing movements that open you up.

The pair worked out four to five times a week in-studio, in-hotel room or via video chat for an intense three months, Alton says, adding, D is the embodiment of someone who lifts up other women. She walks the walk.

While the trainer is based on the West Coast, she plans to launch a stripped-down streaming version of her popular method, a 60-minute alt-barre class, in April.

Alton is currently in NYC through Thursday teaching pop-up classes at Energi, a co-working wellness space with locations in Soho and Union Square, where she demoed some of the moves that helped Barrymore get fit.

The classes are sold out, but you can try these three exercises at home, making sure to do three sets of eight on each side.

Stand tall and reach your arms overhead, taking a big breath in. As you exhale, tuck your chin, bend your knees deeply and round forward as you swing your arms behind you, bouncing twice at the bottom. Inhale as you roll back up to standing. Bonus: Add a hop at the bottom as your arms swing back.

Start in a wide parallel stance (feet straight forward, legs more than shoulder-distance apart). Bend your right leg only and extend your left leg, keeping your knee straight. Swing your arms from right to left in a semicircle. Bonus: Add a step in with your working leg and practice lifting your right foot up to your left knee.

Start in a straight-arm plank, hands and feet shoulder-width apart. Exhale and press your hips up to a downward dog. Inhale and take your right leg all the way up. Exhale and lower your hips back to plank. Lift and turn out your right knee and bring it to your ear. Inhale and step your foot back to plank.

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Meet the trainer responsible for Drew Barrymore's 20-pound weight loss - New York Post

At the hospital where Christina works as a physical therapist, she and her coworkers are routinely shuffled into a big conference room and measured for waist size and BMI, blood pressure and blood sugar.

If their measurements arent low enough according to the companys parameters they pay extra each month. If they pass two of the three categories, they pay less.

When I did it this year, I fasted before so my blood sugar wouldnt be high, said Christina, who asked that we change her name.

I was so nervous about some random dude measuring my waist and telling me Im too fat.

At the media company where Molly works, theres an eight-week annual wellness program, centered around either exercise or weight loss.

While its technically optional, completing the program saves her $800 annually on insurance a significant amount of money to her that doesnt feel optional. Mollys name has also been changed for this story.

Its been 12 years since The Office depicted a workplace-wide weight loss program, but the programs are more popular than ever.

In 2020, theyre titled wellness programs, though the focus is often still on weight. About 90 percent of large workplaces have them.

Theres a reason for that. In 2014, the Affordable Care Act incentivized such programs, allowing employers to raise premiums as much as 30 percent for folks who dont reach certain benchmarks.

These programs are often well-intentioned. But theres evidence that theyre not all that effective.

A 2016 study found that incentive-based wellness programs lead to virtually no change in weight.

Other studies have found no significant improvements in self-reported measures of health like sleep quality, other clinical measures of health, such as cholesterol and blood pressure, or workplace outcomes, like job performance.

[ICYMI: Fake Food Science is Everywhere. These Influencers are Trying to Stop it.]

And while theyre often hailed as cost-saving measures, most companies dont even save any money on healthcare outcomes.

Instead, studies show workplace wellness programs lead to increased weight stigma and discrimination in the office, leaving folks feeling alienated and uncomfortable, and even less likely to believe their weight is in their control.

Weight stigma is real. Fat people are more likely to be seen as lazy and unprofessional. Surveys of recruiters indicate fat job applicants are seen as less hireable than thin candidates.

Weight stigma can also lead to poorer medical care for fat folks and subsequently worse health outcomes.

This focus on weight in the office can also be dangerous for folks who are at risk of or personally affected by eating disorders.

We know that dieting and restricting is a major risk factor for the development of disordered eating and full-blown eating disorders, said Claire Mysko, CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association.

So when theres a focus on weight loss specifically, thats already a risk.

Disordered eating is widespread and deadly. One survey from SELF found that 65 percent of American women between the ages of 25 and 45 have disordered eating behaviors.

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 30 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder, and eating disorders are the mental illness with the highest mortality rate.

Only 40 percent of folks with eating disorders fully recover.

Initially, many workplace wellness programs showed up as Biggest Loser-style competitions, modeled after the popular NBC TV show, pitting employees against each other to see who could lose more weight.

But today, in an era where body positivity has gone mainstream, the messaging is more subtle, packaged under wellness, a buzzword of sorts. Instead of obsessing over thinness, these programs often obsess over fitness with weight loss still as an indicator of success.

Were at a place and time where there are so many mixed messages about what it means to be healthy, Mysko said.

Wellness as an industry, at its core, still equates thinness with health, and weight loss as always good. Mysko said thats dangerous for folks who are predisposed to eating disorders.

For instance, Weight Watchers, the popular diet company that rebranded as WW last year, calls itself a campaign for wellness on the front page of its website. Meanwhile, its still a diet company, with weight loss as primary goal for its customers.

Mysko said health initiatives arent inherently bad. Exercise is healthy. But instead of running programs that focus on weight, she recommends that companies take a more holistic approach.

That means no competitions or weigh-ins, and no focus on weight loss or weight management.

When we talk about health, were also talking about mental health, she said.

Taking the emphasis away from weight and BMI, and helping people to adopt habits that are supporting all aspects of their health.

Eating disorders dont exist in a vacuum theyre tied to other mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety.

But even as weight loss is a common conversation topic, mental health in the workplace still feels taboo.

Ignoring mental health also comes with a cost between $80 and $100 billion annually, according to Forbes. And its incredibly common, with one in five adults experiencing mental illness each year.

NEDA recommends talking to your HR department if youre concerned about your workplace wellness program.

Gretchen is an editor for Rewire. Shes into public media, music and really good coffee. Email her at [emailprotected], or follow her on Twitter @gretch_brown.

Original post:
Why Is Weight Loss Still Part of Workplace Wellness? - Rewire.org