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Analyzing the role of Human Growth Hormones in child development – Health Guide

Posted: July 4, 2017 at 11:30 am

Human Growth Hormones are essential for the growth of children. Children whose bodies produce very little HGH are prone to their growth being stunted and hence, they cannot reach the developmental goals they should. A daily dose of HGH can help children with HGH deficiency get proper growth. Sometimes even hormonally normal children can grow 1-4 inches taller, if treatment is started early.

Lets take a closer look at the role of HGH in child development:

How HGH helps children

HGH is beneficial for those children who do not grow taller according to their age. According to one study, carried out in 1983, daily injections of synthesized HGH given to 16 children over a period of 2 years had a positive effect on the childrens growth. The absence of local reactions and any antibodies against HGH evidenced the safety of HGH injections.

Preemies sometimes are behind others in their growth, and can be benefited by HGH injections. Treatment can start at age ten or twelve and continue for some years, until the child attains normal height and puberty. If growth is somewhere around a half-inch or one-quarter per year, after HGH injections, height can increase by up to 4 inches, as it did for a boy of 15, who was born premature.

Children with chromosomal abnormality (Turner syndrome) or other genetic disorders, such as Noonan syndrome and SHOX deficiency, can also benefit from HGH injections.

Those children who are small according to gestational age, and have comparatively large feet, hand pelvis and broad shoulders, and do not catch up to normal growth by the age of 2 can also be treated with HGH. In this case, HGH therapy has to be continued for six years.

Other benefits of HGH

HGH injections not only help in increasing height, but also boost the appetite of children. These injections help decrease body fat, according to current and past researches. In some children whose hands and feet stay small, HGH helps increase the size of their hands to normal size. Children deficient in the growth hormone have the tendency to accumulate fat, especially around the abdomen, have fragile bones and their body mass is extremely less. Hormone therapy increases bone density and improves muscle mass of the trunk, arms and legs, if the therapy is continued even after adolescence. It has been seen that hormone injections reduce the risk of heart disease later on in life.

How long does treatment last

Treatment usually lasts until a child attains an acceptable height and achieves other development goals such as puberty. Sometimes, endocrinologists suggest the continuation of HGH therapy. The main points to consider when looking for HGH for sale is the certified efficacy of the brand you buy, which are available in pharmacies.

Human growth injections work better than supplements and results can be seen within 3-4 months. Nonetheless, we advise seeing an endocrinologist before deciding whether HGH injections or other supplements are better for your kids, since an endocrinologist can suggest the type of HGH, which is the most suitable for your child.

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Analyzing the role of Human Growth Hormones in child development was last modified: June 29th, 2017 by Dr Prem Jagyasi (c)

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Analyzing the role of Human Growth Hormones in child development - Health Guide

How to Mix and Inject Omnitrope HGH Injections

Posted: July 4, 2017 at 11:30 am

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How to Mix and Inject Omnitrope HGH Injections

Is testosterone replacement therapy safe? Take a look at …

Posted: July 4, 2017 at 11:27 am

Published: February, 2014

Millions of American men use a prescription testosterone gel, patch, or injection to boost levels of the manly hormone. The ongoing marketing blitz promises that treating "low T" this way can make men feel more alert, energetic, mentally sharp, and sexually functional. However, legitimate safety concerns linger, as explained in the February 2014 issue of the Harvard Men's Health Watch.

"Because of the marketing, men have been flooded with information about the potential benefit of fixing low testosterone, but not with the potential costs," says Dr. Carl Pallais, an endocrinologist and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "Men should be much more mindful of the possible long-term complications."

Some studies have found that men taking testosterone have more cardiovascular problems, like heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from heart disease. Some physicians also have a lingering concern that testosterone therapy could stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells. Yet the evidence is mixed, with some studies showing a lower cardiac risk with testosterone therapy and no apparent effect on prostate cancer.

In such uncertain times, men should take a cautious approach, Dr. Pallais says.

"I can't tell you for certain that taking testosterone raises the risk of heart problems and prostate cancer, or that it doesn't," Dr. Pallais says. "We need a large study with multiple thousands of men followed for many years to figure it out."

Until then, here are some tips for taking a cautious approach to testosterone therapy:

Read the full-length article: "Is testosterone therapy safe? Take a breath before you take the plunge"

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Is testosterone replacement therapy safe? Take a look at ...

Caster Semenya could be forced to undertake hormone therapy for future Olympics – The Guardian

Posted: July 4, 2017 at 11:27 am

Caster Semenya of South Africa celebrates after winning the womens 800m final at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Photograph: Diego Azubel/EPA

Caster Semenya, the Olympic 800m champion, may be banned from competing at future Games unless she undergoes hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or even surgery in the wake of a landmark study into athletes with raised testosterone levels which has just been published.

The International Association of Athletics Federations, the world governing body, commissioned research which has produced the most conclusive evidence yet that female athletes with very high levels of naturally occurring testosterone receive significant performance-enhancing benefits in competition.

It comes only weeks before the IAAF is set to challenge a ruling by the court of arbitration for sport which, since 2015, has prevented it from restricting permitted levels of testosterone among female competitors.

The new study will not stop Semenya and other hyperandrogenic athletes, such as the Indian sprinter Dutee Chand, from competing at the world championships in London in August but it could have a significant impact on the Cas hearing later this month.

It is bound to reopen the controversial and emotionally charged debate around the treatment of female athletes with hyperandrogenism, a medical condition characterised by excessive levels of male sex hormones such as testosterone.

Researchers measured blood testosterone levels in 1,332 female athletes competing across 21 track and field disciplines at the 2011 and 2013 world championships. Those with the highest levels of testosterone demonstrated significant advantages over those with the lowest levels notably in the 400m (2.7% faster), the 400m hurdles (2.8% faster), the 800m (1.8% faster), the hammer throw (4.5% longer) and in the pole vault (2.9% higher).

Although these margins appear small, at the highest level a performance boost of a few percentage points might mean the difference between winning gold and missing out on a medal.

Stphane Bermon led the research from the Monaco Institute of Sports Medicine and Surgery, together with Dr Pierre-Yves Garnier, director of the IAAF health and science department. Bermon said: This study brings new evidence [of] the performance-enhancing effects of androgens in elite female athletes. Although long suspected [to be the case], until now there was no proof.

Our starting position is to defend, protect and promote fair female competition.If, as the study shows, in certain events female athletes with higher testosterone levels can have a competitive advantage of between 1.8 and 4.5% over female athletes with lower testosterone levels, imagine the magnitude of the advantage for female athletes with testosterone levels in the normal male range.

Among female athletes testosterone is the most widely abused performance-enhancing drug, Bermon said. Of the 116 female athletes serving a doping ban as of December 2016, 64 had tested positive for androgens.

Chand, a 100m and 200m sprinter, successfully challenged IAAF regulations restricting permitted testosterone levels in 2015. These regulations mandated that affected individuals had to receive hormone treatment to lower their testosterone levels artificially if they wanted to compete in the female category of competition. Cas ruled the IAAF regulations must be suspended until evidence of the impact of circulating androgens, like testosterone, on sporting performance could be produced.

This missing evidence prompted the current study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Testosterone has several potential performance-enhancing effects on the body, including boosting the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, building lean muscle mass and increasing mental drive and aggressiveness. The new study also found that female competitors with high levels of androgens benefit from improved visuospatial abilities.

Bermon believes the studys findings have significant implications for future rulings on testosterone in elite womens sport. We believe that these results could help the CAS jury to better understand the relationship between androgen levels and athletic performance. Additionally, our work addresses the main CAS request: quantification of the advantage experienced by female athletes with very high level of circulating androgens when compared to athletes with normal level of androgens.

The IAAF has commissioned a second piece of research and sources told the Guardian it would look at the effect naturally occurring testosterone has on 100m and 200m sprinters like Chand, as well as middle distance runners and throwers.

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Caster Semenya could be forced to undertake hormone therapy for future Olympics - The Guardian

Weight Loss in Rochester – Weight Loss Rochester NY

Posted: July 4, 2017 at 12:52 am

Are you looking for help with weight loss in Rochester, NY? This may sound surprising, but weight loss is not what you should want. Simply losing weight is not good enough; FAT LOSS should be your goal. Finally being able to lose unwanted and unhealthy amounts of fat will be genuinely life changing. I'm sure that sounds good, but you may be thinking to yourself, "I can't even get the scale to move, let alone worry about whether I'm losing fat or just weight!" This is exactly why we have helped so many people (of all ages) achieve results in an efficient and lasting manner...because what's been missing all along is a METABOLIC APPROACH based on YOU!

Other weight loss programs set you up for short term success at best because nothing is truly changedyou've either been on a diet (meal replacement shake, pre-packaged foods, or the newest miracle supplement), relied on hormone injection (synthetic or bio-identical) to force temporary fat burning, or attempted a surgical or pharmaceutical resolution. All these leave your metabolism in the same weak (or worsened) state it startedbecause they were never designed to make a change.

At Restoration Wellness Custom Fat Loss we use our Custom Fat Loss system to provide a re-education of your body and brain. This clears a path for your metabolism to return to a proper state of fat burning balance, but more importantly empowers you to keep that fat burning state active indefinitely. It's because of this approach that our patients feel such a difference and talk about their results on the program and after!

At Restoration Wellness Custom Fat Loss our weight loss team is ready to meet with you to discuss your needs. We will help to design a program that is right for you. We look forward to meeting you.

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This woman shows how easy it is to fake weight loss pictures – The indy100

Posted: July 4, 2017 at 12:52 am

It's well-documented that you're probably at your most fake on Instagram.

It's the playground of the beautiful and the vain, and we're all in its web.

It's easy, on such a hedonistic platform, to become preoccupied with how your body looks and whether you're truly living your most #authentic #fitspo #goals life.

24-year-old Mille Smith is here with a body positive account to tell you to stop worrying about whether you're a Transformation Tuesday or not.

Same girl, same day, same time. With a camera angle and clothing I can change my body into something that society would deem more acceptable than the photo on the right. Recently insta was voted as the most damaging app to body image/self esteem. That's not ok. The media constantly wants us to be more filtered, more posed, more flexed. Making us ashamed, afraid and resentful of our bodies, our natural vessel. We compare ourselves to these images of posed, strategically taken photos. Comparing yourself is a thief of your joy/self love and even more so when you're comparing aesthetics to images that aren't reality. Both these photos are beautiful . Both these photos are worthy. However only one of these photos is truly me, comfortable and naturally loving myself... Get rid of accounts that make you feel negative, get rid of people in your life that don't make you feel happy, loved and beautiful. Don't let an all ruin your life.

A post shared by Milly Smith (@selfloveclubb) on Jun 25, 2017 at 11:14am PDT

She encourages you to scrutinise angles, and realise that many of the posts on instagram are created just to pique your interest.

They don't care about your mental health, your body or your emotions, these accounts only care about your attention.

We can say that honestly, we're a news website - we're in the same trade.

The student nurse wrote:

I could tell you Ive been using a cellulite toning detox cream for a week and this is the result, would you believe me?

I could tell you Ive cut out sugar for 3 weeks and ran 12 miles a day and this is my transformation, would you believe it?

I could tell you that Ive eaten a certain protein bar for breakfast everyday along side shakes for lunch and this is the result. Would you believe it?

I could tell you that I was depressed on the left and happier now on the right, would you believe it?

I could tell you that I weigh less on the right, would you believe it?

Dont trust everything you see on the internet or in the media.

Dont compare yourself, dont strive to be a fake image or anything other than your true authentic self for that matter.

You rule as you are, do you, please you and live for you.

Unfollow negative pages and surround yourself with love.

Youve got this, Ive got this, weve all got this.

In short - Instagram is not a healthy barometer for anything.

Nor should you feel theneed to lose weight to be healthy or to be valued.

HT Unilad

More: Model reveals the reality of Instagram bikini pictures

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This woman shows how easy it is to fake weight loss pictures - The indy100

Ellie: Before – POPSUGAR

Posted: July 4, 2017 at 12:52 am

Ellie Transformed Her Body in Her 40s With the Help of Gold's Gym

Forty-two-year-old Ellie Carter from St. Paul, MO, went through the devastating loss of her father at the same time she was diagnosed with her own serious medical issues it was the perfect storm for gaining weight.

She fought through her medical setbacks with the help of Gold's Gym's challenges, and now she's biceps curling her kids and no longer on the three prescription medications she once needed. Here's the story of how she got her life back, plus tips you can apply to your own healthy journey.

POPSUGAR: What made you decide to start your weight-loss journey?

Ellie Carter: I was tired and in constant pain and had put on a lot of weight. One day, my 3-year old said, "Mommy, come play with us." And before I could respond, my 5-year old said, "Mommy can't play with us. Mommy is tired and doesn't feel good."

At that point I realized that was not what I wanted my kids to remember from their childhood. My dad had just lost his battle with leukemia, and I had so many fond memories of the fun things he did with us growing up. I wanted my kids to have the same fond memories when they looked back on their childhood. At that point I knew I needed to make a change for me, for my health, for my husband, and especially for my kids.

PS: What drew you to Gold's Gym specifically?

EC: I had done the 12-week Gold's Gym challenge in 2016; it worked in kick-starting my health and fitness journey. After completing the challenge last year, my dad was diagnosed with incurable leukemia, and I was shortly thereafter also diagnosed with serious medical issues. All I had gained during the challenge was quickly lost. Most of my free time was spent running around to doctor's appointments, and my nutrition consisted of whichever fast-food drive through was close and convenient.

I kept my membership throughout my medical issues. I had made great strides last year through the energy and enthusiasm I felt every time I walked in the door. So, of course, I needed to feel that energy and enthusiasm again to get my life back on track. The group exercise classes were always so engaging!

PS: What's your favorite way to work out?

EC: Group exercise classes keep me going! When I work out outside of those classes, I always feel like I can't do one more set. But in the group classes, the energy and constant encouragement keeps me going the entire hour!

PS: What's your weekly exercise schedule?

EC: I target certain muscle groups on specific days, rotating each week. And I mix in cardio-only days in between the weightlifting/muscle group days.

PS: How do you keep workouts exciting?

EC: I have a fun music playlist that get me going and in the mood. I switch up my routines to keep it from getting monotonous. And I've started involving my kids! They love sitting on my back while I plank, and they think it's a fun game when I biceps curl them.

PS: How much weight have you lost?

EC: Eighteen pounds and counting! My journey is still ongoing!

PS: What was the first big difference, other than the number on the scale, that really made you feel proud and excited?

EC: The energy I now have, the way the stress levels have decreased dramatically, but most importantly the fact that my doctor has removed me from THREE prescription medications. Additionally, all my numbers are now in good healthy ranges (i.e., cholesterol).

PS: How do you track your weight loss?

EC: Just the use of a traditional scale.

PS: What's a typical day of meals and snacks?

EC: Breakfast: protein shake blended with fruit and spinach. Snack: boiled egg, fruit. Lunch: spinach or kale salad, and some sort of a lean protein (fish, chicken, turkey) with a carb. Snack: fresh veggies and usually hummus. Dinner: lean meat, veggies, and small portion of carbs.

PS: Do you count calories?

EC: I use a meal tracker that helps me count calories. I find that if I count and watch what I eat, I'm more conscious and deliberate about sticking to a healthy routine. I eat 1,200-1,500 calories depending on my workouts planned for the day.

PS: What are the healthy staples that are always in your fridge?

EC: Fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, spinach and kale for salads, fat-free Greek yogurt (for dips and dressings), and hummus.

PS: How do you strategize for meals out?

EC: I research the menu and plan for something healthy. If there are salads, I get low-fat/low-cal dressings, usually without cheese. If there are marinades or preps, I ask for no butter and sauces on the side. Additionally, I'll ask for a to-go box and plan to cut the portion size down since most restaurants serve you enough food for two to three meals.

PS: Do you use a fitness tracker?

EC: Yes, the Fitbit Charge HR. It has helped me track and keep an eye on my fitness level for the day, and it helps me keep track of my sleep too that's been very important as well. I need an adequate amount of rest to feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead.

PS: What role did Gold's Gym play in your journey?

EC: Gold's Gym is where my fitness journey began. The employees and instructors are all so friendly and greet you with big smiles when you arrive. My kids go to Kids Klub when I work out and they LOVE it. They often beg me and bug me about when they can go again! The other people working out at Gold's Gym become familiar faces and often greet you and help keep the energy going throughout. I would definitely recommend Gold's Gym!

PS: What advice do you have for anyone starting out on a weight-loss journey?

EC: Take the time to sit down and set your goals. What is your big, deep-down "why" you're doing this? Break that big goal into smaller, attainable goals. Don't expect the scale to move right away. You'll see and feel differences (energy, tightness of clothing, etc.) long before you'll see the needle on the scale move. And most importantly, don't get discouraged! It takes time!

Image Source: Ellie Carter / Gold's Gym

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Ellie: Before - POPSUGAR

Powerlifter Shares Proud Weight Loss Journey but Says ‘There’s … – PEOPLE.com

Posted: July 4, 2017 at 12:52 am

When Allie Ruby hit 225 lbs., all she wanted was to slim down. But once she lost weight and got super fit six-pack and all she realized her emotional happiness depended on more than being skinny.

The 28-year-old information manager from Des Moines, Iowa gained most of her weight in college, thanks to alcohol-filled parties and dining hall food. By running and swapping her double cheeseburgers for chicken and cottage cheese, Ruby managed to lose 98 lbs. Before she knew it, she was down to 127 lbs.

I would weigh myself every day, and as it would go further and further down I would decide to keep going, Ruby tells PEOPLE. It was self-motivating.

She also started following workout plans on Bodybuilding.comand learned that she could burn more body fatweightlifting than from cardio alone. By focusing on lifting while paying close attention to her meals, she finally got in shape but it didnt come with the satisfaction she expected.

I always thought that I would love to have a six-pack, and when I got there last year, it wasnt all the fireworks I thought it would be. I thought that would be a huge high, but it wasnt, Ruby says. The highs that I found from it was the things that I did to get it, from doing kettlebells, and meeting other people.

A different kind of #transformationtuesday I think at least a few can relate. I thought when I was at my leanest (middle) I would be my happiest something that was an unintentional emotional destination. I didn't set my goals bc I hated my old self. In fact, I love the old allie and bring her everywhere. Without the added body weight in college I wouldn't have jumped into self discovery I may just be a soccer player who never explored self awareness. When I hit my goal weight I thought it would be euphoric the abs, the lean strong muscle. I thought all of it would make me feel like an empowering and loving person. Of course I was those things but I didn't feel fulfilled. I felt great, but I didn't feel alive. I felt trapped. That I needed to eat a certain way to keep my image, workout a certain way and sleep a certain way. Oh yeah, and then everyone and their damn mom has an opinion on "how to love yourself" which only added more pressure to me wanting to give up the Fit Life. Today I'm a glorious 164-167 lbs., 20 lbs heavier on the right. obviously my goals have shifted. I eat for performance and culture not a look (some days are tougher than others). I sleep for energy. I train for strength. I've learned that fulfillment comes from being truly alive surrendering your need for control to allow things to happen, eating a whole damn wheel of cheese with friends, sleeping in until the last minute, falling in love for the first time and getting extreme jet lag from traveling overseas. This is just a taste of what makes me fulfilled. I just do happened to enjoy the work of training and the relationships I made through it

A post shared by Allie Ruby (@ididitformyself) on Jun 20, 2017 at 6:01am PDT

I felt great, but I didnt feel alive. I felt trapped, she adds on Instagram. That I needed to eat a certain way to keep my image, work out a certain way and sleep a certain way.

Ruby missed parts of her old life, like enjoying Mexican food with her coworkers. Over time she decided to refocus her goals. Instead of dieting and eating less to maintain her six-pack, she ate a little more to build muscle.

I feel more comfortable at that higher weight, with more body fat, Ruby tells PEOPLE.

FROM PEN:Half Their Size: Joanne Raymond Struggled With Yo-Yo Dieting Before Finding Success

Now around 163 lbs., Ruby says shes more content, despite the occasional self-doubt that creeps up when she remembers weighing a lean 127 lbs.

If you have ever lost a substantial amount of weight then gained some back you probably have an idea of that devastating feeling of going backwards I think those feelings were more painful at that time than when I was overweight, Ruby writes on Instagram, adding that its been helpful to practice mindfulness at this point in her journey. I had to remember that a transformation is far deeper than physical.

She has also shifted from weightlifting to powerlifting, a fitness program thats more effective at a higher weight.

Its so different, because no one cares about your image. Its all about how strong you are, says Ruby. I love it.

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Powerlifter Shares Proud Weight Loss Journey but Says 'There's ... - PEOPLE.com

Why tracking your weight loss on social media (like Ciara) is actually really helpful – Fox News

Posted: July 4, 2017 at 12:52 am

Even two months after giving birth to baby number two, Ciaras body is still #goals. But according to an Instagram post the singer shared a few weeks ago, she put on more weight than she planned to while pregnant with her second child.

I said I wasnt going to gain 60lbs Carrying Sienna, and I did exactly that!! Ciara captioned the photo of her feet standing on a scale that read 178.6 pounds. 4 weeks after her birth I lost 20 lbs. This Weeks Goal is 10lbs. I was 183 yesterday.

Ciara has since shared two more scale updates: On June 13, she was down to 175.2. Then on June 20, the singer reported she had a no movement week"and was still hovering around 175 pounds: Started my stretch mark removal process this week, and the Doc told me I couldn't work out...so I ate healthy & added a few [cookies] in the mix! But Ciara didn't let the exercise restriction squash her motivation: This weeks goal 3lbs. #BounceBack

RELATED:25 GENIUS WAYS FITNESS TRAINERS STAY MOTIVATED TO EXERCISE

While the notion of posting scale pics on Insta may seem daunting, Ciara is on to something. For a study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, researchers looked at people who belonged to an online weight loss community for six months. They found that those who regularly logged in, "friended" others, and shared the number on their scale shed more pounds 8.3% of their body weight, on averagecompared to those who didn't network on the site, and lost only 4.1% of their body weight.

Another study, published in 2014 in the Journal of the American Informatics Association, found that people who posted slim-down updates on Twitter reported receiving more support from their Twitter followers than their real-life friends and family. What's more, greater support from social media friends was associated with greater weight loss success.

Meanwhile, research on weight-loss bloggers has found that the longer they maintain a blog, the more pounds they ditch. In a 2016 study, bloggers reported that sharing their progress online helped them stay focused on their goals, kept them accountable, and led to social support.

RELATED:57 WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT FOREVER, ACCORDING TO SCIENCE

There's no question that encouraging words can go a long way when you're trying to make a big change. And it might be easier to get that kind of support online: Posting about your weight loss journey on social media may feel less intimidating than talking about it IRL, points out Sherry Pagoto, PhD, co-founder of the UMass Center for Health and Social Media.

Some people say they like the anonymity [online], she explains. On Twitter, you can choose a handle and use an avatar on your profile, which makes some people feel like they can speak more freely and not be ashamed or embarrassed to talk about their weight.

And it's worth noting that you don't need 16.7 million followers like Ciara to leverage social media for your health. A small but mighty group of virtual supporters may be enough, says Pagoto. It's takes time to create an online community. But if you engage and stick with it, you can experience a lot of weight loss benefits. It just takes a little bit of work.

This article originally appeared on Health

Original post:
Why tracking your weight loss on social media (like Ciara) is actually really helpful - Fox News

Caution: Government diet advice may be hazardous to your health – The Hill (blog)

Posted: July 4, 2017 at 12:51 am

Whats the secret to healthy eating? Less carbs? More fat? Less sugar? Unfortunately, research doesnt provide clear answers, so its wise to be wary of anyone claiming to have a silver bullet. Despite the best of intentions, even if the federal government wanted to improve health through better eating habits, they can't because they start with bad information.

While they try to associate diets with diseases like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, they cant because the dietary information comes from an unreliable source: the people consuming food. Stated simply, no one really knows what Americans are eating because the governments method for collecting dietary information is to simply ask people what they remember eating in the past.

Its 2015 edition is guided by data on energy and nutrient consumption collected from the memory and the truthfulness of study participants. These self-reported estimates of food and beverage consumption are frequently physiologically implausible, which is a scientific way to say that self-reported diets cannot keep people alive. One study analyzing the governments data found that a bedridden, frail old woman (i.e., a person with the lowest possible energy requirements) could not survive on the number of calories reported by the average person in the study.

Nevertheless, these physiologically implausible dietary data are analyzed for their relationships to the development of many chronic diseases. It should be obvious that bad dietary data make for bad analyses of diet-health relations.

Meanwhile, dietary recommendations based on these bad data perpetuate perceptions that foods can be classified into a healthy versus unhealthy dichotomy. For example, the U.S. government promoted the unscientific notion that obesity and heart disease were linked to the consumption of cholesterol and fats when the "Food Guide Pyramid" was introduced in 1992.

Back then, the governments advice was to obtain a majority of calories from carbohydrates primarily breads, cereals, rice, pasta, potatoes and other starcheswhile relegating meats, fish, eggs, and other protein sources to two to three servings per day. Fats were to be used sparingly.

Given the questionable dietary data and analyses, recent policy reversals on cholesterol and fat consumption are not surprising. Bad data = Bad analyses = Bad advice. Yet despite the lack of evidence supporting the governments low-fat advice, only in 2010 did the DGA stop recommending limits on total fat. Meanwhile, recent Gallup polls demonstrate that most citizens remain committed to avoiding fat in their diets, with nearly twice as many Americans actively avoiding fat in their diet (56 percent) as say they are actively avoiding carbohydrates (29 percent).

In other words, even when past bad advice is overturned, its legacy still lives on. It has been recently speculated that the U.S. government inadvertently fostered dietary changes that contributed to our growing weight problem and diabetes prevalence through its emphasis on limiting consumption of eggs, butter, milk, and meat, while bulking up on carbohydrate-rich foods like pasta, bread, fruit and potatoes.

Bad dietary recommendations also affect the advice given by advocates of taxes, bans and psychological nudges on various unhealthy foods. Advocates rarely question whether these interventions exert the desired effects on disease, weight or any other measure of quality of life. Rather, their focus is to simply guide Americans toward the DGA goals, despite little concern about the accuracy of the dietary advice or knowledge about whether public health will improve.

Ineffective interventions that redirect resources away from the actual causes of disease and ill-health are one group of unintended consequence of the governments pursuit of dietary advice. Another is that the best intentions of an army of dieticians, nutritionists and public health advocates are too frequently based on unsound science generated by bad dietary data. Calls for more aggressive interventions remain a distinct possibility, especially when advocates dont realize that the dietary guidelines they use to rationalize their interventions may themselves be public health hazards.

Government needs to refocus its efforts toward providing empirically supported dietary guidance that relies upon valid scientific data and rigorous evaluations of the consequences of such advice. Good intentions matter, but only so much as we have a scientific basis for our advice. Only then, can we begin to address what changes in our diets and which economic interventions may actually improve public health.

Edward Archer is computational physiologist currently serving as chief science officer at EnduringFX, a data analysis company. Michael L. Marlow is professor of economics and distinguished scholar at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. They are authors of a recent Mercatus study with Richard Williams, Government DietaryGuidelines: Uncertain Science Leads to Questionable Public Health Policy.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.

Originally posted here:
Caution: Government diet advice may be hazardous to your health - The Hill (blog)


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