Today marks Pet Obesity Awareness Day and with one in 14 dogs considered overweight it is important to know how to stop your pouch putting on the pounds.

Healthy eating and exercise are just as important for your pets, so experts have revealed how obesity can affect our animals and what you can do to prevent it.

Being overweight can have lasting consequences for your dog and can even be fatal.

Experts at tails.com have shared their top tips to help you help your dog trim down the healthy way and maintain an appropriate weight.

How to reduce your dogs weight the healthy way

As a nation of dog lovers, we cant help but indulge our pups.

But with pet obesity on the rise, a little snack here and there soon adds up, and, if were not careful, all those sneaky treats can lead to a podgy pooch.

While many owners use food as a way to shower their dogs with love, it could be doing more harm than good, because overweight dogs are more prone to illnesses and dont live as long as dogs at an ideal weight.

So if you think its time your porky pup lost a few pounds, here is how you can do it in a healthy way.

How to tell if a dog is overweight?

All breeds have standard weight guidelines. And, while this is a good place to start, every individual dog is different.

Rather than the numbers on the scale, what you should really pay attention to is the amount of extra coverage on your dogs body.

To understand if your dog is under, ideal or overweight, vets often use the body condition score (BCS) test.

The test is measured either on a nine point or five point scale, and assesses your dogs fat levels across your dogs ribs, tummy and waist.

Your dog should have an hourglass figure when viewed overhead and even breeds like bulldogs where many people believe they will be more rounded should have a waist.

You should be able to feel the ribs through a little fat covering and they may even be slightly visible in places.

And the tummy should tuck up from the rib cage, rather than being a straight line across.

If your pooch is more barrel shaped and you cant feel their ribs easily without applying a lot of pressure, then your dog is likely overweight.

If youre unsure, your vet or vet nurse will be able to help you and even show you exactly what to look for when it comes to your dog.

Health implications for overweight dogs

Not only does the lifespan of an overweight dog decrease, but it can seriously impact your pups quality of life.

The extra weight can put added pressure on bones and joints, potentially leading to arthritis in later years.

But, it can also put your dogs life at risk, contributing to breathing difficulties, heart problems and diabetes.

Top tips to reduce your dogs weight

There are three key areas to consider when managing your dogs weight loss in a healthy way.

Dog diet food Feeding the right diet for your dog is the first important step.

Balanced meals packed with nutrients, slow release carbohydrates and beneficial fibre will help your dog feel fuller for longer.

Its also important to control portion sizes and feed the exact amount your dog needs to lose weight steadily, and eventually maintain a healthy weight.

Regular exercise Exercising your dog every day will help burn off excess calories and keep their body healthy.

Alongside the right nutrition and portion sizes, a regular exercise routine will help bring your dogs weight down steadily and predictably.

It also gives your dog something else to focus on during the day, by providing mental stimulation dogs are a bit like humans, they get peckish when theyre bored!

Limiting treats We know its difficult, but cutting out treats altogether is the best approach for healthy dog weight loss.

Or at the very least, limit the number of treats and offer healthier options that arent high in fat, sugar or calories.

Raw vegetables like carrots and cucumber are a good alternative to unhealthy human food or shop bought treats.

But there could be a medical cause for your dogs weight gain too.

Hormonal disorders, like hypothyroidism, slow a dogs metabolism down so theyre no longer burning calories as quickly as they should.

Cushings disease and other metabolic conditions can also cause weight gain. If your dog is not losing weight or is still gaining despite diet changes, always share your concerns with the vet.

Breeds prone to weight gain

Some breeds are typically more prone to being overweight than others.

And sometimes its not just a case of a greedy pooch!

About a quarter of Labradors have a mutation of a gene called pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) which controls appetite, meaning they can still feel hungry even after eating a big meal.

With breeds prone to being overweight, its important to pay closer attention to your dogs diet and find the right nutrients and quantities to help them maintain their ideal weight.

A few breeds prone to obesity include:

Weight management in puppies

Puppies go through rapid growth spurts which means their calorie needs can change over time.

Which is why regular weigh-ins are so important during this stage.

For very young pups that are less than four months old, you should try to get them weighed every two weeks as theyre growing so rapidly.

For older pups, monthly weigh-ins are a good rule of thumb.

Since they grow so quickly its essential we feed our pups the right ingredients in the right quantities so they grow into a happy and healthy adult dog.

If a puppy carries excess weight, it can impact their bones as they grow.

This can increase your pups risk of developing bone problems like hip dysplasia and arthritis as adults.

Especially in larger breeds like Newfoundlands, great Danes, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Saint Bernards and mastiffs.

Sometimes senior dogs can have an obesity problem.

Theyre slowing down, and playing and moving less, so they tend to put on more weight.

This can create a negative cycle where your dog moves less and needs fewer calories, but if we dont adjust the quantities they gain more weight.

Then when they put weight on they dont want to move as much, so they burn fewer calories and therefore gain more weight and the cycle continues.

In which case its important to adapt your dogs daily calorie allowance to account for the drop in exercise.

But its important to note that there are other reasons your dog could be slowing down.

If its pain related that can be treated, which would allow your dog to be more active than they would otherwise.

So slowing down shouldnt be dismissed as hes just getting old. Always check if theres an underlying cause.

Excess weight can be tough on an older dogs joints, which can make stiffness and arthritic pain worse.

Senior dogs still need regular, gentle exercise and this can be a great help to loosen stiff muscles and joints.

If youre trying to help your senior dog lose weight and they always seem hungry, try a higher fibre diets to keep them feeling full while controlling their calorie intake.

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Pet Obesity Awareness Day: The dogs prone to being overweight and how to manage it - Newbury Today

Health experts have said that when the liver is affected with toxins, it affects the metabolic process in the body and create several health problems.Also Read - From Healthy Heart To Strengthening Muscles, Check Out These Benefits of Brisk Walking

The liver is an organ of the digestive system, which in humans is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, below the diaphragm. Its function is to detoxify various metabolites, synthesise proteins and produce biochemicals necessary for digestion and growth. Also Read - Benefits of Running VS Benefits of Jumping Rope Which Workout Style is More Effective For Weight Loss?

However, the accumulation of toxins affects its functioning breaking down fats and producing energy, health experts said. Also Read - Tahira Kashyap Talks About 'Juice Toxicity' And Its Adverse Effects on Health - All You Need to Know About Condition

Liver is the manufacturing hub of our system, it makes proteins, controls many systems and removes toxins. Liver is the centre of metabolism. So when the liver is overwhelmed with toxins, all the metabolic activities get deranged, Dr Atul N C Peters, Director Bariatric, Minimal Access and General Surgery at Max Smart Hospital, Saket, told IANS.

When the liver is overburdened and consequently unable to metabolise nutrients and fats properly it slows down metabolism leading to more serious health issues as well as weight gain and lethargy.

The fat and toxins build up in the liver leading to slow metabolism of the body. Due to which fat also starts depositing in other parts of the body causing weight gain, Dr Neerav Goyal, Senior Liver Transplant Surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, told IANS.

The experts noted that the liver can get clogged with harmful stuff like alcohol, too much fat in the diet. Further, refined carbohydrates, sugars, oils damaged by high heat and rancid oils all make the liver work overtime to process them through your body.

Excessive alcohol, a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain and even certain chemicals lead to excess fat deposition causing inflammation of the liver, also known as fatty liver, Goyal said.

The effect depends on its severity. If it is prolonged and severe, it can lead to permanent liver scarring, cirrhosis or liver failure, he added.

Cutting down weight naturally benefits in a big way, and also helps improve other conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, joint pains as well as adds years to life.

But too much weight loss too quickly is not good either, it can make you weak, cause gall bladder stones, and many health problems, Peters said.

To reduce toxins eat healthy, exercise regularly, alcohol in moderation, avoid unnecessary medicines, sufficient antioxidants, the doctor suggested.

Managing you weight, monitoring your medication and supplements, focusing on consuming a healthy diet, balanced sleep cycles, can be helpful in lowering toxin level and healing the liver, said Goyal.

(With inputs from IANS)

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Can a Toxic Liver Affect Your Health? Heres What We Know - India.com

Fans ofMy 600-lb Lifemay have mixed feelings about how the show is going, but they havent stopped watching when TLC airs dramatic stories like Pauline Potters. After butting heads with Dr. Now during her episode ofMy 600-lb Life,a health scare led Potter to put renewed energy into her weight loss. She ended up losing 300 pounds after the show ended.

Fans are rooting for the subjects ofMy 600-lb Life,and they keep coming back for updates on how theyre doing. Zsalynn Whitworth was one of the earliest participants in the series, appearing in Season 2, Episode 1. Fans grew attached to her spirit and have rooted for her ever since.

At the beginning of each My 600-lb Lifeepisode, a disturbing disclaimer appears on the screen. No, its not the one that warns viewers of potentially disturbing material, like surgeries and medical procedures they perform on the show. Instead, the disclaimer states that less than 5% of patients will have long-term success after weight loss surgery.

This data isnt surprising to viewers of the show. Dr. Nows patients seem to have a higher rate of long-term success since many of the shows participants have gone on to lose impressive amounts of weight. Still, many of the participants end their time on the show with almost no weight loss to show for it. Fortunately, Whitworth wasnt one of those patients.

Whitworth came on the show at 42 years old and 597 pounds. She had a young daughter and wanted to lose weight to be able to watch her grow up. Whitworth told theMy 600-lb Life cameras that she felt close to death. Although she has since recognized that food was her coping mechanism, her weight may not have been entirely her fault.

Viewers quickly learned that Whitworth was in a toxic relationship. Her husband seemed attracted to her size and didnt want her to lose weight. He tried to sabotage her at every turn. Viewers were downright disgusted with his behavior.

Whitworth really proved how strong she was during her episode. She stood up to her husband and lost more than 300 pounds. She even went on to get skin removal surgery, a goal that few of Dr. Nows patients reach. With extra skin removed, Dr. Nows patients can be more active and lose additional weight.

Fans will be happy to learn that Whitworth not only lost 300 pounds of her own weight, reports Looper, but she dumped 250 pounds of dead weight in the form of her verbally abusive husband. Whitworth got divorced after the show. Although it was a positive step, it wasnt easy. Whitworth struggled to stay on track after experiencing depression, but she was able to maintain her weight loss.

Whitworth told fans in aMy 600-lb Life: Where are They Now?episode that she relied on psychotherapy to get her through when things got tough. Now, shes remarried. Her new husband seems kind and supportive.

Whitworth is active on social media and a proud advocate of body positivity. She is still close with her daughter, and it seems like she got her wish. Whitworth wanted to be present for her daughters childhood, and she made it happen.

RELATED: What Happened to Gina Krasley? The My 600-lb Life Star Is Dead at 30

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'My 600-lb Life': Where Is Zsalynn Whitworth Now? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Experts often recommend cutting down on starchy foods for people who are trying to lose weight or who have diabetes . But recent research has found that not all starch is created equal.

Resistant starch , for example, is a type of starch that breaks down slowly like fiber and can have positive health effects. So if you are looking to lose weight and boost your digestive health, you don't necessarily need to cut carbs altogether. Instead, consider replacing some of the more simple starches with resistant starches in your diet.

All starches are a type of carbohydrate that breaks down into a form of sugar called glucose during digestion.

Now, some starch like the kind in a pile of steaming mashed potatoes breaks down quickly. On the one hand, this gives your body a nice boost in energy, but if glucose is absorbed into your bloodstream too rapidly, too often, then over time it can cause health problems such as obesity and type 2 diabetes .

That's where resistant starches can help. They get their name from how they resist digestion.

"Resistant starch is digested in the same way as other starch, just more slowly," says Joshua Lambert, a food science professor at Penn State University.

Your body digests these starches more slowly because of their molecular structure. Resistant starches exist naturally in foods like grains, beans, and legumes. But they can also form in foods like pasta and potatoes by cooking and then letting them cool.

For example, when you cook a starchy food like pasta, the starch molecules relax and spread further apart, making the food easier to break down and digest, which can cause a spike in blood sugar.

But just as cooking causes the starch molecules to relax, this same process reverses as the food cools, basically snapping back into place like a stretched rubber band that's been released. The starch molecules pack together more densely and become harder to break down, slowing the digestion process and maintaining more stable blood sugar levels.

If you are disappointed by the idea of having to eat cold pasta, there may be an added bonus. According to a small, preliminary experiment by the BBC team who runs "Trust Me, I'm A Doctor" if you reheat your pasta after letting it cool, the starches become even more resistant to digestion. Another 2016 study in the journal Food Chemistry found that chilled potatoes had more resistant starch than reheated potatoes, though both had more than hot potatoes.

There are several different types of resistant starches that can show up in food:

If you are on a diet, replacing simple starches with resistant starches may help you lose weight. The slower digestion process can make you feel more full, which may curb unnecessary snacking. Moreover, when you eat resistant starch, your body won't absorb as many calories as it normally would from starchy food.

Because resistant starch can pass through your entire digestive tract without breaking down, it can reach your large intestine or colon largely intact. When this happens, the starch will ferment instead of being converted to glucose. This fermentation process provides food for the good bacteria in your intestines that help with digestion. "This promotes colon health," Lambert says.

In fact, experts are in the early stages of investigating whether resistant starches could play a role in preventing colon cancer.

Though resistant starches offer some health benefits, you don't have to focus on them exclusively. For a healthy person, eating other forms of carbohydrates, such as fruit, can provide a helpful energy boost to the body.

Lambert says that while resistant starch is an important part of the diet, it is not a cure-all. "Like anything else, it is important to keep it in the context of a healthy diet. Lots of extra resistant starch isn't going to make up for an unhealthy overall diet."

Continued here:
Resistant starch: Definition, health benefits, and foods - Insider

If youre a person in the public eyelike, say, Adeleand your weight loss coincides with an increase in exercise devised to make you feel stronger and help you take on mental health challenges, is it fair for the world to scrutinize you and snidely say youre just doing it to be skinny? For that matter, was it fair for the world to zero in on Adeles physical appearance when she weighed more than she currently does? The best solution is arguably learning to abstain from a celebrity culture that encourages us to place more value on a famous womans appearance than on her body of work.

The media industry stands to profit when we click on exclamation-point-riddled gossip articles about so-and-sos dramatic weight loss!!!, and the diet industry thrives when we chase the ideal of thin bodies that may not actually bear any relationship to health and comfort. But what about us? What do we stand to gain from evaluating and placing expectations upon other womens bodies, and what could we be doing with all that mental energy instead?

Virginia Sole-Smith, a journalist specializing in body-image issues and the author of The Eating Instinct, wishes our conversations about women in the public eye could evolve past issues of weight, full stop. Last time I checked, there is not a body type that one needs to have in order to be a talented musician. Musical ability is not tied to BMI in any of the research Ive read, says Sole-Smith, adding, I think it would be so great if we lived in a culture that talked about peoples art and didnt talk about their bodies. And then if their bodies changed, we wouldnt have to examine that quite so much.

Sole-Smith acknowledges that the issue of celebrity weight loss is a fraught one, explaining, Teenage girls look up to Lizzo and Adele, so there is some responsibility there. But I also think it is a mistake to expect that just because one individual broke a boundary and became famous in spite of their weight they then have to be the poster child for fat artists everywhere. It just really speaks to how far we have to go in terms of increasing representation.

A call for increased representation can often feel like a hedge, a way of acknowledging the severity of an issue while passing the buck to the nebulously defined scourge of society. But when it comes to fat acceptance and body positivity, its frankly hard to imagine anything else working. One musician or two or evengasp!three will not meaningfully move the needle in terms of convincing fat people everywhere that they are worthy just as they are; what it will do, however, is reinforce the pernicious notion that these individuals need to look a certain way to earn admiration and respect.

While fat individuals in the public eye can act as much-needed role models, asking them to take up the mantle of self-love all on their own, with no substantive or structural changes to a society that still profits off of rampant fat phobia, simply isnt enough. Hopefully, someday, well have enough fat musicians, dancers, actors, comedians, and artists of all kindsand a culture that actually supports them with fat-positive policies and meaningful consequences for size-based discriminationthat one persons weight fluctuations will no longer make headline news.

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How Our Obsession With Celebrity Weight Loss Is Holding Us Back - Vogue

Center City doctor creates all-encompassing space offering expert fitness and nutrition counseling alongside IV therapy

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia's top weight loss doctorand the only physician in the country to be both board certified in Obesity Medicine and certified as a Strength and Conditioning Coach by the National Strength and Conditioning AssociationDr. Charlie Seltzer is opening the first space in the city where clients can receive physician-supervised personal fitness training, nutrition plans, and IV therapy all in one place.

"When it comes to your health, taking care of everything in one spot with people who are uniquely credentialed is a model that's rarely found," says Dr. Charlie Seltzer, MD, CSCS, DABOM. "You typically have to go to three or four places to achieve the results you want, which is why we're so excited about this move. It's not just about weight loss hereit's about your overall health."

New services include:

Personal training - After a fitness evaluation, clients will receive a personal workout plan they can do alongside a certified fitness trainer in Dr. Seltzer's new state of the art facility. The trainers help with form and ensure all workouts are being performed safely and effectively. What sets this apart from other programs? It's the only physician-supervised training in the city.

IV therapy - For those looking for a quick dose of hydration, performance enhancement, vitamins, or immunity boosters, IV therapy can help. Whether clients are experiencing jet lag, are hungover, or want to feel good during cold and flu season, a registered nurse can administer the IV needed.

Later this year, Dr. Seltzer will also begin offering dermatological procedures, like Botox and fillers. A licensed injector will be on staff to administer the services typically found at a Med Spa. Additionally, athletes can visit Dr. Seltzer's office for supplements, performance evaluation, and training.

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The space is located in Suite 401 of the same building as Dr. Seltzer's current office (1429 Walnut Street) and is equipped with a gym and expert staff that help clients feel good and look good from the inside out. In addition to the new services, clients will be able to receive everything they've come to expect from Dr. Seltzer's Weight Loss, Fitness, and Lifestyle Solutions, like comprehensive weight loss programs and nutrition counseling.

Dr. Charlie Seltzer graduated from the University of Pennsylvania cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts and studied medicine at Jefferson Medical College, where he graduated as a Medical Doctor (M.D.). He worked as a Resident of Internal Medicine at Crozer Chester Medical Center before opening up his practice. Dr. Seltzer is double-certified in internal and obesity medicine, holds a CSCS certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and works with professional athletes, sports commentators, celebrities, and other high-profile clients.

Learn more at http://www.drseltzerweightloss.com/.

About Dr. Seltzer's Weight Loss, Lifestyle, and Fitness SolutionsDr. Seltzer Weight Loss, Lifestyle, and Fitness Solutions takes a 360-degree approach to health and wellness by evaluating and addressing all of the factors contributing to sub-optimal health, including medical problems and medications, sleep, stress, depression, food addiction, busy work schedules, and social commitments. Dr. Seltzer offers comprehensive weight loss programs, personal training, nutrition counseling, IV therapy, and more. For more information, visit http://www.drseltzerweightloss.com/.

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SOURCE Dr. Charlie Seltzer M.D. Weight Loss, Lifestyle & Fitness Solutions

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Dr. Charlie Seltzer Transforms Philadelphia's Health and Wellness Scene With New Space and Services - Yahoo Finance

Paradise Valley, AZ, October 12, 2021 --(PR.com)--John J. DeBarros, MD of Paradise Valley, Arizona, has been recognized as a Professional of the Year for 2021 by Strathmores Whos Who Worldwide Edition for his outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of healthcare.

About John J. DeBarros, MDJohn J. DeBarros, MD, is a bariatric surgeon and chief medical officer at Pivot Weight Loss Center (pivotweightloss.com), a tech-enabled healthcare company focused on helping patients lose weight safely and permanently. Pivot's patent-pending program utilizes evidence-based medical, surgical, and behavior modification techniques to empower patients to live healthy and happy lives. Dr. DeBarros is also the lead surgeon and medical director at The Weight Loss Institute of Arizona (wliaz.com), the preeminent bariatric surgery practice in Arizona. Dr. DeBarros has over 22 years of surgical experience specializing in all types of bariatric surgery, general surgery, and endoscopies. To date, Dr. DeBarros has performed thousands of bariatric surgical procedures.

Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, Dr. DeBarros obtained his M.D. from the UCONN School of Medicine at the University of Connecticut in Farmington in 1995, where he also completed a surgical residency. Dr. DeBarros also completed a fellowship in colorectal surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Florida.

Dr. De Barros is a board-certified surgeon by the American board of surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. In addition, Dr. De Barros has held numerous directorship roles, including bariatric medical director at Tempe St. Luke's hospital, Steward Health Care, East Valley Surgery Center, and Surgical Specialty Hospital of Phoenix. Dr. DeBarros has also been consistently named one of Phoenix's "Top Doctors" by Phoenix magazine since 2010.

When he is not taking care of patients, Dr. DeBarros is a committed man to faith and family. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two teenage sons. He also enjoys fishing, gardening, hiking, hunting, and loves being outdoors.

"I am committed to the health and well-being of my patients through a personalized team approach that includes weight loss surgery, diet, exercise, and educational support. I believe that the goal of weight loss surgery is long-term success, not just surgery. - John D. DeBarros, MD.

For more information, contact Pivot Weight Loss at http://www.Pivotweightloss.com or the Weight Loss Institute of Arizona at http://www.wliaz.com.

About Strathmores Whos Who WorldwideStrathmores Whos Who Worldwide highlights the professional lives of individuals from every significant field or industry including business, medicine, law, education, art, government and entertainment. Strathmores Whos Who Worldwide is both an online and hard cover publication where we provide our members current and pertinent business information. It is also a biographical information source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms throughout the world. Our goal is to ensure that our members receive all of the networking, exposure and recognition capabilities to potentially increase their business.

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John J. DeBarros, MD Recognized as a Professional of the Year for 2021 by Strathmore's Who's Who Worldwide - PR.com