Vince Wilfork is looking svelte, and Bill Belichick took notice.

Wilfork is getting inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame on Saturday. There were Thursday night festivities where he tried on his red blazer to commemorate the occasion, and the world marveled at how trim he looked.

The former NFL defensive tackles listed playing weight was 325 pounds, but he certainly appears to have dropped a hefty portion of that.

Wilfork revealed that Belichick approached him in Miami last year before a Patriots-Dolphins game and his former coach couldnt believe what he saw.

Bill was being Bill. He was on his treadmill working out, and I was like, I want to go see Coach,' Wilfork recalled. Hes on the treadmill working out, and I come in and hes like, What the f? What??' Wilfork said, according to NBC Sports Boston.

A slimmed down and snazzy Vince Wilfork in his Patriots Hall of Fame jacket talks about his time with the Pats and why going into the Pats HOF means so much to him pic.twitter.com/ta1xqfrsQn

And Im trying to talk to him, and the only thing he [could] say was, Oh my gosh, you look good! You look like you can still play. And I was like, OK coach, listen, I just came to see you. He couldnt stop saying how good I looked and everything.

Wilfork, however, is not of the belief he could still lace up the cleats.

I was one of those players who said, No matter how old I get, I can play football. That was my mindset, Wilfork said. But Im here to tell you that I cant play. Im officially retired from football. So dont ask me to get in my stance. Dont ask me Do I have one play in me? No. Im just here for looks now.

Wilfork played for the Patriots from 2004 through 2014, before finishing his career with two seasons with the Houston Texans.

Read more from the original source:
Bill Belichick marveled at Vince Wilfork's weight loss: 'What the f--k?' - New York Post

TikTok has removed postings promoting migraine and epilepsy drugs to under-18s as weight loss aids after criticism that hosting them was a danger to young peoples health.

The social media platform, which is popular among teenagers, acted after an investigation by the Pharmaceutical Journal found that users were being offered prescription drugs as diet pills.

The journal found that advertisements for epilepsy, alcohol and addiction and migraine drugs were promoted to a TikTok user, despite them being registered as a girl aged under 16.

An appetite suppressant drug called phentermine, and products based on it, were the prescription drugs most commonly mentioned in the posts. Phentermine is not licensed for use in the UK.

During 90 minutes spent viewing the platforms output the journal found that 31 of the 100 most popular posts promoted use of diet pills for people wanting to lose weight. But health experts said this was completely inappropriate for people of any age and could cause harm. Some of the drugs TikTok featured have been linked to birth defects and other serious side-effects.

Diet claims that are unrealistic and not supported by evidence-based science on social media can be dangerous no matter what age you are. But for under-16s they can have very real consequences, said the British Dietetic Association.

John Wilding, a professor of medicine at Aintree university hospital in Liverpool, said that another of the drugs for sale topiramate, which is used to treat epilepsy and migraines has never been approved for weight loss in the EU or the UK as it has some significant potential adverse events, including the risk of damage to unborn children and babies.

A spokesperson for TikTok said: Our community guidelines make clear that we do not allow the promotion or trade of controlled substances, including prescription weight loss medication, and we will remove content that violates these policies.

The journal said TikTok did remove some videos but not all those it had found. It had reviewed the diet pills hashtag and also banned multiple accounts selling weight loss drugs.

TikTok also came under fire on Wednesday for letting cannabis-based sweets doctored to look like bags of Haribos and Skittles be sold on its site.

The Childrens Societys annual assessment of the state of childrens wellbeing across the UK has found that growing numbers of girls are unhappy with their appearance.

The percentage of girls aged 10 to 15 who expressed dissatisfaction with how they look has risen from one in seven (15%) in 2015 to almost one in five (18%) which the charity called a worrying jump. That means that an estimated 411,000 of them feel that way, it said in its latest Good Childhood report. Far fewer boys 10% voiced such unhappiness.

Research by the Childrens Society, based on analysis collected from 2,100 children whose families are taking part in the long-running Understanding Society project, also found that:

Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you through the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning

Many more (12%) say they are not happy at school, a 3% rise on 10 years ago, with older children more likely to hold that view.

It is desperately worrying that childrens wellbeing is in this state of decline, with huge numbers unhappy with school and thousands of girls struggling with the way they look, said Mark Russell, the charitys chief executive.

He urged ministers to speed up the rollout of mental health support teams in schools in England and set up early support hubs across the country to help under-18s who are struggling mentally.

Read the original post:
TikTok removes posts promoting weight loss aids to children - The Guardian

The effective treatment options for obesity that already exist are under-used. Bariatric surgery, for example, can be an effective way to address extra weight. But surgery is seen as a drastic option, and Americans tend to think poorly of weight loss surgery. Without a comorbidity like diabetes, a prospective candidate typically needs a BMI of at least 40 to undergo the surgeryand only a small sliver of those who qualify get the procedure. Thats one reason why obesity experts see so much promise in the new drugs.

But there are big hurdles to widespread adoption, and not just questions of cost and approval that every drug faces on its way to the public. Weight loss drugs have a checkered past. If you look back in the history of obesity, drugs that have been approved have then been taken off the market, says Dr. Spencer Nadolsky, a physician who runs the obesity program for telehealth provider Weekend Health. Dangerous amphetamines were used as appetite suppressants, and more recent drugs, like Fen-Phen, a weight loss drug widely used in the 1990s, caused heart problems, leading to an FDA ban. Safer weight loss drugs began to reappear in the 2000s, but their efficacy was often mild.

Incretins, on the other hand, are only continuing to get more effective. The newest of these medications cause around 20 percent weight loss, within the same range that bariatric surgery achieves. And while common side effects include nausea and other gastrointestinal distress, it's a much less disruptive medical intervention than surgery.

One obesity expert at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Fatima Stanford, told me that some patients have reacted so strongly to one incretin, semaglutide, that theyve avoided surgery completely. They went from severe obesity with diabetes to no diabetes and no severe obesityinto a healthy weight range, she said. Its effortless for themwere changing the way their brains see weight. This has major quality of life implications. When you have higher levels of obesity, said Jay, losing 15 or 20% of your body weight is huge, right? It's huge for resolving comorbidities and preventing diabetes, and all sorts of things.

One Washington woman in her 50s named Suzy, who asked to only be identified by her first name, has lost 26 pounds since starting tirzepitide. She has three siblings and two parents with type two diabetes. With the drug, she thinks she can avoid that disease. Another woman, Rachel McLaughlin, who started an oral incretin in 2021, said weight loss gave her the confidence to join an art class. I dont look like Im carrying the weight of the world around, she said.

But remarkable advances in medical technology dont mean much if theyre impossible to access. McLaughlin faced that setback when she lost her job earlier this year. Losing health insurance increased the cost of her prescription from $25 to more than $2,000 per month. Off the medication, she regained 15 of the 25 pounds shed lost. Progress only resumed once she found a new job in June that restored her coverage.

Continue reading here:
Is the World Ready for Extremely Effective Weight-Loss Drugs? - GQ

How long does it take to lose weight? In the age of instant gratification and dubious marketing claims, it may be difficult to have realistic expectations. Not to mention that when you feel uncomfortable in your own skin, and your health seems to be getting worse, you may be tempted to set yourself an ambitious weight loss goal.

This is understandable. A big target number may make you feel more motivated and eager to start your transformation. But excessive weight loss can not only lead to the dreaded yo-yo effect (where you lose weight, only to put it back on), it can also be unhealthy. Whats more, some people will find it way more difficult to shed unwanted pounds than others. So what is a realistic weight loss rate? And what factors can affect it?

Before we dive into the science of weight loss, it is important to point out that there is no real ideal weight to aim for. Medical professionals often rely on a persons BMI (opens in new tab) to determine what is deemed to be a normal weight range. But this measurement is not without its flaws.

The number on the scale will not tell you how much muscle mass, as opposed to fat mass, your body contains. It wont indicate whether you struggle with water retention, either. Its therefore important to take an individual approach before setting a weight loss target. And the first step is always to consult a dietician or medical professional for professional advice before embarking on a weight loss program.

Your calorie expenditure that is, the exact number of calories you burn each day is composed of three major components.

The first is referred to as Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR). It consists of the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) the minimum number of calories your body needs to maintain normal bodily functions, such as breathing and pumping blood as well as low-effort daily activities, such as eating, walking for short periods (for example, to use the bathroom), sweating or shivering.

The second component is referred to as the Thermic Effect of Food (TEF) the additional energy needed to digest, absorb, and use the nutrients you consume. According to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (opens in new tab), TEF is increased by larger meal sizes, intake of carbohydrate and protein, as well as low-fat plant-based diets.

The third component is referred to as the Thermic Effect of Activity (TEA) the number of calories burned during exercise. TEA can also include Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) which is the amount of energy expended during light activities such as fidgeting, cooking and shopping.

In order to lose weight, you have to maintain a consistent calorie deficit. When you burn more calories than you consume, your body will dip into the energy reserves stored in your fat tissue. Conversely, when you eat more calories than your body needs, you will start gaining weight.

Now, all food and drink will add to your daily calorie tally, and its interesting to learn how calories are calculated given this is how youll be keeping track of your energy intake. At the same time its also worth noting a couple of myths surrounding energy expenditure and weight loss.

Many believe that eating smaller, more frequent meals can improve your chances of shedding unwanted pounds, for example. But while it is true that some will find this approach helpful for appetite regulation, as scientists from the Nutrition Reviews (opens in new tab) journal point out, there is not enough evidence to claim that meal frequency is linked to calorie burning.

Another misconception is that deep intellectual work can increase your energy expenditure. Unfortunately, thinking doesnt burn calories.

As we get older, our body composition changes. We lose muscle mass and gain more fat. Regular physical activity and a healthy diet can delay this process, and many elderly adults boast great muscle strength and endurance. However, this is not the only implication of the aging process.

As described in the Nutrition (opens in new tab) journal, there is evidence to suggest that the metabolic rates of our internal organs become progressively lower in older people. These organs also become smaller. As a result, they need fewer calories to function properly and this will have a significant impact on our overall energy requirements.

In general, men will find it easier to shed unwanted pounds, but our biological differences are not as straightforward as this. As stated in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (opens in new tab) journal, men have a Resting Metabolic Rate thats between 5% and 10% higher than women of a similar frame. This is because women tend to carry more fat than muscle, and fat tissue is less metabolically active.

But this does not automatically mean that women will lose less weight when put on the same diet as men. According to a systematic review published in the Obesity Reviews (opens in new tab) journal, the effect of weight loss interventions are not significantly different between the two sexes, and there is little evidence they should adopt different weight loss strategies. It could be that other factors, not only the body composition, may be at play.

The more physical activity you carry out, the more calories you are able to burn. But time spent working out is not the key factor here intensity is important.

Going for a leisurely walk or attending a gentle yoga class will not have the same effect as running for 10 kilometers. How you exercise and how you progress with your physical activity is equally important to your activity levels.

According to a review published in the Obesity Reviews journal, adding more resistance training to your routine will help you to retain and build more muscle mass. Muscle is a very metabolically active tissue, so more muscle means a higher RMR, and more calories burned at rest.

Some fitness professionals debate whether High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is superior to steady-state cardio (such as cycling or jogging) in terms of the number of calories burned. But as described in the Obesity Reviews (opens in new tab) journal, they both show similar effects on body composition scientists point out that HIIT may be more time-efficient as it requires nearly 40% less training time.

Does drinking water help you lose weight? Hydration definitely plays a role in weight loss, although its effect is not direct. According to the Frontiers in Nutrition (opens in new tab) journal, drinking more water helps to reduce portion control and increase lipolysis the breakdown of fat tissue.

Animal studies also demonstrated that dehydration can lead to hormonal changes that may increase the risk of obesity and associated diseases. Wondering how much water you need to drink? The recommended intake is 2L a day, but the exact amount your body needs will depend on several different factors.

Your genes may be partly to blame for why you struggle to lose weight. As reported in the Genes & Nutrition (opens in new tab) journal, a growing number of studies identify gene variants that are associated with an increase in fat mass. These variants may interact with specific environmental factors and increase the risk of obesity.

Does sleeping burn calories? Not exactly. But maintaining good sleep hygiene can make all the difference to your weight loss efforts. Research in the Nutrients (opens in new tab) journal found that just one sleepless night has been shown to increase your desire for high-calorie, nutrient-poor foods, such as cookies and sugary beverages. Disturbed sleeping patterns tend to lead to increased calorie consumption too.

It will also wreak havoc on the levels of hormones associated with appetite control. A study published in the Sleep (opens in new tab) journal suggests that just an hour less sleep five nights a week may lead to a lower proportion of fat mass loss in individuals on low-calorie diets, despite similar weight loss. Whats more, catch-up sleep may not completely reverse these far-reaching changes in body composition.

Psychological stress is another factor that may impact the rate of your weight loss. The Obesity Reviews (opens in new tab) journal found that feeling under pressure may lower the quality of your sleep, enhance your appetite, intensify your cravings and decrease your motivation to exercise.

At the same time, there is growing evidence (opens in new tab) that the practice of mindful eating can reduce food cravings and increase your chance of achieving your weight loss goals.

Can you take probiotics to lose weight? It may be effective. Scientists are increasingly pointing to gut health as a factor in obesity. According to a review published in the Gastroenterology (opens in new tab) journal, the amount and the type of gut microbes residing in our intestines may dictate the rate of your weight loss.

For example, bacterial strains like Ruminococcus gnavus were found to be more common among obese individuals. Their presence also decreased during weight loss. Meanwhile, the number of bacterial strains such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Alistipes obesi were higher in lean individuals.

Certain hormonal disorders will have an impact on the rate of your weight loss. Hypothyroidism is a good example a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough metabolism-boosting hormones, which in turn can promote weight gain. As reported in the International Journal of Obesity (opens in new tab), higher baseline levels of thyroid hormones were linked to better weight loss outcomes.

How long does it take to lose weight in a healthy and sustainable manner? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (opens in new tab), people should aim for a fairly steady weight loss rate of about one to two pounds a week because this way they are more likely to keep the weight off in the long term.

Yet scientists are questioning this claim. A study published in The Lancet (opens in new tab) journal demonstrated that the rate of weight loss does not seem to affect the proportion of weight regained within 144 weeks.

Another study, published in the Obesity (opens in new tab) journal, found that, in people with a similar total weight loss, the rate at which they lost weight did not affect how many pounds were later piled back on. Nonetheless, those who were prescribed a diet with the least number of calories lost the most muscle mass.

Still, dieticians recommend taking a gradual approach, as it promotes healthier attitudes to food and it is least likely to cause side effects.

If you want to maintain the results in the future, it is recommended to focus on a slow but healthy weight loss where you lose one to 2 lbs per week, says Wendy Lord, registered dietician at HealthReporter (opens in new tab). Although such a journey is slow, its constancy will make it easier to develop healthy eating habits, making it less likely that you will gain weight again, and most importantly, it is much safer than rapid weight loss.

But what about overall weight loss? When healthily losing weight, you can expect to lose up to 8 lbs in a month and even up to 90 in a year. However, it is worth remembering that such impressive numbers will only be realistic if you lose up to 2 lbs per week for the whole year and if you are obese in the first place, says Lord.

What is a dietician's stance on boosting metabolism?

Speeding up weight loss is definitely possible, but it won't necessarily be healthy, advises Lord. Since losing weight too fast can lead to loss of muscle mass, slowed metabolism, lack of nutrients in the body, and many other problems, it is recommended to consult a specialist.

On the other hand, there are certainly a few lifestyle changes that can accelerate the loss of a few pounds without risking your health. Among these, perhaps the most well-known is increasing protein intake so that the body burns fat and does not lose muscle mass. It is also effective to drink green tea because of its caffeine or to reduce the consumption of starchy and floury dishes.

Protein is particularly good for weight loss. As mentioned previously, increasing the intake of this macronutrient will elevate the Thermic Effect of Food. It is also crucial to building lean muscle mass. Protein also helps lower food cravings and regulate appetite.

Countless dietary supplements claim to help you lose weight. They tend to be sold as metabolism boosters and fat burners, promising amazing results in no time. But are they actually able to speed up your weight loss? In most cases, there is no evidence (opens in new tab) they can deliver on the promise. But that does not mean that every supplement is a waste of money.

Many weight loss supplements contain high doses of caffeine. And according to a meta-analysis published in the Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (opens in new tab), for every doubling in the caffeine intake, the reduction in weight, BMI, and fat mass may increase almost twofold. This is because this compound increases thermogenesis, and, unsurprisingly, increases your energy levels during workouts.

However, it is important to maintain a reasonable intake of caffeine, particularly if you are sensitive to it. As stated in the Sports Medicine (opens in new tab) journal,ingestion of 39 mg/kg of body weight approximately 60 min prior to exercise is the recommended way to power up your workout. That could be in the form of caffeinated drinks, or dietary supplements.

Another dietary supplement worth considering is a green tea extract. As reported in the Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (opens in new tab), green tea compounds (such as caffeine and catechins) can increase thermogenesis and increase fat lipolysis.

However, not every green tea supplement is produced to the same standard. Multiple studies (opens in new tab) have shown that those containing doses of EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) between 100 and 460 mg a day have shown the best effects on body fat and body weight reduction in trials lasting more than 12 weeks.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.

Read more here:
How long does it take to lose weight? - Livescience.com

Studies in 2006 and 2007 found that subliminal messaging can influence you if you are already inclined to do something (via Scientific American). For example, those who were already thirsty were flashed images of Lipton Ice Tea and afterward were more inclined to choose that beverage. Another study showed that students who were shown words related to intelligence before a practice exam did better on the actual exam than those shown random words.

Unfortunately, when it comes to weight loss, the research findings are similar. In a 1992 study published in Applied Psychology, weight loss was compared in three groups of overweight women. Despite only one of the groups receiving subliminal messaging to encourage weight loss, all three groups lost the same amount of weight. Another study in 2018 found that subliminal messaging given to those with strong weight loss goals had moderate success when given without any negative messaging. The same messaging, though, had little to no effect on those with weak weight loss goals.

Another 2014 study reinforces the effectiveness of positive messaging, as exercisers shown positive visuals participated in cycling for longer than those shown negative visuals. So it seems that, yes, the brain can be influenced to a degree when the drive to achieve a goal already exists, as long as the messaging is positive. While many subliminal messaging weight-loss programs exist and use various methods, it seems that positive visual messaging, in general, has the best chance of success.

More here:
Could Subliminal Messaging Be An Effective Way To Lose Weight? - Health Digest

From ruby red to leafy green, vegetables are a known mealtime necessity for nutritional benefits and to achieve and maintain a healthy weight but some are better choices than others.

When it comes to losing weight, its important to mentally separate vegetables into two categories: starchy and non-starchy, said Joseph St. Pierre, DO, a medical weight loss specialist with Hartford HealthCare. Then, we need to eat more of non-starchy.

> Worried about your weight? Take this health risk assessment

Non-starchy vegetables contain the right elements for weight loss, Dr. St. Pierre said. This includes:

Starchy vegetables, like potatoes, corn, squash and peas, also offer health benefits, but pack in higher amounts of calories and carbs.

> Want more health news? Text MoreLife to 31996 to sign up for text alerts

Based on nutritional profiles, Dr. St. Pierre said the best vegetables for weight loss include:

> Related: Fad Diets: The Way to Lose Weight, or a Bunch of Baloney?

We tell patients to make sure they have a serving of non-starchy vegetables at every meal. The nutritional benefits are amazing, and by keeping themselves feeling full, they are able to focus on their weight-loss and exercise goals, Dr. St. Pierre said. Theyre an important part of a balanced diet.

See the original post here:
The Five Best Vegetables for Weight Loss, According to a Doctor - Health News Hub

Dr. Thomas Tsai had performed weight-loss surgery on the beaming woman in front of him only six months before, but she was already a changed person. Dozens of pounds had melted from her physique, lowering not just the number on the scale but her odds of developing potentially life-threatening health problems. A coveted career promotion capped off her fresh sense of confidence.

"She was the same hardworking person shed been before surgery, but she didnt face the stigma associated with her weight anymore," says Dr. Tsai, a bariatric surgeon at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Womens Hospital. "Not only did her health improve, but the surgery may have contributed to social and professional benefits."

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.

No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Excerpt from:
When is the "right" time for weight loss surgery? - Harvard Health

The Navratri season brings in a melange of colours and a celebratory vibe among people! Festivity and fervour is at its peak in different parts of the country, where Navratri is celebrated in myriad ways. One of the most popular customs during this 9-day festive period is Garba, a power-packed Gujarati dance form which is performed in a community format. Even though Garba is a lot of fun, it holds a deeper meaning in the festive season and has its share of health benefits too!

Zumba, Bollywood style and Bhangra are dance forms that have found their way into the fitness game over the recent years. But even Garba is no less a workout, dear ladies.

Weve seen our leading Bollywood ladies do the Garba. Be it Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Dhol baaje, Deepika Padukone in Nagada sang dhol and Alia Bhatt in Dholida. And if theres one thing we know, Garba takes a lot of vigour, co-ordination and stamina to nail it!

Take a look at some popular moments from Bollywood films!

Health Shots reached out to fitness expert Simran Valecha to know about the health benefits of Garba and whether it is a good exercise. Heres what she shared.

The expert recommends moving your body for an hour daily for overall good health. And whats better than finding a workout you love? Dancing to the beats with your friends is a fabulous way to work your muscles and burn a lot of calories, Valecha tells Health Shots. According to rough estimates, playing Garba for an hour burns 500-600 calories. So, if you wonder whether Garba can help with weight loss, heres your answer. To lose 2-3 kg a month, you need to be in a calorie deficit and by simply playing Garba and not changing anything in your diet, youre on track to lose that 2-3 kg, she adds.

Also read: Turn to thumkas to lose weight: 5 dance moves to break a sweat

This dance style is like any other form of aerobic exercise continuous, rhythmic movement of large muscle groups to strengthen the heart and lungs. Your breathing plays a big role in all your workouts, thereby engaging your core muscles, she explains.

When you indulge in partner dances with the Garba sticks, it helps you focus a lot on your core and obliques. Stronger core muscles not only mean better stability but also mean easier pregnancy for women. Youll literally feel the burn on your core the next day, says Valecha.

Garba is a full-body workout with some simple upper and lower body focused movements and multiple compound movements that work different muscles groups at once. This increases the efficiency of a 1-hour garba workout, as per the expert.

Since you perform this dance form in a large circular group and with dandiya sticks, you are bound to need focus to not miss your steps or hit anyone with your stick. It takes a lot on your part to be mentally present. But a word of advice here dont put yourself under too much pressure. Just enjoy the flow of dance and immerse yourself in the festive spirit. A healthy mind is also necessary for a healthy body!

* Its important to wear the right kind of footwear when playing Garba so as not to compromise on your form and get injured.

* If you dont want to wear sneakers under your lehengas, dance barefoot to avoid any pressure on your ankles or knees when dancing!

* Stay hydrated

* If you feel tired, dont shy away from taking a break!

Continue reading here:
Navratri 2022: Let Garba sessions boost your heart health, mind and weight loss - Health shots