Are you motivated by competition? If so, Orangetheory might just be the workout youve been searching for.

Youve likely heard of the exercise chain, which has you strap on a heart-rate monitor and uses the approach of tracking heart-rate "zones" to motivate members to push themselves in the gym (and on the leader board).

But for those who have never tried a class, the unique structure can be intimidating. So how exactly does it work? And could it deliver the results youve been looking for? Heres everything you need to know.

Orangetheory uses a combination of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and traditional cardio to help members reach their fitness goals whether that be weight loss, strength or endurance. HIIT is a technique where you alternate between shorter periods of high-intensity exercise and periods of less intense exercise or recovery, and research shows that HIIT workouts may be better than traditional steady state cardio when it comes to fat loss. While Orangetheory uses HIIT concepts, the workout also works on cardiovascular endurance by steadily raising the heart rate, which helps with overall endurance, power and strength.

Eli Ingram, coach and regional fitness director at Orangetheory Fitness, notes that the class is a well-rounded, full-body exercise because they are comprised of either endurance, strength or power exercise within your one-hour workout. Through the various templates that we employ, no two workouts are ever alike. When a work out varies from day to day, you keep your muscles guessing and prevent burnout and boredom with your exercise routine. Similar to CrossFit, Orangetheory also has one daily work out that is shared across all of their gyms across the nation.

The Orangetheory spin on HIIT is called zones. They recognize five zones, the most notable being Zone 3, Zone 4 and Zone 5. During your workout a digital board on the wall displays what zone you are in based on your heart rate (tracked by your wearable heart rate monitor), as well as what zone you should be striving for based on your personalized workout plan.

Zone 3 is a period of time where the exercise should be challenging, but not making you overexert yourself. Zone 4 is a little more difficult, and makes the exercise seem a little uncomfortable. Zone 5 is the highest intensity you can give an exercise and will only be done for a short amount of time. The ultimate goal is to spend around 12 minutes total of the one-hour workout in Zones 4 and 5.

The science behind the zones is based on the concept of excess post exercise oxygen consumption. What does that mean? When you're working out and exerting energy, especially in Zones 4 and 5, your body will need a significant amount of time to recover. So much so that your body will continue to burn calories for up to an additional 24 hours after a workout, boosting your metabolism.

Get the better newsletter.

As previously mentioned, your zone tracking will be based on a wearable tracker. There are a few options as to what tracker you can choose, but generally it will either be worn around your wrist or around your waist. These trackers will read to your cell phone and a TV monitor in the room from an app and are easily tracked throughout your workout.

Each class is an hour long. Ingram explains that that time is broken up into thirds: time spent on the treadmill, the rowing machine and the floor.

Shara Posner, DC, an Orangetheory coach as well as a chiropractor at Back to Health Center, recommends Orangetheory as a great workout option because the intensity is based on your own individual heart rate zones, making the workout accessible for all fitness levels. Orangetheory is a great option for beginners because of how many modifications can be made to the workouts. Its also great because the zones you are given are completely unique and created based on your height and weight among other factors.

Many who attend Orangetheory feel that the unique daily workouts help to build camaraderie as well as community within their gyms another motivating factor to stick with it. Another upside of having the daily workout standard across all gyms is that it allows the coach to focus their time on showing individuals modifications that can be made to take their workout to the next level (or make it safer or easier), instead of demonstrating an exercise or explaining how to do a move.

While the ability to personalize the workouts does make Orangetheory a good exercise option for many people, it is still important to consult a medical professional before starting any rigorous program.

There is also the possibility of overexerting yourself in this type of environment because you see how fast others are working around you and may feel compelled to keep up. Make sure that even though you are following the zones given to you, you also listen to your body and set your own limits. Dont be swayed by the speed or weight being used by other people in the class. Listen to your body and respect your limits to avoid injury.

If you go from not working out at all to an hour class where you are trying to go as hard as you can trying to get in the orange zone, you are asking for an injury, says Joey Thurman, certified personal trainer and host of the Fad or Future podcast. He also warns that these classes dont always take into account proper rest periods, metabolic stress, mechanical tension and muscle damage. Going from a sprint to the floor and trying to lift heavy without proper rest and knowing your percentage of one rep max and having your tempo under control wont pack on the muscle, he explains. So ease into it, and if you're currently in couch potato mode, it may make sense to get a few weeks of activity like walking/jogging and strength training under your belt before trying a class.

Implementing elements from Orangetheory into your workouts at home can be surprisingly easy. The best way is to use a fitness tracker such as a FitBit or Apple Watch to track your heart rate during a workout.

You may lose the competitive spirit with others in the class, but you can draw motivation from pushing your heart rate to certain thresholds, and thinking of your own past performance as your competition. In each workout, try to do more reps in the same amount of time or the same amount of reps in less time than you were able to complete during your last workout. In a notebook, track your progress week by week to see how your numbers, speed and strength improve.

You can also mimic the setup of an Orangetheory class by arranging stations in your family room or home gym. For example, put your yoga mat in one corner and do core exercises on it; put dumbbells in another corner and do your strength training over there; put a resistance band in another corner and do resistance training there. Make yourself move from section to section of the room instead of staying in once place.

Finally, you can also search for Orangetheory inspired workouts on YouTube as well as Pinterest to give you some more ideas of ways you can give the method a try at home.

Want more tips like these? NBC News BETTER is obsessed with finding easier, healthier and smarter ways to live. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

More here:
What is Orangetheory? And could it help you lose weight? - NBC News

Experts say these are the most effective ways to lose weight after 50

There's no reason you can't look as fit and fabulous at 50 as you did at 40.

But there is one hitch: Even stars with personal trainers and nutrition coaches have to work a little harder to lose the pounds once they hit this milestone age.

One of the main reasons you'll have to put in extra effort: Your body composition changes as you age. You lose muscle mass at an average rate of 3-5% for every 10 years after age 35, and this can impact the way you burn fat. Your body goes into its aging stage as it leaves the growing one, says Dr. Luiza Petre, a New York City-based weight loss and management specialist, and assistant clinical professor of cardiology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. When this happens, your body doesnt need as much energy as it used to, she explains.

What's more, all those years of playing sports, running after your kids and walking up and down stairs take their toll. You may notice that your joints are a little stiffer and your muscles are a little sorer than they were a few decades ago. Then, there's the issue of your ever-evolving metabolism.

According to the American Council on Exercise, your resting metabolic rate, a.k.a. your body's ability to burn calories while sitting on the sofa doing nothing, decreases by about 1-2% per decade due to muscle mass loss and increased fat mass. Our diets usually don't change enough to account for this metabolic adjustment, meaning weight can creep up slowly but surely with every birthday.

"There are a number of roadblocks people in their 50s will face when trying to lose weight," says Brian Durbin, a NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist and personal trainer. "But once you know what they areand how to work around themit's easy to be successful at dropping pounds."

One of the best things you can do at any age is shake up your routine and try something new. Follow these tips to help you drop the pounds, and keep them off for good, courtesy of some of the worlds best weight-loss experts, dietitians and personal trainers

First stop after you celebrate the big 5-0your doctor's office. Your doctor can assess your current state of health, address any health problems that may be affecting your weight (like pre-diabetes or sleep apnea) and help you come up a plan for diet and exercise, says Dr. Petre. Your doctor may even be able to recommend a physical therapist or personal trainer for you.

Have your doctor check your hormone levels. As we age, progesterone, testosterone and other hormones decline, which sets the body up for storing fat instead of losing weight, says Dr. Jennifer Burns, a naturopathic physician in Phoenix. "Simply getting your thyroid, adrenal glands and other hormone levels checkedand then taking the appropriate steps to bring them back into balancecan go a long way toward helping people in their 50s lose weight," says Burns.

Dr. Tami Meraglia, author of The Hormone Secret: Discover Effortless Weight Loss and Renewed Energy in Just 30 Days, agrees, adding that she believes the hormone to focus on is testosteroneespecially for women over 50 who are trying to get fit. "There is ample discussion in the medical community about the effects of estrogen loss, but few people are aware of the importance of sufficient testosterone levels, which can help a woman slim down," says Dr. Meraglia. In fact, research shows that balanced testosterone levels reduce blood glucose levels, which may help promote weight loss and shrink stubborn belly fat.

Declaring that youre going to lose 20 pounds before your beach vacation next month is unrealistic, not to mention unhealthy. Be honest with yourself. How do you feel? How healthy are you? Making life changes takes courage and mental fortitude, says Dr. Petre. Break up big goals into smaller, more achievable ones. Focusing on how you're feeling and the positive changes you're making to your lifestyle, instead of the number on the scale, will help you stay motivated to reach your goals. Triumphs make your courage grow, she adds. Small achievements amount to large goals achieved.

There are dozens of different eating plans buzzing around the internet, each claiming to help you shed the pounds without feeling deprived (some of best diets for weight loss in 2020 are the Mediterranean Diet, the DASH Diet and WW Freestyle). If you're not sure which one works best for your lifestyle, talk to a dietitian, who can break down the pros and cons and help you choose one that fits your nutritional needs and goals. An RD will also give you ideas on how to resolve road blocks that may get in the way of your goals, like emotional/stress eating, food sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies and meal-prep fatigue.

At 50, you've been around the block enough times to know that fad diets don't work. No crazy fasts, cleanses, cutting out fats or complex carbohydrates or proteins, says Jillian Michaels, health and wellness expert and author of The 6 Keys: Unlock Your Genetic Potential for Ageless Strength, Health and Beauty. Instead, consider following a medically supervised, clinically proven plan. Dr. Petre explains that these types of programs have a weight-loss success rate of more than 75%, especially if they involve personal support and weekly check-ins.

Even if you've never picked up a dumbbell in your life, now is the perfect time to learn to love the weight room (but seriously, if you're a newbie, work with a trainer first so you don't hurt yourself!). Because the secret to losing weight over 50 is this: Build more muscle mass to increase your metabolism (you've got about 20% less now than you did when you were 20). "The good news is you can turn all of this around with a well-structured weight-training routine," Durbin says. "That can help you regain the ability to lose weight like you were able to 20 years ago," he says. Aim to lift weights at least twice a week, whether you use free weights or machines or do bodyweight exercises. It doesn't hurt to lift every dayjust make sure to work different muscle groups or train differently each day.

Janna Lowell, a Los Angelesbased personal trainer, says she gets the best results among her 50-somethings when she has them do some cross training in the pool. Tired joints can keep you from getting a great workout, she says, and aches and pains can turn some people off exercise completely. "Water exercise is easy on the joints and can boost range of motion as well," says Lowell. "Even better, caloric expenditure is about 30% greater in the water than on land due to the resistance water creates." No pool? No problem. Walking is another great, low-impact cardiovascular exercise, as are cycling, kayaking, yoga and dancing.

If you're going to put in the effort to block out the time, don't let your exhaustion or aching joints hold you back from going all out! Alex Allred, a former national and professional athlete turned personal trainer, says this is one of her biggest pet peeves among 50-year-olds. "Far too many people think that just because they showed up, they're working out," says Allred. "But really, you need to be focused on what you're doing and pushing yourself hard enough to break a sweat or at least complete the full range of motion of a certain exercise." Not sure if you're doing a move properly? Ask! "I wish more people would flag down a trainer and ask, 'Am I doing this correctly?'" says Allred. It can make the difference between making the most of your exercise time to lose weight and wasting your time or injuring yourself.

If an aching back, wonky knee or creaky hip has kept you from working out on a regular basis, make an appointment with a physical therapist, suggests Samira Shuruk, an ACE-certified personal trainer. "After 50, many people have sustained injuries and don't know what their activity options are," she says. "Getting advice from a professional can truly help." Physical therapy can also help you rehabilitate an old injury or ease joint and muscle pain, setting you up for pain-free workouts.

Just like pop music isn't the same as it was when you were in your 30s, your metabolism has changed, too, which means you're burning about 250 fewer calories each day. So if you continue to eat like you did in the early 2000sand don't increase your exerciseyou'll inevitably gain weight, says Dr. Katie Ferraro, a registered dietitian and assistant clinical professor of nutrition at the University of CaliforniaSan Francisco School of Nursing. Eliminating the junk food in your diet and replacing it with loads of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins can make cutting calories painless, she says.

Its not just what you eat, but how you eat that matters in your 50s, claims Dr. Anthony Dissen, a registered dietitian nutritionist and Vice President of Nutrition at WellStart Health. He suggests focusing on fullness, not portion control, when you are planning your meals. If our stomachs arent full, we dont feel full, and well stay hungry, he points out. When it comes to healthy weight loss and management, we want to strike that important balance between eating until we feel full and satisfied while still decreasing our overall calorie intake.

Between paying college tuition for your kids, juggling more and more responsibilities at work and dealing with aging parents, your 50s can be a prime-time for stress, says Durbin. The result? Emotional eating and a schedule that seems too jam-packed for regular exercise sessions. The solution: Schedule your workouts like they're doctor's appointments, he says. Sticking to a consistent routine can not only help ease stress, it can also help you stay on track with your diet. After all, who wants to ruin the benefits of a tough sweat session by eating a donut?

One great thing about being 50you are completely over the social pressure to stay out late. Doing your best to get seven to eight hours of snooze time every night is key to helping you lose weight, says Michaels. Dr. Petre adds that the two hormones that regulate appetiteleptin and ghrelingo into overdrive without regular shut-eye. This can trigger excessive hunger and lead to poor food choices and weight gain at any age, she says. Find a list of proven of sleep strategies right here.

Its important to practice mindfulness, especially when youre eating. The more we try to multi-task while we eat, the more likely we are to overeat and not feel as satisfied by the meal or snack weve just eaten, Dr. Dissen explains. By simply taking a breath and treating our mealtime as special, it allows us to really taste our food and notice its flavors, textures and tastes. Mindfulness can aid in stress relief, too. Michaels suggests practicing five to 10 minutes of meditation a day.

Whether it's treating yourself to manicure or taking a mental health day from work, taking care of yourself shouldn't be looked at as a luxury. The smallest gestures can make a big difference in reducing stress, which can make a big impact on your weight loss. Plus, when you show yourself a little more love, you can use that energy to do things that support your goals, like eating healthy, exercising and meditating. Not sure how to start a self-care routine? First ask yourself why you need more time to take care of yourself. Are you working too many late hours at the office? Do you feel burned out and wish you could be calmer? Once you figure out why you need to make some more time for yourself, it can help you decide what will be a good activity or routine for you.

The rest is here:
Experts say these are the most effective ways to lose weight after 50 - New Haven Register

Travis 'My 600-lb Life' Now: See His Weight LossAcceptWe allow third parties to collect information which we use for business purposes, for more info read CCPA section in the privacy policy page.AcceptBrowsers may block some cookies by default. Click accept to allow advertising partners to use cookies and serve more relevant ads. Visit our privacy policy page for more information.Source: TLCBy Pippa Raga

1 day ago

*Warning: This article contains spoilers for Travis's episode of My 600-lb Life.*

They don't really talk about it much on My 600-lb Life, but the elephant in the room (sorry, I couldn't help myself there) seems to be the fact that men have such an easier time than the women on the show trying to lose weight.

Meanwhile, brothers John and Lonnie were both unrecognizable at the end of their episode, and even J.T. with his massive lymphedema, was able to drop nearly 400 lbs in Dr. Now's care.

Likewise, Travis, whose journey we follow in Episode 6, makes some pretty impressive strides during his time on the show. So, how much weight does Travis lose and how is he today? Keep reading.

Fans of My 600-lb Life know that part of what makes every episode so emotional is hearing the backgrounds and childhoods of Dr. Now's patients. When it comes to Travis, his parents split up at an early age and he grew up primarily with his older brother. Because of the lack of parental supervision, Travis ate as much as he wanted.

By 10 years old, he weighed about 120 lbs. "That's when it got worse," he explains, saying that "my brother had moved out to move with my dad" around that time. "My brother and me were close and I felt so betrayed. I couldn't understand how my brother could leave me like that and why my dad didn't want me."

That's when Travis started turning to food as a coping mechanism. By 15, his weight started getting out of control when he realized he could drive himself anywhere. Travis's mom even reveals that Travis would hide food in his cheeks to eat later on.

Travis eventually dropped out of high school and got his GED, and by his 20th birthday, weighed 450 pounds. By 25, the scale read over 500 pounds.

But that didn't stop Travis from falling in love with a singer he met at church, where he played the keys. Jasmine and Travis got married only six months after meeting, but because Travis's weight kept him from walking down the aisle, he sees giving his wife the wedding of her dreams as his ultimate weight-loss goal.

While we don't see the big party during his episode on the show, Travis certainly achieves and surpasses his weight-loss goals, and pretty quickly, too! First, it takes him only two sessions with Dr. Now to get approved for sleeve surgery, and within four months of starting his journey, he manages to drop 101 pounds.

After the surgery "reduces the stomach by 90%," as Dr. Now explains, Travis balances healthy eating with exercise and therapy and loses a total of 221 pounds. His weight at the end of the episode is 379 pounds.

Both Dr. Now and Travis are overjoyed by his progress. "My attitude toward life has changed, my quality of life has changed and it's changed for the best and I enjoy it," he says toward the end of his journey.

New episodes of My 600-lb Life air Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on TLC.

More:
Travis Achieves and Surpasses His Weight-Loss Goals on 'My 600-lb Life' - Distractify

I was never much of a weed smoker, but when I moved to L.A., the local post-legalization zeitgeist rubbed off on me, and I began smoking several times a week. Since Im a pretty healthy eater and dont really crave sweets or junk food, I was a bit concerned to find that when I smoked, my stomach suddenly became a bottomless pit that only powdered donuts (and sometimes macadamia nut cookies) could fill. Even so, I didnt gain weight I actually lost a bit.

It seemed almost too good to be true, but others have noticed the same. Danielle Simone Brand, a 40-year-old writer in Boise, Idaho, lost 10 pounds after she started using cannabis daily. One possible reason is that I enjoy food so much when using cannabis that I find myself savoring bites and going for quality and not necessarily quantity, she said.

There's a tenuous connection between weed and weight loss

Research suggests that experiences like mine and Brands might not be unusual. One 2019 study of 33,000 Americans in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that cannabis users weighed two pounds less than non-users on average, and were overall less likely to be overweight or obese.

Still, this study doesnt necessarily mean weed makes you lose weight or doesnt make you gain weight, said Jordan Tishler, a former ER doctor and current cannabis specialist on the medical advisory board at cannabisMD. Maybe stoners eat less than they think, or maybe theyre genetically less prone to weight gain, he explained.

There could be other habits smokers have that account for their lower weight. One 33-year-old engineer in Silicon Valley, who wishes to remain anonymous for professional reasons, said he lost weight when he started smoking because it decreased his desire to drink alcohol. While Tishler doesnt know of any data proving this connection, he has also had patients who drank less after they started using cannabis.

"There are hypotheses that there might be something in cannabis that increases metabolic rate, which would decrease the weight gain," Tishler said. "There have been some suggestions that cannabis could help protect against diabetes and excessive blood lipids [which are connected to excessive weight]. However, these are just observations that may be accounted for by many other explanations and have not been studied enough to draw any reasonable conclusions."

Could weed actually cause weight gain?

Even if stoners are lighter on average, that doesnt mean you can smoke as much as you want without gaining weight, said Marina Yuabova, family nurse practitioner and Assistant Professor at the City University of New York, pointing out that in the aforementioned study, in a sub-group of people who smoked weed occasionally but didnt smoke cigarettes, the heavier the cannabis use, the heavier the people. So, even though smokers were thinner overall, it depended on how much they smoked. When cannabis is used over a long time, it will influence weight gain due to munchies and cravings for sweets and salty snacks, she suggested.

Joan Conklin, a 32-year-old writer in New York City, can attest to this. Using cannabis made me gain weight because I got the munchies and I was lazy, she said. I got so much enjoyment out of music and reading and just existing that I didnt get out of the apartment much.

Jason, a 36-year-old teacher in the UK, gained around 30 pounds over two years after he started smoking. For me, it increased unhealthy diet decisions, he said. Meanwhile some people specifically use weed to gain weight, pointed out June Chin, a doctor on the medical advisory board at cannabisMD. So there's really no consensus about what kind of effect weed has on weight.

There might be a biological purpose for the munchies

Regardless of weed's impact on weight, its possible that the munchies serve a purpose, said James Giordano, professor of neurology and biochemistry at Georgetown University Medical Center. Cannabinoids can suppress your appetite, he explainedto put it scientifically, it causes changes in the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, as well as appetite-regulating hormones like leptin and ghrelin, which may make you less hungry and more easily satisfied.

So, the munchies often show up not right as you get stoned but after some time. When most people are stoned, theyre not eating, Giordano said. As they start to come out, they get a rebound in appetite. Often, people will crave high-fat meals when they have the munchies because they need the calories, he said.

But Tishler disagrees with this characterization, saying that cannabis does not suppress appetite, and the munchies can set in during the acute intoxication phase.

Ok, regardless: How do you prevent weight gain from weed munchies?

If youve eaten an edible, youre less likely to get the munchies for obvious reasons: youve already taken in some calories, so your body releases leptin, which suppresses your appetite, said Giordano. If you want to avoid the munchies, then an edible may be the way to goit not only will fill you up but also will have a more prolonged appetite-suppressant effect because its metabolized more slowly.

But beware that regardless of your method of ingestion, it is absolutely possible to gain weight from the munchies, Tishler said. Calories are calories. If your intake exceeds your metabolic expenditure, you will store that energy as fat, he said. Even if cannabis is somehow mildly protective against weight gainagain, this is entirely unprovenit can certainly be overwhelmed by high calorie intake.

If youre concerned about gaining weight from the munchies, Tishler recommends avoiding high-calorie cannabis products like brownies, which are about 250 calories on average. And if you get the munchies, try to satisfy them with nutritious, lower-calorie foods. Your discipline may not be at its highest when youre stoned, so you may want to have foods youll feel good about eating available before you get high. If you have Doritos in the house, likely youll eat them, he said. If you dont and have baby carrots, youll eat those instead. Plan to have abundant healthy, crunchy snacks on hand, and be sure you do not have the option for making less-good choices while under the influence.

Follow this link:
The Truth About Losing Weight With Weed - VICE

Mobile apps might help some obese or overweight people with type 2 diabetes shed excess pounds (lbs), but a recent review also suggests that results may be modest at best.

For thepaper, published in January 2020 in Obesity, researchers looked at changes in waist circumference, weight, and body mass index (BMI) in 2,129 people with type 2 diabetes who participated in one of 14 different clinical trials testing a variety of mobile apps for diabetes self-management. These trials randomly assigned some participants to use apps, while others did not, and interventions lasted between 3 and 12 months.

By the end of the trials, people who used diabetes apps lost an average of 0.84 kilograms (about 1.9 lbs) more than participants who didnt. With mobile apps, people also reduced their waist circumference by 1.35 centimeters (about inch) more on average.

BMI appeared lower with apps than without these tools, but the difference was too small to rule out the possibility that it was due to chance.

Reductions in weight, waist circumference, and BMI appeared more pronounced when people were obese and when participants used apps in combination with other interventions designed to promote healthy eating and exercise habits. Some of the trials in the analysis allowed participants to pursue other approaches to weight loss with or without also using a mobile app to manage diabetes.

Mobile application interventions combined with other behavior components lead to a larger magnitude of weight loss, says senior study author Mingzi Li, PhD, of Peking University in Beijing. However, the mobile application functionalities do not moderate weight loss significantly.

Face-to-face or supervised lifestyle modification programs have long been considered a cornerstone of diabetes care, Dr. Li and colleagues wrote. Obesity is a risk factor for developing diabetes and for experiencing potentially serious complications, like blindness, amputations, kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes.

People who lose at least 5 percent of their body weight in the first year after a diabetes diagnosis may cut their 10-year risk of events like heart attacks and strokes roughly in half, according to a study published in May 2019 in Diabetologia.

And people who lose less weight may still see benefits. Patients with diabetes who lost no more than 2.5 percent of their body weight, for example, were able to lower their blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, according to a review and meta-analysis published in June 2016 in Obesity Reviews.

RELATED: The Best Apps for Managing Diabetes

In the current study, people typically lost less than 2.5 percent of their body weight. This doesnt seem like much, but it might be enough for them to see improvements in blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, Li and colleagues wrote.

Weight loss didnt appear to be influenced by whether apps had certain features, like tracking physical activity, logging food, counting calories, monitoring weight, or monitoring or recording blood sugar levels.

This might be because all studied mobile apps had four to five functionalities on average, and it is therefore difficult to distinguish between individual effects, Li said.

At the start of the trials, participants were 58 years old on average and had an average BMI of 30, meaning they typically had obesity.

People who started out with a higher BMI appeared to benefit more from using apps. For each additional unit in BMI as measured at the start of the trials, people using apps achieved of 0.15 kilograms (about 0.3 lbs) more weight loss on average.

RELATED: Most Type 2 Diabetes Apps Fall Short in Helping Users Manage Blood Sugar

Even though the current study pooled results from randomized controlled clinical trials considered the gold standard for medical research there are still some limitations.

One big drawback is that the studies didnt provide long-term weight loss outcomes, particularly because so many people who lose weight struggle to keep it off.

Another limitation is that the results dont show what types of apps or features within apps might help the most with weight loss.

More research is needed to determine whether apps might help people who dont have time or money to do face-to-face appointments with psychologists, nutritionists, or other clinicians who might help them develop and stick to a weight loss plan, Li and colleagues pointed out.

Its possible, they argue, that apps might help some busy people stick with weight loss efforts because its easier and more convenient to use a smartphone every day to monitor progress than it is to go to checkups.

People with diabetes who try and fail to lose substantial amounts of weight using only an app shouldnt be discouraged that they dont get results, says Susan Roberts, PhD, a professor of nutrition at Tufts University in Boston and founder of iDiet.

Dont feel guilty if an app isnt helping you, Dr. Roberts says. They dont help the average person much based on these results, and there are other ways to lose weight.

Whether or not people use apps, regular monitoring of progress with lifestyle changes and weight loss efforts is one key to success, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Besides mobile app interventions, there has been a growing evidence that interventions like step counters could be effective in weight loss as well, Li said. If combined with additional behavior change components, including multidisciplinary diabetes care management or health coaching, they will be more effective.

RELATED: Smart Health: I Tried Noom for Weight Loss and It Worked

Go here to see the original:
Type 2 Diabetes Apps Help With Modest Weight Loss, Review Finds - Everyday Health

PARIS, Feb. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TargEDys announces the successful completion of its 3 months, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, multicentric clinical study carried out on 229 subjects and evaluating the efficacy of Hafnia alvei HA4597 in the weight loss by regulation of the appetite.

TargEDys in partnership with the University of Rouen Normandy, the University Hospital of Rouen and INSERM discovered that enterobacteria such as Hafnia alvei HA4597 can produce a protein (ClpB) which is a mimetic of the satiety hormone - MSH hence it is able to influence the mechanisms of appetite control at the peripheral and central level. Preclinical studies on Hafnia alvei HA4597 have demonstrated anti-obesity effects such as weight loss, fat mass reduction as well as a reduced food intake and positive effects on blood sugar and insulin resistance.

TargEDys has just confirmed clinically these pre-clinical data. The study was carried on overweight subjects characterized by a body mass index between 25 and 30 kg/m[2]. The two arms underwent a hypocaloric diet associated either with the Hafnia alvei HA4597 probiotic or with a placebo. The primary endpoint related to weight loss has been achieved: there is a statistically significant difference in favor of the probiotic in the proportion of subjects who lost at least 3% of their body weight at 12 weeks. Amongst other secondary endpoints, the proposed mechanism of action is confirmed by a statistically significant increase in the feeling of fullness. Furthermore, the probiotic effect is also higher than the placebo in the reduction of hip circumference. Only the Hafnia alvei HA4597 had an effect on cholesterol levels and induced a higher decrease in glycemia than the one observed with the placebo. Finally, Hafnia alvei HA4597 has shown to be superior to the placebo through the overall evaluation of the benefits perceived by both the investigating physicians and the subjects.

"These results show a significant efficacy after already 2 months and which is reinforced at 3 months. The mechanism of action that had been described during the pre-clinical studies is confirmed," comments Pierre Dchelotte, co-founder and Clinical Advisor.

According to Gregory Lambert, CEO and vice-president of Research and Development in TargEDys, "It is the first product of a new generation of probiotics, single strain, endowed with a scientifically established mechanism of action in the microbiome-gut-brain axis and with a proven short-term clinical efficacy."

"The success of this clinical trial is a turning point for TargEDys. The clinical confirmation of all pre-clinical findings will boost the international commercial deployment of our network of partners for the commercialization of our unique nutritional solution, already sold in France under the name EnteroSatys," said Jean-Frederic Laville, newly appointed Chief Business Officer.

The study results will be the subject of a scientific publication.

About TargEDys

TargEDys is a commercial stage French biotech, specialized in the development of nutraceutical and therapeutic solutions for appetite regulation and weight management via microbiome interventions. Founded by Professors Pierre Dchelotte and Sergue Fetissov, the company is the result of many years of academic research on microbiome-gut-brain axis conducted by INSERM laboratories of the University of Rouen Normandy and the University Hospital of Rouen. Led by Grgory Lambert, the company has developed and commercializes its first product based on alpha-MSH mimicry technology, ProbioSatys. This technology uses the probiotic strain Hafnia alvei HA4597 which efficacy is clinically proven in weight loss and appetite regulation. The company develops a portfolio of products targeting overweight as well as malnutrition and cachexia.

Additional information: http://www.targedys.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1085401/TargEDys_Logo.jpg

Press contact:LJ CommunicationHlne BLHER / Sabrina OULMAS(+33) 01-45-03-57-66 / (+33) 01-45-03-50-32h.bleher@ljcom.net / s.oulmas@ljcom.net

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/french-biotech-targedys-announces-positive-results-of-its-clinical-trial-with-its-probiotic-strain-hafnia-alvei-ha4597-on-the-weight-loss-thanks-to-regulation-of-appetite-300997778.html

SOURCE TargEDys

Read the original:
French Biotech TargEDys Announces Positive Results of Its Clinical Trial With Its Probiotic Strain Hafnia alvei HA4597 on the Weight Loss Thanks to...

On a recent Instagram post, Led Zeppelins legendary vocalist Robert Plants latest photo has been revealed by Tuk Smith bassist Shane Rickerson.

As you can see in the picture below, Robert seemed to lose weight dramatically, and he doesnt look like he has the same strength as he had before. Most of the fans saddened by Roberts new appearance, considering it would get worse in the future.

Robert Plant was wearing a black t-shirt with black pants and gave an iconic pose for the camera. Robert is also showing how cool he is even with the huge weight loss.

Here is what Shane Rickerson said:

Good running into an old buddy today @robertplantofficial

A fan named Mikki added this comment:

Thats wild! I saw him in a couple of concerts when we were all young

Another fan named Karen Orr wrote this:

He is only about three or four years older than I am, He will always be the sexiest man alive up on the stage to me! Dont lose too much weight. And keep that hair a little bit! LOL.

You can check the post below.

Original post:
Led Zeppelin Fans Saddened By Robert Plant's Weight Loss And Recent Appearance - Metalheadzone