(Reuters Health) - Women with severe obesity who have gastric bypass surgery to lose weight before becoming pregnant may be less likely to have babies with birth defects than similar women who dont have weight-loss surgery, a new study suggests.

As reported in JAMA, researchers examined data on more than 33,000 women with a history of severe obesity who gave birth, including 2,921 who had gastric bypass surgery and lost weight before conception. Overall, 3.4% of women who had surgery had babies with major birth defects, compared with 4.9% of women who didnt have weight-loss operations.

Changes in weight and blood sugar may explain these results, said lead study author Martin Neovius, from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

Both obesity and poorly controlled blood sugar are associated with increased risk of birth defects in a dose-dependent manner, Neovius said by email. This means that the more obese you are, the greater the risk of birth defects, and the worse blood glucose control, the greater the risk of birth defects.

In the surgery group, women started out with an average body mass index (BMI) of 43.5 and an average weight of 122 kilograms (269 pounds). After surgery, their average body weight was 82 kilograms (181 pounds) prior to conception.

Before gastric bypass surgery, 9.7% of the women in that group had been taking prescription diabetes drugs to lower their blood sugar. But in the six months prior to conception, only 1.5% of them took diabetes drugs.

These improvements may be the mechanism behind the observed lower risk of birth defects, Neovius said.

Major heart defects accounted for 60% of the birth defects among mothers who underwent gastric bypass procedures. No babies in this group had neural tube defects, while there were 20 cases of neural tube defects among women who didnt have surgery.

For the study, researchers examined data on singleton births in Sweden from 2007 to 2014.

All of the weight-loss surgeries were procedures known as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, in which surgeons divide the stomach to create a small pouch about the size of an egg. Then, surgeons connect the pouch to the end of the small intestine, so that food travels directly there, bypassing the stomach and the first portion of the small intestine.

One limitation of the study is that it only included data on live births, not miscarriages or pregnancy terminations or stillbirths. Its possible the results might underestimate birth defects by excluding these pregnancies, at least some of which might have ended because babies had birth defects too severe to survive.

Obesity can contribute to infertility, noted Dr. Brian Smith, co-director of the minimally invasive surgery fellowship at UC Irvine Health and chief of surgery at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System.

Many women elect to undergo bariatric surgery in order to facilitate pregnancy and/or treat polycystic ovary syndrome, a major contributor to infertility, Smith, who wasnt involved in the study, said by email.

Fewer birth defects appears to be yet another important health benefit of weight loss surgery (specifically gastric bypass), and women considering pregnancy and bariatric surgery should consider postponing pregnancy until after they have achieved meaningful postoperative weight loss and their weight is stable, Smith said.

Weight loss without surgery may also help, however.

One can also infer that non-surgical weight loss MAY have similar benefits in reducing birth defects if women are able to achieve similar blood glucose control through diet and exercise alone, Smith added.

SOURCE: bit.ly/2VTRaGR JAMA, online October 15, 2019.

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Weight-loss surgery tied to lower risk of birth defects - Reuters

But as our understanding of nutrition has evolved, we've learned that eating earlier in the day can be more favorable for shedding pounds, while eating later can interfere with weight loss -- and for more than one reason.

For one, eating during the evening often goes hand in hand with mindless nibbling. Think of how many times you may have reached for a handful of pretzels, chips or M&Ms while watching TV or Netflix at night. Evenings can also be filled with unstructured time, which means eating may fill a "void"; if you're bored, it's easy to indulge in high-fat, sugary foods when you don't have to focus on other tasks such as work or errands.

And then there's the fact that more research has shown how our bodies respond to front-loading calories during our waking hours versus consuming them later on.

It has to do with the complex science of circadian rhythms -- physical, mental and behavioral changes in the body that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle. These rhythms are driven by a master biological clock in the brain that is primarily influenced by light and tells other "peripheral" clocks in the muscles and organs what time of day it is.

The study involved 420 overweight and obese participants who were divided into two groups: early eaters and late eaters. The early eaters ate lunch before 3 p.m., and the late eaters consumed lunch after 3 p.m. The late lunch group also ate lower-calorie breakfasts, or skipped breakfast more often than early eaters.

At the end of the 20-week study period, the late eaters lost less weight compared with the earlier eaters (17 vs. 22 pounds on average, respectively) and lost their weight more slowly, despite the fact that both groups ate approximately 1,400 calories per day and consumed similar amounts of fat, protein and carbohydrates.

The research suggests that the calories we burn from digesting, absorbing and metabolizing the nutrients in the food we eat -- known as diet-induced thermogenesis -- are influenced by our circadian system, and are lower at 8 p.m. than at 8 a.m.

To put this into practice, especially if you are trying to lose weight, try to front-load your calories as much as possible. Don't skip breakfast, and consider having what you would typically eat for dinner during lunchtime. Think grilled fish or chicken with veggies and quinoa. Then, at dinner, eat half of what you would typically consume, or consider cutting carbs to help downsize your meal.

Night-shift workers can also benefit from eating in sync with their circadian rhythms. They may modify meal timing by eating their heaviest meal when they wake up, about 3 or 4 p.m., and eating a light "breakfast" at the end of their workday, at 7 or 8 a.m.

And if nighttime nibbling is a problem for you, here's a tip that's worked well with my clients: "Close the kitchen" at a specific time each evening. You can use your smartphone to set an alarm to remind yourself when it's time. Then, situate yourself where you can't see the fridge, and keep yourself busy with other activities that will take your mind off food, like calling a friend, reading a magazine or book, polishing your nails or taking a bath.

Lisa Drayer is a nutritionist, author and CNN health and nutrition contributor.

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When trying to lose weight, morning meals are better than evening ones - CNN

Issa Rae has a lot of projects in the works, and shes making room for another big venture. On Thursday (Oct. 18), the Insecure star announced the launch of her new record label, Raedio, along with introducing the world to TeaMarr, the imprints first artist.

Beyond excited to present the first amazingly talented artist from my new label RAEDIO, the Emmy winner captioned a clip of TeaMarrrs music video where she makes a cameo.

Beyond excited to present the first amazingly talented artist from my new label RAEDIO, TeaMarrr (@imaliltcup)! Check out her song and video, "Kinda Love" on all streaming platforms now! (@theraedio)

A post shared by Issa Rae (@issarae) on Oct 18, 2019 at 8:06am PDT

The record label is a partnership with Atlantic Records, according toVariety.Raes label will also be responsible for supervising the music on A Black Lady Sketch Show, which she executive produces.

Music has always been an essential part of every project I do and working with emerging talent is a personal passion, Rae said in a statement. Raedio allows me to continue that work within the music industry and audio entertainment space. The Atlantic team are innovators in terms of shifting and shaping culture. Im excited to join forces with them to discover new artists.

Raedio is technically her first foray into the recording industry, but music has always been a central character in Insecure, Atlantic Chairman & COO Julie Greenwald noted.

Issa Rae is a next-level, future-thinking creative force whos been breaking down cultural barriers and conquering one field after another, said Greenwald. Shes made music a central character in her artistic evolution, and now shes brought all that amazing passion, inspiration, and taste to the formation of Raedio. Were thrilled to be partnering with Issa and her team on this exciting new venture, and TeaMarrr is the perfect artist to launch with.

Wath TeaMarrr's Kinda Love music video below.

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Kevin Gates Says Breastfeeding Incident Inspired His Weight Loss - Vibe

We all have memories of eating our favourite chewing gum. We were also often told that swallowing it can be dangerous and thus were told to be really careful. Here we explore what happens when you swallow chewing gum...Did you know that your nostalgic chewing gum can also help you lose weight? Yes, you read that right.

Chewing gum for weight lossSeveral studies have shown that chewing gum can help control cravings, stop you from overeating, manage hunger and thus help in shedding those extra kilos. Are you also wondering how chewing gum can help you with this miracle? We tell you:

The studyMany studies have shown that chewing can help you burn calories. Research conducted by the University of Rhode Island found that people who chewed gum every day consumed 68 fewer calories and did not binge later. Not just this, people who ate chewing gum burned 5 per cent more calories than those who did not.

Another study conducted by the Louisiana State University found that chewing gum was helpful in controlling appetite and thus decreased the participants daily calorie intake to 40 lesser calories.

When to have a chewing gum for weight loss?Chew gum when you have the urge to snack just because you are free.Chew one right after your meal to prevent mindless munching thereafter. Always keep a strip in your bag, which can help you resist temptation when you are outside. Also, put one in your mouth while cooking so that you dont keep nibbling.

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Chewing gum for weight loss? We tell you the truth - Times of India

Is obesity a disease?

Yes. In 2013, the American Medical Association declared obesity a disease, based on growing evidence that making a healthy weight was far more complex than willpower alone. Theres a common misconception that people gain weight because of laziness, eating too much and/or exercising too little. Founded in 2019, our specialization in medical weight management is grounded in science.

How does your new clinic help people with weight loss?

We focus on four pillars: medical treatment, nutrition, behavior and physical activity. We tailor individual treatment plans, leveraging our foundation in internal medicine, bolstered by specialized training in lipidology and obesity medicine. For medically eligible patients, we offer an optional meal replacement program with an average weight loss of 30 pounds at 26 weeks. Additionally, an independent dietitian who shares our suite can help with meal plans, education and tailored nutritional advice. Behavioral assessments help identify disordered eating and provide a roadmap to overcome drivers of weight gain. Studies show that, in the long-run, diets do not work, but incremental lifestyle changes do. Our physical activity program explores and coaches people on how they can get moving in whatever way their bodies and comfort levels allow.

Which patients do you take?

We cater to adults with body mass indexes of 28 and higher.

Do you take insurance?

Yes, we are currently insured with most insurance companies, and work closely with a patient's primary care physician, specialists and other health care professionals to offer true medically coordinated weight loss.

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Q&A with Ryan Morgan: Healthy weight loss requires more than just willpower - Oklahoman.com

Highlights

Weight loss is a tricky feat. The mindless noshing and binge eating that most of us are habitual to, tend to have a negative impact on our overall health, especially on our body weight. The excess calorie load eventually leads to weight gain, further giving rise to obesity-related issues. In order to steer clear of them, it is essential to keep a tab on daily eating habits and be aware of what's actually going on our plates. While getting started with the weight loss process can get a bit too overwhelming, both mentally and physically, we're here to provide you with a stellar weight loss recipe that is not just nutritionally dense, but it will also help give a kick-start to your weight loss journey with maximum ease. We're talking about Sprouts and Paneer Salad!

(Also Read:6 Excellent Sources of Vegetarian Protein for Your Daily Diet)

The two prime ingredients of this salad - sprouts and paneer - are a treasure trove of essential nutrients and are highly rich in protein content. The high protein element of this salad makes it a perfect pick for effective weight loss. Since protein helps induce a feeling of satiety, you are less likely to binge on fattening foods that can increase the body weight.

(Also Read:Here's How Black Pepper (Kali Mirch) May Help Boost Metabolism)

Unlike the regular leafy salads, this salad contains some hearty spices that may help in boosting the body's metabolism. For instance, black pepper may help stimulate appetite and aid digestion as well. Since, a healthy digestion system is the key to quick weight loss, adding black pepper to your salad would be quite beneficial. Oh, and it won't take you more than 5 minutes to prepare this salad; just bring together all the ingredients mentioned below and give them a nice spin.

Ingredients Required:

4-5 tbsp. sprouted green moong dal100 grams paneer, cubed1 tomato, small-sized, chopped1 onion, small-sized, chopped1 tbsp. lemon juice3-4 pinches black pepper powder1 tsp. rock salt

Method:

Take a bowl, and put all the ingredients in it except lemon juice. Mix well.Once the sprouts and paneer are combined well with all the spices, drizzle lemon juice over the mix and serve.

So, once you've made up your mind to set off on a weight loss journey, give it an energetic start by making this high-protein salad a part of your diet.

(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)

About Deeksha SarinAn eccentric foodie and a die-hard falooda lover, Deeksha loves riding scooty in search of good street food! A piping hot cup of adrak wali chai can make her day bright and shiny!

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Add This High-Protein Sprouts And Paneer Salad To Your Weight Loss Diet - NDTV Food

Many celebrities who have competed on Dancing With the Stars over the years have noticed their waistlines shrinking in addition to their dance skills improving during their time on the show, and Sean Spicer is the latest star to lose more than a few pounds while working on his routines.

"Im down 17 pounds from the show's start," he told USA Today. "Im seeing it on the scale. Every week, they're taking in my outfits, especially the pants. I can see it in my face. Its not just a show, its a weight-loss program. Id love to go down another 10 or 15 pounds. If I get to the full goal, maybe well talk. But this is the lowest I have weighed since I got off active (Navy Reserves) duty in 2011."

The former White House press secretary is partnered with Lindsay Arnold and the two have remained in the competition despite low scores thanks to fan voting. On Monday, Donald Trump urged viewers to vote for his former employee, tweeting, "Vote for good guy @seanspicer tonight on Dancing With The Stars. He has always been there for us!"

"Theres no question thats a huge part of it, people on the political side," Spicer mused when asked about whether the vast majority of his votes are coming from Trump supporters. "But theres a good chunk of people who enjoy my approach. The other night we were out, and I had people coming up to me saying, 'Ive loved watching you, you look like youre having a great time.' Hopefully, theyll watch me progress. Theres a lot of people who sit at the bar and watch everyone else on the dance floor. Thats who I have been. I'm never going to be the natural. But people watching know I am working as hard as I can, and going to have a blast doing it."

Spicer's casting on the show was initially met with criticism from fans as well as DWTS' host, Tom Bergeron.

"A few months ago, during a lunch with DWTS' new executive producer, I offered suggestions for season 28. Chief among them was my hope that DWTS, in its return from an unprecedented year-long hiatus, would be a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate and free of inevitably divisive bookings from any party affiliation," Bergeron tweeted on Aug. 21. "I left that lunch convinced we were in agreement."

"Subsequently (and rather obviously), a decision was made to, as we often say in Hollywood, 'go a different direction,'" he continued, adding that it is the "prerogative" of the producers to cast whoever they choose. "We can all agree to disagree. As we do now, but ultimately it's their call. I'll leave it to them to answer any further questions about those decisions."

Photo Credit: Getty / Allen Berezovsky

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Tap play to listen to GroupChat's new Episode 7 where we're talking new 'Jersey Shore' relationship mayhem, 'Bachelor' face plants, Miley Cyrus' new love interest and massive coach exit from 'The Voice'. Don't miss a minute and hit that subscribe button so you don't ever miss an episode!

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'Dancing With the Stars': Sean Spicer Reveals 17-Pound Weight Loss - PopCulture.com

What is the best time to exercise? This question has intrigued most of the fitness enthusiasts and there has not been a conclusive answer for it. Some believe that one should exercise in the morning while others think that the best time to work out is in the evening. But there is a new research which establishes a connection between breakfast and exercise! As the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Universities of Bath and Birmingham found that by changing the timing of when you eat and exercise, one can better control the blood sugar levels."We found that the men in the study who exercised before breakfast burned double the amount of fat than the group who exercised after," said study author Javier Gonzalez from the University of Bath.

"Our results suggest that changing the timing of when you eat in relation to when you exercise can bring about profound and positive changes to your overall health," Gonzalez said.

The research was performed on 30 men and extended over a period of one and a half months. The men were classified as obese or overweight and compared results from two intervention groups (who ate breakfast before/after exercise) and a control group (who made no lifestyle changes), found that people who performed exercise before breakfast burned double the amount of fat than the group who exercised after breakfast.

The study established that increased fat use is mainly due to lower insulin levels during exercise when people have fasted overnight, which means that they can use more of the fat from their fat tissue and the fat within their muscles as a fuel.

While this did not show any significant weight loss, it has a very positive impact on their health because their bodies were better able to respond to insulin, keeping blood sugar levels under control and potentially lowering the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

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Exercise before breakfast to lose weight quickly - Times of India

There are hundreds of diets, cleanses, cookbooks and apps out there designed to help you lose weight, but sometimes you just need to hear from people who've done it. In a thread on Reddit, people who have been on their own weight loss journey shared the insights they've gained through their own experiences, and offered their best advice.

Some commenters found that trying new diets, and approaching them with the mindset that they'd lose the weight and then go back to their usual lifestyle, didn't particularly work. "To me it's far better to change your diet and your life style than torturing yourself with restrictive diets," read one post. "Your body is a sensitive machine, and will learn do adapt. Going on a restrictive diet 'just for a while; seems to me like it would confuse your metabolism. Isn't it better to just make healthy choices?"

Another commenter advocated for building moderation into your diet, as well as the occasional cheat day: "I think a lot of people go into dieting with a mentality of 'Im going to diet constantly until I hit my goal weigh' and either end up stopping along the way or putting the weight back on within a year or two of reaching their goal. What I have found that helped me was stopping my diet every 3-4 weeks and having a period just trying to maintain that particular weight before I start up again on my diet. It has helped me keep things under control and its nice to have a little break from a diet every once in awhile."

Plenty of others on the thread agreed, with one commenter saying "scheduled cheating is an underrated tactic," and another adding: "This also really helps with the whole 'turning it into a sustainable lifestyle' thing. You don't have to go balls to the wall 100% of the time."

When it comes to reducing calorie intake, plenty of commenters advised cutting down on soda, which is packed with sugar, and alcohol. "Calories in drinks are the most empty of calories," said one. "They go by so quickly, with such little satisfaction."

On the other hand, water is your friend, as this person put it: "The only time I effectively and consistently lose weight over a period of time is when Im putting down at least 120 ounces of water a day. Probably more."

The best advice that another commenter could offer was to just accept that "you're gonna fuck up." They speak from personal experience, recalling how they lost their momentum midway through their journey and it took them a few months to get back into it. "Fucking up is a part of progress," they said, "and progress isn't linear."

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People Who've Lost Weight Share Their Most Underrated Tips - menshealth.com

A bad breakup forced Robert Sean Grady Jr. to reflect on himself, and realize that if he was going to find happiness in love, he needed some important self-improvement. The 28 year-old medical record software specialist from Wilkes Barre-Scranton, Pennsylvania, had put a lot into the relationship, but when it soured he decided to work on himself. He also wanted to improve his hockey stamina.

Grady remembers always being the chubby kid, thanks in part to poor diet. Through high school he was overweight, the target of teasing from other students. After graduating, he dropped 30 pounds, bringing him down to 240. He got a girlfriend, but feeling miserable in the relationship, he turned to food as an escape from his unhappiness. My early and mid-20's weren't my best times, unfortunately, he says, and by 24 he weighed 340 pounds.

I don't think I really understood just how big I was, he says. He was still playing hockey and golfing with friends, not fully acknowledging his size. I knew I was overweight, but I didn't take it seriously.

Then came the Christmas breakup. Grady had already stopped drinking soda. Why drink your calories when you can eat something delicious? he says. He was about 290 pounds and ready to slim down. He downloaded MyFitnessPal to calculate his daily calorie intake (about 1900, but hed hit 200-300 less), aiming to lose 2 pounds a week. He tossed out all the sweets and junk food in his houseliterally throwing it away.

Revamping his diet was the biggest focus. He drinks mostly coffee and water now. His breakfast might be a Clif bar and coffee, or a ham, egg, and Swiss sandwich on wheat toast. Lunch is a turkey or ham sandwich with a cup of berries. His dinners vary; he tries to leave room for extra calories, and quesadillas have become his go-to meal. He developed a taste for spinach and mushrooms, both filling and high in fiber. He also praises slow-cooking, including health chili recipes, for helping him meal plan.

Simply cutting calories had him dropping weight quickly. He went from 290 down to 230 in about ten months. (Earlier, over the course of three years, hed cut from 340 to 290, for a total of 110 pounds lost over four years.) There were some ups and downs, but you cant argue with the results.

And to be honest, he says, I still haven't taken a step in a gym. He plays hockey two or three times a week, takes half-hour walks on his lunch break, and walks trails near his house after work. Most of his progress, though, he owes to a revamped diet.

Hes still getting used to his new size. I still feel inside like the fat guy I always was, he says. It helps to realize he can fit into 36-inch waist jeans, down from 44 at his largest. I feel incredible physically, he says. It's just the mental and emotional part that people don't take into account, and I'm trying to give myself more credit than I have.

With his newfound confidence hes met a great new partner, Barbara, who he credits as making his whole transformation worth it. Hes still aiming to get under 200 pounds, where he hasnt been since early high school, and start using weights to tighten up his body. Self improvement, he says, is never finished.

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How This Guy Lost 100 Pounds Without Setting Foot in a Gym - menshealth.com