BANGKOK (AP) A morbidly obese wild monkey who gorged himself on junk food and soda left behind by tourists has been rescued and placed on a strict diet of lean protein, fruits and vegetables.

Wildlife officials caught the chunky monkey nicknamed "Uncle Fat" by locals after photos of the animal started circulating on social media last month.

Wild monkeys roam free in many parts of Thailand, attracting tourists who feed and play with the animals. Most of the monkeys are macaques like Uncle Fat, and they typically weigh around 9 kilograms (20 pounds).

A wild obese macaque, named "Uncle Fat" who was rescued from a Bangkok suburb, sits in a rehabilitation center in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 19, 2017. The morbidly obese wild monkey, who gorged himself on junk food and soda from tourists, has been rescued and placed on a strict diet. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Uncle Fat weighs three times that, tipping the scales at around 26 kilograms (60 pounds).

"It was not easy to catch him," said Kacha Phukem, the wildlife official who conducted the capture and rescue on April 27. "He was the leader of his pack, and when I tried to go in, I had to fight off a flock of them with sticks."

A wild obese macaque named "Uncle Fat," who was rescued from a Bangkok suburb, sits in a rehabilitation center in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 19, 2017. The morbidly obese wild monkey, who gorged himself on junk food and soda from tourists, has been rescued and placed on a strict diet. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The subordinate monkeys fed into Uncle Fat's bad habits.

"He had minions and other monkeys bringing food for him but he would also re-distribute it to younger monkeys," said Supakarn Kaewchot, a veterinarian in charge of the monkey's diet.

A wild obese macaque named "Uncle Fat," who was rescued from a Bangkok suburb, sits in a rehabilitation center in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 19, 2017. The morbidly obese wild monkey, who gorged himself on junk food and soda from tourists, has been rescued and placed on a strict diet. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

"After he ate food given by humans for a while, he developed a fat mass, which became a type of benign tumor," Supakarn said. "He is now in critical condition where there is a high risk of heart disease and diabetes."

Uncle Fat is believed to be between 10 and 15 years old. To help him lose weight, his new diet is limited to 400 grams worth of lean protein, fruits and vegetables twice a day. Supakarn said she hopes that within a few months they can consider releasing him to the wild.

Veterinarian Supakan Kaewchot prepares fresh food for a wild obese macaque, called "Uncle Fat" at rehabilitation center Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 19, 2017. The morbidly obese wild monkey, who gorged himself on junk food and soda from tourists, has been rescued and placed on a strict diet. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

She said Uncle Fat is an example of why people shouldn't feed wild monkeys unhealthy food.

"I understand that people feel sorry for the monkeys and want to feed them when they see them," Supakarn said. "But please don't feed them food that people like to eat like snacks and soda. It is very bad for their health and the problem is entirely man-made."

Veterinarian Supakan Kaewchot prepares fresh food for a wild obese macaque called "Uncle Fat" at rehabilitation center Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 19, 2017. The morbidly obese wild monkey, who gorged himself on junk food and soda from tourists, has been rescued and placed on a strict diet. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

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Meet 'Uncle Fat,' Thailand's chunky monkey who's going on a diet - Bismarck Tribune

Thousands of people from around the country are in Austin this weekend for a health and wellness conference called Paleo f(x). (CBS Austin)

Thousands of people from around the country are in Austin this weekend for a health and wellness conference called Paleo f(x).

Paleo, commonly known as the caveman diet is known for being high in protein and low in carbs. It allows for unlimited meat, nuts and fruit, but eliminates bread, dairy and starchy vegetables.

The diet craze is popular enough, that Austin has a restaurant that caters specifically to the diet.

"We're fully gluten free, but we also don't use soy, corn or peanuts," said Naomi Seifter, Owner and CEO of Picnik.

Seifter founded Picnik for people with food allergies, who are gluten intolerant, or just want to avoid certain things like eggs or sugar.

"We have pancakes, we have French toast, but we're using flours like cassava flour or coconut flour so our intention is to make it taste exactly the same as what you would expect from any other restaurant but just with better ingredients," Seifter said.

Fitness industry leaders from across the country converged on Austin this weekend for a three-day conference to tout the latest paleo friendly products.

"We're not saying to go out and hunt and gather your own food, but we are saying broccoli is closer to what we would've been eating than Pop Tarts," said Caitlin Allday with Paleo University.

Doctor Adam Brittain says there's no one diet that works for everyone.

"A lot of people in the medical community frown on paleo because it's high in fat," Brittain said.

Brittain adds Paleo could put some people at risk for heart disease.

"Especially if you're eating lots of red meat and nuts and avocados. That's a lot of fat in a per ounce diet," Brittain said.

Allday is a nutrition coach and says there are some misconceptions about the Paleo lifestyle.

"Figure out what works for your body. Maybe you're an athlete and you need more protein so you eat more protein, but I know I have days where I don't eat any protein," Allday said.

At the Picnik restaurant on Burnet Road, Seifter says patrons keep coming back because they can count on the menu to cater to their dietary needs.

"People are really used to going out to restaurants around the country and feeling bad after they get home and they don't know what it comes from. We produce the same thing in a way that makes people feel alive and vibrant," Seifter said.

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Paleo industry leaders converge in Austin, tout diet at 3-day conference - KEYE TV

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month and one of the main messages is to encourage people to eat well for your heart.

A diet high in fruits and vegetables can help you maintain a healthy weight, as well as reduce the risk for many of the leading causes of death, including heart disease. Although some people only eat fruits and vegetables, the CDC reports that in every state, not enough people are eating fruits and vegetables. Only about one in three adults meet the recommendations for fruit intake and about one in four get the recommended vegetables.

A diet high in fruits and vegetables is important for maintaining a healthy weight because they are high in fiber and water. It also reduces the risk of leading causes of death, such as heart disease, some cancers, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease and diabetes.

Some strategies to improve your diet include asking if a restaurant will not add salt and making sure to read your food labels. There is hidden sodium in many processed foods. Replacing salty processed foods with fruits and vegetables is helpful for adults and children. A healthy diet includes two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables each day. Eating right doesnt mean giving up pizza and burgers but striking a balance is key.

Fruits and vegetables are naturally low in sodium and also contain phytochemicals. There are over 10,000 known phytochemicals in the plant-based foods we eat. Phytochemical simply means plant-chemical and the color of your food indicates which one is present.

Blue and purple fruits and vegetables drive their color from anthocyanin. That acts as a powerful antioxidant to protect cells from damage. Many red and pink fruits and veggies are also rich in anthocyanins but the darker the blue or purple hue, the higher the phytochemical concentration.

Anthocyanins can also make blood vessels healthier, reverse short-term memory loss associated with aging, improve motor skills, and help prevent bacteria from sticking to cells (such as the lining of the urinary tract.) Some examples of blue and purple foods to look out for include blueberries, blackberries, eggplant, figs, juneberries, plums, prunes, purple grapes, raisins.

If youd like more tips on how to lower your blood pressure, click here. You can also find more information on how to reduce sodium by searching the WIAT website with the keyword sodium.

One recipe to try: blueberry muffin smoothie adapted from the Iowa Girl Eats website. You can find the original recipe here.

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Simple diet changes can make your life heart healthy during National Hypertension Education Month - WIAT 42

Q: I gave up sugary sodas and got used to drinking diet ones. Now I hear they're not good for my health either. What's up with that? -- Kaylie G., Tampa, Fla.

A: Good question. Pop is everywhere: There's Iggy Pop, pop-up fly balls ... and soda pop. But no matter what you think about those popular parts of American life, only one is linked to health hazards: That's soda pop -- both sweetened and diet.

Drinking sugar-added beverages is a known risk for obesity, and drinking one to two cans daily puts you at a 26 percent greater risk of Type 2 diabetes.

An observational study in the journal Stroke reveals that artificially sweetened beverages may be a health risk, too: Researchers found that those who drink at least one diet soda daily are 2.9 times more likely to have an ischemic stroke and 3 times more likely to develop dementia than abstainers.

Now, it may be that folks who are overweight and have Type 2 diabetes or heart disease give up sugary sodas for diet versions and then develop health problems -- like stroke and dementia -- that are repercussions of their chronic medical conditions. So, the researchers want to make it clear: In this study, the association of diet soda to dementia and stroke doesn't mean that it causes those conditions or that giving it up can help you avoid them. Instead it's a red flag, saying "Hey, what's going on with your health?"

So if you're a diet-soda drinker, it's time to assess your health and stress levels. Make a plan to get in 10,000 steps a day (which dispels stress, burns fat and tones muscle), eat 5 to 9 servings of produce daily (to fight heart disease and diabetes) and rely on water, coffee and tea for your beverages.

Q: I have a two-year grant to study in the states, so I brought my family from Mexico City. We've been here only for about six months, and my boys, 10 and 15, are gaining weight. How can I help them avoid that? -- Maria G., Austin, Texas

A: Welcome! We're sorry, but crossing the border puts you at certain health risks. The fast-food, quick-stop, drive-thru American diet packs on pounds. But there are solutions.

First, teach your kids (you do this, too) to look on ingredients labels for added sugars and added syrups. They're in almost all processed foods and sugary drinks.

High-fructose corn syrup is one of the biggest sugar polluters, and the corn it's derived from is generally genetically modified, which means it's usually been treated with the pesticide glyphosate (brand name Round-Up). New research has shown possible links from GMO foods and glyphosate-treated crops to endocrine disruption, organ damage and birth defects.

Second, trans fats used in snack foods, margarine, packaged baked goods and fried fast foods, and saturated fats found in processed and red meats and full-fat dairy, are found throughout our food chain. They'll pack on pounds and are bad for your heart and other organ systems. Instead, go for monounsaturated fats, like extra-virgin olive oil and healthy fats found in nuts, avocados and polyunsaturated oils.

Lastly, say "no" to grains that aren't 100 percent whole. Whole grains help you avoid weight gain, insulin resistance and diabetes, while refined grains, such as white bread or rice, are associated with those health hazards.

It will take attention to detail for a while, but you'll get it down. Then you and your family will have an easier time controlling your weight -- and you'll have more energy, mental focus and a happier outlook.

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of "The Dr. Oz Show," and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Medical Officer at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. Submit your health questions at http://www.youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.

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Oz: A popped question -- what makes diet sodas unhealthy? - Pueblo Chieftain

Remember when Atkins was all the rage? Then it was replaced with the South Beach Diet, and later Weight Watchers ("I LOVE Bread")? Fad diets come and gobut the latest two most popular ones beg an important question about American eating habits: why do our attempts at healthy eating involve such extremes when #balance might just be the best thing for your health and fitness routine?

ICYMI, paleo dietingis pretty popular. And though it might feel so 2014, the caveman craze is far from over. In fact, a recent Grubhub studyfound that paleo orders increased by 370 percent in 2016, making it the most popular dietary-specific choice for the year. (And Grubhub isn't the only company to find that paleo is currently king in the dieting world.) To no one's surprise,raw diet orders came in second place, witha 92-percent increase last year. Apparently, when it comes to ordering healthy food, the country is split between ordering high-fat, meat-heavy dishes, and 100-percent produce-fueled food. Call me a traditionalist, but both of these seem a bit extreme.

How is it possible that the top two diets in America are basically total opposites?

The appeal behind paleo and raw dieting boils down to two things, according to Susan Pierce Thompson, Ph.D., adjunct associate professor of cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester, eating psychology specialist, and author of Bright Line Eating: The Science of Living Happy, Thin, and Free.One, the fact that both have scientific narratives ("People are really attracted to knowing the 'why' underneath what they're doing," says Thompson), regardless of whether there's truth in these narratives or not.

And people really do feel better when they're on these diets. About 60 percent of the typical American diet comes from ultra-processed foods, says Thompson. Both the paleo diet and raw diets ditch this ultra-processed food and replace it with whole foodswhich just happens to be the basic recipe for healthy eating success. "If you just stop eating processed foods and starteating more vegetables, you'll have that feel-good benefit regardless of the diet you're on," says Thompson. But because people switch to raw dieting or paleo and dramatically increase their vegetable and whole food consumption and cut the processed crap, the narrative of both diets gets passed along with raving reviews.

Problem is, "diets" are hard to stick with, and lots of experts suggest the80/20 rulefor healthy eating longevity. So why are people picking paleo and rawarguably the two most extreme diets on the spectrumin order to put their healthy eating knowledge to use?

"The extreme approach works really well for some people," says Thompson. You likely fall into one of two personality groups: the abstainers or the moderators. The former works better with clear boundaries and "off-limits" items, while the latter finds that the occasional indulgence actually strengthens their resolve and heightens pleasure, according to Gretchen Reuben, the author behind the concept. "An abstainer will actually do better with an extreme kind of diet," says Thompson. "A moderator will do better if they avoid a strict diet."

There's one time when abstinenceand extreme dietingdoes work better for both types of people, and that's when addiction comes into play."If you have someone whose brain is addicted to sugar and flour, for example, then choosing to abstain from them completely is actually the moderate choice," says Thompson. (See: 5 Signs You're Addicted to Junk Food)

So if you find that you're happiest and healthiest outlining your diet per the paleo, raw, or some other plan, there's no shame; going all-out with your healthy eating might be best for you. But if restriction ends in binges or makes you completely miserable? Moderation might be your happy medium. As long as you're eating whole foods, lots of veggies, and cutting out ultra-processed Franken-foods, your body will handle the rest just fine, says Thompson: "There's no one-size-fits-all solution."

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The Most Popular Diets In America Prove That We're Pretty Extreme with Our Eating - Shape Magazine