Weight Control at WeightControl.com

Daily Heat Treatments May Reduce Risk of Obesity in Menopausal Women

Daily 30-minute heat treatment is safe and reduces aging-mediated tissue damage. It is a promising and effective therapeutic strategy to boost metabolism and reduce the risk of obesity and metabolic dysfunction.

WeightControl.com Interview with:
Rong Fan, MS (she/her/hers)
PhD Candidate
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts

WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: As we age, our metabolism and energy expenditure decline.

Studies have shown that in women, age-related metabolic changes begin around ages 45-50 with a sharp increase, overlapping with the menopause period. This mid-life aging window is crucial and highlights the need for effective and accessible intervention strategies.

Daily whole-body heat treatment (104-113°F) for 30 minutes is a promising strategy to partially mimic the metabolic benefits and physiological response of aerobic exercise.

Pages: 12

Two Faulty Copies of SMIM1 Gene Associated with Obesity

The vast majority of people who are struggling with their weight will not have two faulty copies of the gene and their GP should be their first port of call.

WeightControl.com Interview with:
Dr. Mattia Frontini, Sr BHF Fellow
Associate Professor Cellular Biology
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
University of Exeter Medical School
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Dr. Mattia Frontini, Sr BHF Fellow
Associate Professor Cellular Biology
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
University of Exeter Medical School
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

RILD Building, Barrack Road, Exeter,

WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: The initial discovery of the gene and its faulty copy, ten years ago, was motivated by the need to develop a genetic test for a difficult to type, using traditional methods, blood group known as Vel. After this discovery was made, we discovered also that the differences in these genes that exist in the population are associated to tiny changes in the blood red cell parameters.

When the UK Biobank data became available we analysed these to determine if having the faulty copy of the gene had an effect on health. We found that people with two faulty copies of the gene (about 1 in 5000) are heavier than those who don’t. They have altered lipids in their blood and they use less energy given the same caloric intake. The excess going being stored as fat.

Ultraprocessed Plant-Based Foods May Not Be Good for Your Heart

Our findings showed eating a plant-based diet can be beneficial, except when it is based on ultra-processed foods.

WeightControl.com Interview with:

Fernanda Rauber, PhD
Researcher at the Centre for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health (NUPENS)University of São Paulo (USP) and
Department of Preventive Medicine
School of Medicine at USP, Brazil
Lead author of this study

WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Although we already have substantial evidence of the negative impact of an ultra-processed food-based diet on health, solid public policies to discourage the consumption of these products are still lacking, especially in countries like the United Kingdom. Plant-based foods are recommended in many dietary guidelines, and this area has been explored by the food industry, which uses health claims (vegetarian, vegan, plant-based) to promote its products.

With a growing population adopting plant-based diets, studying the role of food processing in plant-based dietary patterns and its relation to cardiovascular diseases can help refine guidelines to incorporate considerations about food processing in their recommendations.

Pages: 12

Pennington Study Demonstrates Long-Term Weight Loss Efficacy of Semaglutide

The long term data is reassuring. We now have more evidence for semaglutide weight loss efficacy in older, sicker individuals.

WeightControl.com Interview with:
Donna H. Ryan, MD
Professor Emerita
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
New Orleans, LA 70130

WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: This is the first of the sub-papers to the landmark SELECT study. It has been peer review and published in a top-line journal. While the primary outcome was the observation of 20% reduction in MI, stroke and CV death this new paper looks only at weight.

WeightControl.com: What are the main findings?

Pages: 12

ECO24: Ideal Weight For Patients with Diabetes May Vary with Age

For older individuals who are moderately overweight , maintaining rather than reducing weight may be a more practical goal.

WeightControl.com Interview with:
Dr Shaoyong Xu
Xiangyang Central Hospital
Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science
Xiangyang, China

WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: In previous studies, the obesity paradox has been observed, where overweight and obese individuals with cardiovascular disease have better outcomes compared to their slim counterparts with the same disease. The global prevalence of diabetes is steadily increasing year by year.

In this era of population growth and aging, the question arises as to whether obesity or overweight can be beneficial in improving survival rates for older individuals with diabetes. This topic holds significant relevance due to the potential implications it has on weight management strategies for older adults. If overweight does not pose an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, it may suggest that older individuals are not necessarily required to strive for weight loss in order to achieve so-called normal values. Moreover, inappropriate weight loss and being underweight could potentially elevate the risk of cardiovascular events, myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, and all-cause mortality.

Pages: 12

ECO24: Tirzepatide Found Effective for Weight Loss Despite Duration of Obesity

Tirzepatide is a once weekly GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist while semaglutide was a once weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist

WeightControl.com Interview with:
Giovanna Muscogiuri, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Endocrinology Unit
University Federico II
Naples, Italy

WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: The study was a subgroup analysis of SURMOUNT 1-4 aiming to investigate if tirzepatide was effective in terms of percent body weight change, proportions achieving weight loss targets of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% and change in waist circumference in subjects with different duration of obesity.

Pages: 12

Increased Risk of Dental Cavities after Bariatric Surgery for Obesity

The main findings are that dental caries were more common in those with the highest BMI before treatment and that surgical obesity treatment can increase the frequency of dental caries

WeightControl.com Interview with:
Anna-Lena Östberg, DDS PhD Assoc Professor
Director of Research, Public Dental Service Västra Götaland
Dept of behavioral and community dentistry
Inst of Odontology
Sahlgrenska Academy
University of Gothenburg, Sweden

NEGIN TAGHAT AND ANNA-LENA ÖSTBERG, — **NEGIN TAGHAT and ANNA-LENA ÖSTBERG**

WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: The original background for the studies was the global obesity epidemic and its consequences. The implications for general health have been the focus of much research, but the impact on oral health has been studied very little.

In recent years, observations of oral health problems after bariatric surgery have been reported from both patients and dentists. However, these have been episodic observations and therefore scientific studies are required. At the same time, a larger medical study was started to follow patients undergoing obesity treatment, medical or surgical, and we were able to include examinations of the mouth and teeth.

ObesityWeek: Racial Differences in Perceived Discrimination in People with Obesity

WeightControl.com Interview with:
Marianne Olaniran, DrPH(c), MS, MPH
Doctoral student
The University of Texas Health Science Center
at Houston School of Public Health

Jaime Almandoz, MD, MBA, FTOS (he/him)
Medical Director, Weight Wellness Program
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Division of Endocrinology
Internal Medicine Subspecialties Clinic
UTSouthwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX

WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?

Ms. Olaniran: The study focused on experiences of discrimination among people with obesity (PWO), based on their characteristics including body size, race/ethnicity, and sex. Discrimination against individuals and groups remains prevalent in the United States. Studies show that perceived discrimination negatively impacts physical and mental health, but how it impacts diverse PWO is not well understood. This study assessed race/ethnic group and sex differences in perceptions of discrimination among people with obesity .

DIETFITS: Identifying Groups with Varying Weight Loss Success

the most successful subgroup (73% met threshold) had high outcome expectations for making health improvements coupled with high levels of family encouragement

WeightControl.com Interview with:
Matthew J. Landry, PhD, RDN, FAND, FAHA (he/him)
Assistant Professor
Department of Population Health & Disease Prevention
University of California, Irvine

WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Lifestyle interventions are the first-line treatment for obesity; however, not all participants achieve clinically significant weight loss.

As researchers and clinicians, we want to minimize patient burden, maximize clinical outcomes, and conserve constraints (budget & personnel).

Using data from a 12-month diet and weight loss intervention (DIETFITS), we examined 52 demographic, clinical, & psychosocial variables among 436 participants (BMI 28-40) to see if there are distinct subgroups of participants who were more or less successful in losing 5% weight by 12 months?

EASD: Analysis Finds More Weight Loss (and side effects) with Tirzepatide in Type 2 Diabetes

Our analysis can help healthcare professionals make informed choices for managing type 2 diabetes, especially for those patients for whom weight loss is an important goal. However, like any medication, it’s crucial to consider the entire profile of tirzepatide, including side effects.

WeightControl.com Interview with:

Dr Thomas Karagiannis MD
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki, Greece

WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Previous individual studies have shown that both subcutaneous semaglutide and tirzepatide are very effective in managing blood sugar and reducing body weight in people with type 2 diabetes. However, direct comparisons between these medications have been limited.

In our study, we used a technique called a network meta-analysis to indirectly compare the two. This method allowed us to derive results by examining other trials that compared either of the drugs with placebo or another treatment.

Our findings indicated that tirzepatide had a stronger effect than semaglutide in controlling blood sugar and aiding weight loss. For example, those on the highest dose of tirzepatide lost, on average, 5.7 kg more than those on the highest dose of semaglutide. But, it’s worth mentioning that some side effects, especially related to the digestive system, were slightly more common with the high dose of tirzepatide.