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A Doctor’s Guide to Intermittent Fasting: Is It Right for You?

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As a bariatric surgeon, I talk with patients every day about weight loss and improving their overall health. One topic that comes up more and more is intermittent fasting. You’ve probably heard about it from a friend, seen it on social media or read about celebrities who swear by it. But what is it, really? Does it work? And most importantly, is it safe? Let’s cut through the noise and look at the science behind this popular eating pattern. What is intermittent fasting? Intermittent fasting isn’t a diet in the traditional sense. It doesn’t tell you what to eat, but rather when to eat. It’s an eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and periods of going without voluntary fasting. Think of it this way: For most of human history, people didn’t have access to food 24/7. Our bodies are actually well-equipped to handle periods without food. Intermittent fasting simply builds a structured plan around this natural ability. There are several popular ways to do intermittent fasting: Intermittent fasting isn’t a diet in the traditional sense. It doesn’t tell you what to eat, but rather when to eat. It’s an eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and periods of going without voluntary fasting. Think of it this way: For most of human history, people didn’t have access to food 24/7. Our bodies…  read on >  read on >

A Doctor’s Guide to Intermittent Fasting: Is It Right for You?

By | | Add a Comment

As a bariatric surgeon, I talk with patients every day about weight loss and improving their overall health. One topic that comes up more and more is intermittent fasting. You’ve probably heard about it from a friend, seen it on social media or read about celebrities who swear by it. But what is it, really? Does it work? And most importantly, is it safe? Let’s cut through the noise and look at the science behind this popular eating pattern. What is intermittent fasting? Intermittent fasting isn’t a diet in the traditional sense. It doesn’t tell you what to eat, but rather when to eat. It’s an eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and periods of going without voluntary fasting. Think of it this way: For most of human history, people didn’t have access to food 24/7. Our bodies are actually well-equipped to handle periods without food. Intermittent fasting simply builds a structured plan around this natural ability. There are several popular ways to do intermittent fasting: Intermittent fasting isn’t a diet in the traditional sense. It doesn’t tell you what to eat, but rather when to eat. It’s an eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and periods of going without voluntary fasting. Think of it this way: For most of human history, people didn’t have access to food 24/7. Our bodies…  read on >  read on >

How Confidence and Positivity May Ease Fear of Childbirth

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Up to 60% of women feel some level of fear about giving birth, but a new study suggests that a strong sense of mental well-being could make a difference. Researchers from Robert Gordon University in Scotland and the University of South Australia (UniSA) surveyed 88 women in their third trimester before they attended prenatal classes in northeast Scotland. The findings — published recently in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology — show that women who were more positive, confident and in meaningful relationships reported fewer childbirth fears. While 12% of participants reported “severe” fear of childbirth, those with higher mental well-being scores — measured by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale — were more likely to feel calm and confident. “A woman’s sense of mental well-being was the strongest predictor of how fearful she felt about giving birth,” co-author Tracy Humphrey, executive dean of clinical and health sciences at UniSA, said in a news release. “This includes having a sense of purpose, emotional positivity, and meaningful social relationships – all things that are often overlooked in maternity care,” she added. The second most important factor was childbirth self-efficacy — a belief that one can successfully complete a task. “Particularly whether women believed they could apply coping strategies when the time came,” Humphrey said. Lead author Katrina Forbes-McKay said these findings point to the need for…  read on >  read on >

How Confidence and Positivity May Ease Fear of Childbirth

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Up to 60% of women feel some level of fear about giving birth, but a new study suggests that a strong sense of mental well-being could make a difference. Researchers from Robert Gordon University in Scotland and the University of South Australia (UniSA) surveyed 88 women in their third trimester before they attended prenatal classes in northeast Scotland. The findings — published recently in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology — show that women who were more positive, confident and in meaningful relationships reported fewer childbirth fears. While 12% of participants reported “severe” fear of childbirth, those with higher mental well-being scores — measured by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale — were more likely to feel calm and confident. “A woman’s sense of mental well-being was the strongest predictor of how fearful she felt about giving birth,” co-author Tracy Humphrey, executive dean of clinical and health sciences at UniSA, said in a news release. “This includes having a sense of purpose, emotional positivity, and meaningful social relationships – all things that are often overlooked in maternity care,” she added. The second most important factor was childbirth self-efficacy — a belief that one can successfully complete a task. “Particularly whether women believed they could apply coping strategies when the time came,” Humphrey said. Lead author Katrina Forbes-McKay said these findings point to the need for…  read on >  read on >

Vinay Prasad Returns to FDA After Being Ousted

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s top vaccine regulator is returning to his post less than two weeks after the White House had him ousted. Dr. Vinay Prasad will again head the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, which oversees vaccines and complex treatments for serious diseases, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said Prasad is resuming his role “at the FDA’s request,” according to The Washington Post. “Neither the White House nor HHS will allow the fake news media to distract from the critical work the FDA is carrying out under the Trump administration,” Nixon added in a statement. Prasad, a hematologist-oncologist, joined the Trump administration as a senior health official after publicly criticizing the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 29, he was removed from his role after some conservative figures such as far-right activist and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer criticized his approach to drug approvals and his past political views. However, a White House review found the complaints to be disingenuous, according to two people familiar with the situation. White House spokesperson Kush Desai said it was “not only appropriate, but critical for the Administration to recruit the most qualified and experienced staffers who are totally aligned with President Trump’s agenda to ‘Make America Great Again’.” The reversal followed FDA…  read on >  read on >

Vinay Prasad Returns to FDA After Being Ousted

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s top vaccine regulator is returning to his post less than two weeks after the White House had him ousted. Dr. Vinay Prasad will again head the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, which oversees vaccines and complex treatments for serious diseases, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said Prasad is resuming his role “at the FDA’s request,” according to The Washington Post.  “Neither the White House nor HHS will allow the fake news media to distract from the critical work the FDA is carrying out under the Trump administration,” Nixon added in a statement. Prasad, a hematologist-oncologist, joined the Trump administration as a senior health official after publicly criticizing the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  On July 29, he was removed from his role after some conservative figures such as far-right activist and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer criticized his approach to drug approvals and his past political views. However, a White House review found the complaints to be disingenuous, according to two people familiar with the situation. White House spokesperson Kush Desai said it was “not only appropriate, but critical for the Administration to recruit the most qualified and experienced staffers who are totally aligned with President Trump’s agenda to ‘Make America Great Again’.” The reversal followed FDA…  read on >  read on >

Stalking Victims At Higher Risk For Future Heart Problems

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Victims of stalkers appear to have an increased risk of heart disease, a new study says. Women who had been stalked or had obtained a restraining order were more likely to develop heart problems later in life, researchers reported in the journal Circulation. “Stalking is often seen as a form of violence that does not involve physical contact, which may make it seem less serious,” said lead researcher Rebecca Lawn, a research associate in epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. “However, our findings suggest stalking should not be minimized,” she added in a news release. For the study, researchers tracked the health of more than 66,000 women recruited into a large-scale health study in 2001 at an average age of 46. Of the participants, 7,700 reported themselves as victims of stalking and nearly 3,700 had to get a restraining order to protect them from harassment. Women who reported being stalked had 41% greater odds of developing heart disease, compared to those who hadn’t been stalked, results show. Those who got a restraining order were 70% more likely to have heart disease, researchers found. Women who had a history of both being stalked and getting a restraining order had the highest observed level of heart disease risk – double that of women who not had either traumatic experience. Further, women who…  read on >  read on >

Stalking Victims At Higher Risk For Future Heart Problems

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Victims of stalkers appear to have an increased risk of heart disease, a new study says. Women who had been stalked or had obtained a restraining order were more likely to develop heart problems later in life, researchers reported in the journal Circulation. “Stalking is often seen as a form of violence that does not involve physical contact, which may make it seem less serious,” said lead researcher Rebecca Lawn, a research associate in epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. “However, our findings suggest stalking should not be minimized,” she added in a news release. For the study, researchers tracked the health of more than 66,000 women recruited into a large-scale health study in 2001 at an average age of 46. Of the participants, 7,700 reported themselves as victims of stalking and nearly 3,700 had to get a restraining order to protect them from harassment. Women who reported being stalked had 41% greater odds of developing heart disease, compared to those who hadn’t been stalked, results show. Those who got a restraining order were 70% more likely to have heart disease, researchers found. Women who had a history of both being stalked and getting a restraining order had the highest observed level of heart disease risk – double that of women who not had either traumatic experience. Further, women who…  read on >  read on >

Implant Protects Against Vision-Destroying Eye Disease

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A newly approved implant appears to slow vision loss from a rare and previously untreatable eye disease, researchers report. The eye implant, called ENCELTO, gradually releases proteins that protect light-sensing nerve cells against macular telangiectasia (MacTel) type 2, researchers recently reported in the journal NEJM Evidence. The capsule-sized implant slowed the progression of MacTel in two phase 3 clinical trials involving more than 200 people, researchers said. “This is the first time we’ve seen a therapy meaningfully alter the course of MacTel,” senior researcher Dr. Martin Friedlander, a professor of molecular and cellular biology at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif., said in a news release. Based on clinical trial results, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March approved ENCELTO as the first authorized treatment for MacTel, researchers said. “This is a step toward redefining how we think about vision loss,” Friedlander said. “Instead of waiting for cells to die, we’re learning how to protect and preserve them.” MacTel occurs due to problems in the tiny blood vessels under and around the retina, the layer of nerve cells at the back of the eye that detect light and convert it into electrical signals that are sent to the brain, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The blood vessels leak fluid, causing the nerve cells of the retina to begin to…  read on >  read on >