In the News

FEB 29: Oprah to Leave WeightWatchers Board

Oprah Winfrey’s decision to step down from the board of WeightWatchers, following her public disclosure about using weight-loss medication, caused a significant impact. As the face of WeightWatchers since 2015, her endorsement led to increased sign-ups. However, her departure resulted in a sharp decline in the company’s stock. While WeightWatchers stated her decision wasn’t due to disagreement, Winfrey plans to continue advising on elevating obesity awareness. She intends to donate her shares to charity to avoid conflicts of interest. WeightWatchers faces challenges amid rising demand for weight-loss drugs, prompting shifts in its business model towards telehealth and prescription services.

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“It’s everything,” she says of her all-encompassing health and fitness routine. “I know everybody thought I was on it, but I worked so damn hard. I know that if I’m not also working out and vigilant about all the other things, it doesn’t work for me.“

Oprah Winfrey on weight loss drug | Via: People.com

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Opinion

Weight-loss drugs aren’t a magic bullet. Lifestyle changes are key to lasting health

Recent headlines tout breakthroughs in weight-loss medications, offering hope to those struggling with obesity. Drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) promise significant weight loss by reducing appetite. While clinical trials demonstrate their effectiveness, concerns over long-term safety and affordability persist. Lifestyle medicine, focusing on healthy habits like balanced diet and regular exercise, offers a sustainable alternative. However, integrating lifestyle changes into healthcare encounters remains challenging. Addressing cultural norms and public policies to support healthy behaviors is crucial for long-term health outcomes. True health goes beyond weight loss, encompassing holistic well-being and community-level interventions.

What stands out

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True health is not just a number on a scale
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Treating everyone with obesity in the U.S. with medications will bankrupt the country and still not cultivate the type of health and vitality we actually want.
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Our society’s easy access to ultraprocessed, calorie-dense foods and our high levels of inactivity contribute to excessive weight gain and related health impacts. A health care system designed for “sick” care — supported by a multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical industry that stands to benefit when we fall ill — does not prioritize disease prevention.

And while we should embrace a culture of acceptance of all body types, we also can’t ignore the fact that rising rates of obesity are part of a growing health crisis.
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Package inserts explicitly state these drugs should be prescribed in combination with increased physical activity and a reduced-calorie diet. Yet the lifestyle piece is usually glossed over.

It’s not a quick fix; it requires commitment and a reexamination of personal values. 
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A 2017 survey indicated that 90% of cardiologists, for example, reported receiving minimal or no nutrition education during fellowship training.
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Cool tip

This Week’s Podcast Episodes { audio | video }

This episode discusses the idea of taking a slower approach to weight loss, particularly during the New Year when many people are focused on making changes. It is important to recover and relax after the holidays and to build up healthy habits gradually rather than trying to do too much too quickly. The traditional diet mentality of wanting to see fast results can lead people to do extreme things that they cannot sustain and that it is important to focus on being healthy in the long term rather than just trying to lose weight quickly. Program Yourself Thin is focused on “intelligent weight loss.

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