by Leigh Ann Otte

Did you have a good Fourth of July? Enjoy the sun? Spend time with family? Eat from the grill till you were stuffed and miserable? Sigh.

One problem many of us have is knowing when we’re full—and stopping eating at that point. In this week’s article, gastroenterologist Patricia Raymond explains this issue and gives tips.

Did you know that your meal should be no bigger than what you can hold in two cupped hands? Yep. Read on …

Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com and a freelance writer, editor and blogger.

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We came up with eight good reasons you’re not losing weight. Well, maybe.

The truth is, most of us can lose weight and even keep it off if we do the right things. But every once in a while, there really is a good reason those pounds just won’t come off.

In “8 Reasons for Weight Gain That Are Not Your Fault!” we list signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for a variety of causes. Yes, family history and medicine are two of them. But did you know lack of sleep may contribute to weight gain? Stress and depression can too. And then there are serious diseases that are important to get diagnosed, like underactive thyroid and PCOS.

So check ‘em out. If they don’t speak to you, maybe they’ll ring true of a friend. Then the question becomes, how do you delicately forward the article?

Good luck with that.

Pssst … sign up for our free e-newsletter! You’ll get fascinating articles delivered once a month.

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

The AARP has teamed up with Carole Carson, author of From Fat to Fit, for a collective 2 month weight loss challenge.  It’s easy to sign up and become a part of this group effort.   Carole gives some great tips.  (note why do I keep writing it “from fit to fat”, must be freudian)

The combined incentives of a group goal, support forums (kind of like a virtual weight watchers), and  Carole’s coaching advice should help you shed that winter insulation.  Two months will give you time to see enough progress in the mirror to continue onward.

A study, earlier this year,  concluded the average person gains weight in the winter, especially during the holidays.  It’s only a few pounds and they lose some the rest of the year.  The problem is they never lose it all.  The cumulative gain of a pound or two adds up.

This challenge is for all ages.  Check it out.

Did you put on a few pounds this winter like me, or were you all good boys and girls?

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

A few days ago I started hearing a lot about the fat virus–not a new concept.  But all of a sudden, the news was on the radio, television, newspapers and Internet that a scientist had discovered that the adenovirus AD-36, which causes the common cold, might make you fat.  The hypothesis is the virus infects fats cells and makes them duplicate so, even without eating more, you gain fat.

I don’t think there was a new study or revelation, so why the big deal?

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by Jill Weisenberger, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.

Wait too long to eat and your belly speaks louder than your good intentions. So says a report from the Economic Research Service of the USDA.

Americans know more about healthful diets and lifestyles, but waistlines keep growing and fruits and vegetables are rotting in the refrigerator anyway. So what gives? According to the report, long lapses between meals, eating out and long work hours overpower our health desires and lead us to temptation for some instant gratification.

By waiting five hours between meals instead of just four, the average person consumes an extra 52 calories. (more…)

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Have you ever reached a plateau in your weight-loss quest?  You start off well, lose a few pounds (probably some of it water weight), think you’re doing so well … and then the scales just won’t move anymore.  It’s frustrating. I’ve heard so many say, “I’ve tried, and I just can’t lose weight.”  They just quit trying.

Don’t give up.  Here are a few suggestions to help you beat that weight-loss plateau and go on to success.

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Will this be Dr. H by year's end?

Let’s go over my reasoning.

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by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Yes, you can lose weight, at least for a price.

A study in this week’s JAMA proves, if you show them the money, they show you the weight loss.

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by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

A while back there was news on a couple of pharmaceutical companies working on a new drug type that decreased appetite by blocking the same receptors in the brain that stimulate hunger after smoking marijuana.  Early trials showed promise, but later studies proved that, to take an dose of taranabant strong enough to decrease appetite effectively, the side-effects increased also.  The risk of increased anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts was too much so Merck has cancelled further testing and pulled the drug from FDA consideration.

I am disappointed in the failure, but commend Merck for doing the right thing.  It is an example of the time, expense and risk involved in trying to bring a new drug to market.  It is also a good example of a medical news story, highly touted and broadcast initially, with little follow-up.  Get the headlines from big media. Get the real scoop from JHMFD.

Can you think of other examples?

by Jill Weisenberger, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.

I had a wonderful new patient come to me for weight loss guidance yesterday. Like many new patients, this is not her first dieting attempt and her idea of trimming down included deprivation. That is not my idea at all. I’m not giving up chocolate, and I don’t expect you to banish your favorite treat either.

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