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Weight loss consultant named finalist in national weight loss 'Oscars' awards

Weight loss consultant named finalist in national weight loss 'Oscars' awards

Yahoo6 hours ago

A weight loss consultant has been named a finalist in a national award scheme, known as the 'Slimming World Oscars'.
Lisa Norris, who runs a Slimming World group at the Lysaght Institute in Newport, was shortlisted for Group of the Year in Slimming World's annual awards, which celebrate consultants who support members in losing weight and improving their wellbeing.
Ms Norris said: "To be recognised and rewarded for doing a role that I love is so special.
"Working for such an exceptional company as a franchisee, and as part of the South-Central Wales district, I couldn't be more honoured.
"This recognition belongs to every person who has found the courage to walk into my group with their dream, and it is an honour to see these members grow in confidence week by week.
"They are the ones who make our group the success that it is, with their friendship and support they give to each other weekly.
"They make the group such a fun, safe, judgement-free place to be."
Lisa Norris has been recognised as a finalist in the Slimming World 'Oscars' (Image: Supplied) Ms Norris, who supports more than 100 members each week, said she was "blown away" by the news that her group had made the finals.
The phone call from her district manager, Scott Hawkins, left her in disbelief.
She said: "I couldn't believe that the call was real, and asked, 'Are you sure?'"
Alongside the finalist nomination, Ms Norris and her husband John were also selected to join Slimming World's annual all-expenses-paid consultants' trip.
Lisa Norris and her husband John were also chosen to join Slimming World's all-expenses paid consultants' trip (Image: Supplied)
In early May, the couple flew from Heathrow to Athens for a week of luxury in the exclusive Kolonaki district.
Ms Norris said: "We were treated like celebrities, from the champagne reception, to the beautiful five-course evening meal with breath-taking views of the Acropolis, guided tours to the Temple of Poseidon, a hands-on cookery course, a Greek dancing lesson and sailing along the stunning coastline with an unforgettable evening of Greek food and dancing beneath the stars."
The trip was Slimming World's 36th and the vision of the company's late founder, Margaret Miles Bramwell OBE, who died in February.
Ms Norris said: "Margaret was always so excited to celebrate the achievements of her consultants and their members, taking part in each trip, planning and hosting every detail, so for this to be the first trip without her was an emotional one.
"We did our best to keep her memory alive and remember that everything we do from here on in is to honour her and keep our promise to retain our commitment to helping as many people who need us in their weight loss journey."
Slimming World is known for its supportive approach, offering encouragement not only to members but also to its consultants.
Ms Norris was selected as a finalist for her "unwavering dedication" and "exceptional standards of service" in supporting both members and colleagues.
She runs her award-winning group at the Lysaght Institute, Orb Drive, Newport, on Saturdays at 8am, 10am, and 11.30am.
Details of how to join a local group or become a Slimming World consultant can be found at www.slimmingworld.co.uk.

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7 Healthcare Technology Trends in 2025 That Will Redefine Mobile App Development
7 Healthcare Technology Trends in 2025 That Will Redefine Mobile App Development

Associated Press

time2 hours ago

  • Associated Press

7 Healthcare Technology Trends in 2025 That Will Redefine Mobile App Development

06/29/2025, London, England // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // Healthcare technology trends in 2025 are evolving faster than ever. Mobile apps now play a big role in healthcare. Patients use them to get care, track health issues, and talk to doctors. New tech is changing how the whole system works. In this blog post, we will look at 7 new healthcare tech trends. Every app developer and healthcare provider should know them in 2025. Why Mobile Technology Is at the Heart of Healthcare Innovation Mobile apps are now key tools in healthcare. They give real-time access to medical records. Patients can get remote consultations, manage chronic diseases, and even use AI for diagnosis. They track vital signs, see test results, and talk to doctors—all on their phones. As demand for these features grows, healthcare app development has become a major focus for tech companies and healthcare providers looking to improve care and meet patient expectations. For doctors, apps make work easier. They cut paperwork, speed up decisions, and give instant patient data. This helps doctors act faster and give better care. Patients get quicker help and better results. The COVID-19 pandemic sped up digital healthcare. Hospitals were full. Lockdowns made visits hard. Telehealth and remote care grew fast. Apps let patients see doctors online, manage chronic illness at home, and get mental health help from afar. Even after the pandemic, these habits stayed. Now, patients expect remote care. Providers must offer strong mobile services to keep up. In 2025, personalized care is a must. Patients want care that fits their lives and needs. AI and data analysis make this possible. Apps suggest fitness goals, diet plans, medicine schedules, and early warnings for risks. This helps patients stick to their plans. It also builds trust in their doctors. 7 Healthcare Technology Trends 1. AI-Powered Diagnostics & Chatbots In 2025, AI-powered diagnostics will lead new healthcare trends. AI now reads huge amounts of data: scans, lab results, genetic tests, and patient history. It helps doctors make faster and better diagnoses. Startups like Doctronic use AI to cut wait times. Patients get quicker treatments. AI chatbots are also rising fast in mobile healthcare apps. These virtual helpers answer common questions, check symptoms, book appointments, and follow up after treatments. They handle simple tasks so medical staff can focus on harder cases. Patients get 24/7 support with less waiting. 2. Wearables & Monitoring Integration Wearable devices now do more than track fitness. In 2025, smartwatches, biosensors, and smart rings link with healthcare apps. They track heart rate, oxygen levels, blood sugar, sleep, and more. The new Pixel Watch 3, for example, can spot irregular heartbeats even before some hospital machines. These devices collect health data non-stop. Apps study this data to find early warning signs. They alert patients and doctors right away. This helps prevent serious problems, cuts hospital visits, and lets people manage diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart issues from home. 3. Telemedicine & Virtual Care Platforms Telemedicine has moved from a backup plan to daily care. Mobile apps now offer full telehealth services. Patients get video calls, remote tests, digital prescriptions, and follow-up care in a one secure app. In 2025, even cancer care uses telemedicine. In India, new remote cancer services now help patients in 10 districts. This brings care to people who once had little access and helps close healthcare gaps. For providers, telemedicine apps cut costs, improve schedules, and let specialists treat patients far away. For patients, it means faster care, easy access, and steady treatment in rural places. 4. Personalized Health Data In 2025, personal health data is changing how care works. Patients no longer want one-size-fits-all advice. 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Conclusion Healthcare technology in 2025 is changing medicine, care, and the patient experience. From AI diagnostics to VR surgery training, these tools boost speed and open new doors. Healthcare is now more personal, easy to reach, and driven by data. For app developers, this is a key time. They must build safe, simple, and smart tools to meet new needs. For healthcare groups, staying ahead means offering care right where patients want it on their phones. Media Details Golden Owl Media Website: Address: 133 Creek Road, London, England, SE8 3BU Phone: (+44) 790 476 9884 Source published by Submit Press Release >> 7 Healthcare Technology Trends in 2025 That Will Redefine Mobile App Development

MSP vows to continue campaign for brain tumour cure after leaving Holyrood
MSP vows to continue campaign for brain tumour cure after leaving Holyrood

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

MSP vows to continue campaign for brain tumour cure after leaving Holyrood

An MSP who has been campaigning for a brain tumour cure since her daughter was diagnosed with one more than a decade ago has vowed to continue the fight when she leaves Holyrood. Beatrice Wishart has been a supporter of the charity Brain Tumour Research since her daughter Louise Fraser, now 47, was diagnosed in 2012. The Liberal Democrat MSP for the Shetland Islands will step down from frontline politics at the 2026 Holyrood election. But the 69-year-old said that will not stop her from continuing to push for more research into brain tumours. 'Louise had suffered with debilitating migraines for many years, so we were used to the phone calls and knew the routine – help with the children, keep things quiet, and let her rest in a dark room,' Ms Wishart said. 'But on New Year's Day (2012) she became seriously unwell. When I went to check on her, she wasn't speaking properly and I honestly thought she'd had a stroke. It was terrifying. 'Due to staff shortages and as there wasn't an MRI scanner in Shetland at the time, it took a few days before she was flown to Aberdeen. 'That's when we were told it was a brain tumour. Your whole world falls apart when you hear those words, especially when it's your child. 'I remember being told it was low-grade and slow-growing, but the diagnosis still knocked the wind out of me. 'In that moment, everything changed. 'Once I had a better understanding of Louise's treatment, I wanted to know more about the prevalence of brain tumours and that led to wanting to do something to raise awareness for more research, ultimately leading to better support and early diagnoses for other families going through the same fear and uncertainty.' Ms Fraser underwent surgery at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and her tumour is now stable and monitored regularly. Brain Tumour Research said tumours can impact people of any age, and kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer. But just 1% of the national spend on cancer goes to brain tumour research, it said. Ms Wishart has campaigned for more money to fund brain tumour research and ensure people can receive an earlier diagnosis. The MSP helped set up Holyrood's Cross-Party Group on Brain Tumours and has supported the launch of the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, which Brain Tumour Research described as a 'game-changing' collaboration with the Beatson Cancer Charity. Following the death of Ms Fraser's husband Kris from a brain haemorrhage in 2024, Ms Wishart continued to increase her support for the charity. The Liberal Democrat has helped raise thousands of pounds through various events in memory of Mr Fraser and in ongoing support of her daughter. As she prepares to leave the Scottish Parliament next year, Ms Wishart pledged to continue to fight for those with brain tumours. She said: 'Just because I'm stepping back from Parliament doesn't mean I'll stop fighting for this cause. 'Brain tumours have had a profound impact on my family, and I know we are not alone. I will keep speaking up, sharing our story, and doing whatever I can to push for change. 'I'm proud of what was started in the Scottish Parliament, and know the Cross-Party Group will continue to carry that work forward. Only together will we find a cure for this devastating disease.' Thomas Brayford, policy and public affairs manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: 'Beatrice has been an outstanding advocate for the brain tumour community in Scotland. 'From raising policy issues in Parliament to supporting events in her local area, she has helped give a voice to so many families and inspired others to act. 'We are incredibly grateful for everything she has done and continues to do.' To support Ms Wishart and her family's ongoing fundraising efforts, visit:

This Simple Dietary Switch Could Be a Game-Changer for Women With Diabetes, Endocrinologists Say
This Simple Dietary Switch Could Be a Game-Changer for Women With Diabetes, Endocrinologists Say

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

This Simple Dietary Switch Could Be a Game-Changer for Women With Diabetes, Endocrinologists Say

This Simple Dietary Switch Could Be a Game-Changer for Women With Diabetes, Endocrinologists Say originally appeared on Parade. A major breakthrough in research revealed how certain dietary choices may impact women with type 2 diabetes—and it shows that changing your habits can potentially lead to greater weight loss and even the possibility of long-term remission from the new study, conducted at the University of Nottingham, School of Life Sciences, showed that one habit specifically can give women with diabetes a huge boost in their insulin resistance, sustained weight loss and even their triglycerides (AKA cholesterol, which is great news not just for metabolic health, but also heart health).So, what was the swap and how did it work? An endocrinologist and diabetes specialist explain the study, the healthy diet swap and why it's a great move, not just for women with diabetes, but possibly for everyone.🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 Believe it or not, switching beverages from diet soda to water may make a huge difference for women with type 2 observed 81 women with type 2 diabetes who were overweight or had obesity over 18 months in a weight management program. The women regularly drank diet soda. The participants were randomly chosen to either keep up with their diet soda intake five times per week after lunch or to swap it out for water. The weight loss program lasted six months, while the weight management program lasted a full year. At the end of the study, according to the American Diabetes Association, 90% of participants in the group that drank water actually achieved diabetes remission, while just 45% of the women who drank diet soda were in remission. Body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, insulin levels, insulin resistance, postprandial glucose (your blood sugar levels after a meal) and cholesterol levels were all also significantly improved in the group that hydrated with H2O instead of diet drinks. "These findings challenge a common belief in the U.S. that diet drinks have no potential negative effects for managing weight and blood sugar," Dr. Hamid R. Farshchi, MD, Ph.D, obesity medicine physician, CEO of D2Type and lead author of the study, said in a statement. "However, with most women in the water group achieving diabetes remission, our study highlights the importance of promoting water, not just low-calorie alternatives, as part of effective diabetes and weight management. It's a small change with the potential for a big impact on long-term health outcomes." Related: Experts agreed that switching from diet drinks to water has a lot of benefits, but that some of the downsides to diet soda might not all because of the diet drinks themselves, but because of the behaviors associated with drinking them. "Water is metabolically neutral, additive-free, and behaviorally aligned with healthier routines. Diet sodas are often consumed alongside calorie-dense, highly processed meals, whereas water tends to be paired with healthier behaviors such as physical activity," Montefiore Einstein diabetes specialist , tells Parade. "For example, very few people reach for a diet soda after a walk or workout. This behavioral context may influence clinical outcomes. This study also found that those in the water group showed better results in BMI, fasting glucose, insulin levels and triglycerides." "It has been shown that nonnutritive sweeteners can increase glucose and insulin levels in response to a glucose load," , endocrinology and internal medicine professor at Yale School of Medicine, says. "However, other studies found no association between the use of artificial sweeteners and effects on glucose metabolism. Artificial sweeteners might also affect the brain. A recent study showed that when carbohydrates and diet sodas are consumed together, brain responses to sweet taste are altered." While not all studies are created equal, Dr. Torres says this one is promising. "This was a great study, done well, using the right methodology," he explained. "The results are compelling, but to strengthen clinical guidance, we need larger studies with longer follow-up to determine whether these benefits are sustained over time. Just as importantly, we need to better understand the mechanisms behind how diet soda consumption may influence metabolic outcomes and diabetes risk." Related: Generally, yes, experts tell Parade, especially for people with type 2 diabetes. "Diet soda provides the sweet taste without the calories. While this sounds like a solution for people with a sweet tooth, it might have negative health effects, particularly with regular consumption," Dr. Serle advises. "The nonnutritive sweeteners in diet soda, when consumed together with carbohydrate-rich food, can trigger brain responses that might lead to overeating. Together with the potential negative effects of diet soda on glucose metabolism, I suggest drinking water when thirsty and eating some fruit when craving for something sweet." Dr. Torres concurs, saying, "Water remains the gold standard. It is metabolically neutral, free of additives and behaviorally associated with healthier patterns. While diet soda may be a helpful transitional tool for some, water is the superior long-term choice for individuals with type 2 diabetes. This reinforces what we observe both clinically and culturally. Promoting water as the beverage of choice is a simple yet powerful intervention in diabetes care." Further, Dr. Torres says, "Although diet sodas are calorie-free, studies have linked them to increased risks of obesity, cardiovascular disease and impaired insulin sensitivity." That said, the reasons for those associations aren't entirely known. "Mechanistically, it is difficult to explain why such a dramatic clinical difference would exist if calorie intake is equal," Dr. Torres points out. "The theory that diet sodas increase caloric intake indirectly by affecting appetite or food preferences remains unproven and warrants further investigation. Diet sodas may also influence sweet cravings, gut microbiota and metabolic pathways in ways that are not yet fully understood." Related: All that said, you don't have to feel guilty for your Diet Coke habit. There is a place for it! "Switching from sugar-sweetened beverages to diet sodas can reduce immediate sugar and caloric intake and blunt post-meal glucose spikes," Dr. Torres points out. "For many, it serves as a transitional step in managing carbohydrate and caloric consumption." With that in mind, water is still the better choice. "The ADA poster suggests that swapping diet soda for water leads to even greater benefits," he says. "Women in the water group lost more weight (6.82 kg vs. 4.85 kg) and had twice the diabetes remission rate (90 percent vs. 45 percent). So, while diet soda may help reduce added sugar, it does not offer the full metabolic benefits that water does." Up Next:"Water Instead of Diet Drinks Associated with Two-Fold Rate of Diabetes Remission in Women." American Diabetes Association. Dr. Mireille Serle, MD, Ph.D Dr. Edwin A. Torres, Ph.D., NP This Simple Dietary Switch Could Be a Game-Changer for Women With Diabetes, Endocrinologists Say first appeared on Parade on Jun 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.

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