Latest news with #HarvardChanSchool
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Bathroom scales not showing any change? Stop before you call your weight loss a failure
Weight loss isn't just about seeing smaller numbers on the scale. Despite popular trends on the internet that equate success with a shrinking figure or smaller clothing sizes, true weight loss encompasses much more; improved health, increased strength, and overall well-being. Also read | Woman who lost 55 kg without dieting reveals what she eats in a day to maintain the weight: 'I finally began to heal' According to a recent study led by Anat Yaskolka Meir, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 761 people across three major studies were followed to understand the effects of weight loss on the body. The study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, followed the participants for a span of 18 to 24 months and analysed results intensive lifestyle programmes. It was observed that even when the participants were not dropping kilos off their bodies, they were making serious advancements in other health factors, such as protection from heart disease, diabetes, and other life-threatening conditions. The study was conducted on participants with an average age of 50 years, and their body mass indexes were followed through structured programs, including Mediterranean diets, low-carb plans, and exercise routines. It was observed that healthy habits pay off more than we can see, or the bathroom scale can show. More than dropping body weight swiftly, following a healthy diet and a structured workout routine targeting weight loss can reap other health benefits. Lead author Anat Yaskolka Meir from Harvard Chan School, in a statement said, 'We have been conditioned to equate weight loss with health, and weight loss-resistant individuals are often labeled as failures. Our findings reframe how we define clinical success. People who do not lose weight can improve their metabolism and reduce their long-term risk for disease. That's a message of hope, not failure.' Also read | Woman who lost 30 kg without hitting gym shares 5 daily habits that worked for her: Detox water to eliminating maida The Internet has us believing that unless we fit into smaller clothes or watch drastic changes on the bathroom scale, our weight loss journeys are failures. However, the study throws light on how structured routines and healthy eating habits can influence overall wellbeing. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Healthy eating in middle age has this key longevity benefit
Adopting healthy eating habits during middle age boosts the likelihood of healthy aging. That's according to a new study from the Harvard T.C. Chan School of Public Health, which found that a "moderate intake of healthy, animal-based foods" and a "lower intake of ultraprocessed foods" could increase the chances of reaching age 70 with good "cognitive, physical and mental health" and no major diseases. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Montreal also contributed to the study, which was published in the journal Nature Medicine. Diabetes Risk Lowered By Eating One Surprisingly Sweet Food, Study Suggests "Studies have previously investigated dietary patterns in the context of specific diseases or how long people live. Ours takes a multifaceted view, asking, how does diet impact people's ability to live independently and enjoy a good quality of life as they age?" said co-corresponding author Frank Hu, Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard Chan School, in a Harvard press release. The researchers analyzed diet and health data for more than 105,000 women and men aged 39 to 69 over a 30-year period, drawn from the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Read On The Fox News App Based on the participants' self-reported diets, they were given scores for eight different healthy eating plans based on their intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts and legumes, as well as some healthy animal-based foods, including fish and certain dairy products, the release stated. Federal Dietary Guidelines Will Soon Change For Americans, Hhs And Usda Announce They also investigated the participants' consumption of ultraprocessed foods containing added sugars, sodium and unhealthy fats. The diet with the most benefits for healthy aging was the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), the researchers found, which was linked to an 86% greater likelihood of healthy aging at 70 years old. This diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes and healthy fats, with limited amounts of red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, sodium and refined grains, the release stated. Participants who ate more processed foods had less likelihood of healthy aging, with processed meat and sugary or diet beverages named as the biggest culprits. "Our findings suggest that dietary patterns rich in plant-based foods, with moderate inclusion of healthy, animal-based foods, may promote overall healthy aging and help shape future dietary guidelines," said co-corresponding author Marta Guasch-Ferré, associate professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Copenhagen and adjunct associate professor of nutrition at Harvard Chan School, in the release. "Our findings also show that there is no one-size-fits-all diet. Healthy diets can be adapted to fit individual needs and preferences," added lead author Anne-Julie Tessier, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Montreal and researcher at the Montreal Heart Institute. Sherry Coleman Collins, a food allergy dietitian and expert from the Atlanta metropolitan area, was not involved in the study but reviewed the findings. "This data helps emphasize the importance of how we eat throughout life, in particular at midlife, on our ability to remain healthy and strong into our golden years," she told Fox News Digital. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "Since the majority of healthcare dollars are spent at the end of our life, this has huge implications on the potential to save money on costly interventions, as well as improving quality of life throughout the lifespan." Most of the beneficial diets in the study were primarily plant-based, Collins noted. "They aren't all vegetarian or vegan, but they all include an eating pattern made up of primarily fruits, vegetables, whole grains, foods high in unsaturated fats, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds." She agreed, however, that there is no one-size-fits-all diet, and that people can be healthy by eating many different types of diets. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "The most health-promoting diets all exclude or only include small amounts of high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, ultraprocessed foods," she said. The study did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged — chiefly that it was limited to only health professionals. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings with more diverse populations, they said. The Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study were supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For more Health articles, visit Other support was received from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the release stated. Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for article source: Healthy eating in middle age has this key longevity benefit
Fox News
30-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Healthy eating in middle age has this key longevity benefit
Adopting healthy eating habits during middle age boosts the likelihood of healthy aging. That's according to a new study from the Harvard T.C. Chan School of Public Health, which found that a "moderate intake of healthy, animal-based foods" and a "lower intake of ultraprocessed foods" could increase the chances of reaching age 70 with good "cognitive, physical and mental health" and no major diseases. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Montreal also contributed to the study, which was published in the journal Nature Medicine. "Studies have previously investigated dietary patterns in the context of specific diseases or how long people live. Ours takes a multifaceted view, asking, how does diet impact people's ability to live independently and enjoy a good quality of life as they age?" said co-corresponding author Frank Hu, Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard Chan School, in a Harvard press release. The researchers analyzed diet and health data for more than 105,000 women and men aged 39 to 69 over a 30-year period, drawn from the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Based on the participants' self-reported diets, they were given scores for eight different healthy eating plans based on their intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts and legumes, as well as some healthy animal-based foods, including fish and certain dairy products, the release stated. They also investigated the participants' consumption of ultraprocessed foods containing added sugars, sodium and unhealthy fats. The diet with the most benefits for healthy aging was the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), the researchers found, which was linked to an 86% greater likelihood of healthy aging at 70 years old. This diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes and healthy fats, with limited amounts of red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, sodium and refined grains, the release stated. Participants who ate more processed foods had less likelihood of healthy aging, with processed meat and sugary or diet beverages named as the biggest culprits. "There is no one-size-fits-all diet. Healthy diets can be adapted to fit individual needs and preferences." "Our findings suggest that dietary patterns rich in plant-based foods, with moderate inclusion of healthy, animal-based foods, may promote overall healthy aging and help shape future dietary guidelines," said co-corresponding author Marta Guasch-Ferré, associate professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Copenhagen and adjunct associate professor of nutrition at Harvard Chan School, in the release. "Our findings also show that there is no one-size-fits-all diet. Healthy diets can be adapted to fit individual needs and preferences," added lead author Anne-Julie Tessier, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Montreal and researcher at the Montreal Heart Institute. Sherry Coleman Collins, a food allergy dietitian and expert from the Atlanta metropolitan area, was not involved in the study but reviewed the findings. "This data helps emphasize the importance of how we eat throughout life, in particular at midlife, on our ability to remain healthy and strong into our golden years," she told Fox News Digital. "Since the majority of healthcare dollars are spent at the end of our life, this has huge implications on the potential to save money on costly interventions, as well as improving quality of life throughout the lifespan." Most of the beneficial diets in the study were primarily plant-based, Collins noted. "They aren't all vegetarian or vegan, but they all include an eating pattern made up of primarily fruits, vegetables, whole grains, foods high in unsaturated fats, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds." She agreed, however, that there is no one-size-fits-all diet, and that people can be healthy by eating many different types of diets. "The most health-promoting diets all exclude or only include small amounts of high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, ultraprocessed foods," she said. The study did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged — chiefly that it was limited to only health professionals. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings with more diverse populations, they said. The Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study were supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For more Health articles, visit Other support was received from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the release stated. Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.
