Latest news with #weightloss
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- General
- The Guardian
What happened to body positivity?
'There's lots of chat at the moment about #SkinnyTok,' Jenny Stevens, the Guardian's deputy features editor, tells Helen Pidd. 'The TikTok influencers, TikTok users, who are documenting their extreme weight-loss journeys. 'I've looked through that hashtag and I think, wow, some of these people are really, really unwell. And I think that there is a profit-seeking algorithm that is pushing that content into the feeds of young users.' Stevens explains why she is worried about the rise in weight-loss drugs, as someone who suffered from an eating disorder. 'I worry about them. And the wider media context, and their absolute fixation on who's taking them, who isn't, who's lost the weight, how they've lost the weight. Look at their bones jutting out … I worry about the effects of it on vulnerable people who are already suffering with disordered eating.' Also, we ask what a renewed fixation on thinness means for plus-size women? Gina Tonic, the author of Greedy Guts: Notes From an Insatiable Woman, talks about the origins of the body positivity movement and why it feels less visible than it did. 'I think Covid put health into the forefront of society's point of view as something that we really needed to prioritise for ourselves and also for our communities. And obviously, the first people to suffer under that kind of logic is people who are disabled, but also people who are seen as unhealthy, I guess, or willingly unhealthy. 'And fatness is automatically associated with being unhealthy and has been for decades. So it just feels like a natural follow-on with a public obsession with health, and the perception that thinness is health, thinness becomes the priority again for so many people,' says Tonic. You can listen to Jenny Stevens's Today in Focus episode on her own experiences, recorded in 2021, here. Gina Tonic's story on being trolled can be found here: A moment that changed me: I found out the identity of my troll – and it shook me Support the Guardian today:
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Kourtney Kardashian, 47, flashes her post-baby body in a bikini as her 'secret' weight loss drug is revealed
Kourtney Kardashian shared several new bikini images to Instagram on Wednesday. The 47-year-old reality TV star was in a white two piece by Gooseberry Intimates, a brand loved by Jennifer Lopez and Blake Lively. Kourtney wore the So Chic Halterneck Triangle White ($45 USD) accompanied by the So Chic Side Tie Bikini Briefs White ($35 USD). This comes just after has learned that Kourtney has shed the pregnancy pounds by taking a weight loss supplement. It's her very own GLP-1 Daily support and weight management supplement from her brand Lemme. It can cost $2 a day if bought in the six-month package for $336. 'She takes her own pills and they work because they curb the appetite, especially when it comes to sweets,' said an insider. 'And it is all natural, no weird ingredients. She loves all her products because they work and there are no side effects.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The Daily Mail has not received a response to its request for comment. The ingredients of Lemme GLP-1 Daily are: Eriomin Lemon Fruit Extract: A patented ingredient that supports GLP-1 production; Supresa Saffron Extract: A clinically-studied ingredient that helps reduce hunger and cravings; Morosil Red Orange Fruit Extract: A patented ingredient that supports weight management. Other ingredients may include: Chromium, Vitamin B12, Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf Extract, and Phytonutrient Fruit Complex. Earlier this week she shared a red bikini top image. The KUWTK alum uploaded a slideshow to Instagram that featured a sexy bikini selfie as well as glimpses into her home life with husband Travis Barker, 49. In another shot, Kourtney rocked a 'Travis' T-shirt and flashed her massive diamond wedding ring as she snapped a photo of herself in a Rolls-Royce. Kourtney's 'long weekend' also consisted of a cruise around Calabasas with Travis in his vintage Chevrolet truck. She even shared an up-close look at the vehicle's custom interior featuring plaid orange upholstery. The star — who rose to fame alongside her family on Keeping Up with the Kardashians — made sure to add various outtakes from her luxurious, sprawling mansion in Calabasas. There was an artistic shot of what appeared to be her and Travis' bedroom with fluffy white bedding and a framed black and white piece of art. Kourtney went on to post a scenic photo of her huge backyard pool overlooking mountains. Also included in the slideshow was a photo of what appeared her and Travis' one-year-old son Rocky's scooter sitting idly in the hallway of their home. It comes after Kourtney made drastic updates to her home to fit her and Travis' blended family. Kourtney shares Mason, 15, Penelope, 12, and Reign, 10, with ex-boyfriend Scott. Travis is stepdad to Atiana De La Hoya, 26, son Landon, 21, and daughter Alabama, 19, with ex-wife Shanna Moakler, 50. The husband and wife, who married in Italy in May 2022, were neighbors and friends for 10 years before striking up a romance. They continued to live in their respective homes, minutes apart, even after tying the knot, until their son Rocky was born in late 2023. While things at home with Travis may be peaceful, a source recently dished to that Kourtney and Scott are at odds over co-parenting. Rumors of a co-parenting war between the exes kicked off last week after Kourtney sparked fury after she discussed her controversial approach to parenting with her sister Khloe Kardashian for an interview on her podcast, Khloe in Wonder Land. Kourtney opened up about not conforming to what's expected of a family as she claimed her children want to be homeschooled. Fans branded her 'out of touch' and harshly accused her of being the 'dumbest of the sisters.' 'Why do kids f*****g go to school?' Kourtney asked, adding that it is a 'dated' practice. The comments infuriated Scott, 42, who found them 'irresponsible,' according to sources, who claim he is struggling to recognize his ex of late. 'Scott strongly disagrees with Kourtney's parenting style and finds her comments irresponsible,' one insider told 'Scott values hard work and sees school as essential and would never allow his kids to not attend.' Kourtney was one of the only Kardashian sisters to attend college. She started her bachelor's degree at the traditional Southern Methodist University in Texas before graduating from the party school University of Arizona. But she's made it clear that she no longer believes attending school in person is important. Scott, who 'feels Kourtney has changed,' will have his children homeschooled 'over his dead body.' The father-of-three, who still appears on the family reality show, is also said to have issues with the influence of Kourtney's step-children. 'Life at Kourtney and Travis' house can be chaotic and Scott is especially uneasy with the influence of Travis' daughter, Alabama,' the source said. 'He makes clear that while Travis may be Rocky's dad, he will never be a father to his kids.'
The Sun
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Fat jabs gave me Ozempic face with sagging cheeks and thin lips – but I've found solution WITHOUT fillers
LOOKING at my reflection in the mirror, I felt delighted to see my petite size 8 figure once again. But as I glanced up to my face, the gaunt woman staring back at me came as a shock. 10 After having skin cancer treatment in 2019 and becoming a single mum in lockdown, I'd gone from 7st to 13st in four years. So I recently turned to weight loss jabs to regain my former shape. I didn't regret it, but the side effect – ' Ozempic face' – as seen on celebrities like Sharon Osborne, wasn't something I'd bargained on. I was 38 years old, but my sunken cheeks, gaunt eyes and thin lips had aged me overnight. One relative had helpfully pointed out my new 'jowls' at a family gathering, while strangers on X told me I looked like a drug addict or permanently unwell. I would be lying if I said it didn't hurt. When I first gained weight, it didn't bother me at first. Yes, none of my clothes fitted me my 5ft 4ins frame any more, but I was simply grateful to be alive for my daughter Mabel, now seven. My mind was taken up with getting through my separation from her dad and surviving the pandemic. Baking banana bread was more of a priority than working out. But as the trauma of my illness and break-up eased, I realised I wanted to feel like my old self again and ditch the stretchy leggings I had become so attached to. In December 2023, I headed back to the gym four times a week and tried to eat less – but the weight was slow to drop off. Some weeks I didn't lose anything, despite trying so hard. It didn't help that medication I was taking for OCD [Obsessive Compulsive Disorder] was an appetite stimulant. But stopping that wasn't an option. After speaking to an online pharmacist I decided to try the jabs, which cost £179 a month. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. I had a false start with Saxenda, which gave me stomach pains, before settling into using Mounjaro in June 2024. Over a 12-month period, I dropped back down to a size 8, without any of the anticipated stretch marks or loose skin. It felt great to wear my old clothes again. But while I didn't love how my body looked at 13st, I preferred the appearance of my face compared to when I was skinny. DRAMATIC CHANGE It had fullness and shape, my skin glowed and there were barely any wrinkles. I was dismayed by the dramatic change that came with slimming down and knew that no amount of 'miracle' skincare potions would ease the deep lines either side of my mouth, loss of volume in my cheeks, or the dark circles under my eyes. For the first time ever, my skin felt crepey and dull, plus everything below my cheeks had dropped that little bit further south. I considered more jabs to help and spent hours researching cheek fillers, nasolabial fold treatments and those skin rejuvenators that can bring back volume. Some of the before-and-after photos online looked amazing. But realistically, I knew I'd be lucky to walk out of a decent clinic with any change from £1,000. And even then, it would not be a permanent solution. I don't regret the jabs one bit. Now I'm back to a healthy weight, I have more energy and confidence. At the same time, it's not shallow to want to feel good when I look in the mirror. If makeup can help me restore my pride when I see my reflection and make the best of what I've got, it will be a much cheaper fix – and easier for a busy single mum to recreate at home. Follow the six simple steps TOP makeup artist Aimee Adams reveals the tricks she used to transform Rebecca's look – and how others can use them to counter the signs of 'Ozempic face' START WITH THE SKIN Opt for products that contain collagen and hyaluronic acid, to restore brightness and improve the tone. Make-up isn't Botox, but working from as healthy a base as possible will make the best of what you have. Nip+Fab Hyaluronic Fix Extreme4 Jelly Eye Patches are perfect for an instant boost (£19.95 for 20 pairs, Boots). TIME TO SHINE Your base needs to reflect the light away from those grey hollows, so avoid heavy matt foundations and concealers. I like Sculpted by Aimee HydraTint Moisturising Tinted Serum (£20, Boots) and Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Brightening Face Primer (£44, Amazon) to get a dewy feel. KEEP AWAY FROM THE KARDASHIANS It might work for Kim and co, but contouring will only make you look more gaunt. Opt for a classic pink or peach cream blusher that isn't too oily on the apples of your cheeks instead, to add fullness and a flush of youth. Water-based Delilah In Bloom Radiant Liquid Blush in Tiger Lilly (£23, Next) is perfect, set in place with a blush powder. GO FOR GOLD A smokey eye won't make your eyes pop if they are looking sunken. Choose a golden eyeshadow to counteract it and add brightness, with a soft and smudgable brown eyeliner. Finish with a couple of little lash extensions on the outsides to open things up, curl them and add a coat of Avon Exxtravert Extreme Volume Mascara (£9.50, Avon). Fill out those brows too, with Merit Beauty 1990 Ultra Fine Eyebrow Gel Pencil (£21, Sephora). BE NATURAL A bold liner and lipstick is overkill and will seem fake. Choose a shade similar to your real lip colour if you really want to add volume, like e.l.f Love Triangle Lip Filler Liner in Soft Pink (£4, plus a dewy or glossy finish. If you want more extreme results, try PS Plumping Lip Serum (£3, Primark) – it can sting, but the difference is noticeable. SET AND MATCH Makeup can gather in the lines of your skin unless you set it properly after applying. Sprays are popular, but a powder is longer-lasting and works well with creamier makeup, if used sparingly. You don't want it to become cakey. I'm a fan of English Mineral Makeup Fairy Godmother (£59, I LOVED the way Aimee transformed my face, making me look younger, healthier and less tired. The under eyes were my favourite part – I couldn't believe how she got rid of those dark circles. I've learned that the best approach is not to go heavy, especially with contour, which is a surprise given how obsessed makeup influencers are with this technique. I'm definitely going to ditch it for a peach blusher and also swap my usual matte lipstick for a gloss. This will be so much more affordable than aesthetic treatments – and fun to do.
Irish Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Illegal or fake weight-loss drugs seized by medicines watchdog this month almost five times 2024 total
The number of illegal or fake weight loss drugs seized by the medicines watchdog this month is almost five times that seized in all of last year, new figures show. On Thursday, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) issued an 'urgent warning' about online advertisements making 'spurious claims' about illegal or falsified medicines, many of which purport to be endorsed by the regulator. The HPRA said it seized 7,815 fake or illegal weight-loss drugs between May 1st and 28th. This compares to 1,582 in all of 2024. Sites and social media posts are using the HPRA logo to claim the featured products are 'endorsed' by it, the body said. However, the HPRA is an independent regulator, so it does not endorse any medication. READ MORE 'The unacceptable use of the HPRA logo and name in this way is clearly designed to deceive and mislead consumers,' the regulator said. [ Rise in seizure of illegal muscle-boosting and weight-loss drugs Opens in new window ] It said that in May alone, there has been a surge in misleading website activity. The websites, which are hosted outside of Ireland by the ecommerce platform Shopify, are being directly promoted to consumers via fake Facebook profiles and ads, the HPRA said. So far in May, 155 product listings on Shopify, 124 profiles on Facebook and 414 advertisements on Facebook have been identified making false claims, according to the HPRA. The HPRA said it has advised Shopify and Meta, which owns Facebook, of the activity and of the public health risks associated with illegal prescription medicines and other unregulated health products sold online. It said it has requested that they 'intercede to proactively identify and remove product listings, fake profiles and adverts from their platforms'. Grainne Power, director of compliance at the HPRA, said these products are made outside Ireland, and people are 'being duped' into purchasing them. Working with Revenue, she said, the organisation has seized a 'significant number of products at point of entry to the country'. Some of these 'purport to be genuine prescription medicines when in fact the products as presented do not exist as an authorised product in any market', she said. Ms Power said a 'notable' seizure was a delivery of microneedle patches that claimed to have the active ingredients semaglutide and tirzepatide, which are used to treat obesity. The packaging featured an Irish flag and purported to be made in the State. 'In addition to references to the HPRA, there are also claims these products are endorsed nationally by charities, hospitals and individual healthcare professionals. All these claims are untrue,' said Ms Power. Microneedle patches containing semaglutide, tirzepatide or any GLP-1 type medicine are 'not available as approved medical treatments', she said. The HPRA wants consumers to be aware that the HPRA 'never endorses individual brands' or allows its logo to be used in promoting health products, she said. If online sources feature the HPRA logo or suggest endorsement by the regulator, this is 'actually a clear sign' of a 'dubious' seller, she said.
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
You're eating pasta wrong! Expert reveals how to enjoy carbs guilt-free - and why you should NEVER eat noodles fresh out the pan
It's the time of year most people are trying to shed a few pounds. But an expert has revealed an easy trick to help enjoy your carbs guilt-free. Their discovery means you could even tuck into pasta salads or sushi while shedding weight. So, what's their secret? It turns out that letting your pasta, rice and potatoes fully cool down before you eat them can help with weight loss. 'When you cook and cool foods like pasta and rice, their starch molecules realign, forming resistant starch,' fitness expert Kevin David Rail said. 'Unlike regular carbohydrates, resistant starch acts more like fibre, meaning it digests more slowly, provides a steady energy release, and helps keep blood sugar levels stable.' He said athletes – including top footballers – have been using the hack for years to help sustain energy levels, improve recovery and manage weight. A cold potato salad, such as this, contains more resistant starch than spuds which are fresh out of the oven 'Footballers don't just think about what they eat—they think about how it's prepared,' Mr Rail said. 'Many will eat cold pasta salads, rice bowls, or overnight oats to get the resistant starch benefits while keeping their digestion efficient and energy steady.' He said incorporating cooled carbs into everyday meals can help people manage weight, boost gut health and prevent energy dips. Even cooled carbs that have been reheated have the same effect, as resistant starch remains intact, he explained. Therefore, it offers the same blood sugar benefits as eating it cold. Another recommendation is to meal prep, so cooled carbs are ready and available in advance. And finally, pairing them with protein and fats can further boost muscle recovery and support weight management. 'As a coach, I see firsthand how the right nutrition strategies can improve not just physical performance but overall well-being,' Mr Rail, from added. 'If elite athletes are doing it, there's definitely something worth paying attention to.' Dr Chris van Tulleken, infectious diseases doctor and author of 'Ultra-Processed People', has previously spoken of the benefits of resistant starch. 'When the normal starch in white bread and pasta is digested, it's turned into sugar almost as fast as if you drank the same amount of sugar in a sweet drink,' he said. 'This is because normal starch is made up of tangled chains of glucose sugar molecules that are broken down into single sugar molecules extremely easily in your gut, and then quickly absorbed. 'If this sugar isn't burned off, it is turned into fat.' He explained the difference with resistant starch is that some of those glucose chains are no longer broken down in your small intestine - where food is normally broken down and the nutrients absorbed – and instead reaches the large intestine. Here, it is broken down more slowly, meaning blood sugar levels don't rise as high and people feel fuller for longer. Once the resistant starch has been fermented by bacteria in the gut, it turns into chemicals called short-chain fatty acids. 'These have a wide range of benefits, such as preventing heart disease and possibly lowering blood pressure,' Dr van Tulleken said. Research published in 2023 found that cooking pasta al dente also helps people lose weight, as it slows the rate at which they eat. In experiments, scientists discovered that soft pasta dishes are eaten 45 per cent faster than dishes which feature less-cooked pasta. WHAT SHOULD A BALANCED DIET LOOK LIKE? • Eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruit and vegetables count • Base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally wholegrain • 30 grams of fibre a day: This is the same as eating all of the following: 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, 2 whole-wheat cereal biscuits, 2 thick slices of wholemeal bread and large baked potato with the skin on • Have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya drinks) choosing lower fat and lower sugar options • Eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 portions of fish every week, one of which should be oily) • Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consuming in small amounts • Drink 6-8 cups/glasses of water a day • Adults should have less than 6g of salt and 20g of saturated fat for women or 30g for men a day
