Uncategorized

• A new study reports that weight loss medications may not be as effective for people with emotional eating issues.
• Weight loss drugs work by suppressing hunger, so they may not be as beneficial for those who overeat due to depression, boredom, or anxiety.
• Experts say healthcare professionals should assess a person’s relationship to food before prescribing weight loss medication or recommending bariatric surgery.

Weight loss drugs are not as effective when used by people with eating habits that are tied to emotions such as depression or anxiety.

That’s according to new research published on September 16 in Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare.

In their study, researchers reported that GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic were more effective for weight loss in people who tend to overeat because of the appearance and smell of food, compared to people who overeat due to emotional issues.

The researchers said their findings suggest that healthcare professionals should assess a patient’s eating behavior patterns and treat those issues before prescribing weight loss medications.

“GLP-1 receptor agonists are effective for individuals who experience weight gain or elevated blood glucose levels due to overeating triggered by external stimuli. However, their effectiveness is less expected in cases where emotional eating is the primary cause,” said Daisuke Yabe, MD, a professor of medicine at Kyoto University in Japan and a senior author of the study, in a statement.

Experts not involved in the research agree that psychological issues should be addressed before a person is prescribed a weight loss drug or undergoes bariatric surgery.

“It’s not just about overeating. We need to address underlying issues first,” said Mir Ali, MD, a general surgeon, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California.

“Everyone is different,” added Zhaoping Li, MD, a professor of clinical medicine at the University of California Los Angeles. “We need to learn who a patient is and what their reason is for overeating.”

Kristin Kirkpatrick, a dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Department of Wellness & Preventive Medicine and the president of KAK Consulting, said this latest research provide some valuable insights.

“This was a small study but showed an interesting take away related to emotional eating and success in weight loss,” she told Healthline.

“As a clinician with many patients on these drugs, the takeaway for me would be what education, support could potentially be given alongside the drug to help foster more mindful, intuitive eating patterns that may assist once the individual is off the drug.”

Emotional eating and obesity

For their study, the researchers monitored 92 people in Japan with type 2 diabetes who were beginning treatment with GLP-1 drugs.

They tracked the participants’ progress at the beginning of their treatment, three months into the treatment, and 12 months after treatment began.

They collected data on the study subjects’ body weight, body composition, diet, and relevant blood markers such as glucose and cholesterol levels.

The scientists honed in on three different types of eating habits.

• Emotional eating, where people eat in response to negative emotions.
• External eating, where people eat because of the way food looks or smells.
• Restrained eating, where people control their diet to lose weight.

The researchers reported that the participants overall saw reductions in body weight, cholesterol levels, and body fat percentages during their year of treatment. Blood glucose levels also improved, but the changes were not statistically significant.

However, the researchers said the results were more pronounced for people with external eating habits than for those with emotional or restrained eating patterns.

They added that people with external eating issues had sustained changes in their eating habits while people with emotional or restrained eating patterns had returned to their baseline habits after one year.

Li said people’s dietary patterns are a complicated matter. She said people can overeat due to boredom, stress, or anxiety.

“Eating is a complex behavior,” she told Healthline. “People overeat for many reasons.”

Ali noted that it can be difficult for a physician to diagnose emotional issues, so he suggested that those with potential eating issues be seen by a psychologist before any treatment is recommended.

He pointed out that GLP-1 drugs work by reducing hunger impulses, but if a person is overeating for emotional reasons, then medications and surgery might not be the best place to start.

“Suppressing hunger may ultimately not be that effective for some people,” he told Healthline.

Li said it’s important for patients to know what they are up against.

“We need to help people recognize the challenges,” she said. “We need to help people better understand the cues.”

Coping with emotional eating

Kirkpatrick said she approaches eating patterns differently depending on a person’s particular issue.

For emotional eating, the focus is on a person’s relationship with food.

“Food can alter the way we feel, making us feel calm, or relaxed but many of the foods chosen when eating emotionally are not nutrient dense options, so the feeling, or benefit, is short term followed by a crash and a need to consume more of the food to feel calm again,” Kirkpatrick explained.

“It can be a vicious cycle because the food never really heals and only provides a crutch that could lead to various other adverse outcomes due to a low nutrient-dense, high ultra-processed food dietary pattern.”

For external eating issues, it’s more centered on the cues to which a person reacts.

“I have patients that will get in their car to pick up emotional eating foods (think fast food, pizza, ice cream) so the cue is not necessarily in the house, but they are thinking about it, craving it,” Kirkpatrick said. “For others, it could be that they see, smell, or around a food and that is all it takes to consume it in excess. This is why dealing with the root causes of emotional eating is so important.”

For restricted eating habits, it’s more about how food is viewed.

“Part of a mindful, intuitive eating approach often means allowing foods into the diet every once in a while versus saying I can never have that food and then binging on it and feeling guilty afterward,” Kirkpatrick said.

“I like to look at food as not good or bad, but choices that nourish our mind, body, and soul versus those that don’t. It’s not that we can never have the cookie or the fast-food item. Learning to include them every once in a while, still maintaining a nutrient-dense diet 80% of the time, may often be a better solution.”

Health risks of obesity

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 40% of U.S. adults are living with obesity.

The percentage of obesity prevalence is about the same for males and females. People ages 40 to 59 have the highest percentage among age groups.

Obesity is a chronic condition that usually results in an excess of body fat. It is generally diagnosed in males with a waist circumference of more than 40 inches and in females with a waist circumference of more than 35 inches. A body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater is also common.

Obesity can raise a person’s risk of developing a variety of health conditions. They include:

• heart disease
• type 2 diabetes
• high blood pressure
• gallbladder disease
• fatty liver disease
• sleep apnea

There are a variety of medications that can be prescribed to help treat obesity.

In recent years, weight loss drugs containing the active ingredient semaglutide, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, as and drugs containing the active ingredient tirzepatide, such as Zepbound and Mounjaro, have been used as treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

In addition, doctors usually counsel patients on lifestyle habits such as a healthy diet, daily exercise, and adequate sleep as part of a weight management regimen.

Kirkpatrick said weight loss medications can be effective, but lifestyle habits are the best long-term solutions.

“Many of my patients say that the elimination of food noise is a game-changer when taking these medications – that the medication does in fact assist with emotional eating,” she explained.

“However, their fear comes with the potential impact that could occur when and if they no longer take the medication and go back to the challenges they faced prior to starting the medication.”

Serena Williams faced a challenging mental health period after a “difficult August.”…

Content source – www.soundhealthandlastingwealth.com

• Weighted vests are trending, with proponents making many claims about the potential health benefits.
• Weighted vest training may help with cardiovascular fitness by increasing workout intensity.
• There is little evidence to support other health claims of weighted vest training, such as weight loss.

Weighted vests are having a moment.

Whether you’re scrolling social media or strolling in the park, they seem to be everywhere. The health claims surrounding them — fueled by diehard fans and TikTok testimonials — are just as widespread.

“The benefits to walking with a weighted vest are insane: your posture, your bones, increased calorie burn, your strength, your endurance. I could go on and on. Walking weighted has completely transformed my life,” said one influencer in a recent post.

In a video titled “How a weighted vest has changed my life,” another user proclaimed that after two months, she had improved her strength, endurance, and physique.

But are weighted vests really a fitness breakthrough? That depends on a lot of factors, including your current fitness level and goals.

There isn’t much science behind weighted vest training. Studies have been small and focused on different outcomes, from sport performance to fat loss and bone density.

“There have not been many studies looking at this, so the evidence is limited,” said Sarah F. Eby, MD, PhD, a sports medicine specialist at Mass General Brigham Sports Medicine and assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School.

“Due to the lack of evidence, I do not specifically recommend weighted vest training in my clinical practice,” Eby said.

But expert opinions are also mixed.

“Weighted vest training increases physiological demand and can modestly enhance strength, power, and endurance adaptations compared to standard workouts,” said Michael Fredericson, MD, director of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Sports Medicine at Stanford University.

To help separate the hype from the facts, we examined the current evidence to determine whether weighted vest training has merit.

How weighted vests can improve your fitness

Weighted vest training will likely add some intensity to your fitness routine.

Whether you wear one during an evening walk or incorporate it into circuit training or body weight exercises, carrying a few extra pounds will rev up your cardiovascular system.

“The use of a weighted vest during walking and running increases oxygen uptake, heart rate, carbohydrate oxidation, and overall energy expenditure, without adversely affecting gait biomechanics, suggesting a safe method for increasing exercise intensity,” Fredericson told Healthline.

Weighted vest training may also help to improve sports performance for athletes, specifically sprinting.

“Athletes can especially benefit from weighted vest training for improved strength and endurance, and can incorporate sport-specific exercises,” said Jamie Confino, MD, orthopedic surgeon with Keck Medicine of USC.

For most people who are interested in improving their baseline cardiovascular fitness, consistent moderate exercise should be sufficient.

“The typical individual is going to get more bang for their buck with regular cardiovascular exercise — 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise weekly,” Eby told Healthline.

Can weighted vests aid weight loss?

Whether the added intensity of wearing a weighted vest contributes to weight loss isn’t clear, and it would likely depend on other lifestyle factors, such as diet.

A small pilot study published earlier this year found that among older adults with obesity, combining a weighted vest with caloric restriction led to similar weight loss after six months as caloric restriction alone.

However, participants who wore the vest regained weight more slowly.

After two years, participants who used the weighted vest regained only half of the weight they had lost, while those who did not regained all of it.

The authors hypothesize that this difference may be due to preservation of resting metabolic rate during weight loss.

Weighted vests can also be worn throughout the day to increase overall energy expenditure, but doing so could discourage physical activity.

Another recent study from researchers in Sweden found that people with obesity who wore heavy vests (11% of body weight) for eight hours per day for five weeks lost fat but preserved muscle, despite no increase in physical activity. Participants lost fat mass but increased lean mass, without significant effects on body weight.

“In our trials, the vests were used as a chronic daily load; participants were instructed to maintain their usual routines and simply wear the vest, without any additional prescribed exercise,” said Jakob Bellman, MD, PhD student at the University of Gothenburg, and first author of the research.

“These changes point toward a healthier body composition and potential benefits for metabolic health,” he told Healthline.

Despite these positive changes, sedentary behavior increased among those who wore heavier load vests, which researchers say may be related to physical discomfort from the heavier load.

Musculoskeletal side effects also increased in the heavier load group. This could imply that wearing a heavier load vest might discourage people from exercising due to the increased effort and potential side effects.

Additionally, these findings were limited in some ways. Participants who wore heavier weighted vests were only compared to a control group of those wearing lighter vests; there was no non-vest control group.

Other health claims about weighted vests

Besides turning up the cardiovascular intensity of a workout, there’s little research to support the myriad health claims made about weighted vests. Here are some of the most common claims you’ll see:

Better posture

There are no studies to support this claim, but that doesn’t mean it’s totally without merit.

“Weighted vest training may help improve posture when combined with appropriate resistance exercises, but evidence for its effectiveness in correcting postural deviations is limited,” Fredericson said.

Eby points out that more effective options, such as targeted stretching and strengthening exercises, are available for individuals primarily interested in posture correction.

Muscle growth

When combined with specific exercises, such as stair climbing, weighted vests may help with muscle growth. But if the goal of your workout is to build muscle, weightlifting is essential.

“The best way to improve muscle growth is exercising a muscle with resistance through its entire working length. From a muscle-building standpoint, wearing a weighted vest during regular activity is not equivalent to true resistance training,” Eby said.

Improved bone density

One of the most prominent claims made about weighted vests is that they can help maintain bone density, particularly in females in perimenopause or menopause.

A small 2000 study found that an exercise protocol involving the use of weighted vests and jumping prevented bone loss in older postmenopausal females, but it’s not clear whether the benefit resulted from the use of the vest or the exercise.

Fredericson affirmed that weighted vests may be helpful in this regard.

“Higher-intensity bone loading activities — including walking with weighted vests — can have more significant effects on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, at least in the short term,” he said.

However, recent research did not identify any benefit. A 2025 study in JAMA found that neither weighted vest training nor resistance training mitigated bone loss associated with weight loss in older adults with obesity.

“Mechanical loading is beneficial for bone health in principle, but no human clinical trials have yet shown that weighted vests increase bone density,” Bellman said.

Getting started with weighted vest training

Weighted vests are dynamic and can be added to a variety of exercises or even worn around throughout the day, adding a sustained load to daily activities.

“Older adults may particularly benefit from weighted vest training, as evidence demonstrates improvements in muscle power, balance, and functional ability, with reductions in fall risk and frailty when combined with task-specific or velocity-based exercises,” said Fredericson.

While weighted vests may help improve balance and reduce fall risk as part of a supervised training regimen, Confino warns that those with balance issues should be especially cautious when using them.

Generally a good rule of thumb is to start with a vest weight that is less than 5% of your current body weight. It may be smart to start with as little as 1% of your body weight, depending on your fitness level. 

Once you get comfortable with the weight and feel of the vest at this starting weight, you can experiment with increasing the load.

“I always tell patients to start low and build slowly with any new exercise or activity. We want to build success on success,” said Eby, “Incorporating weighted vest training as part of the overload portion of your training regimen may be reasonable, depending on your physical fitness and exercise goals.”

However, weighted vest training may not be right for everyone.

Adding weight increases strain on the cardiovascular system, so people with cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure should speak with their doctor prior to starting. Individuals with injuries, particularly to joints, should also be wary.

“If you have active back, hip, or knee injuries, you should be cautious about using weighted vests. Weighted vests will increase the stress felt by your joints, which may aggravate joint or arthritis pain,” Confino told Healthline.

Weighted vest training is an option that some may find appealing as a simple addition to their current walking or jogging routine, or for an exercise intensity boost. What matters most, though, is consistency with your routine.

“If wearing a weighted vest on your walk gets you more motivated to go out and get those 150 minutes, by all means, go for it,” Eby said.

Weighted vests are not a “miracle solution,” said Bellman. “But they may be a helpful tool alongside diet, exercise, and medical treatment.”

In recent years, Korean skincare has gained global recognition for its innovative…

Content source – www.soundhealthandlastingwealth.com

• A large study found that type 2 diabetes risk could be four times higher among cannabis users.
• Cannabis may increase diabetes risk by promoting insulin resistance and unhealthy eating habits.
• Lifestyle measures might help mitigate risk, but more research is needed to confirm these findings.

A large study of more than 4 million adults has found that people who use cannabis face nearly four times the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who don’t.

The research, which followed participants for five years, raises fresh concerns about the long-term health effects of cannabis as its use becomes more common and socially accepted worldwide.

The findings come as global cannabis use continues to rise. In 2021, an estimated 219 million people — about 4.3% of the world’s adult population — reported using the drug, per the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

While earlier research suggested cannabis might reduce inflammation or even help with weight control, this new study highlights possible serious risks for metabolic health that deserve closer attention.

The findings were presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, which began in Vienna, Austria, on September 15. The results of the study have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Studying the effects of cannabis on diabetes risk

To conduct the study, researchers at Boston Medical Center reviewed electronic health records from 54 healthcare organizations across the United States and Europe using the TriNetX Research Network.

They looked at records collected between 2010 and 2018, focusing on adults aged 18 to 50 years old.

The team identified nearly 97,000 people with cannabis-related diagnoses in their records.

These ranged from occasional use to dependence, and included diagnoses related to cannabis intoxication and withdrawal.

To make fair comparisons, cannabis users were matched with more than 4 million people who had no history of substance use or major chronic health conditions.

The matching process accounted for well-known diabetes risk factors, such as age, sex, and underlying health issues.

The researchers also controlled for cholesterol, blood pressure, heart disease, and use of substances such as alcohol and cocaine.

All participants were followed for five years to see who developed type 2 diabetes.

The team used advanced statistical methods to compare outcomes between cannabis users and non-users, aiming for results that were both accurate and reliable.

Cannabis users have greater risk of type 2 diabetes

The difference between groups was clear. During the study period, 2.2% of cannabis users developed diabetes, compared with just 0.6% of non-users.

This meant cannabis users had nearly four times the risk of type 2 diabetes.

When researchers looked at survival rates — meaning how many people remained diabetes-free — they found that 96.82% of cannabis users avoided diabetes, compared with 99.15% of non-users.

Although those percentages may seem similar, the difference translates into thousands of additional diabetes cases among people who used cannabis.

The large size of the study and the diverse populations involved add weight to the findings.

With more than 4 million participants across multiple countries and health systems, the results provide information that reflects what actually happens in routine medical care rather than in controlled laboratory experiments.

The study also points to possible reasons for the link. The researchers suggested that cannabis use may contribute to insulin resistance and unhealthy eating habits.

The well-known phenomenon called the “munchies” — cravings for high calorie foods after cannabis use — could be one factor driving the higher risk of type 2 diabetes among users, according to the study’s authors.

How cannabis may impact type 2 diabetes

Ibrahim Kamel, MD, the lead researcher on the study, told Healthline that cannabis may contribute to type 2 diabetes through overstimulation of the endocannabinoid system, especially the CB1 receptor.

This promotes the accumulation of fat in the abdomen and liver, as well as creating insulin resistance.

“Additional mechanisms include increased caloric intake, low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress, and potential β-cell dysfunction, all of which impair glucose homeostasis,” he explained.

Kamel also said that lifestyle factors such as reduced physical activity and alcohol and nicotine use may further increase risk.

Another thing that’s important to note is that it may not be just people already at risk for type 2 diabetes who have to be concerned.

“In the study we used a healthy population without the usual risk factors for developing DM [diabetes mellitis], so based on our findings relatively healthy adults are at risk,” he said.

However, Kamel cautioned that further research is needed to confirm this.

Based on the current study, it’s also not possible to determine whether limiting yourself to only occasional use might reduce risk, although he said this is “worth investigating.”

Kamel concluded his remarks by saying that since we don’t know the exact mechanism by which this effect is occurring, it’s not possible to say which specific measures might be protective.

“Reductions of use as well as having a healthy lifestyle/ diet and being mindful of caloric consumption could help but definitely further research is needed,” he said.

How to lower your type 2 diabetes risk

Chad Larson, NMD, DC, the CEO and founder of Adapt Lab, who was not involved in the research, said having a waist circumference greater than 40 inches in males and 35 inches in females is a good indicator of insulin resistance, even if you’re at a healthy weight.

“Waist measurement provides individuals with a more accurate and earlier reading of metabolic health that can be used to act before one gets diabetes,” he explained.

Another underutilized technique, according to Larson, is meal timing.

He advises substituting snacks with 25 grams of protein at dinner, which can help stabilize blood sugar during the night and may reduce the cravings associated with cannabis use.

“Frequent evening protein intake assists in getting the body accustomed to a more consistent secretion of insulin,” he said.

When done together with daily exercise, such as an intense 20-minute walk, Larson said this helps increase absorption of glucose in muscle tissue.

“Taken together, these steps decrease the chances of an individual developing a greater disposition towards type 2 diabetes without losing the freedom of lifestyle,” he concluded.

Sofía Vergara missed the 2025 Emmys due to a severe eye allergy…

Content source – www.soundhealthandlastingwealth.com

• Academy Award winner Julianne Moore is speaking out about Alzheimer’s disease.
• The “Sirens” actor recently teamed up with Eli Lilly to advocate for brain health.
• Moore won an Oscar in 2015 for her role in “Still Alice” as a woman with early onset Alzheimer’s.

Acclaimed actor Julianne Moore was awarded an Oscar in 2015 for her role in the movie Still Alice. Moore played a linguistics professor who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 50.

“At the time that we shot it… I knew absolutely nothing about Alzheimer’s. I had never met anybody with Alzheimer’s. I had never really observed the behavior, and it was really important to me to get it right, so I had about two months to do the research, and I did everything I could,” Moore told Healthline.

Moore recalled watching movies about Alzheimer’s and dementia, meeting with doctors who treat the disease, visiting care facilities, and talking with people living with different stages of the condition, as well as their caregivers.

“The amount I learned was tremendous. It was absolutely fascinating and really, really engaging and eye-opening,” Moore said.

“For so long, people just assumed that this was something that happened. I think now we’re much more aware that Alzheimer’s is a disease. That it’s progressive. That it doesn’t hit you all at once,” she said.

About 200,000 Americans under 65 years old have young-onset dementia, while an estimated 7.2 million Americans ages 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s. Moreover, nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are female.

Ten years after filming “Still Alice,” the disease hits closer to home for Moore.

“I’m seeing it in people I’ve work with in my career and in people that I knew at my children’s schools,” she said. “So, it’s great to talk about this now.”

Julianne Moore speaks out about brain health

Moore partnered with Eli Lilly & Co. for its Brain Health Matters campaign, which emphasizes the importance of proactive brain health.

An estimated 4 in 5 Americans report wanting to know if they have Alzheimer’s before symptoms develop. As such, Moore’s campaign aims to empower people to start early, have ongoing conversations with their doctors about Alzheimer’s risk factors, and adopt habits that support lifelong brain health.

“As we’re living longer lives, we want to live longer, healthier lives and take responsibility to do so,” Moore said.

“[I] encourage people to talk with their doctor about it so when you go for a checkup, say, ‘I want to talk about my risk for Alzheimer’s. I want to talk about lifestyle changes I can make that will mitigate that risk. I’d like to have a cognitive assessment to see where I’m falling rather than waiting until something is wrong.”

As she ages, Moore said she thinks about her health more often.

“Certainly, when you are 18 or 20 years old, your health is the last thing you think about. You take it for granted. As you get older, you think about all this stuff all the time,” she said.

Protecting against Alzheimer’s disease

It might not be possible to fully prevent Alzheimer’s disease, due to various factors.

Still, Hillary A. Parker, PhD, director of geriatric neuropsychology service at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, noted that research shows adults at higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia can take certain measures to help lower their risk.

“Arguably, your younger years are some of the most impactful for building healthy habits that support short- and long-term brain health,” Parker told Healthline.

She recommended the following:

Physical strategies

Exercising and eating a heart-healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet or MIND diet can positively impact brain health.

“Move your body regularly (walking counts), avoid smoking and heavy alcohol use, and manage chronic conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes,” Parker recommended. “It is never too early or too late to get started.”

Additionally, research shows a link between untreated hearing and vision loss and dementia risk.

“[This] reinforces the importance of regular exams and taking steps to address these sensory changes when possible,” Parker said.

Cognitive strategies

Pursuing educational opportunities and mentally stimulating activities can help the brain stay sharp. “Brain training” can help increase resilience when faced with injury or disease, a phenomenon called cognitive reserve.

“Research shows that there is no one brain training program or activity that is superior,” Parker noted.

“Rather, it is important that you find what interests and challenges you, whether it be crossword puzzles, playing an instrument, reading, gaming, traveling, woodworking, gardening, or almost anything else.”

Social strategies

Investing early on and continuously in relationships is impactful. Research shows that depression and social isolation increase dementia risk.

“Strong social ties pay dividends across the lifespan including directly supporting brain health and mental wellness,” said Parker. 

Memory loss doesn’t always mean Alzheimer’s

Some clinical or outward signs of Alzheimer’s, such as memory loss, do not always indicate that Alzheimer’s disease pathology is present in the brain.

“Many folks I see in clinic often worry that any sign of forgetfulness means they are on a path to Alzheimer’s disease,” Parker said. “It’s important to understand that there are typical age-related cognitive changes that are not necessarily signs of disease.”

Examples of age-related forgetfulness may include:

• misplacing keys
• word finding trouble or “tip of the tongue” phenomenon
• forgetting the reason for walking into a room
• taking longer to complete tasks than before

“There are also other problems that can cause cognitive difficulties, such as depression, sleep apnea, heavy alcohol use, poorly controlled diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, infections, and many others,” Parker said.

If you’re concerned about your Alzheimer’s risk due to a family history of dementia, Parker said genetics plays a small role in Alzheimer’s disease occurring in those 60 and older. “Personal history often matters as much or more,” she noted.

However, early-age onset Alzheimer’s disease, like Moore’s character in “Still Alice,” is more often associated with genetic risks.

If you’re over 50 and experiencing memory loss that extends beyond forgetfulness, Parker recommended talking with a healthcare professional and asking for a comprehensive workup.

“Consultation with a neuropsychologist and cognitive neurologist can be especially helpful to get to the root cause of your memory concerns and develop an individualized treatment plan,” she said.

Bob Vylan sparked outrage by celebrating Charlie Kirk’s assassination onstage. The remarks…

Content source – www.soundhealthandlastingwealth.com

Nicole Eggert feels positive and healthy after her second mastectomy and reconstruction.…

Content source – www.soundhealthandlastingwealth.com

• A new pilot study reports that young adults experienced a 70% reduction in depression symptoms after following a ketogenic diet.
• Participants also reported improvements in cognitive performance, overall well-being, and modest weight loss.
• Researchers suggest that nutritional ketosis could potentially serve as an adjunctive therapy alongside medication and counseling.
• However, a keto diet is not a replacement for professional mental health support, and further research is needed before keto can be recommended as a standalone treatment.

A new study from Ohio State University has found that following a ketogenic diet may help reduce depression symptoms in young adults. 

The pilot trial tracked 16 college students with major depressive disorder over 10–12 weeks and found that participants experienced a roughly 70% decrease in depression scores. 

They also experienced improvements in overall well-being, cognitive performance, and even modest weight loss.

The 16 students who completed the pilot trial were receiving medication, counseling, or both for major depressive disorder (MDD) before beginning the keto diet. 

The findings suggest that attaining nutritional ketosis through diet is a feasible adjunctive therapy for depression and pave the way for a larger clinical trial. The findings were published on September 10 in Translational Psychiatry.

Previous research has suggested that medications and counseling reduce depressive symptoms by about 50% in a similar time period.

“A 70% drop in depression symptoms in just 10–12 weeks is impressive, especially alongside better well-being and memory, said Shelly Dar, a therapist specializing in anxiety and mood disorders. Dar wasn’t involved in the study.

“But I’d stress that this was a small pilot without a control group, so we can’t say keto caused the change,” she told Healthline.

Ketosis may improve brain function

The effects of the ketogenic diet on neurological conditions like epilepsy are well established. Therefore, the potential brain health benefits of ketosis are of increasing interest to researchers.

When the body is in a state of ketosis, the brain shifts from using glucose as its primary energy source to ketones, explained Mike Kocsis, founder of Balance My Hormones in the United Kingdom. Kocsis wasn’t involved in the new pilot study. 

“Ketones act as signaling molecules that can impact brain chemistry, he told Healthline. “This metabolic trigger may improve mitochondrial efficiency, lower inflammation, and stabilize blood sugar levels, all of which are linked to mood regulation.”

Ketones may also support the cycle of GABA (a calming neurotransmitter), which may help lower anxiety and regulate emotions. 

“In the Ohio State study, the participants not only had lower depression scores but also showed better cognitive performance, which means overall brain function has improved,” Kocsis noted.

Keto diet may support other mental health conditions

Emerging evidence suggests a ketogenic diet may support other mental health conditions.

Early studies have examined the effects of the keto diet on various neurological and psychiatric conditions, including:

• schizophrenia
• ADHD
• bipolar disorder
• Parkinson’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease

In a small 2024 study of three adults, complete remission of major depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) occurred within 7–12 weeks of therapeutic nutritional ketosis.

Larger studies, of course, are needed to confirm these findings.

Keto diet is not a substitute for treatment

The results of the new pilot study are certainly encouraging, but the research has some limitations.

Dar noted the findings show potential, not necessarily proof. Larger, more rigorous studies are needed before the keto diet should be recommended as a first-line treatment for depression.

“In my therapy work, I see how much clients want practical options they can control themselves, so findings like this feel encouraging, even if we need more evidence,” she added. 

Still, the keto diet should not be viewed as a substitute for medication or professional help. “I see diet as an add-on, not a replacement,” Dar said. 

“In the study, students kept their usual medication and counselling. That’s the safe model; we don’t want people dropping therapy or antidepressants in favor of a restrictive diet,” she continued.

According to Dar, there usually isn’t one single “fix” when it comes to treating depression.

Kocsis agreed. “Dietary interventions such as keto should be seen as complementary, not replacements, for certain treatments,” he said.

There are risks to consider, too. “Keto can be socially isolating, hard to stick to, and risky if you’ve ever struggled with disordered eating,” Dar said.

“As a therapist, I’d be mindful of the psychological impact of restrictive eating. It can either empower someone or tip them into old, unhelpful patterns,” she noted.

Getting help with depression 

If you’re experiencing symptoms associated with depression, remember that you’re not alone. Reach out to your doctor or a mental health professional for support.

In some cases, counseling, therapy, medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or a combination, may be needed.

If your doctor recommends the keto diet to complement your mental health treatment, Kocsis said to transition gradually. “Slowly start to reduce carbs over 1-2 weeks rather than cutting them overnight, as this will help minimize ‘keto-flu’ symptoms like fatigue and headaches,” he advised. 

“It’s a good idea to focus on whole foods, plenty of non-starchy vegetables, healthy fats such as olive oil, nuts, and avocado, and quality protein sources to avoid nutrient gaps,” he added. 

Dar noted that other, less restrictive dietary patterns, such as increasing your intake of whole foods and following a Mediterranean-style diet, have been shown to help support mood.

“What matters most is finding a sustainable routine that supports mental health without adding extra stress or pressure,” Dar said.

Diet aside, Dar said not to underestimate the power of healthy habits like good sleep, exercise, therapy, social support, and cutting back on alcohol or illicit substances. 

“These are powerful tools for mood, and I’d encourage anyone to build those habits, whether or not they try keto,” she said. “Small consistent changes like better sleep or daily structure can be just as stabilizing as bigger interventions.”