Digital: Get a food and activity tracker, barcode scanner, free rewards, and WW-approved recipes in the palm of your hand. All the tools you need in our award-winning app! Learn More. - Expiration: 12/31/2023

Digital: Get a food and activity tracker, barcode scanner, free rewards, and WW-approved recipes in the palm of your hand. All the tools you need in our award-winning app! Learn More. # Expiration: 12-31-2023

In good news for those averse to injections, GLP-1 agonist medication is a step closer to being offered in oral pill form, with AstraZeneca revealing "encouraging data" out of its Phase I study of its obesity and diabetes drug AZD5004.

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Category: Obesity, Illnesses and conditions, Body & Mind

Tags: AstraZeneca, Ozempic, Obesity, Weight Loss, Diabetes, GLP1, Drugs, clinical trials

Some nuts have incredible health benefits, helping reduce cancer risk and boost brain function. These five are the best, and they won't cause weight gain!

After a test drive, we share our verdict on the bike’s cut, design and mileage

Brewers have taken exception to the draft notification on it and demanded its withdrawal

Summary: The overhead of performing even simple tasks online is getting larger and larger. I question the security of almost all these supposedly "secure" messaging systems. And I'm tired of the 'Utopia of Rules' mindset pervasive in every organization. It's exhausting how they expect customers to constantly adapt to their needs.

I don't know if you recall the game Kerplunk. It's a classic children's game that has been around for decades. I remember playing it with my sister. The basic setup involves a transparent plastic tube, a number of sticks, and marbles. The sticks are threaded through the tube to form a web or nest at the bottom on which the marbles rest. We'd take turns removing a stick at a time, trying not to let any marbles fall through the web and out of the tube. At some point, the remaining sticks can't hold the marbles and everything falls down.

The modern web reminds me more and more of a big Kerplunk game and I think the marbles are about to fall. What started out as an easier way to do things like shop, bank, and get health care information has become increasingly complex over time. More and more of the email I receive seems to be simply directing me to log into some bespoke system to retrieve a message or engage in some workflow. And even with a password manager, the act of logging in is often a chore with different user interfaces, custom MFA requirements, and weird rules for passwords. Once you're on the system, session time-outs induce their own form of anxiety since stepping away for a few minutes to attend to something else might require going through the whole Kafkaesque process all over again. The modern web has turned into a dystopian theater of the absurd where even reading a simple appointment reminder from your doctor requires several minutes of stress-inducing interaction with baroque systems and processes.

And it's not just doctors, of course, banks, government agencies, hospitals, ecommerce sites, and customer service systems all adopt these special purpose messaging systems. If you ask these organizations why they use bespoke messaging systems, they'll list things like "timely and improved communication," "convenience," and "privacy and security." But the real reason is that it's more convenient for them because these systems are integrated with their backends and make their processes more manageable. There's certainly nothing about them that's more convenient, timely, or better than email for their customers¹.

I also question the privacy and security premise. Email can be insecure. And your email provider can see the contents of your emails. But the messaging system run by your doctor or bank is likely less secure than the email systems run by Apple, Google, and the others. And achieving privacy by making everything incompatible so that you have to use a different system for each correspondent is like chopping off your finger to prevent hangnails.

How did we get here? Bureaucracy. Not just government bureaucracy, but bureaucracy of all kinds. In Utopia of Rules², David Graeber talks about how power imbalances force the less powerful group to perform what he calls interpretive labor, the work of understanding and implementing what's better or more convenient for the more powerful partner. People are not equal participants in online interactions. We don't have the tools to be fully embodied online³. Because of this we are forced to play by the rules organizations online who are digitally embodied with servers, identity systems, customer management systems, and so on. And part of that is being forced to use their inconvenient and anemic messaging systems.

What's the answer? People need tools. I think digital wallets (a bad name for an important tool), autonomic (peer) identifiers with strong cryptography, and verifiable credentials are a huge step forward. These tools provide the means for people to be peers online rather that mere ghosts in someone else's machine. That's why I insist on using the term self-sovereign rather than decentralized to describe these systems. Cogito Ergo Sum.

Notes

1. For a deeper dive into why one-off messaging systems are never as good as email, see Rich Sharing and Personal Channels. Email and other useful messaging systems exhibit a property called rich sharing that makes them much more robust that the simple idea of "sharing a message" would bring to mind.
2. If you're interested in power imbalances and how they come about, I can't recommend Graeber's book highly enough. He had such a keen understanding of this problem and wrote about it in a way that's both informative and entertaining.
3. I talk about this in more detail in Chapter 17 of Learning Digital Identity when I discuss authentic digital relationships.

Photo Credit: Playing Kerplunk from DALL-E (public domain) Prompt: Draw a picture of a boy and girl playing kerplunk that's 1200x500 pixels

Tags: web identity authentication authorization verifiable+credentials

Cassie talks about her decision to use weight loss injections to improve her health.

Rob Guest raises more than £3,000 by lifting 450,000kg over his 24-hour challenge.

Pensioners Eddie and Maggie, from Wallsend, will get £10,000 a year after they were helped to apply.

In order to improve the identification accuracy, accuracy and time-consuming of traditional financial risk identification methods, this paper proposes a risk identification method for financial abnormal data based on weighted random forest. Firstly, SMOTE algorithm is used to collect abnormal financial data; secondly, the original accounting data is decomposed into features, and the features of abnormal data are extracted through random forests; then, the index weight is calculated according to the entropy weight method; finally, the negative gradient fitting is used to determine the loss function, and the weighted random forest method is used to solve the loss function value, and the recognition result is obtained. The results show that the identification accuracy of this method can reach 99.9%, the accuracy rate can reach 96.06%, and the time consumption is only 6.8 seconds, indicating that the risk identification effect of this method is good.

In order to solve the problems of large generalisation error, low recall rate and low retrieval accuracy of customer evaluation information in traditional trust evaluation methods, an evaluation method of customer trust in e-commerce market based on entropy weight analytic hierarchy process was designed. Firstly, build an evaluation index system of customer trust in e-commerce market. Secondly, the customer trust matrix is established, and the index weight is calculated by using the analytic hierarchy process and entropy weight method. Finally, five-scale Likert method is used to analyse the indicator factors and establish a comment set, and the trust evaluation value is obtained by combining the indicator membership. The experiment shows that the maximum generalisation error of this method is only 0.029, the recall rate is 97.5%, and the retrieval accuracy of customer evaluation information is closer to 1.

Using information criteria is a common method for making a decision about which model to use for forecasting. There are many different methods for evaluating forecasting models, such as MAE, RMSE, MAPE, and Theil-U, among others. After the creation of AIC, AICc, HQ, BIC, and BICc, the two criteria that have become the most popular and commonly utilised are Bayesian IC and Akaike's IC. In this investigation, we are innovative in our use of exponential weighting to get the log-likelihood of the information criteria for model selection, which means that we propose assigning greater weight to more recent data in order to reflect their increased precision. All research data is from the major stock markets' daily observations, which include the USA (GSPC, DJI), Europe (FTSE 100, AEX, and FCHI), and Asia (Nikkei).

“My body has changed a little bit, but I weigh the same.”

The post Needham native on International Space Station says she’s healthy after media report that she’s dropped weight appeared first on Boston.com.

Jason carried $100,000 of debt and felt as though he could barely breathe. That's when he followed a life-changing principle that led to a debt-free life and financial freedom. You can be free too!

Gold Bond High Strength Fire-Shield LITE Gypsum Board is a specialty gypsum board formulated to be up to 15 percent lighter than standard 5/8-inch Type X gypsum board.

The EVOLite Skyworker Helmet is an extremely lightweight (less than 1 pound) helmet designed for working at height.

AeroDex is a lightweight shell technology glove designed to deliver 360-degree A4 cut resistance – more than 50 percent lighter than a comparable Cut A4.

VAPex – an advanced, lightweight low-flow pump – is the ideal solution for seamless chemical exposure reporting at the employee level, resulting in significant time-savings for occupational hygienists.

Uppsala, Sweden — Losing sleep, even for one night, can negatively impact metabolism and help trigger excess weight gain – possibly explaining a link between sleep deprivation and shift worker health problems – according to the results of a recent study conducted by researchers at Uppsala University.

Philadelphia – Financial incentives are ineffective at encouraging obese workers to lose weight, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania.

This Heavyweight Pullover FR Sweatshirt is available in navy and gray, and in zip-front and crew neck styles.

Maywood, IL — Chest muscle tears caused by weightlifting were treated at an “alarming frequency” in 2013 and 2014 at one armed forces hospital overseas, according to a recent study conducted by military surgeons.

Washington – OSHA has extended, to May 2, the deadline to submit comments on the agency’s draft document on using the “weight of evidence” approach to classifying hazardous chemicals.

Washington – A new draft OSHA document outlines how employers can use an approach known as “weight of evidence” to assist in classifying hazardous chemicals.

With a lightweight, rimless frame, the Bullseye has a trendy design with a lens treatment to fit multiple applications.

Washington – The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety has announced its opposition to any increases in federal truck size and weight limits due to concerns about alleged flaws in an upcoming government study on the increases.

Washington — As the Environmental Protection Agency considers regulating the manufacture, processing and distribution of lead wheel weights, it’s seeking stakeholder feedback on how workers and families may be exposed to lead.

Innova Market Insights finds various product claims targeting the weight-conscious consumer. They include “no added sugar,” “low fat,” “low calorie” and others.

The appetite management properties of Amarasate are backed by science. Developed by New Zealand's Plant & Food Research institute over a six-year project, the extract was found to be the most effective compound (out of more than 900 plants screened) to trigger 'the bitter brake' – an evolutionary response whereby bitter compounds trigger a 'stop eating' signal in the brain.

The ability to lose weight and keep it off is the central focus of a health and wellness-focused collaborative study led by researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus with support from DuPont Nutrition & Health.

A recently published scientific study has shown that BENEO’s slow release and low glycemic carbohydrate Palatinose™ supports additional loss of body weight and fat mass in overweight and obese adults, when replacing sucrose in a weight loss diet. Findings from a recently published scientific study are linked to the advantage of Palatinose™ in steering the metabolism towards fat burning and highlight that carbohydrate choice matters in a weight loss diet, beyond calorie counting.

The fitfactor Weight Management System™ includes protein shakes, bars, and weight management supplements, combined with online nutrition coaching and community.

Where the focus in developing foods and beverages for better weight management once was on sweeteners and calorie cutting, today's weight-management products reflect the protein trend, especially the emphasis on plant proteins.

By embracing this momentum, BENEO is supporting brand manufacturers in product development with natural and scientifically proven ingredients.

By acknowledging the feelings of isolation and frustrations that many experience, Atkins Way offers a better way, providing freedom from a lifetime of dieting through a joyful approach to eating, says the brand. 

New possibilities for projects where weight is a concern.

I'm going to start a nomadic life soon. I'll need to carry a lot of stuff with me unless I decide to get a storage unit and pick a home base city. I'm hoping to get down to 2x100L bags or preferably a single 130-160L bag that I don't need to...

Young people with severe obesity who underwent weight-loss surgery at age 19 or younger continued to see sustained weight loss and resolution of common obesity-related comorbidities 10 years later, according to results from a large clinical study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The post NIH study demonstrates long-term benefits of weight-loss surgery in young people was curated by information for practice.

Young people with severe obesity who underwent weight-loss surgery at age 19 or younger continued to see sustained weight loss and resolution of common obesity-related comorbidities 10 years later, according to results from a large clinical study.

The post Long-term benefits of weight-loss surgery in young people was curated by information for practice.

American Journal of Men’s Health, Volume 18, Issue 5, September-October 2024. Hispanic men have the highest prevalence of obesity relative to other racial and ethnic subgroups; however, this population is consistently underrepresented in weight management interventions. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of behavioral weight management interventions adapted for Hispanic men and describe […]

The post Behavioral Weight Management Interventions for Hispanic Men in the United States: A Systematic Review was curated by information for practice.

Shakespeare in Clark Park celebrates its 20th season with a light-hearted and musically-inclined As You Like It. Set in...

Lose weight without spending a cent The story of how I lost 20 kilogrammes (44 lb) in less than three months without going hungry or getting bored and without spending one cent What? Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey writing a non-political article, without bashing someone on the head and claiming about human rights, indigenous rights, women’s rights, without haranging the war lobby, the pharma lobby, the military-industrial complex?

Photo credits: Wikipedia/Faren29/CC BY-SA 4.0 By Romer Cherubim, UK Anthony Joshua lost his four heavyweight boxing titles on 01 June in spectacular fashion against Andy Ruiz Jr. at Madison Square Garden, NYC, USA. Eddie Hearn's master plan to introduce Joshua to the American public and make him look good, failed. Hearn did everything in his power to help Joshua to win his first defence of his heavyweight crown on American soil. By selecting Andy Ruiz Jr. as Joshua's next opponent, with Ruiz Jr. having only six weeks' notice of the fight, Hearn was convinced that Joshua was guaranteed an easy pay day. However, the likeable Ruiz Jr. tore up the script and proved all doubters wrong by producing a skillful display of boxing and sticking to a workable game plan. This was not a one punch wonder.

According to dietician Elena Solomatina, overeating can have fatal consequences. Internal organs often suffer, as the swollen stomach presses on the diaphragm, which can even lead to death during sleep. Existing medical conditions can also worsen, causing belching, gastritis, and inflamed gallbladder. "If a person sleeps with a full stomach, it can lead to snoring and even to stopping breathing during sleep. If there are already cardiovascular diseases, it can lead to heart failure, angina, and even a heart attack or stroke... If there is nausea, vomiting with greenish content, weakness - an ambulance must be called," Solomatina was quoted as saying by URA.RU. To reduce the risk of aggravating old illnesses and let the food lump pass, it is necessary to take a walk in the fresh air. Afterwards, it is recommended to prepare a caffeine-containing beverage that can act as a mild laxative.

Low-molecular-weight (LMW) thiols are involved in many processes in all organisms, playing a protective role against reactive species, heavy metals, toxins and antibiotics. Actinobacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, use the LMW thiol mycothiol (MSH) to buffer the intracellular redox environment. The NADPH-dependent FAD-containing oxidoreductase mycothiol disulfide reductase (Mtr) is known to reduce oxidized mycothiol disulfide (MSSM) to MSH, which is crucial to maintain the cellular redox balance. In this work, the first crystal structures of Mtr are presented, expanding the structural knowledge and understanding of LMW thiol reductases. The structural analyses and docking calculations provide insight into the nature of Mtrs, with regard to the binding and reduction of the MSSM substrate, in the context of related oxidoreductases. The putative binding site for MSSM suggests a similar binding to that described for the homologous glutathione reductase and its respective substrate glutathione disulfide, but with distinct structural differences shaped to fit the bulkier MSSM substrate, assigning Mtrs as uniquely functioning reductases. As MSH has been acknowledged as an attractive antitubercular target, the structural findings presented in this work may contribute towards future antituberculosis drug development.

A growing amount of scientific evidence indicates that how much weight women gain during pregnancy and their starting weight at conception can affect their health and that of their babies, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council.