The U.S. could save nearly $30 billion dollars in health care spending over the next five years if it could reduce obesity rates by 5%. Keeping people healthy is the most effective and most intuitive ways to reduce health care spending.  One of the biggest drivers of preventable diseases is obesity.  A third of the country is obese, and another third is overweight.  Only a third of the U.S. falls … Continue reading →

Almost everyone has a sweet tooth.  The question is how to satisfy it when you are on a diet.  Deprivation is not always the best strategy on any weight loss plan or weight loss program.  It leads to resentment, and as resentment builds, the desire to rebel builds as well.  Rebellion can be a your worst enemy when you are trying to eat health and lose weight.  There is a … Continue reading →

Asthma is caused by inflammation, usually due to some allergic or other trigger.  The inflammation triggers swelling, which blocks the airways making it difficult to breathe.  Steroids reduce inflammation, which is the reason that these drugs tend to be the gold standard in asthma and allergy treatment.  Obesity also causes inflammation.  Experts speculate that the chronic inflammation may desensitize the body, making the drug less able to work. Regardless of … Continue reading →

Recently the FDA advisory panel recommended the approval of the diet pill Qnexa.  If the agency approves, it will be the only other FDA approved drug next to Xenical or Alli.  Qnexa combines two drugs: phentermine, a distant cousin of amphetamines or “speed”, & topiramate, a drug used for seizures and migraines.  Because of the risk of heart attacks and birth defects, Qnexa was previously denied approval.  The advisory panel reversed itself because of some positive data on blood … Continue reading →