Researchers have proven one of the biggest dieting theories… DON’T skip breakfast if you want to lose weight and stay healthy, because there’s a lot of truth in that old saying that “a good breakfast sets you up for the day”.

A healthy protein-rich breakfast makes you feel fuller for longer, which reduces the urge to snack through the day. Missing breakfast is associated with unhealthy snacking and overeating, weight gain and obesity.

The Dukan Diet is the latest phase to hit the media. Billed as a better version of the Atkins diet, its celebrity following is said to include the Duchess of Cambridge (formerly known as Kate Middleton) and her mother, who reportedly used it in advance of the big royal wedding.

However, The British Dietetic Association has now ranked it one of the top five worst diets, while Harvard University’s School of Public Health called it “entirely unscientific.”

Tina Malone updated the Loose Women on her dramatic weight loss last week, revealing that she’s now a size 12 and has lost 7 stone 4 since having her gastric band fitted in March 2010.

“You look amazing” said presenter Kate Thornton.

The Loose Women team have been fascinated to track Tina’s progress and this was her 3rd appearance on the show in the last year. Unlike other celebrities, Tina has been public about her decision to have a gastric band from the outset.

The gastric band is the most popular surgical weight loss option by far, offering an adjustable tool to control patients’ appetite and food intake.

The keyhole procedure nowadays takes around half an hour and success rates are excellent. Leading provider, The Hospital Group, boasts that 99% of its patients lose weight with the gastric band.

However, having the gastric band fitted is only the start of the journey and prospective patients should that while the band makes them feel fuller faster and for longer, they do need to work with the band in reducing portion sizes so that they lose weight.

A new report by the World Health Organisation has revealed that British men are the 3rd fattest in Europe and 21st fattest in the world, with 67.8% of males over 15 being overweight or obese.

Looking at the worldwide picture, out of 192 countries, British men were ranked 21st fattest.

The picture for women is slightly better – British females were 51st fattest in the world.

Watch out royal newly weds, research has shown that married couples are twice as likely to be fat!

Married men were found to be 3 times as likely to be overweight and women twice as likely as their unmarried counterparts.

A research study in Greece showed that married couples new lifestyle put them at risk of “letting themselves go”.

The results showed that “comfortable married life” is not necessarily conducive to a healthy lifestyle.

New research in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology urges patients with fat around the waist to try to lose weight, after researchers from The Mayo Clinic team in the USA showed that people with coronary artery disease have an increased risk of death if they have fat around the waist.

The study analysed data from 15,923 patients. Researchers reviewed hip and waist measurements to see how much fat each patient was carrying around the tummy, as well as BMI which is a statistical function of a patient’s comparing height and weight. UK guidelines state that a healthy BMI is between 20-25.

Easter is a wonderful time for celebration. With 2 bank holidays and comparatively less pressure and stress compared to Christmas, it’s a time when people are able to relax, enjoy the good weather and meet up with families and friends.

But as we return to work this week, many of us are contemplating the need to cut back a bit after a bit too much indulgence.

Researchers in the USA have shown that obese or overweight patients who lose weight experience an improvement in symptoms of depression.
Previous studies have shown that by losing even a small amount of weight, overweight people can improve their mental, as well as physical health.

The Lancet this month features results of the latest obesity drug to be trialled. Scientists have revealed that a new low-dose, controlled-release, phentermine plus topiramate combination is more effective than prescription obesity drug Orlistat in delivering measurable weight loss.
However, considerable further testing will be required before this drug combination is available to the public, as there are concerns about the safety of this combination of powerful drugs.