With increasing interest in glucagon-like peptide medications and their potential role in weight loss and promoting healthy aging, Will Cole, a physician specializing in functional medicine, warned against excessive use of these medications, stressing that stopping hunger signals with an intense dose of peptides similar to an “atomic bomb” is not a solution.
Although he acknowledged the possibility that some patients could benefit from medications that activate glucagon-like peptide receptors, such as Ozambik and Wegovi, Cole told Fox News that he did not believe that taking large doses of them “forever and endlessly” represented the solution to improving metabolic health, as he said that this matter does not depend on medications alone, but also requires addressing factors related to lifestyle and general health.
He explained that these medications can reduce cravings for food and help lose weight, but he called for further research to find out whether reducing desire for food may also affect other desires related to reward and mood, such as love and social relationships.
"Are we going around certain paths and turning things that should not be treated as diseases into disease states?" Cole asked. He stressed that feeling hungry to a certain degree may be healthy, saying: “The desire to eat is actually a good thing when you are in a state of balance, so stopping hunger signals with a dose of peptides similar to an atomic bomb is not the solution.”
He also warned that excessive reliance on weight-loss medications may, in his opinion, contribute to patterns of eating disorders and to an increased fear of feeling hungry, attributing this to a culture that tends to search for quick solutions rather than making sustainable lifestyle changes.
Despite his warnings, Cole believes that drugs targeting glucagon-like peptide receptors hold important therapeutic potential, noting that they may contribute to reducing inflammation, helping to deal with some autoimmune diseases, and improving intestinal health. “But again, doctors should direct patients to take the lowest dose that achieves a beneficial result when combined with lifestyle,” he concluded. “I think this is where peptides can really shine.”
A new study reveals that children spending too much time in front of screens may cause them more harm than that caused by being born into poverty. According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, researchers from the University of Calgary in Canada analyzed data from more than 2.8 million children, from 23 previous statistical reviews, and looked into different patterns of screen use, such as playing electronic games, using social media, and watching online content, and their relationship to the child’s development.
Researchers found that increased time children spent in front of screens was associated with lower overall academic achievement and poorer development of language skills, along with difficulties forming friendships and relationships with peers. Greater use of screens has also been linked to increased symptoms of anxiety and depression, in addition to some behavioral problems, such as aggression and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
The researchers noted that the strength of these connections “outweighs” other influences that have been proven to affect a child’s development, such as birth into poverty, poor social status, poor parental behavior, and premature birth. “Our review revealed that so-called ‘doses’ of screen exposure, when high, are associated with lower overall academic achievement and poorer language development, as well as increased behavioral and emotional problems, and difficulties relating to peers,” the researchers wrote.
However, the researchers acknowledged that the study could not prove that screens were the direct cause of the problems that appeared in children. The trend could also be the opposite, as a child who already suffers from psychological or behavioral problems may resort to screens for longer periods. Also, family and social circumstances may affect the time a child spends in front of the screen and his psychological state.
A person may go through periods in which he feels that his body has become older than his actual age, as he experiences blurry thinking, frequent fatigue, shortness of breath, or infection more often than usual. According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, these symptoms may indicate a premature decline in the efficiency of the body's cells and organs, especially with malnutrition, lack of movement, sleep disturbance, and constant stress.
But what is striking is that the body's organs do not age at the same rate. A study conducted by Stanford University found that about one in five people over fifty had at least one organ aging faster than expected. Here's how to identify organs that may be under stress or strain, and what to do about it:
Brain: “If you often feel foggy and anxious, or have difficulty concentrating, this may be a sign of your brain aging prematurely,” says Dr. Josh Axe, a professor of functional medicine. The brain is the body's most energy-consuming organ, as it consumes 20 percent of the total energy the body needs. Neurons in the brain depend on huge numbers of mitochondria, which are the energy production centers in the cell, to convert glucose and fats into energy.
“When mitochondria weaken, brain function slows down,” Ax says. Likewise, when inflammation disrupts the functioning of neurotransmitters, your mood may be negatively affected, and when blood flow is disturbed, memory and the ability to concentrate may decline.” To maintain brain health, experts advise following a diet based on protein and foods rich in fiber, eating colorful vegetables and fruits, and fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, in addition to practicing regular physical activity.
Heart and blood vessels: The heart and blood vessels work non-stop to deliver oxygen and nutrients to various parts of the body, but with hardening of the arteries, the accumulation of inflammation, decreased mitochondrial efficiency, and the effects of stress and fatigue, the “heart age” may begin to rise. Doctors warn that heart problems may develop silently, as feeling that a person is healthy does not necessarily mean that the heart and blood vessels are free of problems.
Liver: The liver acts as one of the most important chemical processing centers in the body. It participates in dealing with nutrients and medications, and helps regulate sugar, fats, and hormones and gets rid of some harmful substances in the blood. The stress on the liver is not limited to alcohol consumption, as weight gain, insulin resistance, and a diet rich in highly processed foods can affect its health.
Immune system: As we age, the efficiency of the immune system may decline, a process known as immune senescence. As its ability to eliminate infection and damaged cells decreases, low-grade inflammation may increase within the body, which can affect the health of cells over time. The immune system is also linked to intestinal health, as there is a large percentage of immune cells in the digestive system, and the microorganisms present in it play a role in training the immune system and regulating its response.
