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BMI: why experts are calling for better ways of assessing health than a body mass index

Donna Lu
The Guardian
Tue, 01 Nov 2022 14:00 UTC
rabbit food
© Dreamer Company/Getty Images/iStockphoto
One PhD thesis found that people who focused on a healthy lifestyle, regardless of their body mass index (BMI), had more nourishing dietary patterns.
The index has remained popular because of its simplicity, but Australian experts agree it is too often seen as a one-stop indicator of health.

Most of us are no stranger to the body mass index: weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared.

At a population level, research tells us that having a higher BMI is associated with a greater risk of certain conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Rates of obesity, according to the World Health Organisation, have tripled globally since 1975.

But despite being enthusiastically adopted in doctors' rooms and also by average people to quantify their own body composition, BMI is much less useful as an individual health indicator.

Comment: Measuring the health of an individual is very complicated, and a quick calculation using two parameters is entirely insufficient in doing the job. BMI is not a health measurement and shouldn't be treated as such.

See also: How Flawed And Outdated Is The Body Mass Index (BMI) Measurement?

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Bacon

Red meat is not a health risk. New study slams years of shoddy research

Ross Pomeroy
Big Think
Sat, 12 Nov 2022 20:54 UTC
red meat healthy
© niloo / Adobe Stock
Studies have been linking red meat consumption to health problems like heart disease, stroke, and cancer for years. But nestled in the recesses of those published papers are notable limitations.

Nearly all the research is observational, unable to tease out causation convincingly. Most are plagued by confounding variables. For example, perhaps meat eaters simply eat fewer vegetables, or tend to smoke more, or exercise less? Moreover, many are based on self-reported consumption. The simple fact is that people can't remember what they eat with any accuracy. And lastly, the reported effect sizes in these scientific papers are often small. Is a supposed 15% greater risk of cancer really worth worrying about?
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Attention

Puberty blockers may have severe longterm effects on kids

Catherine Salgado
PJ Media
Thu, 17 Nov 2022 19:11 UTC
trans rights
© AP Photo/Armando Franca
Recent studies provide evidence on the effects of puberty blockers on kids, a field where hitherto there has been little to no longterm data or research. And the results are sobering. It turns out trying to tamper with natural biology has bad and sometimes permanent longterm consequences. Who would have thought?

Surprisingly, it's the New York Times that published an in-depth piece seeking to answer the question: "They Paused Puberty, but Is There a Cost?" The cost not only comes in delayed sexual development but in serious effects such as permanently retarded bone growth, infertility, and potential retarded brain development.

"Many physicians in the United States and elsewhere are prescribing blockers to patients at the first stage of puberty — as early as age 8 — and allowing them to progress to sex hormones as soon as 12 or 13," the Times said (emphasis added). But yet, "the United States had produced no data on the impact or safety of blockers, particularly among transgender patients under 12." There are 300,000 "trans" young Americans between the ages of 13 and 17, the Times reported, and an unknown number younger than that. That's a whole lot of children potentially seeking these treatments. So puberty blockers were being used on kids as young as eight, with no data on the safety and side effects? How is that allowed?

Comment: Back in October when Florida banned 'puberty blockers' and 'sex reassignment surgeries' for minors, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo had this to say:
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo slammed the federal guidance as a political move that lacks of evidence of assisting youths.

"The federal government's medical establishment releasing guidance failing at the most basic level of academic rigor shows that this was never about health care," Ladapo said in a statement. "It was about injecting political ideology into the health of our children. Children experiencing gender dysphoria should be supported by family and seek counseling, not pushed into an irreversible decision before they reach 18."

The state guidance added that "[s]ystematic reviews on hormonal treatment for young people show a trend of low-quality evidence, small sample sizes, and medium to high risk of bias."
See also: FDA officials warn of brain swelling, vision loss in minors using puberty blockers

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Attention

Europe faces 'cancer epidemic' after estimated 1m cases went undiagnosed during Covid lockdowns

Andrew Gregory
The Guardian
Thu, 17 Nov 2022 18:18 UTC
covid lab research
© Europa Press News/Getty Images
A scientist at a lab in Bilbao, Spain. The report warns that cancer health systems and research must be urgently prioritised to avoid a Europe-wide epidemic.
Report says 100m screenings lost because of pandemic, which had 'chilling effect' on research

Experts have warned that Europe faces a "cancer epidemic" unless urgent action is taken to boost treatment and research, after an estimated 1m diagnoses were missed during the pandemic.

The impact of Covid-19 and the focus on it has exposed "weaknesses" in cancer health systems and in the cancer research landscape across the continent, which, if not addressed as a matter of urgency, will set back cancer outcomes by almost a decade, leading healthcare and scientific experts say.

Comment: Not like physician haven't been sounding the alarm almost since lockdowns were first imposed.

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Pills

Increase in Adderall prescriptions leads to shortage, Harvard recommends users 'be more strategic'

Olivia Rondeau
The Post Millennnial
Wed, 16 Nov 2022 00:01 UTC
harvard adderall
The massive increase in demand for Adderall, a prescription stimulant used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has triggered a nationwide shortage of the drug, causing many Americans who rely on the medication to learn to live without it. In 2021, an astronomical 41.4 million prescriptions were filled, up more than 10 percent from 2020, according to health research group IQVIA.

In some advice to those going through withdrawal, Harvard Health recommended "to be more strategic until some of these shortages are straightened out."

According to an Axios report, prescriptions for the drug, an amphetamine, have been skyrocketing due to it becoming "easier and easier to get a diagnosis."

Comment: Managing a condition, which may not even be real, with powerful pharmaceuticals is a losing strategy, especially considering shortages are likely only going to be increasing in the immediate future. If you're reliant on these medications (or addicted to them), now is the time to reassess and find a better way of dealing with your issues.

See also:

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Heart

More 'sudden heart attacks' ...with a 'climate change' twist

Kit Knightly
Off-Guardian
Tue, 15 Nov 2022 18:09 UTC
Heart Attacks
© Off-Guardian
Anyone following the news cycle since the Covid "vaccines" rolled out has seen a simply remarkable uptick in the number of things that can reportedly cause sudden strokes or heart attacks.

Cold weather, hot weather, depression, various food, long covid AND short covid, new magical chemicals just found in the atmosphere, "post-pandemic stress disorder", undiagnosed aortic stenosis and expensive electricity.

That's not even an exhaustive list, it just goes on and on and on.

...and now we can add pollution to the rogues gallery, according to this piece from Science Alert, which headlines:
Tiny Particles in The Air May Trigger Sudden Heart Attacks, Study Suggests
On a similar theme, the Daily Mail headlined yesterday:
America's growing wildfire crisis could lead to a wave of heart attacks, lung disease and cancer diagnoses years down the line, scientists warn
Now, we don't need to break down these articles piece by piece, it's perfectly apparent what's happening here.

The Covid vaccines are either causing more heart attacks, or the people in charge are aware they might, and are prepping fall-back stories accordingly.
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Biohazard

Mould at home: How dangerous is it and what can be done?

James Gregory
BBC
Wed, 16 Nov 2022 03:03 UTC
scrubbing mold mould
© Getty Images
Exposure to mould in the home can be damaging to your health, causing allergic reactions and respiratory illnesses.

An inquest found on Tuesday that a two-year-old boy died as a result of a severe respiratory condition caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his home.

But what exactly is mould, when is it harmful, and what can be done about it in your house?

Comment: See also:

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Syringe

Mercola: Is Long-COVID the Elephant in the Room?

Dr Joseph Mercola
Mercola.com
Mon, 14 Nov 2022 07:08 UTC
spike protein covid
Long COVID, also known as long-haul COVID, chronic COVID or long-haul syndrome, refers to symptoms that persist for four or more weeks after an initial COVID-19 infection.1 However, while this condition has primarily been viewed as a side effect of the actual infection, many are reporting long COVID symptoms after getting the COVID shot as well,2 regardless of brand.

As reported by Science magazine,3 "In rare cases, coronavirus vaccines may cause long COVID-like symptoms," which can include (but is not limited to) brain fog, memory problems, headaches, blurred vision, loss of smell, nerve pain, heart rate fluctuations, dramatic blood pressure swings and muscle weakness. The feeling of "internal electric shocks" are also reported.

Comment: See also:

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Health

Return of the Flu! California hospitals erect overflow tents to cope with big early surge

Will Jones
The Daily Sceptic
Mon, 14 Nov 2022 15:54 UTC
flu tent california
Flu is back with an unusually large and early surge, leading several Southern California hospitals to begin using overflow tents to cope with a rising number of patients with flu and other respiratory illness. AP News has more.
The San Diego-Union Tribune reported Friday that tents were put up at Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas, Jacobs Medical Center at UC San Diego Health in La Jolla and Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa.

The move comes amid a rise in flu symptoms in emergency room patients in San Diego County. About 9% of these patients had flu symptoms last week, up from 7% two weeks ago, according to a county report that also flagged an increase in patients with COVID-19 symptoms, though not as quickly.

Scripps hospitals and doctor's offices reported 1,695 positive flu tests since September 1st, up from 471 in the same, year-ago period.

Health experts said it was not immediately clear whether flu cases would reach an earlier-than-usual peak in California, which typically sees the bulk of cases in December through February, or a prolonged flu season.

Comment: See also:

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Bacon n Eggs

Top Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland's mysterious carnivore diet makes him the best striker in Europe

Daniel Ballesteros
Mundo Deportivo
Fri, 28 Oct 2022 00:00 UTC
Erling Haaland
© Justin Setterfield / Getty
Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion
Erling Haaland has been stealing the spotlight since his days at Borussia Dortmund, but he's reached a new level after getting to the Premier League with Manchester City. Haaland's incredible talent has impressed even his most fervent detractors and has made everyone wonder how he does it. Thankfully, the Norwegian striker has let out some details of his special diet that keeps him in top form.

In the recent documentary "The Big Decision," Haaland confessed that, in addition to vast amounts of beef, he adds the livers and hearts of the animals for an extra kick of protein and iron. Haaland also spoke about his water filtration system and the importante of sunlight.

"Most people won't eat those parts, but I care about my body. I believe it's essential to eat high-quality foods that are locally sourced," Haaland stated. "People say that beef is bad for you, but which one? What you get at McDonalds? Or the meat from the cow roaming right outside your home?," Haaland claimed.

Comment: It sure seems to be working for him!

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