The world of weight loss is always changing, and new ideas are making it easier for people to manage their weight and stay healthy. In San Francisco Medicine, Dr. Sean Bourke, cofounder of JumpstartMD, recently shared seven exciting new discoveries that are shaking up the way we think about weight loss. Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s new:

1. Not All Calories Are the Same

Scientists are finding out that carbohydrates (like bread and sugar) may be worse for weight gain than fat. This means that diets should be customized based on how well a person handles carbs, making it easier to lose weight and stay healthy.

2. New Health Tests

Two new tests are being developed to better understand how our bodies react to food and how well weight loss treatments are working. One of these tests can even measure the size of certain fat particles in your blood, which helps doctors figure out your risk for heart disease.

3. Benefits of a Keto Diet

New research shows that a ketogenic diet (a low-carb, high-fat diet) can reduce stress in your body’s cells and might even help prevent diseases like heart disease and Alzheimer’s. This diet could also help slow down aging.

4. New FDA-Approved Weight Loss Medication

The FDA has approved a new medication called Qsymia for long-term weight loss. This approval could make it easier for doctors to prescribe safe and effective weight loss drugs that help people manage their weight over time.

5. Exercise Isn’t a Magic Solution for Weight Loss

While exercise is great for staying healthy, it doesn’t help with weight loss as much as we used to think. Focusing on what you eat is more important for losing weight. Exercise is still important for keeping the weight off and staying fit, but it’s not the main solution for weight loss.

6. Eating Real Food

Leaders like Alice Waters and Michael Pollan are encouraging people to eat simple, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. Eating real, unprocessed food is becoming more popular and is key to fighting obesity.

7. A Healthier Future

The best way to tackle obesity is by eating real, healthy foods instead of processed junk. At JumpstartMD, we focus on helping people learn how to eat better and live healthier lives, which leads to lasting weight loss and better overall health.

These discoveries are making it easier to understand how to lose weight and stay healthy. To learn more, check out the full article here.