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Drugs like Ozempic won’t ‘cure’ obesity but they might make us more fat-phobic

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emma-beckett-22673">Emma Beckett</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a> Many have <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/03/02/new-drugs-could-spell-an-end-to-the-worlds-obesity-epidemic">declared</a> drugs like Ozempic could “end obesity” by reducing the appetite and waistlines of millions of people around the world. When we look past the hype, this isn’t just untrue – it can also be harmful. The focus on weight, as opposed to health, is a feature of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277539521001217">diet culture</a>. This frames the pursuit of thinness as more important than other aspects of physical and cultural wellbeing. The Ozempic buzz isn’t just rooted in health and medicine but plays into ideas of <a href="https://butterfly.org.au/weight-bias-fatphobia-diet-culture/#:%7E:text=Weight%20bias%2C%20sometimes%20also%20called,or%20being%20around%20fat%20people.">fat stigma and fat phobia</a>. This can perpetuate fears of fatness and fat people, and the behaviours that <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/S12916-018-1116-5">harm people who live in larger bodies</a>. <h2>Not the first ‘miracle’ weight-loss drug</h2> This isn’t the first time we have heard that weight-loss drugs will change the world. Ozempic and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551568/">its family</a> of GLP-1-mimicking drugs are the <a href="https://theconversation.com/ozempic-is-in-the-spotlight-but-its-just-the-latest-in-a-long-and-strange-history-of-weight-loss-drugs-209324">latest in a long line of weight loss drugs</a>. Each looked promising at the time. But none have lived up to the hype in the long term. Some have even been withdrawn from sale due to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5126837/">severe side effects</a>. Science does improve <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30028-8/fulltext">incrementally</a>, but diet culture also keeps us on a cycle of hope for the next <a href="https://sahrc.org/2022/04/diet-culture-a-brief-history/">miracle cure</a>. So drugs like Ozempic might not deliver the results individuals expect, continuing the cycle of hope and shame. <h2>Ozempic doesn’t work the same for everyone</h2> When we talk about the results of studies using Ozempic, we often <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3719041/">focus on the average</a> (also known as the mean) results or the maximum (or peak) results. So, studies might <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9486455/">show</a> those using the drug lost an average of 10.9% of their body weight, but some lost more than 20% and others less than 5% What we don’t talk about as much is that responses are variable. Some people are “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212877820301769">non-responders</a>”. This means not everyone loses as much weight as the average, and some don’t lose weight at all. For some people, the side-effects will outweigh the benefits. When people are on drugs like Ozempic, their blood sugar is better controlled by enhancing the release of insulin and reducing the levels of another hormone called glucagon. But there is greater variability in the amount of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212877820301769#bib88">weight lost</a> than the variability in blood sugar control. It isn’t clear why, but is likely due to differences in genetics and lifestyles, and weight being more complex to regulate. <h2>Treatment needs to be ongoing. What will this mean?</h2> When weight-loss drugs do work, they are only effective while they’re being taken. This means that to keep the weight off people need to keep taking them long term. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9542252/">One study found</a> an average weight loss of more than 17% after a year on Ozempic became an average net weight loss of 5.6% more than two years after stopping treatment. Short-term side effects of drugs like Ozempic include dizziness, nausea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal upsets. But because these are new drugs, we simply don’t have data to tell us if side effects will increase as people take them for longer periods. Nor do we know if <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/why-weight-loss-drugs-stop-working-how-to-break-past-ozempic-plateau#:%7E:text=A%20lifetime%20commitment%20to%20Ozempic&text=By%20these%20standards%2C%20such%20drugs,long%2Dterm%20risk%20is%20unknown.">effectiveness will be reduced</a> in the long term. This is called <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/drug-tolerance#:%7E:text=A%20condition%20that%20occurs%20when,or%20different%20medicine%20is%20needed.">drug tolerance</a> and is documented for other long-term treatments such as antidepressants and chemotherapies. <h2>Biology is only part of the story</h2> For some people, using GLP-1-mimicking drugs like Ozempic will be validating and empowering. They will feel like their biology has been “normalised” in the same way that blood pressure or cholesterol medication can return people to the “normal” range of measures. But biologically, obesity <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7202176/#:%7E:text=Obesity%20behaves%20as%20complex%20polygenic,about%2080%25%20(3).">isn’t solely about GLP-1 activity</a> with <a href="https://www.worldobesity.org/what-we-do/our-policy-priorities/the-roots-of-obesity">many other</a> hormones, physical activity, and even our gut microbes involved. Overall, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278977/">obesity is complex and multifaceted</a>. Obesity isn’t just driven by personal biology and choice; it has social, cultural, political, environmental and economic determinants. <h2>A weight-centred approach misses the rest of the story</h2> The weight-centred approach <a href="https://butterfly.org.au/body-image/health-not-weight/#:%7E:text=Health%20and%20wellbeing%20are%20multi,on%20their%20size%20or%20appearance.">suggests that leading with thinness means health will follow</a>. But changing appetite is only part of the story when it comes to health. Obesity often <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667368123000335#:%7E:text=Obesity%20related%20malnutrition%20can%20also,%5D%2C%20%5B7%5D%5D.">co-exists with malnutrition</a>. We try to separate the effects in research using statistics, but focusing on the benefits of weight-loss drugs without addressing the underlying malnutrition means we aren’t likely to see the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ozempic-diet-exercise-healthy-43eee86c">improved health outcomes in everyone who loses weight</a>. <h2>Obesity isn’t an issue detached from people</h2> Even when it is well-intentioned, the rhetoric around the joy of “ending the obesity epidemic” can <a href="https://theconversation.com/ozempic-the-miracle-drug-and-the-harmful-idea-of-a-future-without-fat-211661">harm people</a>. Obesity doesn’t occur in isolation. It is people who are obese. And the celebration and hype of these weight-loss drugs can reinforce harmful fat stigma. The framing of these drugs as a “cure” exacerbates the binary view of thin versus fat, and healthy versus unhealthy. These are not binary outcomes that are good or bad. Weight and health exist on a spectrum. Ironically, while fat people are told they need to lose weight for their health, they are also <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/ozempic-shame-why-users-are-embarrassed-to-admit-using-weight-loss-wonder-drug/news-story/ee52a819c69459afe6576d25988f9bd6">shamed for “cheating” or taking shortcuts</a> by using medication. <h2>Drugs are tools, not silver bullets</h2> The creation of these drugs is a start, but they remain expensive, and the hype has been followed by <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/shortages/information-about-major-medicine-shortages/about-ozempic-semaglutide-shortage-2022-and-2023#:%7E:text=Consumer%20Medicine%20Information%20.-,Why%20the%20Ozempic%20shortage%20happened,label%20prescribing%20for%20weight%20loss.">shortages</a>. Ultimately, complex challenges aren’t addressed with simple solutions. This is particularly true when people are involved, and even more so when there isn’t even an agreement on what the challenge is. Many organisations and individuals see obesity is a disease and believe this framing helps people to seek treatment. Others think it’s unnecessary to attach medical labels to body types and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreykabat/2013/07/09/why-labeling-obesity-as-a-disease-is-a-big-mistake/?sh=5ca95cc2103b">argue</a> it confuses risk factors (things that are linked to increased risk of illness) with illness itself. Regardless, two things will always remain true. Drugs can only ever be tools, and those tools need to be applied in a context. To use these tools ethically, we need to remain mindful of who this application harms along the way. <hr /> Read the other articles in The Conversation’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/ozempic-series-154673">Ozempic series</a> here.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/219309/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emma-beckett-22673">Emma Beckett</a>, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Innovation - School of Health Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/drugs-like-ozempic-wont-cure-obesity-but-they-might-make-us-more-fat-phobic-219309">original article</a>.

Body

Can I actually target areas to lose fat, like my belly?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-fuller-219993">Nick Fuller</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Spend some time scrolling social media and you’re all-but-guaranteed to see an ad promising to help you with targeted fat loss. These ads promote a concept known as “spot reduction”, claiming you can burn fat in a specific body area, usually the belly, with specially designed exercises or workouts. It’s also common to see ads touting special diets, pills and supplements that will blast fat in targeted areas. These ads – which often feature impressive before and after photos taken weeks apart – can seem believable. Unfortunately, spot reduction is another weight-loss myth. It’s simply not possible to target the location of fat loss. Here’s why. <h2>1. Our bodies are hardwired to access and burn all our fat stores for energy</h2> To understand why spot reduction is a myth, it’s important to understand how body fat is stored and used. The fat stored in our bodies takes the form of triglycerides, which are a type of lipid or fat molecule we can use for energy. Around 95% of the dietary fats <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/triglycerides">we consume are triglycerides</a>, and when we eat, our bodies also convert any unused energy consumed into triglycerides. Triglycerides are stored in special fat cells called adipocytes, and they’re released into our bloodstream and transported to adipose tissue – tissue we more commonly refer to as body fat. This body fat is found all over our bodies, but it’s primarily stored as subcutaneous fat under our skin and as visceral fat around our internal organs. These fat stores serve as a vital energy reserve, with our bodies mobilising to access stored triglycerides to provide energy during periods of prolonged exercise. We also draw on these reserves when we’re dieting and fasting. However, contrary to what many spot-reduction ads would have us think, our muscles can’t directly access and burn specific fat stores when we exercise. Instead, they use a process called lipolysis to convert triglycerides into free fatty acids and a compound called glycerol, which then travels to our muscles via our bloodstream. As a result, the fat stores we’re using for energy when we exercise come from everywhere in our bodies – not just the areas we’re targeting for fat loss. Research reinforces how our bodies burn fat when we exercise, confirming spot reduction is a weight-loss myth. This includes a randomised <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25766455/">12-week clinical trial</a> which found no greater improvement in reducing belly fat between people who undertook an abdominal resistance program in addition to changes in diet compared to those in the diet-only group. Further, <a href="https://www.termedia.pl/A-proposed-model-to-test-the-hypothesis-of-exerciseinduced-localized-fat-reduction-spot-reduction-including-a-systematic-review-with-meta-analysis,129,45538,0,1.html">a 2021 meta-analysis</a> of 13 studies involving more than 1,100 participants found that localised muscle training had no effect on localised fat deposits. That is, exercising a specific part of the body did not reduce fat in that part of the body. <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/7/3845">Studies</a> purporting to show spot-reduction benefits have small numbers of participants with results that aren’t clinically meaningful. <h2>2. Our bodies decide where we store fat and where we lose it from first</h2> Factors outside of our control influence the areas and order in which our bodies store and lose fat, namely: <ul> <li> our genes. Just as DNA prescribes whether we’re short or tall, genetics plays a significant role in how our fat stores are managed. Research shows our genes can account for <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24632736/">60% of where fat is distributed</a>. So, if your mum tends to store and lose weight from her face first, there’s a good chance you will, too </li> <li> our gender. Our bodies, by nature, have distinct fat storage characteristics <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11706283/">driven by our gender</a>, including females having more fat mass than males. This is primarily because the female body is designed to hold fat reserves to support pregnancy and nursing, with women tending to lose weight from their face, calves and arms first because they impact childbearing the least, while holding onto fat stored around the hips, thighs and buttocks </li> <li> our age. The ageing process triggers changes in muscle mass, metabolism, and hormone levels, which can impact where and how quickly fat is lost. Post-menopausal <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-menopause-making-me-put-on-weight-no-but-its-complicated-198308">women</a> and middle-aged <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/sex-differences-in-fat-storage-fat-metabolism-and-the-health-risks-from-obesity-possible-evolutionary-origins/00950AD6710FB3D0414B13EAA67D4327">men</a> tend to store visceral fat around the midsection and find it a stubborn place to shift fat from. </li> </ul> <h2>3. Over-the-counter pills and supplements cannot effectively target fat loss</h2> Most advertising for these pills and dietary supplements – including products claiming to be “the best way to lose belly fat” – will also proudly claim their product’s results are backed by “clinical trials” and “scientific evidence”. But the reality is a host of independent studies don’t support these claims. This includes two recent studies by the University of Sydney that examined data from more than 120 placebo-controlled trials of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31984610/">herbal</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33976376/">dietary</a> supplements. None of the supplements examined provided a clinically meaningful reduction in body weight among overweight or obese people. <h2>The bottom line</h2> Spot reduction is a myth – we can’t control where our bodies lose fat. But we can achieve the results we’re seeking in specific areas by targeting overall fat loss. While you may not lose the weight in a specific spot when exercising, all physical activity helps to burn body fat and preserve muscle mass. This will lead to a change in your body shape over time and it will also help you with long-term weight management. This is because your metabolic rate – how much energy you burn at rest – is determined by how much muscle and fat you carry. As muscle is more metabolically active than fat (meaning it burns more energy than fat), a person with a higher muscle mass will have a faster metabolic rate than someone of the same body weight with a higher fat mass. Successfully losing fat long term comes down to losing weight in small, manageable chunks you can sustain – periods of weight loss, followed by periods of weight maintenance, and so on, until you achieve your goal weight. It also requires gradual changes to your lifestyle (diet, exercise and sleep) to ensure you form habits that last a lifetime. At the Boden Group, Charles Perkins Centre, we are studying the science of obesity and running clinical trials for weight loss. You can <a href="https://redcap.sydney.edu.au/surveys/?s=RKTXPPPHKY">register here</a> to express your interest.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/205203/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-fuller-219993">Nick Fuller</a>, Charles Perkins Centre Research Program Leader, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-i-actually-target-areas-to-lose-fat-like-my-belly-205203">original article</a>.

Body

Censorship or sensible: is it bad to listen to Fat Bottomed Girls with your kids?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/liz-giuffre-105499">Liz Giuffre</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a> International music press has reported this week that Queen’s song Fat Bottomed Girls <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/queen-fat-bottomed-girls-greatest-hits-1235396348/">has not been included</a> in a greatest hits compilation aimed at children. While there was no formal justification given, presumably lyrics “fat bottomed” and “big fat fatty” were the problem, and even the very singable hook, “Oh, won’t you take me home tonight”. Predictably, The Daily Mail and similar outlets used it as an excuse to bemoan cancel culture, political correctness and the like, with the headline “<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12424449/We-woke-Classic-Queen-song-Fat-Bottomed-Girls-mysteriously-dropped-groups-new-Greatest-Hits-collection.html">We Will Woke You</a>” quickly out of the gate. Joke headlines aside, should children be exposed to music with questionable themes or lyrics? The answer is not a hard yes or no. My colleague Shelley Brunt and I studied a range of factors and practices relating to <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Popular-Music-and-Parenting/Brunt-Giuffre/p/book/9780367367138">Popular Music and Parenting</a>, and we found that more important than individual songs or concerts is the support children are given when they’re listening or participating. A parent or caregiver should always be part of a conversation and some sort of relationship when engaging with music. This can involve practical things like making sure developing ears aren’t exposed to too harsh a volume or that they know how to find a trusted adult at a concert. But this also extends to the basics of media and cultural literacy, like what images and stories are being presented in popular music, and how we want to consider those in our own lives. In the same way you’d hope someone would talk to a child to remind them that superheroes can’t actually fly (and subsequently if you’re dressed as a superhero for book week don’t go leaping off tall buildings!), popular music of all types needs to be contextualised. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VMnjF1O4eH0?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Should we censor, or change, the way popular music is presented for kids?</h2> There is certainly a long tradition of amending popular songs to make them child or family friendly. On television, this has happened as long as the medium has been around, with some lyrics and dance moves toned down to appease concerned parents and tastemakers about the potential evils of pop. Famously, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oim51kUg748">Elvis Presley serenaded a literal Hound Dog</a> rather than the metaphorical villain of his 1950s hit. In Australia, the local TV version of <a href="https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/music-on-film-and-tv/bandstand-australia/">Bandstand</a> from the 1970s featured local artists singing clean versions of international pop songs while <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guembJBOOyI">wearing modest hems and neck lines</a>. This continued with actual children also re-performing pop music, from the Mickey Mouse Club versions of songs from the US to our own wonderful star factory that was <a href="https://theconversation.com/all-my-loving-young-talent-time-still-glows-50-years-since-first-airing-on-australian-tv-159533">Young Talent Time</a>. The tradition continues today with family-friendly, popular music-based programming like The Voice and The Masked Singer. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oim51kUg748?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> In America, there is a huge industry for children’s versions of pop music via the Kidz Bop franchise. Its formula of child performers covering current hits has been wildly successful for over 20 years. Some perhaps obvious substitutions are made – the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkctByJbtNY">cover of Lizzo’s About Damn Time</a> is now “About That Time”, with the opening lyric changed to “Kidz Bop O’Clock” rather than “Bad Bitch O’Clock”. In some other Kidz Bop songs, though, <a href="https://pudding.cool/2020/04/kidz-bop/">references to violence and drugs have been left in</a>. Other longer-standing children’s franchises have also made amendments to pop lyrics, but arguably with a bit more creativity and fun. The Muppets’ cover of Bohemian Rhapsody, replacing the original murder with a rant from Animal, is divine. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tgbNymZ7vqY?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Should music ever just be for kids?</h2> Context is key when deciding what is for children or for adults. And hopefully we’re always listening (in some way) together. Caregivers should be able to make an informed decision about whether a particular song is appropriate for their child, however they consider that in terms of context. By the same token, the resurgence of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/05/how-the-wiggles-took-over-the-world-and-got-the-cool-kids-on-side-too">millennial love</a> for The Wiggles has shown us no one should be considered “too old” for Hot Potato or Fruit Salad. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/quHus3DwN4Q?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> When considering potential harm for younger listeners, factors like <a href="https://kidsafeqld.com.au/risks-noise-exposure-baby/">volume and tone</a> can be more dangerous than whether or not there’s a questionable lyric. Let’s remember, too, lots of “nursery rhymes” aimed at children are also quite violent if you listen to their words closely. French writer Jacques José Attali <a href="https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Noise/OHe7AAAAIAAJ?hl=en">famously argued</a> the relationship between music, noise and harm is politics and power – even your most beloved song can become just noise if played too loudly or somewhere where you shouldn’t be hearing it. As an academic, parent and fat-bottomed girl myself, my advice is to keep having conversations with the children in your life about what you and they are listening to. Just like reminding your little superhero to only pretend to fly rather than to actually jump – when we sing along to Queen, we remember that using a word like “fat” and even “girl” isn’t how everyone likes to be treated these days.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/212093/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/liz-giuffre-105499">Liz Giuffre</a>, Senior Lecturer in Communication, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/censorship-or-sensible-is-it-bad-to-listen-to-fat-bottomed-girls-with-your-kids-212093">original article</a>.

Music

Weight loss: why you don’t just lose fat when you’re on a diet

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-collins-1179004">Adam Collins</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-surrey-1201">University of Surrey</a> When you go on a diet, you don’t just lose fat – you lose muscle too. This can have many repercussions – not only on your fitness and strength, but on your metabolism. To lose weight (body fat), you need to be in a calorie deficit. This means consuming fewer calories than your body uses, or exercising to burn more calories than you consume. During the first few days in a calorie deficit, the body uses up its small reservoir of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1615908/">glycogen stores</a> for energy. Glycogen is a string of glucose (sugar) that comes from the carbohydrates you eat. Since carbs are the body’s main energy source, this is why any glucose the body doesn’t immediately use is stored to use for energy later. But as carbohydrate molecules bind with water, this means that when the body stores glycogen, it also stores water in the muscles. As these glycogen stores are used up, the body also releases a significant amount of water. This is often called “water weight”, and explains why some may feel they lose considerable weight early in their diet. Given you only have days’ worth of glycogen stores, this is why the body uses fat to store extra calories for when you need it. Once the glycogen stores are used up, the body shifts to metabolising fat to get the energy it needs to function. But not all tissues can use fat for energy – such as the brain. This is why the body needs to metabolise your muscles when you’re in a calorie deficit. Protein (from the food you eat) is stored in your muscles. The body can convert this stored protein into glucose for energy. But this means you subsequently lose the muscle tissue itself when that happens. This has significant consequences – including <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35103583/">slowing the metabolism</a>, which may ultimately drive weight regain after losing weight. <h2>Muscle loss</h2> Many factors can affect how much muscle you lose while in a calorie deficit. While it was once thought that the more fat you had, the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10673906/">less muscle you lost</a> in a calorie deficit, this has since been disproved – with both <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3066619/">lean</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17367567/">obese people</a> losing significant rates of muscle when dieting. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29957829/">Ethnicity</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32734691/">genetics</a> may, however, play a role – with studies showing black people tend to lose more muscle mass in a calorie deficit than white people do. Some research also suggests that genetic variants may make some people more susceptible to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32734691/">certain dietary changes</a>, which may determine how much muscle mass they end up losing. Muscle loss will also happen regardless of whether you lose weight <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30925026/">gradually or quickly</a>. A better determinant of how much muscle you’ll lose depends on <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30925026/">how much weight you end up losing</a>. If a person loses 10% of their body weight, typically around 20% of this is fat-free mass (the proportion of body mass that isn’t fat – such as muscle). This can equate to several kilograms of muscle. Many people also think that what you eat while losing weight may determine how much muscle you lose, with it commonly believed that if you eat plenty of protein you’re less likely to lose muscle mass. This is <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19246357/">debatable</a>, with research showing people lose as much muscle on high-protein weight loss diets as people who followed other types of diets. Low-carb diets have also been claimed to promote more fat loss. But studies comparing <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22258266/">different types of diets</a> have found that low-fat high-carb diets seem to offer <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28193517/">the same, if not better, fat loss</a> than low-carb, high-fat diets – with no differences in muscle loss. <h2>Protein and exercise</h2> Given all that has been said, the only way to prevent muscle loss somewhat while losing weight is to combine exercise (particularly <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18356845/">resistance exercise</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28507015/">endurance exercise</a>) with a diet higher in protein. This is because exercise stimulates muscle growth – but this process can only happen if you have an adequate supply of protein. It’s suggested adults normally aim to consume <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34371981/">0.8g of protein per kilogram of body weight</a> per day to maintain muscle mass. But given the extra demand exercise places on the muscles, a person will probably need to consume 1.2-1.5g of protein per kilogram of body weight to preserve muscle during weight loss. People who exercise a lot may need to increase that to more than <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28642676/">2g per kilogram of body weight</a> when losing weight. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22221216/">Older people</a> may also need to consume more protein than average. Just be wary of consuming too much protein (more than 2.5g per kilogram of body weight) as eating more than your body uses could have an <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28507015/">adverse effect</a> on your metabolism by potentially making the body less able to draw upon glucose for energy. It may also put greater pressure on the kidneys and liver – which could lead to serious <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7460905/#:%7E:text=High%20dietary%20protein%20intake%20can,a%20role%20in%20kidney%20health.">health issues</a>, such as liver and kidney damage. Even if you prevent muscle loss when losing weight, other metabolic changes still happen that promote weight regain – such as changes in your metabolic rate (the minimum amount of calories your body needs to survive) and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21677272/">increases in appetite and hunger</a>. This is why, when trying to lose weight, the most important thing to consider is how sustainable your diet and lifestyle changes are. The easier these are to maintain, the better chances you have of keeping the weight off.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/209258/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-collins-1179004">Adam Collins</a>, Principal Teaching Fellow, Nutrition, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-surrey-1201">University of Surrey</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/weight-loss-why-you-dont-just-lose-fat-when-youre-on-a-diet-209258">original article</a>.

Body

"I've had enough": Karl hits back at "fat-shaming" Bluey detractors

Karl Stefanovic has called out the influencers claiming that the one of latest Bluey episodes titled “Exercise” is ‘fatphobic’. The episode addresses the challenges parents face around exercise and taking care of themselves around work and their kid. In one scene, parents Bandit and Chili were seen weighing themselves, followed by Bandit saying "Aw man," before touching his stomach. Some parents and influencers were offended at this scene and accused the show of body shaming, which led to Stefanovic’s defence that it was an accurate depiction of something that could play out in an Aussie household. "Can you believe this, I think that is just fantastic, I mean, it is a bit of Australiana," the Today host said. "It plays out in households across Australia and all of these influencers are coming out now going, 'Oh, Bluey is fat-shaming, it's disgusting', give it a rest! Come on!" Stefanovic added that it was “a really good message”. "I've had enough of these influencers,” he said, to which co-host Sarah Abo agreed. Abo also added that the scene is something that happens in every bathroom across Australia. "You can't say anything or do anything any more," she added. Image: Today Show/ Nine

Body

The verdict: Full fat versus low fat milk

The idea of full low milk being healthier for us began circulating in the 1950s. It was shown that saturated fat increased blood cholesterol levels, with certain statistical evidence leading to the assumption it resulted in higher rates of heart disease and obesity. This idea is not totally wrong. Full fat milk does indeed have a high saturated fat content, about 65 percent in fact. <a href="http://www.simoneaustin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Simone Austin</a>, accredited practising dietitian and spokesperson for the <a href="http://daa.asn.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dietitians Association of Australia</a> addresses the claims that saturated fat should be avoided when it comes to weight management. “We are still recommending saturated fat should be kept to a minimum as there is still a link between saturated and plasma cholesterol levels, however full cream milk is only 4% total fat and is therefore not a high fat product, depending on quantity of course.” Health and nutrition coach and whole foods chef, Lee Holmes, believes that low-fat milk is a great option for those trying to lose weight. Even though the fat is skimmed, the milk itself still contains an abundance of calcium and protein, and these are essential to weight loss. “Low-fat milk is better for overall weight control and maintenance as it only contains 0.15% fat as opposed to full-cream milk which contains 3.8% fat” she explains. The New Zealand Ministry of Health recommends enjoying mostly low and reduced fat milk and milk products, as it can reduce the total daily kilojoule intake to aid with weight management. This is generally believed to lead to weight loss and reduced risk of heart disease. However, Simone explains why it is not quite that straight forward. “Fat can give some feeling of satiety. If you are having less milk overall, and it is more filling to have full cream milk, then this might decrease overall volume of food consumed and therefore not be detrimental”. This approach is supported by recent research conducted by <a href="../%20http:/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26746178">Swedish researchers</a>, looking at the dairy consumption of a group of middle aged men. If found that those who ate full fat dairy products were less likely to become obese over a period of 12 years, compare with men who rarely ate high- fat diary. This is because the weight-loss effect of reducing saturated fat depends on what replaces it in the diet, which is usually sugar and carbohydrates. Unfortunately, most of us are susceptible to consciously or unconsciously replacing a larger reduction in calories with something else. So, if you drink low-fat varieties of milk in order to reduce calorie intake, you must ensure you are not making up these calories elsewhere for this approach to be effective. However, in your quest for a slimmer waist line, it is important not to overlook other important health factors. Milk is a primary source of nutrients, and according to both Simone and the <a href="http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2032&context=sspapers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABS</a>, most over-60s simply aren’t getting what they need. “In New Zealand the annual per capita consumption of milk has declined by 30% in the last 20 years, and 20% of the New Zealand population has an inadequate intake of calcium”. Simone stresses that simply aiming to meet serves is the priority. “Milk also provides a valuable source of protein and as we age our efficiency at using protein reduces, so we need to have a little more”. Lee Holmes echoes this, stating that ideally, people over 60 years of age should be having two to three glasses of cow’s milk daily to absorb the necessary amounts of calcium. If you don’t want to consume that much milk, are lactose intolerant or prefer to opt for non-cow’s milk (such as almond) you need to make these nutrients up elsewhere. “You may want to consider a quality, natural supplement to ensure you are giving your body all the nutrients it needs." So whether it be low-fat or full-fat, say cheers to milk and manage your weight loss in accordance with other health factors. Image: Getty Images

Food & Wine

Magda Szubanski calls for "fat" people to be protected from online hate speech

Magda Szubanski has called for vilification rules to be put in place for "fat people" online, only to be blasted by her following. The comedian shared the controversial tweet in which she wondered why "fat" people are not "protected" from hate speech online. She wrote, "It's interesting to me that you are banned from attacking just about every identity on Twitter except being fat. Why are we not protected from vilification?" Szubanski was then blasted by several heartless online users, as she received comments such as, "Have another Snickers bar. Sounds like your blood sugar is low," and "Lose some weight then." Despite receiving plenty of support from fans, the controversial tweet saw more personal attacks. "Ever see any obese old people? No, because they all die young. If you are going to do that to yourself, then you will have to accept noticing," another wrote. "Because you choose to be fat," yet another wrote. Magda was only too happy to call out the backlash, as she accused the online users of dumping their "toxic self-loathing" onto her, as they believe she "wouldn't fight back". "It's pretty clear from the response to my tweet that some people hate fat people because their own hearts are so full of hate that they need to dump all their toxic self-loathing onto someone who they think won't fight back." "Well, not this little fat duck. She got teeth," she wrote. She also went on to say that the online trolls proved her point entirely as many commenters defended her, saying it would go a long way if we were all a little nicer to each other online. Image credits: Getty Images

Body

Airline responds to "fat-shaming" onboard comments

Dr Sydney Watson – a US-based Australian journalist and political commentator – took to Twitter on October 11 to complain about being sat between two obese people on an American Airlines flight. Her mid-flight comments caused an immediate furore as she posted that “I am currently - literally - WEDGED between two OBESE people on my flight,” along with a photo of her personal space being invaded. “This is absolutely NOT acceptable or okay. If fat people want to be fat, fine. But it is something else entirely when I'm stuck between you, with your arm rolls on my body, for 3 hours. “I don't care if this is mean. My entire body is currently being touched against my wishes. I can't even put the arm rests down on either side because there's no f***ing room. “I'm sick of acting like fatness to this extent is normal. Let me assure you, it is not. “If you need a seat belt extender, you are TOO FAT TO BE ON A PLANE. “Buy two seats or don't fly.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I am currently - literally - WEDGED between two OBESE people on my flight. This is absolutely NOT acceptable or okay. If fat people want to be fat, fine. But it is something else entirely when I'm stuck between you, with your arm rolls on my body, for 3 hours. <a href="https://t.co/9uIqcpJO8I">pic.twitter.com/9uIqcpJO8I</a> — Dr. Sydney Watson (@SydneyLWatson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyLWatson/status/1579609743244800006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2022</a></blockquote> Dr Watson said she asked the passenger on her right if he wanted to move to sit next to his sister to which he declined. She continued the rest of her flight sitting uncomfortably with no air hostess offering to switch her seat. Her complaint went viral with the official American Airlines Twitter account responding to Dr Watson saying: “Our passengers come in all different sizes and shapes. We're sorry you were uncomfortable on your flight.” This however was not enough for Dr Watson who eventually found out that “what happened to me went against American Airlines own policies regarding overweight passengers.” A few days later after her initial flight, an American Airlines worker got in contact with Dr Watson apologising for the inconvenience and offered her a $150 Trip Credit. “I'd rather take the $150 American Airlines offered me as a refund and give it to someone who needs a PT or a gym membership,” she tweeted in response. Still furious at what occurred on the flight, Dr Watson said she has no regrets over being in the news for fat shaming. “I'm not sorry. I meant everything I said. Justifying obesity is NOT OKAY,” she said. “And, rock on to anyone trying to lose weight and change their lives. I believe in you.” Images: Twitter/Instagram

Travel Trouble

Fat Bear Winner: ‘747’ lays b-ruin to rivals despite fishy voting

After eating lots of tasty fish in preparation for the northern hemisphere’s winter, Brown bear 747 has been crowned the winner of the annual Fat Bear Week. The initiative, run by the US National Parks Service and multimedia organisation explore, gives the public a chance to vote for the biggest brown bear in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. Over one week, people cast their votes for eight nominated bears that have been gorging on river salmon in the lead up to their hibernation. After a summer of catching and eating fish – usually salmon – in the Brooks River, the bears reach peak size in early to mid-October. Shortly, they’ll go into a five-to-eight-month slumber, emerging after the coldest part of the Alaskan winter. The initiative shines a light on the behaviours and survival methods of the species which resides across northern hemisphere continents towards the Arctic Circle. Although brown bears are now extinct in much of central and southern Europe, some still persist in Romania and the Balkan states, and they remain across Russia, Alaska, Canada, the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau. It is also an important indicator species for other wildlife due to their wide habitat range, and play important ecological roles as seed dispersers, and lower-level species managers through predation. Get stuffed! Cheating claims in lead up to Fat Bear final Prior to the grand final between 747 and brown bear 901, a shocking case of voting fraud left organisers decidedly grizzly. A spam attack of votes during the semi-finals threatened to derail 747’s quest for a second Fat Bear crown. Fortunately, organisers were hot onto the bogus bruin ballots. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p218507-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.62 spai-bg-prepared init" action="/nature/fat-bear-voting-winner/#wpcf7-f6-p218507-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="init"> <input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/" aria-invalid="false" /> </form> </div> </div> “Like bears stuff their face with fish, your ballot box, too, has been stuffed,” Katmai organisers said on Monday. “It appears someone has decided to spam the Fat Bear Week poll, but fortunately it is easy for us to tell which votes are fraudulent. We have discarded the fake votes.” Publicly voted animal awareness competitions are notoriously prone to phony voting. The Guardian Australia Bird of the Year competition infamously saw a case of dodgy democracy in 2019 when a case of automated voting was detected by the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2019/nov/11/voter-detected-in-guardians-australian-bird-of-the-year-poll" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avian electoral commission.</a> Cosmos’ own Australian Mammal of the Year competition <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/amoty/too-much-love-for-the-mammals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was this year hit</a> by a bout of egregious electioneering when hundreds of spam votes were cast for some animals vying for the crown. Fortunately, as with Fat Bear Week, spotting and omitting a bad ballot is a straightforward task of, usually, spotting unusual voting patterns. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/fat-bear-2022-1.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="675" /> 2022 Fat Bear Week winner ‘747’ hunts for a tasty fish. Image: Courtesy L. Law via Katmai National Park. 747 does it again Brown bear 747 – aptly named after a jumbo jet – claimed victory with 68,105 votes to rival 901’s 56,875. It was 747’s second premiership, having previously claimed the title in 2020. ‘480 Otis’ holds the record of four titles – exactly half the number of Fat Bear Weeks held. “Though he may be blissfully unaware of his two titles, the gains are real,” say the Fat Bear Week organisers. “In the bear world, fat is fit and these chunky contenders have been working tirelessly to pack on the pounds necessary for survival.” A record 1.027 million votes were cast in the 2022 edition of the event.  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=218507&title=Fat+Bear+Winner%3A+%26%238216%3B747%26%238217%3B+lays+b-ruin+to+rivals+despite+fishy+voting" width="1" height="1" />  <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/fat-bear-voting-winner/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by Cosmos. Image: Courtesy L. Law via Katmai National Park. </div>

Family & Pets

Are some fats good for you?

We eat a variety of fats every day, from salad dressings and snack foods to savoury meats and buttery baked goods. Everyone knows that too much of some fats can cause problems, but many people do not realise that certain types of fats, called omega-3 fatty acids, are essential to maintaining good overall health and wellbeing. Omega-3 fats support health at the cellular level, where they help give cell membranes their structure, enabling them to absorb and hold in nutrients and usher out waste. They also promote healthy cellular functions throughout the body, supporting vital nervous and immune system functions, and more. Getting enough of these foundational “good fats” is an important part of supporting optimal health –especially as we grow older. The most effective ways to obtain healthy omega-3 fats are through diet and supplementation. But for many people, maintaining a diet with plentiful regular servings of oily, fatty fish can be a challenge. That is why high-quality omega-3 supplements provide a convenient, safe, and reliable way for everyone to get the omega-3 nutrients we all need, day after day. Cod liver oil is the classic omega-3 supplement. For centuries, it has been used in Scandinavian societies to help keep young and older people healthy during the long and cold Arctic winters. Arctic cod are naturally rich in the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA that our bodies need for healthy brain, eye, heart and nervous system function. Omega-3s found in cod liver oil also help support a healthy immune system, joint mobility and cellular health as we age. Since 1995, Nordic Naturals’ award-winning Arctic Cod Liver Oil has delivered impeccably pure, great-tasting cod liver oil to customers across the globe. Made exclusively from wild-caught Arctic cod from sustainable Norway fisheries, Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil contains omega-3s in the triglyceride form, the same form that these fats naturally exist in fish, and the form the body can best recognise and use. And, like all Nordic Naturals products, Arctic Cod Liver Oil meets strict international standards for fish oil purity and quality. Unlike other “cod liver oils” on the market, no fish body oils or synthetic vitamins or additives are ever used. Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver oil comes in a variety of delicious flavours for taking right off the spoon or mixing into your favourite food and drink, and are so fresh and tasty you can barely tell they’re from fish! Also available in convenient, lemon-flavoured soft-gels. Use the code GOODFATS when ordering online and get your delivery freight free. Only for a limited time. Order at <a href="https://bit.ly/3IeaRQe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TheraHealth.com.au</a>. This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;" href="https://bit.ly/3hX4Jlg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thera Health</a>. Article Written by Rob Hughes from Nordic Naturals. Image: Shutterstock

Body

"Shame on you": Woman responds to vicious note left on car

A British woman has fired back at a person who left a cruel, fat-shaming note on the windscreen of her car while she was grocery shopping. The woman, who remains anonymous, revealed her shock when she came back to her car to find a note after a minor incident she experienced while getting out of her car. In a recent post on social media, she recounted the events saying that she accidentally "tapped" another vehicle whilst opening her car door. She also said that the female driver whose car she tapped was parked across two spaces. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/Note.jpg" alt="" width="629" height="293" /> Upon returning to her car after her shopping, she was shocked to find a cruel message which "hoped" for her to end up in an accident. The post read, "Fat people need to drive thin cars and be more polite. I hope you have an accident." The woman posted a photo of the note and addressed the driver behind the letter in the caption writing, "Shame on you for making such derogatory remarks about another person, you must be a very sad and bad person for wishing that someone has an accident. Glad I don't know you." She continued, "At 54 and size 12/14, I didn't take offence but this person doesn't know my journey and for her to make such a horrible comment and wish me harm is beyond belief." The post gained plenty of internet attention and the woman received an overwhelming amount of support from internet goers who condemned the note. "That's disgusting, what a terrible thing to even think, let alone put it in writing," one user wrote. Another added, "For someone to write this, they are sick and twisted. They certainly are not good members of society, so don't worry, they're letting out because their own life is horrendous." Images: Getty & Gloucester Live

Travel Trouble

Fat Bear Week is here and it’s full of chunky Ursidae

<div class="copy"> On the northern Alaskan Peninsula, thousands of brown bears have busily spent the last few weeks gorging themselves on salmon to fatten up and survive the winter. Unbeknown to them, the entire world is watching with a burning question – who will be crowned the Fat Bear Week Champion 2021? Over the next seven days, the chubbiest bears in Katmai National Park and Preserve will be pitted against each other in a series of knockout rounds. The public can <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://explore.org/fat-bear-week" target="_blank">vote online</a>, using any criteria they see fit – such as weight, age, cuteness, or other circumstances – and then next week, a single bear will remain standing. <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><iframe title="Fat Bear Week Contenders 2021" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u_kBdhuCVIE?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://cosmosmagazine.com" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> “From its humble beginnings of Fat Bear Tuesday in 2014 to over 640,000 votes cast last year in 2020, celebrating fat bears and Katmai’s healthy ecosystem has since become a tradition,” the US National Parks Service (NPS) <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/fat-bear-week.htm" target="_blank">wrote</a> on its website. The bears are all winners because a fat bear is a healthy bear – fat equals survival. <h2>The annual Fat Bear Week competition</h2> Each year, bears enter a winter den where they remain for the entirety of the long, cold months, unable to eat or drink until they emerge in spring. Over this time, they burn up to a third of their body weight as they draw on their fat reserves just to survive. This makes the six months they spend out in the world crucial – they need to find and eat a year’s worth of food. <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"> <div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 500px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" class="" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 500px; height: 734px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="Twitter Tweet" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3NwYWNlX2NhcmQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib2ZmIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1441568250127470592&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fcosmosmagazine.com%2Fnature%2Ffat-bear-week-is-here-and-its-full-of-chunky-ursidae%2F&sessionId=1bd0186a6f7f9719aa8434fd2276c9725d98d3a3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=fcb1942%3A1632982954711&width=500px" data-tweet-id="1441568250127470592"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2>Tasty Salmon</h2> Cue the salmon. These fish are one of the most important components of the Pacific ecosystem. After years at sea, they return to their home rivers in autumn months to spawn. It is an epic journey – and the final leg of their lives. From the moment they hit freshwater, their bodies begin to change and decay, but thousands still struggle upstream to the place they were born, in an attempt to reproduce. Bears flock to these rivers to gorge themselves on the protein-rich salmon. In times of plenty, bears will strip away the most nutritious parts of the body, such as the brain, skin and eggs, and cast the rest aside for scavengers. The salmon also end up fertilising the temperate rainforest adjacent to rivers and streams, with benefits for plants, fungi, algae and insects – so to appreciate the gloriously chunky bears is to also have an appreciation of the greater ecosystem. Katmai is home to one of the largest and healthiest runs of sockeye salmon in the world, with the fish pouring up the rivers from late June to September. The bears rely on the annual return of these fish from their ocean migration. They can chow down dozens of salmons and tens of thousands of calories per day, ready to get them through the lean winter. <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"> <div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 500px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" class="" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 500px; height: 727px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="Twitter Tweet" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3NwYWNlX2NhcmQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib2ZmIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1178765565273559041&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fcosmosmagazine.com%2Fnature%2Ffat-bear-week-is-here-and-its-full-of-chunky-ursidae%2F&sessionId=1bd0186a6f7f9719aa8434fd2276c9725d98d3a3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=fcb1942%3A1632982954711&width=500px" data-tweet-id="1178765565273559041"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> This year, 12 finalists have been selected out of the thousands of bears that call the park home. You can check out <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/fat-bear-week-2021.htm" target="_blank">photos of the finalists</a> on the NPS website. Find more info about how and when to vote <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://explore.org/fat-bear-week" target="_blank">here</a>. <h2>Fat Bear Junior</h2> This year, NPS also announced a new segment of the competition: Fat Bear Junior. It’s even more adorable than it sounds. Pictures of the tubby cubbies can be found <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/fat-bear-junior-2021.htm" target="_blank">here</a>. <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><iframe title="Fat Bear Jr! Everything You Need To Know About These Chubby Cubbies!" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A9JPoz_jesM?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://cosmosmagazine.com" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> You can also keep up with the week’s action on Katmai’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/fat-bear-week.htm" target="_blank">website</a>, as well as its <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://twitter.com/KatmaiNPS" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/KatmaiNPP/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">Facebook</a> pages. You can also livestream the bears into your own home through the park’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://explore.org/livecams/brown-bears/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls" target="_blank">bear cams</a>. All of this is leading up to the fateful day, Tuesday 5 October, when one bear will reign supreme. As NPS writes: “All bears are winners but only one true champion will emerge.”  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=167300&title=Fat+Bear+Week+is+here+and+it%26%238217%3Bs+full+of+chunky+Ursidae" alt="" width="1" height="1" /> </div> <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/animals/fat-bear-week-is-here-and-its-full-of-chunky-ursidae/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/lauren-fuge">Lauren Fuge</a>. Lauren Fuge is a science journalist at Cosmos. She holds a BSc in physics from the University of Adelaide and a BA in English and creative writing from Flinders University. Image: 747 NPS Photo/N. Boak </div>

Family & Pets

Australia's "fattest" town to receive fourth McDonald's

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> A fourth McDonald's has been given the green light to be built in Tamworth, Australia's fattest town. Councillors voted on Tuesday night in support of the development in the town in northeast New South Wales. The fourth fast food restaurant will be built within a 2.5km walking distance of a McDonald's in the regional city centre, 3kms away from McDonald's Tamworth West and 5.9kms from McDonald's Tamworth South. It's expected to open late next year with an estimated construction cost of $3.34 million. Tamworth Regional Council received 20 submissions that "indicated a level of community concern". Some of the concerns were that Tamworth "does not need a fourth McDonald's and another McDonald's will further increase the rates of obesity in Tamworth". The planning response stated: “Whilst noted, these concerns are not a matter for consideration in accordance with Section 4.15 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.” “I can fully understand the concerns of the residents and hopefully the conditions will address that,” Tamworth councillor Helen Tickle told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/" target="_blank">The Northern Daily Leader</a>. “Unfortunately we’re known as the fattest town in Australia and that’s a terrible statistic.” On Facebook, one local said: “Another McDonald’s for Fatsville, you have to be kidding.” Another man said: “What you put in your stomach is entirely your choice. Don’t stop employment and economic growth and development opportunities.” As the new McDonald's site is in a general residential zone, council staff are watching it closely. “Council staff are not yet convinced the proposed operating hours are acceptable in respect to the zoning and amenity, and therefore to enable the development to proceed it is recommended to restrict the hours of operation,” the council said. “It is considered the development will have a positive impact upon the wider community by increasing the food and drink options for the community and for the reasons discussed throughout this report,” the business paper states. “The key issues that relate to this application have been addressed by either a redesign or the recommended conditions of consent. “Therefore, it is considered that approval of the application is not contrary to the public interest, subject to implementation and compliance with the conditions as proposed.” The new McDonald's will create 220 jobs in the area, according to a McDonald's Australia spokeswoman. “McDonald’s North Tamworth is expected to open late 2021 and will provide additional support to the local community through job creation and construction of the site,” she said. “The restaurant will inject over $5 million into the local economy and create approximately 100 jobs during construction. Once operational, the restaurant will create a further 120 jobs for the local community.” The spokeswoman said the fast food chain continues to review the nutritional value of its food and has been “providing choice” for more than 10 years. “We include kilojoule labelling for all products on our menu boards, website, digital kiosks and MyMacca’s app, to allow customers to make informed choices,” she said. </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

Body fat deep below the surface is a toxic risk especially for your heart

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s easy to forget one of the largest health challenges we face remains the global obesity epidemic. <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight">World Health Organisation data</a> shows obesity has nearly tripled in less than 50 years, with about <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight">40% of adults worldwide</a> now overweight or obese. High body fat increases the risk of chronic diseases, including heart problems, diabetes and cancer. However, it’s not simply the total amount of body fat that can increase the risk of disease. The type and location of fat is also important. We’ve known for some time that subcutaneous fat — the fat just below the skin — <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0171933513000459">increases inflammation</a> in the body. But in recent years, researchers have realised an even more serious risk is the unseen deep body fat that accumulates around vital organs. Fat around organs can be ‘toxic’ Fat is not all bad — in fact, some fat does a lot of good. It helps protect vulnerable organs and tissues, and provides a convenient energy supply. If you’re out in the cold, it’s essential fuel for body warming through shivering. But excess fat can increase blood pressure and potentially lead to complications such as heart disease and stroke. Many clinicians use <a href="https://theconversation.com/body-mass-and-evolution-why-the-body-mass-index-is-a-limited-measure-of-public-health-79671">body mass index (BMI)</a> to measure a healthy weight range. It’s calculated as body weight divided by the square of height, and it factors in a healthy amount of fat. But BMI can’t provide information about the shape and size of potentially dangerous internal fat deposits, known as “visceral fat”. Over recent years it’s become apparent visceral fat can lead to disease, and good fat can turn into toxic fat when there is too much. Various organs seem to accumulate visceral fat. This can be a problem because it can create and release damaging molecules and hormones into the blood. These are transported in the bloodstream, potentially causing health complications in distant parts of the body. For example, toxic fat can release proteins that blunt the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Blood glucose levels then rise, potentially <a href="https://www.diabetes.co.uk/body/visceral-fat.html">causing diabetes in the long term</a>. Visceral fat can also stimulate uncontrolled cell growth and replication, <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/obesity-fact-sheet">potentially triggering some forms of cancer</a>. A fatty liver is associated with metabolic diseases, and excess kidney fat interferes with the body’s fluid balance. The heart is especially vulnerable Visceral fat can also directly affect the organ around which it’s wrapped. Our <a href="https://www.onlinejacc.org/content/76/10/1197?download=true">new research</a>, published in September in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found visceral fat around the heart produces biochemical molecules that can make the heart beat erratically. These molecules potentially cause a serious heart condition called <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/conditions/atrial-fibrillation">atrial fibrillation</a>, by disrupting the heart’s electrical activity. Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common types of heart rhythm disturbance, and <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa612/5899003">one in three people</a> over 55 will develop the condition. It occurs when the regular signal to drive each heartbeat originating in the top portion of the heart, the atria, is disrupted. It can cause an irregular and chaotic heartbeat, disrupting the heart’s coordinated pumping action. This can mean not enough fresh blood is circulated to allow regular daily activity. For some people, living with episodes of atrial fibrillation is a daily challenge – coping with bouts of dizziness, the distressing awareness of a “racing heart”, and chest palpitations. Other people may be unaware they have the condition and the first sign could be tragic, such as a stroke due to a blood clot travelling to the brain. This can lead to <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/conditions/heart-failure">heart failure</a>. An advertisement from the Western Australian health department warning viewers about toxic fat. Only in recent years have researchers discovered the dangers of hidden fat around organs. We worked with clinical cardiologists at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and found fat around the heart secretes molecules which change how nearby cells “talk” to each other, slowing cell-to-cell communication. Because the transfer of electrical signals in the heart muscle are delayed, the heartbeat is potentially destabilised. Although a high BMI increases the risk of atrial fibrillation, it’s the fat burden on the heart, and not BMI itself, that’s most important in electrical and structural disruption. This suggests toxic substances released from the surrounding fat can directly harm the nearby organ, without travelling via the blood. For heart patients, these findings mean the surgical removal of cardiac fat could be an effective treatment to consider. Also, it potentially paves the way for the future development of drugs that can suppress the release of damaging molecules from hidden fat. Nevertheless, these findings underscore the danger of an “obese heart”, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Research is emerging that obesity is a major risk factor for <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/obesity-and-covid-19.html">serious complications while infected with the virus</a>, and the fat load on the heart may be implicated. Written by <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lea-m-d-delbridge-1155735">Lea M D Delbridge</a>, University of Melbourne and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-bell-1156890">James Bell</a>, La Trobe University. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/body-fat-deep-below-the-surface-is-a-toxic-risk-especially-for-your-heart-146307">The Conversation</a>.

Retirement Life

Aussie pet owners urged to tackle obesity epidemic amongst pets

According to PetSure, Australia’s largest pet insurance underwriter, claims for obesity related conditions in pets, such as diabetes, heat intolerance and glucose intolerance have soared by 100 per cent over the last five years. Pet owners are being urged to tackle the obesity epidemic that is facing almost half of Aussie pets. Senior Veterinarian Dr Oliver Conradi commented on this growing issue, saying that the reason for the increase was due to the “humanisation of pets”. “Along with all these related conditions such as diabetes and associated conditions like joint disorders, there is a body of evidence to suggest that fit and lean dogs have a significant increase in their median lifespan and a significant delay in the onset of chronic disease,” he explained. “One of the reasons claims are increasing is the humanisation of pets. This means pet owners are increasingly treating their fur babies like little humans, which reflects the wonderful bond they have, but this treatment can extend to their pet’s diet and the quantity of food they eat. “To manage obesity in dogs and cats, owners must avoid giving pets treats, particularly human food such as biscuits, chips or cheese. Even a small amount adds a lot of calories to their pet’s daily intake.” Cats have a slightly higher incidence of diabetes than dogs, which is a significant indicator of obesity. The two cat breeds most at risk of diabetes are the Australian Mist and the Abysssinian. The six dog breeds most at risk of diabetes are: <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Australian Terriers</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Siberian Husky</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Bichon Frise</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Schnoodles</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Maltese</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Rottweilers</li> </ul> However, there are things you can do to help your furry friends lose some weight. “Following the feeding guide on the packaging of pet food is an easy reference but for those pets already overweight, owners should speak to their vet about changing to a low calorie or weight loss diet,” Dr Conradi explained. “Vets will give owners advice such as avoiding bones and other fatty foods or replacing bones with carrots as a crunchy treat.” Dr Conradi also recommended keeping a close eye on your pets in case they are still gaining weight despite a healthier diet. “Although the vast majority of pets are obese because of their lifestyle, there are also some diseases that can cause obesity in dogs and cats. If people are concerned that their pet is gaining weight in spite of a healthy diet, they should chat to their vet.”

Family & Pets

Why full-fat milk is now OK if you’re healthy

The Heart Foundation now recommends full-fat milk, cheese and yoghurt or reduced-fat options as part of its <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/news/new-advice-from-the-heart-foundation-on-meat-dairy-and-eggs">updated dietary advice</a> released yesterday. This moves away from earlier advice that recommended only reduced-fat dairy when it comes to heart health. So, what’s behind the latest change? And what does this mean for people with high blood pressure or existing heart disease? What’s new if you’re healthy? For healthy Australians, the Heart Foundation now recommends unflavoured full-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese, as well as the reduced-fat options previously recommended. The change comes after <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/images/uploads/publications/Nutrition_Evidence_papers_-_Summary_DAIRY_FINAL.pdf">reviewing research</a> from systematic reviews and meta-analyses published since 2009. These pooled results come from mostly long-term observational studies. This is where researchers assess people’s dietary patterns and follow them for many years to look at health differences between people who eat and drink a lot of dairy products and those who consume small amounts. Researchers run these studies because it is not practical or ethical to put people on experimental diets for 20 or more years and wait to see who gets heart disease. So when results of the recent studies were grouped together, the Heart Foundation reported no consistent relationship between full-fat or reduced-fat milk, cheese and yoghurt consumption and the risk of heart disease. The risk was neither increased nor decreased. Put simply, for people who do not have any risk factors for heart disease, including those in the healthy weight range, choosing reduced-fat or low-fat options for milk, yoghurt and cheese does not confer extra health benefits or risks compared to choosing the higher fat options, as part of a varied healthy eating pattern. Before you think about having a dairy binge, the review noted the studies on full-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese can’t be extrapolated to butter, cream, ice cream and dairy-based desserts. This is why the Heart Foundation still doesn’t recommend those other full-fat dairy options, even if you’re currently healthy. What about people with heart disease? However, for people with heart disease, high blood pressure or some other conditions, the advice is different. The review found dairy fat in butter seems to raise LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels more than full-fat milk, cheese and yogurt. And for people with raised LDL cholesterol there is a bigger increase in LDL after consuming fat from dairy products. So, for people with high blood cholesterol or existing heart disease, the Heart Foundation recommends unflavoured reduced-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese to help lower their total risk of heart disease, which is consistent with previous recommendations. Unflavoured, reduced-fat versions are lower in total kilojoules than the full-fat options. So, this will also help lower total energy intakes, a key strategy for managing weight. How does this compare with other advice? The 2013 National Health and Medical Research Council’s <a href="https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/australian-dietary-guidelines#block-views-block-file-attachments-content-block-1">Dietary Guidelines for Australians</a> recommends a variety of healthy foods from the <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/australian-guide-healthy-eating">key healthy food groups</a> to achieve a range of measures of good health and well-being, not just heart health. Based on evidence until 2009, the guidelines generally recommend people aged over two years mostly consume reduced-fat versions of milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or their alternatives, recognising most Australians are overweight or obese. This advice still holds for people with heart disease. However, the new Heart Foundation advice for healthy people means less emphasis is now on using reduced-fat versions, in light of more recent evidence. The Australian Dietary Guidelines have a further recommendation to limit eating and drinking foods containing saturated fat. The guidelines recommend replacing high-fat foods which contain mainly saturated fats such as butter and cream, with foods which contain mainly polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats such as oils, spreads, avocado, nut butters and nut pastes. This advice is still consistent with the Heart Foundation recommendations. Australians eat a lot of ‘junk’ food The most recent (2011-12) National Nutrition Survey of Australians found <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4364.0.55.007main+features12011-12">over one-third (35%)</a> of what we eat comes from energy-dense, nutrient-poor, discretionary foods, or, junk foods. Poor dietary patterns are <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-conditions-disability-deaths/burden-of-disease/overview">the third largest contributor</a> to Australia’s current burden of disease. Being overweight or obese is the second largest contributor, after smoking. If Australians followed current dietary guidelines, whether using full- or reduced-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese, the national <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/burden-of-disease/burden-disease-study-illness-death-2015/contents/table-of-contents">burden of disease due to heart disease would drop</a> by 62%, stroke by 34% and type 2 diabetes by 41%. What’s the take home message? See your GP for a heart health check. If you do not have heart disease and prefer full-fat milk, cheese and yoghurt then choose them, or a mix of full and reduced-fat versions. If you have heart disease or are trying to manage your weight then choose mostly reduced-fat versions. Focus on making healthy choices across all food groups. If you need personalised advice, ask your GP to refer you to an <a href="https://daa.asn.au/find-an-apd/">accredited practising dietitian</a>. Written by Clare Collins. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-full-fat-milk-is-now-ok-if-youre-healthy-but-reduced-fat-dairy-is-still-best-if-youre-not-122184">The Conversation</a>.

Body

“I’m old and fat:” Kelly McGillis opens about why she's not in the Top Gun sequel

The 62-year-old actress is best known for playing Charlie Blackwood – a beautiful astrophysicist and love interest to Tom Cruise – in the 1986 film Top Gun. However, Kelly McGilis has not been asked to come back to any role in the sequel set to release later this year. The Golden Globe-winning actress wasn’t too surprised, however, and believes the reason is that she is “too old and fat”. The Top Gun star told Entertainment Tonight: “I’m old and I’m fat and I look age appropriate for what my age is and that is not what that whole scene is about. “To me, I’d much rather feel absolutely secure in my skin and who and what I am at my age as opposed to placing a value on all that other stuff.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7829150/kelly.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6db5a0f80e9b4f2b9f9f3e7f59452e77" /> In the upcoming film, 57-year-old Tom Cruise will play the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell once again, with Jennifer Connelly, 48, starring as his love interest. Since her time as an actress, McGillis said she left Hollywood after a while to “get sober” and to “figure out who the hell she was". "It was very challenging for me to have any kind of sense of self or self-identity or real self-worth other than what I did for a living," she said. "And it just – it didn't become a priority; what became the priority initially was raising my girls and being the best sober parent I could be." These days, McGillis spends her time with her two daughters Sonora and Kelsey Tillman. "I think just my priorities in life changed," she said. "It wasn't like a major decision that I made to leave, it was just that other things became more important. “I love acting, I love what I do, I love doing theatre, but I don't know. To me, my relationships to other people became far more important than my relationship to fame."

Movies

Guy Sebastian's heartbreaking fat-shaming confession on The Voice

In an upsetting confession on Monday night’s episode of The Voice, Guy Sebastian was candid with a contestant in his team. He wanted to be upfront about the reality of trying to make it in the world of show business. "I will say to you, I quit my uni degree and I did the same thing, I recorded demos and I went to labels and they told me I was too fat," Sebastian said as he gave advice to contestant Diana Rouvas. "They told me I didn't have the look. I was a weird looking dude with an afro, like fair enough!" <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt2NMK8DNg4/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt2NMK8DNg4/" target="_blank">Happy Valentines Day to my Julesy. We’ve had each other since we were kids and now we have some of our own. I wrote this song for our wedding day and balled my eyes out - mainly because I moved myself with my own voice. @julessebastian You’re the kindest and most beautiful person I know apart from myself.</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/guysebastian/" target="_blank"> guysebastian</a> (@guysebastian) on Feb 13, 2019 at 7:28pm PST </div> </blockquote> However, he explained to Rouvas that he didn’t let it get him down. "I think some people will use that rejection as fuel but I think with you … I don't think you should do that," he said. "I think you should forget it and bury it because I think when you use that fuel, it kind of brings out this block and this wall and this fire that is hard to get through. Forget it!" Kelly Rowland, fellow The Voice coach, also shared her experiences within the music industry. "By the way, I had a label that said I was no longer viable as an artist after some crazy business took place and afterwards I had a number one record in 23 countries," she admitted. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> You can't keep a good thing down. Take heart <a href="https://twitter.com/DianaRouvas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DianaRouvas</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a> <a href="https://t.co/SO4gmVTJmT">pic.twitter.com/SO4gmVTJmT</a> — The Voice Australia (@TheVoiceAU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVoiceAU/status/1143112084848349186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">24 June 2019</a></blockquote>

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The surprising ingredient found in Aussie banknotes

Although Australia was the first country in the world to produce banknotes from plastic (polymer), one surprising ingredient has been confirmed by the Reserve Bank of Australia. Our currency uses tallow, which is rendered animal fat from sheep, pigs and cows, as a “slip agent” to prevent static and friction. The Reserve Bank of Australia confirmed that a tiny amount of animal fat is used. While the secret ingredient has been used since the mid-1990s, it only became known when Britain adopted the same technology to produce its £5 note last year, resulting in various protests. The use of tallow in banknotes has been slammed by vegans and some religions, including Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs and Jains. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FProjectNightfall%2Fvideos%2F2124531027609840%2F&show_text=0&width=380" width="380" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> A recent video by social commentators Project Night revealed that tallow is used to make banknotes in 23 countries, such as Canada, Malaysia and Singapore. The video has since had 5000 shares and over 679,000 views on social media. After watching the video, one user wrote: “That is really horrible to hear. But, we can all limit cruelty of animals in our daily life by going vegan and using cruelty free products. It’s sooo easy.” “Hopefully spreading this video will help people know more about it!” However, others shared a different point of view. “Isn’t it better to just use natural animal parts rather than creating synthetic versions of it? We are part of this giant ecosystem, if we don’t eat animals, someone else / some other animals do.” One orthodox Jew said they found no issue with using tallow in money. They wrote: “As an orthodox jew … we are not allowed to EAT pork. We can touch it and use it. It being in money is not a problem at all.” Tallow is found in a number of household items including soap, candles, plastic bags, moisturisers and some fabric softeners. Animal by-products can also be found in some clothing and cosmetic lines. There has been no suggestion that there will be a revision of the production of banknotes. Do you think an alternative ingredient should be used in the production of banknotes? Let us know in the comments below.

Technology

Erin Molan responds to Footy Show backlash over fat shaming: “I’m totally appalled”

Erin Molan has responded to backlash from viewers of Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show panel, after a segment was slammed for shaming former NRL forward Dave Taylor. The segment was intended to showcase a gutsy play from the athlete but instead, appeared to make fun of his size in an attempt of humour that backfired. Taylor, who played for the Canberra Raiders last season, was poked fun at for his appearance by the panel, which included Erin Molan, Peter Sterling and Brad Fittler. “He was a gun player in his day, wasn’t he?” asked host Molan. NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler responded, “What an athlete.” Former Tigers player and co-host Joel Caine also joined in. “Well Dave, look, it’s a three-letter word, 'fit', OK, but it’s very easy to turn the ‘i’ into an ‘a’, that’s all I’m saying — get that ‘a’ back to an ‘i’,” he said. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820225/0.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/320217e0fed6445893ecf2aa33a92546" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 373.9205526770294px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820225/0.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/320217e0fed6445893ecf2aa33a92546" /> After the backlash from viewers, host Erin Molan took to Twitter to share her regret over the segment. “Absolutely appalled by this,” she wrote. “Unreservedly apologise on behalf of the show to Dave Taylor. The panel were expecting this vision to show a gun try or big hit as our gusty play. There was no malice or intent to offend but that doesn’t matter. We are sorry.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Absolutely appalled by this. Unreservedly apologise on behalf of the show to Dave Taylor. The panel were expecting the vision to show a gun try or a big hit as our gutsy play. There was no malice or intent to offend but that doesn’t matter. We are sorry. <a href="https://t.co/wB4z5PggwO">https://t.co/wB4z5PggwO</a> — Erin Molan (@Erin_Molan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Erin_Molan/status/1028875032800387073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2018</a></blockquote> Dave Taylor currently plays for the Central Queensland Capras for Queensland’s League and the CEO of the team, Peter White, hit back at the show after the episode aired. “Our club is proud to have Dave Taylor as part of our organisation and while Dave will be the first to admit he is not playing his best football, personal circumstances have affected his life this year,” White said. “Dave’s wellbeing is vitally important to us and I have no doubt next year we will see the best of him. “The Channel 9 Footy Show hosts comments are totally unprofessional to say the least, and they should rightfully so be feeling very ashamed of their behaviour.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BPOGNG3g151/?utm_source=ig_embed" data-instgrm-version="9"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 62.4537037037037% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BPOGNG3g151/?utm_source=ig_embed" target="_blank">Tough session with this massive human @raiderscanberra</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/davetaylor091188/?utm_source=ig_embed" target="_blank"> dave taylor</a> (@davetaylor091188) on Jan 13, 2017 at 1:50pm PST </div> </blockquote> A spokesman for Channel Nine also apologised to Dave Taylor. “Nine would like to apologise to former NRL player Dave Taylor for any offence caused by a segment on the Sunday Footy Show yesterday,” a spokesman for Channel Nine said. “We apologise to Dave Taylor for yesterday’s segment on the Sunday Footy Show. “It was not the intention of the show to embarrass him. “He’s been a wonderful rugby league player for many years, and through his playing and his personality off the field has contributed greatly to rugby league in this country.” Some viewers also agreed that the segment was harsh. “It's a cheap shot at a guy who has always been quite big. If his weight has blown out, it's no-one else's business but his own to be honest. Imagine if they'd taken aim at Erin Molan's weight/figure instead; they'd be an uproar to rival all uproars,” wrote one. “@Erin_Molan @JoelCaine absolutely disgusting fat shaming Dave Taylor, goes to show the double standards in the media industry. No wonder Australian men have the highest suicide rates in the world, should be sacked by @Channel9 but we know that won't happen,” added another. Do you think the segment crossed the line? Let us know in the comments below.

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