Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Understanding BMI, BRI, and the Impact of Sugar on Health

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Understanding BMI, BRI, and the Impact of Sugar on Health · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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Good morning, and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chiao.
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I am your host, Doctor Chaming Chiao, And today, we are diving into some fascinating new
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research that could change the way we measure health and obesity.
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This is episode number 21, and we have a lot of interesting topics lined up for you today.
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Our first segment focuses on a recently published study suggesting that a body
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roundness index may be a better measure of health than the traditional body mass index or
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BMI.
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The study titled body roundness index and all cause mortality among USC adults was published
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in the journal of the American Medical Association this month and promotes the use of
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the body roundness index or BRI, which was created in 2013.
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For those unfamiliar, BMI has been the standard for measuring obesity since the 19 eighties.
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It is calculated by dividing a person's weight by the square of their height in feet developed
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by Belgian mathematician, Lambert, Adolf, Jacques, in the 19th century, BMI categorizes
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individuals into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese based on their scores.
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Specifically, a BMI lower than 18.5 is considered underweight.
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A BMI between 25 30 is considered overweight.
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And a BMI score exceeding 30 is considered obese.
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However, this new study highlights some of the limitations of BMI.
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For example, because muscle adds weight, a healthy muscular person could be deemed
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overweight or even obese using BMI.
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The body roundness index, on the other hand, is calculated using height and waist circumference
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instead of just height and weight.
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BRI scores are determined using a more complex mathematical equation, which allows for a more
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comprehensive reflection of visceral fat distribution.
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According to the study, BRI was found to be a more effective way of measuring mortality in a
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group of patients.
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BRI was found to be superior over other anthropometric indicators in estimating the
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risk for various clinical endpoints including cardiometabolic disease, kidney disease, and
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cancer.
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The study claimed.
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Researchers also suggested that BRI may be promising as a newer anthropometric measure
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associated with all cause mortality.
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The study's authors concluded that BRI provides compelling evidence for its application as a
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non invasive and easy to obtain screening tool for estimating mortality risk and identifying
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high risk individuals.
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They noted that this concept could be incorporated into public health practice,
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pending consistent validation, in other independent studies.
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The American Medical Association has also taken aim at BMI in the past, calling its use
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imperfect and problematic.
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Last year, an American Medical Association report criticized the use of BMI claiming that
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it has been used for racist exclusion and that BMI cutoffs are based on the imagined ideal
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Caucasian without considering a person's gender or ethnicity.
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Fox News contributor, Doctor Mark Siegel criticized these allegations, calling them
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politics, not medicine and defended the use of BMI as a starting point for assessing obesity.
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In summary, While the body mass index has long been a standard tool for measuring obesity,
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this new study suggests that the body roundness index could offer a more accurate and
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comprehensive measure of health.
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As always, it is important to consult with health care professionals for personalized
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medical advice especially when it comes to assessing health risks and conditions.
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In our next segment, we turn our attention to the critical issue of sugar consumption and its
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impact on health.
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According to doctor Michael Chajadi, a board certified pediatrician, consuming just 120
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ounce soda daily can have significant long term health consequences.
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Doctor Jagadi explains that drinking one such soda every day for a year amounts to 5140
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teaspoons of sugar.
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Which is more than £50 of sugar annually.
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To put this into perspective, that single soda might contain more sugar than 4 donuts or
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twelve cookies.
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While some of these sugary calories may be burned off as energy, depending on overall
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eating habits, exercise, and genetics, much of it will be stored in the body as excess fat.
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The Centers for Disease Control And Prevention identifies sugary drinks as the leading source
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of added sugars in the American diet.
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Accessive intake of sugary drinks is linked to a range of long term health conditions,
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including type 2 diabetes, tooth decay, heart disease, obesity, and gout.
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So what steps can we take to mitigate these risks?
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Doctor Jagati suggests that building healthy habits through better beverage choices is a
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good start.
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He emphasizes one key health tip, drink more water.
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Doctor Chazadi states, whether it is bottled water or tap water, it does not matter as long
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as you reduce sugary drinks, and replace them with water instead.
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Sugary drinks are not limited to sodas.
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They also include fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened waters.
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Flavored coffees and other sweet drinks you may order when eating out are also considered
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sugary drinks, adding sugar and flavored creamer to coffee and tea at home counts as
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well.
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The Centers for Disease Control And Prevention rethink Your Drink campaign offers several tips
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to help reduce sugar intake.
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For those who need more flavor, adding berries or slices of lime, lemon, or cucumber to water
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can make it more appealing.
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If water is not enough, consider drinks that contain important nutrients, such as low or fat
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free milk or unsweetened fortified milk alternatives.
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For those missing fizzy drinks, a splash of 100% juice added to plain sparkling water can
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provide a refreshing low calorie alternative.
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When visiting coffee shops, skipping flavored syrups, and whipped cream, and opting for a
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drink with low or fat free milk, or unsweetened milk alternatives like soy or almond milk is a
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healthier choice.
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Carrying a reusable water bottle and refilling it throughout the day can also help maintain
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hydration and reduce the temptation to buy sugary drinks on the go.
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When shopping, It is essential to read the labels on the drinks you purchase and choose
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those that are low in calories, added sugars, and saturated fat.
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The point here is not perfection, but rather to build habits, says, Doctor Ghejati, we are
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human, and everyone's health journeys are different.
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The goal is not guilt or shame but rather to empower you with knowledge.
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Doctor Jahjati practices at IRDell Pediatrics, which is part of the IRDell physician network.
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He embraces the philosophy of inspiring well-being at his pediatric practice on
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Hartness Road in Statesville.
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As a pediatrician, if I can impact a child's life such that when they grow up, they do not
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have to take medicines for diabetes or high blood pressure.
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That is very rewarding, he says.
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One of the best things about technology is its potential to help the world.
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The explosion of apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store has also seen a rise in
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apps that directly help us manage our mental health.
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Personally, I think we could all do with some assistance in this area, and the soak app is a
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good example of how this can be achieved with great effect.
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It is no ordinary app though, and experiencing it, at least to start with, is a bit unnerving.
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For example, As I write, I am listening to an anti anxiety sound frequency that would not be
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out of place in a suspense thriller series or ghost themed movie.
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I therefore have to take the developer's word for it that it is calming.
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Do not let this put you off, though.
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This anti anxiety sound frequency is designed to help calm the mind, body, and soul.
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Such sounds, the developer claims, help develop deeper breathing, and a calm mind at a cellular
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level.
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Thereby reducing anxiety and increasing peacefulness.
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Who would not benefit from a little more peace in their lives?
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I had initially thought all of the audio clips would be akin to what you would hear in a spa.
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Whale sounds that calm the mind and the body or rain in the forest.
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It did not take long for me to realize that it is nothing like that.
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But is in fact a lot more scientific.
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The app provides a collection of repeated frequencies that are supposed to lead to a
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specific outcome.
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Such as high energy or peacefulness.
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Having found myself in the deep end of frequencies, I was glad to discover that they
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can be layered underneath nature noises or music so that they blend seamlessly into the
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background.
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It is also possible to play them at the same time as your favorite music tracks on Spotify
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or teaser if you are not particularly keen on their music library.
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I found it difficult to listen to the frequencies in isolation, but I have heard that
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a lot of people have pushed through and gradually become accustomed to them.
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You will have to discover what works best for you.
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My favorite frequency is depression relief.
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Which is designed to clear old patterns that hold lower vibratory emotions.
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If it works as promised, it can promote an overall sense of well-being, hope, joy and
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love.
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After listening to it a few times a day, I came away convinced.
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As we all do, I feel low at times.
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And found it helped to just switch the frequency on, sit back, and relax.
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Reports suggest that some people start feeling the benefit after only a few days, whereas
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others take a little bit longer.
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If you would like to give it a try, then it is worth giving the app a bit of time and
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committing to it properly.
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Alongside frequencies, the SOC app also has a mindful intentions section, much like a thought
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for the day.
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It provides a challenge to respond to the day's events in a specific way.
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The mindful intention for the day I am writing is I respond with kindness in every situation.
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I found it helpful to take a step back from the challenges of the day and be reminded of what a
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positive approach to the day could be.
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I did not always feel the need to take the intention on board, but I appreciated the
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nudge.
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I preferred to focus on the audio side of the app.
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But there is also a section with a bunch of 21 day programs.
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Examples include the art of letting go with doctor Beckwith and the chemistry of happiness
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with Sarah Hiner.
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The latter takes 21 days to help users learn to adapt to their ever changing environment.
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Including food, exercise, and friends.
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Having used the app for a little while, I can honestly say that I am glad I gave it a try.
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It took some time to overcome the weirdness of the sounds, but after pushing through that, it
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is amazing how normal it all became.
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The app is not cheap and will cause many to think twice about whether it is worth it.
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To give it a try, Sowac offers a free trial, or if you are ready to invest, it will cost you
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$29.99 per month or $299.99 per year.
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Download the SOAC app on iOS or on Android.
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June is recognized as men's health month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the
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health issues that predominantly affect men and encouraging them to take proactive steps in
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managing their well-being.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control And Prevention, men are statistically less
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likely to go to the doctor compared to women.
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Which can result in undiagnosed and untreated health conditions.
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Doctor Reuben Ahmed, a physician at Kettering Health Springfield, underscores the importance
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of this month as a reminder for men to keep up with regular checkups.
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Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol issues, prostate and colon cancer
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are just a few of the main health concerns that men face.
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There's no limit to the number of issues that can plague a gentleman, doctor Ahmed Notes.
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But at the same time, it's challenging to get the majority of men to care about these things.
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One of the key messages of men's health month is the importance of early detection and
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prevention.
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Doctor Zaty Ahmed recommends that most men start routine prostate and colon cancer
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screenings at age forty five.
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However, he emphasizes that men should discuss their family history and lifestyle choices,
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such as smoking or vaping with their doctors to determine if these screenings should begin even
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earlier.
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Certs.
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If you can find things early on, you can help prevent potentially irreparable damage.
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In addition to physical health, Mental Health is another critical area that men need to
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address.
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Doctor R Ahmed points out that there's often an unspoken rule among men that discourages them
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from talking about their feelings, which can lead to untreated mental health issues.
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Mental health is important for everybody, especially for those who may be more
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predisposed to try and tuck it away somewhere else.
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He says, breaking this stigma and encouraging open conversations about mental health can lead
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to better overall well-being.
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Men's health month serves as a vital reminder that taking care of one's health is not just
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about addressing issues when they arise, but about taking proactive steps to prevent them.
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Regular checkups, routine screenings, and open discussions with health care providers about
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both physical and mental health are essential components of a comprehensive approach to
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well-being.
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Remember, it's never too early or too late to start prioritizing your health.
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Our final segment today covers a groundbreaking study from Novo Nordisk involving their popular
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obesity drug, Wagavi.
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The study published in the journal of the American College of Cardiology, and presented
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at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Meeting, has revealed some intriguing findings
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about the drug's impact on patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction or
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HFPF.
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FPEF is a condition where the heart muscles stiffen and have difficulty drawing in blood.
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This condition is particularly common among overweight individuals and disproportionately
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affects women.
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The study included 1145 patients and focused on those with obesity related heart failure and
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HFPF.
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Both with and without diabetes.
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According to the study data, WAGOVY, also known by its chemical named Semaglutide, produce
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similar improvements in HF PEF symptoms, physical limitations, and exercise function,
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regardless of sex.
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However, the study found that women experienced significantly higher weight loss compared to
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men.
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Females lost an average of 9.6% of their body weight while males lost about 7.2%.
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Stephen Gough, Novo's chief medical officer, highlighted the importance of these findings
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stating we're seeing a benefit across males and females.
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He added that the trial data supported Wegave's to deliver clinical improvements in patients
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with heart failure.
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Interestingly, the trials were not originally designed to evaluate treatment effects by
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biological sex, making these findings particularly noteworthy.
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The study also revealed that women had a higher body mass index, and worse symptoms of heart
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failure compared to men.
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While females were less likely to have abnormal heart rhythm, or coronary artery disease, their
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greater weight loss did not lead to similarly greater improvements in heart failure symptoms.
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This discrepancy has prompted calls for further research to understand the underlying reasons.
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The analysis showed that both men and women improved by an average of roughly 7.5 points on
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a 0 to 100 point scoring system for heart failure benefits.
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Additionally, fewer serious adverse events were reported in patients who received semaglutide
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compared to those on a placebo.
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HFPF accounts for about half of heart failure cases, with symptoms including shortness of
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breath and swelling in the extremities.
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Given that the condition predominantly affects overweight individuals and is especially common
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among women, these findings could have significant implications for the treatment of
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HFPF.
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In summary, Novo Nordisk's Wegavi shows promise not only for weight loss, but also for
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improving clinical outcomes in patients with HF PEF.
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The fact that women experienced greater weight loss than men without a corresponding increase
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in heart failure symptom improvement highlights the need for more targeted research.
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These findings pave the way for more personalized treatment plans for HFPEF
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patients.
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Thank you for joining us on this episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Achao.
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As always, stay informed, stay healthy, and we look forward to bringing you more medical
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insights