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• Actor James Van Der Beek, formerly of “Dawson’s Creek, announced that he is battling colorectal cancer.
• The 47-year-old actor’s diagnosis is part of a startling trend in rising colon cancer cases among young adults.
• In 2021, the recommended screening age was lowered from 50 to 45 in response to the growing number of early-onset colon cancer cases.
• Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, but is also highly treatable if found early.

Television and film star James Van Der Beek announced that he is battling colorectal cancer. 

The 47-year-old former “Dawson’s Creek” actor announced the diagnosis on his personal Instagram page and later confirmed it to People. Van Der Beek had been keeping the news private but was compelled to come forward to prevent a tabloid from running the story.

“I’ve been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialing in my overall health with greater focus than ever before. I’m in a good place and feeling strong,” Van Der Beek wrote in the post. “It’s been quite the initiation, and I’ll tell you more when I’m ready,” he wrote.

Van Der Beek added that he hopes to be able to tell his story on his own terms and raise awareness about the disease.

“I hope because of his story that others will reevaluate some of their symptoms they may be having, and hopefully, meet with a physician to investigate further to ensure maybe that they can be diagnosed earlier rather than later,” Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, executive director of the Young Adult Cancers Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, told Healthline.

Colon cancer increasing in young adults

Colon cancer (CRC) has become more prevalent among younger adults in recent years.

Between 1995 and 2019, the number of CRC diagnoses in individuals under 55 has doubled. The number of deaths associated with CRC in those younger than 50 has also increased by 1% annually since 2005.

In response, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a new recommendation to lower the age to start screening for colorectal cancer from 50 to 45 years of age. 

“CRC has now become the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women under the age of 50 years old. That is a remarkable finding, and this certainly goes with that trend,” Christina Annunziata, MD, PhD, senior vice president of Extramural Discovery Science at the American Cancer Society, told Healthline, referring to Van Der Beek’s diagnosis.

According to the American Cancer Society, risk factors associated with the increasing incidence of colon cancer among younger adults include excess body weight, processed meat consumption, and smoking.

Colon cancer is also more common in males than females. Racial and ethnic factors are also prominent indicators of risk: Alaska Natives, American Indians, and Blacks have the highest incidences of CRC.

“We do not know exactly why this is happening, but I would definitely say it is multifactorial at the end of the day. The numbers are concerning and alarming when you’re seeing a young patient in your clinic with stage 4 disease that is surgically unresectable and incurable,” Eng said.

Screening for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer affects the cells of the colon (large intestine) and rectum.

CRC is the fourth most common type of cancer in the United States but is the second-leading cause of all cancer-related deaths. Despite being one of the most deadly cancers, it is highly treatable when it is diagnosed early.

Current guidelines recommend people with an average colon cancer risk begin regular screening at age 45.

At 47, Van Der Beek was narrowly within that window. The actor didn’t offer any additional details about the diagnosis, nor did he specify what treatment options he’s pursuing. 

Colorectal cancer most often starts out as small growths known as polyps, which vary in size and shape from bumps and flat growths to mushroom-shaped growths.

Most polyps may be benign, but some will eventually develop into cancer. The size of a polyp and the number of polyps in the colon may be indicators of the likelihood of the polyp developing into cancer. 

Without knowing the stage of Van Der Beek’s cancer, it’s impossible to say when it developed.

According to Eng, it takes an average of 5 to 10 years for a noncancerous polyp to develop into cancer, meaning that polyps could have been present as early as a person’s late 30s. “You can have a polyp without having any symptoms,” Eng noted.

Signs and symptoms of colon cancer

There are numerous signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer. However, many of them are nonspecific, meaning they could be the result of other conditions and, therefore, difficult to diagnose.

“Some of the early warning signs may include blood in the stool, abdominal pain and cramping, weight loss, and fatigue,” Christopher Chen, MD, an assistant professor of Oncology and director of Early Drug Development at the Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford Medicine, told Healthline.

Rectal bleeding is the most obvious symptom of colorectal cancer and should be pursued with a doctor.

Ovunc Bardakcioglu, MD, FACS, chief of colorectal surgery at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Las Vegas, told Healthline that people should not only be aware of these symptoms but pay particular attention to their frequency and duration.

Occasional abdominal pain isn’t out of the ordinary, but persistent cramping could warrant a discussion with a healthcare professional.

“I’ve seen in my practice patients having these symptoms for a long period of time, up to a year, and I think it would be very important, even in that young population — 20s and 30s — to get an immediate full workup,” Bardakcioglu said.

Takeaway

Former “Dawson’s Creek” actor James Van Der Beek was forced to go public with his colorectal cancer diagnosis in response to a tabloid planning to run the story.

Van Der Beek’s diagnosis is part of a growing trend in rising colorectal cancer cases among young people. Since 1995, the number of diagnoses of early-onset colon cancer in people under 55 has doubled.

Colorectal cancer affects the cells of the colon (large intestine) and rectum. It is the second leading cause of all cancer-related deaths.

Signs and symptoms of colorectal include rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, and persistent abdominal pain. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you should reach out to a healthcare professional as soon as possible.

• Abortion was a key focal point of the 2024 presidential election, with abortion rights ballot measures passing in 7 of 10 states.
• Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris marks a turning point for American politics and an uncertain future for reproductive rights.
• While Trump has said he won’t sign a nationwide abortion ban, experts remain skeptical of the impending administration.

President-elect Donald Trump’s sweeping win over Vice President Kamala Harris ushered in a new era of uncertainty in the battle for reproductive rights.

Abortion became a major focal point of the November 2024 election following the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, with abortion rights ballot measures prevailing in 7 of 10 states.

Despite these victories for abortion protection, they won’t change overnight. States that passed abortion rights amendments in 2022 and 2023, like Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri, were mired in legal red tape. Months would pass before any new abortion protection policies could take effect, KFF Health News reports. 

“Every day we live under Trump’s abortion bans, more people will suffer and die,” Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF) said in a statement. 

“Abortion is powerful and popular. The American people do not want politicians making their health care decisions. In poll after poll, voters said abortion mattered to them — mattered in their lives and mattered in the voting booth… the majority of voters were clear and unequivocal: people are dying. People are suffering. Fix this,” McGill Johnson continued.

Abortion protective ballot measures pass in 7 states

Abortion was on the ballot for voters in 10 states during the 2024 presidential election. 

According to the Guttmacher Institute, the following states passed abortion rights ballot measures:

• Arizona: Proposition 139 (Right to Abortion Initiative)
• Colorado: Amendment 79 (Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative)
• Maryland: Question 1 (Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment)
• Missouri: Amendment 3 (Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative)
• Montana: CI-128 (Right to Abortion Initiative)
• Nevada: Question 6 (Right to Abortion Initiative)
• New York: Proposal 1 (Equal Protection of Law Amendment)

In Florida, an amendment to limit government interference with abortion fell short of the needed 60% support at just over 57%. 

In Nebraska, where both abortion protective and anti-abortion measures were on the ballot. The anti-abortion measure passed. 

In South Dakota, an amendment to prohibit the state from restricting abortion during the first trimester failed to pass. The state currently has an abortion ban that only allows abortions to save the life of a pregnant person.

Changes to abortion access will take time

In the seven states that saw victories for abortion access, the bans or restrictions in place are not automatically repealed, which means change will likely take some time. Abortion advocates will have to petition courts to overturn the anti-abortion laws in place to align with the new amendments, according to the Associated Press.

“Access to abortion clearly continues to mobilize voters across the country, even those where a measure did not pass this year,” Candace Gibson, director of State Policy at the Guttmacher Institute, said in a statement shared with Healthline.

“As we prepare for an incoming Trump Administration and additional attacks on reproductive freedom, we must continue to push policymakers at all levels to protect reproductive freedom, support state-based organizations, and donate to abortion funds,” Gibson continued.

Sarah Prager, MD, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, told Healthline she was “extremely gratified” by the passed ballot measures.

“This clearly shows that the American people want access to abortion in spite of what some legislators and legislatures are saying,” Prager said. 

“I do think that over time, more state efforts to increase access to abortion and/or codify the right to abortion in state constitutions will be successful. However, that is not an option in all states — 24 states do not allow for citizen-initiated statewide initiatives or ballot measures,” Prager continued, noting how newly implemented barriers like the 60% majority rule in Florida caused the ballot measure to fail with just 57% of the vote. 

“We will continue to see positive and successful efforts to restore the right to abortion and reproductive health care, but in the meantime, patients are suffering and even dying,” she said.

Will Trump ban abortion nationwide?

The impending 2025 Republican administration could further impact abortion access, even in states without bans, experts say.

If Congress were to approve a national abortion ban, it could potentially override any state protections, NBC reports. 

Access to abortion medication, such as mifepristone, could also face scrutiny during Trump’s second term as president.

The uncertainty that lay ahead is rooted in the president-elect’s shifting position on whether he’d sign a national abortion ban. 

During the tail-end of his campaign, Trump reversed his stance and said he wouldn’t and that the issue should continue to be left up to the states. Whether he’ll remain true to this position is unclear.

“Donald Trump ran from his record and said he would not ban abortion nationwide. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is going to hold him to that every day for the next four years,” McGill Johnson said.

Prager said she is certain Trump will sign a nationwide abortion ban.

“It may be called something else, it may not completely ban all abortions, but it will be introduced early, and if Republicans control the House and Senate, it will pass and Trump will sign it. It may take some time for that to go through the courts, but with our current Supreme Court, I have no doubt it will go through,” Prager noted.

“Of course, those are my beliefs — I cannot predict the future, but I can be informed by the past.”

Takeaway

Abortion rights ballot measures passed in 7 of 10 states during the November 2024 election. President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris signals an uncertain future for reproductive rights.

While Trump claims he won’t sign a nationwide abortion ban, experts remain wary. If Congress were to approve such a ban, it could potentially override any state-level abortion protections in place.

• Quincy Jones, the iconic music mogul who produced Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” died recently at the age of 91.
• Jones lived with type 2 diabetes for years and previously shared how he approached challenges managing the condition.
• He also spoke publicly about health scares, including two brain aneurysms in 1974 and a diabetic coma in 2015.

Legendary music producer Quincy Jones, who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, and many others, died this week at age 91. Jones, who had type 2 diabetes, was public throughout his life about his health problems.

He died on Sunday, November 3, at home with his family. With a decades-spanning career, Jones was a titan of the music industry, receiving 28 Grammy Awards and countless other accolades.

He worked with artists like Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson, for whom he produced “Thriller” in 1982, which became the best-selling album of all time.

But, alongside his many successes, Jones experienced health setbacks as well, including brain aneurysms and receiving a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. 

Two aneurysms nearly killed Jones in 1974

In 1974, Jones had two brain aneurysms at the age of 41.

Brain aneurysms are deformities, resembling balloons or berries, in the arterial wall of the brain that fill with blood. If an aneurysm bursts, the resulting brain damage can be fatal without immediate medical attention. 

Jones recalled the incident in a post on his Facebook page in 2018.

“It felt like a shotgun was fired inside of my head. While operating for 7.5 hours, my doctors discovered a second aneurysm that was ready to blow, so they had to schedule a second operation. During this time, it didn’t look too promising, so my friends planned a memorial service for me at The Shrine in LA, & I basically attended my own funeral,” he wrote.

Though he recalls having a mere one in a hundred chance of surviving, the operations were both successful. But, to prevent further recurrences, doctors advised him that he could no longer play the trumpet, which he’d played since his teenage years. 

His doctors had used metal clips to close off the aneurysms in his brain and were worried that intracranial pressure caused by playing the instrument would dislodge them.

In an interview with GQ magazine, Jones said he swore to give up his trumpet playing. But, while on tour in Japan shortly after recovering, he decided to pick it up again. This time, though, he felt an immediate pain in his head from the pressure.

After that scare, he put down the trumpet for good.

How Quincy Jones learned to manage type 2 diabetes

Jones lived with and managed type 2 diabetes for years, which required him to make major lifestyle changes. 

In 2015, he went into a diabetic coma, a moment he recalled in a Facebook post from 2019 as “what should’ve been my last breath.”

“A diabetic coma refers to when you have diabetes and that you lose consciousness for some reason. It can be due to low blood sugar, or it can be due to very high blood sugar,” Sun Kim, MD, an endocrinologist and associate professor of medicine at Stanford Medicine, told Healthline.

“It’s very serious. If you don’t present to medical attention, there’s a high degree of mortality associated with it,” she added.

Following the incident, Jones decided to give up drinking alcohol for good.

“I had enough alcohol to last multiple lifetimes, & the doctors told me I had to call it quits!! After substituting drinking with eating sugar-free popsicles, I lost 50 pounds, & started feeling 37 again,” he wrote.

Kevin Peterson, MD, MPH, Vice President of primary care at the American Diabetes Association, told Healthline that quitting drinking is an important step in managing diabetes, alongside other lifestyle changes.

“The most important lifestyle changes are maintaining a healthy diet and a healthy weight.  Maintaining blood sugars in a healthy range is more difficult with alcohol consumption since alcohol changes the way that the liver processes blood sugar. Unhealthy drinking habits make it difficult to maintain healthy blood sugars and pose a health risk in themselves,” he said.

Complications commonly associated with type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease that can significantly increase an individual’s risk for other health problems. These risks include:

• Heart and blood vessel damage
• Kidney damage
• Eye damage
• Foot damage
• Dementia

Individuals with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. The disease is also a leading cause of blindness in adults due to a condition known as diabetic retinopathy, which is when the blood vessels in the retina of the eye are damaged.

“Diabetes affects the entire body. In particular, it damages blood vessels. Over time, this damage can take a toll on eyes, kidneys, and on the nerves. People with diabetes are at a higher risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other forms of cardiovascular disease,” said Peterson.

However, there are ways to manage the condition, including lifestyle changes, exercise, and medication.

“The way you’re supposed to live with diabetes is how we’re all supposed to live, but it just becomes more real when you have diabetes. We all could eat less sugar. We could all eat less processed foods. We could all eat less refined carbs and more whole grains,” said Kim.

Doctors and researchers also continue to make improvements to diabetes care and management year after year.

“Many advances in diabetes have occurred since Mr. Quincy was first diagnosed with diabetes several decades ago.  New labs, medicines, and devices make the treatment of diabetes simpler and more effective now than it has ever been,” said Peterson.

The bottom line

Quincy Jones, the famed producer behind Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” has died this month at the age of 91.

Jones lived with type 2 diabetes for many years and learned to manage it through lifestyle changes, including avoiding drinking alcohol.

He was also public with other health scares throughout his life, including having two brain aneurysms in 1974 and falling into a diabetic coma in 2015.

Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease that damages the blood vessels and increases the risk of multiple other conditions, including cardiovascular disease and diabetic retinopathy.

• New research shows adding a few minutes of vigorous “everyday” physical activity to your daily exercise routine could help control blood pressure. 
• Heart-pumping activities like cycling, running, and stair climbing were linked to lower blood pressure readings among study participants.
• An extra 5 minutes of exercise led to mild improvements in blood pressure, with clinically meaningful results at an additional 10 and 20 minutes of physical activity.
• Experts recommend aiming for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily to control blood pressure and maintain a healthy heart.

Exercise is universally linked with positive outcomes, like maintaining healthy blood pressure.

Short bursts of physical activity can help get your heart pumping, but regular exercise is key for overall health.

A new study published November 6 in the journal Circulation suggests that adding a few minutes of vigorous physical activity to your daily exercise routine can help lower blood pressure. 

The researchers found that an extra 5 minutes of stair climbing, cycling, and running was linked to slight reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, while clinically meaningful improvements were seen at an additional 10 and 20 minutes of daily exercise. 

Less strenuous forms of movement, such as standing or walking, had minimal effects on blood pressure.

“Our findings suggest that, for most people, exercise is key to reducing blood pressure,” first author Jo Blodgett, PhD, a senior research fellow at UCL Surgery & Interventional Science and the Institute of Sport, Exercise & Health, said in a statement.  

“The good news is that whatever your physical ability, it doesn’t take long to have a positive effect on blood pressure. But if you want to change your blood pressure, putting more demand on the cardiovascular system through exercise will have the greatest effect,” Blodgett continued.

Everyday activities help control hypertension

Researchers from University College London and the University of Sydney conducted this study with support from the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

The research team analyzed health data and blood pressure measurements from 14,761 participants with an average age of 54 from six cohorts in the Prospective Physical Activity, Sitting, and Sleep consortium (ProPASS).

They tracked blood pressure changes over 24-hour periods comprising six different activities with the following average durations: 

1. sleeping — 7.1 hours 
2. sedentary behavior (i.e., sitting) —  10.7 hours
3. slow walking (fewer than 100 steps per minute) — 1.6 hours
4. fast walking (more than 100 steps per minute) — 1.1 hours
5. standing — 3.2 hours
6. exercise (i.e., running, cycling) — 16 minutes

They estimated the impact of replacing one type of activity with an additional 5, 10, and 20 minutes of exercise.

They found that replacing less active behaviors with 5 minutes of exercise lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) by 0.68 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 0.54 mmHg.

They note that a 2mmHg reduction in SBP and a 1mmHg reduction in DPB equates to a 10% reduction in heart disease risk.

They also estimate that 20 additional minutes of daily exercise could lead to clinically meaningful improvements in SBP, and 10 extra minutes of exercise per day could improve DBP.

The researchers emphasize that everyday activities that get the heart pumping may promote healthy blood pressure.

“What’s unique about our exercise variable is that it includes all exercise-like activities, from climbing the stairs to a short cycling errand, many of which can be integrated into daily routines. For those who don’t do a lot of exercise, walking did still have some positive benefits for blood pressure,” Blodgett continued. 

Exercise lowers blood pressure, benefits heart health

Cheng-Han Chen, MD, board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, told Healthline the study reinforces physician-backed recommendations for regular daily exercise.

“It is encouraging to see measurable changes in blood pressure with just a few minutes of exercise, something that can be incorporated into even a busy schedule,” Chen said.

“We know that physical activity directs our organs and tissue to undergo changes that improve their performance and efficiency, which can then lead to improved blood pressure control. By increasing the intensity of exercise, you are accelerating the physiological changes that are providing the benefits to heart health,” he explained.

How much physical activity do you need?

The findings of this study do not suggest that 5 minutes of exercise a day is enough but rather encourage people already getting regular exercise to increase their output, particularly those with high blood pressure.

Current CDC guidelines for physical activity recommend 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week for adults, 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, or a combination of moderate and vigorous exercise.

For heart health, Chen said he typically recommends 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity daily on most days of the week.

To effectively lower blood pressure, Chen echoed the findings from this study and recommended aerobic forms of exercise, such as: 

• walking
• jogging
• cycling
• swimming or water aerobics

“It is also helpful to incorporate some strength training, as this also helps to improve the function of blood vessels and improve blood pressure,” Chen said. 

“Patients who do not have their blood pressure under control should avoid very high intensity exercises such as sprinting or heavy weights, as these activities can lead to a spike in blood pressure,” he advised.

Other ways to lower blood pressure 

Chen noted that many people may not realize the health benefits of adding a little exercise to their daily routine. 

“There are many easy ways to incorporate physical activity throughout the course of the day,” he noted. Some examples may include: 

• short 5-minute brisk walks while at work  
• taking the stairs instead of the elevator
• parking farther from the store and walking

Chen noted that if you live with high blood pressure, you should talk with your doctor about lifestyle factors that can help control it.

Regular physical activity aside, other ways to lower blood pressure may include: 

• following a healthy, balanced diet low in sodium 
• getting enough quality sleep
• maintaining a healthy weight
• avoiding tobacco and alcohol
• managing stress

Takeaway

A new study showed improvements in blood pressure with an additional 5 minutes of daily exercise. The findings became more significant with an extra 10 and 20 minutes of heart-pumping physical activity each day. 

Aim for around 30 minutes of aerobic daily exercise to control blood pressure and maintain a healthy heart. If you have high blood pressure or live with another chronic health condition, check with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine.

• Bruce Willis’ wife has stated that an early sign of his dementia was first dismissed as stuttering.
• Experts say frontotemporal dementia itself does not cause stuttering.
• However, its associated language issues can make an existing stutter worse.
• Early warning signs can also include changes in personality, behavior, or motor function.
• If you spot the warning signs, it’s a good idea to speak with your primary care provider.

According to Emma Heming Willis, wife of action hero Bruce Willis, her husband’s frontotemporal dementia (FTD) was initially dismissed as a return of childhood stuttering.

Speaking in an interview with Katie Couric for Town & Country, she explained: “He had a severe stutter as a child. He went to college, and there was a theater teacher who said, ‘I’ve got something that’s going to help you.’”

Heming Willis said this is where Bruce got his start in acting since he realized that he could memorize a script and say his lines without stuttering.

“Bruce has always had a stutter, but he has been good at covering it up,” she said. So, when he began to experience difficulties with language, it seemed like it was just a part of his stutter.

“Never in a million years would I think it would be a form of dementia for someone so young,” said Heming Willis.

How common is stuttering as a warning sign of FTD?

Stephanie Jeret, who is a speech-language pathologist and the founder of Speak with Stephanie, said stuttering is not commonly associated with FTD.

This condition mainly impacts people’s ability to understand and use language, she said.

“For instance, Bruce Willis had developmental stuttering that likely persisted into adulthood,” said Jeret.

“He may have developed coping strategies to manage it, but with the onset of FTD, he could have experienced a regression in his language skills, leading to overt stuttering as a symptom of this decline rather than a direct symptom of FTD.”

Jason Krellman, PhD, a Neuropsychologist and Assistant Professor of Neuropsychology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, agreed with Jeret.

“Stuttering is itself not considered a typical first symptom,” he said. “But stuttering could be caused by more common early symptoms such as changes in word finding and sentence construction or changes in the person’s ability to physically articulate words.”

According to Krellman, changes in personality and behavior, language, or motor functioning are usually seen early in the development of FTD.

“People can become withdrawn or impulsive, rigid, and socially inappropriate,” he said. “They can have difficulty finding words or understanding language. They can have spasms, tremors, or weakness.”

How to get help when you spot FTD warning signs

Krellman added that it can be challenging for patients and healthcare providers alike to tease out whether what’s being seen is indeed FTD symptoms or just a natural part of aging, stress, psychological problems, or, as in the case of Willis, another medical condition.

“For example, word-finding difficulty is a common feature of normal cognitive aging, motor changes can be due to musculoskeletal problems like arthritis, and people can tend to socially isolate themselves or become irritable, more easily agitated, and therefore appear socially inappropriate when they’re depressed,” he said.

Additionally, FTD can come on slowly and progress so gradually that you might not notice the differences right away, said Krellman, comparing it to noticing the hands of a clock moving.

However, Krellman says people should contact a primary care provider any time they have concerns, keeping in mind that the person themself may not notice the changes.

“A PCP can do an initial evaluation to decide whether to refer the person to a neurologist for further evaluation,” he said.

Krellman went on to offer reassurance, stating that “FTD is pretty uncommon, and it is much more likely than not that any concerning symptoms are due to normal aging or a more common and potentially treatable condition.”

He noted, however, that if symptoms are getting worse over time and having a negative impact on a person’s daily functioning, it’s always a good idea to get a checkup.

He added that in addition to seeing your primary care physician, organizations like the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration and the Alzheimer’s Association can provide support and educational resources.

Takeaway

In a recent interview with Town & Country, Emma Heming Willis, wife of actor Bruce Willis, discussed her husband’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, revealing that they first thought his worsening stuttering was simply a part of a condition that he had had since his youth.

Experts say that stuttering itself is not a symptom of FTD.

However, the language difficulties associated with FTD can make it more difficult for a person to control their existing stuttering.

People can also experience changes in personality, behavior, and motor functioning.

If you or someone you know is showing early warning signs — especially if they are growing worse or negatively affecting daily functioning — you should seek an evaluation with a primary care provider.

• Teacher Krista Figari is opening up about how she experienced a “wake-up” stroke at the age of 39.
• This includes sharing video clips of the event that were captured as it happened.
• Figari is sharing her story to help others recognize the symptoms of stroke and raise awareness.
• Early intervention of stroke can help save lives.

Krista Figari went to sleep on April 18, like any other night. However, around 4:45 a.m., her life changed.

“I remember waking up and doing my normal routine. I made my bed, and all the sudden, I kind of stumbled over to the left and was on the ground,” she told Healthline. “I couldn’t stand up. I literally couldn’t move, lift, feel my leg, my arm, my hand. That whole left side was just not working.”

As Figari tried to understand what was happening, she crawled over to her nightstand and reached for her cell phone with her right hand. She tried calling her cousin, who lives nearby, and the super of her building, but neither answered.

Her super called her back and immediately went to her apartment, yet he couldn’t get in through her front door.

“That’s when I used Siri to call 911,” said Figari.

When the police arrived, they also couldn’t get through her front door, so her super crawled through a window.

“Once he came through, he opened the door, and the EMS people came in and brought me to the hospital,” Figari said.

When Figari arrived at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, doctors quickly diagnosed her with a stroke. The type of stroke she experienced is called a wake-up stroke.

What is a wake-up stroke?

A wake-up stroke is a type of ischemic stroke that occurs when symptoms are discovered as a person wakes up from sleep.

While strokes are unpredictable and can happen at any time, about 20% of strokes are wake-up strokes.

How wake-up strokes are diagnosed and treated

“If a patient comes in with witnessed stroke onset within 4.5 hours of [having their first symptoms], they can be treated with a clot-busting medication or thrombolysis, TPA or TNK are the medication names,” Nicholas Janocko, MD, a neurologist at NewYork Presbyterian Hospital, told Healthline.

Janocko, who treated Figari, explained that the 2018 WAKE-UP trial demonstrated that in selected patients who experienced a stroke with unknown onset or a wake-up stroke, a hyperacute MRI can be used to determine if the stroke happened within a few hours, and if so, whether they are eligible for thrombolysis treatment.

“Our stroke team was able to obtain an emergent MRI for her…we were able to use the imaging features to support that her stroke was recent in onset, and we were safely able to give her thrombolysis,” said Janocko.

After treatment, Figari stayed in the hospital for four days to be monitored.

While stroke recovery usually involves physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, she did not require any of these.

“Within three days, most of my movement came back, and the numbness [was gone], and I was basically fully recovered. I didn’t need any rehab,” she said.

Congenital conditions can increase stroke risk

Doctors determined that her stroke was caused by a large patent foramen ovale (PFO), a hole in the heart between the two atria.

“A PFO is a remnant from fetal circulation, which closes in most people after birth. However, it remains open or patent in about 25% of the population,” said Janocko.

In most people, PFO doesn’t cause issues, but it is associated with migraine and an increased risk of stroke.

A few months after her stroke, at the age of 39, Figari underwent heart surgery to close the hole in her heart. She also had follow-ups with her neurologist and cardiologist.

Stroke risk is increasing among younger people

While Figari’s stroke was caused by a congenital condition, stroke in people younger than 50 makes up about 10% of all strokes.

Janocko said the incidence and prevalence of stroke in young people is increasing over time, mainly due to an increase in vascular risk factors like:

• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Sleep apnea
• Smoking
• Substance misuse

“There is also increased awareness of stroke and utilization of MRI to confirm the diagnosis in atypical stroke presentations,” he said.

Why Figari is sharing video footage of her experiencing stroke symptoms

Figari has a nanny cam in her apartment because she likes to monitor her dog while she is at her teaching job.

When she got home from the hospital, she discovered that the camera caught footage of her stroke.

“I was glad I had it because I was able to see it and know that what I thought happened actually did. Since I was alone, it validated my story for me and anyone I shared it with,” said Figari.

She is sharing her story because she wants others to know that a stroke can happen to anyone and that it might affect them differently.

“Even if you feel one little thing…if you feel something’s wrong, get help,” she said. “I think we often think we’re invincible and that just because we’re not a certain age, that something can’t happen to us. But you never know what’s going to happen.”

Footage of Figari experiencing wake-up stroke symptoms can be viewed in the following two video clips.

Common stroke symptoms

To remember the symptoms of stroke, he said to keep in mind the mnemonic BE-FAST:

• Balance loss
• Eye-sight changes
• Facial droop
• Arm weakness
• Speech difficulty
• Time (time to call 911)

The Spanish version is RAPIDO. 

“Stroke treatment is a team effort. It starts with community recognition of the signs and symptoms of stroke,” said Janocko.

Ways to reduce your risk of stroke

Hera Kamdar, MBBS, a neurologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said practicing the following can help reduce your risk of stroke.

• Improve your blood pressure
• Normalize your cholesterol levels
• Eat healthy foods and follow a Mediterranean diet which is rich in vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, and olive oil
• Exercise regularly 
• Maintain a healthy weight 
• Ensure quality sleep and treat sleep apnea if you have it 
• Manage diabetes 
• Drink in moderation
• Avoid smoking

In addition to the above, Kamdar said the American Heart Association is focused on new recommendations for women, including screening for conditions that can increase their risk of stroke, such as the use of oral contraceptives, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and early onset menopause.

“There is also more focus put on a person’s social determinants of health and how that may impact their ability to receive optimal screening and care to prevent stroke,” Kamdar told Healthline.

• A phase 3 clinical trial suggests a new standard of care for treating people with advanced cervical cancer.
• The recommendation includes a combination of induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy.
• The researchers are interested in how future studies can investigate the use of immunotherapies to further improve survival rates.
• Clinicians are hopeful the new approach will give people with aggressive cervical cancer additional options for treatment, particularly those who face barriers to healthcare.

Cervical cancer affects approximately 11,500 people in the United States each year and 660,000 people worldwide.

A phase 3 clinical trial recently published in The Lancet proposes a new standard of care for people with cervical cancer who aren’t candidates for surgery. The recommendation includes a combination of induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy instead of chemoradiotherapy alone.

Compared to participants who received only chemoradiotherapy, those who received both induction chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy saw an increase from 64% to 72% in their 5-year progression-free survival rates.

The INTERLACE trial included 500 participants from medical centers in Brazil, India, Italy, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, all of whom had locally advanced cervical cancer.

“Prior to this study, doing chemotherapy before chemotherapy and radiation in combination had not really demonstrated benefit,” said Joshua G. Cohen, MD, medical director of the gynecologic cancer program at City of Hope Orange County, CA, told Healthline. Cohen wasn’t involved in the study.

“This was a large trial, an international trial [that] took over 10 years to complete, but certainly a study that gives us another option to offer patients, which is fabulous,” Cohen told Healthline.

A promising development in cervical cancer treatment

The INTERLACE trial reduced the wait time between the initial course of induction chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy, yielding promising results.

Study co-author and clinical oncologist Mary McCormack, PhD, told Healthline that while this updated approach has the support of many healthcare professionals, including those in the U.S., not everyone is on board with the new standard-of-care recommendation.

“I think some [concerns] lark back to the ’90s, when the older trials were published and demonstrated a detrimental effect of this approach by giving the chemotherapy,” McCormack said.

“There were a number of issues and potential flaws with those studies when they were all generally small studies and they all used different drug combinations and different schedules. They didn’t control for this interval between finishing the treatment, the chemo, and starting the radiation,” she explained.

The INTERLACE trial study was much broader, with participants spanning five different countries. Those who received both induction chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy received 6 weeks of chemotherapy, with treatments occurring once a week. 

Diana Pearre, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in California, shared she is optimistic about the new treatment pathway. Pearre wasn’t involved in the clinical trial.

“I suspect many will read this study and think that this is a great way to start our patients on something,” she told Healthline. 

“As clinicians, we are often made keenly aware of how different insurances, referrals, and other issues prevent our patients from starting radiotherapy on time. With over 70% of gynecologists also administrating chemotherapy, induction chemotherapy seems like something within our realm of control,” Pearre noted.

What’s next for cervical cancer treatment?

The drugs used in the INTERLACE trial are already broadly available, as are many of the quality-of-life treatments. Scalp cooling, for instance, can be used to combat the side effects of induction chemotherapy. 

McCormack hopes to see clinicians make changes to improve cervical cancer treatment outcomes. She is also hopeful that ongoing research — like studies into the use of immunotherapies — could hold the key to even better treatment outcomes. 

“I think the next step should be to look at incorporating and adding in immunotherapy with this induction treatment, because there’s good scientific rationale why this might work, and it’s an opportune moment to look at that now. And I do believe there are some groups in the US that are planning to do just that,” McCormack said.

Cohen agreed: “We’ve been looking for years in ways we can incorporate immunotherapy into the use of cervical cancer [treatments] because we all believe that cervical cancer should have an immune therapy treatment, given it’s largely driven by a virus, HPV,” he said, noting around 80% to 90% of cervical cancer is driven by HPV.

As with most medical treatments, access to the proposed standard of care and having it covered by health insurance is a key focus for the future.

While HPV vaccination and cancer screening efforts have increased over the decades, cervical cancer poses a higher risk to those in low-income countries and low-income areas.

While vaccination against HPV is vital to ongoing prevention and treatment efforts, Cohen said the findings of the study could lead to more options for those facing barriers to quality healthcare.

“If you’re in a place where you’re having a tough time getting a radiation oncologist to see you, or you’re getting delays in care, it’s a good option to start with chemotherapy,” he said.

“You have 6 weeks, you can get chemotherapy started, then maybe you get plugged in with the radiation oncologist. This is a good option now that we have data that says it works.”

Takeaway

A new phase 3 clinical trial suggests a new standard of care for people with advanced cervical cancer who aren’t a candidate for surgery.

The promising new recommendation involves a combination of induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy instead of just chemoradiotherapy by itself.

Experts are optimistic this approach will give people additional treatment options, particularly those with barriers to healthcare.

• Fewer Medicare Advantage plans will be available in 2025.
• Some health care providers will stop accepting certain Medicare Advantage plans.
• There will also be a drop in the number of Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

With the Medicare Open Enrollment Period for 2025 running from October 15 to December 7, consumers should be aware of several major changes in the availability of plans and pricing.

But some of the biggest changes to Medicare will be seen in Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans.

Here are three key changes you should know as you consider your Medicare coverage for 2025.

Fewer Medicare Advantage plans available

In 2025 there will be an average of 34 Medicare Advantage plans offered in each county in the United States, reported Forbes, falling from 43 this year.

In addition, 6.6% fewer Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage will be available next year compared to this year. This includes 5.4% fewer plans offered by UnitedHealth Group, and 2.5% fewer plans by Humana.

On the bright side, the average monthly premium on Medicare Advantage plans will be $17.00 in 2025, a drop from $18.23 in 2024, said the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This is an average, so some plan premiums may increase.

In addition, benefit options will remain stable, CMS said, including Medicare Advantage supplemental benefit offerings such as hearing, dental, and vision.

However, “a lot of [Medicare Advantage] plans … are adjusting their core benefits or reducing or eliminating supplemental benefits like gym memberships,” said Whitney Stidom, VP of Medicare Operations at eHealth Insurance.

Robert Griffith, senior director at L.A. Care Health Plan, said his group is closely monitoring regulatory changes by CMS, including ones “with an emphasis on addressing health equity, encouraging Medicare Advantage plans to incorporate benefits and outreach efforts tailored to vulnerable populations.”

”These changes, combined with ongoing competition between Medicare Advantage plans in L.A. County, mean beneficiaries are likely to see a broader range of plan choices with expanded supplemental benefits,” he told Healthline.

Some providers won’t accept certain Medicare Advantage plans

Even if your Medicare Advantage plan is still available in 2025, you may find that your health care provider no longer accepts or participates in the plan.

For example, Essentia Health announced that it would no longer accept Medicare Advantage plans from Humana and UnitedHealthcare. Sanford Health, a major medical provider in the Midwest, said it had ended its contract with Humana Medicare Advantage.

In a recent survey by HFMA, about 16% of health systems expect to stop accepting one or more Medicare Advantage plans over the next two years. They cite onerous authorization requirements and high denial rates of these plans.

If you are on a Medicare Advantage plan, your medical care is only fully covered when the provider is in the plan’s network. You will pay all or most of the cost for out-of-network care.

During Open Enrollment, check to be sure your doctors, hospitals and other providers are on your plan’s list for 2025.

Stidom said it’s also important to read the Annual Notice of Change letter sent by your Medicare insurer and to review your options for 2025. Only three in 10 enrollees reviewed their Change letter, a recent survey by eHealth found.

“This year, more than any in recent memory, it is important for beneficiaries to review their plan’s annual notice of change letter and make sure the benefits their plan offers meets their needs,” she told Healthline.

Forbes also reports that in 2025, Medicare Advantage plans will be able to deny coverage of procedures and services recommended by your doctor. When this happens, you either have to skip the treatment or appeal the decision.

Changes to Part D prescription drug plans

There will be about 25% fewer Medicare Part D policies available in 2025, reports CMS. This is the lowest number of policies offered since the start of Part D coverage.

Many of the plans still being offered in 2025 will have higher premiums, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs, reported Forbes. There may also be fewer drugs covered by a plan, or drugs may be moved to a different tier, which can affect the cost you pay for it.

If you are regularly taking medications, or expect to be in 2025, study the details of your coverage options during Open Enrollment.

Griffith highlighted that “Part D out-of-pocket spending will be capped at $2,000 [annually], as part of continuous efforts to close the Part D ‘donut hole,’ or coverage gap.” This change is due to the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Perhaps one of the biggest fundamental changes to Medicare Advantage is the new Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which is designed to help the most vulnerable enrollees lower monthly expenses and improve prescription drug affordability,” he said.

This allows enrollees to pay for their prescription drug costs in monthly installments rather than all at once when they pick up their prescriptions. All Part D plans are required to offer this option, but participation by enrollees is voluntary.

Takeaway

Medicare Open Enrollment in 2025 will see several key changes that may affect your coverage. One major change is that there will be a drop in the number of Medicare Advantage plans. However, the average monthly premium on Medicare Advantage plans will decrease in 2025 to $17.00, down from $18.23 in 2024.

Some health care providers will no longer accept or participate in certain Medicare Advantage plans. Medical care is only fully covered if a doctor, hospital, or other provider is in your plan’s network, so check your plan’s list for 2025 to make sure your providers are listed.

In addition to a drop in the number of Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in 2025, many of the plans will have higher out-of-pocket costs including premiums and deductibles. There may be also be fewer drugs covered by a plan, or certain drugs may be moved to a higher-priced tier.

• A new study reports that people in their 40s who have difficulty sleeping have a brain age 1.6 to 2.6 years older by the time they’re in their 50s compared to people who consistently get quality sleep.
• Experts say quality sleep can improve brain health and lower dementia risk and also decrease inflammation in the body and boost the immune system.
• You can promote a good night’s sleep by exercising during the day, putting away electronic devices before bedtime, going to sleep around the same time every night, and sleeping in a cool, darkened room.

Poor sleep quality in your 40s can affect your brain health later in life.

That’s the conclusion of a study published on October 23 in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

In their findings, researchers from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and other institutions reported that people who have poor sleep quality around the age of 40 can have a brain age from 1.6 years to 2.6 years older than people who regularly get quality sleep.

“Our findings highlight the importance of addressing sleep problems earlier in life to preserve brain health, including maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, exercising, avoiding caffeine and alcohol before going to bed and using relaxation techniques,” Kristine Yaffe, MD, a study author and professor of psychiatry at UCSF as well as a member of the American Academy of Neurology, said in a news release.

“Future research should focus on finding new ways to improve sleep quality and investigating the long-term impact of sleep on brain health in younger people,” Yaffe continued.

Examining the link between sleep and brain health

In their study, researchers looked at 589 people with a mean age of 40. About 53% of participants were female and 39% were Black.

At the start of the research, participants were asked to fill out a survey with questions such as:

• Do you usually have trouble falling asleep?
• Do you usually wake up several times at night?
• Do you usually wake up far too early?

The researchers recorded the number of six poor sleep characteristics reported by each individual. The sleep habits included:

• short sleep duration
• bad sleep quality
• difficulty falling asleep
• difficulty staying asleep
• early morning awakening
• daytime sleepiness

Based on the responses, the researchers assigned participants into three groups:

• 0-1 poor sleep characteristics
• 2-3 poor sleep characteristics
• More than 3 poor sleep characteristics

At this initial phase, 70% of participants had no more than one poor sleep habit. Another 22% had 2 to 3 characteristics while 8% had more than 3 characteristics.

The researchers then sent the same survey to participants 5 years later. After another 10 years, they used MRI scans and machine learning tests to estimate the participants’ brain age.

The researchers reported that people with more than 3 poor sleep characteristics had an average brain age of 2.6 years older than people in the group with 1 or less characteristic. People with 2 to 3 characteristics had an average brain age of 1.6 years older than people in the lowest group.

“This study is impactful, since it demonstrates the relationship between poor sleep and accelerated brain aging in middle-aged adults, and offers promise that early treatment to manage sleep problems could prevent neurocognitive dysfunction in the future,” Clete Kushida, MD, a neurologist and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University in California, told Healthline. Kushida wasn’t involved in the study.

Scott Kaiser, MD, a geriatrician and the director of Geriatric Cognitive Health for the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California, not involved in the study, agreed.

“This is a highly compelling study — finding clear associations between poor sleep quality in midlife and accelerated brain aging — that contributes important insights into a critical body of research investigating connections between sleep and brain health.” Kaiser told Healthline. 

Quality sleep is crucial for brain health

The researchers acknowledged a limitation of their study was the self-reporting by participants of their sleep habits. They also said the study was observational so it only produced an association between poor sleep and brain aging instead of a causation.

Nonetheless, the researchers said their findings emphasize the importance of quality sleep. Experts agreed.

“Sleep is without question important to brain health,” Kushida told Healthline. “We know that some sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, can have effects on neurocognitive function and risk of cerebrovascular disease. Additionally, the relationship of poor sleep with brain aging is an important one as shown in the study.”

“There is an increasingly robust body of research demonstrating the critical importance of a good night’s sleep for brain health,” Kaiser said.

“Whether through the clearing of debris, ‘resetting’ of neural networks, or providing down-time to various systems, the quantity and quality of sleep [although in this particular study the accelerated brain aging findings were limited to those with poor sleep quality] have profound physiologic impacts that impact our day to day thinking, memory, and mood as well as our long-term risk of cognitive decline and dementia,” Kaiser noted.

Quality sleep essential for overall health

Sleep is now listed among the top lifestyle factors for maintaining good health.

Researchers have reported that quality sleep can:

• maintain critical body functions
• restore energy
• repair muscle tissue
• allow the brain to process new information

Past research has indicated that consistent quality sleep can lower a person’s risk of dementia.

Other research has concluded that quality sleep can also help a person lose or maintain weight, strengthen the heart, lower type 2 diabetes risk, boost the immune system, and decrease inflammation in the body.

Experts say it’s important to have good sleep hygiene at any age.

“Sleep is important in all ages,” Kushida said. “We know that in children and adolescents, sleep problems can lead to delayed growth and behavioral issues. Middle age is when many sleep disorders and medical disorders that impact sleep become more prevalent and increase further with age, and as demonstrated in this study, poor sleep in this age group is associated with advanced brain age,” he added.

How to get quality sleep

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends differentl daily amounts of sleep at certain ages:

• Infants 4 to 12 months old: 12-16 hours (including naps)
• Toddlers 1-2 years old: 11-14 hours (including naps)
• Preschoolers 3-5 years old: 10-13 hours (including naps)
• School-age children 6-12 years old: 9-12 hours
• Teenagers 13 to 18 years old: 8-10 hours
• Adults: 7 hours or more

Getting a consistent amount of sleep isn’t always easy. The CDC offers tips to achieve quality sleep:

• spend time in bright light during the daytime
• exercise regularly, aiming for 30 minutes per day five days a week
• eat meals at consistent times
• avoid heavy meals, nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime
• use a consistent routine to wind down at night
• put away electronic devices an hour before bedtime and sleep in a quiet, cool, and dark environment

Kushida added a few more items to this list.

• Go to sleep and wake up at approximately the same time every day.
• Avoid irregular long daytime naps.
• Avoid staying in bed longer than 20 minutes if you can’t go to sleep or can’t fall back asleep after awaking in the middle of the night.

Kaiser urged anyone with sleep difficulties to seek professional guidance.

“There are healthcare professionals with expertise in this domain who can further evaluate your issues and may offer effective solutions to improve sleep quality, including addressing the specific poor sleep characteristics —difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, early morning awakening, and daytime sleepiness — assessed in this study and associated with accelerated brain aging,” Kaiser said.

Takeaway

Poor sleeping habits during your 40s may affect brain health in later years.

In a new study, researchers reported that a group of people with a mean age of 40 who experienced poor sleep hygiene showed brain ages 1.6 years to 2.6 years older than people the same age who practiced healthy sleep patterns.

Experts say quality sleep provides a number of health benefits from repairing muscle tissue to allowing the brain to process new information to lowering the risk of inflammation, and boosting the immune system.

They say you can improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep by going to bed approximately the same time every night, putting away electronic devices an hour before retiring, and sleeping in a cool and darkened room.

• Country music star Jelly Roll recently revealed that he’s now dropped 100 lbs on his weight loss journey.
• In an Instagram video, the singer shared his weight loss milestone and said, “Next year, when y’all see me, you won’t recognize me.” 
• Jelly Roll used a combination of weight loss strategies to lose 100 lbs, including getting help for food addiction, eating a high protein diet, and running.
• Experts say he has taken a well-balanced and sustainable approach to weight loss.

Country music star Jelly Roll revealed that he’s dropped 100 lbs on his weight loss journey. At one point, the singer weighed more than 500 lbs. 

The 39-year-old shared a video of his progress on Instagram earlier his month, saying, “Next year, when y’all see me, you won’t recognize me.”

In the same video, Jelly Roll’s nutrition coach, Ian Larios, shared what the star has been doing to lose weight. 

“We’re either walking [around] the arena, playing basketball, boxing,” Larios said. He also shared that the star has been on a high protein diet. 

On October 14th, Jelly Roll appeared on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, where he revealed he has struggled with food addiction. 

“The weight for me right now is the mountain in front of me, and I’m taking it, I’m learning. I’m being very diligent with it. I’m taking it really serious, I’m drinking a lot of water, I’m cold plunging, I’m eating right, I’m doing good,” he shared.  “I just have to fight the pirate on my shoulder, you know them late nights, I’m a food addict, man. I’ve probably never said it this honestly, but this is the podcast to be that real about it.” 

Here, two nutritionists offer their thoughts on the strategies Jelly Roll is using to lose weight and their effectiveness.

Jelly Roll sought help for food addiction

“Food addiction is when someone may become addicted to certain foods, usually those that are high in fat, sugar, and salt, because of the feel-good brain chemicals that are released when consumed,” explains registered nutritionist and functional medicine practitioner Nicola Shubrook. 

While Shubrook points out that some researchers consider food addiction to be more about behavior than the food itself, she says there is an important link between food addiction and obesity, metabolic syndrome, and binge-eating disorder. 

She believes seeking help for food addiction can be very beneficial. 

“By addressing the root cause behind your food addiction, be it behavioral, genetic, or both, you can begin to create a healthier relationship with food which ultimately leads to not only eating less but also making better food choices,” she explains   

“Physiologically, this can create more stable blood sugars and brain chemistry, improving satiety and therefore leading to gradual weight loss.” 

Running and walking

Putting one foot in front of the other can be a great weight-loss tool. 

“Walking is a fantastic way of increasing your NEAT (Non-exercise activity thermogenesis),” explains nutritionist and behavior change specialist Lisa Monger.

“This term refers to the energy you use doing anything other than exercise, and including more of it makes it easier to lose weight and keep it off,” she notes. 

Beyond the physical benefits, Monger points out that these activities release endorphins, reducing stress and helping you feel more energized. 

“Feeling less stressed and tired means you’re less likely to reach for food or drinks to cope with emotions,” Monger reasons. 

“In this sense, running or walking becomes a healthy, sustainable way to manage both weight and emotional wellness, making it easier to stick to your goals in the long run.” 

Shubrook agrees, but points out that diet may play a bigger role in weight loss than exercise. 

“The food we eat is one of the biggest contributing factors to weight loss, but research has shown that when both diet and physical activity are combined, longer-term weight loss is achieved,” she explains. 

Cold plunges 

Cold plunges might not be the first weight loss technique that springs to mind, but they can be beneficial. 

“When you expose your body to extreme temperatures such as the intense heat of a sauna, or the extreme cold of a cold-water plunge, it must work a lot harder to function,” explains Shubrook. “Cold plunges encourage the body to release adiponectin, a hormone that is made in adipose tissue or body fat.”

How?

“It activates brown fat, a type of adipose tissue, that needs to burn calories to produce heat and keep the body warm and so regular use of cold-water exposure may help with weight loss over time, but more research is needed,” Shubrook adds. 

She also points to a study that found repeated exposure to cold water can lower and/or transform body adipose tissue. It can also reduce insulin resistance and improve insulin sensitivity.

Worked with a nutrition coach

Weight loss can be a long, lonely road, and often, better results may be achieved with the support of a nutrition coach. 

“A good coach will combine personalized guidance with accountability and education and work with you not only on changing habits but the feelings, experiences, and beliefs that you have that drive those behaviors,” says Monger. 

A nutrition coach may make your weight loss plan easier to stick to long-term. Monger says this is because coaches typically tailor plans according to your lifestyle, preferences, and health goals. 

Eating a high protein diet  

If you’re on a weight loss journey, you may have heard that increasing your protein intake is key. 

“Research has often found that consuming a high protein diet not only helps with weight loss, but it also enhances body composition by decreasing body fat while maintaining lean body mass and muscle,” says Shubrook. 

She adds that some long-term clinical trials have also demonstrated that a high protein diet can help protect against weight gain after weight loss, and with no real adverse effects on bone density or kidney function. 

High-protein diets aid weight loss by promoting greater satiety. Protein raises levels of hormones that reduce appetite, including the hunger hormone ghrelin, helping you feel fuller for longer. 

Takeaway 

Country music star Jelly Roll appears to have a very balanced and sustainable approach to weight loss.

He has balanced dietary changes, exercise, and professional support to lose 100 pounds, with the goal of losing more.

Shubrook says it’s great to see that he is approaching weight loss from all angles – physically, physiologically, and psychologically.