6/28/24 -What if "Blue Zones" Are a Myth?; Meet Group Moderator Danielle Houston; Build Up Dietitians AMAZON store; 4 Things You Don't Want to Miss

👋Meet Our Moderator - Danielle Houston, RDN, LD

Danielle Houston moderates for Build Up Dietitians Weight Management & Bariatric Group

Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn here

Question #1: What is your current position?

Answer: Bariatric Coordinator, MBSCR and Bariatric Dietitian for Medical City Dallas hospital (Texas)—I run the inpatient bariatric surgery program…. Previously I ran other bariatric programs (some with clinics attached which is a lot of work) as well as a brief 18 months as a practice manager for a bariatric practice. I also have a fun side-gig doing telehealth with Bariatric Dietitian Services for pre- and post-op patients (since I no longer do one-on-one counseling in my full-time job).

Question #2: If you had to pick one thing people often misunderstand about obesity,what would it be?

Answer: My biggest issue after 10+ years in this field is the thought that surgery is easy/cheating and that all patients will gain weight back. Neither of these concepts are true…. our patients work hard just to make it to surgery and then struggle through the changes that are forced with the surgery itself. I teach every single patient I see that this surgery is simply a tool.…the base of success, is forming a healthy relationship with food. This takes more than a trip to the OR! And that is why your friendly bariatric RD is here for you AFTER surgery, where it matters the most. I have many patients I know that are 10 years out from surgery and maintaining a healthy weight!

❓Would You Be😢 Blue if “Blue Zones” Were Just a Myth?

Photo by Matt Bennett on Unsplash

For years people have been entranced with the notion of “blue zones”, i.e. areas in the world where people are known to live “extraordinarily long and healthy lives” thanks to a combination of diet, exercise and other lifestyle habits deemed beneficial. This idea was popularized about 20 years ago by journalist (not a scientist or physician) Dan Buettner in his book, “The Blue Zones”. The notion of “blue zones” has since become commercialized and is now a big business. A search reveals sales of “Blue Zones”: cookbooks, cooking classes, retreats to exotic locations, educational courses, and certification programs for towns and businesses to become “blue zones”. More recently, a “Blue Zones Challenge” app has become available that “…empowers you to live a better, healthier, and happier life” though it seems to have a strong focus on weight. Blue Zones LLC is now even working with food brands in a pay for play program to certify products, everything from tote bags and coffee to honey and beans, are “blue zone” certified.

But…

what if the “Blue Zones”, where people live to an advanced and healthy age, was just a myth based on faulty or fraudulent information, or at best a feel-good story not supported by science or research? And is there really one optimal diet or specific foods that will ensure longevity? Here are some resources that question the notion of “Blue Zones”:

-Oxford University demographer Dr. Saul Newman questions documentation errors and fraud.

-Inc. (Nick Hobson) - The Blue Zones Story Is Dramatically Shifting How We Think About Our Health. The Story May Not Be True | Inc.com

-Epidemiologist Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz - The problem with "Blue Zones": They might not hold the secret to a long life after all. (slate.com) … highly recommend his Substack newsletter: https://substack.com/@gidmk

-Science-based Medicine (Harriet Hall) - Conclusion: Myth and speculation, not solid science

-Substack: Drama in the Longevity Scene - by Rina Raphael - Well To Do

🛒Build Up Dietitians AMAZON store

Be sure and check out our Build Up Dietitians AMAZON store where we feature all sorts of dietitian/nutrition/food themed things from clothing to books and from plushies to posters. Go to the store HERE

4️⃣Things You Don’t Want to Miss

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