Build Up Catch Up - 7/7/2023
Very Many Berberine Claims, CDR & CPEs, Book Nook Pick, 3 Things You May Have Missed ....and more.
Very Many Berberine Claims
There’s a regular parade of pills and supplements promising weight loss, but read the fine print, “May result in weight loss when used in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle habits/exercise.”
The latest entrant in the supplement circus is berberine. Once touted as a "natural" (Appeal to Nature Logical Fallacy) treatment for Type 2 Diabetes; berberine supplement is now being proclaimed as the "natural" Ozempic (there we go again with the logical fallacy) to use for weight loss.
Keep in mind:
1. It's a SUPPLEMENT, so berberine is not regulated like prescription medications for weight loss (e.g. Ozempic/Wegovy). A berberine supplement may or may not have what people think it is supposed to contain and will not perform like prescription medication.
2. Where are the STUDIES that show efficacy for use for weight loss? Oh right, they’re really aren’t any…see what dietitian Tara Schmidt at Mayo Clinic had to say.
3. What are potential SIDE EFFECTS & INTERACTIONS between berberine and medications? Yes, even "natural" products have side effects & can interact with medications.
4. If a patient does experience modest weight loss by using berberine, was the weight loss actually thanks to diet and lifestyle changes?
5.And most importantly if there is weight loss how much—-can weight loss be maintained?
Bottom Line: From American Family Physician “…we can start by validating our patients’ desire to improve their health (while also recognizing, when indicated, that our culture’s obsession with thinness is largely fueled by the diet industry). With a lack of rigorous efficacy and safety studies, a known risk of interacting with several common medications, and the inability to trust that any supplement actually contains what’s on its label, we also need to advise patients to exercise caution regarding berberine’s use.” #BOOM🔥
New CDR CPE Guidelines (& how they affect CPE providers and dietitians)
You will need to log in to this site with your credentials. There is a webinar as well as a policy manual and glossary. https://www.pathlms.com/cdr/courses/55076
There are a variety of changes that will affect CPE providers. Some of the biggest changes that dietitians may notice are:
⛔starting in April 2024 you will not receive CPE's for attending exhibits/Expo hall
⛔brands/commodities cannot show their logo or mention their company/affiliation on slide decks during the educational portion of a presentation.
⛔the minimum length of time you can get credit for is 1.0 hr - apparently the 0.5 hr CPE’s which were available during the Pandemic are no longer available.
If after reading the materials on the CDR website and watching the video you have questions, reach out to CDR priorapproval@eatright.org - we did, and we’re still hoping for a response.
3 Things You May Have Missed
1.Your Fat Friend trailer. The movie, “Your Fat Friend”, with author (“What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat”) and podcaster (“Maintenance Phase Podcast”-Definitely a PODCAST PICK) Aubrey Gordon, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 8th.
The newest (and possibly best) threat to Twitter - THREADS was introduced by META this week…and we’re on it come join us!
Find us on THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@builduprdns
❓Will THREADS unravel Twitter❓ Only time will tell!
3. Continuing Education opportunity
(info provided by Bec McDorman, MS, LD RDN, FAND sign up for Bec’s weekly notice of CPE’s or by emailing her: becmcdorman.msrdnfand@gmail.com)
FREE CEU: “The Science & Implementation of the Low FODMAP Diet”
by IAFNS - Wed 7/12 - 1pm PST. Register here
Your Questions Answered
🙋♀️❓Why do group moderators For Build UP close questions/posts out at 20 responses in the closed/private Build UP Dietitians groups?
We currently have about 20 different private/closed groups. Some groups are very active with multiple questions and requests for information posted daily. In order to keep content fresh, and limit repetitive and redundant posts or responses; group moderators close responses/comments once a post has received 20 responses or more. The posts themselves are not removed or deleted and are still visible. If a group member feels a question hasn’t been adequately answered they can post additional questions.