Hassan Thwaini

Cholesterol: a significant weight management metric

When it comes to weight management, cholesterol is one of the key health markers that often flies under the radar. We tend to focus on the number on the scales, but what’s happening inside your body is just as important. Carrying extra weight can lead to higher cholesterol levels, which puts your heart at risk.

Mind and body: the link between obesity and mental health

A tidal wave of high-calorie, nutrient-poor processed foods, coupled with increasingly inactive lifestyles, has driven global obesity rates through the roof. Once viewed solely as a physical condition, obesity is now recognised as deeply entwined with mental health, creating a devastating cycle of shame, anxiety, and depression. The psychological burden is often hidden beneath the surface, with sufferers trapped in a loop where mental health issues fuel overeating, while the stigma and isolation of obesity worsen mental health.

The link between obesity and PCOS

Some people are more predisposed to gaining weight than others as a result of their genetics and underlying medical history. For around 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, one condition that frequently leads to weight gain is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).1

The link between your gut microbiome and your weight

Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria, collectively known as the gut microbiome, which wears several hats when it comes to your overall health. Though this may sound alarming, these organisms are actually there to help your body carry out multiple functions to keep you thriving. Recent research has shown that the gut microbiome may also play a significant role in managing body weight and even influence the success of weight loss efforts, reinforcing the need for us to keep the organisms inside of us healthy.1

Switching between Mounjaro and Wegovy: how it works

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a type of medication recently approved for the treatment of weight loss.1 Though initially licensed for reducing blood sugar in individuals with type-2 diabetes, they also have the added benefits of slowing gastric emptying, reducing appetite, and aiding in weight loss, all of which contribute to better metabolic health

How to build a routine for regular weigh-ins

Let’s talk about something we all know is important but often forget to do while on the Numan Weight Loss Programme—tracking our weight regularly. Keeping an eye on your weight is key to tracking your weight loss journey, and it provides essential data that helps you and your Numan weight loss team monitor your progress and make necessary adjustments.

How to manage the fear of weighing yourself

Stepping on the scale can be a daunting task, probably even more so than dragging yourself out of bed for that early morning 5k run you promised you would do. However, regardless of how it may make you feel, weighing yourself regularly when on a weight loss journey is important for two reasons: to find out how your new lifestyle is helping you shed weight, and to share your progress with your healthcare provider and support group.

Why it’s important to log your weight in the Numan app

When on the Numan Weight Loss Programme, it’s important to log your weight routinely each week. But we understand that you might already be tracking your weight using other apps like Google Health or Apple Health. And that’s brilliant, as keeping an eye on your progress is a key part of your health journey. However, it’s equally important that you share your weight data with us here at Numan, for a number of reasons.

Why do so many men get misdiagnosed with depression when they have low testosterone?

There's been a surge in interest in men's mental health in recent years, and all for good reason too—we want our fellow men to speak up. Yet, as awareness grows, so too does the propensity for misdiagnosis. Many non-specialist physicians are quick to diagnose depression without a deeper investigation into the biochemical roots of distress.

Looking at obesity through a new lens

Despite the numerous weight loss and healthy living initiatives introduced to the UK over the past couple of decades, obesity rates have continued to rise, with the proportion of people currently living with obesity doubling since 1993.1 Since ‘healthy eating’ and ‘plenty of exercise’ haven’t quite done the trick, possibly because of the lack of understanding that obesity represents a number of different diseases, then it may be high time for something to change – starting with how we define obesity, and not just referring to it as a poor lifestyle choice.

Can Wegovy reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease?

The diabetes-turned-weight-loss drug that has taken the world by storm in recent years, semaglutide, has been shown to reduce major adverse cardiac events by 20%.1 This was demonstrated in non-diabetic patients who were obese or overweight and had cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Is Mounjaro linked to fatigue?

Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and being overweight all share fatigue as a common factor. Treating these conditions should, theoretically, alleviate any symptoms of excessive tiredness. However, one of the treatments used to tackle obesity, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), may be linked to causing further fatigue in a small minority of people. According to a recently published study on Wegovy (a similar drug to Mounjaro),1 7% of participants experienced side effects, some of which felt more tired than usual.1

Looking at weight loss beyond the scales

Weight is a sensitive topic for many people, and getting to that optimal weight is much easier said than done. However, once you get onto the weight loss journey that suits your lifestyle and start seeing results, there’s way more to the benefits than meets the eye, from reducing your risk of serious complications to finding more energy to do the activities you love.

How to keep the weight off after stopping medication

New weight loss medicines such as Wegovy, Saxenda, and Mounjaro have had all the hype in recent years due to their ability to effectively promote rapid weight loss. However, when you hit a healthy weight, you may wish to cease the medication.

Weight fluctuations: why they happen and how to overcome them

There’s very little more frustrating in the world than stepping on the scale only to find that those two pounds you shed a week ago have come back with a vengeance, despite all your efforts to stick to a healthy routine.