The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to pull the popular weight loss drug Meridia from the market. The group says the drug needs to be yanked immediately because of heart-related risks.Public Citizen claims 84 heart-related deaths have been reported to the FDA in patients who took Meridia. Thirty of the people who've died were reportedly 50 or younger, and 11 were 30 or younger."We would hope that the science behind the results seen in this study would mandate the only appropriate FDA action to protect the public health: immediate removal of Meridia from...

I know this may sound shocking to some but I used to work for a tabloid newspaper. At the Sun, we weren't all that concerned with celebrities, but because we were a sister paper to the celeb-smearing Globe, we got to see all the trashy stories and photos before they went to print.The photos of stars who were either deemed too fat or too skinny seemed to draw the most attention. What is it about our insatiable appetite for images like this?While tawdry tales of Tiger Woods may be grabbing most of the headlines these days there remains plenty of...

Here in Eastern Pennsylvania they give the school kids an extended Thanksgiving holiday. I think the real reason there is no school the Monday after turkey day is because close to one million well-armed hunters hit the woods for the first day of deer season.I am not a hunter -- never have been -- but I am a parent, so what this means to me is that my two kids have an extra day to run wild, run free. And as most parents will grudgingly admit, any day that the kids are home from school is a holiday from dieting...

Diet-to-Go now offers five weeks worth of super delicious meals that are a perfect fit for people suffering from diabetes. It's our popular Diabetes-friendly Balance line of meals that were crafted to fit within the guidelines set forth by the American Diabetes Association.Here's what Diet-to-Go's registered dietitian Rebecca Mohning MS, RD, LD has to say."Diet-to-Go meal plans are beneficial for customers trying to lose weight AND control their blood glucose levels. The meals are portion controlled so there is no need to worry about carbohydrate counting and keeping track of calories for weight loss."The meals offer a diet low in...

This Thanksgiving will mark a first for my family - we're going out to dinner at a restaurant rather than host family or visit family for our turkey day meal.My wife refuses to make a complete break from tradition so she will be roasting a turkey breast Thanksgiving morning so we will at least have "leftovers" for sandwiches.My question: Can they truthfully be leftovers when the turkey breast will go untouched on Thanksgiving? Hmmm... Anyway, while I am looking forward to a fuss-free holiday for a change, I must admit I am a little saddened by the prospect of sharing...

When it comes to weight loss, Bo knows dieting. As part of his job as a radio personality, the Louisiana man got to try just about every hot diet that hit the market.But now that Bo is off the air and dieting on his own dime, he's tuned into the best tasting, easiest-to-follow diet he could find - and he's dropped a super 39 pounds!The program that Bo says gives him the most bang for his buck: Diet-to-Go."Diet-to-Go has been a great tool to jump-start my weight loss and I'm proof that it works if you work it," Bo says....

Special for DiettoGo.comby Frederic J. Vagnini, M.D., FACS, & Lawrence D. ChilnickAuthors of The Weight Loss Plan for Beating DiabetesDuring the holiday season many dedicated dieters or those who follow special diets for diabetes, heart disease or other conditions not only "fall off the wagon" but also leap into the deep end of the pool. Don't feel guilty. This is a normal reaction to attending large family dinners where everyone makes food loaded with seductive carbohydrates.We also go to multiple parties -- sometimes on the same day -- where the hosts have hired caterers who specialize in delicious appetizers and...

I want to share with you some healthy tips and anecdotes to kick off the holiday season. It has been a tumultuous year for many however there is always something to give thanks for and our health is just one of those things.Here are a few things that can keep us counting our blessings as well as a few treats to celebrate them!Reduce, Reuse, RecycleReduce the amount of waste you produce by buying only as much as you need and choosing products that come in packaging that can be recycled. Carry reusable bags when you do your shopping, and use...

When you hear the word core, what comes to mind? Abs? Lower back? Obliques? If you thought one or more of these answers, you're partially right. Basically, your core comprises all the muscles that are responsible for moving and stabilizing the trunk or spine.Simply, your core is your body without arms and legs. If there's any weakness in any muscle of this system, your core is compromised.I hear all the time about people who have strong abs, but a bad back. One of the reasons is because they do 5,000,000 crunches a day and neglect the other muscles of the...

Special for DiettoGo.comby Annemarie Colbin, Ph.D.,Author of The Whole-Food Guide to Strong BonesLet me make very clear what the best foods are for the bones -- in this order:1. Vegetables, especially leafy greens, and also roots and stalks (for the iron and calcium, and for vitamins K and C, which, together with protein, help deposit the collagen matrix)2. Protein, such as animal foods, beans, and soy foods (for the collagen matrix)3. Stock (for the minerals)4. Whole grains (for the magnesium)5. Foods rich in trace minerals, such as seaweeds, nuts, and seeds6. Edible bones (for the calcium and other minerals)7. Healthy...

Special for DiettoGo.comby Linda Miner RNC, CHN, CMTAwww.MyHealthyBalance.comContrary to popular belief, the average person gains only about one pound between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This should not allay the concern over the copious amounts of white sugar, white flour and alcohol people are consuming during this time. "But it's the Holidays!!!" is the excuse, rather the plea, from people who want to indulge.It is important not to feel deprived because this may lead to binging later, but it is possible to be smart about it. Here are 6 tips to help you through the holidays:1. Offer to be the Designated...

I want to welcome everyone to the 2nd Issue of the Diet Blog Carnival! It's been exciting to see all of the submissions over this month.What is a Blog Carnival? In Case you missed the 1st Edition of the Blog Carnival, here is a brief explanation...Here's how it works: bloggers that write about dieting, weight loss, health, etc. will submit their best articles monthly. At the end of each month a host will read them all and publish their favorites. It is a really fun way to read some great articles and get introduced...

Oh, the wonder of the human body! From the time you're born, your body is doing its best to achieve or maintain homeostasis, the process by which the internal systems of the body maintain a balance, despite external conditions.Your body is doing all it can to maintain posture, stay at ideal weight, and gain strength.Unfortunately, some of us are to blame for sabotaging its efforts.Other than inherited sickness, or an unfortunate accident beyond our control, we thwart our body's efforts to be in optimal health.While there are a myriad of ways to be healthy, I believe the gateway to...

When I meet with a client for the first time my job is find their motivation. So I always ask, "What drives you?" I can tell you absolutely that no two people are driven exactly the same.The factors that trigger our desire for wellness are as individual as our fingerprints.Is it health, vanity, our children, our spouse? A bet perhaps... or peer pressure to conform. Some of us are searching for the Fountain of Youth or we have a desire to fit into our skinny jeans again. Maybe it's the glitzy magazines and TV shows that serve up...

I awoke to sobering news yesterday. The morning news shows took the fizz out of my dieting joy by mentioning a new study that indicates people who drink two or more diet sodas a day double their risk of kidney function decline!Darn. On a good day I may drink as many as four 8-ounce servings of diet soda.I've tried to go the water only route but I find I just need a touch of sweetness and taste to my liquid intake.According to WebMD, "About 20 million Americans have some evidence of chronic kidney disease... Kidney disease diagnoses have doubled...

You have undoubtedly heard the saying, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." The fitness equivalent to that statement is one of my favorite quotes by Jane Caminos: "A waist is a terrible thing to mind."That is never truer than during the holiday season.A new study suggests that on average, Americans probably gain about a pound during the winter holiday season. This finding runs contrary to the popular belief that most people gain from 5 to 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. New study or old, around our house, I guarantee the numbers on the scale...

Dear Dr. Abby, My kids brought home a stash of Halloween candy, which was enough to haunt any parent! What's the best way to deal with this delightfully decadent supply?Candy First and foremost, I hope you shared their excitement about your kids' wonderful accomplishment! Grabbing all that loot required walking and enthusiasm, both of which burned calories. The bigger the pile, the further the mile!Now, educate them about candy.Anything with nuts is actually fairly healthy. Nuts contain good oils, while protein and fat minimize the high glycemic index of sugar.Lollipops and gumdrops are pure sugar, but fairly low in...

I ain't afraid of no ghost...I ain't afraid of no witch, either.What really frightens me this Halloween season are the fun-sized candy bars that will jam my children's goodie bags - and turn dad's belly to jelly!Yes, they dare call them fun size even though there's nothing fun about overindulging on your favorite - and even your not-so-favorite - candies and treats at Halloween.What's also scary is that I've found in recent years that a growing number of well-meaning guys and ghouls have started handing out king-sized candy bars as their terrifying treat of choice!If you ask me, king is...

Special for DiettoGo.comby Monica Reinagel, host of Nutrition DivaJoy emailed me this week with a great question. She's wondering how to gauge the healthfulness of the snacks she sees at natural foods stores like Trader Joe's. "I bought honey-roasted sunflower seeds and flaxseed corn chips," she writes, "thinking that these were somewhat healthy (compared to Doritos, anyway). Does adding things like flaxseed to unhealthy things like corn chips make them more worthwhile? But does adding flavorings to seeds or nuts make them less healthy?"Joy, you have put your finger on a phenomenon called the "health halo effect." This is where...

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an excerpt from Women's Home Workout Bible (Human Kinetics, 2009) by Diet-to-Go fitness contributor Brad Schoenfeld. Read the feature then see how you can get a free copy of this economical and insightful new book! Setting Up a Home Gym: The Essentialsby Brad Schoenfeld, DTG Fitness Pro& author of Women's Home Workout BibleFirst, the good news: You don't need to spend a fortune on a home gym. No matter what your budget is, you can build a gym that suits your needs. Now for the caveat: The less money you have the more savvy you...