Health

Oprah’s Committed To Weight Watchers, In Spite Of Criticism

Published

10 years ago

January 15, 2017

Oprah Winfrey has been open about her efforts to lose weight. She even made a video that she posted on her website about what her weight-loss journey has been like thus far.

“I am one of those people who has dieted and gained and dieted and gained, and since I’ve started dieting I’ve gained 70 pounds,” the former talk show host and OWN founder said in a video clip from 1985. “It’s been the battle of my life,” Winfrey said in a voiceover for the video. “It is a battle that I’m still fighting every waking moment of my life.”

Now, she says in a new interview that it’s understandable people may not think her current 42-pound weight loss is for real. “People who say, ‘She’ll put the weight back on’—they’re right,” Winfrey told People. “I will if I don’t manage it. It’s not like I’m home free.”

Winfrey joined Weight Watchers more than a year ago after she purchased stake in the company, and she says she’s finally on a plan that she enjoys. “This has been the easiest process that I’ve ever experienced,” she says.

Fatima Cody Stanford, M.D., M.P.H., M.P.A., instructor of medicine and pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, tells SELF the weight-loss rollercoaster that Winfrey has experienced is “extremely common.”

Part of the reason people have such a hard time losing weight is because there are so many misconceptions about what weight loss is really about. It’s a wildly different process for each person, which is why following a specific eating plan or workout regimen may boost someone’s results while not making a difference for another person. (For some people, such as those who have or are recovering from eating disorders, strict plans aren’t appropriate or healthy.) It also involves much more than just eating and exercise, though those are important components. Losing weight is also dependent on stress, sleep, hormones, and any health conditions that may not even be under your control.

Another reason this often happens is that people typically have a general set point for weight that their body likes to maintain, Stanford explains. “In the efforts to lose weight, their body is going to do what it can to defend its set point,” she says. That’s why someone can lose weight but may struggle to keep it off.

Alissa Rumsey, M.S., R.D., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells SELF that many people who struggle with weight loss also do so because the way they originally lost the weight wasn’t sustainable. “Once they go back to their ‘regular’ eating, they regain the weight,” she says. “This cycle of yo-yo dieting is very common.”

The mental aspect of weight loss can also be a challenge, and Jessica Cording, a New York-based R.D., tells SELF that this topic comes up a lot for her clients. “Something I hear a lot from people who have struggled to keep weight off is, ‘I know what to do—it’s doing it that’s the hard part,’” she says. “The mental and emotional components to weight loss are so important—I consider them at least as important as the physical.” Cording points out that she can tell people what to eat, but the real work often involves identifying what a person’s barriers are to reaching their weight-loss goals and how they can work through those challenges to establish a stable eating pattern that leads to weight loss that stays off.

Stanford agrees. “The mental aspect is important, and it’s important not to give up,” she says. “In order for this to be continuously successful, people need to continue their efforts.” People often get to a certain point of weight loss and then think their efforts are done, but Stanford says the healthy habits need to be “lifelong.” And, if you find that one method of weight loss isn’t working for you or isn’t sustainable, she says that it’s important to find another.

For most people, baby steps are key for weight loss instead of drastic measures, which are often difficult to maintain. “Focus on small, simple changes to start, and you’re less likely to get overwhelmed and more likely to continue those changes for the long term,” Rumsey says.

Cording says it’s also crucial to have a plan for keeping the weight off in addition to getting it off in the first place. “Knowing what your barriers and problem areas are and planning ahead for how to address those can help you avoid falling into the same old traps,” she says.

If you’ve struggled with weight loss in the past and have people in your life who aren’t convinced that you can win this battle, Stanford says it’s important to shut out the criticism and surround yourself with those who will support you. “Having a group of individuals that support you, that’s going to help you eat healthy,” she says. “Surround yourself with those people and drown out all the naysayers.”

Finally, be mindful of what works for you—which may be totally different from what works for a friend. “I’ve worked with plenty of people who eat bread and dairy and drink wine and still lose weight and keep it off successfully,” Cording says. “You don’t have to go all or nothing.”

Health

What to Compare When Choosing a Prescription Approach for Rosacea

Published

1 week ago

September 11, 2026

Adam T

Choosing a prescription approach for rosacea is a comparison of fit, not a search for a miracle calm. People often bounce between “anti-redness” serums and leftover acne medicines. Those leftovers can worsen flushing. A dedicated rosacea treatment prescription conversation should start with what you want less of — bumps, burning, visible vessels, or eye irritation — because the first prescription changes with that answer.

Compare the diagnosis, not the brand

Ask the clinician to say the subtype in a sentence you can repeat. If they cannot, photos may be insufficient or the visit was too short. Telehealth can still work when images include hairline, cheeks, nose, chin, and eyelids in daylight.

Ask whether they think you also have barrier damage from over-treatment. That diagnosis changes the first thirty days more than the brand name on the tube.

Compare daily burden

Once-daily products beat complicated stacks for real households. If the plan has a morning anti-inflammatory, a noon SPF, and an evening barrier cream, write the order. If a second active is “optional,” treat it as optional until the first review.

SPF is not optional for most rosacea plans. Compare mineral versus hybrid formulas you will actually wear, including under a mask or helmet if that is your day.

Compare monitoring and escalation

Ask what would trigger a switch to an oral option, a different topical family, or a referral for procedures. Escalation should have criteria. “If you are still unhappy” is too vague and invites monthly product cycling.

Ask how they handle a sudden pustular flare that looks like acne. Wrong-lane treatment is a common reason rosacea gets worse after a promising start.

Compare safety questions they ask you

Pregnancy status, eye symptoms, and a full list of current topicals should be standard. If a service never asks whether your eyes burn, they may be treating only the selfie zone. If they never ask about blood pressure medicines or flushing triggers, the history is thin.

People with darker skin tones should ask how redness will be judged, because visual scoring can miss violaceous or brown residual change. Photos plus symptoms together are more honest than a redness scale alone.

Pick the plan you can explain

If you cannot tell a friend what you apply, when you follow up, and what would make you call sooner, the plan is not yours yet. Ask for that summary. Prescription rosacea care is usually won by consistency and by stopping the extra irritants, not by finding a secret molecule in a late-night ad.

Keep one moisturizer and one sunscreen stable while the prescription is judged. Changing those at the same time as the medicine makes every review guesswork. That single rule prevents a lot of false failures.

Bring your worst week, not your best selfie

Clinicians need the flare you hide. Photograph the bad lighting day and the windy commute day. A prescription chosen from your calmest Tuesday will be judged against a life that includes the other six.

Ask how to handle a wedding or a work trip that lands during the first month. Temporary camouflage is fine. Adding three new actives the week of the event is how people show up more inflamed than when they started.

When two approaches look equal, pick the one with a named follow-up and a shorter ingredient list. Rosacea rewards boredom. The comparison is which plan you can repeat without inventing extras.

Health

Why the Pneumatic Tube System is the Future of Patient Care

Published

2 weeks ago

September 1, 2026

Adam T

Clinical staff have always done all they can for their patients. Thankfully, due to advancements in technology, they don’t have to work alone. The future of patient care is equipment like the innovative pneumatic tube system.

Regulatory Innovation

This infrastructure helps hospitals keep pace by exceeding time-based legislation requirements. It guarantees that medical materials reach wards as quickly as possible so staff can focus on patient care.

Physical Innovation

It is estimated that by 2030, the world will face a shortage of 4.5 million nurses. The increased workload for remaining staff leads to burnout, which negatively affects treatment. The system is designed to assist nurses with their tasks, ultimately increasing their efficiency.

Security Innovation

According to a 2024 study, 42% of all healthcare-related ransomware attacks in Europe targeted hospitals. By transporting sensitive materials and documents on premises through the pneumatic tube system, hospitals will eliminate the risk of outside attacks.

Financial Innovation

Also, according to a 2024 study, hospitals in many European nations are continuously facing financial deficits. By investing once in high-quality technology systems, facilities can be more financially secure.

Virtual Innovation

Most hospital pharmacies can transport over 90% of their materials in a carrier. The system acts as an advanced form of touchless technology that securely transfers materials without transferring bacteria and pathogens.

Source: Swisslog

Health

Healthcare Explainer Videos: Simplifying Medical Communication for Every Patient

Published

2 months ago

July 22, 2026

Adam T

Making Healthcare Easier to Understand

Healthcare communication should be clear, accurate, and easy to understand. However, medical information often includes technical terminology and complex processes that can overwhelm patients. Whether explaining a treatment plan, introducing a new healthcare service, or educating people about preventive care, presenting information in a simple way is essential.

This is where healthcare explainer videos make a real difference. By combining engaging animation with straightforward storytelling, these videos transform complex medical topics into visual content that patients can easily understand. As more healthcare organizations embrace digital communication, animated videos have become one of the most effective ways to educate, inform, and build trust.

The Benefits of Visual Learning

People often remember information better when they can see it rather than simply read it. Animated explainer videos use visuals, motion graphics, and professional narration to explain medical concepts step by step, making them easier to follow.

Healthcare providers commonly use animated videos to explain:

Medical procedures
Treatment plans
Medication instructions
Preventive healthcare
Chronic disease management
Telemedicine services
Patient onboarding
Medical device demonstrations

This visual approach helps patients better understand important healthcare information while reducing confusion and improving confidence.

Supporting Better Patient Engagement

Patients who understand their healthcare journey are more likely to follow treatment plans and actively participate in their care. Educational videos provide information in a format that patients can watch before appointments, review after consultations, or share with family members.

Professional healthcare explainer videos also help healthcare professionals save time by answering common questions before patients visit a clinic or hospital. This allows doctors and medical staff to focus more on personalized care while ensuring patients have access to reliable educational resources whenever they need them.

Strengthening Digital Healthcare Communication

Today, most patients search online before choosing a healthcare provider or learning about a medical condition. Healthcare organizations that include educational videos on their websites create a more engaging experience for visitors.

Animated videos can also be shared through YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, patient portals, webinars, and email campaigns. This allows organizations to maintain consistent messaging while reaching patients across multiple digital platforms.

Educational content not only improves patient understanding but also helps establish credibility and strengthens an organization’s online presence.

Conclusion

The demand for healthcare explainer videos continues to grow because they simplify medical communication while improving patient education and engagement. They help healthcare organizations explain complex topics, build trust, and create meaningful connections through clear visual storytelling.

As healthcare continues to evolve, animated explainer videos will remain a valuable communication tool for educating patients, supporting healthcare professionals, and delivering information in a way that is both engaging and easy to understand.