'TikTokers need to stop bombarding people with weight-loss hacks, setting them up for failure.” That’s clinical dietitian Mitun De Sarkar’s take on "Oatzempic", the latest health hack trending on social media.
Made by blending half a cup of oats in one cup of water and topped with the juice of half a lime, the recipe relies on the high fibre content of oats to suppress the appetite and consequently lead to weight loss. Proponents compare it to diabetes medication Ozempic – which is increasingly being used as a weight-loss drug even by non-diabetics – and claim consuming it every morning for two months straight can help shed up to 18kg.
But experts are not buying it.
Fibre in the diet
There is no denying that oats are healthy. As Sarkar explains: “They have got a special type of fibre called beta-glucan, which can reduce the appetite and keep you full. But you cannot equate oats with a GLP-1 receptor agonist such as Ozempic. There is simply no comparison.”
There is also such a thing as too much fibre, especially for people with insulin and colon conditions.
“If you consume large quantities of oats or choose instant oats, it could cause a spike followed by a drop in blood sugar,” notes Ruba Elhourani, senior dietitian and head of the nutritional department at RAK Hospital. “This variation in sugar levels can be harmful for diabetics and people with insulin resistance.
“Food with such high fibre content is also not recommended for people with colon problems, who need to restrict their fibre intake.”
Holistic nutrition is key
Fibre aside, the human body has a daily requirement of macro and micronutrients. If not met, this will harm long-term weight loss as well as overall well-being.
Melanie D’Souza, a dietetics specialist at Aster Hospital Sharjah, says she does not subscribe to the Oatzempic as a daily breakfast fad because of the absence of protein.
“While the blend is a great source of fibre, a healthy breakfast should also have at least 15g to 20g of protein to keep you full for longer and meet your daily requirements,” D’Souza explains. “People who are claiming weight loss with Oatzempic could be substituting it for a high-calorie breakfast or could be losing muscle mass – rather than fat – because of the inadequate protein intake.”
D’Souza says those who still want to incorporate oats in their first meal should avoid instant oats and use the steel-cut or rolled variety. To this, add a good source of protein – be it a scoop of protein powder, eggs or Greek yoghurt – along with healthy fats such as nuts and seeds in moderate portions.
Beware social media ‘doctors’
No matter how many followers a social media personality might have, they cannot be trusted blindly if they don’t have a degree in medicine or nutrition. As fitness trainer Danielle Wilkinson notes: “Many influencers are subject to the Dunning-Kruger effect, which is when you learn a small amount of information and then believe you understand the topic fully. This leads influencers to passionately sell products or systems that ‘worked for them’.”
Take Ozempic, for example. Celebrities and influencers might rave about it, but few highlight the common side effects listed on pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk’s website. Think nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain and constipation, while serious side effects are listed as pancreatitis, changes in vision, kidney failure, serious allergic reactions and “possible thyroid tumours, including cancer”.
As Dr Salman Abdul Bari, a general practitioner at RAK Hospital, puts it: “Physicians across the world do not recommend it for normal-weight patients for cosmetic purposes.”
When it comes to Oatzempic and other unsubstantiated weight-loss hacks, Sarkar says TikTokers and social media influencers “need to get their facts right rather than look to go viral by claiming quick fixes". She adds: "All they serve to do it make diet culture toxic.”
Common sense dictates a calorie-deficit diet goes hand in hand with lifestyle changes, adds D’Souza. “To maintain weight loss, you need to accompany any new diet with physical activity, adequate sleep and manageable stress levels, to name a few," she says. "A holistic approach is the best way to improve mental and physical health and our relationship with food.”
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
WWE Super ShowDown results
Seth Rollins beat Baron Corbin to retain his WWE Universal title
Finn Balor defeated Andrade to stay WWE Intercontinental Championship
Shane McMahon defeated Roman Reigns
Lars Sullivan won by disqualification against Lucha House Party
Randy Orton beats Triple H
Braun Strowman beats Bobby Lashley
Kofi Kingston wins against Dolph Zigggler to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Mansoor Al Shehail won the 50-man Battle Royal
The Undertaker beat Goldberg
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
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Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
It's up to you to go green
Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.
“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”
When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.
He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.
“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.
One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.
The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.
Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.
But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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