Last week’s online group coaching meeting (August 31), hosted by Dr. Tro’s Medical Weight Loss & Direct Primary Care, continued its discussion around metabolic health. Dr. Tro Kalayjian shared studies with participants about appetite-suppressing hormones. The effects of a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet on hunger were also explored.

Dr. Tro, Amy and Brian then focused the meeting on their personal experiences dealing with stressful eating situations and the defenses used in our modern, hyperpalatable, and over abundant food environment. By combining these strategies with a low carb diet, hunger and cravings are kept in check. Hosts and participants also shared some patterns that have prompted overeating, including visiting places previously associated with binging. Other situations that are common triggers include coming home from a long day at work, visiting your childhood home, holidays, social gatherings and eating by the clock.

The following studies were shared during the meeting:

• This study that shows the effects of the low carbohydrate diet on food cravings, hunger, restraint, disinhibition. Of note, those who had more improved glucose variability experienced greater drops in their hunger and cravings. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31878131/
• A great study that showed that weight loss led to a reduction in postprandial CCK secretion, a hormone that induces satiety. Interestingly wever, when subjects were ketotic (elevated circulating β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations), CCK secretion was sustained at concentrations before weight loss. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/87.5.1238
• A low-fat diet reduced peptide YY more than a low-carbohydrate diet. These findings suggest that satiety may be better preserved on a low-carbohydrate diet, as compared to a low fat diet. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26803589/
• The increases in circulating ghrelin and subjective appetite which accompany dietary weight reduction were mitigated when weight-reduced participants were ketotic. Meaning that patients who were ketotic had reduced and not increased grehin, the hunger hormone, leading to decreased hunger. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23632752/

If you’re interested in registering or learning more, please visit our Group Coaching page.

Brian Wiley

Brian Wiley is a Certified Health Coach who has struggled with food addiction and battled with obesity for most of his life. Being advised with mainstream approaches as his solution, along with the standard, “eat less, move more” resulted in minimal, or no success with eventual regain. In 2009, he reached his highest weight of 265 pounds. His doctor advised and encouraged him to take medications after his blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol reached dangerous levels at the age of only 35. His commitment to a low carb lifestyle resulted in a 100-pound weight loss, and he was able to reverse his abnormal health markers improving his heart health and avoiding type 2 diabetes. Brian has maintained his weight loss for the last 11 years. “I see people everyday on social media and in real life and they’re struggling. They’re going through the same struggles of food addiction, unhealthy eating patterns, and unsuccessful dieting like I did. I want to serve as an example that this approach can be successful. It is not a fad, and is a healthy long-term lifestyle solution.” Brian is also an ACE certified personal trainer. Brian was a featured guest on Episode 29 of the Low Carb MD podcast and on Vinnie Tortorich’s Fitness Confidential Saturday Success Story. Brian has also been featured on DietDoctor, Atkins and various other publications

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