The average non-obese healthy adult gains about one pound per year, according to a study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) involving 120,877 people over a twenty-year period. Obesity is defined as 20% over one’s ideal body weight for a given height.
Allen S. Weiss, MD, FACP, FACR, MBA
Recent posts by Allen S. Weiss, MD, FACP, FACR, MBA
2 min read
The Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Laughter
Connecting now is more important than ever for physical and emotional health in the face of “social distancing.” Laughing together is a great way to connect during the new normal in which meetings—professional and family—are convened via video connections.
Topics: Bulletin Featured
8 min read
Wealth and Income Inequality as a Cause of Societal Inequity
Wealth and income inequality have been defining issues in the United States. The added stress of Covid-19 has highlighted and exacerbated these imbalances not only regarding the economy and personal finances, but also for social injustice and civil unrest within communities.
Frighteningly, the most stressed communities have become the epicenters for additional tragic events. Multigenerational income inequality, geospatially identifiable within regions, facilitates further degradation of already fragile neighborhoods.
Topics: Bulletin
3 min read
Finding Ways to Connect Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
Most everyone has spent more time in front of a computer screen lately than ever before. While many people worry that this behavior is harmful to all age groups, screen time is proving to enhance three Blue Zones Principles.
Topics: Bulletin
4 min read
Delayed Gratification Could Saves Lives
As the nation sputters back to normalcy, individual behaviors may contribute to survival for oneself as well as family, friends, and strangers.
Delaying gratification—continuing to shelter in place, using face masks assiduously, conscientious hand washing, and practicing other validated actions to avoid getting or giving Covid-19—may confer better outcomes for individuals and society in general.
Topics: Bulletin Featured
5 min read
Life Has Changed and So Must We
Our world has changed fundamentally from the impact of two events. The first, acute and most noxious, is COVID-19. The second, enduring and most beneficial, is the digital age. COVID-19 is terrible for health and the economy but has unwittingly served as a transformational catalyst for business and society.
Topics: Bulletin
4 min read
Let's Get Moving to Reverse America's Dismal Life Expectancy
American "exceptionalism" has its limits. “Our workforce is dying faster than any other wealthy country,” a Journal of the American Medical Association article
[1] from Virginia Commonwealth University stated last year, as reported by USA Today.
Topics: Bulletin
5 min read
Adjusting to Life with Spreading Covid-19: Stay Safe and Be Productive
Covid-19 is stressing American society and us all in fundamental ways. The obvious and most important impact is the potential loss of life, particularly for the frail elderly and medically compromised folks among us. Not to be overlooked are the psychological, emotional, and financial stresses arising from the uncertainties surrounding the spread of the disease.
Topics: Bulletin Featured
3 min read
Pisgah Health Foundation Provides Innovative COVID-19 Support for Western North Carolina Residents
In the rapidly changing and often confusing time of COVID-19, Sharecare and Blue Zones Project have had the opportunity to witness how individuals, organizations and communities are working together to help address the fallout of this virus. One of the most dynamic and active organizations that we have observed is the
Pisgah Health Foundation (PHF), a public 501 (c)(3) charity that was founded in 2019 by a board of seven individuals. Their focus was, and remains on improving the health, wellness, and lives of Western North Carolina residents by targeting underlying social determinants related to health, food insecurity, housing, social cohesion, and education. The organization evolved from the Transylvania Regional Hospital Foundation and serves five counties in Western North Carolina.
Topics: Bulletin
3 min read
Blue Zones Project Collaborators Support Essential Workers, Community Initiatives
Innovation, self-motivation, and altruism when blended are a great combination, particularly in stressful times. Blue Zones Project colleagues from across the nation have been effective responding to the rapidly changing environment. Two examples, representative of many others, are below.
