Dr. Chaeity's Story

Weight gain is one of the most common side effects experienced by many people taking psychiatric medications for mental health management. Have you ever wondered "Why am I suddenly gaining weight?" while taking antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or antipsychotic drugs? Recent studies show that some patients on psychiatric medications can experience weight gains of 10-15% of their body weight in just three months. Why Psychiatric Medications Cause Weight Gain 1. Your Metabolism Slows Down Many antidepressants and antipsychotic medications reduce your body's basal metabolic rate. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in particular decrease the amount of energy your body burns at rest. Research shows that some patients burn 10-15% fewer calories after starting medication, even when eating the same amount of food. Simply put, you become prone to weight gain even when eating and living exactly as before. This expl...

Are you someone who's gaining weight or struggling to lose it despite exercising hard and managing your diet? In such cases, it might not simply be a matter of willpower or effort, but rather an important signal your body is sending. Today, let's explore various medical conditions that could be hidden causes of sudden weight gain and diet failure. Weight Changes Caused by Hormones Cushing's Syndrome - When Your Face Becomes Moon-Shaped Cushing's syndrome shows a unique pattern of weight gain that can be quite distressing for those affected. The most distinctive feature of this condition is that while the arms and legs actually become thinner, fat accumulates only in the face, neck, and abdomen. The face becomes round like a full moon, called 'moon face,' and fat accumulates on the back of the neck and shoulders, creating what looks like a hump, known as 'buffalo hump.' Purple stretch marks similar to pregnancy marks appear on the abdomen and buttocks, ca...

A Secret Born Beyond the Iron Curtain In 1947, Soviet toxicologist Nikolai Lazarev coined a new term that would become one of the Cold War's most intriguing scientific projects: "Adaptogen" - substances that help the body adapt to stress. After World War II, the Soviet Union was searching for ways to enhance the physical and mental performance of their soldiers, cosmonauts, and Olympic athletes. Unlike amphetamines and other stimulants that came with harsh side effects, they wanted something that could boost endurance naturally. After screening hundreds of herbs, Soviet scientists identified a select group of plants they deemed true adaptogens. The criteria were strict: these substances had to be non-toxic, increase resistance to various stressors, and normalize body functions. The research was so important that the Soviet government prohibited scientists from publishing their findings internationally until the 1980s. While Russian scientists produced thousands of pape...

Did you know you can succeed at dieting without giving up meat? Let me show you how to enjoy various meats while losing weight, breaking free from the misconception that you must only eat chicken breast. Why Is Protein Key to Weight Loss? The principle behind losing weight while eating meat is simpler than you might think. It's because protein plays a special role in our bodies. Satiety Lasts Longer When you consume protein, satiety hormones like GLP-1 and peptide YY increase, while ghrelin, the hunger hormone, decreases. Research shows that maintaining a high-protein diet naturally reduces daily calorie intake by over 400 calories. Just 100g of chicken breast or beef tenderloin keeps you feeling fuller much longer than salad alone. You Burn More Calories Your body uses more energy digesting protein. This is called the "thermic effect of food" - protein burns more calories during digestion than the same amount of carbohydrates or fat. It Protects Your Muscles One ...

Ever thought that switching to a vegetarian diet would magically melt away those extra pounds? When you hear success stories from friends who've lost weight on plant-based diets, it's tempting to believe that cutting out meat is all it takes. But is it really that simple? Let's dig deep into the relationship between vegetarian diets and weight loss. Going Vegetarian Doesn't Guarantee Weight Loss Let me be straight with you: simply going vegetarian won't automatically make you lose weight. The fundamental principle of weight loss - the calorie equation - still applies. You need to burn more calories than you consume, whether you're eating plants or steaks. So why do we hear so many stories about vegetarians losing weight? Well, research does show that vegetarian diets can help with weight loss. A comprehensive analysis of 12 clinical trials found that vegetarian groups lost about 2kg (4.4 pounds) more than those on regular diets. Vegans did even better, losing...

"Starting today, I'm cutting out carbs!" We've all made this promise when starting a diet, haven't we? With carbohydrates being treated as public enemy number one in the diet world, do carbs really make you gain weight automatically? Recent research has revealed a surprising truth: It's not carbohydrates themselves that are the problem, but rather which carbs you eat and how you eat them . The Truth About Carbohydrates We've Misunderstood Why Extreme Restriction Can Be Poisonous According to research from the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity, an interesting fact was discovered. When carbohydrates made up less than 40% or more than 70% of total energy intake, mortality rates were similarly high. The healthiest ratio was 50-60%. What does this mean? It means eating too little or too much are both problematic. Our bodies prefer balance more than we think. A 2024 study on Koreans showed similar results. When carbohydrate intake exceeded 70%, the ...

Have you heard about the elementary school student with a milk allergy who lost their life after eating curry at school lunch? Food allergies can be serious enough to threaten lives. People born without the enzymes to digest certain foods can experience severe immune reactions when they eat those foods - from hives and breathing difficulties to anaphylaxis in severe cases. This is why many people have no choice but to adopt a vegan diet. If you have a dairy allergy, you must completely avoid milk, cheese, and butter. If you're allergic to eggs, you can't eat anything containing them. However, what starts as a necessary dietary restriction often becomes a turning point toward a healthier life. Diverse Vegan Options for People with Allergies Did you know that not all vegan diets are the same? Vegetarianism comes in many forms, varying by degree and the foods allowed. The advantage is having many options to choose from based on your allergy situation and health condition. The stri...

Have you ever walked past a restaurant and felt your stomach turn at the smell of grilling meat? For most people, that aroma is savory and appetizing, but for some of us, it's an unbearable ordeal. The Struggles of People with Heightened Senses Did you know that our brains process sensory information differently from person to person? People with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) react extremely sensitively to certain food smells, tastes, and textures. For them, the greasy smell of meat or its chewy texture hits with an intensity that others simply don't experience. Research shows that people with SPD have an overactive olfactory system, experiencing nausea or anxiety from subtle odors that most people don't even notice. It's like having music that should be at volume 10 blasting at 100 - every sensation feels amplified. The Deep Connection Between Autism Spectrum and Food Aversion Studies have revealed that over 90% of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experie...