As millions set health goals for 2026, one of the most powerful interventions rarely makes the list: social connection. Data from the World Health Organization shows that staying connected reduces inflammation, improves mental health, and helps prevent early death, while isolation significantly increases dementia risk. From an ancestral health perspective, this makes sense: we evolved living in close-knit tribes, not in isolation behind screens. Our biology expects regular, meaningful human contact. The practical application is to pair social time with other healthy habits you're already building. A weekly walk with a friend, a standing workout class, or regular shared meals can reinforce both your fitness goals and your need for connection. As you plan your resolutions this year, consider that the people you spend time with may matter as much as the food you eat or the exercise you do.

It's like I've been saying this whole time… GLP-1 drugs are NOT a weight loss panacea. I'm not saying these don't have a place in medicine at all… For some people with SEVERE metabolic dysfunction, perhaps they can be a tool (when all else has failed). But for the VAST majority of humans, GLP-1s are a huge NET NEGATIVE in my opinion. Of course, the mainstream media, longevity enthusiasts, celebrities, even some pretty smart individuals I respect have been singing praises about GLP-1s… How millions of peoples’ lives have been changed. Hundreds of pounds lost. Overeating and cravings silenced. Behaviors changed. Confidence regained. But a major new systematic review and meta-analysis published in The BMJ just gave us the answer to the question we’re all asking… What happens when you STOP? The study looked at 37 studies involving over 9,300 participants who discontinued GLP-1 medications after losing weight... And guess what happened? Weight regain was FASTER than what we see after behavioral interventions like diet and exercise changes - about 0.3 kg (0.7 pounds) per month faster. And people were estimated to regain a significant portion of their lost weight within 18 months But here's what really caught my attention... It's not just the weight that comes back – your hunger signals return with a VENGEANCE. When you stop taking GLP-1s, your appetite doesn't just "normalize"... It actually rebounds HARDER than before. The research shows that weight loss triggers compensatory responses in your body – increased ghrelin (the hunger hormone), decreased leptin, reduced metabolic rate, and ramped-up appetite signals from the hypothalamus. GLP-1 drugs artificially suppress all of this while you're taking them... But the second you stop? Your body's defense mechanisms kick in HARD. Increased hunger... reduced satiety... greater cravings... decreased ability to resist food. It's like your biology is PUNISHING you for trying to take a shortcut (sounds familiar?)