#Thailand Health Trends

A recent study has sparked significant interest in the potential of the ketogenic diet (keto diet) to reverse biological aging, a topic that is highly relevant to many seeking longevity and healthier lives. The research suggests that a very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) can reverse epigenetic aging by over six years, offering intriguing possibilities for health rejuvenation, particularly among those grappling with obesity.

Understanding biological aging involves considering epigenetic changes—biomolecular processes determined by lifestyle and environmental factors—that govern the aging of cells and tissues. Unlike chronological aging, which is simply an accumulation of time, biological aging reflects the real-time wear and tear your cells undergo, making it a more accurate marker of health and vitality source.

When 24-year-old Emma Roma Jayne decided to undergo bariatric surgery in 2023 after years of struggling with her weight, she expected to lose pounds. What she didn’t foresee were the surprising changes that came with shedding 130 pounds—from smaller shoe sizes to a newfound confidence. Her story, shared widely on platforms like Business Insider, highlights both expected and unexpected transformations that those who undergo weight-loss surgery can experience.

In Thailand, the prevalence of obesity has been rising consistently, leading to a growing interest in bariatric surgery. Still, this surgical intervention remains less prevalent here compared to Western nations, partially due to cultural perceptions and access issues, as noted in a study from ScienceDirect. The Thai Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has been advocating for greater awareness and accessibility to these procedures as a viable option for health improvement.

A recent study from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University reveals a simple yet potentially powerful new metric to assess heart health: the Daily Heart Rate Per Step (DHRPS). By dividing an individual’s average daily heart rate by their daily step count, the DHRPS metric provides insight into cardiovascular efficiency and risk of related diseases, as published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

With millions globally relying on smartwatches and fitness devices for health insights, the introduction of DHRPS emerges as a significant advancement. Traditionally, users focused on step counts and average heart rates separately to gauge fitness, but this new approach combines these metrics to best highlight cardiovascular health. Researchers mapped Fitbit data from nearly 7,000 smartwatch users against electronic medical records, confirming that higher DHRPS values correlate strongly with increased risks of conditions such as Type II diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, stroke, coronary atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction.