Health sources

GLP-1 medicines

• Liraglutide prescribing information.
  US Food and Drug Administration (2026).
  Missed-dose instruction.

• Pharmacologic Treatment of Obesity in Adults: Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity.
  Obesity Association, a subdivision of the American Diabetes Association (2026).
  Pregnancy, lactation and conception; contraception counseling.

• Semaglutide prescribing information (OZEMPIC, RYBELSUS).
  US Food and Drug Administration (2026).
  Missed-dose instruction, by route.

• Tirzepatide prescribing information (MOUNJARO, ZEPBOUND).
  US Food and Drug Administration (2026).
  Missed-dose instruction.

• 2025 Concise Clinical Guidance: An ACC Expert Consensus Statement on Medical Weight Management for Optimization of Cardiovascular Health.
  American College of Cardiology (Gilbert et al., JACC Vol 86 No 7:536-555) (2025).
  Contraindications and cautions, stepwise structure and step-back on intolerance, common side effects, what follows stopping.

• AACE Consensus Statement: Algorithm for the Evaluation and Treatment of Adults with Obesity/Adiposity-Based Chronic Disease - 2025 Update.
  American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (Nadolsky et al., Endocrine Practice) (2025).
  Eating strategies for gastrointestinal side effects, diet quality, restart after a pause, dehydration monitoring, compounded-product caution.

• Body composition changes during weight reduction with tirzepatide in the SURMOUNT-1 study.
  Look M et al., Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (2025).

• Effects of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide on Recurrent Weight Gain After Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
  Osorio Manyari AA, Armas Alvarez AL, Osorio Manyari JD, Onieva Gonzalez F, Pouwels S, Obesity Surgery (2025).
  How common weight recurrence after these procedures is, and what has been observed when medication is used for it.
  Cited in: After bariatric surgery: the long-term routine.

• Expert-based physical activity guidelines for metabolic and bariatric surgery patients: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
  Fernandez-Alonso M, Bejarano G, Creel DB, Kohl HW, Messiah SE, Altieri MS, Papasavas P, Horn C, Marroquin E, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (2025).
  The whole activity progression: walking from day one, the resistance-training window and its shape, the delay on high-intensity and abdominal work, water exercise, and the weekly cardiovascular target.
  Cited in: After bariatric surgery: the long-term routine.

• Guideline on the use of GLP-1 therapies for the treatment of obesity in adults.
  World Health Organization (2025).
  Chronic-care framing and the place of behavioral and lifestyle support alongside medicine.

• WEGOVY (semaglutide) prescribing information, section 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience.
  Novo Nordisk, via DailyMed (2025).

• ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) Instructions for Use.
  Eli Lilly, via DailyMed (2025).

• Multisociety clinical practice guidance for the safe use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in the perioperative period.
  Kindel TL, Wang AY, Wadhwa A, Schulman AR, Sharaiha RZ, Kroh M, Ghanem OM, Levy S, Joshi GP, LaMasters T, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (AGA, ASMBS, ISPCOP, SAGES; ASA affirmed) (2024).
  Shared decision-making on GLP-1 receptor agonists before a procedure, the factors that raise risk, and the mitigations the guidance names.

• Semaglutide and Tirzepatide for the Management of Weight Recurrence After Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
  Jamal M, Jamal M, Alhashemi M, Dsouza C, Al-Hassani S, Qasem W, Almazeedi S, Al-Sabah S, Obesity Surgery (2024).
  What has been observed when weight-management medication is used for weight returning after a sleeve.

• 2022 American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) Indications for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
  Eisenberg D, Shikora SA, Aarts E, Aminian A, Angrisani L, Cohen RV, et al., Obesity Surgery (2023).
  What the published indications say about BMI thresholds, age and long-term management. Educational content only; nothing in Loopa decides who is a candidate.
  Cited in: After bariatric surgery: the long-term routine.

• Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension.
  Wilding JPH et al., Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (2022).

• Effect of exercise training before and after bariatric surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
  Bellicha A, van Baak MA, Battista F, Beaulieu K, Blundell JE, Busetto L, et al., Obesity Reviews (2021).
  What exercise training after surgery has been shown to do for fitness, fat loss, bone and weight maintenance.
  Cited in: After bariatric surgery: the long-term routine.

• Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Perioperative Nutrition, Metabolic, and Nonsurgical Support of Patients Undergoing Bariatric Procedures - 2019 Update.
  Mechanick JI, Apovian C, Brethauer S, Garvey WT, Joffe AM, Kim J, et al., Obesity (Silver Spring), cosponsored by AACE/ACE, TOS, ASMBS, OMA and ASA (2020).
  The team-based framing its abstract states. The 85 numbered recommendations are behind a member wall and were not read, so this backs no dose, no lab panel and no diet stage.

• Resistance Training in Post-Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patients: a Systematic Review.
  Morales-Marroquin E, Kohl HW, Knell G, de la Cruz-Munoz N, Messiah SE, Obesity Surgery (2020).
  Resistance training and the preservation of strength and lean mass after these procedures.

• Alcohol and other substance use after bariatric surgery: prospective evidence from a U.S. multicenter cohort study.
  King WC, Chen JY, Courcoulas AP, Dakin GF, Engel SG, Flum DR, et al., Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (2017).
  Five-year cumulative incidence of alcohol use disorder symptoms after gastric bypass compared with banding.

• American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Integrated Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient 2016 Update: Micronutrients.
  Parrott J, Frank L, Rabena R, Craggs-Dino L, Isom KA, Greiman L, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (2017).
  Every supplement default, by nutrient and by procedure, and the post-operative nutrient assessment cadence.
  Cited in: After bariatric surgery: the long-term routine.

• AACE and ACE Comprehensive Clinical Practice Guidelines for Medical Care of Patients with Obesity.
  Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, Garber AJ, Hurley DL, Jastreboff AM, Nadolsky K, Pessah-Pollack R, Plodkowski R, Endocrine Practice (2016).
  The framing of obesity as a chronic disease whose management targets complications as well as weight. Not open access; the 123 recommendations were not read and this backs no number.

• Pharmacological Management of Obesity: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline.
  Apovian CM, Aronne LJ, Bessesen DH, McDonnell ME, Murad MH, Pagotto U, Ryan DH, Still CD, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2015).
  Diet, activity and behaviour as the basis of every obesity management approach, and the point at which medication is considered or reconsidered.

• 2013 AHA/ACC/TOS Guideline for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults.
  Jensen MD, Ryan DH, Apovian CM, Ard JD, Comuzzie AG, Donato KA, et al., Circulation (2014).
  The calorie targets and energy deficit prescribed for weight loss, and the length and intensity of a behavioural programme.

• Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Perioperative Nutritional, Metabolic, and Nonsurgical Support of the Bariatric Surgery Patient - 2013 Update.
  Mechanick JI, Youdim A, Jones DB, et al., Obesity (Silver Spring), cosponsored by AACE, TOS and ASMBS (2013).
  Protein minimum (R31), fluid minimum (R33), staged meal progression (R31), avoidance of NSAIDs after surgery (R64) and the 12-18 month pregnancy interval (R14). This is the 2013 edition; a 2019 update exists and supersedes it.
  Cited in: After bariatric surgery: the long-term routine.

Testosterone therapy

• Statement on Testosterone Replacement Therapy.
  Endocrine Society (2026).
  Reinforces the diagnostic standard, the position against population screening, assay variability, and the terminology caution.

• Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline.
  Endocrine Society (Bhasin et al., JCEM 103(5):1715-1744), co-sponsored by the European Society of Endocrinology (2018).
  Diagnostic criteria, conditions in which therapy is not suggested, and first-year monitoring. Confirmed by the Society's own guideline page on 2026-09-02 to be the CURRENT edition.

• Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline.
  Bhasin S et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2018).

Menopause and hormone therapy

• HHS Advances Women's Health, Removes Misleading FDA Warnings on Hormone Replacement Therapy.
  US Food and Drug Administration (2025).
  Which boxed warnings are being removed and which is retained.

• What Is Menopause?
  National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH (2024).

• The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society.
  The Menopause Society (formerly NAMS) (2022).
  Contraindications, the timing window, common adverse effects, compounded preparations, periodic reevaluation, premature menopause and genitourinary symptoms.

• Changes in body composition and weight during the menopause transition.
  Greendale GA et al., JCI Insight (2019).

• High-Intensity Resistance and Impact Training Improves Bone Mineral Density and Physical Function in Postmenopausal Women With Osteopenia and Osteoporosis: The LIFTMOR Randomized Controlled Trial.
  Watson SL et al., Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (2018).

Peptides and compounding

• Meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, July 23-24 2026.
  US Food and Drug Administration (2026).
  Which bulk substances the committee considered for the section 503A list and how it voted on each.

• Tesamorelin prescribing information (EGRIFTA SV).
  US Food and Drug Administration (2026).
  Confirms an approved US product exists for this compound.

Bariatric surgery and aftercare

• Alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related mortality after metabolic bariatric surgery: prospective controlled cohort study.
  Sjoholm K, et al. (Swedish Obese Subjects study), British Journal of Surgery (2025).
  Long-term alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related mortality risk by procedure, over a median 25 years of follow-up.

• Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Constipation.
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (2024).
  Fiber and fluid for constipation. Already cited by the Medication Support Engine's own source list; carried here so the bariatric constipation card resolves against the same register as everything else.

• Guidelines for Perioperative Care in Bariatric Surgery: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society Recommendations: A 2021 Update.
  Stenberg E, dos Reis Falcao LF, O'Kane M, Liem R, Pournaras DJ, Salminen P, et al., World Journal of Surgery (2022).
  Smoking cessation at least 4 weeks before surgery, alcohol abstinence, pre-operative fasting windows and multimodal PONV prophylaxis. It does NOT recommend prehabilitation and is not cited for it.

• Prevalence of alcohol use disorders before and after bariatric surgery.
  King WC, Chen JY, Mitchell JE, Kalarchian MA, Steffen KJ, Engel SG, Courcoulas AP, Pories WJ, Yanovski SZ, JAMA (2012).
  Alcohol use disorder symptoms before surgery and in the first and second post-operative years.

Calories and daily burn

• Multiple factor assessment for determining resting metabolic rate in young adults.
  Zhou W, Su H, Tong J, et al., Scientific Reports (2024).

• Accuracy of Resting Metabolic Rate Prediction Equations in Athletes.
  Jagim AR, Camic CL, Kisiolek J, et al., Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (2018).
  Cited in: Estimate BMR and TDEE, then understand the estimate.

• Accuracy in Wrist-Worn, Sensor-Based Measurements of Heart Rate and Energy Expenditure in a Diverse Cohort.
  Shcherbina A, Mattsson CM, Waggott D, et al., Journal of Personalized Medicine (2017).
  Cited in: Estimate BMR and TDEE, then understand the estimate.

• Persistent metabolic adaptation 6 years after "The Biggest Loser" competition.
  Fothergill E, Guo J, Howard L, et al., Obesity (2016).
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Estimate BMR and TDEE, then understand the estimate.

• Calorie for Calorie, Dietary Fat Restriction Results in More Body Fat Loss than Carbohydrate Restriction in People with Obesity.
  Hall KD, Bemis T, Brychta R, et al., Cell Metabolism (2015).
  Cited in: Is it a plateau, or just a noisy few weeks?, Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• Time to correctly predict the amount of weight loss with dieting.
  Thomas DM, Gonzalez MC, Pereira AZ, et al., Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2014).
  Cited in: Why “3,500 calories equals one pound” breaks down over time.

• Energy balance and its components: implications for body weight regulation.
  Hall KD, Heymsfield SB, Kemnitz JW, et al., The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2012).
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Estimate BMR and TDEE, then understand the estimate, Why does weight fluctuate from day to day?.

• Quantification of the effect of energy imbalance on bodyweight.
  Hall KD, Sacks G, Chandramohan D, et al., The Lancet (2011).
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Why “3,500 calories equals one pound” breaks down over time, Is it a plateau, or just a noisy few weeks?, Does food tracking help? What the evidence actually shows.

• Specific metabolic rates of major organs and tissues across adulthood: evaluation by mechanistic model of resting energy expenditure.
  Wang Z, Ying Z, Bosy-Westphal A, et al., The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2010).
  Cited in: Estimate BMR and TDEE, then understand the estimate.

• Metabolic and behavioral compensations in response to caloric restriction: implications for the maintenance of weight loss.
  Redman LM, Heilbronn LK, Martin CK, et al., PLOS ONE (2009).
  Cited in: Is it a plateau, or just a noisy few weeks?.

• What is the required energy deficit per unit weight loss?
  Hall KD, International Journal of Obesity (2008).
  Cited in: Why “3,500 calories equals one pound” breaks down over time.

• Comparison of predictive equations for resting metabolic rate in healthy nonobese and obese adults: a systematic review.
  Frankenfield D, Roth-Yousey L, Compher C, Journal of the American Dietetic Association (2005).
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Estimate BMR and TDEE, then understand the estimate.

• Human Energy Requirements: Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation.
  Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, United Nations University, FAO Food and Nutrition Technical Report Series 1 (2001).
  The physical activity level (PAL) multipliers that turn a resting estimate into a daily burn.
  Cited in: Estimate BMR and TDEE, then understand the estimate.

• Changes in energy expenditure resulting from altered body weight.
  Leibel RL, Rosenbaum M, Hirsch J, The New England Journal of Medicine (1995).
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Estimate BMR and TDEE, then understand the estimate, Is it a plateau, or just a noisy few weeks?.

• Body composition as a determinant of energy expenditure: a synthetic review and a proposed general prediction equation.
  Cunningham JJ, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1991).
  Cited in: Estimate BMR and TDEE, then understand the estimate.

• A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals.
  Mifflin MD, St Jeor ST, Hill LA, Scott BJ, Daugherty SA, Koh YO, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1990).
  The resting energy estimate behind every calorie target Loopa shows.
  Cited in: Estimate BMR and TDEE, then understand the estimate.

• Caloric equivalents of gained or lost weight.
  WISHNOFSKY M, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1958).
  Cited in: Why “3,500 calories equals one pound” breaks down over time.

• Body Weight Planner.
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Why “3,500 calories equals one pound” breaks down over time.

Protein, fiber and eating

• Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD).
  NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health (2026).
  Supplement products, their Supplement Facts panels and the label precautions, shown as printed on the label. Public domain (CC0 1.0).

• Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Constipation.
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH (2024).

• Biochemistry, Lipids.
  Ahmed S, Shah P, Ahmed O, StatPearls Publishing (2023).
  Cited in: Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• The effect of acute sleep deprivation on skeletal muscle protein synthesis and the hormonal environment.
  Lamon S et al., Physiological Reports (2021).

• Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, 9th edition.
  U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, dietaryguidelines.gov (2020).
  Carbohydrate and fat distribution, and the overall dietary pattern Loopa defaults to.

• International consensus on the diagnosis and management of dumping syndrome.
  Scarpellini E, Arts J, Karamanolis G, Laurenius A, Siquini W, Suzuki H, et al., Nature Reviews Endocrinology (2020).
  Early and late dumping timing and symptoms, and the dietary measures the consensus puts first.
  Cited in: After bariatric surgery: the long-term routine.

• Protein Intake Greater than the RDA Differentially Influences Whole-Body Lean Mass Responses to Purposeful Catabolic and Anabolic Stressors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
  Hudson JL, Wang Y, Bergia Iii RE, et al., Advances in Nutrition (2020).
  Cited in: Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength.
  Morton RW et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018).
  Cited in: Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• Protein Recommendations for Weight Loss in Elite Athletes.
  Hector AJ, Phillips SM, International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (2018).

• International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise.
  Jager R, Kerksick CM, Campbell BI, Cribb PJ, Wells SD, Skwiat TM, et al., Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2017).
  Higher protein targets for fat loss and for training.

• A systematic review and meta-analysis examining the effect of eating rate on energy intake and hunger.
  Robinson E et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014).

• Dietary protein distribution positively influences 24-h muscle protein synthesis in healthy adults.
  Mamerow MM, Mettler JA, English KL, et al., The Journal of Nutrition (2014).
  Cited in: 16:8, 18:6, 20:4 and OMAD: what actually changes?.

• Evidence-based recommendations for optimal dietary protein intake in older people: the PROT-AGE Study Group.
  Bauer J et al., Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (2013).

• Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D: summary tables.
  Institute of Medicine (National Academies), NCBI Bookshelf (2011).
  Cited in: Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• Food-drug interactions.
  Bushra R, Aslam N, Khan AY, Oman Medical Journal (2011).
  Cited in: 16:8, 18:6, 20:4 and OMAD: what actually changes?.

• Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
  Sacks FM, Bray GA, Carey VJ, et al., The New England Journal of Medicine (2009).
  Cited in: Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• Protein, weight management, and satiety.
  Paddon-Jones D, Westman E, Mattes RD, et al., The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008).
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• Dietary Reference Intakes: The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements.
  Institute of Medicine (National Academies), National Academies Press (2006).
  The protein RDA of 0.8 g per kg of body weight, which is the floor Loopa never sets a target below.

• Biochemistry, Glycogen.
  StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf, StatPearls Publishing.
  Cited in: Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• Carbohydrates.
  MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
  Cited in: Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• Facts about polyunsaturated fats.
  MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
  Cited in: Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• Fiber.
  MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
  Cited in: Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• Protein in diet.
  MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
  Cited in: Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• Vitamins.
  MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
  Cited in: Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

Training, bone and recovery

• Exercise for Your Bone Health.
  National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), NIH (2023).

• Bone mineral density loss in relation to the final menstrual period in a multiethnic cohort: results from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).
  Greendale GA et al., Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (2012).

• How are habits formed: Modeling habit formation in the real world.
  Lally P et al., European Journal of Social Psychology (2010).

• Appropriate Physical Activity Intervention Strategies for Weight Loss and Prevention of Weight Regain for Adults (ACSM Position Stand).
  Donnelly JE et al., Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (2009).

• Progression Models in Resistance Training for Healthy Adults (ACSM Position Stand).
  American College of Sports Medicine, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (2009).

Food and supplement databases

• FoodData Central.
  U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, fdc.nal.usda.gov (2026).
  Foundation, SR Legacy, Branded and FNDDS food records, including restaurant and fast-food items. Public domain (CC0 1.0).

• Open Food Facts.
  Open Food Facts contributors, world.openfoodfacts.org (2026).
  Food and barcode records, used under the Open Database License (ODbL).

• Powered by fatsecret Platform API.
  FatSecret, fatsecret Platform API (2026).
  Branded, restaurant and menu items, which is where most chain-restaurant and supermarket products in Loopa originate. Used under licence.

Vitals and lab ranges

• Prothrombin Time Test and INR (PT/INR).
  MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health (2024).
  Background on INR only. Loopa records the range your prescribing clinician set and never chooses one.

Medicines and interactions

• openFDA Drug Product Labeling API.
  U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA (2026).
  Every drug-drug, drug-food, drug-alcohol, drug-caffeine and drug-supplement interaction Loopa reports, and the label sentence quoted with each one. Supplement-to-supplement pairs are not covered by this source and Loopa says so wherever it reports an interaction.

Weight change and energy balance

• Changes in body weight and body composition during the menstrual cycle.
  Kanellakis S, Skoufas E, Simitsopoulou E, et al., American Journal of Human Biology (2023).
  Cited in: Why does weight fluctuate from day to day?.

• Factors Affecting Weight & Health.
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health (2023).
  Cited in: Is it a plateau, or just a noisy few weeks?.

• Maintenance of Lost Weight and Long-Term Management of Obesity.
  Hall KD, Kahan S, Medical Clinics of North America (2018).
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Why “3,500 calories equals one pound” breaks down over time, Is it a plateau, or just a noisy few weeks?.

• Mechanisms of sodium balance: total body sodium, surrogate variables, and renal sodium excretion.
  Bie P, American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (2018).
  Cited in: Why does weight fluctuate from day to day?.

• Composition of two-week change in body weight under unrestricted free-living conditions.
  Bhutani S, Kahn E, Tasali E, et al., Physiological Reports (2017).
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Estimate BMR and TDEE, then understand the estimate, Why does weight fluctuate from day to day?, Is it a plateau, or just a noisy few weeks?.

• Preserving Healthy Muscle during Weight Loss.
  Cava E, Yeat NC, Mittendorfer B, Advances in Nutrition (2017).
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Why “3,500 calories equals one pound” breaks down over time, Is it a plateau, or just a noisy few weeks?, Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does.

• How Strongly Does Appetite Counter Weight Loss? Quantification of the Feedback Control of Human Energy Intake.
  Polidori D, Sanghvi A, Seeley RJ, et al., Obesity (2016).
  Cited in: Is it a plateau, or just a noisy few weeks?.

• Effect of dietary adherence on the body weight plateau: a mathematical model incorporating intermittent compliance with energy intake prescription.
  Thomas DM, Martin CK, Redman LM, et al., The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014).
  Cited in: Is it a plateau, or just a noisy few weeks?.

• Changes in indicators of inflammation after eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors.
  Nosaka K, Clarkson PM, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (1996).
  Cited in: Why does weight fluctuate from day to day?.

• Glycogen storage: illusions of easy weight loss, excessive weight regain, and distortions in estimates of body composition.
  Kreitzman SN, Coxon AY, Szaz KF, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1992).
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Why does weight fluctuate from day to day?.

• Composition of weight lost during short-term weight reduction. Metabolic responses of obese subjects to starvation and low-calorie ketogenic and nonketogenic diets.
  Yang MU, Van Itallie TB, The Journal of Clinical Investigation (1976).
  Cited in: Why does weight fluctuate from day to day?.

Food logging and self-report

• Association Between Daily Food-Tracking Frequency and Clinically Significant Weight Loss: Retrospective Cohort Study of 5132 Mobile App Users.
  Oreshko S, Heikkinen S, Journal of Medical Internet Research (2026).
  Cited in: Does food tracking help? What the evidence actually shows.

• Pooled results from 5 validation studies of dietary self-report instruments using recovery biomarkers for energy and protein intake.
  Freedman LS, Commins JM, Moler JE, et al., American Journal of Epidemiology (2014).
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Is it a plateau, or just a noisy few weeks?, Does food tracking help? What the evidence actually shows.

• Self-monitoring in weight loss: a systematic review of the literature.
  Burke LE, Wang J, Sevick MA, Journal of the American Dietetic Association (2011).
  Cited in: Does food tracking help? What the evidence actually shows.

• Discrepancy between self-reported and actual caloric intake and exercise in obese subjects.
  Lichtman SW, Pisarska K, Berman ER, et al., The New England Journal of Medicine (1992).
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Does food tracking help? What the evidence actually shows.

Water and hydration

• Dehydration Impairs Cognitive Performance: A Meta-analysis.
  Wittbrodt MT, Millard-Stafford M, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (2018).
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

• No evidence of dehydration with moderate daily coffee intake: a counterbalanced cross-over study in a free-living population.
  Killer SC, Blannin AK, Jeukendrup AE, PLOS ONE (2014).
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

• Water consumption increases weight loss during a hypocaloric diet intervention in middle-aged and older adults.
  Dennis EA, Dengo AL, Comber DL, et al., Obesity (2010).
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

• American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and fluid replacement.
  American College of Sports Medicine, Sawka MN, Burke LM, et al., Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (2007).
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

• Medical myths.
  Vreeman RC, Carroll AE, The BMJ (2007).
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

• Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate: summary.
  Institute of Medicine (National Academies), The National Academies Press (2005).
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

• Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate: water.
  Institute of Medicine (National Academies), The National Academies Press (2005).
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

• Report Sets Dietary Intake Levels for Water, Salt, and Potassium To Maintain Health and Reduce Chronic Disease Risk.
  The National Academies, National Academies news release (2004).
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

• "Drink at least eight glasses of water a day." Really? Is there scientific evidence for "8 x 8"?
  Valtin H, American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (2002).
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

• Dehydration.
  MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus.
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

• Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia.
  StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf, StatPearls Publishing.
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

• Heat: Water. Rest. Shade.
  Occupational Safety and Health Administration, US Department of Labor.
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

• Water in diet.
  MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
  Cited in: How much water do you actually need?.

Fasting and meal timing

• Impact of Time-Restricted Eating and High-Intensity Exercise on Nutrient Intake in Women with Overweight/Obesity: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
  Haganes KL, Devlin BL, Orr RK, et al., Nutrients (2025).
  Cited in: 16:8, 18:6, 20:4 and OMAD: what actually changes?.

• Calorie Restriction with or without Time-Restricted Eating in Weight Loss.
  Liu D, Huang Y, Huang C, et al., The New England Journal of Medicine (2022).
  Cited in: 16:8, 18:6, 20:4 and OMAD: what actually changes?.

• Clinical application of intermittent fasting for weight loss: progress and future directions.
  Varady KA, Cienfuegos S, Ezpeleta M, et al., Nature Reviews Endocrinology (2022).

• Intermittent fasting: is there a role in the treatment of diabetes? A review of the literature and guide for primary care physicians.
  Albosta M, Bakke J, Clinical Diabetes and Endocrinology (2021).
  Cited in: 16:8, 18:6, 20:4 and OMAD: what actually changes?.

• Effects of Time-Restricted Eating on Weight Loss and Other Metabolic Parameters in Women and Men With Overweight and Obesity: The TREAT Randomized Clinical Trial.
  Lowe DA, Wu N, Rohdin-Bibby L, et al., JAMA Internal Medicine (2020).
  Cited in: 16:8, 18:6, 20:4 and OMAD: what actually changes?.

• Flipping the Metabolic Switch: Understanding and Applying the Health Benefits of Fasting.
  Anton SD, Moehl K, Donahoo WT, et al., Obesity (2018).
  Cited in: 16:8, 18:6, 20:4 and OMAD: what actually changes?.

• Calorie restriction and fasting diets: What do we know?
  National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health.
  Cited in: 16:8, 18:6, 20:4 and OMAD: what actually changes?.

Food labels

• Food Allergies: What You Need to Know.
  US Food and Drug Administration, FDA (2024).
  Cited in: How to read a nutrition label, and what the numbers can’t tell you.

• How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label.
  US Food and Drug Administration, FDA (2024).
  Cited in: How to read a nutrition label, and what the numbers can’t tell you.

• 21 CFR 101.4: Food; designation of ingredients.
  US Food and Drug Administration, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
  Cited in: How to read a nutrition label, and what the numbers can’t tell you.

• 21 CFR 101.56: Nutrient content claims for "light" or "lite".
  US Food and Drug Administration, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
  Cited in: How to read a nutrition label, and what the numbers can’t tell you.

• 21 CFR 101.65: Implied nutrient content claims and related label statements.
  US Food and Drug Administration, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
  Cited in: How to read a nutrition label, and what the numbers can’t tell you.

• 21 CFR 101.9: Nutrition labeling of food.
  US Food and Drug Administration, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
  Cited in: What is a calorie deficit?, Protein, carbs and fat: what each one actually does, How to read a nutrition label, and what the numbers can’t tell you.

• Sodium in Your Diet.
  US Food and Drug Administration, FDA.
  Cited in: How to read a nutrition label, and what the numbers can’t tell you.

Common questions