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A nurse who needed the toilet 30 times a day was diagnosed with an incurable disease after doctors suspected she had an eating disorder when her weight plummeted. Katie Harpur, 25, a nurse from Belfast, dropped to just five stone while battling the painful symptoms of Crohn’s disease, which left her unable to walk, and she could not eat without throwing up. Diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2014 at the age of 16, she was told it was inevitable that she would eventually need a stoma bag. Fitted with a temporary bag in 2019, Katie had the operation to make her stoma permanent in June 2022 and says it has changed her life. She said: “I used to need to go to the toilet up to 30 times a day and I couldn’t go out and socialise for fear of there not being facilities nearby. “It was incredibly limiting, and I was in a lot of pain to the point where I didn’t even want to go anywhere. “I’d always wanted to travel but it was impossible for me to do so until I got my stoma bag fitted. “Now I’ve booked my first long-haul flight to Tokyo, something I never would have been able to do before the op.” Katie first started experiencing pain and nausea at the age of 14 but said doctors found it difficult to diagnose her. I was in a lot of pain to the point where I didn’t even want to go anywhere Katie Harpur She said: “At first, they suspected that I was bulimic because my weight dropped. “I lost a dangerous amount of weight and weighed just five stone, but I didn’t have an eating disorder, it was just too painful for me to eat and if I did eat, I would vomit. “I remember one doctor told me I was a hypochondriac, but I knew something wasn’t right.” Persevering with medical appointments, Katie said her health deteriorated until she was admitted to hospital. Unable to walk, the then 16-year-old spent two weeks in hospital where she had a colonoscopy. Katie said: “I couldn’t physically walk anywhere, I was so weak, and I ended up in hospital. “The biopsies from the colonoscopy came back and confirmed that I had Crohn’s disease.” Crohn’s disease is a lifelong condition where parts of the digestive system become inflamed. Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach aches and cramps, blood in your poo, fatigue and weight loss. Growing up, I was so excited to travel but Crohn’s made it impossible. Katie Harpur Katie was put on medication but was told she would eventually need a stoma bag. In June 2019, Katie, then aged 21, underwent a procedure to have a temporary stoma bag fitted. She said: “Going into it, I obviously had body image concerns because I’m still quite young and people tend to have a false idea that stoma bags are dirty. “I knew I would end up with a giant scar too and that made me nervous.” Despite the stoma bag being the solution to Katie’s painful symptoms, she suffered complications which led to her having the procedure reversed. Battling infections and prolapse, her stoma was removed in January 2020. With her symptoms returning, Katie made the decision to have a permanent stoma bag fitted in June 2022. She said: “Because there were so many issues with the first one, I was really nervous, especially as this stoma couldn’t be reversed. “But my condition had gotten so bad and I was in so much pain, that this was really the only option for me at this point.” I hope people can see my experience and know that stoma bags aren’t scary Katie Harpur As Katie approaches 12 months since her stoma operation, she said the procedure has “changed her life”. With no complications or symptoms, she is now able to travel and socialise with friends. “I’ve had no issues at all with it and it’s honestly the best thing I’ve ever done,” she said. “Growing up, I was so excited to travel but Crohn’s made it impossible. I always said I wouldn’t travel far until I had my stoma fitted.” Since her operation, Katie has booked a three-week trip to Tokyo for September this year, something she says she never would have been able to do before. She said: “Not being able to speak Japanese, I would have found it very hard to find a public toilet so wouldn’t have been able to do the trip before. “But now I’m planning to go to Mount Fuji and Super Nintendo World, which I’m really excited for.” Now she is raising awareness for Crohn’s disease on World IBD Day and hopes to break the stigma around stoma bags. “A lot of people think having a stoma bag is the end of the world,” she said. Now I’ve booked my first long-haul flight to Tokyo, something I never would have been able to do before the op. Katie Harpur “I was so young getting mine done and I was nervous about how my body would change but it’s the best thing I’ve ever done, I wish I’d done it sooner. “I hope people can see my experience and know that stoma bags aren’t scary, mine has greatly improved my life and enabled me to start enjoying life again.” Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Crohn’s & Colitis UK, said: “There are more than 500,000 people living with Crohn’s and colitis in the UK. Every day we hear about more who are experiencing symptoms and waiting for a diagnosis. “Since the pandemic, the already lengthy waiting times for tests like endoscopies and colonoscopies have soared. “Such delays can be devastating for people, affecting their ability to work, study, socialise and live the lives they want to. “We really need to do more to help young people stay in control of their health, and that means providing them with the tools to get the right diagnosis from their GP as early as possible. My stoma bag has greatly improved my life and enabled me to start enjoying life again Katie Harpur “If you’re experiencing blood in your poo, tummy pain or frequent, urgent diarrhoea, then the symptom checker on our website is a good place to start. “It’s designed to give people the confidence to go to their GP with a letter detailing their symptoms, to help them get the right diagnosis and get back on the road to recovery.” For more information, visit: www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk. Read More How to check if you have skin cancer: Symptoms and signs to look out for Janey Godley shares heartbreaking cancer update New obesity jab that sparked diabetes row in US could get NHS green light Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Whether you’re taking on a marathon or running a 5k parkrun, your feet will make or break a run and a problem could put you off the activity for good. “Runners’ feet take a real battering, as you will know if you have recently run a marathon or even if you are new to running,” says GP Dr Gill Jenkins, an adviser to Excilor. “Feet bashing on hard ground, sweaty socks and shoes can all play havoc with your feet.” So, what problems could you face and how can you stop them hindering your progress? Blisters “Hot and sweaty feet usually mean blisters. As you start to run, your feet sweat, and the moisture in your shoes can cause friction, leading to blisters, says Joss Baldwin, Runners Need buyer. “Investing in a pair of running shoes made from breathable fabrics, with mesh vents on the uppers, boost airflow and allow any moisture to escape your shoes – reducing your risk of blisters,” “It’s also important to ensure your running shoes fit properly – shoes that are too tight or too loose increase the chance of rubbing and friction, only adding to the likelihood of blisters occurring.” Many trainer brands and sports shops such as Runners Need and ASICS offer gait analysis to help you choose the best-fitting shoes. “While breathable trainers are vital, wearing the appropriate socks will reduce your risk of soreness and rubbing. Invest in a good pair of technical run socks to keep your feet cool and wick the moisture away from your skin. Features to look out for are technical and sweat-wicking fabrics, mesh ventilation under the arch, as well as a snug fit,” says Baldwin. Athlete’s foot “Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that occurs between the toes but can spread to the top and bottom of the foot if not treated. It can be very itchy and sore if the skin breaks, plus it spreads quickly in damp environments including running shoes but also changing rooms,” says Jenkins. It should not be ignored, and there are plenty of quick and easy treatments available in pharmacies. Ankle pain “When you’re first getting into running, foot problems can be common, but the good news is they are mostly avoidable,” says Baldwin. “Sometimes it is simply a case of getting your body used to the new activity, but all the time we see new runners in shoes that aren’t right for them. Overpronation, where your foot rolls in excessively, poor fitting and worn-out cushioning can cause a myriad aches and pains in your body. All are really easy to correct by getting a proper shoe fit and gait analysis.” There are different shoes for different activities that can protect your ankles and feet. “Everyone’s feet are different and that means everyone’s running shoe requirements are unique. Choosing the right shoe for your run can help avoid ankle pain,” says Baldwin. “If most of your training is on pavements, then road shoes are for you. With more cushioning than trail or lightweight race shoes, these will provide shock absorption to minimise your risk of injury. If you’re running through soft, muddy trails, you’re better off in a pair of trail shoes with a deep tread that offers better grip and ankle support, vital for running on uneven terrain. On pavements, however, these shoes will be uncomfortable as the studs will press into the soles of your feet and will wear away quickly.” He adds: “If you’re doing a little of each, you should consider a hybrid running shoe. These shoes work well on both roads and mixed trail conditions with a balanced mix of grip and cushioning.” Toenail problems “Toenail problems are commonly caused by a fungal infection and research for Excilor showed 49% of sufferers not aware they had a fungal nail infection,” says Jenkins. “Infections are incredibly common, especially with runners, and are also highly contagious, thriving on damp feet. Symptoms include discoloured nails and itchy and painful feet. Treat nail infections immediately as they can worsen rapidly.” Similarly, running long distances may damage the toenail itself. “The longer we run the warmer our feet get,” says Baldwin. “As they get warmer, they actually start to swell and become bigger. It is really important to take this into account when selecting your shoes. Typically we need to size our running shoes bigger than our normal shoes to stop our toes hitting the end of the shoe, which can cause our toes – and toenails – to become sore or bruised.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Paparazzi driver says Harry and Meghan chase was ‘catastrophic experience’ Regular exercise may lower risk of women developing Parkinson’s disease – study Number of children trying vaping rises 50% in a year

McDonald’s lovers had their minds blown after seemingly learning the purpose behind the buttons on the top of drink lids. This week, a video posted on the popular Twitter account Today Years Old went viral after it showed the reason for those fun-to-pop buttons on every McDonald’s soda. The plastic buttons – sometimes labelled “Diet”, “Cola”, “Tea”, and “Other” – allow workers to indicate what the customer ordered so that they’re given the correct drink. For example, if someone ordered a Diet Coke at a McDonald’s drive-thru, they’d be handed a drink with the “Diet” button pushed down on the lid, while the other buttons remained unpopped. However, true fast food fans will also notice the rectangular buttons on the plastic lid. In the viral video, which has more than two million views, a person shocked McDonald’s fans when they pushed down on the wrong circular button and used the rectangular one to correct their mistake. “I was today years old when…” they captioned the clip, which showed that if the rectangular button was pressed, the circle next to it immediately popped up. In the comments, many users concluded that the plastic lid is used like a “reset” button – if an employee accidentally indicates the wrong drink preference, they can use the rectangular button to make sure the customer is given the right drink. “What kind of sorcery is this?” tweeted one mind-blown person after discovering the purpose behind the plastic button. “This is a lie! This can not be true!?!?! Can it???” another user jokingly asked. “At this point I don’t even think I’m breathing correctly,” said someone else. Others took the opportunity to seemingly confirm the purpose of the button, with one person writing: “The cap is to mark what the drink is (let’s say the diff between Diet Coke and Coke) this allows you to redo if you pressed the wrong one.” “There is an undo function,” one person replied, while another said: “Whaaatt? Those were reset buttons?” Most recently, fans of the American fast food chain expressed their disappointment after learning “why McDonald’s fries taste different than everybody else’s fries”. TikTok user Jordan, who goes by @jordan_the_stallion8 on the app, revealed that McDonald’s beloved fries are cooked with “natural beef flavour”, making them not suitable for vegans. “It’s because McDonald’s cooks [its] fries with beef flavouring mixed within their vegetable oil,” Jordan said. “So that’s why the fries taste so good, but also so different from everybody else’s.” @jordan_the_stallion8 #stitch with @youraveragetechbro #fypシ ♬ original sound - Jordan_The_Stallion8 The TikToker then noted that the revelation was probably “bad news for vegetarians”. The realisation upset many vegan and vegetarian customers, with one person commenting: “Wait.. whaaaat!? I’m vegan and all I can eat from McDonald’s are fries.” “WTF. Never again,” another said. Others revealed that it is a well-known fact that McDonald’s fries are not vegan in the US. “I thought everyone knew this,” said one person, while someone else wrote: “This has been known for at least a decade.” The Independent has contacted McDonald’s for comment. Read More McDonald's found liable for hot Chicken McNugget that fell from Happy Meal and burned girl Woman shares dismay over ‘mouse-sized’ panini she purchased for $8 on vacation in Italy McDonald’s fans upset after ‘expert’ claims he knows why fries taste different What is coronation chicken? The story of the royal recipe and how to make it Woman shares dismay over ‘mouse-sized’ panini she purchased for $8 on Italy vacation Gordon Ramsay puts his spin on a traditional Maori dessert

Getting regular exercise such as cycling, walking, gardening, cleaning and participating in sports may decrease the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease in women, a study suggests. Women who exercised the most had a 25% lower rate of the condition when compared to those who exercised the least. The research also found that 10 years before diagnosis, levels of exercise fell at a faster rate in those with Parkinson’s than in those without, likely due to early symptoms of the disease. Experts suggest the findings support the creation of exercise programmes to help lower the risk of Parkinson’s. Our results support the creation of exercise programmes to help lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease Dr Alexis Elbaz, Inserm research centre Study author Alexis Elbaz, of the Inserm research centre in Paris, France, said: “Exercise is a low-cost way to improve health overall, so our study sought to determine if it may be linked to a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, a debilitating disease that has no cure. “Our results provide evidence for planning interventions to prevent Parkinson’s disease.” Dr Elbaz added: “With our large study, not only did we find that female participants who exercise the most have a lower rate of developing Parkinson’s disease, we also showed that early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease were unlikely to explain these findings, and instead that exercise is beneficial and may help delay or prevent this disease. “Our results support the creation of exercise programmes to help lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease.” The study included 95,354 female participants, mostly teachers, with an average age of 49 who did not have Parkinson’s disease at the start of the study. The women were followed for three decades during which 1,074 of them developed Parkinson’s, and over the course of the study asked to complete up to six questionnaires. They were asked how far they walked and how many flights of stairs they climbed daily, how many hours they spent on household activities as well as how much time they spent doing moderate recreational activities such as gardening and more vigorous activities such as sports. Researchers assigned each activity a score based on the metabolic equivalent of a task (METs), a way to quantify energy expenditure. For each activity, METs were multiplied by their frequency and duration in order to get a physical activity score of METs-hours per week. For example, a more intense form of exercise like cycling was six METs, while less intense exercise such as walking and cleaning was three METs. The average physical activity level for participants was 45 METs-hours per week at the start of the study. Women in the study were divided into four equal groups of just over 24,000 people each. At the start of the study, those in the highest group had an average physical activity score of 71 METs-hours per week, while those in the lowest had an average score of 27. In the group that did the most exercise, there were 246 cases of Parkinson’s disease, compared to 286 cases in the lowest exercise group. After adjusting for factors such as place of residence, age of first period and menopausal status, and smoking, researchers found those in the highest exercise group had a 25% lower rate of developing Parkinson’s disease than those in the lowest exercise group when physical activity was assessed up to 10 years before diagnosis. They found this association remained when physical activity was assessed up to 15 or 20 years before diagnosis. The results were similar after adjusting for diet or medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, researchers found. The findings were published in the Neurology journal. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Number of children trying vaping rises 50% in a year All of the star cars to look out for in the new Fast X film Spice Girl Geri Horner ‘so proud’ of King Charles as she gives him a hug and kiss

Despite having ambitious fitness goals, or a desire to create a change in our lives, many of us are reluctant to give up alcohol. Surely it cannot affect our fitness routines and progress that much, just to enjoy a glass of wine, or a few beers at the pub? But, as Drinkaware explains, alcohol has a negative impact on physical performance, motor skills and brain function. So, what could going sober allow us to achieve health and fitness-wise? “Since going sober two years ago, my training performance, energy levels and mental clarity have skyrocketed,” says personal trainer Josh Davies, from Aimee Victoria Long personal training. So, how does it impact your fitness? Poor sleep and hydration Alcohol has plenty of detrimental impacts on our bodies that hinder our fitness performance. “Firstly, alcohol causes dehydration. We all know the importance of being hydrated when it comes to bodily function,” says Davies. “Secondly, alcohol has a huge effect on the quality of your sleep. Alcohol prevents the body from getting into deep and REM sleep – the part of your sleep that helps with recovery and restoration. “If you’re not getting adequate amounts of this type of sleep, you won’t recover between sessions and are unable to perform when working out.”Motivation and emotions A terrible hangover or consistent fuzzy feeling is not the best if you want to get up and go when it comes to fitness, and the result-restriction caused by drinking could be holding you back. “If you’re not seeing progression in training and you’re feeling tired from the effects of alcohol, your motivation levels are likely to wane,” says Davies. Similarly, its mood-lowering effects can make you want to do anything but workout. “Whenever I used to drink too much, I used to wake up the next day and feel awful. It would leave me not being the best version of myself and stop me from pushing myself to my limits with fitness. I’d feel low, depressed and all I’d want to do is stay in bed,” says Lauren White, addiction coach and former PT. “Alcohol would always make me depressed, I would isolate and want to be alone. I was always into fitness at a young age and knew I was good at it, but when I started getting into drinking too much, I stopped looking after my body and forgot myself and my identity,” she explains. Aids with weight loss Weight loss is not, nor should it be the only goal of a fitness boost, but if it is for you, giving up drinking may help. Nick Mitchell, CEO and founder of Ultimate Performance, says: “The problem with alcohol calories is they take priority as fuel in the body over other fuel sources, as the by-product of alcohol, acetaldehyde, is toxic and converts to acetate. “This means your body won’t start burning fat again until you burn those alcohol calories off. “In fact, alcohol consumption can be one of the major reasons that you are self-sabotaging your fitness goals. “Cracking open a can of beer or two to relieve stress – although it may seem a good idea at the time – will come back to bite you. It slashes testosterone levels in men and impairs muscle growth.“Beer, in particular, is terrible for anyone seeking to lose body fat, due to its high count of calories and its estrogenic effects. This latter point can’t be underestimated – hops are estrogenic and, as such, are the prime causes of many men, not just for beer bellies, but also for man boobs,” he explains.More time and money Quitting drinking will give you more time and money to focus that energy on goals such as strength training or distance running. “You could take up new hobbies and do things that stimulate your mind and give you that serotonin release that you feel from drinking. Furthermore, you can save a bucket load of money,” says Davies. “Alcohol is expensive and when you’re intoxicated, you lose clarity and can end up spending more and more money.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live 5 of this summer’s hottest swimwear trends Teenagers with obesity should be offered weight loss drug, say experts Harry and Meghan ‘not contacted by royal family’ after car chase in New York

Rachel Weisz has revealed that she suffered a miscarriage in the past, while speaking about her new series Dead Ringers. The actor, 53, discussed the negative reaction to scenes of childbirth and baby loss in the show. Weisz plays twin gynaecologists in the series, which is gender-reversed remake of the 1988 horror of the same title. Speaking to Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel of The News Agents podcast, Weisz, who is married to fellow actor Daniel Craig, said she was “surprised” by the reaction, adding: “I was just telling this story about the female experience and it didn’t seem to have been like heightened or overdramatised. “Women had miscarriages, I’ve had a miscarriage, so you suddenly see blood coming out of your body and these are just all part of a female experience of being alive.” Weisz, a mother-of-two who prefers to keep her personal life out of the public eye, did not offer further details about when her miscarriage occurred. She continued: “I think we’re not used to seeing any of those things being represented cinematically or fictionally. So maybe this is breaking some new ground, this show.” The Favourite star also gave her thoughts on US anti-abortion activists who believe in the death penalty. “Both ends of life have different rules, it is very strange,” she said. “Children have to be born but there’s going to be no free healthcare for them. There’s no free schooling for children under the age of five. “And now every day, there seems to be more and more of a chance that you might get shot by an assault rifle at school. You can take life at the end of life; the government can choose to say you deserve to die. But at the beginning of life, a woman has no choice. How do you rationalise that?” Last month, the actor addressed the graphic birthing scenes in the first episode of Dead Ringers, describing them as “beautiful”. Speaking on BBC’s Woman’s Hour, she said: “[Writer Alice Birch] and I were really interested in showing birth in the first episode. I think we felt like it was something we don’t often see. “We’re incredibly used to seeing violence and people being killed, death, blood surrounding that. We’re almost immune to that at this point. For me, it’s a beautiful moment. It’s something we’re really interested in showing.” Weisz shares 16-year-old son Henry with former partner Darren Aronofsky and four-year-old daughter Grace with husband Craig. She married Craig, 55, in 2011 in an intimate ceremony in New York with just four guests in attendance. The James Bond star also has a daughter from his previous marriage to Fiona Loudon. Read More Grandmother praised for refusing to babysit daughter’s newborn unless she’s paid $20 an hour Denise Welch recalls losing ‘sense of reality’ from post-natal depression: ‘The most terrifying thing’ Chrissy Teigen praised for thanking team of four nannies in Mother’s Day tribute Grandmother praised for refusing to babysit daughter’s newborn for free Teenagers with obesity should be offered weight loss drug, say experts Women urged to check blood pressure – here’s what you need to know

"Bus adventurer" Andrew Cowell says he plans to use £2 buses and a coach to reach Krakow.

Teenagers should be offered a “transformative” anti-obesity treatment to help them lose weight, experts have said. Academics said that the weight loss injection semaglutide could help adolescents with obesity to shed pounds after a new study found an average weight loss of 40 pounds (18 kilos). Teens living with obesity were offered the semaglutide drug for more than a year in a new clinical trial. The study, published at the European Congress on Obesity in Dublin and the journal Obesity, found that 45 per cent of teens using the appetite suppressant drug were no longer classed as obese 68 weeks after starting treatment. This is compared to 12 per cent in a group who were taking “dummy” drugs – also known as placebos. Some 19.5 per cent dropped down into the “overweight” category and a quarter (25.4 per cent) were able to reduce their BMI into the “normal” weight category, the conference heard. The average reduction in body weight with semaglutide – sold under the brand name Wegovy – compared to placebo was about 40 pounds (18 kilos), researchers said. Many do very well with this medication though, and it can be life-changing for them Dr Aaron Kelly, University of Minnesota The authors of the paper conclude that “semaglutide represents an efficacious treatment option for adolescents with obesity”. But presenting the study, Dr Aaron Kelly, from the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis, USA, said that it should be taken as part of a package of measures to help teens living with the condition. He said that the earlier the treatment starts “the better” to prevent further weight gain. But he said that treatment should be taken long-term, as would be expected with other chronic conditions. Dr Kelly told reporters that there were side effects – mostly of nausea and vomiting – but these were “transient” and most dissipated over time. If you engage in treatment that’s effective, you’ll see an effect but if you take that treatment away – it’s like a rubber band, it’s going to come right back to where it started Dr Aaron Kelly “There’s a whole spectrum of outcomes when you use anti-obesity medications – some do really really well, some don’t do as well,” he said. “Many do very well with this medication though, and it can be life-changing for them. “Being a research scientist nothing brings me more pleasure than hearing the stories from the adolescents who have been struggling their entire life to manage their weight and haven’t been able to – it’s not about trying hard or not, they all try hard – this gives them a tool to help take control of their weight. “And that’s transformational for many teenagers.” He added: “I believe that health care providers should offer that as part of the comprehensive treatment approach – it’s not just one thing, it’s lifestyle therapy – which was included in this trial; it’s the use of anti-obesity medications and, for some, metabolic and bariatric surgery. “A question I get asked a lot is, ‘Is this going to solve the obesity problem? Should we just give it to everybody?’ No, it’s not going to solve the obesity problem, but it’s an important piece to the puzzle at helping to solve it especially for those who already have obesity.” Dr Kelly said that coming off the drugs would lead to weight coming back, adding: “Let’s use high blood pressure as an example, medications are commonly used and prescribed to treat high blood pressure. “And when they have prescribed, the intent of the health care provider – if (the drug is) tolerated and continues to be effective – effectively that person would stay on that medication, probably for the rest of their life. Obesity is exactly the same thing. “If you engage in treatment that’s effective, you’ll see an effect but if you take that treatment away – it’s like a rubber band, it’s going to come right back to where it started.” On when treatment should commence among teens, he added: “If obesity surfaces in childhood, it probably represents one of the most aggressive forms of obesity that we know of. “If you are a child or adolescent with obesity, you are highly likely to carry that obesity and excess adiposity into adulthood. You don’t just snap out of it. “My centre comes of the approach that the earlier the better. “And, and if medically eligible, the use of medications early is probably going to (give) the best outcomes over time because if you allow the disease to progress and the pounds to to add on over time, it gets harder and harder to draw that back. “And so conceptually, I think it makes sense to intervene early and not allow that to happen, and that probably gives the child the best shot at living a long, healthy, happy life.” Meanwhile, another study presented at the conference found that people who have shed weight may be at risk of “psychological scarring”. The paper, led by academics at the University of Liverpool, found that people who have had obesity, even if they have lost weight, could be at risk. Read More Gaining weight before 30 raises cancer risk decades later Artificial sweeteners do not help you lose weight, WHO warns How to talk to kids about weight and healthy eating Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Meta is giving us another way to feel nauseous with VR: putting the technology in

A 29-year-old woman was in for a rude awakening when she asked the internet if her mother was in the wrong for refusing to babysit her newborn for free. “Am I the a**hole if my mom refused to help me take care of my baby while I go back to work?” u/erika_urrrika asked the popular Reddit forum. In her post, the new mother wrote that both she and her partner work full-time and cannot afford to have one parent stay home with their baby. The Redditor explained that their jobs don’t allow them to work from home, and they wanted to avoid spending money on childcare. In addition to being the breadwinner of the household, she is also saving money to pay off credit card debt and move to a bigger apartment. However, the grandmother refused to look after her grandchild for free, noting that she was “too old” and had “already raised her kids”. “Mind you, my mom is 64, has been a homemaker/stay-at-home-mom since 1992, and hasn’t been part of the workforce since then,” the daughter wrote. “She also added that if I really wanted this baby, then maybe I should have thought about staying home like she did to take care of it while my partner goes to work and provides for us like a ‘traditional’ family, and that if she any my dad were able to work it out, so can we.” When the Reddit user detailed her financial situation to her mother, she asked to be compensated $20 an hour for each hour she looks after her grandchild, including late fees for pickup. “So, am I the a**hole for wanting my mom, who again is at home all day long (trust me, she does not do anything besides watch TV and cook meals), to take care of my baby for free while me and my partner try to fix our finances?” she asked. In the comments, many Reddit users called the daughter “entitled” for expecting her mother to take care of her child for free. “Sorry to be blunt and rude but maybe don’t have a child if you can’t afford to take care of them,” replied one person. “And if your plan was always to go back to work you should have discussed that during the pregnancy with your mom.” “Your mother is under no obligation to babysit for you,” another user said. “Why are you having a child you don’t seem to know what to do with? And why have you not worked all this out before now?” A third person wrote: “Your mom is in no way obligated to care for YOUR BABY. It’s generous of her to be willing to do it for pay, and you have the gall to be mad she won’t do it for free? She is entitled to spend her life and free time however the hell she wants. It’s not her fault you’re in debt and decided to have a baby you can’t afford. The only thing she may have done wrong at some point along the line is raise you to be this horribly entitled.” “You chose to have a child, not your mother. Your mother isn’t a free babysitter,” another said. “She is right, she raised her children. Her babysitting on occasion would be kind and appreciated but you sound entitled thinking you are owed childcare.” One person simply commented, “You’re not the a**hole for wanting her too. But you’re the a**hole for expecting her to.” According to Sittercity, the average hourly rate of babysitters in the US in 2023 is $18.50 per hour, while the average hourly rate of nannies who “typically work on a full-time or set schedule basis” is $20 an hour. This isn’t the first time a babysitter has caused a stir on Reddit. Recently, a woman sparked a debate after revealing that she asked a family who cancelled on her babysitting services last minute to pay her half of the $840 she planned to charge them. The babysitter told Reddit’s AITA forum that she usually charges a “flat rate of $100 a night” while babysitting overnight. “Overall, the price for those three days was going to be $840,” she said. But when she received a text from the parents cancelling her babysitting services, she explained that she was “out three days pay”. In response to the last-minute cancellation, she asked the customer for $480, the “minimum [she’d] make at work in those three days”. She said the mother declined the request and said she was being “ridiculous”. While the babysitter noted that she and the family didn’t have a contract, “which in hindsight was stupid” and that “legally they don’t have to pay” her, she still felt that the right thing for the family to do was pay her. Read More Woman questions whether it was ‘selfish’ to refuse boyfriend’s request for $5,000 loan Babysitter asks family to pay half of $840 bill after they cancelled last minute People divided over whether you should switch tables in a restaurant if seated next to a crying baby Woman questions whether it was wrong to refuse boyfriend’s request for $5,000 loan Women urged to check blood pressure – here’s what you need to know Denise Welch remembers ‘losing sense of reality’ while facing post-natal depression

Gumbo is a Louisiana institution. Fusing together flavours from the state’s Creole and Cajun heritage, it’s traditionally a deeply-flavoured stew. After exploring southern Louisiana, this is Gordon Ramsay’s version of a traditional gumbo… Chicken andouille gumbo with rice Serves: 8 Ingredients: For the braised chicken: 4 boneless, skin-on chicken breasts 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken legs, thighs attached 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper 2½ tsp kosher salt, divided 2 tbsp grapeseed oil 4 garlic cloves, crushed 3 celery stalks, diced 2 yellow onions, diced 8 cups chicken stock 3 sprigs thyme 3 spring onions, trimmed and chopped 1 lemon, cut in half, seeds removed For the gumbo base: 227g andouille sausage, cut into 1.3cm-thick slices 108g unsalted butter 125g all-purpose flour 2 celery stalks, finely diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 red bell pepper, finely diced 1 green bell pepper, finely diced 1 yellow onion, finely diced 1 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp cayenne pepper ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper 2 tbsp hot sauce For the rice: 341g white rice 946ml water 2 sprigs thyme, picked 2 tsp kosher salt Method: 1. Make the braised chicken: Season the chicken with the pepper and two teaspoons of the salt. In a large pot over medium heat, add the oil. Once the oil is shimmering, sear the chicken on all sides until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan, and work in batches if necessary. 2. Remove the chicken from the pan and add the garlic, celery, and onions. Cook in the chicken fat until the vegetables begin to caramelise. Season with the remaining salt. 3. Add the chicken back to the pot and cover with the chicken stock. Add the thyme, scallions, and lemon halves and bring to a simmer. Continue cooking on a low heat until the chicken is tender and can easily be pulled apart, about one hour. 4. Remove the chicken from the stock and shred the meat from the bones. Cover the chicken and refrigerate until ready to use. Strain and reserve the chicken stock and discard the vegetables and thyme. 5. Make the gumbo base: In another large pot over a medium heat, add the andouille sausage and cook until the fat has rendered and the sausage has crisped. 6. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sausage from the pot and set aside on a paper towel–lined plate. 7. To the fat in the pot, add the butter. Once the butter is completely melted, add the flour and mix until a thick paste forms to make a roux. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring constantly until the roux has turned a very deep brown, about 30 to 45 minutes. 8. Add the celery, garlic, bell peppers, and onion. Continue cooking until the vegetables are softened, about five minutes. Season with the salt, cayenne, and black pepper. 9. Add the reserved chicken stock and the hot sauce and bring to a simmer. Continue cooking on low until the gumbo base has thickened, about 30 minutes. 10. Make the rice: In a medium pot over a medium heat, add the rice, water, thyme and salt and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook until all the moisture has evaporated, about 20 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork just before serving. 11. Add the pulled chicken and andouille sausage to the gumbo and serve with the rice. Recipe from ‘Gordon Ramsay’s Uncharted: A Culinary Adventure With 60 Recipes From Around The Globe’ (National Geographic, £25). Read More Three meat-free dishes to try this National Vegetarian Week How to make TikTok’s viral whole roasted cauliflower Gordon Ramsay: ‘I’m going off the beaten track to become a better cook’ Gordon Ramsay’s coffee-spiced pork shoulder recipe What is coronation chicken? The story of the royal recipe and how to make it Healthy lemony smoked salmon pasta that takes zero effort

One stop on Gordon Ramsay’s culinary journey around the world was Puerto Rico, where he discovered this recipe for coffee-spiced pork shoulder. It’s accompanied by yuca – the root of the native cassava plant, which was an important ingredient for the indigenous Taino community. Coffee-spiced pork shoulder with sweet potato and yuca Serves: 4 Ingredients: For the coffee-spiced pork shoulder: 2 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp sweet paprika 1 tbsp kosher salt 1 tbsp finely ground coffee 1 tbsp granulated sugar ¼ tsp chili flakes, or more to taste 2 tsp annotto seeds, finely ground (if you can’t find annatto seeds, you can substitute with 2 tsp achiote paste) ½ boneless pork shoulder (about 1.3kg) Extra-virgin olive oil For the sweet potato and yuca: 1 red onion, diced into 1.3cm pieces 1 star anise 3 garlic cloves, crushed Kosher salt 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced into 1.3cm pieces 1 yuca, peeled and diced into 1.3cm pieces 1 cup dark rum 3-4 cups chicken stock Method: 1. Prepare the pork shoulder: In a small bowl, combine the cumin, paprika, salt, coffee, sugar, chili flakes, and annatto. 2. Season the pork shoulder with the rub, rubbing it in with your hands to coat evenly. Set the pork shoulder aside to marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. 3. Heat a large Dutch oven over high heat and drizzle the pork with olive oil. Place the pork shoulder in the pot and sear on all sides until caramelised and golden brown. Remove the pork from the pot and set aside. 4. Make the sweet potato and yuca: To the pot, add the onion, star anise, and garlic. Season with salt. Cook until all the ingredients begin to caramelise and the anise is aromatic, about seven to 10 minutes. Add the sweet potato and yuca and saute for five minutes longer, until they start to brown. Add the rum to deglaze the pot, scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon to release all of the brown bits. Simmer until the rum is reduced by half. 5. Finish the pork shoulder: Return the pork to the pot and pour in the chicken stock, making sure the stock comes halfway up the side of the pork, adding more liquid if needed. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer, cooking for about two hours or until the pork easily breaks apart with a fork. Remove the vegetables with a slotted spoon. 6. Once the pork is tender, remove it from the pot and set it on a large plate or cutting board. Pull the pork into large pieces using two forks. 7. Reduce the cooking liquid that remains in the pot by half until slightly thickened. 8. To serve, plate the pork and vegetables on a serving platter and drizzle cooking liquid over top. Recipe from ‘Gordon Ramsay’s Uncharted: A Culinary Adventure With 60 Recipes From Around The Globe’ (National Geographic, £25). Read More Three meat-free dishes to try this National Vegetarian Week How to make TikTok’s viral whole roasted cauliflower Gordon Ramsay: ‘I’m going off the beaten track to become a better cook’ What is coronation chicken? The story of the royal recipe and how to make it Healthy lemony smoked salmon pasta that takes zero effort Easy coronation chicken pie recipe chosen by Mary Berry