You’ve waved goodbye to cookies, chips, and everything else that comes in a shiny wrapper, but the scale refuses to budge. It can be disheartening when cutting out processed foods doesn’t translate into immediate weight loss.

While eliminating junk food is an essential first step, weight loss often requires more nuanced adjustments. Studies, including a 2019 publication in Cell Metabolism, reveal that processed foods can lead to increased calorie consumption — about 500 extra calories daily compared to whole, unprocessed diets. While cutting out junk food is a commendable step, achieving sustainable weight loss requires a holistic approach.

But sometimes, ditching junk food isn’t enough. Here are five key reasons why your weight loss journey may be stalling, and how you can get back on track.

1. Your Sleep Schedule Is Sabotaging Your Goals

The connection between sleep and weight is often overlooked but crucial. Both too much sleep (over 9 hours) and too little (under 5 hours) can disrupt your body’s production of appetite-regulating hormones, such as leptin and ghrelin. This hormonal imbalance can increase cravings and overeating, particularly for high-calorie foods.

Additionally, poor sleep can leave you feeling fatigued, making it harder to stick to exercise routines.

How to Fix It: Aim for 7–8 hours of quality sleep per night. Establish a consistent bedtime routine and minimize screen time before bed to improve sleep hygiene.

2. Liquid Calories Are Sneaking Into Your Diet

You may have switched to a "healthier" drink lineup, but beverages like fruit juices, sugary coffee drinks, and wine can contain hidden calories that derail progress. Even organic fruit juices, often marketed as healthful, are loaded with sugar and lack the fiber found in whole fruits.

How to Fix It: Stick to water, unsweetened tea, black coffee, or sparkling water. To manage hunger, drink two cups of water 30 minutes before meals—a strategy backed by research in the Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine. Treat calorie-laden drinks as occasional indulgences rather than daily staples.

3. Meal Timing Is Working Against You

When and how often you eat can significantly influence weight loss. Skipping meals can lead to overeating later, while constant grazing throughout the day can result in unnoticed calorie overload.

Studies show that front-loading your calories, with a substantial breakfast and lighter evening meals, promotes greater weight loss. Research published in the journal Obesity found that individuals consuming larger breakfasts lost twice the weight compared to those who favored bigger dinners.

How to Fix It: Stick to eating every 3.5 to 4 hours during a 10–12-hour daytime window. This approach stabilizes blood sugar and encourages fat reserves to be used for energy between meals.

4. You’re Overcompensating for Exercise

Exercise is a cornerstone of weight loss, but it’s easy to overestimate the calories burned and indulge in post-workout treats. That post-spin class protein shake or granola bar may negate your calorie deficit if not balanced within your daily intake.

How to Fix It: Plan snacks strategically. If your workout falls within two hours of a meal, skip the extra snack and refuel during your regular meal. If you need a snack, opt for small, protein-rich options like Greek yogurt or a handful of nuts.

5. Water Intake Is Falling Short

Water plays an underrated role in weight loss. Staying hydrated helps control hunger and reduces the temptation to reach for sugary drinks. Dehydration, on the other hand, can be mistaken for hunger, leading to unnecessary snacking.

How to Fix It: Drink 2–6 cups of water daily to satisfy thirst without adding calories. Carry a reusable water bottle as a visual reminder to stay hydrated throughout the day.

What Other Factors Can Hinder Weight Loss

Sitting for long hours, whether at a desk or on the couch, can slow your metabolism and disconnect your body’s natural hunger cues. Incorporating even short bursts of activity, like three 10-minute walks daily, can reignite your metabolism.

Stress often leads to comfort eating, favoring calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods. Mindfulness practices, such as meditation or journaling, can help address the emotional triggers behind overeating.

Medical conditions, genetics, or hormonal imbalances can also impede weight loss. If your efforts yield no results, consult a healthcare professional for tests or guidance tailored to your needs.

Weight loss isn’t linear, and small, consistent adjustments are more effective than drastic overhauls. By identifying and tackling these hidden barriers, you can set yourself up for lasting success on your health journey.

Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain. Cell Metabolism. 2019

Effect of excessive water intake on body weight, body mass index, body fat, and appetite of overweight female participants. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2014

A new global analysis by the World Health Organization and its cancer research arm, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has found that prevention could dramatically reduce cancer cases worldwide. The report estimates that 37 percent of all new cancers in 2022, about 7.1 million cases, were linked to causes that can largely be avoided.

The findings are based on data from 185 countries and 36 cancer types and were released ahead of World Cancer Day. Researchers examined 30 risk factors including tobacco use, alcohol, obesity, lack of physical activity, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation and nine cancer causing infections. The report stresses that prevention may be the single most powerful tool available to reduce the global cancer burden.

According to WHO data, tobacco remains the biggest contributor, responsible for about 15 percent of all new cancer cases globally. Infections accounted for around 10 percent while alcohol contributed to roughly 3 percent. Three cancers together made up nearly half of all preventable cases worldwide. Lung cancer was strongly linked to smoking and polluted air, stomach cancer to Helicobacter pylori infection, and cervical cancer to human papillomavirus infection.

WHO cancer control experts said the analysis shows clearly how much cancer risk comes from factors people and governments can act on before the disease even develops.

Differences between men, women and regions

The report shows clear gender differences. Preventable cancer accounted for 45 percent of new cases among men compared with 30 percent among women. Among men, smoking alone contributed to 23 percent of new cancers followed by infections at 9 percent and alcohol at 4 percent. Among women, infections were the largest contributor at 11 percent, followed by smoking at 6 percent and high body mass index at 3 percent.

The burden also varied widely across regions. In women, preventable cancers ranged from 24 percent in North Africa and West Asia to 38 percent in sub Saharan Africa. Among men, East Asia had the highest share at 57 percent while Latin America and the Caribbean recorded the lowest at 28 percent. Researchers say these differences reflect lifestyle habits, environmental exposures, workplace safety standards and public health policies.

The WHO report highlights practical steps that could reduce cancer cases. These include stronger tobacco control laws, limits on alcohol use, vaccination against HPV and hepatitis B, improved air quality, safer workplaces and promotion of healthier diets and physical activity.

Health officials say coordinated action across sectors such as transport, education, labour and energy can prevent millions of cancer diagnoses and lower long term healthcare costs while improving overall population health.

Reality television personality Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi has revealed she has been diagnosed with stage-one cervical cancer after undergoing further testing for previously detected abnormal cells.

The Jersey Shore alum shared in a Feb. 20 TikTok video that a cone biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in gland-lining cells. Doctors discovered the disease less than a month after she first announced the presence of cancerous cervical cells.

“Not the news I was hoping for,” the 38-year-old said, adding that the early detection significantly improved her outlook.

Detected Early After Years Of Tests

Polizzi said she had experienced abnormal Pap smear results for several years before undergoing the procedure that led to the diagnosis. She encouraged followers not to delay screenings out of fear or discomfort, noting early detection made the cancer potentially curable.

Medical teams also informed her that the cancer had not spread deeper into the cervix — an encouraging sign — though adenocarcinoma can be more aggressive and may spread to lymph nodes if untreated.

Further Scans And Likely Surgery

Doctors have scheduled a PET scan to determine whether the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body. Depending on the findings, treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation or surgery.

Polizzi said she is leaning toward a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, describing it as the most sensible course of action.

Message to Fans: Don’t Skip Screenings

The television star, a mother of three, thanked supporters for their encouragement and said she plans to keep sharing updates during treatment.

She also stressed the importance of routine check-ups, calling cervical cancer “nothing to joke about” and urging people to seek timely testing, even when it feels uncomfortable or frightening.

What Is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer, also known as cancer of the cervix, begins on the surface of the cervix and involves the growth of abnormal cells in its lining. Cervical cancer is primarily caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is preventable with a vaccine.

There are three main types of cervical cancer:

• Squamous cell carcinoma: This type forms in the lining of the cervix and accounts for about 70% of cases.
• Adenocarcinoma: This type forms in the cells that produce mucus and is less common.
• Mixed carcinoma: This type has features of both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

Preventive measures, including the HPV vaccine and regular screenings, are crucial in reducing the risk of cervical cancer. Early detection and treatment significantly improve the chances of successful outcomes.

Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

In its early stages, cervical cancer typically doesn’t show any symptoms, which is why regular screening is important to catch it at this stage. Once symptoms do start appearing, they include abnormal vaginal bleeding (in between periods) and unusual vaginal discharge. Pain during sex in the pelvic region is another common symptom. As the cancer worsens, patients may experience more severe symptoms like weight loss, fatigue and leg swelling.

Precancerous changes in cervical cells rarely cause symptoms. The only way to detect abnormal cells that may develop into cancer is through a cervical screening test. If these early cell changes progress into cervical cancer, the most common signs include:

• Vaginal bleeding between periods
• Menstrual bleeding that is longer or heavier than usual
• Pain during intercourse
• Bleeding after intercourse
• Pelvic pain
• Changes in vaginal discharge, such as increased discharge or discharge with a strong or unusual color or smell
• Vaginal bleeding after menopause

These symptoms can be caused by other conditions, but if you are worried or symptoms persist, it is essential to contact your doctor. This is important for anyone with a cervix, including individuals who are straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

Early signs of cervical cancer can include:

• Pain during sex
• Unusual vaginal bleeding, such as after sex, between periods, after menopause, or following a pelvic exam
• Unusual vaginal discharge that is watery, bloody, and/or has a strong odour

As cervical cancer progresses, it can cause additional symptoms, such as:

• Pelvic pain
• Trouble urinating
• Swollen legs
• Kidney failure
• Bone pain
• Weight loss and lack of appetite
• Fatigue
• Backache
• Stomach pain

It is crucial to note that you might not notice symptoms of cervical cancer until it has advanced. Regular screenings and prompt medical consultation for any concerning symptoms are vital for early detection and effective treatment.

Adolescents who use cannabis could face a significantly higher risk of developing psychotic (doubled), bipolar (doubled), depressive and anxiety disorders, a study shows.

Researchers from Kaiser Permanente, the Public Health Institute's Getting it Right from the Start, the University of California, San Francisco and the University of Southern California, who studied 463,396 adolescents ages 13 to 17 through age 26, found that children between these ages were extremely prone to developing mental illnesses.

Lynn Silver, MD, program director of the Getting it Right from the Start, a program of the Public Health Institute, and study co-author noted: "As cannabis becomes more potent and aggressively marketed, this study indicates that adolescent cannabis use is associated with double the risk of incident psychotic and bipolar disorders, two of the most serious mental health conditions.

"The evidence increasingly points to the need for an urgent public health response - one that reduces product potency, prioritizes prevention, limits youth exposure and marketing and treats adolescent cannabis use as a serious health issue, not a benign behavior."

"Even after accounting for prior mental health conditions and other substance use, adolescents who reported cannabis use had a substantially higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders - particularly psychotic and bipolar disorders.

"This study adds to the growing body of evidence that cannabis use during adolescence could have potentially detrimental, long-term health effects. It's imperative that parents and their children have accurate, trusted, and evidence-based information about the risks of adolescent cannabis use," Kelly Young-Wolff, Ph.D., lead author of the study and senior research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, added.

The observational US-focused study also found that cannabis use was more common among adolescents enrolled in Medicaid and those living in more socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods.

How Does Cannabis Usage In Teens Affect Overall Health?

Strong links have also been found between adolescent cannabis use and mental health issues, including increased risk of depression, anxiety, and, in some cases, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders.

Additionally, smoking cannabis can lead to breathing problems similar to tobacco, such as chronic bronchitis. It can also cause an increased heart rate, and some studies suggest a higher risk of heart attacks.

Early initiation, especially before age 16, increases the risk of developing Cannabis Use Disorder (addiction). High-potency products can lead to rapid onset of withdrawal symptoms, mood changes, and even physical complications like Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (severe nausea/vomiting)

Why Should Early Cannabis Usage Be Discouraged?

Compared to teens who don't use cannabis, those who do are more likely to drop out of high school or not finish a college degree. Using cannabis can cause several immediate and long-term problems for teens:

• Difficulty Thinking
• Memory Issues
• Poor Coordination
• Attention Problems
• School and Social Troubles
• Cannabis use can also lead to more serious issues that affect a teen's overall life.
• Increased Mental Health Risks

Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal and unsafe, as it severely slows reaction time. Cannabis reduces coordination and concentration, impacting all the skills necessary for responsible and safe driving.

Around 30 percent of cannabis users are also known to develop an addiction (cannabis use disorder). Failing to quit or choosing the drug over family activities are signs. This risk is higher for frequent teen users.