Researchers tested two coaching models and found that continued contact helps sustain weight loss

• Ongoing support after weight loss is linked to better long-term maintenance.

• A clinical trial tested two phone-based support schedules: fixed monthly calls (static) versus calls triggered by risk signals (adaptive).

• After nearly two years, both groups held onto about 8% of weight loss, and ~60 % of participants kept off at least 5% of their starting weight.

Losing weight is hard but keeping it off over the long haul can be even harder.

Many people regain what theyve shed once the structure of a diet or formal weight-loss program fades. Researchers have long suspected that sustained support might help cement change.

A new study led by Dr. Kathryn Ross and colleagues explores whether continuing phone check-ins can make a real difference, and whether tailoring the timing of support based on risk is better than a steady monthly schedule.

The study

The trial was conducted in two phases. First, over 16 weeks, adults with obesity entered a weight-loss program. Participants who succeeded in losing at least 5 % of their baseline weight qualified for the next maintenance phase.

That maintenance phase lasted 20 more months, during which participants received telephone-based support from trained coaches. But the twist: participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups:

• Static (monthly) group calls scheduled once per month, regardless of how a person was doing.

• Adaptive (triggered) group calls occurred when an algorithm flagged someone as being at higher risk of regaining weight, based on their self-monitoring data (weight logs, diet logs, hunger ratings, etc.).

All participants continued to track weight, diet, and activity through apps and connected scales. Call content was similar across groups: coaches discussed obstacles, goal setting, and problem solving.

The primary question: from the end of the weight-loss phase (month four) to month 24, would the adaptive schedule lead to less weight regain than the fixed monthly schedule?

The results

By the end of the trial, both groups fared better than some prior benchmarks. On average:

• The adaptive group regained 2.8 pounds from month four to 24.

• The static group regained 3.9 pounds in the same period.

• However, the difference between groups was not statistically significant. (

In terms of sustained weight loss:

• Adaptive participants held onto an average of 8.1 % weight loss from baseline.

• Static participants held onto about 7.9 % weight loss.

• Roughly 60 % of participants in both groups maintained at least 5 % loss.
  

The takeaway? The plan of give extra calls when someone seems to be at risk did not outperform a consistent monthly schedule at least in this trial. But the fact that both approaches produced solid long-term maintenance suggests that continued support itself not just when its delivered plays a vital role.

This study is important because it shows that ongoing support really does help people maintain their weight loss over time. Outcomes in both groups were better than we expected, Dr. Ross said in a news release.

Our findings support the provision of long-term care for obesity, under a chronic disease model, just like we do for other long-term health issues. We hope this research encourages more clinics and health programs to offer ongoing support to help people keep the weight off.

How researchers retrofitted streetlight poles to offer low-cost, equitable electric vehicle charging

• A team from Penn State retrofitted 23 streetlights in Kansas City to serve as EV charging stations using a scalable modeling framework.

• Their approach offered lower installation cost, faster charging, and fewer environmental drawbacks than conventional charging stations.

• The model factors in demand, equity, and technical feasibility to guide communities in deploying these streetlamp chargers.

Electric vehicles are growing in popularity, but one hurdle remains: not everyone has a straightforward way to plug in. Apartment dwellers, city residents, and folks without garages often lack access to home chargers.

To bridge that gap, Penn State researchers proposed an inventive idea: Why not turn streetlights already powered and widespread into EV charging stations?

In a pilot project in Kansas City, they tested this idea, aiming to make EV charging more accessible, affordable, and equitable.

The motivation for this work comes from the fact that many apartment and multi-unit dwelling residents, particularly in urban and downtown areas, lack access to dedicated home EV chargers, since they dont have the privilege of owning a garage, researcher Xianbiao XB Hu, said in a news release.

Fortunately, streetlight poles are already powered and typically owned by municipalities, making them relatively easy to work with. Their placement often near on-street parking and in high-traffic areas makes them well-positioned to serve both local residents and visitors.

The study

To make the concept work, the team designed a three-part framework centered on demand, feasibility, and benefits.

1. Demand modeling: The researchers collected data on land use, nearby points of interest, traffic volumes, and station density. They used this data to train artificial intelligence models to predict where EV drivers would most likely need charging.

2. Equity considerations: They deliberately included socio-economic and community engagement factors to ensure that charging benefits would be distributed fairly across neighborhoods, especially those underserved by existing infrastructure.

3. Technical feasibility and benefits analysis: Working in partnership with Kansas City, utility providers, and the National Renewable Energy Lab, they retrofitted 23 streetlight poles to include EV chargers. Over the course of a year, they monitored usage, installation cost, charging speeds, and environmental impacts.
   

This structured method was intended to be scalable meaning other cities could adopt it with adjustment to local data.

The Results: Cost-Effective, faster, and greener

The findings were encouraging. Because the streetlights were already connected to the electrical grid, retrofitting costs were much lower than building new, stand-alone charging stations.

Charging performance was notably strong: the streetlight chargers offered faster charging speeds, likely because each charger drew directly from less congested municipal lines rather than competing with multiple vehicles on a shared circuit.

Environmentally, the system also delivered: the researchers documented gasoline savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, mainly by replacing fossil fuel use in locations where vehicles were already parked. In other words, the charging opportunity overlapped with natural parking behavior, making access efficient.

In summary, the project suggests that streetlight-based EV charging is a promising path forward, especially in dense urban settings. The team plans further enhancements, such as integrating socio-economic data and weather conditions, to improve deployment strategies and ensure that charging infrastructure serves those who need it most.

We found that using streetlights for EV charging offers an innovative and equitable approach to expanding charging infrastructure and promoting sustainable electrification, researcher Yuyan Annie Pan said in the news release.

An expert shares what every shopper should know about preventing package theft

• One in four Americans has had a package stolen, and most thefts happen between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.

• Set up delivery alerts, use cameras, and secure packages in lockboxes or porch bins to deter porch pirates.

• Be mindful of your routine and online activity thieves may notice patterns like unattended deliveries or social media travel posts.

If youre one of the millions of shoppers taking advantage of Prime Big Deal Days, youre not alone and neither are your packages. As orders start stacking up on porches across the country, porch pirates are gearing up for their busiest time of year.

According to new research from ADT, one in four Americans has already fallen victim to package theft, and nearly a third admit they leave deliveries unattended for four hours or more. Most thefts happen right in the middle of the day, between noon and 6 p.m.

To learn how shoppers can protect their deliveries, we spoke with Jimmy Lin, Vice President of Product Management at ADT, who shared his top tips for keeping your doorstep secure this Prime Day and beyond.

"Package theft happens year-round but spikes during the holidays and major sales events like the current Prime Big Deal Days, Lin said. Thieves know to watch for deliveries left unattended at the front door.

Avoiding package theft

With so many sales to take advantage of, you want to make sure all of your packages make it inside your house. Here are Lins top tips for avoiding package theft:

• Bring in your package as soon as possible after arrival. This may seem like a no-brainer but 29% of people leave packages unattended for 4+ hours which greatly increases the chance of theft.

• If youre away from home often, set up delivery alerts which let you know exactly when a package arrives so you can ask a neighbor to grab it for you.

• Use visible and hidden cameras to catch any unwanted action. A doorbell camera lets people know theyre being watched and deters crime while a hidden camera can guarantee youre recording the full scene.

• Additional safety measures can include using lockboxes or porch bins to hold your package securely until you are able to bring it inside.

How your behavior can play a role

Lin explained that certain consumers can be more susceptible to package theft depending on their behaviors. He shared some factors that can increase the risk of package theft:

• If youre regularly away from home during the day, you can be more susceptible to package theft with many incidents happening in broad daylight, especially between noon and early evening.

• Porch pirates can also take note of your routine, and if youre regularly away from home and let packages pile up.

• Leaving packaging from a new TV or computer out on the curb can signal that there may be valuables inside, making your home a target for more than just package theft.

• Posting on social media that youre traveling can unintentionally make your home a target to package theft or even larger scale burglary.

Prepare now for the possibility of porch pirates especially if youre an active shopper this Prime Big Deal Days or plan to be for upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Lin said. Home security systems are an effective and visible deterrent, whether thats having a doorbell camera, motion detecting lights, or ADT yard sign.

Tech elites treat aging as an engineering problem, think they can solve it

Plantar fasciitis and other conditions are often improved simply by wearing the "right" shoes

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

Feet hurt? You're not alone. Nearly everybody suffers from some kind of foot pain at one time or another. And in most cases, it's not from running marathons or toting heavy barges all the live long day, it's from wearing the wrong kind of shoe.

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common foot complaints and people try all kinds of remedies, from shoes to inserts to flexibility training. Experts may not always agree on everything but most agree that choosing shoes that dont properly support the arch or absorb heel shock can aggravatethe condition instead of helping it heal.

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation or microtearing in the plantar fascia (a thick band of connective tissue on the bottom of the foot, running from heel to toes). It tends to hurt most at the heel, especially with first steps in the morning or after resting.

Because of that, the ideal shoe, according to a recent Health report, should:

• Cushion the heel / absorb shock every time you walk, the heel impact should be softened so more force is borne by the shoe, not the fascia.

• Stabilize / support the arch you dont want your arch to collapse or overstress the plantar fascia. A supportive midsole or arch insert helps with that.

• Have a firm heel cup / structured back this helps hold your heel in place, preventing unwanted sliding or twisting.

• Balance flexibility and rigidity the shoe should flex at the toes (for push-off) but resist torsion in the midfoot (so the arch doesnt collapse).

• Have a slight heel elevation (drop) a small heel lift (versus fully flat shoes) can reduce strain on the plantar fascia.

• Allow for customization removable insoles so you can insert orthotics or more supportive replacements is helpful.

• Fit well too tight shoes (especially in the toe box) or wrong length can increase stress. Some experts even suggest going a half size up if switching in stronger insoles.

When shoes lack these features (e.g. very flat shoes, poor cushioning, flimsy structure), they may exacerbate pain rather than help.

Common mistakes

Here are frequent missteps consumers take:

• Buying shoes just for looks or light cushioning without structural support.

• Relying purely on lots of cushion but on overly flexible or unstable shoes (can let the foot collapse).

• Using flat shoes or very low-drop shoes (e.g. many fashion flats, flip-flops) that provide no heel support.

• Keeping worn-out shoes long past their support life (midsole gives out). Many people forget that cushioning and structural support degrade over time.

• Choosing too narrow shoes, or shoes that squeeze toes, which can change gait mechanics or strain parts of the foot.

• Neglecting to wear supportive shoes even when just walking around at home experts often note that barefoot at home without support can delay healing.

To help you take the right steps, here's a neutral buyers guide. It contains nocommercial bias or paid shopping links.

Buyers Guide: Choosing the Right Shoe for Plantar Fasciitis

What to Look For

1. Firm, supportive arch
Look for shoes with a defined arch that matches your foots natural contour. Soft, flat shoes may feel nice at first but can let the fascia overstretch.

A shoe should stabilize your foot, not let it collapse inward, says Dr. Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM, quoted in Business Insider. Arch support keeps pressure off the inflamed tissue.

2. Deep heel cup
The heel should sit securely in a structured cup that prevents side-to-side rolling. This stabilizes your gait and reduces micro-trauma each time your heel hits the ground.

3. Cushioning with structure
Opt for midsoles that cushion without being mushy. EVA foam, gel pods, or air cells help absorb impact, but the shoe should still feel stable through the arch and heel.

4. Slight heel-to-toe drop
A raised heel (about 610 mm higher than the forefoot) reduces the tension on the plantar fascia. Completely flat shoes or minimalist designs are usually too harsh.

5. Rigid midfoot / flexible forefoot
When you twist the shoe gently, it should resist bending in the middle but flex at the ball of the foot. That combination keeps your arch stable while allowing a natural stride.

6. Removable insoles
A removable insole lets you upgrade to custom or over-the-counter orthotics a big plus if you have a unique arch or recurring pain pattern.

7. Proper fit and toe room
Tight toe boxes or overly narrow shoes alter gait mechanics and can worsen strain. Aim for snug around the heel and midfoot, but with wiggle room for your toes.

Examples of good shoe types & models

While no shoe is perfect for every foot, here are styles that are often recommended (and well-reviewed) for people with plantar fasciitis:

From expert roundups:

• Hoka Bondi 9 often cited as a top overall pick because of plush cushioning, structured support, and the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) Seal of Acceptance.

• Hoka Clifton (version 10, etc.) a slightly lighter but still supportive option.

• Brooks models(e.g. Ghost, Adrenaline) known for balancing cushioning and support.

• Orthofeet has models with good arch support and comfort for walking.

• Dansko XP 2.0 (clogs) interesting option for people who need slip-on comfort but still want structure.

• Oofos / OOfos (recovery shoes / slides) good for wearing around the home as supplemental support.

Red Flags: Signs Youre Buying the Wrong Shoe

• Flat or overly flexible sole offers no arch or heel support.

• Memory foam only soft but unstable under load.

• Excessive wear midsoles compress over time, losing support even if the shoe looks fine.

• No heel counter flimsy heel fabric or thin backing lets the foot roll.

• Too fashion-focused ballet flats, flip-flops, or soft slip-ons rarely provide structure.

People often buy for cushioning alone, but what they really need is controlled cushioning support that limits motion, not just softness, says Dr. Elvis Danne, DPM, quoted in Forbes.

How to Test a Shoe In-Store

1. Bend test: Try folding the shoe in half it should bend near the toes, not the arch.

2. Twist test: Hold the toe and heel and try to wring it like a towel. A good shoe resists twisting.

3. Heel press: Press the heel counter. It should feel firm, not collapsible.

4. Walk test: Walk briskly. Your arch should feel gently lifted, and your heel should land softly but securely.

5. Try both feet: Many people have slightly different arches; make sure both feet feel supported.

Replacement Rule of Thumb

Even the best shoes wear out. Replace every 300500 miles of walking or running roughly every six months for frequent walkers.

The midsole loses structure long before the tread shows it, says Dr. Danne. If your heel pain returns, thats often the sign your shoe has aged out.

Optional Add-Ons

• Heel cups or orthotic inserts add extra lift and contour.

• Compression socks reduce inflammation during long periods of standing.

• Night splints keep the fascia gently stretched overnight.

These dont replace good shoes but can help reinforce your recovery routine.

The Bottom Line

The right shoe for plantar fasciitis feels structured, not just soft.
Think supportive frame, cushioned ride, firm heel, stable arch.
The wrong shoe even an expensive one can make healing take months longer.