David Shaywitz
@dshaywitz.bsky.social
Biology-grounded MD/PhD exec | Healthy aging & flourishing at scale | Evidence-based medicine x lifestyle × tech | Agency as engine of change | Strategic Advisor | Writer | kindwellhealth.com
Wow: powerful & impt Timmerman Report piece by Dr. Amanda Banks abt the (v real) dark side of GLP-1s: exacerbation of eating disorders, as she poignantly discusses (telling us at end about her personal interest in this "as mom of a daughter in recovery"): timmermanreport.com/2025/11/the-...
The Dark Side of the GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs: Eating Disorders - TimmermanReport.com
There has been much fanfare about the acquisition by Pfizer of Metsera, the developer of injectable and oral GLP-1 agonists and other peptides for the treatment of obesity. The $10 billion price tag, ...
timmermanreport.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Wow: powerful & impt Timmerman Report piece by Dr. Amanda Banks abt the (v real) dark side of GLP-1s: exacerbation of eating disorders, as she poignantly discusses (telling us at end about her personal interest in this "as mom of a daughter in recovery"): timmermanreport.com/2025/11/the-...
I assumed this was a pitch-perfect parody; apparently, it’s real…
Sensors and wearables for animals ...
Garmin straps one on the horse's tail and a business model is born
www.garmin.com/en-CA/p/1277...
Garmin straps one on the horse's tail and a business model is born
www.garmin.com/en-CA/p/1277...
November 18, 2025 at 3:16 AM
I assumed this was a pitch-perfect parody; apparently, it’s real…
Reposted by David Shaywitz
In 1582, a papal bull introduced the Gregorian calendar, still used today by most of the world. Because it’s 11 days ahead of the Julian calendar, countries introducing it simply skipped a third of October, and if you scroll back far enough in the iPhone calendar app you can see it change
December 31, 2024 at 2:41 PM
In 1582, a papal bull introduced the Gregorian calendar, still used today by most of the world. Because it’s 11 days ahead of the Julian calendar, countries introducing it simply skipped a third of October, and if you scroll back far enough in the iPhone calendar app you can see it change
Important NYT piece www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/w... on use of chatbots for health h/t @ruthcoxeter.bsky.social. tl;dr: pts turning to chatbots bc basically they’re available, empathetic-sounding, and often correct or useful-all as foretold by Carey Goldberg (especially) & colleagues in 2023 AI book
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Important NYT piece www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/w... on use of chatbots for health h/t @ruthcoxeter.bsky.social. tl;dr: pts turning to chatbots bc basically they’re available, empathetic-sounding, and often correct or useful-all as foretold by Carey Goldberg (especially) & colleagues in 2023 AI book
My biggest recent surprise was learning how many people were getting GLP-1s from semi-official compounders, apparently some even on Amazon (?!). I don't mean for microdosing (also a thing); this is to obtain affordable, regular doses of GLP-1s; not sure anyone is or can track volume but likely huge.
I’m seeing more patients recently taking peptides off label. This is an exceptionally well written review, I found it very helpful in understanding the trend and the (lack of) data around these new and unproven meds
Influencers and celebrities
apnews.com/article/pept...
My recent review of the field
erictopol.substack.com/p/the-peptid...
apnews.com/article/pept...
My recent review of the field
erictopol.substack.com/p/the-peptid...
November 14, 2025 at 8:16 PM
My biggest recent surprise was learning how many people were getting GLP-1s from semi-official compounders, apparently some even on Amazon (?!). I don't mean for microdosing (also a thing); this is to obtain affordable, regular doses of GLP-1s; not sure anyone is or can track volume but likely huge.
ICYMI yesterday & looking4 w/e reading-my new @statnews.com on oppy assoc w expanded GLP1 access-influx of newly-hopeful pts re-engaging w/their health. Huge oppy too for hlth platforms-but only if they embrace hlth vision broader than performance metric optimization www.statnews.com/2025/11/13/w...
This era of weight loss drugs requires a new kind of health platform
How the tech world can support the weight-loss drug revolution.
www.statnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:03 PM
ICYMI yesterday & looking4 w/e reading-my new @statnews.com on oppy assoc w expanded GLP1 access-influx of newly-hopeful pts re-engaging w/their health. Huge oppy too for hlth platforms-but only if they embrace hlth vision broader than performance metric optimization www.statnews.com/2025/11/13/w...
Reposted by David Shaywitz
A theatrical Central Park sunset.
November 14, 2025 at 1:53 AM
A theatrical Central Park sunset.
Reposted by David Shaywitz
ah, the cycle where you manage to squeeze your article down to the allotted word count and then the editing process adds an actually quite useful section and then you manage to squeeze it back down and then the editing process adds an actually quite useful section and then you
November 13, 2025 at 5:26 PM
ah, the cycle where you manage to squeeze your article down to the allotted word count and then the editing process adds an actually quite useful section and then you manage to squeeze it back down and then the editing process adds an actually quite useful section and then you
1/3 My latest, in @statnews.com, asks how can tech health platforms most effectively support the many newly-engaged with, & hopeful about their health following GLP-1 success: statnews.com/2025/11/13/w.... tl;dr platforms need vision more capacious than relentless optimization of perf metrics.
This era of weight loss drugs requires a new kind of health platform
How the tech world can support the weight-loss drug revolution.
statnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
1/3 My latest, in @statnews.com, asks how can tech health platforms most effectively support the many newly-engaged with, & hopeful about their health following GLP-1 success: statnews.com/2025/11/13/w.... tl;dr platforms need vision more capacious than relentless optimization of perf metrics.
GLP-1 access is widening. The real work now: turning wt-loss success-> healthier, more meaningful life. We need health platforms that center agency+connection, not just metrics+dashboards.
My new @statnews.com piece: www.statnews.com/2025/11/13/w... @alicecallahan.bsky.social @thgoetz.bsky.social
My new @statnews.com piece: www.statnews.com/2025/11/13/w... @alicecallahan.bsky.social @thgoetz.bsky.social
This era of weight loss drugs requires a new kind of health platform
How the tech world can support the weight-loss drug revolution.
www.statnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:54 AM
GLP-1 access is widening. The real work now: turning wt-loss success-> healthier, more meaningful life. We need health platforms that center agency+connection, not just metrics+dashboards.
My new @statnews.com piece: www.statnews.com/2025/11/13/w... @alicecallahan.bsky.social @thgoetz.bsky.social
My new @statnews.com piece: www.statnews.com/2025/11/13/w... @alicecallahan.bsky.social @thgoetz.bsky.social
Reposted by David Shaywitz
There are many things wrong with the US health insurance system, but INSURANCE FUNCTIONING LIKE INSURANCE isn’t one of them. If you actually want to fix something (rather than wreck it) you have to identify and understand the problem first.
My wife and I pay for life insurance even though we have never died. I pay for fire insurance even though my house has never burned down. That's not because we want to throw money at insurance companies. It's because THAT'S HOW INSURANCE WORKS.
November 11, 2025 at 3:51 PM
There are many things wrong with the US health insurance system, but INSURANCE FUNCTIONING LIKE INSURANCE isn’t one of them. If you actually want to fix something (rather than wreck it) you have to identify and understand the problem first.
Also on positive impact of estrogen on postmenopausal women, my mom published this study 2003: journals.lww.com/menopausejou...
November 11, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Also on positive impact of estrogen on postmenopausal women, my mom published this study 2003: journals.lww.com/menopausejou...
Now that everyone is re-embracing HRT can’t resist a shoutout to my mom who was originally skeptical of the skeptics and published this encouraging research in JAMA about estrogen and brain function… jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Effect of Estrogen on Brain Activation Patterns in Postmenopausal Women During Working Memory Tasks
Context Preclinical studies suggest that estrogen
affects neural structure and function in mature animals; clinical
studies are less conclusive with many, but not all, studies showing a
positive influ...
jamanetwork.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Now that everyone is re-embracing HRT can’t resist a shoutout to my mom who was originally skeptical of the skeptics and published this encouraging research in JAMA about estrogen and brain function… jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Suspect @timmiller.bsky.social may be right about the huge amount of anger about to land on whoever is deemed responsible for massive incr in premiums ACA recipients just now facing (eg monthly incr $25->$200 for same plan)-brutal esp given annual income -$15k-$60k for individuals elig for ACA
November 11, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Suspect @timmiller.bsky.social may be right about the huge amount of anger about to land on whoever is deemed responsible for massive incr in premiums ACA recipients just now facing (eg monthly incr $25->$200 for same plan)-brutal esp given annual income -$15k-$60k for individuals elig for ACA
Reposted by David Shaywitz
Happiness is:
Seeing your kids happy.
Seeing your kids happy.
November 10, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Happiness is:
Seeing your kids happy.
Seeing your kids happy.
Surprised myself by unsubscribing to the a16z podcasts that were inundating me. Not because of politics-but bc of what feels like a “flood the zone” mindset combined with relentless propaganda advancing their increasingly large bets (crypto, AI esp). Genug es genug. @dereklowe.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Surprised myself by unsubscribing to the a16z podcasts that were inundating me. Not because of politics-but bc of what feels like a “flood the zone” mindset combined with relentless propaganda advancing their increasingly large bets (crypto, AI esp). Genug es genug. @dereklowe.bsky.social
Late in the season but still the occasional breathtaking beauty…
November 5, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Late in the season but still the occasional breathtaking beauty…
Reposted by David Shaywitz
Physical activity and risk of Alzheimer's disease.
In older adults (mean age 72) with elevated Aβ amyloid, 5,000-7,500 steps/day (<-a plateau) were associated with less Tau accumulation, improved cognition
@naturemedicine.bsky.social
nature.com/articles/s41...
In older adults (mean age 72) with elevated Aβ amyloid, 5,000-7,500 steps/day (<-a plateau) were associated with less Tau accumulation, improved cognition
@naturemedicine.bsky.social
nature.com/articles/s41...
November 3, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Physical activity and risk of Alzheimer's disease.
In older adults (mean age 72) with elevated Aβ amyloid, 5,000-7,500 steps/day (<-a plateau) were associated with less Tau accumulation, improved cognition
@naturemedicine.bsky.social
nature.com/articles/s41...
In older adults (mean age 72) with elevated Aβ amyloid, 5,000-7,500 steps/day (<-a plateau) were associated with less Tau accumulation, improved cognition
@naturemedicine.bsky.social
nature.com/articles/s41...
Tx for highlighting @nachristakis.bsky.social - this contributes to the present optimism and opportunity around healthy aging as I recently discussed in @wsj.com -> www.wsj.com/opinion/nobo...
November 3, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Tx for highlighting @nachristakis.bsky.social - this contributes to the present optimism and opportunity around healthy aging as I recently discussed in @wsj.com -> www.wsj.com/opinion/nobo...
"Everyone has won and all must have prizes."
- The Dodo
- The Dodo
October 31, 2025 at 3:47 PM
"Everyone has won and all must have prizes."
- The Dodo
- The Dodo
Reposted by David Shaywitz
In my latest TR column, I:
- Go over new study of AI-vs-human hlth coaches for DM2 prevention (it was a tie);
- Highlight value of AI approach (scale, continuous learning, supercharging promising local approaches);
- Suggest top practitioners, FTF, still v best
timmermanreport.com/2025/10/the-...
- Go over new study of AI-vs-human hlth coaches for DM2 prevention (it was a tie);
- Highlight value of AI approach (scale, continuous learning, supercharging promising local approaches);
- Suggest top practitioners, FTF, still v best
timmermanreport.com/2025/10/the-...
The Outsized Significance of A New Study of AI in Diabetes Prevention - TimmermanReport.com
A lifestyle intervention delivered by AI was found to be as effective as validated traditional interventions delivered by trained experts in a carefully conducted implementation study conducted by Joh...
timmermanreport.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:32 PM
In my latest TR column, I:
- Go over new study of AI-vs-human hlth coaches for DM2 prevention (it was a tie);
- Highlight value of AI approach (scale, continuous learning, supercharging promising local approaches);
- Suggest top practitioners, FTF, still v best
timmermanreport.com/2025/10/the-...
- Go over new study of AI-vs-human hlth coaches for DM2 prevention (it was a tie);
- Highlight value of AI approach (scale, continuous learning, supercharging promising local approaches);
- Suggest top practitioners, FTF, still v best
timmermanreport.com/2025/10/the-...