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Dr. Mehmet Oz,<\/span> the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and former daytime talk show star<\/a>, has recently been emailing all federal workers<\/a> in his agency weekly tips on \u201cCrushing Cubicle Cravings\u201d and how to avoid snacking in the office.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all love a fun cookie swap and potluck this time of year. With several teams across CMS hosting holiday gatherings this month, I am sharing some strategies to help you make healthier choices\u2014while still indulging in festive treats,\u201d Oz wrote in his latest missive, which appears as a recurring section in his weekly bulletin titled \u201cFrom the Administrator\u2019s Desk,\u201d according to emails viewed by WIRED.<\/p>\n \u201cSet your intentions,\u201d writes Oz. \u201cDecide in advance how many treats you\u2019ll allow yourself to enjoy and try to stick to that number. You don\u2019t have to try every cookie on the cookie table.\u201d<\/p>\n His email continues with further guidance: \u201cpractice portion control,\u201d \u201cbe mindful,\u201d and \u201cdon\u2019t double fist,\u201d he tells the agency\u2019s more than 6,000 employees. He advises subordinates to \u201ceat off a small plate when you can and take small portions of treats so you can enjoy them without overeating,\u201d to eat more slowly (\u201cSavor each bite, put your fork down between bites, and pay attention to your body\u2019s cues,\u201d he counsels), and not to hold food and beverages in more than one hand so as to free up \u201cthe other for shaking hands with colleagues and friends during this festive period.\u201d<\/p>\n This kind of advice has appeared in Oz\u2019s emails since early November.<\/p>\n In the past, Oz has promoted a number of unproven<\/a> medical tips surrounding weight loss. He at one time pushed weight-loss solutions that he subsequently admitted in a 2014 Senate subcommittee hearing \u201cdon\u2019t have the scientific muster to present as fact.\u201d (Oz had promoted one such product on his show as \u201cmagic,\u201d claiming, \u201cYou may think magic is make-believe, but this little bean has scientists saying they\u2019ve found the magic weight-loss cure for every body type\u2014it\u2019s green coffee extract.\u201d)<\/p>\n Oz, who has also shared<\/a> incorrect information about the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as a treatment for Covid, had not seemingly worked in health care policy before taking over as CMS administrator this year. CMS oversees the provision of health care coverage for more than 160 million people. Current CMS employees have described the agency to WIRED<\/a> as \u201cthe most policy-dense organization in government,\u201d where the CMS administrator makes decisions on where to spend billions of dollars in a high-stakes environment. As the administrator of CMS, Oz works under health care conspiracy theorist<\/a> Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).<\/p>\n \u201cDr. Oz knows it’s not easy balancing a healthy lifestyle and a demanding job. That’s why he offers and welcomes tips and encouragement to help the hardworking CMS team stay healthy while they work hard to ensure millions of Americans access quality health care, which is entirely appropriate. So far, the feedback has been positive,” says CMS spokesperson Christopher Krepich.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n