Mj Acosta-Ruiz has established herself as a prominent figure in sports broadcasting, capturing audiences with her charisma and expertise. Her journey is marked by dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to representation in the media landscape.
Early Career and Rise in Sports Broadcasting
Mj Acosta-Ruiz's career in sports broadcasting began after she graduated from college with a degree in journalism. She landed her first job as a sports reporter for a local news station, where her passion for sports and storytelling immediately stood out. Acosta-Ruiz joined the NFL Network in September 2018 and has since become an inspiration to many. She is the host of NFL Total Access on the NFL Network, becoming the first Afro-Latina woman of color to host a show on the network. Before joining the NFL Network, Acosta-Ruiz worked for NBC and Telemundo in San Diego, covering the Chargers, Padres, and international soccer for three seasons in both English and Spanish. Her ability to broadcast in both languages was key to her success. She was also able to fully immerse herself in Miami culture because there are so many Latinx there. She credits her bilingualism and her knowledge and passion for sports for her success.
Overcoming Adversity and Advocating for Representation
In her nearly decade-long career, the Emmy Award-winning journalist continues her work as an advocate for representation and equality. Acosta-Ruiz's path to success has not been without its challenges. She faced adversity as a woman in a male-dominated industry. She also faced personal challenges, including an experience of sexual assault early in her career. The #MeToo movement motivated her to share her story. She questioned her choice of clothing and asked herself if it was her fault, “We are conditioned to think [it's our fault] and victim blame. Despite these obstacles, she persevered, driven by her passion for sports and her commitment to telling stories that matter.
Acosta-Ruiz emphasizes the importance of authenticity and transparency in her work. "It’s a delicate balance in this industry but if someone can look at my story and my path and see that they can forge their own as well, then I’ve done my job." She hopes her brand represents the willingness to put yourself out there as authentically and transparently as you can without giving too much of yourself away.
Embracing Natural Hair and Redefining Beauty Standards
Acosta-Ruiz has also made waves by embracing her natural hair on television, challenging traditional beauty standards in the broadcast industry. "For women, in particular, our hair is an extension of how we express ourselves and how we represent ourselves," Acosta shares.
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In the beginning, she consistently blow-dried her hair for the week and left it natural during the weekend. When she rocked her natural hair at work, to her surprise, she received positive feedback from management. “I started wearing it like the next day and the next day and the day after. My boss said, So this is a look, and I'm like, Yes, this is how it grows out of my head. And he's like, Well, are we going to keep it? And then it became like a brand. And I was like, Well, you know what? I really like it. It's been very liberating.
Balancing Career and Personal Life
Acosta-Ruiz's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, authenticity, and representation. She has broken barriers, inspired countless individuals, and redefined what it means to be a successful sports broadcaster.
Insights from the CÎROC Stands Initiative
Mj Acosta-Ruiz participated in the CÎROC Stands initiative, launched by CÎROC and Sean “Diddy” Combs, which recognized powerful Black and Brown women in sports journalism during Super Bowl Weekend in partnership with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). Together with host Elaine Welteroth, and fellow journalists Cari Champion, and Kelsey Nicole Nelson, CÎROC hosted a panel discussion to explore their inspirational stories.
Acosta-Ruiz described the experience as a "redefining moment," emphasizing the strength and power in numbers and amplifying what Black excellence is.
Transition from Cheerleading to Reporting
Acosta-Ruiz's transition from being an NFL cheerleader to a sports reporter is an inspiring part of her journey. She did both at the same time. When she finally became a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader, she tried out 5 times before she made the team it was not easy, she was already very much into her career as a sportscaster in South Florida working mostly freelance at the time but she always had that goal and she didn’t feel like she had to give up one for the other. When she has something in her mind she feels like she has to go after it, and exhaust all options. The process of being an NFL cheerleader is pretty extensive and I would make it all the way to the finals but not make the final roster. She knew that she was close and she knew that she would really regret it if she didn’t give it another go. If something is meant for you it’s meant for you, as long as you are willing to put in the work willing to get there.
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The Business Side of Journalism
Acosta-Ruiz shared her perspective on the business side of journalism. She hopes it represents just the willingness to put yourself out there as authentically and transparently as you can without giving too much of yourself away. It’s a delicate balance in this industry but if someone can look at my story and my path and see that they can forge their own as well, then I’ve done my job.
Weight Loss and Semaglutide: A Retrospective Study
While information about Mj Acosta-Ruiz's personal weight loss journey is not available in the provided text, the text does include a retrospective cohort study on the use of semaglutide for weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity.
Study Design and Methods
The study, conducted at a referral center for weight management, retrospectively collected data on the use of semaglutide for adults with overweight or obesity between January 1, 2021, and March 15, 2022, with a follow-up of up to 6 months.
A total of 408 patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or more were prescribed weekly semaglutide subcutaneous injections for 3 months or more. The primary end point was the percentage of weight loss. The study included 175 patients (132 women [75.4%]; mean [SD] age, 49.3 [12.5] years; mean [SD] BMI, 41.3 [9.1]) in the analysis at 3 months and 102 patients at 6 months.
The researchers abstracted demographic, anthropometric, and laboratory data within 30 days before or after 3 and 6 months. They collected patient weights in kilograms that were obtained either using a calibrated scale during office visits or reported by the patients during virtual visits and clinical communications with the physician. They also collected information on visits with dietitians and behavioral bariatric psychologists after the first day of starting semaglutide until the last day of follow-up or until the medication was discontinued. In addition, they collected information on any adverse effects experienced after the initiation of semaglutide treatment.
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Semaglutide for Weight Loss
Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, is approved to treat type 2 diabetes, with subcutaneous injection doses of 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg administered once weekly and oral doses of 3, 7, and 14 mg administered once daily. In June 2021, the FDA approved subcutaneous semaglutide for long-term weight management, with higher doses of 1.7 and 2.4 mg once weekly.
Key Findings
The mean (SD) weight loss after 3 months was 6.7 (4.4) kg, equivalent to a mean (SD) weight loss of 5.9% (3.7%) (P < .001), and the mean (SD) weight loss after 6 months was 12.3 (6.6) kg, equivalent to a mean (SD) weight loss of 10.9% (5.8%) (P < .001 from baseline). Of the 102 patients who were followed up at 6 months, 89 (87.3%) achieved weight loss of 5% or more, 56 (54.9%) achieved weight loss of 10% or more, 24 (23.5%) achieved weight loss of 15% or more, and 8 (7.8%) achieved weight loss of 20% or more.
Patients with type 2 diabetes had a lower mean (SD) percentage weight loss compared with those without type 2 diabetes at 3 months (3.9% [3.1%] vs 6.3% [3.7%]; P = .001) and at 6 months (7.2% [6.3%] vs 11.8% [5.3%]; P = .005).
Adverse Effects
In the study, 85 patients (48.6%) reported experiencing adverse effects associated with semaglutide. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most reported adverse effects. Nausea and vomiting were the most encountered adverse events (64 patients [36.6%]), followed by diarrhea (15 patients [8.6%]) and fatigue (11 patients [6.3%]).
Study Limitations
The study has some limitations, including its observational nature, which means that the researchers could not compare weight loss outcomes between patients receiving semaglutide and controls. The weight loss achieved may be associated with other interventions (eg, lifestyle interventions and diet) that are provided by the weight management clinic; however, the researchers found that visits with a dietitian and a psychology group were not associated with greater weight loss. Another serious limitation is the exclusion of patients who did not reach 3 months of follow-up, which might have resulted in an overestimation of the association of semaglutide with body weight. In addition, the study had mostly White female patients, which limits the generalizability of the study.
Conclusion
The results of this cohort study suggest that weekly 1.7-mg and 2.4-mg doses of semaglutide were associated with weight loss similar to that seen in randomized clinical trials. The findings suggest that semaglutide is clinically effective for weight loss at 3 and 6 months for people with overweight or obesity.