| |
| |
|
Weight Loss Information |
|
|
|
Obesity, Whats The Big Deal
Nowadays, so much of the public is obese (fat) that it is the"norm". So much so, that we are starting to ignore thisepidemic. Thankfully, the Surgeon General has issued a warning aboutthe plague of obesity that has been considered to be assignificant or moreso than the warning issued about thehazards of cigarette smoke. As long as you are carrying extra weight (beyond theacceptable upper limits of body fat), you increase your risksfor a variety of health complaints.These complaints and risks include conditions such asdiabetes, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure,osteoarthritis, and more. Definition of Obesity and Overweight Obesity has been defined as an abnormal accumulation ofbody fat in proportion to body size. Overweight persons,although still technically obese, will have a body-fatproportion that is intermediate between normal andobese. (1) Some Common Excuses for Being Obese This section will probably ruffle the feathers of somepeople who read it. It is not meant to be demeaning orbelittling. Rather it is meant to shed light on some of the"unhealthy" thought patterns that contribute to obesity, itsconsequences, and other conditions. A lot of people will say to themselves and otherssomething like"Yeah, I'm a bit overweight but I feel okay aboutit" or "Maybe I'm carrying a few extra pounds,but so is everyone else" or even"I might be fat, but I can lose it anytime I want".Other things that you might hear someone else say arethings like "Jeez, you look pretty good ?""for someone who just had a baby" or ?"for someone who has had three kids" (my wifeabsolutely hates hearing those 'compliments') or?"for someone who hasn't played hockey in tenyears." Then of course there are the "medical" excuses. "I've gotmetabolic syndrome", "ever since my surgery, I've hadno energy", "my knees hurt", "I have arthritis", "It'shereditary", "I've got asthma" ? All of the above probably have a seed of truth in them formany people. However, more often than not, theseexcuses are a way to avoid doing something that youdon't want to do, such as getting more exercise, orcontrolling your eating habits. Why does this occur? Because we are in D.E.N.I.A.L.(an addictions counselor/mental health worker told methat it stood for Don't Even (k)no(w) I Am Lying). Lifestyle Factors Today's life is, no doubt, incredibly hectic and seems tobe getting moreso every passing year. Gone are the dayswhen most people in our society must do heavy physicallabour every day just to survive. Automation has createdmany labour saving devices. This in turn has created alargely sedentary, inactive society. Look at the kids today. Instead of being outside playingshinny or a game of pick-up basketball, or any ofthousands of other outdoor activities, they are insideplaying video games or getting mesmerized by the T.V. Patricia Markham Risica (2) writes that ? The number of people affected by obesitycontinues to rise along with the prevalence ofcomorbid diseases that result from this condition.What could be considered the modern-day plague,caused by higher consumption and lessexpenditure of energy, has been broken down intoits economic components by Eric Finkelstein.[1,2]The likely economic culprits for the markedincreases observed in the 1980s and '90s includethe increased availability of higher-calorie-densefoods, increased portion sizes, and lower overallcosts of food along with increased exposure totelevision advertising of the same products. Thesetrends are coupled with the earlier trends from the'60s and '70s of lower energy expenditure at work,more women in the workforce, and not makingfamily meals at home. The increased prevalenceof obesity carries a parallel increased demand foreconomic resources; 5% to 7% of total medicalexpenditures are already being devoted to thisvery costly condition.[1,3,4] And she further writes that ? Obesity and overweight (the term preferred by theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention, and otherorganizations when referring to children andadolescents due to the potential negativeconnotations associated with "obesity")[5]represent a challenge of vast dimensions to thepublic health community, with causes of theepidemic permeating American society.Americans are surrounded by facilitators of aneat-more/expend-less society -- from theindividual and family; to the food producers,processors, sellers, and advertisers; to the cityplanners of our neighborhoods; to the businessorganizations that demand our time during the dayand the media that entertain us in the evening.Clinicians generally are not equipped to controlthis epidemic that greets them every day.Behavioral change counseling is not in theirrepertoire and effective treatments are not readilyavailable; in fact, even when they are available,such programs are usually not reimbursed bythird-party payers. ----- In today's society, the cost of eating in a healthy fashionis more often than not, much more expensive than eatingall of the garbage that is available. Additionally, invirtually all processed foods, there is some sort ofadditive which will increase hunger and cravings.(reminds me of a line from "So I Married An AxeMurderer" with Mike Myers were his father wasdiscussing "the Colonel" and how he puts an addictivechemical in his chicken to "make you crave itfortnightly!") Nowadays the home vegetable garden plotis fast disappearing which again will limit the availabilityof wholesome produce at a lower cost. Look at artificial sweeteners. They have the ability toartificially increase your hunger. Not only that, but whenthey break down in your body, some very harmfulchemicals can appear. One particular artificial sweeteneris in over 2000 products! Think of the impact on society.Try finding chewing gum without it. All of the above can contribute in some small or even insome large way to increase the increasingly presentburden of obesity. Until next time? Yours in Health, Dr. M. Montgomery @ www.healthyunderstanding.com References1. Obesity. Jonathan Q. Purnell, M.D.,Medscape.com2. Prevention of Overweight and Obesity: Focus onChildren and Adolescents. Patricia MarkhamRisica, Dr.PH, RD, Medscape.com Disclaimer: As always, check with your health care provider to seeif this information applies to you. Due diligence is yourresponsibility. This information is meant to supplement yourknowledge, not to replace your own decision making process or takethe place of your health care provider. This newsletter is provided for free byHealthyUnderstanding.comThis newsletter may be distributed in its entirety without alteration. Dr. Marshal Montgomery is a practising chiropractor in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and is the creator of http://www.HealthyUnderstanding.com. He has practised in Canada and Australia.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Tighter Tummy and Thinner Thighs As a Master swimmer I am made painfully aware, each time I compete, of the importance of a strong core, and by that I mean stomach strength. I come away from each competition vowing to do more leg work, lots of legs-only with the kickboard, and for fitness there is really nothing to beat it. 3 Surprising Statistics About Our Weight To say that Americans are obsessed with dieting is anunderstatement! Pick up any magazine, tune-in or turn-on anysource of advertising and you're bombarded with the latest dietschemes and food fads. More often than not, they are endorsed bysome familiar Hollywood celebrity, or promoted using some othercleaver technique. Failed at Weight Loss: Heres Hope All Diets Work: No Diets WorkHave you lost weight in the past only to regain it a short time later? Have you followed every diet including Atkins, South Beach, the Drinking Man's diet, the Peanut Butter diet, or even the Chocolate Diet? All of these diets work, and none of them work, meaning, you can and probably do lose weight on any of them, but you won't keep it off. Why not? Because the day will come when the diet is over and you're right back to your regular routine; the same routine that got you fat in the first place. Top 10 Weight Loss and Fitness Myths WARNING: Don't weight train until after you've lost weight! No, no, no, no, pleeeeease don't believe that headline! That's one of the many myths associated with weight loss and fitness. If you're interested in losing weight and getting fit as quickly as possible, don't let these myths throw you off track; Myth #1 - Some fancy exercise machine-of-the-month burns more calories than any other exercise. Weight Loss Success -- The Most Important Determinant Adherence to diet for one year, not the specific diet plan, is the most important determinant of successful weight loss. According to the results of a randomized trial published in the January 2005 issue of JAMA. Weight Loss Surgery May Add Years to Life Stomach-Stapling Surgery------------There's no doubt that stomach-stapling surgery leads to dramatic weight loss. But new research shows that the procedure might also add years to life. Why Do We Cheat On Our Diets? If only we could solve this question, the world (for many) would be a better place! Well, the reality is that there are real answers to this question that will apply to many people. It will take a good dose of reality and a brave heart to stop denying what really happens. What Makes Your Blood Cholesterol High or Low Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what you eat but also by how quickly your body makes LDL-cholesterol and disposes of it. In fact, your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, and it is not necessary to take in any additional cholesterol from the foods you eat. Losing Weight is Like Eating Ice Cream "Life is like a box of chocolates," drawled Forrest Gump.Metaphors are great. Cross Training One of the biggest misconceptions about exercise is that there is "one" program that works for someone all the time. People think that they need to get on a particular workout program and just keeping doing that program over and over again. Secrets Of Ephedra For those of you who aren't familiar with ephedra let me start by saying that ephedra has been around for thousands of years. It was discovered by the Chinese and is also recognized by the name Ma-huang. Whats Wrong With Dr. Phils Food Plan? I really like Dr. Phil, so I wanted to like his new book on weight loss. Weight Loss Success with the South Beach Diet The South Beach Diet was not created by your typical weight loss guru. A cardiologist developed an eating plan in response to his patients lack of success with the diet recommended by the American Heart Association. Weight Loss Begins in the Mind Not only was I fat, I was in poor health too.Constantly fatigued, constipated through over-eating, with an aching knee to boot, housework almost left me dead!The last time I was pregnant, I suffered sleep apnoea, the folds of fat around my neck playing tricks on me at night. Simple Plans for Social Eating and Travel It's one thing to stick with your diet regimen when you're at home, in control of the contents of your refrigerator and your portion sizes. But what about going out to dinner with friends? Worse, how do you stay on track when your dream vacation has you seated by the dessert cart at every meal?Eating right when you're out of your comfort zone can actually be easier than when you are at home, so long as you think smart and plan ahead. Natural Weight Loss: Little Spice in Your Life? Not everyone can handle hot food. But who said cayenne had to be on your food ? I have checked it out and some people add it to there water with a splash of lemon to mask the taste. Weight Loss in Children What is "too young" to begin a weight loss program with children? Is there actually such a thing? There are many different opinions on the topic of child obesity but one thing everyone can agree on is that it is becoming an epidemic in North America. Many reports show that obesity now kills more people in a year than smoking does. Abdominal Liposuction - When Diets Dont Work Abdominal liposuction refers to liposuction, or lipoplasty, that is performed on the torso area. Most candidates for this procedure have attempted a diet and exercise routine but are unable to achieve their goal of a flatter stomach. Bat-Wings: The Dreaded Hanging Arm Skin After WLS Gastric-bypass surgery is only the first step many morbidly obese patients take in their total body make overs. One residue of massive weight loss is the dreaded "bat-wings". Gastric Bypass Surgery - Is It Right For You? When we hear all the success stories of the gastric bypass, it sounds so easy. One pricey operation and the pounds just fly off! Right? Not quite.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
