Three diet drugs recommended for long-term use result in minimal weight loss and carry some serious side effects.
In a paper published Friday in the British Medical Journal, researchers in Canada and Brazil analyzed existing data on three popular weight-loss drugs: orlistat, or Xenical; sibutramine, known as Meridia in the United States and Reductil in Europe; and rimonabant, or Accomplia.
Scientists found that patients on the drugs -- men and women between 45 and 50 years old who weighed about 220 pounds and had a body mass index of about 35 -- lost less than 11 pounds on average. The study participants used the drugs for periods of between one and four years.
"Drugs are not the magic cure and are not for everybody," said Dr. Raj Padwal, an assistant professor at the University of Alberta, one of the paper's authors. "But in specific patients, they have great benefits."
Padwal and colleagues considered 16 trials that tested orlistat, which involved 10,631 people. Orlistat, which works by preventing fat digestion, helped people lose about 6.6 pounds on average. But it also reduced diabetes and improved their cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Up to 30 percent of patients had unpleasant digestive and intestinal side effects, such as incontinence.
Of the 10 trials on sibutramine, which involved 2,623 people, study participants lost about 9 pounds on average and had improved cholesterol levels. In up to 20 percent of patients, sibutramine caused side effects including raised blood pressure and pulse rates, insomnia and nausea.
And in the four rimonabant studies involving 6,365 people, scientists found that users lost on average about 11 pounds. Rimonabant also improved their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The risk of mood disorders increased in 6 percent of patients.
Both sibutramine and rimonabant work by interrupting nerve signals in the brain.>>
Another study published Friday in The Lancet also showed rimonabant raised the risk of psychiatric problems such as depression and anxiety.
A report from the Food and Drug Administration in June found that 26 percent of people on rimonabant -- versus 14 percent of those given a placebo -- developed symptoms that included depression, anxiety and, in severe cases, suicidal tendencies. The FDA refused to authorize the drug.
Modest help is worthwhile
Rimonabant has been approved by the European Drug Agency, and is available in countries including Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece and the United Kingdom.
Sibutramine and orlistat are licensed for sale in the U.S. Another version of orlistat known as Alli is sold over the counter in the U.S., and its maker, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, is seeking approval for sales in Europe.
Some experts say that the few pounds the drugs help people to shed are worth it. "Modest weight loss brings surprisingly big health gains," said Susan Jebb, head of nutrition and health at Britain's Medical Research Council. Jebb was not tied to either study.
"We are not just fighting obesity, but the things that come along with it," Jebb said. Losing as little as 5 pounds can help reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
But other experts worry that easy access to diet drugs give people a false sense of security. "Selling anti-obesity drugs over the counter will perpetuate the myth that obesity can be fixed simply by popping a pill," wrote Dr. Gareth Williams, dean and professor of medicine at the University of Bristol, in an editorial in the British Medical Journal.
Padwal said the biggest caveat about the drugs is that their long-term effects are unknown. In 2005, global sales of the drugs were estimated at $1.2 billion.>>
Faced with an increasing global obesity epidemic -- the World Health Organization estimates that 3 billion adults will be overweight or obese by 2015 -- many experts think the drugs could be used more widely.
"Diet and lifestyle interventions on their own have been stunningly poor," Jebb said. "We've got to be realistic," she said. "Even though the weight losses from the drugs are modest, they're better than most other things we've got."
Friday, November 16, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Herbalife, Obesity and Weight Loss
HerbaLife is helping the fight against Obesity as stated in their financial Q3 report:
"Quote"
Over the past few years, we have been customizing delivery of these products to strategically support various distributor DMOs. For example, in July, at the North American extravaganza, we launched our new kids line in H3O, our hydration product. Our kid's line addresses both the children's health and childhood obesity epidemic by offering the nutrient filled snacks and supplements and it opens up a product and business opportunity for stay at home moms. H3O is a key product addition that supports our brand alignment with healthy active lifestyle as well as supporting the emerging DMO such as wellness coaching and sampling.
At our European extravaganza in Cologne, we introduced single serve formula one packets to support the emerging sample and wellness DMOs as well as the second shake per day opportunity for Nutrition Clubs. In Brazil, we launched the first part of our strategic outer care product line in a world team school in August. This line is called Soft Green and all products contain green tea. The phase one launch included a hand moisturizer and liquid soap with three additional products to be introduced at Brazil... at our extravaganza coming in December. This line was developed locally in Brazil in conjunction with our corporate R&D team in a strategically priced to compete in the marketplace.
Herbalife for life is our underlying platform for our product strategy. Balanced nutrition, personalized for a healthy active lifestyle. Historically, the product platform for our company was weight loss. What is above is that our distributors have broadened the message from weight loss to weight management and with that shift comes the communication and coaching for good nutrition and are living a healthy active lifestyle. This is evident in the emergence of DMO such as Nutrition Club DMO, Wellness Coach and others.
"Unquote"
There are more interesting statements made in this report. Seems they increasing their performance through addressing a worldwide obesity epidemic.
Source
"Quote"
Over the past few years, we have been customizing delivery of these products to strategically support various distributor DMOs. For example, in July, at the North American extravaganza, we launched our new kids line in H3O, our hydration product. Our kid's line addresses both the children's health and childhood obesity epidemic by offering the nutrient filled snacks and supplements and it opens up a product and business opportunity for stay at home moms. H3O is a key product addition that supports our brand alignment with healthy active lifestyle as well as supporting the emerging DMO such as wellness coaching and sampling.
At our European extravaganza in Cologne, we introduced single serve formula one packets to support the emerging sample and wellness DMOs as well as the second shake per day opportunity for Nutrition Clubs. In Brazil, we launched the first part of our strategic outer care product line in a world team school in August. This line is called Soft Green and all products contain green tea. The phase one launch included a hand moisturizer and liquid soap with three additional products to be introduced at Brazil... at our extravaganza coming in December. This line was developed locally in Brazil in conjunction with our corporate R&D team in a strategically priced to compete in the marketplace.
Herbalife for life is our underlying platform for our product strategy. Balanced nutrition, personalized for a healthy active lifestyle. Historically, the product platform for our company was weight loss. What is above is that our distributors have broadened the message from weight loss to weight management and with that shift comes the communication and coaching for good nutrition and are living a healthy active lifestyle. This is evident in the emergence of DMO such as Nutrition Club DMO, Wellness Coach and others.
"Unquote"
There are more interesting statements made in this report. Seems they increasing their performance through addressing a worldwide obesity epidemic.
Source
Injections To Melt Fat - Do They Deliver?
Can a series of injections help dissolve away your extra fat? That's what some medical clinics claim.
CBS went to two medical clinics in Southern California to check out their promises to melt inches off your body with a series of injections. But they discovered hidden dangers (source).
LipoZap is just one of several companies touting weight loss with a series of injections. The chemical is known as PCDC. A mixture of ingredients including lecithin and sodium. In Germany, it's marketed as lipostabil. It's become very controversial around the world and we found some companies aren't telling patients the whole story.
Lipostabil is banned in Brazil because it hasn't been approved for use. Doctors in Canada have been ordered to stop using it for fat removal. In California there's no prohibition against it. But it's not approved by the FDA.
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is doing a study but the study hasn't been completed--but for now the group has warned patients to steer clear of lipo injections
CBS went to two medical clinics in Southern California to check out their promises to melt inches off your body with a series of injections. But they discovered hidden dangers (source).
LipoZap is just one of several companies touting weight loss with a series of injections. The chemical is known as PCDC. A mixture of ingredients including lecithin and sodium. In Germany, it's marketed as lipostabil. It's become very controversial around the world and we found some companies aren't telling patients the whole story.
Lipostabil is banned in Brazil because it hasn't been approved for use. Doctors in Canada have been ordered to stop using it for fat removal. In California there's no prohibition against it. But it's not approved by the FDA.
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is doing a study but the study hasn't been completed--but for now the group has warned patients to steer clear of lipo injections
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Low Carb versus Lapband struggle
For most Obese people the low carb diet is the most successful diet. This seems to be confirmed by the story below. However the success rate is still very low, much lower then the lapband (with all the possible problems described before) or the most used and proven successful procedure the gastric bypass. Hanging skin is a problem related to weight loss, not how weight was lost.
The following is a reprint from the blog "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb":
Hi Jimmy,
Here's my story and when you read it I know you will understand why I love your website. Congrats on the weight loss - I know I can do it too and reading your website encourages me.
I too had asthma from 6 months old until I was 28. My mom thought I looked unhealthy because I was skinny at 8 so the doctor gave her liquid vitamins with something in it to cause me to eat. Boy did I because I was a plump little gal and went through a real ugly stage. In 4th, 5th and 6th grades I was called names like Godzilla from boys. It made me feel terrible. I had a mom who was a constant dieter with weight watchers and every week I watched her start a diet on Monday only to break it by Friday with the talk of promising to start back on Monday to stick with it again. Week end and week out she was a consistent diet breaker. HMMMM...wonder where I learned this??
At the end of 6th grade they took me to an asthma specialist who ran tests. He then took me off all dairy products - no more chocolate milk, ice cream every night or cheese on everything. Over that summer I lost 30 lbs which is a lot for a 12 year old. I started junior high as a new person and people didn't recognize me. My height stopped growing and every person out grew me so I was no longer the tallest, largest Godzilla that I was called. I kept this weight off until I was 20 and was pregnant. Even after that I was only 20 lbs overweight and I eventually lost that down to 117 - my high school weight.
Then at age 28 I was prayed for healing of asthma at church and went off all my asthma meds - cold turkey!! The first week was the toughest but I kept praying and kept getting better. The asthma meds had always given me a fast heartbeat. Within the first year I gained about 30 lbs. The next year another 30 lbs. - it was like my metabolism was totally messed up and I couldn't stick to any kind of diet. It didn't help that I had a crummy marriage and was stressed out all the time. I started a business, became successful at time and owned it for 9 years. I got divorced in 1991. I had lost 50 lbs right before the divorce but then slowly gained it back over the next 2 years. It seemed like I could never get past this threshold of weight.
I bought Dr. Atkins book back in 1995 (heard it was revolutionary) but couldn't follow it because I had gone to a weight loss doctor and loss 50 lbs doing low-fat. With low carb I couldn't imagine a life without bread or pasta, smart ones or lean cuisine!! I closed my business in 1996 due to burn out. Then I loss the same 50 lbs 5 years later (in 1997) after a job related injury that changed my life. I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel, Thoracic outlet pain syndrome and Fibromyalgia. What this meant was constant chronic pain. I have been on disability ever since. In 1998 I got married to an wonderful man (moved from Dallas to Sacramento and yes we met on the internet) but he weighed 365+ which didn't help me stick to losing my last 35 lbs to reach goal. Unfortunately I packed it back on rather quickly and ballooned to 302 at my max.
Then in 2003 I discovered Atkins low carb from some friends and with the Internet's help I stuck to it. I did great and lost about 35 lbs. Then we went on a road trip vacation the low carbs flew out the window. So I have yo-yo'd from low carb to all carb ever since losing the same 35 lbs over and over again. I would have support from my husband and he would be the first to bail ship. It seemed like this man with a strong will power had none when it came to healthy eating. I became convinced that I couldn't do it alone although in my 20's to late 20's I weighed less than 135 and with every weight loss no one could rival my will power.
Since I am on Medicare (since I was 45) I read where they approved gastric bypass but I just didn't want my stomach detached. Granted I did want to get rid of the weight but when I found out about low carb and removed the sugar and carbs from my diet I found I had no hypoglycemia attacks and my energy level increased a great deal. Get off the low carb way I seem to fall into what I call a "death spiral abyss of no return" unable to get back on low carb for months ultimately gaining the weight back.
The first 4 months of 2007 started off bad - From Nov to March 1st I had two severe bladder infections, one resulting in a kidney infection. Then I had to have 3 molars surgically removed because of decay from Vicodin and other pain meds over the years. The pain from the dental work lasted 4 weeks. Then I got bronchitis that turned into pneumonia which took 6 weeks to completely get well. By this time I was sick of being sick - having every incident put me in bed with exhaustion translated from the Fibro. So I decided to check out lap band surgery and found that Medicare covered it. Knowing I didn't have the money for the co-pay and also knowing that I could qualify for Medi-Cal I decided to plan out my journey to weight loss heaven.
My plan was perfectly planned. I was approved with Medi-Cal and found a PCP. Before I went to the doctor I checked out the Medicare website for approved lap band physicians. I called every one of them. I chose a hospital bariatric clinic that I know is a great one. They told me their process to get an appointment. So with the referral I got a packet to fill out and mailed it back the next day. One requirement for the first time appointment was to have a chest x-ray and EKG from my primary. I also learned that they require 10% weight loss prior to surgery. So I went back to my PCP, had the tests done and was referred to another doctor for a weight loss management class. I went to the bariatric orientation and started the class about the same time. By the time I had my first appointment with the lap band doctor I had lost 18 lbs in just two weeks - ALL ON LOW CARB. So they counted this loss towards my 10%. I started out at 298. The doctor put my surgery date at March 10th for lap band.
When we attended the gastric bypass orientation night a plastic surgeon showed a scary slideshow of massive weight loss resulting in hanging skin. They said it didn't matter whether you exercise or not, you would have skin like that. He said insurance will only cover two of the surgeries. The gastric bypass doctor presented the surgery pro's and con's. After much thought for 2-3 days I came to a decision. I was also starting the weight management class. I didn't like some of the things I heard with the surgery but I am serious of getting the weight off. So I proposed to my husband that I will start a lifestyle change with low carb AGAIN using this class for accountability for a least 4 classes (then I was on my own). If I could go through all the holidays - Thanksgiving through January 1st sticking to low carb, exercising and LOSING weight - come January I think I will NOT have surgery. I set a weight loss goal of 60 lbs by March 1st. Now I needed a back-up plan. So I said I would go through the entire process at the lap band clinic - meaning appt.,classes, reviews, tests, etc. leading up to the surgery date. I am so serious about this time being the last time that I will go through with surgery if that is what it takes to get the weight off.
So I went through all the weight management classes and I started walking and then going to 24 hour fitness. It was slow at the beginning. It's been 7 weeks and I have lost 28 lbs. Likewise the doctor said I needed very few tests because I was so efficient with my preparation of test prior to my first visit. So I went through with the EGD and colonoscopy (yikes!) but sooner or later they would make me do that. It came out excellent and I knew it was a matter of time that the clinic would want to move the surgery date up. If they did, I knew for sure that I was completely covered with the insurance. It was cost me nothing out of pocket. Post weight loss I could probably get approval for the skin removal as well.
Then I signed up on the Yahoo groups lap band for my area and lapbandtalk.com and have been reading post after post of problems each person has and how they are learning to live with their lap band even 3 years post-surgery. Almost every person has this vomit type reflux and acid reflux - hate it! I would rather be sick than vomit! I heard of lap band's slipping from several people and they had to re-do the surgery. All this is the northern California area. I really didn't hear a lot of positive - only problems.
So after weeks of this I posted a questionairre survey for the lap banders. I got about 10 responses to all my questions. Then I shared that I was on the fence about having surgery. I was doing so well with low carb - 28lbs and increasing my exercising stamina was great. My 60 lb goal should be reached by January 1st which is only 4 months from the start. I searched for hours to find out weight loss results on the lap band surgery and the average for the one year mark was 50 lbs and the greatest weight loss in 6 months was 70 lbs with some weight gain the following 6 months. I keep remembering - surgery is only a tool - you will only lose if you exercise and change your eating habits. Duh! If I have to go through all that changing of habits anyway - why have the surgery?
Then on Thursday of this week the call came that I knew would come. The lap band clinic called to say they wanted to move my surgery date up. My tests were all in. I hadn't even had my appointment with the dietician but they were willing to look beyond that and move the surgery date up to November 8th. Pre-op would be Oct 31st and my dietician's appointment would be Nov. 2nd. WOW! Of course, when I hesitated to the office she told me they don't know how much longer he will be doing the lap band's and he may just decided to not do them anymore so I better get in while I can. Plus I would be well by Thanksgiving and losing weight through the holidays. Boy, the pressure was on. They did "pencil" me in for surgery and I don't know what I just didn't say no. So after talking it over with my husband, who by the way has lost 27 lbs!!!! - we decided to stick to the low carb way and wait to schedule the surgery after January 1st and then maybe not at all.
So here I am - I am fresh, energetic and will be reading all I can get my hands on. I don't have money to buy the books or CD's or cookbooks but I do have 3 low carb books and I have the internet. My true plan is that this time will be different and permanent. Each and every day I commit to God and myself to make the most of each day, to eat healthy and low carb and exercise in some way. My goal each week is to push my exercise to another level. With Fibro I had to start off slow and gradual - that's still the case but I can push it a little faster now.
Thanks for reading my book of a story. If your website and YOUR story had not inspired me you would have never heard from me. I will somehow make it through your entire site absorbing everything and enjoying the journey.
I'm just speechless. This is too incredible to put into words. Let's just say it makes me happy and proud to do what I do. I sent this dear reader a FREE copy of my book for putting a smile on my face with her story. Utterly amazing!
Share your comments, questions, and success stories with me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.
The following is a reprint from the blog "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb":
Hi Jimmy,
Here's my story and when you read it I know you will understand why I love your website. Congrats on the weight loss - I know I can do it too and reading your website encourages me.
I too had asthma from 6 months old until I was 28. My mom thought I looked unhealthy because I was skinny at 8 so the doctor gave her liquid vitamins with something in it to cause me to eat. Boy did I because I was a plump little gal and went through a real ugly stage. In 4th, 5th and 6th grades I was called names like Godzilla from boys. It made me feel terrible. I had a mom who was a constant dieter with weight watchers and every week I watched her start a diet on Monday only to break it by Friday with the talk of promising to start back on Monday to stick with it again. Week end and week out she was a consistent diet breaker. HMMMM...wonder where I learned this??
At the end of 6th grade they took me to an asthma specialist who ran tests. He then took me off all dairy products - no more chocolate milk, ice cream every night or cheese on everything. Over that summer I lost 30 lbs which is a lot for a 12 year old. I started junior high as a new person and people didn't recognize me. My height stopped growing and every person out grew me so I was no longer the tallest, largest Godzilla that I was called. I kept this weight off until I was 20 and was pregnant. Even after that I was only 20 lbs overweight and I eventually lost that down to 117 - my high school weight.
Then at age 28 I was prayed for healing of asthma at church and went off all my asthma meds - cold turkey!! The first week was the toughest but I kept praying and kept getting better. The asthma meds had always given me a fast heartbeat. Within the first year I gained about 30 lbs. The next year another 30 lbs. - it was like my metabolism was totally messed up and I couldn't stick to any kind of diet. It didn't help that I had a crummy marriage and was stressed out all the time. I started a business, became successful at time and owned it for 9 years. I got divorced in 1991. I had lost 50 lbs right before the divorce but then slowly gained it back over the next 2 years. It seemed like I could never get past this threshold of weight.
I bought Dr. Atkins book back in 1995 (heard it was revolutionary) but couldn't follow it because I had gone to a weight loss doctor and loss 50 lbs doing low-fat. With low carb I couldn't imagine a life without bread or pasta, smart ones or lean cuisine!! I closed my business in 1996 due to burn out. Then I loss the same 50 lbs 5 years later (in 1997) after a job related injury that changed my life. I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel, Thoracic outlet pain syndrome and Fibromyalgia. What this meant was constant chronic pain. I have been on disability ever since. In 1998 I got married to an wonderful man (moved from Dallas to Sacramento and yes we met on the internet) but he weighed 365+ which didn't help me stick to losing my last 35 lbs to reach goal. Unfortunately I packed it back on rather quickly and ballooned to 302 at my max.
Then in 2003 I discovered Atkins low carb from some friends and with the Internet's help I stuck to it. I did great and lost about 35 lbs. Then we went on a road trip vacation the low carbs flew out the window. So I have yo-yo'd from low carb to all carb ever since losing the same 35 lbs over and over again. I would have support from my husband and he would be the first to bail ship. It seemed like this man with a strong will power had none when it came to healthy eating. I became convinced that I couldn't do it alone although in my 20's to late 20's I weighed less than 135 and with every weight loss no one could rival my will power.
Since I am on Medicare (since I was 45) I read where they approved gastric bypass but I just didn't want my stomach detached. Granted I did want to get rid of the weight but when I found out about low carb and removed the sugar and carbs from my diet I found I had no hypoglycemia attacks and my energy level increased a great deal. Get off the low carb way I seem to fall into what I call a "death spiral abyss of no return" unable to get back on low carb for months ultimately gaining the weight back.
The first 4 months of 2007 started off bad - From Nov to March 1st I had two severe bladder infections, one resulting in a kidney infection. Then I had to have 3 molars surgically removed because of decay from Vicodin and other pain meds over the years. The pain from the dental work lasted 4 weeks. Then I got bronchitis that turned into pneumonia which took 6 weeks to completely get well. By this time I was sick of being sick - having every incident put me in bed with exhaustion translated from the Fibro. So I decided to check out lap band surgery and found that Medicare covered it. Knowing I didn't have the money for the co-pay and also knowing that I could qualify for Medi-Cal I decided to plan out my journey to weight loss heaven.
My plan was perfectly planned. I was approved with Medi-Cal and found a PCP. Before I went to the doctor I checked out the Medicare website for approved lap band physicians. I called every one of them. I chose a hospital bariatric clinic that I know is a great one. They told me their process to get an appointment. So with the referral I got a packet to fill out and mailed it back the next day. One requirement for the first time appointment was to have a chest x-ray and EKG from my primary. I also learned that they require 10% weight loss prior to surgery. So I went back to my PCP, had the tests done and was referred to another doctor for a weight loss management class. I went to the bariatric orientation and started the class about the same time. By the time I had my first appointment with the lap band doctor I had lost 18 lbs in just two weeks - ALL ON LOW CARB. So they counted this loss towards my 10%. I started out at 298. The doctor put my surgery date at March 10th for lap band.
When we attended the gastric bypass orientation night a plastic surgeon showed a scary slideshow of massive weight loss resulting in hanging skin. They said it didn't matter whether you exercise or not, you would have skin like that. He said insurance will only cover two of the surgeries. The gastric bypass doctor presented the surgery pro's and con's. After much thought for 2-3 days I came to a decision. I was also starting the weight management class. I didn't like some of the things I heard with the surgery but I am serious of getting the weight off. So I proposed to my husband that I will start a lifestyle change with low carb AGAIN using this class for accountability for a least 4 classes (then I was on my own). If I could go through all the holidays - Thanksgiving through January 1st sticking to low carb, exercising and LOSING weight - come January I think I will NOT have surgery. I set a weight loss goal of 60 lbs by March 1st. Now I needed a back-up plan. So I said I would go through the entire process at the lap band clinic - meaning appt.,classes, reviews, tests, etc. leading up to the surgery date. I am so serious about this time being the last time that I will go through with surgery if that is what it takes to get the weight off.
So I went through all the weight management classes and I started walking and then going to 24 hour fitness. It was slow at the beginning. It's been 7 weeks and I have lost 28 lbs. Likewise the doctor said I needed very few tests because I was so efficient with my preparation of test prior to my first visit. So I went through with the EGD and colonoscopy (yikes!) but sooner or later they would make me do that. It came out excellent and I knew it was a matter of time that the clinic would want to move the surgery date up. If they did, I knew for sure that I was completely covered with the insurance. It was cost me nothing out of pocket. Post weight loss I could probably get approval for the skin removal as well.
Then I signed up on the Yahoo groups lap band for my area and lapbandtalk.com and have been reading post after post of problems each person has and how they are learning to live with their lap band even 3 years post-surgery. Almost every person has this vomit type reflux and acid reflux - hate it! I would rather be sick than vomit! I heard of lap band's slipping from several people and they had to re-do the surgery. All this is the northern California area. I really didn't hear a lot of positive - only problems.
So after weeks of this I posted a questionairre survey for the lap banders. I got about 10 responses to all my questions. Then I shared that I was on the fence about having surgery. I was doing so well with low carb - 28lbs and increasing my exercising stamina was great. My 60 lb goal should be reached by January 1st which is only 4 months from the start. I searched for hours to find out weight loss results on the lap band surgery and the average for the one year mark was 50 lbs and the greatest weight loss in 6 months was 70 lbs with some weight gain the following 6 months. I keep remembering - surgery is only a tool - you will only lose if you exercise and change your eating habits. Duh! If I have to go through all that changing of habits anyway - why have the surgery?
Then on Thursday of this week the call came that I knew would come. The lap band clinic called to say they wanted to move my surgery date up. My tests were all in. I hadn't even had my appointment with the dietician but they were willing to look beyond that and move the surgery date up to November 8th. Pre-op would be Oct 31st and my dietician's appointment would be Nov. 2nd. WOW! Of course, when I hesitated to the office she told me they don't know how much longer he will be doing the lap band's and he may just decided to not do them anymore so I better get in while I can. Plus I would be well by Thanksgiving and losing weight through the holidays. Boy, the pressure was on. They did "pencil" me in for surgery and I don't know what I just didn't say no. So after talking it over with my husband, who by the way has lost 27 lbs!!!! - we decided to stick to the low carb way and wait to schedule the surgery after January 1st and then maybe not at all.
So here I am - I am fresh, energetic and will be reading all I can get my hands on. I don't have money to buy the books or CD's or cookbooks but I do have 3 low carb books and I have the internet. My true plan is that this time will be different and permanent. Each and every day I commit to God and myself to make the most of each day, to eat healthy and low carb and exercise in some way. My goal each week is to push my exercise to another level. With Fibro I had to start off slow and gradual - that's still the case but I can push it a little faster now.
Thanks for reading my book of a story. If your website and YOUR story had not inspired me you would have never heard from me. I will somehow make it through your entire site absorbing everything and enjoying the journey.
I'm just speechless. This is too incredible to put into words. Let's just say it makes me happy and proud to do what I do. I sent this dear reader a FREE copy of my book for putting a smile on my face with her story. Utterly amazing!
Share your comments, questions, and success stories with me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.
Friday, September 28, 2007
New Weight Loss Solution? Implant device Realize!
Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., an operating company of Johnson & Johnson, receivedthe FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval for marketing its surgical implant device Realize to obtain weight loss in morbidly obese adults.
The Realize Band is a circular device filled with saline. Through a circular procedure, a surgeon wraps the circular devise (like a band) around the patient's stomach so that it can only hold about 4 ounces of food.
This should reduce food intake as long it is not abused by high calorie fluid intake or other fattening fluids. This is why the gastric band, promoted outside the USA, often fails to deliver the expected results. The Realize Band, is marketed as Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band outside the United States and has been commercially available outside the U.S. since 1996.
Gastric Bypass Weight Loss surgery remains the most common bariatric procedure. The Gastric Bypass has been proven in numerous studies to result in durable weight loss and improvement in weight-related medical illnesses.
The Realize Band is a circular device filled with saline. Through a circular procedure, a surgeon wraps the circular devise (like a band) around the patient's stomach so that it can only hold about 4 ounces of food.
This should reduce food intake as long it is not abused by high calorie fluid intake or other fattening fluids. This is why the gastric band, promoted outside the USA, often fails to deliver the expected results. The Realize Band, is marketed as Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band outside the United States and has been commercially available outside the U.S. since 1996.
Gastric Bypass Weight Loss surgery remains the most common bariatric procedure. The Gastric Bypass has been proven in numerous studies to result in durable weight loss and improvement in weight-related medical illnesses.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
9 diet plans quick review
Atkins Diet
Dr. Richard Atkins’ diet started the low-carb rage. The basics: lots of protein, don't worry about the fat, and avoid carbohydrates at all costs. While carbs are greatly limited -- including breads, beans, fruits and grains -- eggs, meat, butter and cream are acceptable.
South Beach
The South Beach Diet promises to help you lose weight by helping you choose foods that contain the "right carbs" and lean sources of protein. Along the same lines as Atkins, South Beach focuses on limiting carbs and keeping protein high. While it does focus on reducing carb intake, after the first phase it lightens up on that restriction, working in whole grains and fruits and vegetables.
The Zone
The Zone diet promises to help you lose weight by focusing on the hormonal effects of food. The diet lets you eat five times a day (three meals and two snacks) food that is mostly low-fat and protein-rich, and allows monounsaturated fats and "favorable” carbs. The diet is much more permissive about carbs than the Atkins diet and recommends a carb-to-protein ratio of 4-to-3. The goal is to get into "the zone," or your body’s state of peak physical performance.
Raw foods diet
No, it doesn't mean eating sushi every day. In fact, some versions of the raw diet restrict eating seafood, while others encourage it. The raw food diet is based on the principal that cooking food destroys much of its nutritional value and that eating fresh (off the vine being the best) fruits and vegetables is the healthiest way to eat.
Sugar Busters
As the name implies, this diet demonizes sugar – saying that if you eliminate it, the fat will fall away. However, critics say that the diet goes too far, lumping potatoes, corn and carrots in with the refined sugars found in desserts, and that just cutting out the sugar is not enough.
Weight Watchers
The name brings up images of meetings and being weighed in front of a group. The core of the program is a points system in which different foods have different points values, and dieters have a certain number of points to spend. No food is off limits; it simply has a higher point value. Exercise is factored in to the number of points a person has to spend each week.
NutriSystem/Jenny Craig
NutriSystem and the Jenny Craig system both rely on prepackaged food. NutriSystem uses the glycemic index to choose foods that are full of “good carbohydrates” and low in fat.
Ornish Diet
The Ornish Diet is a strict vegetarian diet that was created to fight the effects of heart disease. The diet focuses on reducing fat intake – with only 10 percent of calories coming from fat. (Government guidelines recommend 20 to 35 percent.) The diet excludes all cooking oils and all animal products except nonfat milk and nonfat yogurt. The diet is fairly simple and straightforward. The basis of the diet is that a high-fiber, low-fat diet will help you lose weight.
Sonoma Diet
Proponents of the Sonoma Diet claim that it’s about celebration rather than deprivation and that the plan enables you to lose weight while enjoying food. The diet consists of three phases: an initial phase that lasts for 10 days, then another to get you to your target weight, and a maintenance phase. One of the hooks of this diet is that it’s one of the few that allows for wine (a small serving per day).
Dr. Richard Atkins’ diet started the low-carb rage. The basics: lots of protein, don't worry about the fat, and avoid carbohydrates at all costs. While carbs are greatly limited -- including breads, beans, fruits and grains -- eggs, meat, butter and cream are acceptable.
South Beach
The South Beach Diet promises to help you lose weight by helping you choose foods that contain the "right carbs" and lean sources of protein. Along the same lines as Atkins, South Beach focuses on limiting carbs and keeping protein high. While it does focus on reducing carb intake, after the first phase it lightens up on that restriction, working in whole grains and fruits and vegetables.
The Zone
The Zone diet promises to help you lose weight by focusing on the hormonal effects of food. The diet lets you eat five times a day (three meals and two snacks) food that is mostly low-fat and protein-rich, and allows monounsaturated fats and "favorable” carbs. The diet is much more permissive about carbs than the Atkins diet and recommends a carb-to-protein ratio of 4-to-3. The goal is to get into "the zone," or your body’s state of peak physical performance.
Raw foods diet
No, it doesn't mean eating sushi every day. In fact, some versions of the raw diet restrict eating seafood, while others encourage it. The raw food diet is based on the principal that cooking food destroys much of its nutritional value and that eating fresh (off the vine being the best) fruits and vegetables is the healthiest way to eat.
Sugar Busters
As the name implies, this diet demonizes sugar – saying that if you eliminate it, the fat will fall away. However, critics say that the diet goes too far, lumping potatoes, corn and carrots in with the refined sugars found in desserts, and that just cutting out the sugar is not enough.
Weight Watchers
The name brings up images of meetings and being weighed in front of a group. The core of the program is a points system in which different foods have different points values, and dieters have a certain number of points to spend. No food is off limits; it simply has a higher point value. Exercise is factored in to the number of points a person has to spend each week.
NutriSystem/Jenny Craig
NutriSystem and the Jenny Craig system both rely on prepackaged food. NutriSystem uses the glycemic index to choose foods that are full of “good carbohydrates” and low in fat.
Ornish Diet
The Ornish Diet is a strict vegetarian diet that was created to fight the effects of heart disease. The diet focuses on reducing fat intake – with only 10 percent of calories coming from fat. (Government guidelines recommend 20 to 35 percent.) The diet excludes all cooking oils and all animal products except nonfat milk and nonfat yogurt. The diet is fairly simple and straightforward. The basis of the diet is that a high-fiber, low-fat diet will help you lose weight.
Sonoma Diet
Proponents of the Sonoma Diet claim that it’s about celebration rather than deprivation and that the plan enables you to lose weight while enjoying food. The diet consists of three phases: an initial phase that lasts for 10 days, then another to get you to your target weight, and a maintenance phase. One of the hooks of this diet is that it’s one of the few that allows for wine (a small serving per day).
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Cookie Diet - Any comments?
Low calorie diets under the proper medical supervision are effective, safe and give fast results. With medical supervision a person can safely lose 5 pounds the first week and about 2.5 pound every week after. This amounts to approximately 12 to 15 pounds a month. These results keep people motivated and on-track towards goal.
"We have had great success with our Smart for Life Weight Management Center™ Program and our clients do very well. A typical client has a medical examination by one of our staff physicians, a diet history is taken, EKG and BMI performed, complete blood profile, and weekly one-on-one counseling sessions. We also teach our clients that to maintain their weight loss will be a continuing life-long project," says Dr Moulavi.
The task begins with the unique, scientifically, doctor-formulated cookies that people eat during the day on the proprietary Smart for Life Cookie Diet™. These Smart Cookies contain natural and organic ingredients and teach them to consume smaller meals more frequently during the day. This behavior modification technique has been found by experts to help people attain their proper goal weight and help maintain that weight for long periods of time. Even after people are taught healthy eating habits and how to maintain their weight, we ask them to come back to visit us one month a year, once they reach their goal weight.
"A 1999 study from the University of Florida, on 'The Effects of Exercise-focused Versus Weight-focused Maintenance Programs on the Management of Obesity' found that; during the year following initial weight-loss treatment, participants in the weight-focused only program demonstrated significantly greater reduction in fat consumption and significantly better maintenance of weight losses than subjects in the exercise-focused program."
Original article
"We have had great success with our Smart for Life Weight Management Center™ Program and our clients do very well. A typical client has a medical examination by one of our staff physicians, a diet history is taken, EKG and BMI performed, complete blood profile, and weekly one-on-one counseling sessions. We also teach our clients that to maintain their weight loss will be a continuing life-long project," says Dr Moulavi.
The task begins with the unique, scientifically, doctor-formulated cookies that people eat during the day on the proprietary Smart for Life Cookie Diet™. These Smart Cookies contain natural and organic ingredients and teach them to consume smaller meals more frequently during the day. This behavior modification technique has been found by experts to help people attain their proper goal weight and help maintain that weight for long periods of time. Even after people are taught healthy eating habits and how to maintain their weight, we ask them to come back to visit us one month a year, once they reach their goal weight.
"A 1999 study from the University of Florida, on 'The Effects of Exercise-focused Versus Weight-focused Maintenance Programs on the Management of Obesity' found that; during the year following initial weight-loss treatment, participants in the weight-focused only program demonstrated significantly greater reduction in fat consumption and significantly better maintenance of weight losses than subjects in the exercise-focused program."
Original article
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Miraculous Diet Weight Loss Products Are Bogus
Diet weight loss products do not deliver long term diet loss. A frustration for many trying them.
According to the Better Business Bureau, no matter how enticing the claim, steady weight loss cannot be achieved :
Weight loss schemes promise the world, and deliver mainly frustration. Diet products and programs that "guarantee" quick and easy weight loss are bogus. The only thing you’re likely to lose is your money.
Long-term weight loss requires eating nutritious foods and regular exercise.
Learn to identify the buzzwords that often signify misleading promotions for fraudulent diet products. These include promises of "immediate," "effortless" and/or "guaranteed" weight loss. Beware of claims that a diet product is "a breakthrough", "secret," "exclusive," or "miraculous." These are not scientific words!
Before committing to a weight loss product or program, check with your physician or a qualified nutritionist or dietitian.
What are your experiences?
According to the Better Business Bureau, no matter how enticing the claim, steady weight loss cannot be achieved :
Weight loss schemes promise the world, and deliver mainly frustration. Diet products and programs that "guarantee" quick and easy weight loss are bogus. The only thing you’re likely to lose is your money.
Long-term weight loss requires eating nutritious foods and regular exercise.
Learn to identify the buzzwords that often signify misleading promotions for fraudulent diet products. These include promises of "immediate," "effortless" and/or "guaranteed" weight loss. Beware of claims that a diet product is "a breakthrough", "secret," "exclusive," or "miraculous." These are not scientific words!
Before committing to a weight loss product or program, check with your physician or a qualified nutritionist or dietitian.
What are your experiences?
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Be Aware! Diets Don't Work, May Even Be Dangerous
Diets Don't Work, May Even Be Dangerous
A comprehensive review of dieting research by the University of California found that dieting doesn’t work.
If you’ve vowed to lose a couple of pounds by going on a diet, you might as well skip the diet and try some exercise instead.A comprehensive review of dieting research by the University of California found that dieting doesn’t work. “You can initially lose 5 to 10 percent of your weight on any number of diets, but then all of the weight comes back, plus more" said lead researcher Dr. Traci Mann.In fact, Mann and her team discovered that it would have been better for most people if they had never gone on a diet at all. In their analysis of more than 30 long term dieting studies, Mann found most people on a diet typically lost 5 to 10 percent of their weight in the first 6 months. But over a 4 to 5 year period, not only did they gain the weight back, 33 to 66 percent actually gained even more weight. Janet Tomiyama, who co-authored the study, said several of the studies actually indicated that dieting is a consistent predictor of future weight gain.In one particular study the research team examined, men and women who took part in a weight reduction program actually gained significantly more weight than those who did not over the same period of time.Also, repeated weight loss and regain put people at a greater risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and altered immune function, said Dr Mann and colleagues.Dr Mann suggests that eating in moderation and exercise do make a difference. "Exercise may well be the key factor leading to sustained weight loss,” said Mann, who pointed to numerous studies where people who reported the most exercise also had the most weight loss.""The benefits of dieting alone are too small and the potential harm is too large for dieting to be recommended as a safe, effective treatment for obesity," said Dr Mann.The results of Mann and Tomiyama’s study can be found in this months edition of ‘American Psychology.’
jm
http://cbs4.com/local/local_story_100153401.html
A comprehensive review of dieting research by the University of California found that dieting doesn’t work.
If you’ve vowed to lose a couple of pounds by going on a diet, you might as well skip the diet and try some exercise instead.A comprehensive review of dieting research by the University of California found that dieting doesn’t work. “You can initially lose 5 to 10 percent of your weight on any number of diets, but then all of the weight comes back, plus more" said lead researcher Dr. Traci Mann.In fact, Mann and her team discovered that it would have been better for most people if they had never gone on a diet at all. In their analysis of more than 30 long term dieting studies, Mann found most people on a diet typically lost 5 to 10 percent of their weight in the first 6 months. But over a 4 to 5 year period, not only did they gain the weight back, 33 to 66 percent actually gained even more weight. Janet Tomiyama, who co-authored the study, said several of the studies actually indicated that dieting is a consistent predictor of future weight gain.In one particular study the research team examined, men and women who took part in a weight reduction program actually gained significantly more weight than those who did not over the same period of time.Also, repeated weight loss and regain put people at a greater risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and altered immune function, said Dr Mann and colleagues.Dr Mann suggests that eating in moderation and exercise do make a difference. "Exercise may well be the key factor leading to sustained weight loss,” said Mann, who pointed to numerous studies where people who reported the most exercise also had the most weight loss.""The benefits of dieting alone are too small and the potential harm is too large for dieting to be recommended as a safe, effective treatment for obesity," said Dr Mann.The results of Mann and Tomiyama’s study can be found in this months edition of ‘American Psychology.’
jm
http://cbs4.com/local/local_story_100153401.html
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Different Gastric Bypass Surgery for Weight Loss
According to Dr. Roberto Rizzi (Franco e Rizzi) there are three major variations of gastric bypass suurgery. If you are considering gastric bypass surgery to obtain weight loss, you should be aware of the differen gastric buypass procesdures available to you.
1. Loop Gastric Bypass (later called the Mini Gastric Bypass) The first gastric bypass was in 1967, It used a loop of the small bowel for re-construction. Although simple to create, it allowed corrosive juices from the small bowel to enter the gastric pouch, sometimes causing severe inflammation and ulcers. It was was abandoned but recently re-employed by a few surgeons, as the "Mini-Gastric-Bypass", mainly to simplify the reconstruction, when performed laparoscopically. Although the mini gastric bypass has a low complication rate, there are now multiple reports in the medical literature of serious long-term complications with the procedure, even requiring revision surgery.
2. Proximal Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. This is by far the most commonly performed bariatric procedure in the United States. It is the operation which is least likely to result in nutritional difficulties. The small bowel is divided about 18 in below the lower stomach outlet, and is then re-arranged into a Y-configuration, to enable outflow of food from the small upper stomach pouch, via a "Roux limb". In this proximal version, the Y-intersection is formed near the upper end of the small bowel. The Roux limb is constructed with a length between 30 to 60 inches, preserving most of the small bowel for absorption of nutrients. The patient gets quickly a sense of stomach-fullness, followed by a satiety feeling, shortly after the start of a meal.
3. Distal Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. As the Y-connection is moved farther down the Gastro intestinal tract, the amount of the bowel capable of fully absorbing nutrients is reduced. The Y-connection is made closer to the lower end of the small bowel, usually 40 to 60 inches from the lower end of the bowel, causing reduced absorption of food, mainly fats and starches, but also various minerals, and fat-soluble vitamins. The unabsorbed fats and starches pass into the large intestine, where bacterial action produces often irritants and malodorous gases.
Dr Rizzi is specialized in performing affordable Laporoscopic Proximal Roux en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery in Brazil
1. Loop Gastric Bypass (later called the Mini Gastric Bypass) The first gastric bypass was in 1967, It used a loop of the small bowel for re-construction. Although simple to create, it allowed corrosive juices from the small bowel to enter the gastric pouch, sometimes causing severe inflammation and ulcers. It was was abandoned but recently re-employed by a few surgeons, as the "Mini-Gastric-Bypass", mainly to simplify the reconstruction, when performed laparoscopically. Although the mini gastric bypass has a low complication rate, there are now multiple reports in the medical literature of serious long-term complications with the procedure, even requiring revision surgery.
2. Proximal Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. This is by far the most commonly performed bariatric procedure in the United States. It is the operation which is least likely to result in nutritional difficulties. The small bowel is divided about 18 in below the lower stomach outlet, and is then re-arranged into a Y-configuration, to enable outflow of food from the small upper stomach pouch, via a "Roux limb". In this proximal version, the Y-intersection is formed near the upper end of the small bowel. The Roux limb is constructed with a length between 30 to 60 inches, preserving most of the small bowel for absorption of nutrients. The patient gets quickly a sense of stomach-fullness, followed by a satiety feeling, shortly after the start of a meal.
3. Distal Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. As the Y-connection is moved farther down the Gastro intestinal tract, the amount of the bowel capable of fully absorbing nutrients is reduced. The Y-connection is made closer to the lower end of the small bowel, usually 40 to 60 inches from the lower end of the bowel, causing reduced absorption of food, mainly fats and starches, but also various minerals, and fat-soluble vitamins. The unabsorbed fats and starches pass into the large intestine, where bacterial action produces often irritants and malodorous gases.
Dr Rizzi is specialized in performing affordable Laporoscopic Proximal Roux en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery in Brazil
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Weight Loss Motivation.
With all the advertisements and urges that bombard us every day it is very difficult to find and maintain our weight loss motivation. There are many things we can do to motivate ourselves to lose weight. Let's look at a few of those things.
The first thing to do to find motivation in anything is to set goals. This is also true if you want to lose weight.
The most effective goals are the ones that are tangible, that provide you something tangible when you accomplish them.
To find your weight loss motivation I suggest that you decide on something that you're going to buy for yourself or do for yourself when you've accomplished your weight loss goals. This could be a new dress, a vacation at the sunny beach, a new beautiful fashion accessory; anything that will motivate you to put in effort and remain determined to accomplish your weight loss goals.
The next advice I'll give you for maintaining your weight loss motivation is to garner support from your friends and family.
Support is very important during those days when you are feeling weak or when circumstances are pressing down on you and you just want to eat the first thing you can lay your hands on.
People to support you can also celebrate your victories with you.
A further word of advice to find your motivation for weight loss is to believe in yourself that you can do it. If you do not believe in yourself, who will? Starting out with anything without the belief that you can actually do it is completely self-defeating.
The last word of advice I want to give you in terms of finding your weight loss motivation is to create an image of the slimmer you in your imagination.
See how you will look and experience the feelings of how you will feel when you fit into that sexy number that is now two sizes too small. Constantly keep these images in your mind.
To find your weight loss motivation you need to play a few little mind tricks on yourself, get the support from people around you, and set goals with a prize at the end.
Tisha Diaz recommends this fat loss and weight control program that will help you get rid of those excess pounds and make you slim and trim.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tisha_Diaz
The first thing to do to find motivation in anything is to set goals. This is also true if you want to lose weight.
The most effective goals are the ones that are tangible, that provide you something tangible when you accomplish them.
To find your weight loss motivation I suggest that you decide on something that you're going to buy for yourself or do for yourself when you've accomplished your weight loss goals. This could be a new dress, a vacation at the sunny beach, a new beautiful fashion accessory; anything that will motivate you to put in effort and remain determined to accomplish your weight loss goals.
The next advice I'll give you for maintaining your weight loss motivation is to garner support from your friends and family.
Support is very important during those days when you are feeling weak or when circumstances are pressing down on you and you just want to eat the first thing you can lay your hands on.
People to support you can also celebrate your victories with you.
A further word of advice to find your motivation for weight loss is to believe in yourself that you can do it. If you do not believe in yourself, who will? Starting out with anything without the belief that you can actually do it is completely self-defeating.
The last word of advice I want to give you in terms of finding your weight loss motivation is to create an image of the slimmer you in your imagination.
See how you will look and experience the feelings of how you will feel when you fit into that sexy number that is now two sizes too small. Constantly keep these images in your mind.
To find your weight loss motivation you need to play a few little mind tricks on yourself, get the support from people around you, and set goals with a prize at the end.
Tisha Diaz recommends this fat loss and weight control program that will help you get rid of those excess pounds and make you slim and trim.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tisha_Diaz
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Are we obsessed with weight loss?
To say that we are obsessed with weight loss is an understatement! Search Google for “Weight Loss” and get a whopping 64,600,000 results! Pick up any magazine, turn-on your TV, listen to the radio and any other source of advertising and you're bombarded with the latest diet schemes, health food and diet pills.
More often than not, those products are endorsed by some familiar celebrity, or promoted using some other “new” clever technique or “just released” test results. Obviously, the weight-loss industry has built a thriving empire. Billions of dollars are spend every year on weight loss products and diet plans. In addition, even more billion of dollars are spend for medication, hospitalization, and doctors to treat obesity-related problems. Even with all this, the obesity epidemic continues to spread worldwide.
More and more people are getting overweight.
The Dutch public health agency concluded in a research report last year that poor diet was as deleterious to health as smoking. It said 25 percent of deaths and serious illness caused by overweight.
The National Center for Health Statistics reports Americans, are packing-on the pounds faster than ever before and weight-related medical problems are taking center stage. Diseases like heart disease, diabetes and yes...even certain forms of cancer have all been linked to obesity.
A recent Harvard study of more than 120,000 children enrolled in Massachusetts health maintenance organizations found that the prevalence of being overweight and obese among healthy, middle class kids under the age of six increased by a whooping 59 percent between 1980 and 2000. There was an even greater jump when it came to babies – it increased by 74 percent in infants younger than six months.
Another study found that a child that met the criteria of being overweight as defined by a BMI (body mass index - How to calculate BMI) at least once between the ages of two and four was five times more likely to be overweight at age 12 compared to a child who wasn’t overweight between ages tow and four. This is not an “oh he or she will outgrow it” problem; these kids are at risk for serious health disorders such as high blood pressure, respiratory illnesses, and early onset of type 2 diabetes.
Obsessed? Maybe, but with all “new” diets, pills, exercise plans etc. the weight increase trends are not being reversed!
More often than not, those products are endorsed by some familiar celebrity, or promoted using some other “new” clever technique or “just released” test results. Obviously, the weight-loss industry has built a thriving empire. Billions of dollars are spend every year on weight loss products and diet plans. In addition, even more billion of dollars are spend for medication, hospitalization, and doctors to treat obesity-related problems. Even with all this, the obesity epidemic continues to spread worldwide.
More and more people are getting overweight.
The Dutch public health agency concluded in a research report last year that poor diet was as deleterious to health as smoking. It said 25 percent of deaths and serious illness caused by overweight.
The National Center for Health Statistics reports Americans, are packing-on the pounds faster than ever before and weight-related medical problems are taking center stage. Diseases like heart disease, diabetes and yes...even certain forms of cancer have all been linked to obesity.
A recent Harvard study of more than 120,000 children enrolled in Massachusetts health maintenance organizations found that the prevalence of being overweight and obese among healthy, middle class kids under the age of six increased by a whooping 59 percent between 1980 and 2000. There was an even greater jump when it came to babies – it increased by 74 percent in infants younger than six months.
Another study found that a child that met the criteria of being overweight as defined by a BMI (body mass index - How to calculate BMI) at least once between the ages of two and four was five times more likely to be overweight at age 12 compared to a child who wasn’t overweight between ages tow and four. This is not an “oh he or she will outgrow it” problem; these kids are at risk for serious health disorders such as high blood pressure, respiratory illnesses, and early onset of type 2 diabetes.
Obsessed? Maybe, but with all “new” diets, pills, exercise plans etc. the weight increase trends are not being reversed!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Hoodia Gordonii Diet Pill: Wonder of Nature for Weight Loss
Hoodia Gordonii diet pill is an all natural (wonder) weight loss medication which already helped millions shed their extra pounds. Works best with a combination of light exercises, low calorie diet and Hoodia medication. It is beneficial in achieving positive weight loss results. Online pharmacies are an ideal way to order and buy Hoodia Gordonii diet pill in a cost-effective (and time-saving) manner.
Weight Loss Diets: Facts And Fictions
The weight loss industry is a booming industry worth billions of dollars annually. It therefore should be no surprise that we are constantly being bombarded with new miracle products and weight loss programs that will shed the pounds quickly and without much effort. Navigating the plethora of dieting information to distinguish between fact and fiction can be difficult, but it is certainly not impossible. This blog will help you to separate facts from fictions
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