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Obesity is being defined as more than 20 % above the ideal weight. It is an issue in most western countries and in New Zealand has been rising since the 1970’s. Being overweight, which is defined as anything above your ideal body weight up to 20%, has also increased in most countries including New Zealand. The cause of obesity
is multifactorial. Idiopathic obesity is assumed to be due to an
imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure, basically
eating more than needed for a person’s body size without the
physical activity and proper exercise. This is fairly common, with
the availability of processed, high calorie foods. Psychological factors may be present, some think as a cause of weight gain but more as a result. Eating patterns associated with depression and deviant eating patterns, such a binge eating disorder and night-eating syndrome can cause weight gain. But more likely is a general sense of depression and alienation, as people and females in particular can view problem with weight as a source of prejudice and discrimination. A sedentary lifestyle as an independent risk factor of obesity should be noted, as television watching has been demonstrated to be linked to the onset of obesity. This can be explained by the lack of physical activity and lowering of the basal metabolic rate, the rate of energy our body create in order to perform the physiological functions. Also important to note, exercise tends to be lower in those who watch a lot of TV. The intake of food may not be lower in these people who exercise less and may even be more, contributing even more to weight gain. Other risk factors for obesity include: parental obesity; pregnancy; high fat diet; some medications such as antidepressants and oral steroid hormones; and low socioeconomic status. Symptoms Obesity and weight
gain may lead to joint problems such as seen with osteoarthritis;
skin conditions due to increased sweating, and can lead to problems
regulating blood sugar, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Diagnosis and Pharmaceutical Interventions The diagnosis of obesity and weight gain is quite simple and is sometimes only gauged with observation. For exact measurement, the body mass index (BMI) is calculated. This is determined by calculating weight in kgs by height in meteres squared. BMI’s indicate the range of body sizes, as underweight is defined as being 18.5, normal weight is 18.5-24.9, overweight is defined as 25.0-29.9 and obese is defined as 30.0 and above. Pharmaceutical medications for obesity and weight gain may fall in and out of favor by both the public and medical professional depending on the efficiency and potential side effects. Some medications that may be used are diethylpropion (tenuate), phentermine (umine) and sibutramine (reductil). These medications should be discontinued after 12 weeks if failure to achieve a weight reduction of 5% has not happened. They should not be used in cases of advanced arteriosclerosis, hyperthyroidism, known hypersensitivity, or idiosyncrasy to the sympathomimetic amines, glaucoma, agitated states, and patients with a history of drug abuse. Phentermine in particular should not be used in alcoholic patients weather it is active or in remission. In rare cases the use of these medications has been associated with an increased risk of developing primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), a rare but often fatal disorder. Other side effects include elevation of blood pressure and overall central nervous system stimulation such as jitteriness, blurred vision, dry mouth, changes with libido, loss of appetite, insomnia and depression. Because of the range
of side effects from these medications; one option that has gained
popularity in the treatment of obesity is the surgical intervention
of gastric bypass, or stomach stapling. It is usually done when
the BMI is over 40 and other treatments have not worked. This decreases
the size of the normal stomach, creating a stomach that sometimes
is no more than 25 ml in volume. As a complication from this procedure,
some vitamins may become deficient, especially ones that are absorbed
in the stomach like vitamin B12. Lifestyle and Dietary Modifications The effect of exercise alone (without dietary restriction) on weight loss is small, partly because muscle mass often increases even while fat tissue is reduced, and perhaps because some exercising people will experience increased appetites. The long-term effect of regular exercise on weight loss is much better, and exercise appears to help people maintain weight loss. People who have successfully maintained weight loss for over two years report continuing high levels of physical activity. Combining exercise with healthier eating habits results in the best short- and long-term effects on weight loss, and should reduce the risk of many serious diseases. This also may help with people who experience “weight cycling” (repetitive weight loss and gain), who have a tendency toward binge eating. The most successful weight-loss programs (in which weight stays off, mood stays even, and no binge eating occurs) appear to use a combination of moderate caloric restriction, moderate exercise, and behaviour modification, including examination and adjustment of eating habits. When overweight
people attend group sessions aimed at changing eating and exercise
patterns, keep daily records of food intake and exercise, and eat
a specific low-calorie diet the outcome is much more successful.
Group sessions where participants are given information and help
on how to make lifestyle changes appear to improve the chances of
losing weight and keeping it off. Such changes may include shopping
from a list, storing foods out of sight, keeping portion sizes under
control, and avoiding fast-food restaurants. Behavior-change techniques
are considered useful for helping people break old habits and form
more healthful habits. These techniques may be learned from counselling
professionals, support groups, educational programs, or books. Calories in the diet come from fat, carbohydrate, protein, or alcohol. Dietary changes to reduce weight may be geared at any limiting calories from one of these elements and/or by emphasizing foods that are believed to result in reduced calorie intake. Some currently popular diets restrict fat while emphasizing fibre and a balanced intake of healthful foods. Others restrict carbohydrates, either to extremely low amounts as in the Atkins diet, or to a lesser degree, emphasizing foods low in the glycemic index or high in protein Low-fat, low-calorie, high-fibre, balanced diets are recommended by many doctors for weight loss. According to controlled studies, when people are allowed to eat as much food as they desire on a low-fat diet, they tend to lose more weight than people eating a regular diet. However, low-fat diets have not been shown to be more effective than other weight-loss diets that restrict calories. Nonetheless, a low-fat, high-fibre, balanced diet has additional potential benefits, such as reducing the risk of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and cancer Low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets such as the Atkins diet are very popular among people trying to lose weight. An analysis of preliminary studies of this type of diet concluded that its effectiveness is primarily due to reduced calorie intake. The effect of low-carbohydrate diets on cardiovascular risk is also an unresolved issue. Some studies have shown a worsening of certain cardiovascular risk factors in people using a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet for up to one year. Adverse changes included increases in blood levels of homocysteine, lipoprotein(a), and fibrinogen, and a decrease in blood flow to the heart. Individuals wishing to consume a very-low-carbohydrate diet for weight loss or for other reasons should be monitored by a doctor. Diets that emphasize choosing foods with a low glycemic index have been show to help control appetite in some studies. Glycemic index and glycemic load describe the tendency of foods to raise blood sugar. Eating meals containing foods that are low in glycemic index or glycemic load may influence appetite and other body mechanisms that affect excessive weight gain. Most low qlycemic foods are high in fibre and adequate amounts of dietary fibre are believed to be important for people wishing to lose weight. Fibre adds bulk to the diet and tends to produce a sense of fullness, helping people consume fewer calories. A recent review of weight-loss trials that did not restrict calories concluded that higher fibre diets improved weight-loss results, especially in people who were overweight. Although the relationship between food sensitivities and body weight remains uncertain, many believe that chronic food allergy may lead to overeating and obesity. It is thought that this is a result of a craving of the offending foods, leading to overacting. By identifying and stabilising food sensitivities many people experience an increased energy level due to a healthier diet. People who go on
and off diets frequently complain that it takes fewer calories to
produce weight gain with each weight fluctuation. Evidence now clearly
demonstrates that the body gets "stingier" in its use
of calories after each diet. This means it becomes easier to gain
weight and harder to lose it the next time. Dietary changes need
to be long term. Nutritional factors shown to be beneficial Multiple
vitamin minerals Calcium Chromium 5-HTP Fibre Pyruvate CLA HCA Whey protein Green Tea
Extracts Gymnema
(Gymnema sylvestre) Recommended NaturalMeds for Obesity & Weight LifeForce
Multiple Calcium
Citrate 5-HTP
50 mg Chromium
GTF 200 mcg Diet
Metabo-7 Trifala |
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