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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Regular Family Meals Are A Body Blow To Childhood Obesity

According to the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA), children who regularly eat meals with their families eat more fruit, vegetables, whole grains and calcium-rich foods, and drink fewer soft drinks than other children their age.

DAA Spokesperson Lisa Renn said: 'Family meals encourage slower eating, compared with grab-and-go meals. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to know your stomach is full. And taking the time to eat slowly means eating fewer kilojoules.

'Plus, families at home tend to serve healthier portion sizes than fast food outlets and restaurants, so regular family meals are a body blow to childhood obesity.'

Ms Renn said trading TV time for meal time can help strengthen family ties. But according to an Australian survey, one in two family dinners are eaten while watching television.

'By switching off the TV, conversation will flow more easily and you'll enjoy each other's company - and the food you're eating. So you'll not only be healthier but happier as a family,' said Ms Renn, an Accredited Practising Dietitian.

She suggests aiming for at least five meals a week together, but knows that could be hard for families juggling busy schedules. Ms Renn said planning ahead is the key, and suggested scheduling meal times and weekly menus as a family over the weekend.

'If you want your family to live healthy, happy lives you need to make healthy food and family meal times a priority. What you feed your family and the patterns you set up today will predict their future health,' said Ms Renn.

Lisa's tips for quick and healthy family dinners:

- Choose dishes that are easy to assemble, such as soup with crusty bread, salad with lean cooked chicken or tuna mixed through, or pasta with a tomato-and herb-based sauce.

- Use a slow cooker or crock pot. Prepare your meal early in the day and place in the slow cooker. At dinner time, a hot meal will be waiting.

- Make burgers or pizza at home. This will be healthier and cheaper than the take-away versions. Buy pizza bases at the grocery store, and add your own sauce and toppings (like lean chicken pieces, mushrooms, capsicum and pineapple).

Source: Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)

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posted by Juan Ramirez on 6 Feb 2011 at 5:15 pm

We can be full, even bloated and still hungry; the idea is to give the brain time to sense that we are satisfied.
Most experts agree with the 20 minute rule.
There are now "plates for eating slowly" on the market; they keep food warm.firm's

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Less Activity, More Food, Driving Up Male Obesity In UK

Being less active and eating more food has led to the average UK male weighing over a stone more in 2000 than he did in 1986, reflecting a rising trend in obesity rates.

This was the conclusion of a British Heart Foundation-funded study led by Dr Peter Scarborough of the Department of Public Health at Oxford University and published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

It reflects a rising trend in obesity rates: 25 per cent of men in England were classed as obese in 2008, compared with only 7 per cent in 1986/87.

A BHF representative described the finding as a "ticking time bomb".

Bigger men are at higher risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

BHF Associate Medical Director Dr Mike Knapton told the press that:

"Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and stroke and contributes to premature death and poor quality of life."

"This research suggests a ticking time bomb for male health, and underlines the importance of both regular exercise and a balanced diet in keeping your weight down and your heart healthy," he added.

Scarborough and his team from the BHF Health Promotion Research Group at the University of Oxford examined data on body weight and food consumption over a 15 year period from 1986 to 2000.

By comparing food availability and taking into account what is thrown away and wasted, they calculated that the average UK adult ate more in 2000 than he or she did in 1986.

Scarborough told the press that:

"It's clear people are eating more, and today we're seeing a continued increase in the amount of food available."

From the calculated increase in food intake, they worked out that the average adult male in the UK in the year 2000 would weigh 4.7 kg (10.3lb) more than he did in 1986.

But the observed increase in weight of the average UK male over that period was 7.7 kg: much more than could be explained by increased food intake alone.

So they concluded that a reduction in physical activity, as well as the extra food, was the reason behind the dramatic rise in weight of the average UK male.

Women in the UK have also put on more weight, but this can be explained by extra food consumption alone: the researchers calculated an expected weight gain of 5.4 kg (11.9 lb) from increased food intake, which was much the same as the observed weight gain of the average UK female from 1986 to 2000, according to a BBC report on the research.

Speculating on the reasons behind the reduction in exercise of the average UK male, Scarborough said:

"One partial explanation could be that men spend more of their working lives sitting at desks now - manual careers are less common than they used to be."

Commenting on the findings, a spokesman for the National Obesity Forum told the Guardian newspaper that the problem of obesity is going to get worse because not enough is being done to regulate the amount of fat, sugar and salt in processed foods.

British Journal of Nutrition.

Sources: University of Oxford, British Heart Foundation, Guardian, BBC.

Written by: Catharine Paddock, PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

posted by john donkey on 28 Dec 2010 at 12:45 am

Refer to Title. I mean really? I could have told you this for free, but for some reason obesity scientists feel a need to spend millions of pounds (pun intended) to come to this astonishing conclusion all on thier own

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Metabolic Syndrome Linked To Memory Loss In Older People

Older people with larger waistlines, high blood pressure and other risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome may be at a higher risk for memory loss, according to a study published in the February 2, 2011, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Metabolic syndrome was defined as having three or more of the following risk factors: high blood pressure, excess belly fat, higher than normal triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood), high blood sugar and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or "good" cholesterol. Metabolic syndrome has also been tied to increased risk of heart attack.

For the study, 7,087 people age 65 and older from three French cities were tested for metabolic syndrome. A total of 16 percent of the participants had metabolic syndrome. Participants were given a series of memory and cognitive function tests two and four years later. The tests included a memory test, a test of visual working memory and a test of word fluency.

Researchers found that people who had metabolic syndrome were 20 percent more likely to have cognitive decline on the memory test than those who did not have metabolic syndrome. Those with metabolic syndrome also were 13 percent more likely to have cognitive decline on the visual working memory test compared to those who did not have the syndrome. Specifically, higher triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol were linked to poorer memory scores; diabetes, but not higher fasting blood sugar, was linked to poorer visual working memory and word fluency scores.

"Our study sheds new light on how metabolic syndrome and the individual factors of the disease may affect cognitive health," said study author Christelle Raffaitin, MD, of the French National Institute of Health Research in Bordeaux, France. "Our results suggest that management of metabolic syndrome may help slow down age-related memory loss, or delay the onset of dementia."

The study was conducted under a partnership agreement between the French National Institute of Health Research (INSERM), the University Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2 and Sanofi-Aventis. The 3C Study was supported by the National Fund for Health Insurance for Employees, Directorate General of Health, Mutual General Education, the Institute of Longevity and Aging, Regional Councils of Aquitaine and Bourgogne and the Foundation of France. The Lille Genopole was supported by an unconditional grant from Eisai.

Source:
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

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Our Lady Of Lourdes Medical Center Among First To Offer Single Port Surgery For Weight Loss Surgery Patients

Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center and renowned weight loss surgeon Dr. Alex Gandsas have announced the successful completion of a single port sleeve gastrectomy procedure that has resulted in a "scarless" surgery. Lourdes is thought to be the only hospital in New Jersey that has performed the sleeve gastrectomy procedure though the patient's belly button.

"This is a remarkable step toward significantly improving the cosmetic results for patients," says Gandsas, who was assisted during the surgery by Dr. Adeshola Fakulujo. "The belly button is the body's natural scar. By reducing the operative site to one single incision in the belly button, the scar is practically invisible."

A laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, which removes 75 percent of the stomach so that it looks like a sleeve, is traditionally performed through six incisions that range from .5 to 1.5 centimeters in diameter. These incisions allow the necessary surgical instruments to be inserted, as well as a special camera to view structures inside the abdomen. But with the single-port surgery, the same equipment is guided through just one incision in the belly button. Minimally invasive procedures are associated with shorter length of stay, less pain and quicker return to normal activity.

"The single-port technique is more technically challenging because of ergonomics," explains Gandsas, who is also the chair of the Department of Surgery at UMDNJ - School of Osteopathic Medicine. "Your instruments are working in one line. But with appropriate patient selection, and an experienced surgeon, outcomes are excellent. What's more, patients appreciate the cosmetic benefit of a virtually scarless procedure. In my experience, patients want fewer incisions with any surgery."

Candidates for the single-port sleeve gastrectomy procedure are those with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 to 45, and those who have an abdominal wall that has less thickness to it so that inserted instruments can move freely.

While the approach to the surgery differs from the traditional laparoscopic method, the sleeve gastrectomy procedure itself is still the same. Because of this, it still has the same benefits and risks for patients.

According to Gandsas, the benefits include the fact that sleeve gastrectomy is relatively successful, with patients losing about 40 to 50 percent of excess weight after three years. It's also a good alternative to standard gastric bypass, which may be too risky for some patients. Sleeve gastrectomy also does not affect the absorption of food, so nutritional deficiencies are not a problem. The drawbacks - sleeve gastrectomy is irreversible, and while rare, there is risk for infection, leaking of the sleeve and blood clots.

"Single port surgery itself is gaining popularity and many see a natural progression," adds Gandsas. "We are moving toward fewer incisions to reduce surgical impact. However, we still need randomized prospective studies looking at comparable outcomes between single-port sleeve gastrectomy and standard laparoscopy. These minimally invasive techniques are as a bridge as we push the envelope and refine our techniques to improve the patient experience."

Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County and Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center are designated Blue Distinction Centers® for Bariatric Surgery by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent healthcare ratings organization, has given Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center a five-star rating for overall bariatric surgery two years in a row, ranked it number three in New Jersey for two consecutive years and awarded it the Bariatric Surgery Excellence Award™ in 2009.

Source:
Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center

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LighterLife And The National Obesity Forum Launch The UK Obesity Barometer

LighterLife and the National Obesity Forum have launched The UK Obesity Barometer to track weight gain in the UK.

The UK Obesity Barometer shows that around 1.2 million people in the UK moved into the 'overweight' or 'obese' category over the festive season* pushing levels to a new high. The LighterLife UK Obesity Barometer shows that although overweight or obese averages decreased in some regions, overall, the nation has piled on the pounds over the last few weeks.

Whilst over one third of people questioned before the holidays in the UK were worried about putting on a few pounds over the festive season, the LighterLife UK Obesity Barometer shows that, in reality, over a million people have piled on enough weight to slip into the overweight or obese categories (Overweight Body Mass Index (BMI) = 25-29.9, Obese BMI = 30+).

The LighterLife UK Obesity Barometer has been developed with the National Obesity Forum to track the changing rates of obesity by region across the UK throughout 2011.

Dr David Haslam, chair of the National Obesity Forum, said: "We all know obesity rates are rising so we are pleased to support the LighterLife UK Obesity Barometer as a way of tracking obesity levels and raising awareness in the UK. People often put on weight at Christmas time, however it will be interesting to see how many can shift the excess pounds in the next few weeks and months. For those who have a BMI of 25 or more, they are at increased risk of health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, so it's important that the weight gained is lost. The barometer will prove invaluable to track the weight of the nation at both a regional and national level."

The barometer will highlight weight across the regions in the UK and people will be able to see how this fluctuates over this coming year. Tips and advice for those worried about their weight are also provided with links to helpful advice on the LighterLife website.

Notes

* ICM Research UK Obesity Survey 2011

Source:
LighterLife

posted by Jakt on 9 Feb 2011 at 1:53 pm

I was wondering if someone here noticed the zumba . It seems like it claims to be a safe replacement for conventional workout as it is fun and exciting. I'd appreciate if anyone who used it could please reply and give a feedback as i am really looking at trying it out and want to have a general idea from individuals who used it before I do. Thx!

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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

New York City Celebrates Let's Move! One Year Anniversary

U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin joined New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley and a group of celebrities and area teenagers in downtown Manhattan to celebrate First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation, launched one year ago this week.

The Times Square event, hosted by Modell's Sporting Goods at Times Square, is one of 18 taking place in Let's Move! Cities and Towns around the nation to highlight progress achieved while inspiring elected officials from all levels of government, schools, faith and community-based organizations, private companies, families and health care professionals to take action. In the past year, nearly 500 communities across the country, including New York, have signed on as Let's Move! Cities and Towns.

Benjamin and Farley were joined at the event by tennis legend Billie Jean King, award-winning chef Dan Barber, Sesame Street Workshop CEO Gary Knell, Sesame Street's Elmo, and Jaime Torres, regional director from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Both King and Barber are members of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition.

The event also allowed teenagers to take part in aerobic dancing workshops with members of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company and healthy cooking demonstrations with Barber.

"Over the last year we've fundamentally changed the conversation about how we eat, how we move and how we get our food. Communities across the country, like New York City are implementing creative solutions to ending childhood obesity," said Mrs. Obama. "Together, we're making a real difference in the lives of children and today there's a real sense of hope that we can end childhood obesity."

Launched February 9, 2010, Let's Move! seeks to put children on the path to a healthy future starting with their earliest months and years by giving parents the information they need to make healthy choices for their families, providing healthier foods in our schools, ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food, and helping kids become more physically active.

"The goal of this initiative is solving the problem of childhood obesity in a generation, so that kids born today will grow up healthier and be better able to pursue their dreams," Benjamin said.

Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled. Today, almost one in every three children in our nation is overweight or obese. The numbers are even higher in African American, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native communities, where 40-percent of the children are overweight or obese. If we don't solve this problem, one third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. Many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and asthma.

In the past year, individuals and organizations around the country have come together to develop innovative solutions and implement new programs. Key accomplishments achieved in the first year of Let's Move! include:

- For the first time in three decades, the President signed groundbreaking legislation (Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act) into law allowing for changes people had sought for years, and enacting the most meaningful and comprehensive change to food in schools we've seen in a generation.

- Walmart, one of the nation's largest retail stores, announced a new Nutrition Charter that is designed to bring healthier and more affordable foods to the 140 million customers that shop at their stores each week.

-Sport leagues including the National Hockey League, the US Tennis Association and Major League Baseball have teamed up with Let's Move! to air public service announcements and last summer, launched the Presidential Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Through this outreach, kids are inspired by their favorite athletes to play sports and get active.

- The American Academy of Pediatrics has pledged 100-percent of its doctors will screen for BMI and we're working with family physicians to measure BMI during Well Child Visits. The new Affordable Care Act right now requires all new health insurance plans to cover screening for childhood obesity and counseling from doctors without a co-pay or any other payment.

- Faith groups from all across the country have committed to walking three million miles and hosting 10,000 community gardens or farmers markets.

- Nearly 500 communities across the country have become Let's Move! Cities and Towns.

Source:
HHS

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New Book - Startling Truth About Weight Gain, Obesity: It's Not Your Fault

Two-thirds of adult Americans are overweight. In their newest guide to a sane approach for better health, Award Winning health authors Mannie Barling and Ashley Brooks answer the main question for those who have failed in dieting: "Are you addicted to chemical food ingredients.or is the addiction just in your mind?"

Veteran authors, award winning health experts and radio podcast hosts Mannie Barling and Ashley F. Brooks have announced the release of their fourth innovative health guide, It's Not Your Fault, Weight Gain, Obesity and Food Addiction. In this comprehensive work the authors describe the causes of food craving, overeating and food addiction and they reveal the dangerous addictive chemicals used by food manufacturers which cause the compulsive and obsessive eating that leads to today's obesity epidemic.

The leading addiction of the American public -- surpassing even cigarettes and alcohol -- is overeating to the point of obesity. American obesity rates, in fact, are the highest in the world. Nearly twenty percent of the adult population has been diagnosed as clinically obese and there are ten million overweight and obese children in the U.S.

"Americans did not get fat overnight nor did some mosquito spread a deadly virus that causes obesity," write the authors.

Instead, Barling and Brooks convincingly show that weight gain and obesity are the result of an addiction to chemical food ingredients, the dangers of genetically modified fruits and vegetables and the damage caused by the synthetic growth hormones, carcinogens and antibiotics found in factory farmed meats and dairy.

For any reader who has failed to lose or keep off weight despite conscientious juicing, eating salad diets, drinking healthy food shakes or changing diets like a yo-yo, It's Not Your Fault offers hope.

Using just the information provided in this book one author has already been able to lose eighty pounds, the other twenty, and they're still losing weight.

"I'm having great fun already with the book. Fascinating read. And extremely informative. I'm appalled at the extent of my ignorance." - Barbara Paskin, BBC

About the book:
It's Not Your Fault by Emanuel Barling, Jr. & Ashley F. Brooks, R.N.
ISBN: 978-1-4327-6664-1
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Date of publish: Dec 20, 2010
Pages: 228
S.R.P.: $29.95

About the authors:

Emanuel Barling, Jr., is a retired lawyer, an author and a businessman who has survived the ravages of malignant colorectal cancer, Crohn's Disease and IBD. Like so many others, he has also struggled with his weight and the obesity caused by prescription drugs, food allergies and intolerances to the chemicals found in the packaged goods sold in markets, restaurants and fast food chains. He has spent thirteen years researching this book.

Ashley F. Brooks, R.N., is a third generation nurse, an actress and an author who has survived third stage liver, kidney and pancreatic disease caused in part by genetically modified ingredients and the addictive chemicals found in packaged foods. Ms. Brooks has spent a lifetime controlling her weight as an actress and model and has gone from one diet to another and experimented with every conceivable diet food ever manufactured. She has extensive experience in emergency rooms, psychiatric wards and hospice care as well as with nutritional, holistic and environmental medicine. She learned from the founder of environmental medicine, Dr. Theron Randolph and offers all of his insight in weight gain.

Source
Mannie Barling and Ashley Brooks

posted by Gary Speckman on 23 Dec 2010 at 8:59 am

I have been a friend of Mannie for almost 40 years, and Asley for 20 years. I personally know what they have gone through before writing these books. Mannie and Ashley have literally saved their own lives by researching the products discussed in their books. If you read the labels of the products yourselves, you too will understand the value of this book. I too have changed my way of eating, but not to the extent that I should.

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