Tag Archives: overweight

Diets high in fat encourage binge eating

Posted on by

image
image

Chicago: People who eat a high-fat diet are more likely to binge eat at night, according to scientists at the Northwestern University.

Their esearch reveals that over-eating will alter the body’s internal clock, which regulates when we sleep, wake and feel hungry.

The conclusion was made after studying the reactions of mice fed on only high-fat foods. After two weeks, they exhibited an interference with their internal clocks, causing them to eat extra food when they should have been either asleep or at rest.

Prof Joe Bass, who led the research, said: “We found that as an animal on a high-fat diet gains weight it eats at the inappropriate time for its sleep and wake cycle all of the excess calories are consumed when the animal should be resting.

“For a human, that would be like raiding the refrigerator in the middle of the night and bingeing on junk food.”

The study, published in the Cell Metabolism journal also reveals that starting a high-fat diet increases the propensity for obesity because the body’s metabolism is disrupted and eating patterns become irregular.

Older adults suffering increase in disabilities

Posted on by

image

Older adults are suffering from increasing levels of disability as a result of obesity, according to new research by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association is the first to track effects of obesity on disability over time.

“Obesity is more hazardous to the health of the elderly than we previously suspected,” says Dawn Alley, PhD, lead author, and Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. “For an older person, suffering from obesity means they are much less likely to be able to walk to the front door or pick up a bag of groceries.”

The study reveals that obesity, which has become more common among older Americans, is having an increasingly profound impact on their day-to-day activities and overall health.

The researchers examined health data from 1988-1994 to data from 1999-2004, the researchers found that the odds of suffering from functional impairment have increased 43 percent among obese adults age 60 years and older. This means they are less able to do things like walk a quarter of a mile, climb 10 steps, pick up a 10-pound weight, and bend over.

“We believe that two factors are likely contributing to the rise in disability among older, obese people,” says Virginia Chang, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Penn; Attending Physician, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and senior study author.

“First, people are potentially living longer with their obesity due to improved medical care, and second, people are becoming obese at younger ages than in the past. In both instances, people are living with obesity for longer periods of time, which increases the potential for disability.”

The study evaluated health survey data from 9,928 Americans age 60 years and over from the National Heath and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted from 1988 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2004. Researchers estimated the risk of functional and activities of daily living (ADL) impairment – the inability to move from a bed, dress, or eat – for normal weight, overweight, and obese populations for both time periods, and evaluated trends in the relationship between obesity and disability over time. Results revealed that obesity increased by 8.2% among the population over 60 during this time period, and that the disability gap between obese and non-obese groups widened.

Researchers also found that obese people are not benefiting from some of the health improvements that the rest of the population is experiencing. For example, although the odds of ADL impairment decreased by 34 percent among the general population, no such improvements were seen in the obese population.

Other recent studies have suggested that obese populations have actually become healthier since the 1960s. While other obesity-related risk factors — such as high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol — have declined, this new research suggests that quality of life for obese older people may be deteriorating.

“Preventing disability should be another motivation for health care providers, policymakers and the public to take obesity seriously in the elderly population. Spending time and resources to prevent obesity now may reduce the need to treat disabilities later,” says Dr Alley.

The study was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health and Society Scholars Program and by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Youngsters in UK getting fatter

Posted on by

image

London: UK youngsters are getting fatter than ever. According to a new report the number of overweight 11-15-year-olds has doubled in ten years and they are so fat that it may soon damage their health.

Sitting around watching TV, playing video and computer games and overeatting rubbish food are all to blame

Recent research predicts that by 2050 about 60 per cent of men, 50 per cent of women and 25 per cent of children in the UK will be clinically obese.

The Foresight report calculated that the health time-bomb will cost the country an extra £45 billion a year by 2050 if the loss of productivity from people who suffer obesity-related healthcare problems is added to the cost of treating them.

Starchy foods may damage liver

Posted on by

image

Boston: A diet rich in potatoes, white bread and white rice may be contributing to a “silent epidemic” of a dangerous liver condition.

“High-glycaemic” foods – rapidly digested by the body – could be causing “fatty liver”, increasing the risk of serious illness.

Boston-based researchers, writing in the journal Obesity, found mice fed starchy foods developed the disease. Those fed a similar quantity of other foods did not.

One obesity expert said fatty liver in today’s children was “a tragedy of the future”.

High GI foods: include Mashed potato, White bread, Chips, Some breakfast cereals (eg Cornflakes, Rice Krispies, Coco Pops), Steamed white rice

Moderate GI foods:Muesli (non-toasted), Boiled potatoes, Pitta bread, Basmati rice, Honey, Wholemeal bread

Low GI foods:Roasted salted peanuts, Rye and granary bread, Whole and skimmed milk, Spaghetti, Boiled carrots, Baked beans

Fatty liver is exactly as it sounds – a build-up over time of fat deposits around the organ.

At the time, no ill-effects are felt, but it has been linked with a higher risk of potentially fatal liver failure later in life.

The study, carried out at Boston Children’s Hospital, looked at the effect of diets with precisely the same calorific content, but very different ingredients when measured using the glycaemic index (GI).

This is a measure of how quickly the energy in the food is absorbed by the body, producing a rise in blood sugar levels – high GI foods lead to sharper rises in blood sugar, and similar rises in insulin levels, as the body releases the chemical in response.

High GI foods include many breakfast cereals and processed foods such as white bread and white rice.

Low GI foods include unprocessed fruit, nuts, pulses and grains, including rye or granary bread, spaghetti, apples and oranges.

After six months on the diet, the mice weighed the same, but those on the high GI diet had twice the normal amount of fat in their bodies, blood and livers.

The researchers say that because the processed carbohydrates are absorbed so quickly, they trigger the release of more of the chemical insulin, which tells the body to lay down more fat.

Dr David Ludwig, who led the research, said that the results would also apply to humans, and even children, in whom fatty liver is becoming far more common.

Between a quarter and half of all overweight American children are thought to have the condition, he said.

“This is a silent but dangerous epidemic,” he said.

“Just as type 2 diabetes exploded into our consciousness in the 1990s, so we think fatty liver will in the coming decade.”

Nagging health questions answered on new UK government site

Posted on by

London: Got a nagging question about your health? Are you planning a new fitness regime or are you interested in finding out more about a particular condition and relevant treatment options? If you are looking for reliable, personalised information about your health and lifestyle you can now find it at the new website, NHS Choices www.nhs.uk

Health advice is now the second most searched for subject online so it is no surprise that there is a lot of information of variable quality out there.
NHS Choices is a one-stop shop for all your health information that you can trust and that puts you in charge of decisions about your own health, lifestyle and even treatment options.

See how fit and healthy you are with a quick and easy personal health check and watch short movies from the experts and real people about their experiences of common conditions and treatments. Read honest accounts of how celebrities such as Steve Redgrave, Tricia Goddard, Rosemary Conley and Nik Powell, Richard Branson’s co-founder of Virgin Records have overcome their own health problems. You can even become an expert with access to information only previously available to the medical profession.

Get motivated and take inspiration for a healthy life from Live Well, a series of online magazines featuring up to date articles, short movies and celebrity contributions to appeal to different groups such as women, teenagers, men and families.

Get great ideas for healthy eating with recipes from Emma Bunton, Nadine Coyle, Dannii Minogue and Myleene Klass and watch celebrity chefs cook up simple, healthy meals for the whole family and romantic nights in.

Find inspiration for a fitness regime that works for your age and lifestyle. Get active and take the Chelsea FC challenge, try walking your way to fitness and a great pair of legs or read how Olympic sprinter, Linford Christie has managed to stay fit and lean post retirement and post forty.

Learn our how to stay happy and healthy at work and see what the experts have to say about a mid life crisis. Is your urge for a newer model – car or woman – due to brain or hormone changes or just bad behaviour.

Should you need to go to hospital NHS Choices gives you the information to make an informed decision about where and when you want to be treated. View ratings on hospital waiting times, cleanliness and readmission figures and for the first time what previous patients have to say about their treatment and experiences via immediate online feedback.

It is even possible for you to make your choice of hospital based upon personal preferences such as travelling times, MRSA incidences and availability of single sex wards.

Background:
1. The NHS Choices website draws on the combined experience and expertise of NHS.uk, NHS Direct, the National Electronic Library for Health, and the Healthcare Commission.

2. NHS Choices can be found at www.nhs.uk The site will continue to evolve and significant extensions are scheduled for later in 2007 and 2008.

3. The site will allow patients to access NHS approved information using a number of features under distinct headings:

Live Well
• Information that will help the well to stay fit and assist those who are unwell to manage their condition

• ‘Magazine’ content will reflect the interests and needs of different groups such as teenagers, families and those over 70

Health A-Z
• Access to a vast library of approved medical literature, previously only available to clinicians to enable a deeper understanding of conditions & treatment options
• Easy to understand multi-media guides on the most common procedures e.g. hip replacement
• Detailed guides to living with 20 long-term conditions such as diabetes to help patients manage their condition. Expert opinions from professionals and patients will provide advice and support

Choose Services
• Authoritative, comparative data on the standards and availability of services
• Searchable comprehensive directories e.g. on hospitals, GPs and care homes
• A quality scorecard that will help patients and GPs together to identify the most appropriate clinicians and locations for their treatment

Your Thoughts
• Patients will be able to directly comment and feedback on their hospital experience
• All comments will be pre-moderated and references to named individuals will be removed
• Hospitals will have the opportunity to respond to comments about their services.

Nine in 10 risk high blood pressure

Posted on by

London: About ninety per cent of Britons are at risk from high blood pressure increasing their risk of heart disease, strokes and kidney failure if current rates continue, according to a new report in the medical magazine The Lancet.

The report claims that poor lifestyle choices such as alcohol abuse, smoking, a salt rich diet and lack of exercise have seen the incidence of high blood pressure soar.

High blood pressure also known as hypertension is also being diagnosed in adolescents and children and a global epidemic is being predicted.

Obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, a poor diet and a lack of exercise all contribute to the condition.

The report says: “Lifestyle factors, such as physical inactivity, a salt-rich diet with high processed and fatty foods, and alcohol and tobacco use, are at the heart of this increased disease burden, which is spreading at an alarming rate from developed countries to emerging economies such as India and China.

“Many patients still believe that hypertension is a disease that can be cured, and stop or reduce medication when blood pressure levels fall. Physicians need to convey the message that hypertension is the first, and easily measurable, irreversible sign that many organs in the body are under attack.

“Perhaps this message will make people think more carefully about the consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle and give preventative measures a real chance.”

High blood pressure is defined as a reading that exceeds 140/90 compared to a normal reading of about 120/80.

The first figure corresponds to the ‘surge’ of blood which occurs with each heart beat whilst the second is the ‘resting’ pressure between beats.

The medical experts also give advice on how best to treat high blood pressure.

They say that patients should take a combination of two or more drugs to control the hypertension plus statin drugs which will reduce cholesterol.

Diet drinks linked to metabolic disorders

Posted on by

New York: Diet drinks (sodas) may be linked to a number of diseases including metabolic syndrome- high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, a big waist, high triglycerides (a blood fat) and low HDL (good) cholesterol.

Metabolic syndrome is believed to be a risk factor for heart disease, according to the report published in the Journal of Circulation

Researchers collected food questionnaires from about 6,000 middle-aged people over several years. Those who drank less than one soda per day were about half as likely to develop metabolic syndrome as those who drank more than one.

Previous studies have suggested (but not proven) that drinking soda may be a marker for a number of factors this study didn’t fully account for:

* an unhealthy lifestyle generally (some of which was controlled for in this study)
* an increased taste for sweet foods triggered by sweet-tasting beverages, regardless of the source of the sweetness (this is only a hypthesis)
* lower economic status (Soda is cheaper than many healthier beverages, meaning people with less money–whom other studies have suggested are at higher risk for heart disease–are more likely to drink them.)

Other researchers have suggested that drinking diet soda is a marker for a desire to lose weight, which could explain why those who drink diet soda appear to be at elevated risk of metabolic syndrome.

Italians create ‘pasta’ diet pill

Posted on by

Naples: Italian scientists has created a new diet pill that fills you up as if you have eaten a whole bowl of pasta.

The new 500mg pill which is drunk with two glasses of water is made of cellulose powder that expands 1,000 times its original size – it effectively becomes the size of a tennis ball in the stomach.

Professor Luigi Ambrosio, of the National Research Council in Naples, the lead researcher in the project says,”The sensation is like eating a nice plate of spaghetti.”

The pill has been tested on 20 people for a month last year, and is now being tested on a further 90 people at the Policlinico Gemelli hospital in Rome until October this year.

A new company known as Academic Life Science has been created to market the pill which . He hopes to be selling the pill by next May.

Professor Ambrosio, said the cellulose from which the pill is made comes from a natural substance found inside plants and has a beneficial action on the gut.

Briton’s try to loose 13 million stone for holidays

Posted on by

London: Britons aim to lose a massive 13 million stone in weight by mid-August, according to a new poll by breakfast cereal giant Kellogg’s.

Over a quarter of Brits are currently dieting to be body-beautiful this summer, with the average desired weight-loss almost a stone.

Men are becoming as body conscious as women with 87 per cent taking measures to lose weight for the beach with 70 per cent aiming to lose over half a stone.

The poll also revealed some bad dieting habits, with many Britons likely to fall short of their target weight. The number one diet trap was skipping breakfast to reduce calorie intake (50 per cent of respondents). Other statistics reveal:

· 40 per cent lied to themselves about their calorie intake,

· 32 per cent of Brits were starving themselves in a bid to slim down this summer,

· 31 per cent admitted that booze was often what caused them to ditch the diet;

· 16 per cent switched from one fad diet to another and

· 15 per cent ‘binged and purged’.

Leading diet and fitness expert Joanna Hall comments: “In many cases dieters believe that skipping breakfast or even starving themselves completely can be a fast-track to weight-loss success. In fact, studies show that those who make time to eat breakfast actually tend to be slimmer than those who skip. If you don’t have this meal in the morning you’re more likely to overindulge later in the day on high fat, high sugar foods. Many forms of dieting are a false economy and will simply leave you devoid of energy and your diet doomed to failure – it’s best to focus on a balanced diet and regular exercise. “

The majority of people dieting for summer are doing it for themselves but over a fifth of male dieters are losing weight for their partners, whereas only a sixth of females are doing it for the man in their life. A fifth of young people (16 – 24 years old) believe that losing weight will help them attract a new partner.

Regional Differences

· The most body conscious city is Glasgow, with 85% of people hoping to lose at least half a stone or more by August.

· Geordies are the worst for skipping breakfast to save on calories (65 per cent) and Glaswegians are more likely to nibble on food at work (43 per cent).

· Half of those dieters surveyed from Belfast have failed their diets in the past by losing willpower whilst ‘under the influence’.

Rimi Obra-Ratwatte, Kellogg’s nutritionist says; “It is worrying to see some of the diet trap trends that emerge from this survey, especially when we so many people are making a concerted effort to skip breakfast, follow fad diets or even ‘binge and purge’. Successful weight management hinges on the ability to stick to a balanced diet that ensures nutrients are taken from a wide variety of food groups in addition to par-taking in regular activity.”

Background info:
· The poll conducted by www.Tickbox.net on behalf of Kellogg’s, surveyed 1349 men and women across the UK in June 2007.

· Additional survey findings include:

o 40% of people in the UK have dieted in the last 12 months
o 40% of dieters regularly lie to themselves about their calorie intake

· A copy of the De la Hunty & Ashwell M. 2007 Report: “Are people who eat breakfast cereals slimmer than those who don’t” can be obtained from the Kellogg’s Press Office

Sex and diet pill on way, say researchers

Posted on by

Edinburgh: Earlier research by Scottish scientists indicates that it may be possible to create a combo pill that increases a woman’s sex drive at the same time as supressing appetite.

So far the pill has only been tested on animals – shrews and monkeys, but the results so far indicate that the pill could go on sale within ten years.

Professor Robert Millar, director of the Human Reproductive Sciences Unit at the Medical Research Council in Edinburgh, said they discovered the double benefit while developing a hormone to treat loss of libido, a problem which affects millions of women.

He noted that the animals in the test demonstrated an increased desire for sex at the same time they were less interested in food.

Female musk shrews and marmosets were injected with the Type 2 Gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which provoked an mating response towards their males.

In the shrews, this was shown by ‘rump presentation and tail wagging’, while the monkeys began ‘tongue flicking and eyebrow raising’ said the scientist. The animals cut their food intake by up to a third.

Type 2 Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is distributed to parts of the brain that scientists believe may affect reproductive behaviour.

Professor Millar believes that the results indicate the hormone could be useful in treating both low libido and obesity at the same time. He is now working on reproducing it in the form of a pill, which could prove extremely profitable given the amount of interest pharmaceutical companies have shown in enhancing libido.

Brits – the fattest in Europe, says new survey

Posted on by

London: Brits are the fattest people in Europe, says a new survey by the European Union’s Statistical Office, Eurostat.

A quarter of women and a fifth of men in the UK are now so overweight that their health is at serious risk. Second and third place go to Germany and Malta.

British women head the EU league, with 23 per cent clinically obese, and men fare little better, with 22.3 per cent classified as obese behind only Malta.

The figures highlight the obesity timebomb of ageing diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other diseases brought on by obesity.

German women have an obesity rate of 21.7 per cent and Maltese women 21.2 per cent. The thinnest women are in Italy, where fewer than 8 per cent are obese.

The highest rate of male obesity is in Malta, with 25.1 per cent obese. British men are second with a rate of 22.3 per cent, followed by Hungary and Germany. Romania has the best record on male obesity, with just 7.7 per cent obese.

Measured by calculating Body Mass Index – a mathematical formula relating height to weight – people are classified as obese if they weigh a fifth more than their ideal maximum weight.

The EU statisticians looked only at adult obesity, but previous studies have shown rates of child obesity are equally worrying. In Britain the figures have trebled in 20 years, with 10 per cent of six-year-olds and 17 per cent of 15-year-olds now obese.

Adult obesity rates have nearly quadrupled over the last 25 years, making Britain the second-fattest nation in the developed world, trailing behind only America.

Obesity causes 9,000 premature deaths a year and costs the NHS up to £1billion.

Being obese can take nine years of a person’s lifespan and raise the risk of a host of health problems including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, infertility and depression.

The risk of many cancers, including breast, colon, kidney and stomach cancer, are linked to weight.

Doggie diet pill gets approval

Posted on by

New York: A diet pill for dogs has been given approval by the US regulator, the Food and Drug Administration.

This allows qualified US veterinarians to precribe it to pets who have a weight problem. It costs around £1 a day to administer.

Manufacturer Pfizer is also waiting for approval from the European Medicines Agency.

The new drug called Slentrol, which is given in liquid form, is said to reduce a dog’s appetite and fat absorption and was shown to reduce weight by 18% and 22% in a clinical trial. But it can have side effects including diarrhoea.And it must not be taken by humans as it can cause liver damage.

Veterinarians estimate that about 40% of dogs in Britain and America are overweight. A survey last year found 81% of British vets considered obesity to be the biggest health threat facing dogs. It is linked with similar problems to humans such as heart disease and obesity.

In the US trials dogs lost about 3% of their weight a month without changing their diets.

New diet drug works on metabolism

Posted on by

London: A new fatbusting drug that makes the body loose 12 percent of weight in a year – faster than any other drug on the market – could soon be available to UK patients.

The one-a-day tablet called Excalia which has been developed by US scientists works by tricking the metabolism into running faster.

The number of NHS prescriptions for obesity drugs has jumped almost 600 per cent since 1999. Already available in the UK are Xenical, which blocks absorption of fat, Reductil, which makes the stomach feel full, and Acomplia, which reduces cravings and stops the body storing abdominal fat.

Britain’s National Health Service spends around £1bn a year on obesity-related illness such as diabetes and the UK the worst problem with overweight adults.

The American scientists say the pill also helps weight to come off for longer. It works on the hypothalamus in the brain to boost the body’s metabolism and uses two drugs which are already widely used, against epilepsy and smoking. It also boost levels of a hormone that stops us getting hungry.

UK obesity epidemic will bankrupt state health service

Posted on by

Glasgow: The growing obesity problem in the UK could bankrupt the state health system, warn doctors in the Britisih Medical Journal.

In the United Kingdom, well over half the population is overweight and more than one in five adults is obese, write Naveed Sattar and colleagues. Obese people are at high risk of multiple health problems, while the cost of obesity to a country’s health service is currently estimated at up to 9%, and the overall social cost of the condition is seen as a major hindrance to economic development.

So, can we reverse the rising trend in the prevalence of obesity, and if so, when?

People clearly have some responsibility for their health, but society and government also have a responsibility to make the preferred, easy choices healthier ones. It is increasingly apparent that most individuals are unable to make enough “proactive” changes to prevent excess weight gain but are simply “reactive” to their environment, say the authors.

What is provided is what is eaten so what is provided has to change, they add. Thus education alone will fail to halt this obesity epidemic, and environmental changes (physical, food, and fiscal policy) are urgently needed.

They believe that prevention is the only economic long term solution to the problem and recommend that:

The food industry needs to take more responsibility for preventing obesity. And governments, as custodians of public health, should create the conditions for this to happen.

The advertising of energy dense foods needs to be substantially curtailed
The basic principles of energy balance should be taught in primary schools, and education should be provided at all levels to change attitudes and behaviour towards diet and physical activity

Obesity health issuesshould be made a core part of all medical training
Public health consequences should be considered for all decisions made in public life

Medical practice must adapt to the current epidemic of obesity and nutrition related diseases, while society must also accept that many people now need drugs (and in some cases, surgery) to cut risks of and disability from obesity, and to limit its progression, they write.

As the prevalence and costs of obesity escalate, the economic argument for giving high priority to obesity and weight management through a dedicated coordinating agency will ultimately become overwhelming. The only question is, will action be taken before it’s too late?

Fitness watch – the perfect present for a fat friend!

Posted on by

image

London:It’s time to burn off all those festive calories, and what better way to do it than with the new JML Fitness Watch!

It has all the fancy stuff that you expect from heart rate monitors and all that other nerdy exercise stuff and whittled it down into a very accessible timepiece. The Fitness Watch works in two ways: it takes accurate readings of your heart (by touching a sensor on the watch); it also has an Exercise Mode that can measure the amount of calories you burn.

The Fitness Watch closely monitors your heart to identify how to get the most from your exercise. Work too hard or below your target, and the alarm sounds. The LCD display will indicate if you are below or above your target. It also comes with a sturdy bar grip enabling you to attach it to your bike. It’s an excellent choice for a tubby friend, exercise fiends and those of you looking to stick to New Year’s resolutions. What time is it? Time to buy the JML Fitness Watch. Available at $40(£19.99 €30) from the UK stores Boots and Robert Dyas and online at www.jmldirect.com

Clinic trials low-level lasers to curb appetite

Posted on by

image

Los Angeles: Trials are taking place to determine the effectiveness of low-level lasers in suppressing appetite and speeding up the metabolism.

The research into this therapy is taking place at Freedom Laser Therapy in Los Angeles, where the lasers are used on the body’s acupuncture points.

Participants also get the expertise of international fitness expert Peter Nielsen, who creates a bespoke lifestyle changing weight loss program for clients.

During the low-level laser therapy session the client watches Peter’s 15-minute weight loss instructional video about his own principles of healthy living. The client receives guidance on nutrition and fitness to promote new healthy lifestyle habits. Inclusive in the program is a weight loss support kit, which consists of nutritional supplements, diet plans, exercise tips, and additional items that will assist the client with their weight loss goals.

For over a decade, Nielsen has worked toward motivating people to get moving and get fit by adopting the philosophy of keeping fitness simple and fun. Nielsen grew up in Brooklyn, New York. At age 15, Peter was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and dropped down to a mere 86 pounds.

Very little was known about Crohn’s Disease in 1977 and even doctors were at a loss to tell his family how to fend off the crippling attacks of abdominal pain and bleeding, not to mention malnutrition and all of the other ailments caused by poor nutrient absorption. Nielsen was physically weakened by surgery and mentally discouraged by the disease’s prognosis. The writing on the wall seemed to say that Nielsen’s life was going to be a limited one. Yet, Peter astonished his family, friends and doctors. A pivotal period of soul searching revealed truths to Peter that transformed his attitude toward his health, his body and especially his life. This is the foundation of Nielsen’s message of health and fitness.

For 25 years, Nielsen has lived a lifestyle of total fitness. In conjunction with his doctors, Nielsen created a new lifestyle that focused on health, nutrition and fitness. Peter Nielsen has earned 72 titles “Mr. International Universe,” “Mr. World Trainer of the Year,” “America’s Top Personal Trainer” and “Best Training Club in the Country.”

Peter Nielsen is providing exercise, nutritional, motivational and educational materials to help patients maintain a healthy lifestyle. Peter Nielsen is not directly affiliated with the laser therapy clinical research trials.

For more information: www.freedomlasertherapy.com

British fattest people in Europe

Posted on by

The British are the fattest people in Europe, according to a new UK Government report.

One in four adults and teenage girls are overweight. And within the next four years the figures will increase to one in three adults and a fifth of all children.

The means Britain has the worst obesity rate in Europe and will likely have more people at risk from the diseases of ageing such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

The report also reveals that people living in the poorer north are likely to be fatter and die earlier than those living in the south of the country.

The highest life expectancy rates are in the South-West, where women can expect to live to 82 years, while men reach 77.8 years.

In contrast, the average woman in the North-East lives to 79.6 years – and the average man to 75.

The report also shows a steep rise in binge drinking. One in three men aged under 44 drinks twice the recommended levels of alcohol on at least one day a week – as do one in four women under 25.

Those living in the North-East are most likely to drink excessively, with a quarter of adults there binge drinking, compared with the national average of 18 per cent.

Obesity baloon operation now available in UK

Posted on by

London:As the UK obesity rate continues to climb and more than two thirds of the population are deemed clinically overweight, one of the country’s leading medical groups is to offer an innovative ‘Diet Balloon’ treatment for the first time in the UK.

Billed as a lifestyle changing treatment, the procedure is two-fold offering an innovative, balloon, designed to suppress appetite by filling the stomach, and a six-month diet and wellbeing aftercare programme.

In order to ensure the patient breaks their bad habits and increase their chances of losing the weight and keeping it off, the procedure is managed by a qualified team of experts including dieticians, endoscopists, doctors and nutritionists.

Ultralase Medical Aesthetics (UMA) has introduced the treatment in the UK following the successful launch by its parent company, Corporacion Dermoestetica, in Europe, where over 300 patients have already completed the Diet Balloon programme.

The initial procedure is straightforward and does not involve general anaesthetic or surgery: a silicone intragastric balloon is inserted into the stomach (via the mouth and oesophagus, under sedation) and is filled with liquid so it partially fills the stomach and creates a feeling of fullness.

An intensive support programme is then put in place with a nutritionist, who examines diet, eating habits (including favourite restaurants) and offers a lifestyle ‘bible’ of tips to keep temptation at bay and stave off bad eating habits for good!

The programme involves regularly scheduled face-to-face meetings, text reminders and access to 24-hour access to a dedicated qualified specialist by phone.

“For patients who are obese and have failed medical therapy, the intra-gastric balloon is a welcomed and effective next step. It can also be used as a bridge to weight reducing surgery or in place of such surgery especially in patients who may be deemed too high an operative risk or who do not want invasive surgery”, says Dr Jude Oben, consultant gastroenterologist.

Anne-Marie Holdsworth, UMA’s consultant nutritionist comments: “Often with any new diet you have an initial burst of confidence that helps you make the required changes. However, over time, this often wanes and old habits creep back in as your willpower eventually begins to crumble.”

Ultralase Medical Aesthetics’ weight loss programme is designed to help overcome all the obstacles associated with dieting; what to eat when dining out, how to steel yourself from reaching for the chocolate bar when watching your favourite TV programme. Most of all it encourages patients to change their lifestyle habits and break away from the couch and get active instead.

Anne-Marie again: “Because the focus is placed firmly on re-educating people about their eating choices over a sustained length of time – the Diet Balloon doesn’t offer a ‘quick fix’ weight loss solution. Its aim to promote a total lifestyle change, is what I believe will be a key factor in its success.”

For patients who are obese and have failed medical therapy, the intra-gastric balloon is a welcomed and effective next step. It can also be used as a bridge to weight reducing surgery or in place of such surgery especially in patients who may be deemed too high an operative risk or who do not want invasive surgery.

Ultralase Medical Aesthetics will only recommend the procedure after detailed consultations with the patient, and after the Diet Balloon has been inserted there is a continuous after-care programme during the maximum six-month period the balloon remains in place.

In the largest study conducted on intragastric balloon effectiveness, 323 patients underwent the procedure and lost on average 48% of their excess weight. The study, undertaken in Brazil, demonstrated that the balloon was highly effective and safe, with a low risk of major side effects.

Dr. Jude Oben has appeared in:

Channel 5 TV – Doctor-Doctor, August 2006: Obesity and Fatty Liver
BBC TV – City Hospital, May 2006: Obesity and Fatty Liver

Obesity figures supplied by ONS survey, < ahref="http:www.statistics.gov.uk">www.statistics.gov.uk

The treatment is currently available at four UK clinics; Hammersmith, Guildford, Chelmsford and St Albans.

A full consultation is required prior to considering the procedure to determine the history and suitability of the patient.

The intragastric balloon procedure was first developed in the 1980s and is recognised as a safe and effective means for achieving significant weight loss amongst obese patients whose health is at risk because of their condition and who have failed to lose and maintain weight loss through weight-control programmes.

It can also be used for severely-obese patients who need to lose weight before surgery (either for obesity or any other condition), in order to reduce surgical risk.

Obesity now a major health risk in UK

Posted on by

London: Obesity is a major health risk in the UK, the British government warned today.

Health officials called on parents to take more responsbility for their diets and that of their children. Children in the UK are five times more likely to be overweight and than their parents.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said that obesity cost the country’s National Health Service more than £1bn and that obese people were twice as likely to suffer from diabetes and heart disease.

She said the cause was the decreasing amount of exercise taken by adults and children, even though the average number of calories consumed had fallen.

UK second fatest nation in world after US

Posted on by

London: The UK government has warned of an “obesity timebomb” after a Department of Health report predicts that on third of adults will be dangerously overweight by 2010.

This means Britain has the most fat adults than any other country apart from the US.

This means that 14 million adults will be putting their health at risk with a lifetime of related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke and Alzheimer’s.

As usual experts blame junt food and lack of exercise, the latter caused by the digital age of computers and TV entertainment.

In the UK obesity causes 9,000 premature deaths every year and the annual cost of the condition to the Health Service is estimated at up to £1billion. And the situation will worsen.

Three years ago just over 9million adults were classed as obese – but by 2010 the figure will have rocketed to almost 13million.

In the case of children, in 2003, 17 per cent of boys and 16 per cent of girls were classed as chronically overweight. But by 2010 some 19 per cent of boys and a shocking 22 per cent of girls between the ages of two and 15 will be obese – some
1.7million children in total. Experts warn that if the current trend continues, half of all children could be obese by 2020.

The forecast means that the Government is likely to miss its 2004 target to halt the rise of obesity in under-11s by 2010.

Health campaigners have already warned that parents will soon be living longer than their children because of the epidemic of lifestyle diseases.

Doctors question BMI obesity guide

Posted on by

Rochester: One of the main measurements for obesity, the body mass index (BMI) is being called into question by US doctors.

This follows research by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, which investigated 40 studies involving 250,000 victims of heart disease. As expected it found that severely obese patients had a higher risk of heart-related death.

But would it didn’t expect was that overweight patients, as defined by BMI scores, had better survival and fewer heart problems than those with a normal BMI. In turn, those with normal BMI were less likely to die than those with a low BMI.

They concluded that many of the so-called BMI defined overweight patients actually had more muscle – which actually weighs more than fat – and that BMI failed to identify the difference.

Many experts now want waist circumference or waist to hip ratio, which indicates levels of abdominal fat, adopted as a more accurate guide rather than the method for BMI which is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared. Someone with a BMI of less than 18.5 is considered underweight, between 18.5 and 24.9 lies within the ‘ normal’ range, and 25 to 29.9 is classified as overweight. Clinical obesity is defined by a BMI of 30 or greater.

A recent international study in 52 countries found waist-to-hip ratio was the most reliable predictor of heart attack risk. As a rough guide to healthy waist circumference, doctors regard over 40 inches for a man and 35 for a woman as danger signs.

Exercise increases abdomen fat loss

Posted on by

New York: Exercise combined with a sensible diet will shift fat cells faster than diet alone.

A trial was carried out on two groups of obese women in which one was given a regime of calorie cutting and the other diet plus exercise. The women who exercised had a reduction in fat cells around the abdomen whilst the other group did not. This loss is important as abdomen obesity is linked to heart disease and diabetes.

The findings, published in the International Journal of Obesity, suggest that exercise provokes the body to choose to breakdown of fat cells in the abdomen, first. It also means that exercise is important to a person’s distribution of body fat.

The research was carried out at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and included 45 obese middle-aged women who were randomly assigned to one of three groups: one that cut calorie intake alone; one that cut calories and walked at a moderate pace three days per week; and a third that dieted and walked at a more intense pace three days a week.

After 20 weeks, all three groups showed improvements in their weight and body fat percentage. But when the researchers took samples of body fat from just below the skin’s surface, the differences between exercisers and non-exercisers emerged.

Women in both exercise groups showed about an 18 percent reduction in the size of abdominal fat cells, whereas dieters showed no change.

Losing abdominal fat is more than a matter of fitting into a smaller dress. Research shows that people who are “apple-shaped” are more likely to develop diabetes and heart disease than “pear-shaped” individuals, who carry much of their fat below the waist.

So people who include exercise in their weight-loss plan may lower their risk of such diseases to a greater degree, You said. What’s more, he noted, even if people fail to lose a significant amount of weight with regular exercise, the changes in abdominal fat cells might still benefit their health.

Will you get dementia?

Posted on by

Stockholm: Scientists have developed a two-minute test that can access the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

There are seven lifestyle questions on age, education, health and exercise yield a personal score out of the highest of 15, which is then translated into a personal risk level. The higher the score, the more likely dementia will develop within 20 years.
The aim of the test is to shock those at risk into making lifestyle changes necessary to reduce the danger.

Accuracy is estimated at around 70 per cent The test. Those who score highest are estimated to have a 16 per cent chance of developing the disease while those at the lower end have one per cent, according to a report in The Lancet Neurology.

The number of cases of Alzheimer’s is on the increase and presently there is no cure and no predictive testing other than a genetic test.

Though it is generally recognised that there are some risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, not taking exercise, poor diet and high levels of the substance homocysteine in the blood. These may combine years before the disease to create an environment for Alzheimer’s to develop.

The doctors looked at the health of more than 1,400 middle-aged people from Finland to device the scorecard. They looked at their health when they were around 50 and then 20 years later examined them for signs of dementia.

Those who are obese or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol are twice as likely to develop dementia. Scoring badly on all three fronts raises the risk sixfold.

Swedish neurologist Dr Miia Kivipelto, who developed the scorecard, said it could change the face of dementia treatment and gave doctors and patients a better chance in intervention.

GI diet speeds weightloss

Posted on by

Sydney: New research has shown that a diet which scores low on the “glycaemic index” (GI) helps overweight people lose body fat and reduce their levels of “bad” cholesterol, which contributes to the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

A study of 189 overweight and obese adults, carried out by the University of Sydney concluded that a diet high in either protein or carbohydrates, but with a low total GI score, brought about the biggest reduction of body fat, and that a high-carbohydrate and low GI diet caused the greatest drop.

The researchers studied men and women aged 18-40 assigned to one of four reduced-calorie and reduced-fat diets for 12 weeks.

The first diet was high in carbohydrates (55 percent of total energy) but low on the GI index. The second was high in carbohydrates and high in GI rating. The third was high in protein(25 percent of total energy) and high in GI score, while the fourth was also high in protein but low in GI score.

After three months, all the volunteers lost a statistically similar amount of weight: between 4.2 and 6.2 percent of their body weight. However, those on the low GI diets lost the most body fat, with those on the high-carb, low-GI diet losing about 80 percent more body fat than those on the high-carb and high-GI diet.

As for cholesterol levels, the researchers said the effects of each diet varied, with those eating the high-protein, high-GI diet seeing their LDL cholesterol level increase, while those on the high-protein, low GI regimen, saw cholesterol levels go down slightly.

The GI measures the impact of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Food with a high GI score, like biscuits, causes sharper peaks in sugar levels than low GI food, such as pasta, which makes people feel fuller for longer, and may promote the breakdown of fat and reduce total and low density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol.

Overweight teenagers may face early death

Posted on by

Boston: Overweight teeenagers have a greater risk of early death, a new US study from the Harvard School of Public Health has found.

Teenagers who are obesity threatens their health are three times more likely to die early than peers of a normal weight. Obesity also raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes and several types of cancer – including bowel, kidney, oesophageal and stomach cancers – as well as womb and breast cancer in post-menopausal women.

Women who are overweight at 18 are 66 per cent more likely to die prematurely than those who are thin.

Obesity at 18, however, nearly triples the risk of dying by middleage, according to the US study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, and are likely contributed to long-terms effects on the cardiovascular system that led to early death.

Researchers looked at the medical records of 100,000 women. But the doctors conclude that the results may well apply to men.

Their findings revealed that those who were overweight or obese at 18 faced a higher risk of early death from heart disease, cancer, suicide and other causes just 12 years later.

The definition of being overweight or obese was measured according to the body mass index. BMI is an individual’s weight in kilos divided by the square of their height in metres.

Under 18.5 is classed as underweight, 18.5 to 25 is healthy, 25 to 30 is overweight, 30 to 35 is obese and over 35 very obese.

The medical records come from the long-running Nurses’ Health Study II, which began following 116,671 female nurses in 1989, when the women were aged between 24 and 44. Over the next 12 years 710 women died, with an increase in risk climbing in tandem with their weight at 18.