obesity-related stories
Should BMI Trump GPA as a Graduation Requirement?
Photo: Getty
This brings up a whole slew of questions, the first of which is this: Why are they using BMI as a marker? Studies have shown that BMI is not an accurate indicator of obesity across the board -- it varies by race due to body type. For example, according to the co-author of a recent study in the British Medical Journal of Nutrition, non-Hispanic white women are considered obese with a BMI of 30 or more, which for Hispanic women that number is 28, and for African American women, it's closer to 32.
Also, consider where BMI came from. Theo Pavlidis, author of The (Lack of) Science Behind the Body Mass Index, writes, "I find very disturbing to use a statistical measure derived over 150 years ago, most likely, from a group of young men to determine the proper weight for men and women of any age."
The Biggest Loser: Suze Orman and the Obesity Money Pit
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
Suze Orman
Photo: Larry Busacca , Getty Images
Week 11 at "The Biggest Loser" was swimming in sweat as five players attempted to burn off record weight to avoid the last player-controlled elimination. But first, Suze Orman stormed the ranch to teach America why obesity is a major financial drain. Find out why obesity is a rip-off, listen to an NFL Hall of Famer's advice and reflect upon the final five's heartfelt insights on their warm and fuzzy road to thin. Other than early cursing and Week 10's spat between Rudy and Rebecca, Season 8 feels more like The Waltons -- minus the country gravy.
Did Rudy Tell the Truth? When Jillian Michaels confronted the clan about Rebecca being voted off because she was the biggest threat, Rudy didn't budge. He held firm to his claim that it was a lack of trust that sent her home. The real question is will America buy it if Rudy's ever lands in the yellow hot seat? It's probably irrelevant -- he's Season 8's biggest loser to date. And no worries about Rebecca, she's kissing Daniel Wright.
Suze Says Obesity Steals Your Money. You might be wondering what financial wizard Suze Orman has to do with Biggest Loser weight loss. In a creative treadmill trivia contest for cash, contestants discovered obesity is a money pit. For every correct answer, contestants earned $1,000, while wrong answers upped the speed and incline.
Take a spin with these trivia questions, then make a date with a spinning class:
Genes Play a Big Role in Obesity...for a Select Few
Photo: vm2827, Flickr
Remember the adage "you are what you eat"? Well it turns out "you are what your great-great-grandmother ate" may be more appropriate. That is if you're among the small percentage of the population for whom genes may be to blame for a widening girth, according to a review article about genetics and metabolic disorders in the current issue of Nature.
There's more to the story than environmental factors (think lack of exercise and an abundance of high calorie foods) alone,
While this doesn't account for the sharp increases in worldwide obesity and diabetes over the past few decades, it does suggest that we need to rethink the one-size-fits all approach to weight loss. For most of us, it's not just genes and it's not just environment, but the interplay of the two. And a few of us may have a greater genetic predisposition to packing on the pounds. Add to that 64-ounce slushies, 24-hour drive-thrus and hours spent sitting idly in front of the TV and obesity is an almost inevitable outcome.
according to author Stephen O'Rahilly, a professor of clinical biochemistry and medicine at Cambridge University. How different people respond to these triggers is just as important as the factors themselves. "Its main points," said Dr. O'Rahilly, "are to emphasize the importance of inherited factors in both Type 2 diabetes and obesity. In particular it highlights how genetic variants influencing appetite and satiety play an unexpectedly important role in determining who is susceptible to obesity and who is resistant."
While this doesn't account for the sharp increases in worldwide obesity and diabetes over the past few decades, it does suggest that we need to rethink the one-size-fits all approach to weight loss. For most of us, it's not just genes and it's not just environment, but the interplay of the two. And a few of us may have a greater genetic predisposition to packing on the pounds. Add to that 64-ounce slushies, 24-hour drive-thrus and hours spent sitting idly in front of the TV and obesity is an almost inevitable outcome.
Need Another Reason to Lose Weight?
Jonny's Take, Diet & Weight Loss
Photo: Corbis
Not to scare you or anything, but there's another good reason to start paying attention to your weight (as if you needed another good reason). The American Institute for Cancer Research released some scary data this month, showing that obesity could be the direct cause of more than 6 percent of all cancer cases diagnosed in the US every year. That's a total of -- get ready -- about 100,000 cases of cancer. Every year. Attributable to obesity.
More specifically, the researchers estimate that extra body fat causes 33,000 breast cancer cases a year, probably 21,000 or so cases of endometrial cancer and more than 13,000 of colorectal cancer. See, in the "olden" days, we thought fat cells were just these annoying little sponges of fat that sat there on our bodies making it tough to get into our jeans and embarrassed to get into a swimsuit, but not doing much else. We used to think these fat cells were inert. We now know that the little buggers are virtual endocrine glands, spitting out a huge array of inflammatory chemicals (like cytokines) and hormones (including estrogen!).
Fat cells are smart: They even secrete compounds that protect their interests. One such hormone, discovered in 2001, is called resistin, and it contributes to insulin resistance, a condition that makes it fiendishly difficult to lose fat. So sure, it's always good to watch your weight because of vanity. But if vanity doesn't do it for you, maybe understanding that excess fat can literally rob you of life by contributing to cancer, (not to mention heart disease and diabetes) might motivate you to take some action!
And the good news is that you can reduce your risk for all these things by losing as little as 10 percent of your current body weight. What are you waiting for?
Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight loss coach cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life.
For more information on weight loss, visit Jonny Bowden.
Overweight Kids Doomed for Heart Disease
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Medical experts report that overweight kids are heart attacks just waiting to happen. One study from the New England Journal of Medicine found that today's kids are likely to become adults with heart disease, which translates to more hospitalizations, more medications, more medical procedures and a shorter life expectancy. Another study reported that if the number of overweight children continues to increase at the current rate, there will be 100,000 additional cases of heart disease by 2035.
Who are the main culprits for childhood obesity? Parents, for one. Carting in boxes of donuts to their little ones' soccer games, offering sugar-loaded fruit drinks as after-school snacks and replacing home cooking with deep-fried drive-thrus, parents are teaching kids some fattening life lessons. The average child today consumes 180 more calories a day than their leaner counterparts did in 1989. That can translate to an extra 18 pounds a year.
Meridia or Sibutramine: Prescription Diet Pill
Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products
This prescription diet pill Meridia (with a scientific name sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) treats obesity by increasing satiety -- or the feeling of being full.This orally-administered drug is typically recommended to be used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise routine to treat excess weight that may be related to diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
As for its effectiveness? The jury is still out. According to Fred Vagnini, M.D., medical director of the Heart, Diabetes and Weight Loss Centers of New York and author of "The Weight Loss Plan for Beating Diabetes," Meridia is not as effective as one might originally think.
According to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2005, participants who received sibutramine and lifestyle modification lost more weight than taking the drug alone or doing behavior modification on its own. All subjects were prescribed a 1,200 to 1,500-calorie diet and the same exercise regime.
"Studies have not shown a real dramatic long-term weight loss with Meridia," Vagnini said. "I don't think it's that effective and it affects blood pressure."
For instance, Dr. Vagnini previously prescribed sibutramine in his practice for weight loss and mentions it was "not successful" in terms of weight loss. Furthermore, as shown in studies and indicated by the drug's manufacturer, sibutramine has been known to increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients. In placebo-controlled obesity studies, 5 to 20 mg daily dosages were associated with increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
According to the drug manufacturer, side effects from taking Meridia include increased blood pressure, dry mouth, upset stomach, constipation, nausea, memory loss and dizziness.
At That's Fit, we're committed to helping you get healthy, live well and be strong through healthy lifestyle choices including healthy diets and enough exercise.
As for its effectiveness? The jury is still out. According to Fred Vagnini, M.D., medical director of the Heart, Diabetes and Weight Loss Centers of New York and author of "The Weight Loss Plan for Beating Diabetes," Meridia is not as effective as one might originally think.
According to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2005, participants who received sibutramine and lifestyle modification lost more weight than taking the drug alone or doing behavior modification on its own. All subjects were prescribed a 1,200 to 1,500-calorie diet and the same exercise regime.
"Studies have not shown a real dramatic long-term weight loss with Meridia," Vagnini said. "I don't think it's that effective and it affects blood pressure."
For instance, Dr. Vagnini previously prescribed sibutramine in his practice for weight loss and mentions it was "not successful" in terms of weight loss. Furthermore, as shown in studies and indicated by the drug's manufacturer, sibutramine has been known to increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients. In placebo-controlled obesity studies, 5 to 20 mg daily dosages were associated with increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
According to the drug manufacturer, side effects from taking Meridia include increased blood pressure, dry mouth, upset stomach, constipation, nausea, memory loss and dizziness.
At That's Fit, we're committed to helping you get healthy, live well and be strong through healthy lifestyle choices including healthy diets and enough exercise.
Stomach Bacteria May Cause Weight Gain
Photo: Getty Images
Could probiotics help to stave off weight gain?
A new research study found that the type of food you eat can affect the type of bacteria in your stomach in as little as 24 hours, which can make gaining weight easier and losing it harder.
Researchers at the Washington University in St. Louis examined two types of stomach bacteria: Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. It's this bacteria that determines if the food you eat is stored as fat or burned as calories. While some bacteria in the stomach is good to help safeguard against disease, the amount of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes can make a difference in your waistline. And a major contributor to which type of bacteria people have is food.
French Women Do Get Fat
Well, there goes another myth we all wanted to believe. It seems the road to slimness is not paved with French pastries, cheese and wine after all. According to a new study, French women do indeed get fat.
Research results from TNS Sofres Healthcare and Swiss pharmaceuticals company Roche confirmed that the French paradox of being able to eat high-calorie, high-fat diets while remaining thin is simply not true. In fact, an estimated 26 percent of France's women are overweight today and another 15.1 percent are clinically obese.
For years, we have romanticized the French way of life and believed they knew the secret to staying thin. "French women used to be role models for a healthy lifestyle," says registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, Sarah Krieger. "The French diet included a lot of whole foods, fruits and vegetables. They ate slowly and walked everywhere."
Research results from TNS Sofres Healthcare and Swiss pharmaceuticals company Roche confirmed that the French paradox of being able to eat high-calorie, high-fat diets while remaining thin is simply not true. In fact, an estimated 26 percent of France's women are overweight today and another 15.1 percent are clinically obese.
For years, we have romanticized the French way of life and believed they knew the secret to staying thin. "French women used to be role models for a healthy lifestyle," says registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, Sarah Krieger. "The French diet included a lot of whole foods, fruits and vegetables. They ate slowly and walked everywhere."
Teenage Obesity: The TV Isn't To Blame
Photo: Getty
Of course, if obesity isn't caused by a reduction of calories being burned off, the only other logical explanation is that it's caused by an increase in the calories being consumed -- we're getting just as much activity as we did before, but it's simply not enough to make up for all the extra food we're consuming. In fact, other experts argue that the surge in obesity levels in youngsters is caused by food alone -- exercise habits don't even factor into the equation.
Hey, nobody's saying that exercise isn't important -- it's definitely an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. But when it comes to obesity levels in teenagers, it seems the problem starts at the dinner table, not the couch.
Many people are also pointing fingers at school lunches -- students in Chicago can fill up on nachos five days a week.
Leslie Sansone
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Weight Loss, All Workouts
Leslie Sansone is the creator of the popular Walk At Home fitness program that encourages people of all shapes and sizes to get up off the couch and lose weight by walking. Since her videos started selling on QVC back in 1987, Sansone has stuck to the idea that anyone can exercise.
Leslie Sansone believes that walking -- a simple activity that almost anyone of any fitness level can do -- can lead to weight loss and a healthier, more active lifestyle. The perky, energetic mother of three aims to show everyone that, regardless of your current size, you can change your life.
Leslie Sansone believes that walking -- a simple activity that almost anyone of any fitness level can do -- can lead to weight loss and a healthier, more active lifestyle. The perky, energetic mother of three aims to show everyone that, regardless of your current size, you can change your life.
What began as a few classes in church halls has become an exercise sensation, with Leslie Sansone producing more than 100 workout DVDs and several infomercials. She has also written several books, including "Walk Away the Pounds."
Walk At Home is a system that allows you to choose the number of miles you want to walk without leaving your living room. Levels range from gentle to Power Walk, but all of your muscles are engaged in the activity to give you more of a workout than you'd get by taking a stroll. Sansone says that walking will not only help you lose weight but also help to combat the illnesses associated with obesity -- all from the privacy of your home.
Want to start a walking plan? Try AOL Health's beginner's walking tips.
Mom Loses 340 Lbs. to Regain Her Kids
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Amy Barnes once described food as her comfort, her solitude and her very best friend. That "friend" ended up costing Amy her health and her family.
Overweight for most of her life, Amy put on an additional 200 pounds during an abusive relationship with a boyfriend that lasted five years. "I used food to celebrate, to mourn, out of boredom and for comfort," she told the Today Show. The 35-year-old admitted she was addicted to food, just like someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. "I always had food in my hands."
Amy ballooned to 490 pounds and became too big to sit in an armchair or airplane seat, and too tired to walk up a flight of stairs or play with her children. "I had lost complete control over myself physically," she said. That loss of control landed Amy homeless and without her kids after a judge ordered her to "get healthy and get your life in order".
New Prescription Diet Pills Coming Soon
Photo: erix!, Flickr
The three prescription drugs presently used to treat obesity include sibutramine (Meridia), which increases satiety; phentermine, which suppresses appetite; and orlistat (Xenical), which prevents some dietary fat from being absorbed by the intestine. Orlistat is sold in a lower dose over-the-counter, like Alli. The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing safety information regarding reports of liver-related adverse events in patients taking orlistat.
Like the three well-known drugs above, the new drugs are intended either for people who are obese, which is considered to be 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight, or for overweight patients who have risk factors like high blood pressure. A quick review of the three new drugs:
Michelle Obama Hula Hoops For Kids' Health
Win McNamee, Getty Images
First Lady Michelle Obama has killer arms, is in the best shape of her life and loves living a healthy lifestyle. She is certainly leading by example as she encourages America's children to get fit, too. The First Lady recently held a Healthy Kids Fair on the South Lawn of the White House, where she gave some healthy advice to some very lucky kids. And she drew from her own experiences, not only as a mom, but as a child to her own mother. "When I was growing up, fast food was a treat," she said. "We had pizza ... once every semester when we got good grades." In very motherly fashion, she then told the kids to eat their veggies: "We don't want to hear the whining. We want you to eat it. Just eat it, right?"
Mrs. Obama isn't just taking on unhealthy eating habits though. She issued a challenge to kids to be more active every day. "Turn off the TV on your own. Get up and throw a ball. Run around the house. Don't break anything, but move," she says. It's pretty obvious advice, but advice that needs saying these days nonetheless. And, of course, she practiced what she preached by having a go with a hula hoop and jumping rope.
She's taken on a tough cause -- changing the diet and exercise habits that are the foundation of our country's obesity epidemic -- but the First Lady seems up for the job. What do you think? Can Mrs. Obama inspire America to change its unhealthy ways?
Click on the gallery below to learn about Michelle Obama's workout routine.
Michelle Obama might be known for her incredibly toned arms, but she isn't the only lady rocking gorgeous guns. Check out who has the best arms in Hollywood.
World's Fattest Man Eats 20,000 Calories a Day
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Weighing 976 pounds, Mason is rarely able to leave his bed. He requires extensive care, including seven caregivers, which are paid for by Britain's National Health Service to the tune of an estimated $164,000 a year. So far the cost of keeping Mason alive has topped $1 million.
Before you go feeling bad for Mason, consider this: The Daily Mail is reporting that he actually had an ambition to become the heaviest man in the world. After losing over 250 pounds in the hospital about three years ago, Mason told the staff he really didn't want to lose the weight. When he got back home, he gorged himself on family-sized portions everyday.
It is estimated that the 48-year-old compulsive eater consumes 20,000 calories a day -- 10 times the recommended daily limit.
Don't think eating that much in one day is possible? This man devoured a 30,000-calorie burger.
Docs Dodging the Fat Conversation
Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
Photo: striatic, Flickr
Chances are strong your doctor won't bring up the health ramifications of carrying that extra weight around. According to a 2005 study, only 40 percent of obese patients were advised by their healthcare professionals to drop weight. Many docs are failing to routinely measure body mass index, and the topic itself is, well, uncomfortable. "Physicians are reluctant to bring up weight because it's such a loaded issue," Dr. William Dietz, director of the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity at the CDC, tells the Los Angeles Times.
Maybe doctors don't think their patients will listen, and they can't exactly pen a prescription for behavior change. But being overweight or obese has data-verified medical consequences -- your risk for weight-related diseases rises quickly when you depart the "normal" range. It's not right doctors aren't measuring and reporting your BMI like your blood pressure. A candid discussion about weight should be a vigilant priority.
