Archive for the 'The Truths on Obesity' Category

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Knowing Your BMI Means Taking Action To Be Healthy….

May 23, 2007

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This is an important chart for everyone to keep just to trace where our BMI is going! Up or Down! 

The International Obesity Task Force also came up with standards to follow for the Asia Pacific Region which calculates a lower BMI for the Asian population as overweight and obese. 

Why do we need to know our BMI? Because it calculates your health risk.  And more importantly, this tracks your progress in losing weight and therefore for every one point drop in BMI translates to a concomitant reduction for its associated disease risk especially early mortality….  Studies have shown that: if you’re obese your risk to die early is high! 

Remember…

Knowing the Numbers Means Wellness…

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Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Medical News Bits, The Truths on Obesity | 4 Comments »

Can Fruits Cause Obesity?

May 15, 2007

imagesfrd1.jpgWe love fruits.  Being a natural source of sugar, we believe it is harmless in most ways. In fact you may have heard friends who tell you that they lose weight because they are on a fruit diet!  But too much of a good thing can turn out bad especially if over-consumption becomes a habit rather than an exception.

Recently though, the notion that fruits is generally okay has been challenge especially in the field of obesity.  Apparently, in animal studies, researchers from the University of Florida have found that fructose tricks your brain into thinking that you are hungrier than you truly are, causing you to eat more to feel satiated. The pathway at which fructose may be responsible for the rising epidemic of obesity is published in Nature Clinical Practice: Nephrology.

While it is common knowledge that the common causes of obesity includes the intake of high-fat, high-calorie foods and forgoing exercise, the concept of fructose as one culprit has never been on top of the list to determine if this sugar is in fact an underlying cause of metabolic syndrome, a condition that is linked to type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Fructose is present in many foods that we eat including the high fructose corn syrup to soft drinks, the jellies our children love , the pastries,  the tomato or banana ketchup and other commonly used products.  It is estimated that fructose consumption has risen more than 30 percent since the 1970s which coincided with the rise in the rate of metabolic syndrome and obesity worldwide.

But can fruits cause obesity? No link of that yet but again… eating a balanced meal with a fruit serving per meal should not make one gain weight MORE than the benefits of fruit consumption you’ll get!  But the general rule on fruits is: The Sweeter…The More Fructose…The More Calories!One Fruit Per Meal Is The Deal!

Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Medical News Bits, The Truths on Obesity | 4 Comments »

Attacking Childhood Obesity: A Major Emergency!

April 27, 2007

imagesdfghj.jpgHere are some important facts I read in the book Food Facts by Dr Brownwell on childhood obesity.  If the facts wont make you wonder what the hell are we doing to the kids…am not sure what will make us wake up to take a closer look at the health consequences of obesity in children….

  • Prevalence of childhood obesity : Increased by 3 fold in US & England; 4 fold in Australia and Egypt
  • Overweight children who develop Diabetes may have heart attacks and need Bypass surgery before they reach age 30!!!!
  • In France; obese children had stiffer arteries and unhealthy changes in the arterial lining… important early findings before they develop stroke.
  • In Canada: obese children who develop Diabetes before the age 17 were experiencing blindness, amputation and kidney failure including premature death as young adults.

Remember… parent have the responsibilities to track the weights of their children.  We are responsible for what we feed our kids.  Simply put…research has shown that…. 

  • Parents diet and exercise patterns predict the child’s likelihood of being overweight giving rise to the term: OBESIGENIC Families…

 Look around the school grounds or the shopping malls… obese parents are strolling around or eating fried chicken with their obese kids inside a fast food resto. Obese parents beget obese kids…what we eat and do is what we show our kids and they then follow what we do even if they’re wrong or unhealthy!

The good news is according to Dr Brownwell, research shows that children can be persuaded to eat healthy foods and be able to differentiate between ” persuasion” and “information”:

  • Children who watched public service announcements focusing on nutrition chose more vegetables and fruits.
  • A Canadian study showed children ages 5 to 8 picked more candy than fruit following a candy commercial but showing fruit commercials encouraged children to eat more fruits.
  • A Stanford study showed reduction in TV time decreased the frequency of meals eaten while watching resulting in effective weight control.

The above studies therefore prove that as parents we have the say as to how to shape our kids future health! My kids rooms have no cable TV as a result less viewing time to watch Nickelodeon or Cartoon network and more play time and more activities. Now that its summer, I join them in swimming and do at least 10 lapses across my pool while playing and swimming leisurely in between. I likewise do swimming competition to make them do lapses while enjoying the fun on their faces by making them win! Walking together or biking should do the same in terms of bonding and increasing activity.

Lets take care of our kids.  Obesity among our kids is now becoming a medical emergency…let’s all act together before this becomes a global pandemic!

Loving Our Kids Does Not Mean French Fries As Treats!

Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Medical News Bits, The Truths on Obesity, Weight Loss Tips | 3 Comments »

A Way To Permanently Remain THIN

April 25, 2007

3582380440.jpgHave you experienced being envious to a friend who eats but never gets fat?  It may really be in the genes but now a new study can make this a reality if the problem is resolved early in life.  We know that by the time we drink milk… we see babies getting bigger and bigger because of the saturated fat and the high sugar content in full cream milk.  Once the habit of over feeding is in place… then the difficulty in losing the accumulated fat results when we reach adulthood.  Needless to say, the parents or the grandparents just want the babies to look fat so they can look CUTE!

29037632431.jpgIn a recent article published in the January 2007 issue of the American Journal of Physiology, incorporating LEPTIN in a baby formula resulted in subjects remaining slim with lesser chances of developing obesity related illnesses like diabetes even on a high fat meal.

Leptin, a breakthrough hormone in the field of obesity is the fat hormone that turns off hunger in the brain.  In the study, the rat subject fed with formula supplemented with leptin, remained slim even if they were fed with high fat diet!  SOUNDS GREAT! 

 This is the first study that looks so promising that incorporating leptin in a meal may hopefully mean the end to our quest to combat obesity!  It is still far from reality but again this can lead to more studies to exploit the finding and hopefully be funded to become what we hope to be reality!

The studies therefore help us understand that the effect of leptin in a human body may start early in life even before we are born.  In fact, feeding the hormone to pregnant rats resulted in a  animals born to remain lean even when fed a high fat diet, compared to animals born of untreated mothers suggesting the impact of leptin in the developing fetus!  The authors believe that “the difference boils down to energy expenditure. such that the offspring of leptin-treated mothers burn up more energy.”

More good news to us who love food and want to remain thin! The thought of just putting a pinch of leptin to a pound of steak of a pan of pizza seems Magic!

BUT…definitely for now… the recommendation remains: 

…eat the right food….

…..exercise daily and live positively…

Stay Healthy To Be Wealthy!

Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Medical News Bits, Nutrition Health Tips, The Truths on Obesity, Weight Loss Tips | 2 Comments »

The Magic Way To Lose Weight….

April 23, 2007

3755688817.jpgThe rising obesity epidemic and the need for better and safer drugs for weight loss, has made a lot of doctors and patients in need for better alternatives.  As a result, you hear a lot of patients going after alternative forms of therapy and herbal preparations devoid of any scientific proofs and opt to try medications advertised on TV with image models like Judy Ann Santos claiming weight loss in front of all of us!

The truth of the matter is… weight loss depends solely on YOU!  One’s discipline to achieve the goal of weight loss depends solely on ones will to do it and achieve that goal.  There is no easy way out or a magic pill that will allow us to eat and yet lose weight! PERIOD! I have made some recommendations in this website that are deemed safe, effective and practical.  If you are willing to follow the rules of the game, then you should make it big time in weight loss. Am sure we all know how to lose weight BUT we just cant bring ourselves to cut the meat and the fat, or to bring ourselves outside to run or walk because the comfort of the bed and TV is so tempting match it with chips and soda! HOLA…. more fat is welcome and less energy is utilized!

The magic formula for the year 2007 if you want to lose weight big time is SURGERY!  There’s no other MAGIC way at the present time.  The only one procedure I will recommend to my patients at the present time if they are deemed candidates to it is the so called LAP BAnd.  It is now the widely accepted procedure in the US and in our country.  But IS IT SAFE?

4119225528.jpgA small pouch in the upper part of the stomach is created with a controlled and adjustable stoma, without stapling, thus limiting food intake.  A gastric band device is introduced through tiny (1cm) incisions laparoscopically without making a big cut in the abdomen and is placed around the upper part of the stomach.  The whole procedure can be done in 30 minutes to 1 hour and the band that is fitted in the stomach and be inflated or deflated reversibly.  Within 48 hours…you are discharged from the hospital.

In a recent article published in March 2007, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases,

…a 5-year study of the safety of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) was compared to laparoscopic Roux-en Y gastric bypass (LRYGB), two bariatric surgical procedures performed in the United States for the treatment of morbid obesity. All patients undergoing LAGB received the LAP-BAND(R) System, which is the only FDA-approved adjustable implant device for individualized weight loss. found it to have a significantly fewer complications, shorter operative times, and shorter hospital stays when compared with LRYGB….

In that study the patients who were advised surgery were categorized a morbidly with either a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more or a lower BMI of 35 or more with at least one obesity-related co-morbidity, such as sleep apnea, diabetes, or hypertension. 

Weight loss from these procedure can be dramatic.  But again, you should be ready enough to stop eating once you feel full.  Since your stomach is now literally small… you feel full easily and therefore, the WANT to eat should take a back seat and the NEED to stop eating because your ” small” stomach is now full to its capacity should supersede the WANT!

A Magic Pill definitely is better…but there is still NONE available… and definitely NOT the ones advertised on TV! The ads just take advantage of the people’s despair to lose weight fast!

I still and will continuously recommend and promote the safest way to lose weight … through discipline, determination and will to eat what is right and what is healthy!

Eat Right and Bright To Stay Light!

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Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits, The Truths on Obesity, Weight Loss Tips | 12 Comments »

How Much Sugar Is In My Food?

April 20, 2007

imagesasdf.jpgAlmost any food we eat may contain sugar.  Even those with marketing ads saying the product is sugar free…may actually mean “no added table sugar” BUT contains other sources of sugar hidden under a different name so BE AWARE! 

It is important to remember that sugar can come in many forms.  You may think you are eating sugar free foods but hidden in the ingredients are the likeness of sugar that can still contribute to calories.

Sources of sugar that you should check in the food labels include the words that end in “ose” or “ol” . These are all forms of sugar. Very important to note is that syrups such as corn sweetener, sorghum syrup and high fructose syrups are sweeteners that are often added to drinks and therefore high in calories.  Remember also that brown sugar, molasses and honey are said to be better than regular sugar because they are “natural” but they all give you the same calories as regular table sugar! So BE AWARE!

Common sources of sugar added to our daily food include:

  • fructose
  • high fructose corn syrup
  • maltose
  • lactose
  • dextrose
  • mannitol

When you read food labels, take note that the Ingredients listed: they are usually in order by weight, meaning from the most to the least amount. So when a type of sugar is the first ingredient, you know there is more sugar in that food than any other ingredient. Likewise some foods may contain more than one kind of sugar so when they are added up, the total may be more than any other ingredient in that food. So BEWARE!

Lastly…One important  fact about sugar that I want everyone to remember and share:

One culprit of a bad “food” that we all at one time or another have “enjoyed” is softdrinks.  But . we may not be aware that a 12-ounce can of cola contains about ten teaspoons of sugar which actually provides more calories and put on more body fat than the same amount of table sugar taken dry by the spoonful !

Sugar in the body can cause tooth decay, diabetes and more importantly OBESITY! Be more attentive to what you eat or drink because you may actually be taking hidden sugars that you thought were non existent!

Sugar in Your Food: Beware and Be Aware!

Check My Other Related Posts:

Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Nutrition Health Tips, The Diabetes Facts, The Truths on Obesity | 15 Comments »

The Practice of Eating Low Fat ….

April 7, 2007

This week since Thursday has been a long holiday in our country as we celebrate the Holy Week in commemoration of the Death and Suffering of Jesus Christ.  As such… it is both discipline and our catholic practice to adhere to sacrifices by not eating meat and not to do things you like best like…blogging:). 

This practice is really good since you only are allowed: Fish and other seafood and vegetables! This is what I call the practice of losing weight that’s really low fat: fresh food mainly Fresh fish, Water and water to fill you up and veggies for fiber and lasting satiety!

Unfortunately though, by eating low fat does not allow one to eat as much as we want.  The cartoon below sourced from Crazy Laughs Website illustrates the point I want to make!

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I just hope everybody after this week will continue to practice the way of healthy eating and onward to a healthier way of life!  Thanks to Holy Week!

Remember… Fresh Fish…Veggies and Plenty of Water!

Posted in Healthy Practice Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Personal Thoughts, The Truths on Obesity, Weight Loss Tips | 2 Comments »

The Health Benefits of Soya…

March 28, 2007

Go to fullsize imageAlternative food choices other than meat or poultry include the use of soya to produce meat/poultry like dishes which are now becoming very popular among vegetarians.  These dishes really look like the popular meat balls and taste like meat BUT devoid of the bad add ons of the accumulated fat in eating meat. 

 In a recent study published in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, April 2007 , ingestion of black soya beans resulted in health benefits which included a significant weight loss, and more importantly the lowering of cholesterol levels which as a result can produce a better metabolic profile that may include better insulin action and therefore a possible prevention of diabetes.

In that study, the researchers at Hanyang University, allowed 32 rats to gorge on a fatty diet, supplemented with various levels of black soya. The results showed that, after two weeks, “those getting 10% of their energy from black soya had gained half as much weight as those in the control group. Total blood cholesterol fell by 25% and LDL (so-called ‘bad’) cholesterol fell by 60% in the rats in the 10% group.”

This study really presents the good side of a soya based meal.  Not only is it a good alternative to a protein rich meat meal but is also an important component of a balanced meal that is not only low in fat but also high in fibre and a very good source of complex carbohydrates.

Let’s Enjoy “meat” Without The Fat!

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Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits, Nutrition Health Tips, The Diabetes Facts, The Truths on Obesity | 48 Comments »

How Safe is A FRIED Chicken: Check if Its Cooked with Trans FAT!

March 22, 2007

1937790063.jpgTrans Fat is actually a partially Hydrogenated Vegetable oil- described by some as a man made toxin. It was actually developed as a “healthy” alternative to animal fat!  It became so popular for sometime because this is the kind of fat that can give your chicken the Crunchy feeling and great taste and the pastries a longer half life. Perfect combination of a good tasting meal and longer shelf life…definitely good for business!  But Wealth Is NOT HEALTH!

SO what’s wrong with Trans Fat?

  • Just 2.6 grams a day of trans fat raises your risk of heart disease.  That’s about half as much as you get in a typical serving of french fries.  Thus it is considered as one if not the unhelathiest Fat!
  • We are presently battling the epidemic of obesity and this trans fat may actually be one culprit because it is super fattening. It has been shown that Trans fats build up belly fat themselves resulting in the “beer belly” appearance.  Likewise trans fat also cause fat from other parts of your body to move to the belly.  Whew…. really a Bad Fat! 

Remember… accumulation of fat in the abdomen is particularly dangerous because it contributes to heart disease and insulin resistance state which can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure and the so called Metabolic Syndrome.

The good news is:

  • A lot of the junky foods that we love to eat that used to have lots of trans fat like the famous Oreo cookies — are now trans-fat free. Yahoooo!
  • Fast-food restaurants are now adopting measures to reduce or eliminate trans fats.

So the next time you order crunchy chicken…. please be aware if the food is being cooked trans fat free or if it is in fact cooked with one!  As a consumer … you have to right to know because it’s your health and the health of your kids that are at stake here!

Make sure to be careful with oredering fried chicken in areas where no labels are posted especially on sidewalks.  The cook themselves may not even know what kind of oil they are using.  The Blind making the Ugly….

The Ugly and The Fried!

Posted in General Health Tips, Healthy Practice Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Nutrition Health Tips, The Truths on Obesity, Tips To Protect Your Heart | 8 Comments »

Why Am I Not In Shape?

March 6, 2007

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The cartoon says it all…..

The Mind may know BUT its the Action that Counts!

Posted in Lifestyle Measures, Personal Thoughts, The Truths on Obesity | 6 Comments »

Meal Replacement : Another Way To Lose Weight…

February 9, 2007

37907386321.jpgOne easy way to convince patient in strategies to lose weight is meal replacement.  We have heard of Slim fast and locally Herbalife.  Both strategies use meal replacements in a form of low calorie drinks.

Theoritically, it is an acceptable option because you are not deprived of a meal.  The shakes are calculated to give you enough calories for the day but not too much to store these calories as fat.  The problem with these products is the expense associated with buying them because of networking and marketing costs.

Here’s a simple way to do just the same with similar results that’s easy on your pocket.  Meal replacement shakes are available in the market if you just have the time to look for them.  Being an endocrinologist, I usually go for the calculation of 40% of the total calories from fat but should be predominantly monounstaurated with around only 40% of calories from carbohydrate.  This to avoid a sudden surge of sugar after a meal.

I usually advise my patients to replace their morning meals and evening meals with a meal replacement shake.  My choice for this is the product of Nestle called Nutren For Diabetes.  It stands out over the rest because of its whey protein content.   As we know, whey protein contains high levels of both essential and non-essential amini acids, and is low in fat content ideal for my diabetic patients.  The shake can be combined with a fruit ideally an apple, and a pear.  I usually avoid fruits with high glycemic load like banana or mango.

Patient can eat a regular meal for lunch. I also advise them to eat the Nutren Balance cereal bar as mid morning and mid afternoon snacks.  This oatmeal based cereal bar is also calculated with enough calories to avoid weight gain but has enough fiber bulk to delay hunger.

The whole day should end with plenty of water, one multivitamin per day and of course for weight maintenance, daily exercise like walking.

Make sure though you feedback me if this strategy worked for you….

Meal Replacement: Another Alternative to A Healthy Weight Loss Strategy!

Do Read My Other Weight Loss Related Tips:

Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, The Truths on Obesity, Weight Loss Tips | 7 Comments »

Weight Loss Surgery: Is It For You?

January 27, 2007

2459156720.jpgIn one recent survey, weight loss surgery is now increasing as a preferred way of losing weight in the US especially among baby boomers.  In a report by  Zhao published in Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief#23, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in January 2007, “more Americans are turning to weight loss surgery and that an increasing number of younger people are undergoing these procedures.” 

In my practice nowadays, our center is also getting more patients requesting for weight loss surgical procedures.  Cebu Doctor’s University Hospital has the required facilities to do the procedure.  But who are candidates of these procedures?

Ask Yourself These Questions:

  • Do you have a BMI of 40 or more?
  • Are you suffering from mechanical problems due to obesity like arthritis or difficulty getting employment because of your weight affecting your work?
  • Are you suffering form obesity related medical complications like diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea or heart disease?
  • Have you tried unsuccessfully other non invasive techniques of losing weight especially behavioral therapy?
  • Are you well informed that the procedure may entail some risks?
  • Are you really determined to lose weight and improve your health and has thought about it for quite sometime?
  • Are you ready to change you way of life and some habits after the operation?
  • Do you know that you may need and be committed to life-long medical follow-up?

The most difficult part in weight loss surgery is if a patient does it solely for cosmetic reasons and not health and hasn’t focused enough to know the difference.   For me… I always tell my patient that…

 “To be Successful Requires More Than Want But NEED!… The need to promote, preserve and enjoy health!” 

It is also very important that the patient needs to understand that there is a difference between: “I want to eat but I cant! “and “I don’t want to eat because I’m full!”  Once you have undergone gastric weight loss procedures like gastric banding… you’re desire to eat remains but you cant because you feel full easily.  This is where discipline to stop eating or face the risk of vomiting complications come in!  I always tell my patients: it’s like having the desire but you cant because you are impotent.  If you are not ready to face this challenge then the procedure is not for you!

 If you have answers to each question and we deemed you as a candidate for surgery then off you go…..

Weight Loss Surgery: Another Option For Health!

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Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, The Truths on Obesity, Weight Loss Tips | 7 Comments »

The Harm of Being Obese, Having Bad Breath and Gum Bleeding!

November 18, 2006

736552470.jpgThe moment you wake up and brush your teeth, you may have noticed gum bleeding.  You may take it for granted but if the bleeding or your bad breath is due to a gum disease then take note and see your dentist.  

So far this year… I was able to diagnose two cases of the fatal but rare disease called pancreatic cancer which unfortunately up to now has little to offer in terms of treament.  Almost always by the time it is detected… it has already spread beyond the pancreas.  So far only 5 % of those diagnosed can survive up to 5 years.

So what’s the relationship between gum disease, obesity and cancer?

Apparently based on recent studies, The American Association for Cancer Research states that gum disease and pancreatic disease are closely linked even among those who have never smoked.

In a study from the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston involving 52,000 male doctors in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study:

  • men with a history of gum disease had a 63-percent higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer relative to men without periodontal disease.
  • Those who never smoked with gum disease had a 2-fold increased risk in developing pancreatic cancer.

The harmful bacteria that is present in individuals with gum disease apparently can result in producing harmful substances in the mouth and the gut especially the cancer causing product called: Nitrosamines.

On a side note… the same institution using the same data also showed…obesity as a risk factor for pancreatic cancer noting that…obese people were 72% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than normal weight counterparts.

So… Be Fit and Have Healthy Gums!

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits, The Truths on Obesity | 4 Comments »

Healthy Food Tips For The Family

November 7, 2006

29874014331.jpgI came accross this simple regimen to our life long struggle to find better ways to serve best foods for the family.  “Struggles with food and obesity frequently start in childhood” and therefore addressing these early results in long term gains.

Here’s some pointers from the Johns Hopkins University Bayview Medical Center.

“Here are some ways you can help your child avoid a weight problem:

  • Never put your child on a low-calorie deprivation diet. You can lower dietary fat, but maintain calories by increasing the consumption of fruit, vegetables, cereals, and breads.
  • Children who eat full meals do better nutritionally than children who merely snack. Your child should come to the table hungry, learn how to control hunger, and wait for his meal to be served.
  • Remove snack temptations around the house.
  • Don’t use desserts and sweets as rewards.
  • Have family meals, and set a good example by eating a wide variety of foods.
  • Make mealtime pleasant. Don’t use this time for criticizing and scolding. ” 

Simple… Common sense… but take note of them for they may help you…

Build better and healthier families…

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Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, The Truths on Obesity | 1 Comment »

Tips To Address Childhood Obesity

October 11, 2006

imageslp.jpgAs parents… we work for our future and the future of our kids.  Sometimes though we neglect the fact that spending little time with our children can have a lasting impact on their future.  So I thought of writing this post after a 10 day hiatus while in the US.

I’ve been very busy combining fun with education while attending 2 big conventions on Diabetes- The World Insulin Resistance Conference in Las Vegas and A Postgraduate Clinical Endocrinology Update in San Francisco.  It is only now while waiting for my flight back home in the NW Lounge that I got the time to sit down and write one highlight of the meeting.

It is really sad to note that sleeping is the second activity children most often do after watching TV!  It is likewise amazing to know that one burns more calories sleeping than watching TV! Other facts that bring about childhood obesity basically are in front of us but we neglect to assign importance to them.

  • 7 to 12% of children ages 6 to 8 skip breakfast.  We know that skipping breakfast is tantamount to gaining weight.
  • 56% of 8 year old in one survey drink a soda per day and 1 in 4 drinks soft drinks. A 12 oz soda can result in a 18 to 19 lb weight gain per year!
  • By the time our children reach the higher grade… PE time decreases when in fact this is the age of 10 to 14 that you see a rise in obesity prevalence.
  • There is a strong correlation between fitness and academic performance.

These facts are so true that you start to think about your own kid.  And start doing something to address the issues that will confront you later on.

Here are some tips I got from our meeting:

  1. When we discuss about weight with our child… we discuss about HABITS rather than the HABITUS. Don’t say “you’re gaining weight” but rather “Let’s do this walking and swimming daily”
  2. A New food especially vegetables must be introduced 10x before that food is accepted.  So don’t be frustrated if you’re child refuses to eat the brocolli …just make sure you introduce the food again later.
  3. Children learn by example just like when the child learns a new language! So make sure you do what you preach.
  4. Bribery and Masking are discouraged because they decrease the child’s food preference.  Masking a vegetable to look like meat will still defeat your purpose of trying to let your child learn to like veggies.

It was one lecture that I enjoyed most and I thought of sharing with you the things I learned that we can all practice to help curb childhood obesity. It is not our child’s fault if they gained weight… sometimes we just love them too much that we give them too much freedom to choose what they want to eat!

Again… Your child learns BY EXAMPLE!

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Posted in The Truths on Obesity | 1 Comment »

A Vaccine For OBESITY…A Reality?

August 19, 2006

imagesrm1.jpgWe have vaccines for infections like flu and pneumonia… now comes a vaccine for obesity?  This would really be interesting.

As we are facing a tremendous increase in the prevalence of obesity, we are likewise faced with the burden of treating the diseases that come with it! Wouldn’t it be ideal to have a vaccine solely to prevent our kids to be obese?

Published in the August 2006 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is one interesting study which really caught my attention. This involved giving mice a vaccine against the effects of a protein called Ghrelin – a protein closely associated with weight gain! The study involved the mice to eat as much as they want. 

The FINDINGS: 

The mice that were given the vaccine gained 1/2 that of the group without the vaccine suggesting that the vaccine prevented the weight gain!

Clinical Human Implication of the Study:

This vaccine will definitely help in PREVENTING Obesity in those who are not obese yet and those at risk due to genetic makeup and family history… rather than as a Treatment of Obesity!

So… While awaiting research to come up with miracle drugs to treat obesity and before this vaccine becomes a reality…

Prevention Is Still The Best Option!

Posted in The Truths on Obesity, Weight Loss Tips | 2 Comments »

Obesity Genes:Why We Become Obese May Not Be Our Fault After All!

August 16, 2006

imagesftu.jpgWe always think of the equation: what you take in EQUALS what you take out!  A simple equation now being questioned with new findings on studies that this may not be so….

Studies involving twins who ate the same amount of calories had different weights. Subjects given the same quantity of calories- one gained 1 pound a week the other did not. So what made the difference?

New research has shown that Obesity genes now numbering to 50 regulate the way we eat…whether its enough to stop…the way our body utilizes the calories.. and the way fat is built up. This may explain the difference why with so little fuel, some patients gained weight a lot.

Recently… a new cultprit is believed to contribute to this menace… The Microbes just like the way ulcers are made.

In short… it is not ones fault if one has these biological factors causing them to be obese but the whole problem still boils down to too much eating with too little exercise. We may not be able to change the biological makeup, but we can definitely change the way they manifest.

So…It May Not Be Your Fault After All….

…But You Still Take Responsibility Of The Outcome!

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits, The Truths on Obesity | 1 Comment »

Childhood Obesity…Now Comes Diabetes!

August 7, 2006

Imagesdfghjj With the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity, it is expected that there will be a concomitant rise in the prevalence of obesity related diseases like diabetes.  And here comes this new study that proved our fear.  Published in  Diabetes in Control from Express Scripts of May, 2006… is the first study that looked at the number of diabetes med prescriptions among children between ages 5 to 19 years old.

The results are alarming:

A Doubling in the number of prescriptions

between 2002 to 2005!

On further analysis: the increase in the use of diabetes drugs was most pronounced in children 10–14 years ( the pubertal stage), with a dramatic rise of 106% during the study period.  Likewise, the treatment for type 2 diabetes was most prevalent among those 15–19 years, growing from 0.6 to 1.2 per thousand suggesting the need for us parents and health care professionals to do our share of helping these kids! 

With the rise in obesity comes diabetes…then comes the complications of obesity and diabetes and then comes the disabilty… Let’s stop the process to go on!

Before Diabetes Sets In… Lets

Fight Childhood Obesity!

Posted in The Diabetes Facts, The Truths on Obesity | 5 Comments »

If You Are Obese…Check Your Prostate!

August 4, 2006

19207111352.jpgBenign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) is a common dilemma among men. A recent article from the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, July 2006 issue showed that there is a relationship between ones weight and that person’s risk to have an enlarged prostate.  BPH is a condition that leads to difficulty in urination with symptoms ranging from urgency, discomfort, to incomplete voiding.

The study showed that of the men with enlarged prostates, majority were heavier and had a higher age-adjusted body mass index (BMI) than men without enlarged prostates. It was estimated that for each 1-point rise in BMI was associated with a 0.41 cubic centimeter increase in prostate volume.  Such that very obese men were especially likely to have an enlarged prostate, with 3.5-times the risk compared with their normal-weight counterparts.

In the same study, diabetics were more than twice as likely to have prostate enlargement compared with men without diabetes such that those with elevated glucose had 3-times the risk of having an enlarged prostate. The clinical implication of this study is that with the current epidemic of obesity and diabetes, this finding will have a definite impact in the rising prevalence of BPH.

So Guys… Another reason for us to take care of our weight!

Lose Weight, Control Your Sugar

Or Else…

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits, The Truths on Obesity | 4 Comments »

Check Your Numbers: Are You Obese?

August 2, 2006

2459156720.jpg We’ve been talking about the risks of obesity.  We know the prevalence is increasing worldwide.  We know the reasons… But Are We Obese?

Body Mass Index is one simple way to determine if you’re overweight or already obese.  It can be calculated as follows: Weight in Kg divided by your Height in centimeters times 2. Try computing your BMI and see where you belong.

The following are the different levels of BMI in adult Asian Population based on the International Obesity Task Force for the Asia Pacific with the Waist Circumference and the corresponding Risk for Co Morbidities like Hypertension, Diabetes and Heart Disease:

                                                               Waist Circumference

                                                  < 35 inches ( men)             > 35 inches

                                                  < 31 inches ( women)        > 31 inches

Underweight  :        < 18.5                  Low                             Average

Normal Range :        >18.5 to 22.9       Average                        Increased

Overweight   :         >23 to 24.9          Increased                      Moderate

Obese I         :           25 to 29.9         Moderate                      Severe

Obese II        :          > 30                   Severe                         Very Severe

Once you know where you belong… you know what to do! Remember, the risk to develop the diseases associated with lifestyle due to bad habits is closely related to how heavy you are.  And the risk to develop obesity and its associated co-morbidities can be reversed if we act now thru lifestyle changes to include proper food choices and constant daily activites.

Know The Numbers Then Do

Something About It!

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits, The Truths on Obesity, Weight Loss Tips | 2 Comments »

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