The South Beach Diet, created by cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston, is a safe and effective diet that differs from other diets in that it advocates not just a new way of eating but a new way of life.
The South Beach Diet puts an end to counting calories and it puts an end to portion control. The South Beach Diet also avoids putting people in a position where they feel like they’re depriving themselves from eating food that tastes good and satisfies them.
The focus of the South Beach Diet is on fats and carbohydrates, more specifically, the right fats and carbohydrates. With the South Beach Diet, you find that healthy carbohydrates and fats satisfy your hunger and feed you energy while eating the wrong carbohydrates and fats can actually make you feel hungrier than you were before eating them, causing you to eat even more and, as a result, gain weight.
The South Beach Diet works in 3 phases, dieters going through phases 1 and 2 sequentially, each for a particular period of time, then moving to phase 3 where they remain for the rest of their lives.
South Beach Diet Phase 1 – For two weeks certain forms of carbohydrates are restricted, based on their glycemic index (a measurement of their affect on a person’s blood sugar). Portion sizes for all other foods are normal. This two week period is the most intense and restrictive of the three phases. Foods emphasized in Phase 1 include chicken and turkey, fish and shellfish, vegetables with a low glycemic index (including salads with light dressing), low fat cheeses, eggs, and nuts. This is the period where drastic weight loss is usually noticed in a short time. This type of weight loss is not sustainable, however, which is why the South Beach Diet then promptly transitions you into Phase 2 where you can adjust your dietary patterns so as to achieve a more sustainable rate of weight loss without gaining back that initial poundage you just shed.
South Beach Diet Phase 2 – Here many of the carbohydrates that were forbidden in Phase 1 are incrementally introduced back into your diet. The desired effect of Phase 2 is to get yourself to a place where you lose between1 and 2 pounds each week, a rate of weight loss than you can easily sustain until you achieve your body’s individual “healthy weight” (generally best determined by your Body Mass Index and percentage body fat to muscle mass). Phase 2 lasts as long as it takes for you to reach your desired weight.
South Beach Diet Phase 3 – Now you begin to establish the balanced diet you aim to maintain for the rest of your life, so long as weight remains where it is. Should you start to gain weight again, you can simply go back to one or both of the earlier phases until you get back to where you need to be.
The South Beach Diet is not a starvation diet. In it, you eat 3 satisfying meals per day plus 2 snacks in-between meals. Your meal plans are not set in stone, so you can still enjoy variety and spontaneity in your diet.
Studies of the South Beach Diet have shown that it not only helps people lose weight, but it increases their “good cholesterol” (HDLs) and decreases their “bad cholesterol” (LDLs) levels, while also improving their levels of insulin.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
The Miracle Diet Food That Has Been Wasted on Pigs for more than 22 Centuries
For centuries okara was considered as food fit only for pigs and the lowliest of peasants. Most of it, and there was plenty left over from making soymilk and tofu out of soybeans, was dumped onto waste heaps, or spread on rice paddies as fertilizer. The stuff looks like wet sawdust, has no taste at all, and spoils quickly.
Can such an unlikely food really be the solution to America's obesity problem? Wouldn't okara's more popular little brother Tofu be a better candidate for such a distinction?
Tofu has always been the pet of the soybean family. It was discovered in China sometime around 250 BC when someone accidentally dropped some nigari seaweed into a pot of simmering soybean milk. The nigari curdled the soymilk just as acidic substances like lemon curdle cow's milk. Voila! Tofu was born and its popularity spread throughout Asia.
Okara, on the other hand, was already well known by then, but had long since been relegated to the scrap heaps.Although very similar to tofu in nutrition and taste, okara wasn't considered fit for human consumption and was fed to the pigs or used as garden fertilizer, while tofu was immediately given a place of honor in Oriental cuisine. In fact, Okara was held in such disregard, that it wouldn't even be given a name for nearly 2,000 years. Only those ultra-poor peasants who couldn't even afford rice, ate okara. Still today, tofu plants in China are usually located close to animal farms for more convenient disposal of the unwanted okara.
In the last couple of centuries, however, Okara has become popular in Korea and Japan where it is used widely in homes and restaurants in bread and pastry doughs, soups and stews, and in stir-fries and side dishes. It is very popular in Indonesia when fermented with the fungus Rhizopus oligosporus to make tempeh, which looks something like a moldy sponge. Once you get past the appearance though, it is rather good and has won a spot on many supermarket shelves in the US. However, if you ask an American about okara itself, you will probably be pointed to okra - a green vegetable shaped something like a native warrior spearhead - in the vegetable department.
In fact, you are just as likely get blank stares from the clerks in oriental food stores in the US - even those in Chinatown. Mention that it's a soy product however, and you'll get an instant "Ahhh sooh" of recognition and be led to the well-stocked tofu shelves. No okara.
Commercially, though okara has silently found its way into soy burgers, sausages, chicken, fish, cookies, cereals, and even into cosmetics and paint.
Few people are aware of the fantastic versatility of soy and the full scope of its applications. You might be surprised to learn that in addition to creating the automobile industry, Henry Ford was also the main mover of the soy industry. In the late 1920’s, Henry somehow became interested in finding new industrial uses for the rich oil and protein content of the soybean. In 1931, the year after my own birth – which had nothing to do with him - he decided to use his laboratory facilities in Dearborn, Michigan, to do soybean research and was rewarded with the discovery of an oil that made a superior enamel for painting cars, and a soybean meal that could be molded in horn buttons.
The Chinese were already working with soybeans and Ford called on Eugene Richards, his company representative in China, to investigate Chinese soybean processing methods. After visiting a major bean factory, Richards submitted a report of the factory’s equipment and techniques, and noted incidentally, that the workers labored in the nude. Ford borrowed many of the ideas from the report for his River Rouge soybean facility, but didn’t adopt the dress policy.
By 1935, Ford cars sported many soybean-derived parts including gearshift knobs, door handles, window trim, and accelerator pads. In 1941, Henry Ford unveiled a handmade plastic car derived from the ‘honorable bean’.
But the success achieved by the bean itself hasn't been reflected in okara as a food product. Still, the very factors that have kept it from becoming popular make it an exciting product for anyone on a diet. Okara's neutral flavor is easily changed to suit any taste by by the flavor of whatever it mixed with; meat, fruit, vegetable, herb, or spice. It is high in nutritional value, with 16% of the highest quality protein, less than 20% fat, 64% carbohydrates of which more than half can be insoluble fiber. Best of all, it contains only ninety-four calories per cup, depending on its moisture content.
There is nothing else that even begins to compare with okara as a diet food. It adds bulk to pancakes, muffins, and various other baked goods, and makes fantastic sausages, hamburgers, and chicken replacements, with less calories. Which means that anyone wanting to lose weight can do so without having to cut back on their food intake – exactly what is needed to make America slim and fit again!
Can such an unlikely food really be the solution to America's obesity problem? Wouldn't okara's more popular little brother Tofu be a better candidate for such a distinction?
Tofu has always been the pet of the soybean family. It was discovered in China sometime around 250 BC when someone accidentally dropped some nigari seaweed into a pot of simmering soybean milk. The nigari curdled the soymilk just as acidic substances like lemon curdle cow's milk. Voila! Tofu was born and its popularity spread throughout Asia.
Okara, on the other hand, was already well known by then, but had long since been relegated to the scrap heaps.Although very similar to tofu in nutrition and taste, okara wasn't considered fit for human consumption and was fed to the pigs or used as garden fertilizer, while tofu was immediately given a place of honor in Oriental cuisine. In fact, Okara was held in such disregard, that it wouldn't even be given a name for nearly 2,000 years. Only those ultra-poor peasants who couldn't even afford rice, ate okara. Still today, tofu plants in China are usually located close to animal farms for more convenient disposal of the unwanted okara.
In the last couple of centuries, however, Okara has become popular in Korea and Japan where it is used widely in homes and restaurants in bread and pastry doughs, soups and stews, and in stir-fries and side dishes. It is very popular in Indonesia when fermented with the fungus Rhizopus oligosporus to make tempeh, which looks something like a moldy sponge. Once you get past the appearance though, it is rather good and has won a spot on many supermarket shelves in the US. However, if you ask an American about okara itself, you will probably be pointed to okra - a green vegetable shaped something like a native warrior spearhead - in the vegetable department.
In fact, you are just as likely get blank stares from the clerks in oriental food stores in the US - even those in Chinatown. Mention that it's a soy product however, and you'll get an instant "Ahhh sooh" of recognition and be led to the well-stocked tofu shelves. No okara.
Commercially, though okara has silently found its way into soy burgers, sausages, chicken, fish, cookies, cereals, and even into cosmetics and paint.
Few people are aware of the fantastic versatility of soy and the full scope of its applications. You might be surprised to learn that in addition to creating the automobile industry, Henry Ford was also the main mover of the soy industry. In the late 1920’s, Henry somehow became interested in finding new industrial uses for the rich oil and protein content of the soybean. In 1931, the year after my own birth – which had nothing to do with him - he decided to use his laboratory facilities in Dearborn, Michigan, to do soybean research and was rewarded with the discovery of an oil that made a superior enamel for painting cars, and a soybean meal that could be molded in horn buttons.
The Chinese were already working with soybeans and Ford called on Eugene Richards, his company representative in China, to investigate Chinese soybean processing methods. After visiting a major bean factory, Richards submitted a report of the factory’s equipment and techniques, and noted incidentally, that the workers labored in the nude. Ford borrowed many of the ideas from the report for his River Rouge soybean facility, but didn’t adopt the dress policy.
By 1935, Ford cars sported many soybean-derived parts including gearshift knobs, door handles, window trim, and accelerator pads. In 1941, Henry Ford unveiled a handmade plastic car derived from the ‘honorable bean’.
But the success achieved by the bean itself hasn't been reflected in okara as a food product. Still, the very factors that have kept it from becoming popular make it an exciting product for anyone on a diet. Okara's neutral flavor is easily changed to suit any taste by by the flavor of whatever it mixed with; meat, fruit, vegetable, herb, or spice. It is high in nutritional value, with 16% of the highest quality protein, less than 20% fat, 64% carbohydrates of which more than half can be insoluble fiber. Best of all, it contains only ninety-four calories per cup, depending on its moisture content.
There is nothing else that even begins to compare with okara as a diet food. It adds bulk to pancakes, muffins, and various other baked goods, and makes fantastic sausages, hamburgers, and chicken replacements, with less calories. Which means that anyone wanting to lose weight can do so without having to cut back on their food intake – exactly what is needed to make America slim and fit again!
Some Natural Weight Loss Aids Hurt More Than They Help
There are many natural weight loss aids on the market, but just because a product may be "natural", it doesn't necessarily mean that it is safe and effective. In fact, some of the most popular natural weight loss aids can be hazardous and although they may produce rapid weight loss initially, they can actually cause weight gain and difficulty losing weight in the long run.
The biggest problems are with the natural weight loss aids that contain stimulants. Natural weight loss aids that contain stimulants work very much like stimulant drugs, and they have the same risks.
The most commonly used stimulants in natural weight loss products include ephedra (also called ma huang), kola nut, guarana, yerba mate' and caffeine. All of these are very strong stimulants, and are similar in effect to drugs like amphetamines. Most people are aware that taking amphetamines can be dangerous, but they may be lulled into thinking the natural stimulants are safe for the sole reason that they are natural products.
It is strongly suggested that you not use any form of stimulant as a weight loss aid. This is for two reasons. First, stimulants, whether natural products or drugs, have the potential risks of stroke, high blood pressure, elevation of the heart rate, and sleep disorders. The second reason is that in spite of the fact that stimulants can increase metabolism and stimulate weight loss at first, in the long run they will likely cause you to gain weight.
When you first begin taking stimulants, the body releases more of the hormone adrenaline from the adrenal glands. Adrenaline causes increased heart rate and respiration and increases blood pressure. It also causes an increase in metabolic rate which results in fat burning and weight loss. Unfortunately, the adrenals are not designed to produce high amounts of adrenaline continuously for long periods of time, and after a few weeks, adrenaline levels will begin to fall, whether or not you continue taking the stimulants. This means that over time, the metabolism will slow down and there will not be as much tendency to burn fat.
At the same time that the fat-burning effects of adrenaline are dying off, another problem is occurring. Stimulants, in addition to promoting high adrenaline production in the short term, also cause the adrenals to produce high levels of the hormone cortisol. The adrenals can produce high levels of cortisol for much longer than they can produce high amounts of adrenaline. Cortisol promotes the deposition of fat around the abdomen and stimulates weight gain. In the early stages of using stimulants, the effects of the high adrenaline production will win out over the elevated cortisol levels and rapid weight loss will typically occur. But as the adrenaline levels fall, and the cortisol levels stay high, weight gain is the result.
If you stop taking stimulants during the stage when adrenaline can still be produced, the cortisol effects will typically outlast the adrenaline effects, so rapid weight gain often follows sudden discontinuation of stimulants. One way or the other though, if you use stimulants to promote weight loss, sooner or later the effects of cortisol will win out over the effects of adrenaline and weight loss will stop and weight gain will begin.
Even though the idea of fast weight loss through using natural weight loss aids that contain stimulants may be appealing, these products can only complicate your weight issues in the long term and may cause potentially serious damage to your overall health. Natural or not, weight loss aids that contain stimulants should be avoided.
The biggest problems are with the natural weight loss aids that contain stimulants. Natural weight loss aids that contain stimulants work very much like stimulant drugs, and they have the same risks.
The most commonly used stimulants in natural weight loss products include ephedra (also called ma huang), kola nut, guarana, yerba mate' and caffeine. All of these are very strong stimulants, and are similar in effect to drugs like amphetamines. Most people are aware that taking amphetamines can be dangerous, but they may be lulled into thinking the natural stimulants are safe for the sole reason that they are natural products.
It is strongly suggested that you not use any form of stimulant as a weight loss aid. This is for two reasons. First, stimulants, whether natural products or drugs, have the potential risks of stroke, high blood pressure, elevation of the heart rate, and sleep disorders. The second reason is that in spite of the fact that stimulants can increase metabolism and stimulate weight loss at first, in the long run they will likely cause you to gain weight.
When you first begin taking stimulants, the body releases more of the hormone adrenaline from the adrenal glands. Adrenaline causes increased heart rate and respiration and increases blood pressure. It also causes an increase in metabolic rate which results in fat burning and weight loss. Unfortunately, the adrenals are not designed to produce high amounts of adrenaline continuously for long periods of time, and after a few weeks, adrenaline levels will begin to fall, whether or not you continue taking the stimulants. This means that over time, the metabolism will slow down and there will not be as much tendency to burn fat.
At the same time that the fat-burning effects of adrenaline are dying off, another problem is occurring. Stimulants, in addition to promoting high adrenaline production in the short term, also cause the adrenals to produce high levels of the hormone cortisol. The adrenals can produce high levels of cortisol for much longer than they can produce high amounts of adrenaline. Cortisol promotes the deposition of fat around the abdomen and stimulates weight gain. In the early stages of using stimulants, the effects of the high adrenaline production will win out over the elevated cortisol levels and rapid weight loss will typically occur. But as the adrenaline levels fall, and the cortisol levels stay high, weight gain is the result.
If you stop taking stimulants during the stage when adrenaline can still be produced, the cortisol effects will typically outlast the adrenaline effects, so rapid weight gain often follows sudden discontinuation of stimulants. One way or the other though, if you use stimulants to promote weight loss, sooner or later the effects of cortisol will win out over the effects of adrenaline and weight loss will stop and weight gain will begin.
Even though the idea of fast weight loss through using natural weight loss aids that contain stimulants may be appealing, these products can only complicate your weight issues in the long term and may cause potentially serious damage to your overall health. Natural or not, weight loss aids that contain stimulants should be avoided.
The Amazing Thyroid - Weight loss Connection
Your thyroid dictates the rate of your metabolism. Any malfunction or disease afflicting your thyroid may cause you to have noticeable fluctuations in your weight. A malfunctioning thyroid will cause you to either gain weight or lose weight beyond your control. To make matters worse, you could find that losing weight is almost impossible no matter what pill or plan you try.
It's a mystery why sellers of diet plans and remedies fail to mention this amazing gland that can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Those that plan diets do not take into consideration how the thyroid controls the body’s metabolism which, in turn, affects how well the weight loss program works. Most experts and even media add to this misinformation by recommending that the best way to lose weight is exercise and cutting calories. Both of those will work effectively when done in a tandem and if your thyroid is functioning properly.
Many people suffer a condition called hyperthyroidism and are not aware of it. "Hyper" means "overactive" which means the thyroid is pushing the body’s metabolism into hyper drive. If this is the case, then that person will probably lose weight fast. This may seem like a positive effect for those who wish to lose weight but, in fact, this is actually hazardous to their health.
Aside from the medical difficulties such a disease brings, one will also notice weight problems as a result. These people have trouble keeping on weight and may notice weakness and bulging of the eyes. This disease may need special treatment from doctors.
Then there is a condition known as hypothyroidism. Of course, "hypo" means "slow" and the effect is the slowing of the body’s metabolism until the body gains weight at an abnormal rate. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have one common side effect. Both cause a general weakness in the body especially in muscle strength and overall energy level. Without special treatment, both may cause serious health problems in the long run.
To add to the problem of weight gain or weight loss is a caloric intake. Eating too many calories or too little calories with a malfunctioning thyroid can further throw the thyroid out of whack. You actually work against yourself by not getting the thyroid back to normal with a doctor's supervision.
You must be careful when adjusting your caloric intake. Yes, cutting calories helps you lose weight but drastically cutting calories will trick the body into a hoard mode, that is when the thyroid slows the body's metabolism to adapt to the lesser amount of available caloric energy.
If your body enters this mode, your body will work at such slow metabolism that losing weight becomes nearly impossible. The technique here should be to reduce calories without the thyroid slowing your metabolism. Only then can weight loss be long lasting.
The key to any weight loss plan is balance. You cannot go all day without eating and then gorge yourself with one big meal. This practice really plays havoc with the thyroid. This is why an imbalanced meal is highly discouraged among those that seek to lose weight. The sudden loss and then increase of calories will cause an imbalance in one’s energy consumption directly affecting fat deposit. In effect, by starving yourself you confuse your body. It simply doesn't know when the next meal is coming so it slows the metabolism and stores fat for later use.
You can get off this merry-go-round. First, have your thyroid function checked by a physician. There are tests that can determine its function.
If your thyroid passes the test, here is a simple mathematical formula to help you arrive at the right amount of calories you will need per day to get nutrients in the right balance, maintain health while reaching your weight target.
First of all, multiply your weight in kilograms by 30. If you only know your weight in pounds, divide it by 2.2 to get to get the kilogram figure. Then divide the kilogram number by 30 to arrive at the number of calories that will maintain your current weight per pound of weight.
For example if your weight in pounds is 150, divide it by 2.2. That will give you a figure of 68.18. This is your weight in kilograms. Multiply this by 30 and you will arrive at the amount of calories you will need per day to maintain 150 lbs.
With this knowledge you can gradually start cutting calories to reduce weight. This is a long term deal. Start by cutting 100 to 200 calories per day until your body adjusts. Then cut another 100 calories and so on. You will begin to see gradual weight loss and you will not be starving your body. And, don't forget exercise as part of your weight loss regimen.
You may consult a nutritionist to help you develop a weight loss plan tailored to your lifestyle. Many health centers off this service either free or through your health insurance.
In the end it all comes down to math. If you consume more food than your body needs, it stores the excess as fat.
Now is a good time to start studying the back of food cartons. Try to keep your diet at a 40% protein, 25% fat, and 35% carbohydrate meals based on your caloric needs you determined using the formula. You should spread your total caloric intake more than three meals a day for optimum results.
While it may be simple computation to get at numbers, do not forget the earlier mentioned fact that the body adapts to its condition. Expose it to extremes and you may find yourself getting extreme results, perhaps, results you never wanted.
Gaining a sleek body can be easy with the right knowledge. Now, you have that knowledge. But, remember, always consult a medical professional before you apply any advice which may detrimentally impact your health.
It's a mystery why sellers of diet plans and remedies fail to mention this amazing gland that can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Those that plan diets do not take into consideration how the thyroid controls the body’s metabolism which, in turn, affects how well the weight loss program works. Most experts and even media add to this misinformation by recommending that the best way to lose weight is exercise and cutting calories. Both of those will work effectively when done in a tandem and if your thyroid is functioning properly.
Many people suffer a condition called hyperthyroidism and are not aware of it. "Hyper" means "overactive" which means the thyroid is pushing the body’s metabolism into hyper drive. If this is the case, then that person will probably lose weight fast. This may seem like a positive effect for those who wish to lose weight but, in fact, this is actually hazardous to their health.
Aside from the medical difficulties such a disease brings, one will also notice weight problems as a result. These people have trouble keeping on weight and may notice weakness and bulging of the eyes. This disease may need special treatment from doctors.
Then there is a condition known as hypothyroidism. Of course, "hypo" means "slow" and the effect is the slowing of the body’s metabolism until the body gains weight at an abnormal rate. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have one common side effect. Both cause a general weakness in the body especially in muscle strength and overall energy level. Without special treatment, both may cause serious health problems in the long run.
To add to the problem of weight gain or weight loss is a caloric intake. Eating too many calories or too little calories with a malfunctioning thyroid can further throw the thyroid out of whack. You actually work against yourself by not getting the thyroid back to normal with a doctor's supervision.
You must be careful when adjusting your caloric intake. Yes, cutting calories helps you lose weight but drastically cutting calories will trick the body into a hoard mode, that is when the thyroid slows the body's metabolism to adapt to the lesser amount of available caloric energy.
If your body enters this mode, your body will work at such slow metabolism that losing weight becomes nearly impossible. The technique here should be to reduce calories without the thyroid slowing your metabolism. Only then can weight loss be long lasting.
The key to any weight loss plan is balance. You cannot go all day without eating and then gorge yourself with one big meal. This practice really plays havoc with the thyroid. This is why an imbalanced meal is highly discouraged among those that seek to lose weight. The sudden loss and then increase of calories will cause an imbalance in one’s energy consumption directly affecting fat deposit. In effect, by starving yourself you confuse your body. It simply doesn't know when the next meal is coming so it slows the metabolism and stores fat for later use.
You can get off this merry-go-round. First, have your thyroid function checked by a physician. There are tests that can determine its function.
If your thyroid passes the test, here is a simple mathematical formula to help you arrive at the right amount of calories you will need per day to get nutrients in the right balance, maintain health while reaching your weight target.
First of all, multiply your weight in kilograms by 30. If you only know your weight in pounds, divide it by 2.2 to get to get the kilogram figure. Then divide the kilogram number by 30 to arrive at the number of calories that will maintain your current weight per pound of weight.
For example if your weight in pounds is 150, divide it by 2.2. That will give you a figure of 68.18. This is your weight in kilograms. Multiply this by 30 and you will arrive at the amount of calories you will need per day to maintain 150 lbs.
With this knowledge you can gradually start cutting calories to reduce weight. This is a long term deal. Start by cutting 100 to 200 calories per day until your body adjusts. Then cut another 100 calories and so on. You will begin to see gradual weight loss and you will not be starving your body. And, don't forget exercise as part of your weight loss regimen.
You may consult a nutritionist to help you develop a weight loss plan tailored to your lifestyle. Many health centers off this service either free or through your health insurance.
In the end it all comes down to math. If you consume more food than your body needs, it stores the excess as fat.
Now is a good time to start studying the back of food cartons. Try to keep your diet at a 40% protein, 25% fat, and 35% carbohydrate meals based on your caloric needs you determined using the formula. You should spread your total caloric intake more than three meals a day for optimum results.
While it may be simple computation to get at numbers, do not forget the earlier mentioned fact that the body adapts to its condition. Expose it to extremes and you may find yourself getting extreme results, perhaps, results you never wanted.
Gaining a sleek body can be easy with the right knowledge. Now, you have that knowledge. But, remember, always consult a medical professional before you apply any advice which may detrimentally impact your health.
Why Do My Children Have Obesity Problems?
Overweight children and adolescents have significantly increased during the past decade. There are times during childhood and adolescence where one is deeply susceptible to weight gain, but these times also offer prevention opportunities for obesity.
Obesity is defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) according to body mass index (BMI). Several health risks arise from a child being overweight, such as type-2 diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, and heart disorder. Fortunately, approaches to counter childhood obesity have been clinically recognized, including behavioral, pharmacological, and surgical.
The prospect of morbid short- and long-term outcomes make childhood obesity a considerable public concern. The boost of adult obesity has been correlated to the raise of childhood obesity. Other countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Dominion, China, Germany, and France have reported increases of childhood obesity as well. Parents who suspect a problem can check by having a doctor or pediatrician measure the child's height and weight to see if they are in a healthy range.
As instances of childhood obesity rise, there is alarming evidence that these children will be predisposed to heart disease later in life. The American Heart Association (AHA) has issued statements on the importance of preventing obesity for this reason. The AHA has also urged physicians to be proactive in identifying the development of obesity and health conditions such as type-2 diabetes and glucose intolerance.
Today's fast-paced, sedentary, fast food lifestyles entice children to build their lives around a steady diet of fatty and fried meals, much of which can e blamed for obesity. The onslaught of obesity places children at risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, resistance to insulin, and a heightened risk for heart condition. Research has also proven obesity in adults leads to hardening of the arteries, heart sickness, strokes, angina, and heart attacks.
Despite this, relatively little is truly known about the importance of these adult issues in childhood. Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) begins in childhood and progresses throughout one's life. But there has been very insignificant research or interest in childhood heart sickness, so unfortunately there is correspondingly little knowledge available for parents.
Research for the treatment of obesity has been relatively narrow, especially when compared to the epidemic rise in weight gain. So the most considerable prevention that a parent can make is to introduce sustaining eating habits to their children and avoid overfeeding infants. Children should not be given food as a reward or incentive because they grasp to use it as a stress reliever. On the other hand, children ought not be deprived of food they need since they could wind up adopting negative feelings about the event and later evolve an eating disorder.
Training on the basic food groups and fitting servings will benefit children as well. For illustration, snacks that include nourishing foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains should be high priorities. Legitimate diets ought to be paired with exercise that gets the entire body involved. Admirable options would be biking, swimming, and walking.
Obesity treatment programs that affirm to be on track include:
* Treatment before adolescence
* Willingness on the part of both the children and the rest of the family to participate
* Education of families about the complications of obesity
Involving the entire family in invigorating eating habits is a vast way to a helping hand one's child not feel awkward. For exemplification, sustaining eating can be encouraged by parents providing more vegetables and fruits, and conversely reducing the number of sodas and high-priced fat, excessive calorie junk foods.
Obesity is defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) according to body mass index (BMI). Several health risks arise from a child being overweight, such as type-2 diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, and heart disorder. Fortunately, approaches to counter childhood obesity have been clinically recognized, including behavioral, pharmacological, and surgical.
The prospect of morbid short- and long-term outcomes make childhood obesity a considerable public concern. The boost of adult obesity has been correlated to the raise of childhood obesity. Other countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Dominion, China, Germany, and France have reported increases of childhood obesity as well. Parents who suspect a problem can check by having a doctor or pediatrician measure the child's height and weight to see if they are in a healthy range.
As instances of childhood obesity rise, there is alarming evidence that these children will be predisposed to heart disease later in life. The American Heart Association (AHA) has issued statements on the importance of preventing obesity for this reason. The AHA has also urged physicians to be proactive in identifying the development of obesity and health conditions such as type-2 diabetes and glucose intolerance.
Today's fast-paced, sedentary, fast food lifestyles entice children to build their lives around a steady diet of fatty and fried meals, much of which can e blamed for obesity. The onslaught of obesity places children at risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, resistance to insulin, and a heightened risk for heart condition. Research has also proven obesity in adults leads to hardening of the arteries, heart sickness, strokes, angina, and heart attacks.
Despite this, relatively little is truly known about the importance of these adult issues in childhood. Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) begins in childhood and progresses throughout one's life. But there has been very insignificant research or interest in childhood heart sickness, so unfortunately there is correspondingly little knowledge available for parents.
Research for the treatment of obesity has been relatively narrow, especially when compared to the epidemic rise in weight gain. So the most considerable prevention that a parent can make is to introduce sustaining eating habits to their children and avoid overfeeding infants. Children should not be given food as a reward or incentive because they grasp to use it as a stress reliever. On the other hand, children ought not be deprived of food they need since they could wind up adopting negative feelings about the event and later evolve an eating disorder.
Training on the basic food groups and fitting servings will benefit children as well. For illustration, snacks that include nourishing foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains should be high priorities. Legitimate diets ought to be paired with exercise that gets the entire body involved. Admirable options would be biking, swimming, and walking.
Obesity treatment programs that affirm to be on track include:
* Treatment before adolescence
* Willingness on the part of both the children and the rest of the family to participate
* Education of families about the complications of obesity
Involving the entire family in invigorating eating habits is a vast way to a helping hand one's child not feel awkward. For exemplification, sustaining eating can be encouraged by parents providing more vegetables and fruits, and conversely reducing the number of sodas and high-priced fat, excessive calorie junk foods.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Fat Farm - All The Myths About It
The term “fat farm”, as also with the term “fat camp”, carries with it a decidedly pejorative tone, but does that mean the concept behind them is bad? Indisputably not, as it turns out. As long as the participant is attending of their own free will, the idea behind these weight loss resorts and camps is wonderful, and well worth considering for anyone having difficulty shedding those unwanted pounds.
The difference between a weight loss camp (or fat camp) and a weight loss resort (or fat farm) is simple: the former is for children and teens, the latter for adults. Both provide accommodations, fresh and delicious supervised meals, trained health and fitness professionals on staff (usually including a health clinic or at least a nurse on premises), and lots of supervised exercise.
Most weight loss camps for kids and teens include nutrition classes, supervised aerobic activities, and regular weigh-ins, and report an average weekly weight loss ranging from 2 to 6 pounds. Camp Shane one such weight loss camp, one of the more popular ones, and it emphasizes developing improved physical skills that campers can carry back home into their regular lives. Another such camp, Camp Empire Lake, eschews the whole idea of weigh-ins altogether, equating them with the defeatist attitudes like guilt and shame that get in the way of being happy in whatever body campers currently live in.
Weight loss resorts for adults add to this mix of elements more advanced and esoteric methods of weight loss, like yoga, acupuncture, and meditation. Many also employ medical professionals, nutritionists, life coaches, and physical therapists available for participants to consult. Some resorts even hold hands-on workshops in the kitchen, teaching attendees how to cook more healthy and balanced meals for themselves.
What all these short-term homes-away-from-home for young and old alike really provide, however, far more than a little structure and supervision to a person’s day, is the supportive and encouraging environment of a group of people all dedicated to the same goal of losing weight. In a world where overweight people are besieged by outside judgment, these weight loss resorts and camps provide an atmosphere free of judgment, where a person is valued for who they are and encouraged to be all the desire to be.
Taking a break from everyday society to be surrounded by other people with weight issues of their own is one of the safest ways imaginable to face your own weight issues head on.
MTV shed a bright light on this phenomenon with its acclaimed documentary feature Fat Camp: An MTV Docs Movie Presentation. The movie follows 5 teens as they attend Camp Pocono Trails in the Poconos, Pennsylvania. The show received such widespread attention and acclaim that it airs its second season (following 5 new teams and their experiences at the same camp) starting November, 2007.
As all captivating drama should, the MTV Fat Camp doc highlights the thrills of victory and the agonies of defeat. But the real fat camps and fat farms aren’t about victory or defeat. Their about support and encouragement. About loving who you are so much that it finally starts to show in how you look.
The difference between a weight loss camp (or fat camp) and a weight loss resort (or fat farm) is simple: the former is for children and teens, the latter for adults. Both provide accommodations, fresh and delicious supervised meals, trained health and fitness professionals on staff (usually including a health clinic or at least a nurse on premises), and lots of supervised exercise.
Most weight loss camps for kids and teens include nutrition classes, supervised aerobic activities, and regular weigh-ins, and report an average weekly weight loss ranging from 2 to 6 pounds. Camp Shane one such weight loss camp, one of the more popular ones, and it emphasizes developing improved physical skills that campers can carry back home into their regular lives. Another such camp, Camp Empire Lake, eschews the whole idea of weigh-ins altogether, equating them with the defeatist attitudes like guilt and shame that get in the way of being happy in whatever body campers currently live in.
Weight loss resorts for adults add to this mix of elements more advanced and esoteric methods of weight loss, like yoga, acupuncture, and meditation. Many also employ medical professionals, nutritionists, life coaches, and physical therapists available for participants to consult. Some resorts even hold hands-on workshops in the kitchen, teaching attendees how to cook more healthy and balanced meals for themselves.
What all these short-term homes-away-from-home for young and old alike really provide, however, far more than a little structure and supervision to a person’s day, is the supportive and encouraging environment of a group of people all dedicated to the same goal of losing weight. In a world where overweight people are besieged by outside judgment, these weight loss resorts and camps provide an atmosphere free of judgment, where a person is valued for who they are and encouraged to be all the desire to be.
Taking a break from everyday society to be surrounded by other people with weight issues of their own is one of the safest ways imaginable to face your own weight issues head on.
MTV shed a bright light on this phenomenon with its acclaimed documentary feature Fat Camp: An MTV Docs Movie Presentation. The movie follows 5 teens as they attend Camp Pocono Trails in the Poconos, Pennsylvania. The show received such widespread attention and acclaim that it airs its second season (following 5 new teams and their experiences at the same camp) starting November, 2007.
As all captivating drama should, the MTV Fat Camp doc highlights the thrills of victory and the agonies of defeat. But the real fat camps and fat farms aren’t about victory or defeat. Their about support and encouragement. About loving who you are so much that it finally starts to show in how you look.
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