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Obesity Treatment and Complete Cure
Author: Juliet Cohen
Article:
Obesity is one of the greatest health challenges of the 21st
century. Obesity is defined simply as too much body fat. It is
different from being overweight, which means weighing too much.
Obesity is increased to a point where it is associated with
certain health conditions or increased mortality. Obesity is a
serious problem that affects millions of people. The most common
measure of obesity is the body mass index or BMI. Obesity occurs
over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance
between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person.
Factors that might tip the balance include your genetic makeup,
overeating, eating high-fat foods and not being physically
active. Obesity, especially central obesity (male-type or
waist-predominant obesity), is an important risk factor for the
"metabolic syndrome" ("syndrome X"), the clustering of a number
of diseases and risk factors that heavily predispose for
cardiovascular disease. These are diabetes mellitus type 2, high
blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and triglyceride levels
(combined hyperlipidemia). An inflammatory state is present,
which -- together with the above -- has been implicated in the
high prevalence of atherosclerosis (fatty lumps in the arterial
wall), and a prothrombotic state may further worsen
cardiovascular risk. Being obese increases your risk of
diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and some cancers.
Obesity and its related diseases are more prevalent among groups
with low socioeconomic status. Obesity results from an excess of
energy (caloric) intake over expenditure. Obesity can have a
number of causes, including thyroid problems and lack of
exercise. Obesity and overweight are chronic conditions. Overall
there are a variety of factors that play a role in obesity.
Obesity can run in families, but just how much is due to genes
is hard to determine. Many others factors have contributed to
the increasing rates of overweight and obesity. Changes in
society, work and leisure have affected activity and eating
patterns, leading to a rise in overweight and obesity. Men have
a higher resting metabolic rate (meaning they burn more energy
at rest) than women, so men require more calories to maintain
their body weight. Many families eat the same foods, have the
same habits (like snacking in front of the TV), and tend to
think alike when it comes to weight issues (like urging children
to eat a lot at dinner so they can grow "big and strong"). All
of these situations can contribute to weight gain, so it can be
difficult to figure out if a person is born with a tendency to
be obese or overweight or learns eating and exercise habits that
lead to weight gain. The average American is inundated with fast
food, processed food, and enriched food choices on a daily
basis. Advertisements for these food products boast their
nutrition values and ease of preparation can make our lives
easier. We lead busy lives, eat fast, and choose television or
computer over exercise.
Treatment of obesity depends primarily on how overweight a
person is and his or her overall health. Certain medications can
also be a cause of obesity. Phen-fen" and Redux prescription
drugs have been removed from the market in the United States and
many other countries. Steroid medications are common culprits
increasing the amount of fluid the body holds in the body. Some
migraine medications are also known to cause weight gain.
Antidepressants and other mood altering medications, sometimes
used for the treatment of stress, anxiety and depression can
also cause increased weight gain. Treatment for obesity is an
energy-limited diet and increased exercise. Patients with morbid
obesity, especially those with serious co-morbid conditions, may
qualify for bariatric surgical treatments such as Lap Band or
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Gastric reduction surgery is an
important treatment option for obese patients with severe health
problems. Initially, it leads to very significant weight loss in
the 2 year period following their gastric bypass or banding
operation, but it deals with symptoms (our excess weight) not
causes (why we overeat). As a result, about 2-5 years after
their operation, up to 40 percent of bariatric patients find it
too arduous to follow the recommended dietary guidelines and end
up regaining weight. Ephedra is essentially an herbal phen-fen.
Ephedra is often combined with caffeine and aspirin ("the
Stack"), which increases the thermogenic (fat-burning) effect of
ephedra. Eating less over the long term means learning to think
about your eating habits and patterns.
About the author:
Juliet Cohen writes articles on
rare skin
disorders and homemade recipes. She also writes articles on makeup tips.
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