Hugging and Chalking

How Slim Jim stays that way

2011-10-08T08:29:00.000-04:00

Usually I don't ask people about their weight, but I was reading a review of "Economic Aspects of Obesity" (U. of Chicago, 2011), and guess what? It's just not our fault--it's a result of the "food environment." Since the doctors, nutritionists and social scientists couldn't solve the problem, the economists are piling on looking at food prices, wages, urban planning, geography, etc. Cha-ching--more gov't money for research and behavior modification.

So when Jim stopped at my table to say hello, I asked him how he stays so trim (no belly at all--flat as a teen-age athlete). He seemed a bit surprised because nowadays he only does 100 sit ups and 150 leg raises, so he's not feeling too trim. I was afraid to ask if that was daily or weekly.

I think it might be good for these researchers to graph the weight increase, especially of the low income, since the launch of the 1964 Food Stamp Act back in the days when hunger was a problem, or at the modern women's movement begun in the early 1970s when women flooded the labor force at the urging of the feminists and started the massive growth in the restaurant industry. I'm just saying. . . there's more than one way to hug and chalk.

Anti-Obesity Programs Fail

2011-07-23T12:29:00.000-04:00

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday the nation’s least-fat state, Colorado, has joined the other 49 states with an obesity rate of at least 20 percent.

Washington’s response to its decades of failures with anti-obesity programs is the creation of another program campaign.

Anti-Obesity Programs Fail | Obesity Statistics | First Lady | The Daily Caller

Taking fat children away from their parents--what will they think of next?

2011-07-18T13:00:00.000-04:00

I haven't seen the July 13 issue of JAMA yet, but it contains an opinion piece that suggests obese children might need to be removed from their parents' home. Yes, and that's because the state has done such a wonderful job in those areas already assigned to it.

Jonathon Bean, who I believe teaches at Ohio State, writes: "Disclosure: I was a “super-obese” teenager at 320 lbs. My brothers were normal weight. My parents urged me to limit my diet but I ate secretly. Then, on my own, I lost 140 lbs in a single year and have kept if off for 28 years (I’m 10 lb over my 21 year old weight). That was my decision. Imagine if the know-it-alls in DCFS had put me in foster care, supervised by my new rotating parents and caring social workers. Yes, children, this is our Brave New World fast in the making."

JAMA: State Should Seize Fat Children from Parents | The Beacon

Bean says this is how the left always works: propose something really outlandish, so that when you try something less, it seems moderate. It's worked on other issues, and he lists them in the Beacon article.

I think social workers and academics are panicking because childhood obesity has leveled off in the last decade, and they fear a funding source might be drying up. Maybe you should write the author and give him a piece of your mind. Sounds like he needs it. David S. Ludwig, MD, PhD, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115. (david.ludwig@childrens.harvard.edu).

Ready-to-eat meat contains few cancerous compounds

2011-05-06T09:54:00.000-04:00

If given the choice between eating a hot dog or enjoying some rotisserie chicken, consider the hot dog. That’s because hot dogs, as well as pepperoni and deli meats, are relatively free of carcinogenic compounds, according to Kansas State University research. But it’s a not-so-happy ending for bacon and rotisserie chicken — especially chicken skin — because both have higher levels of cancerous material. Smith’s research was supported by the Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service with the USDA, the American Meat Institute Foundation and the National Pork Board Checkoff. It all has to do with the heat used for cooking and grilling, and some prepared and deli meats don't require much.

Ready-to-eat meat contains few cancerous compounds | Science Blog

$4.5 million grant creates program to train scholars in child obesity prevention

2011-05-05T19:53:00.000-04:00

Is this the best use of obesity money--another academic program rather than pure research?

Do you need a PhD to learn that most obesity plans should be "eat less move more;" and for those that are metabolic, even many of those respond to increasing the metabolism through exercise. Do you need a PhD to discover that over regulation and unions have driven many supermarkets from the cities creating "food deserts?" What next? Gastric by-pass surgery on 10 year olds? What have they been doing at Illinois with all those nutrition, child care, and family study programs in place for years? Children have gotten heavier as women have entered (or been pushed into) the work force and started the restaurant route for feeding their families. You can chart it beginning in 1970.

A five-year $4.5 million USDA grant to University of Illinois researchers will establish the Illinois Transdisciplinary Obesity Prevention Program (I-TOPP), an innovative research-based program that will combine a Ph.D. with a master's in public health (MPH) degree focused on child obesity prevention.

$4.5 million grant creates program to train scholars in child obesity prevention

Ohio State University also got part of a $4.5 million grant, but it is for the study of rural children and will focus on 2 communities and is shared with 24 other universities.

OSU Extension's Family and Consumer Sciences program will receive $745,744 for the five-year project, which is being led by Kansas State University and involves an additional five states (Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin).

The Childhood Obesity Prevention Grant was one of 24 funded at the end of April by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The goal of this project is to find ways to help rural communities create a culture of healthy eating and physical activity to prevent childhood obesity in low-income young children, said Karen Bruns, assistant director of OSU Extension in charge of Extension's Family and Consumer Sciences programs. Bruns will serve as Ohio's principal investigator on the project.

Ohio Involved in Project Targeting Childhood Obesity — Ohio State University Extension

And what about all the childhood obesity prevention programs, state and federal, church and non-profit, of the past, many listed in the 2004 guide to financing them? Financing Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs: Federal Funding Sources and Other Strategies Read through some of these programs--one was $999 million. Where is the accountability? Where are the children now at a normal healthy weight as a result of the nanny state?

If you search "grant obesity in children" in Google, you get about 8 million hits.

And did you know about BMI Surveillance: Another Flabby Idea

Weight Watchers magazine

2011-03-07T15:07:00.000-05:00

"The September/October issue [2010] of Weight Watchers magazine features plus-sized models who look nice, but realistically chunky -- unlike fashion magazines where "plus size" means having the teensiest bit of stomach pooch.

Those models are wearing the jeans styles most flattering to women who aren't "a size 10 yet." So here you have reader service blended with subtle inspiration -- typical of the supportive tone of the magazine as a whole.

. . . Unlike mags like Shape or Fitness that cater to gung-ho gym bunnies, Weight Watchers readers presumably run the gamut, including morbidly obese exercise newbies who need to be gently but firmly encouraged to get off the couch."

From Magazine Rack.

Eggs Are Now Naturally Lower in Cholesterol

2011-02-11T15:56:00.000-05:00

Go out for breakfast after church and order some eggs--scrambled, fried or poached. With some orange juice and toast, you'll have a healthy meal.

"Eggs now contain 41 IU of vitamin D, which is an increase of 64 percent from 2002. Eggs are one of the few foods that are a naturally good source of vitamin D, meaning that one egg provides at least 10 percent of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium absorption, helping to form and maintain strong bones.

The amount of protein in one large egg – 6 grams of protein or 12 percent of the Recommended Daily Value – remains the same, and the protein in eggs is one of the highest quality proteins found in any food. Eggs are all-natural, and one egg has lots of vitamins and minerals all for 70 calories. The nutrients in eggs can play a role in weight management, muscle strength, healthy pregnancy, brain function, eye health and more. At less than 15 cents apiece, eggs are an affordable and delicious breakfast option."

Eggs Are Now Naturally Lower in Cholesterol -- PARK RIDGE, Ill., Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Tips to avoid holiday weight gain

2010-11-10T15:39:00.000-05:00

According to Sarah Crowell, registered dietitian at The Ohio State University Medical Center, the average person gains one pound each holiday season. So she recommends the following (which don't sound like much fun) as prep for the holiday meal.

•Eat before you greet
Eating a healthy snack before you head to a get-together may help you avoid those unhealthy binges.
•Choose the turkey
If you can, eat the lean white meat of turkey or trim the fat off of ham for a great source of protein.
•Avoid eggnog
In general, eggnog is high in fat and sugar. Instead, go for spiced ciders or water.
•Remember your vegetables
Incorporate vegetables into sides, dips and main dishes.
•Try angel food cake
Make a low calorie dessert such as angel food cake. It’s low in calories (made mostly of egg whites) and you can top it off with fresh fruit.
• Don’t drink your calories
Avoid drinking calorie-heavy beverages. Instead, try a lighter beverage and reserve the calories for something healthy that will satisfy your appetite.

In summary . . . Research on Obesity and Overweight

2010-09-04T17:33:00.001-04:00

"Over the past several decades, the prevalence of obesity among adults and children in the United States has increased dramatically and is now reaching epidemic proportions. The prevalence of obesity in adults in the United States was 30.5 percent in 1999-2000. More than twice as many adults (nearly 65 percent) were considered to be either overweight or obese. Some 6 million U.S. adults were considered morbidly obese in 2001. In 2002, an estimated 15 percent of all children aged 6 to 19 years were overweight.

Obesity is more common in women, but men are more likely to be overweight. Obesity is especially common among African Americans, American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and some Hispanic populations.

Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable deaths; smoking is the first. Obesity is associated with many significant health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, premature death, and decreased quality of life. Even modest weight loss can reduce an individual's risk for these diseases and outcomes.

Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI, weight in kg/height in m2) of 30 or more. For example, a 5'5" woman weighing 180 pounds or more or a 5'11" man weighing 215 pounds or more would be termed obese. Morbid obesity is defined as having a BMI of 40 or more (35 to 40 with medical problems related to obesity). Overweight is defined as having a BMI of 25 to 29.9 (a 5'5" woman who weighs 150 pounds or more or a 5'11" man who weighs 180 pounds or more). A BMI of 20 to 24.9 is considered normal weight, and a BMI under 20 is considered underweight.

In children and adolescents, weight above a normal range has different terms: at risk for overweight and overweight. Being at risk for overweight is defined as a BMI between the 85th and 94th percentile for age and sex; overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex." Research on obesity and overweight

Ponce de León and the quest for youth

2010-06-09T20:33:00.000-04:00

In 1513, the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León arrived in Florida to search for the fountain of youth. If he got any benefit from his quest, it was due to the exercise involved in the search.

Not sure where I read this--Men's Health Watch I think. But I thought it was cute because we all know that exercise is good for us.

'Obese' BMI Does Not Harm Current Health Of Young Adults, Study Says

2010-05-28T19:51:00.000-04:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A study examining the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and illness suggests that a BMI of 30 or above, a signal of obesity according to federal health standards, does not translate into current illness among adults under age 40.

'Obese' BMI Does Not Harm Current Health Of Young Adults, Study Says

Could this work for portion control?

2010-03-23T09:05:00.005-04:00

At Manchester College, North Manchester, IN, meal plans now include going trayless. From the "Green Campus Initiative."

"For those returning students, you may have noticed that starting this fall semester, we have started implementing the trayless option as part of the Green Initiative on campus. This was decided upon to attempt to cut down on the amount of waste produced by students on the meal plan over-stocking on food because of the freedom of space on the trays, then discarding the uneaten food. All excess food products are collected in two bins on either side of the dish conveyor, serving as a gauge for the amount of waste saved and produced. In the two months the program has been in place, Chartwells reports a significant decrease in the amount of waste produced by students. Within the student body, a reported 75% or 1 in 4, are choosing to eat their food without a tray, according to Chartwells statistics.

Although trays are still available for those who wish to use them, Director of Food Services, Chris Yeadon, says that the amount of food being taken is still decreasing. "You can see it. Even the people that grab trays when they walk in clearly have less on them." The program benefits the community, since we, the Office of volunteer Services, take the difference in funding for waste."

Why that last diet didn't work

2010-02-02T06:03:00.002-05:00

". . . the International Association for the Study of Obesity recommends 60–90 minutes a day of moderate intensity exercise or about 35 minutes a day of vigorous activity for the prevention of weight regain following obesity. Although epidemiologic and laboratory data are limited, it appears that about 45–60 minutes a day of moderate activity is necessary to prevent the transition from normal weight to obesity, at least for a large part of the population." International Journal of Obesity, (2004) 28, 1541–1547.

Sigh. I guess exercise class 3 times a week and snacking on cheese and crackers while I blog isn't going to do it.

Avoid these mid-life risk factors, guys

2010-01-29T14:23:00.002-05:00

Get married, stop smoking and lose weight.

Certain risk factors affect survival rate in men: overweight, hyperglycemia and hypertension, smoking and excessive drinking, hypertriglyceridemia, lack of higher education, and not being married. Risk factor models based on cumulative risk factors (survival risk score) suggest that the probability of survival to oldest age is as high as 69% with no risk factors and as low as 22% with 6 or more risk factors. The probability of exceptional survival to age 85 years was 55% with no risk factors but decreased to 9% with 6 or more risk factors. JAMA. 2006;296:2343-2350.

Rebecca's Health tip for the Holidays

2009-12-29T05:51:00.001-05:00

"NEVER GIVE UP is my tip for today. And I need it!

No matter how many home-made caramels you ate. No matter that you ate 12 dark chocolate truffles from the bag. In the car. Before you got home from the gift exchange. No matter that the day went by and you didn't get your 30 minute walk in. No matter that the scale shows you gained 2 pounds for the first time in six months of consistent loss or maintenance. No matter WHAT. Never give up. Begin where you left off and keep going strong!"

Rebecca's inspirational blog about weight loss: Power, Love and Self-Control.

Reality show is popular but unhealthy

2009-11-25T12:58:00.001-05:00

"When more than 40 former contestants from “The Biggest Loser” gather Wednesday for a reunion television special, the winner of the program’s first season, Ryan C. Benson, who lost 122 of his 330-pound starting weight, will be absent. Mr. Benson is now back above 300 pounds but he thinks he has been shunned by the show because he publicly admitted that he dropped some of the weight by fasting and dehydrating himself to the point that he was urinating blood." Story at the New York Times.

A very popular show with dangerous implications for weight loss.

Cankles

2009-11-14T16:21:00.003-05:00

Saddle bags, love handles, muffin tops... and now "cankles." Well, you can't have perfection and you can't fight heredity. But here's a web site that promises to help, Say No to Cankles.

What causes cankles? Heredity. Too much salt. Pregnancy. I think I can rule out the third cause, but definitely have the first two. Both grandmothers had cankles and I salt everything.

What can you do about them? Not much. But the site recommends high-intensity, fat-burning cardiovascular activities, long brisk walks 30 minutes a day, and "step" classes. Also calf raises on the stairs 3 times a week. Hmm. I suspect that makes calves more muscular so the ankles look slimmer.

Then it makes suggestions about shoes and various optical illusions. Doesn't look good ladies. We may just have to learn to love them.

High intensity exercise more beneficial?

2009-05-13T16:16:00.000-04:00

That’s what this article in Prevention says. The calories are the same--the results are different.

"Researchers from the University of Virginia found that women who did three shorter, fast-paced walks a week (plus two longer, moderate-paced ones) lost 5 times more belly fat than those who simply strolled at a moderate speed 5 days a week, even though both groups burned exactly the same number of calories (400) per workout. Those speed walking also dropped more than 2 inches from their waistlines, pared about 3 times more fat from their thighs, shed 4 times more total body fat, and lost almost 8 pounds over 16 weeks--all without dieting!

The improvements didn't stop there. The high-intensity exercisers lost about 3 times more visceral fat--the dangerous belly fat that wraps around organs such as the liver and kidneys and has been linked to diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. "Vigorous exercise raises levels of fat-burning hormones," says lead researcher Arthur Weltman, PhD, director of the exercise physiology laboratory at the university. It also increases afterburn (the number of calories your body uses postexercise as it recovers) by about 47% compared with lower-intensity workouts."

Women in the Middle East

2009-03-21T08:49:00.002-04:00

We've just returned from a Holy Land Cruise. When you visit Europe or the Middle East you do realize that Americans are much heavier, but they are just 20 or so years behind. It's like the economy. It's going around.

Fittest and fattest cities

2009-01-16T18:57:00.003-05:00

Miami is the fattest and Salt Lake City is the fittest. Does government interference or regulation or nanny coddling have anything to do with either one?

It isn't even the weather, which I suspect is nicer in Florida. Not access to the beach--or fast foods--or sidewalks.

No one in the USAToday where these stats appear wants to notice that Salt Lake City is loaded with Mormans who advocate a particular life style.

Another media myth

2009-01-05T17:41:00.001-05:00

It's expensive to lose weight.

And usually, if you read the entire article, someone explains that it is processed food that is expensive, not fresh or frozen.

It's January so newspapers are promoting their diet plans which probably have tie-ins with processed food companies, TV reality shows, and pharmaceuticals. News articles will also encourage coupon use, because they print them (they are ads that exercise your scissor muscles). Coupons cover up price increases and introduce the 15th type of Ritz cracker.

It's not expensive to eat fresh food, or even food labeled "organic," although that probably doesn't make a lot of difference, except to increase the cost slightly. The advantage to your health of not buying food fertilized or contaminated by sewage is probably huge, but by the time you get down to the minuscule, unmeasurable amounts of herbicide and pesticides on commercially grown food, which is where we are today with our health gate keepers who want to return American women to long food queues like Europe, the cost and health benefit is pretty small. You have a much better chance of getting Grandma's genetic links to cancer and heart disease than developing problems from eating too much fish or chicken on hormones. News flash. If you live long enough, everyone gets cancer or their heart gives out.

Anyway, today for lunch I took out about 5 spears of tender, fresh asparagus, rinsed them, and arranged a few "baby" (peeled) carrots from a bag, (always, always rinse) on a glass plate and zapped in the microwave uncovered for 1 minute. Add a dollop of low fat sour cream, a little salt and pepper, and enjoy. Then I had my sliced apple and 1/2 cup of walnuts, because I missed breakfast due to exercise class. The entire lunch/breakfast probably didn't top $2. You couldn't make and eat a bagel sandwich with potato chips for less than $4.

One thing mentioned in the USAToday article on dieting that I agree with is that half of all food dollars are spent eating out or take out. Combined with my morning coffee and our Friday date night, that's certainly true for us. However, I count about half of that as "leisure and entertainment."

Cross posted at Collecting my thoughts

Wasn't this settled?

2008-09-21T16:04:00.000-04:00

Eat less, move more, don't smoke. "Combined impact of lifestyle factors on mortality: prospective cohort study in US women," Rob M van Dam, BMJ 2008;337:a1440 Here.

I guess it needed more study. Alcohol consumption was also part of the study, but there are trade offs, depending on the amount. The danger is always that "light" will move on to "excessive," thus eliminating the health benefits.

Conclusions
Avoiding cigarette smoking is of pivotal importance for the prevention of premature death. In our study of middle aged women, adherence to lifestyle guidelines involving a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and weight management was also associated with markedly lower mortality. Of note, our results indicate that a healthy diet and regular physical activity have important health benefits independent of reducing adiposity. These findings underscore the importance of intensifying both efforts to eradicate cigarette smoking and those aimed at improving diet and physical activity.

It was like brain surgery

2008-07-21T06:15:00.003-04:00

Ellen lost 300 lbs after gastric by-pass and people started treating her like she had a brain.

Story here from Quick and Simple.

There is no crisis

2008-07-20T06:09:00.002-04:00

says Junk Food Science, who has carefully analyzed the recent report in JAMA on moderate to vigorous activity in children.

This week’s study found no correlation between changing activity levels and BMIs. Nor did it find that young people are less active today than they’ve ever been. Nor did it find poorer kids were more sedentary than richer kids. Nor did it even look at if activity levels during adolescence were related to adult levels or had any relationship to future health problems. Sandy finds and reports some connections between the authors and various causes, but I would suggest that reporting we are healthier than ever just wouldn't make a good story for the nightly news, nor would it be a good reason for the government agencies and think tanks to promote one more regulation or law to intervene in our personal lives.

Exercise the natural way

2008-07-20T05:53:00.002-04:00

Although I see some vigorous joggers and walkers, most of us here at Lakeside, Ohio, for vacation or the summer just get more exercise than usual because we don't use our cars. I might walk 10-12 blocks a day or ride my bike several miles and not even think about it. I'll ride my bike to a friend's house, rather than call on the cell phone. I think this is why our parents and grandparents didn't carry as much weight. During the day I might walk 3 blocks and back to the little grocery store, or 2-3 blocks to the little business district, or stroll a mile along the lakefront and not even notice it. It's a wonderful way to get around--when the weather's good.

But even exercise won't help poor eating. Yesterday I noticed an overweight mommy buying tickets for her three overweight children to a "craft" event that included building your own sundae!

Walking at sunrise along Lake Erie

Low-carb wins in 3-way battle

2008-07-17T06:24:00.000-04:00

The full story is at the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here's the AP account, a bit easier to read, but it means that low carb works better than low fat, and Mediterranean, and this study was much better controlled and over a 2 year period, so it included initial and maintenance. Women and diabetics did better with the Mediterranean diet.

Abdominal obesity--16 years of follow up

2008-06-03T20:01:00.002-04:00

"Five investigators at the NIH studied the risk of one form of obesity, that of the abdomen, in more than 44,000 women in the Nurses Health Study, for all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. Reported in the journal Circulation in 2008, their study spanned 16 years of follow-up with 3500 deaths. After adjusting for body mass index and potential confounders, they found a significant increase in relative risk for increased waist circumference rising at the fifth quintile to 79% for all-cause, 63% for cancer, and 99% for cardiovascular mortality. Even normal-weight women with elevated waist circumference experienced a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular death." [Medscape.com]
Circulation. 117(13):1624-1626, April 1, 2008.

Sugar substitutes and weight gain

2008-05-26T19:28:00.003-04:00

The May 14, 2008 issue of JAMA has a news and perspectives article on the possibility that low-calorie sweetners might be causing weight gain. The first article cited is a review of the literature in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007;61[6]:;691-700. The findings were mixed and there is currently no official recommendation on using subsitutes for weight control.

There's some support for the theory that artificial sweeteners blunt the body's energy expenditure mechanisms and activate taste pathways differently than sucrose. Something's not working right--we're a much heavier nation now than when sugar-free sweeteners first became popular and common in the 1980s.

Another recent study in Neuroimage (2008;39[4]:1559-1569) reveals that sugar is more potent than low-calorie sweeteners in stimulating brain areas related to expectation and satisfaction, thereby turning off the desire for more sweetness.

I'm sure that's what happened when I ate that piece of real carrot cake on Saturday. There's no way I could have had a second piece. It activated my tongue receptors which notified my brain--"No More!"

Eat real food--but just eat less of it; you'll be better off than eating low sugar or low fat, which isn't as satisfying or tasty, in my opinion.

The Pink Patch

2008-04-14T20:08:00.002-04:00

If someone you know is using the pink patch to lose weight, you might want to look at The Blog that Ate Manhattan (medical blog)for a list of the ingredients and possible side effects. Because it is an herbal product, it hasn't been tested by FDA for safety or efficacy. The advertisers are directing the patch at teens.

A word from Whole Foods

2008-04-13T11:44:00.002-04:00

Janeen alerted me to this--Whole Foods website has pod cast/ MP3 audio on a healthy body for you. The February, part 1, was on the role of inflammation, antioxidants, free radicals, etc., "Straight to your Heart."

Take-aways:

One of these days I'll have to start podding. But it's OK to listen at the computer.

Cross posted at Collecting my Thoughts

The New American Plate

2008-04-08T19:00:00.003-04:00

I saw this at Medscape.com. Wouldn't it be better to not take as much rather than "leave it behind?" That seems awfully wasteful.

Feeding the obesity epidemic

2008-03-25T19:28:00.003-04:00

David Zinczenko thinks we need more information about the calories in restaurant meals. USAToday Opinion, Mar 25, 2008 Sorry. I don't believe it. I don't know anyone who doesn't know there are more calories in Aussie cheese fries with ranch dressing (2900 cal, Outback) than in a baked potato with sour cream (150 cal), or that there aren't more calories in a Starbucks Venti strawberries and creme Frappucino (about 750 cal) than in a coffee with cream (about 35 cal). There are a lot of reasons people over eat, but lack of information is probably at the bottom of the list.

Russia in transition

2008-03-17T14:33:00.002-04:00

Obesity is on the increase as Russia transitions to more freedom, a market economy, and choices. The calories seem to remain the same, but are coming from less healthy sources--alcohol, sweets, etc. The authors are from Iowa State University and University of Dublin, and guessing from their names, I'm guessing they are former citizens of the USSR.

Huffman, Sonya Kostova and Rizov, Marian, "The Rise of Obesity in Transition Economies: Theory and Evidence from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey" . Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1106102

Charting obesity

2008-03-14T10:10:00.002-04:00

The Bureau of Labor chart showing restaurant growth with the advent of women working outside the home shown in the March 14 WSJ (p. B2) seems to parallel the rise in obesity.

The article also reports that with a recent flattening of growth in restaurant sales by women with families, restaurants are adding features to attract women with children--books, etch-a-sketch and video games.

Surgery problems in obese children

2008-02-22T08:44:00.003-05:00

A study on surgery problems in obese children noted airway obstruction and other breathing-related functions during surgery. It included some statistics about children and obesity.

An estimated 15 to 17 percent of children and adolescents in the United States are considered obese.

Major airway obstructions occurred in 19 percent of obese children, compared with 11 percent of normal-weight children.

Nearly 9 percent of obese children experienced difficult mask ventilation, compared with 2 percent of normal-weight children.

17 percent of obese children in the study experienced major oxygen desaturation (decreased oxygen in the blood), compared with 9 percent of normal-weight children.

28 percent of obese children had asthma, compared with 16 percent of normal-weight children.

It should be noted however, that despite the increased risk of adverse events among children who are obese, none resulted in significant illness.

Reference: Anesthesiology, March 2008, Vol. 108, Issue 3.

Physician, heal thyself

2008-02-12T19:31:00.000-05:00

A front page medical article in the Columbus Dispatch yesterday. Photo of a doctor, a medical student, and a patient conferring--all were obese.

Nutritionism

2008-01-25T12:25:00.000-05:00

Why are we eating "healthy" and just getting fatter? There's an interesting article in the NYT Magazine called "Unhappy meals" about how we eat, focusing on nutrients instead of real food.

Nutritionism may be the culprit, says the author. There are more government regulations, more nutritional studies, more diets (low fat, low carb, etc.), and there's a huge industry of journalists and authors (including the one who wrote the above article) who do nothing but write articles or publish books about what to eat and how to eat it. One nutrition/exercise/health web site I read recently said we are spending more on obesity per day than on the war in Iraq. I haven't crunched the numbers, but that's scary! Read the article (recommended by Janeen who combats food allergies daily in her family) and see what you think.

There are good ideas and points in this article--many we've heard before, but cherry pick. We are bombarded by anti-western this and that, and eco-friendly tidbits by the same journalists who wrote us into obesity! You need to be selective. In the 1970s women were literally pushed out of the home and kitchen; we've been getting fatter since. Now we're being reeled back. Barefoot and pregnant probably won't fly these days. But do try to eat real food.

If you can find it.

From a longer post at Collecting My Thoughts.

The No-Brainer Life Extension Plan

2008-01-09T09:49:00.000-05:00

That's not the official name, of course. But when I read the summary, I thought, "Well, that's a no-brainer." If you don't smoke, eat lots of fruits and vegetables,, exercise regularly, and drink alcohol only in moderation, you might live 14 years longer than a control group who are careless with their health behaviors.

We examined the prospective relationship between lifestyle and mortality in a prospective population study of 20,244 men and women aged 45–79 y with no known cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline survey in 1993–1997, living in the general community in the United Kingdom, and followed up to 2006. . . Four health behaviours combined predict a 4-fold difference in total mortality in men and women, with an estimated impact equivalent to 14 y in chronological age."Combined Impact of Health Behaviours and Mortality in Men and Women: The EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Study," Kay-Tee Khaw1*, Nicholas Wareham2, Sheila Bingham3, Ailsa Welch1, Robert Luben1, Nicholas Day1, Public Library of Science Medicine, published Jan. 8, 2008. Or download pdf.

Noted along the way in 2007

2008-01-01T15:58:00.000-05:00

1) The hallmarks of successful weight loss maintenance include a low-calorie diet and high energy expenditures--1300-1800 calories a day consumed, and 2600 calories spent a week in physical activity. Medications for weight loss haven't worked well compared to lifestyle changes. In fact, Robert Lustig, MD, says their effect is "underwhelming."

2) Based on my observation of who uses them, I'd say that diet drinks and special diet foods help make people fat. These foods, in my opinion, don't taste right and create a craving for more. Want low fat? Add some water or milk. The label says that's the first ingredient. Or use less of the real thing.

3) According to the EPA, removing 100 lbs. of "stuff" from the trunk or back seat of your car will improve your fuel efficiency by 2%. Removing 10% of your body weight from your "trunk" or "back seat" will improve your own energy efficiency too.

4) Losing the sloppy jeans and t-shirt look, a close shave, and a good haircut can probably make a man look 10 lbs. thinner. Math clue: baggy sweat pants and shirt add, they don't subtract.

5) The ordinary person without type II diabetes has average health care costs of $2848 a year, including $541 out of pocket costs; the person with type II diabetes has annual health care cost of $9,797, with oop of $1566. In 2006, the nation spent an estimated $22.9 billion on direct medical costs related to diabetes complications (www.aace.com).

6) Research shows that kids will eat more of anything after watching food ads, so the advertising doesn't necessarily build brand loyalty, but does increase weight. Turn off the TV or computer and send them outside to play.

7) A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (2007;167:766-773) found a clear relationship between being overweight and filing Workers' Comp claims. Employees with a BMI 40 or over had 11.65 claims per 100 FTE, where recommended weight employees had 5.80. So on a job interview, does the HR person see you and your skills or $51,091 vs. $7,503 per 100 FTEs and more lost work days? Think about it. Is that really discrimination or watching the bottom line (no pun intended)?

8) Children with sleep disorders are often hyperactive, have attention deficit, and more absenteeism from school, according to a study in JAMA, June 27. Obesity, adnoids, tonsils, facial abnormalities, colds and allergies are contributing factors.

9) Obese people tend to sit for 150 more minutes a day than their lean counterparts.

10) Healthy eating doesn't fix everything. JAMA reported in the July 18 issue that women breast cancer survivors did no better on special low fat, high fruit/vegetable diets than the control group who ate the recommended 5 servings a day. The researchers were surprised and disappointed.

11) Out of the frying pan into the fire: according to a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences some powerful drugs used for treating mental illnesses cause patients to gain so much weight that they often develop life-threatening complications such as diabetes and heart disease.

12) Arthur C. Brooks observed in the WSJ (2-17-07) that a BMI of below 25 can't be "normal" if so few people are there. Overweight men give more money to poverty relief and also are more generous with their time in volunteering than thin men. Brooks suggests that denying one's self may translate into denying others.

13) Of all the "foodie" books I noticed in 2007, this one, "What to eat: an aisle by aisle guide" by Marion Nestle (2006) looked really good. I haven't read it yet, but she has my philosophy, "eat less, move more," and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Arranged like a tour of your supermarket, the book is, according to a CDC review, "a revealing look at the standard practices of government agencies, retailers, and food manufacturers that the complex world of food sales comprises." I have certain aisles at Meijer's that I won't walk through.

14) About a year ago, JAMA reported that in a study of the four major diet plans, the only successful people were the publisher and the author/researchers who got the grant. None of the diets worked well, or consistently, and none of the groups (ladies) were really following them.

15) It's not rocket science. Reading and following even well-intentioned, healthy recipes can add pounds. A roasted pear, walnut and feta cheese salad has 400 calories. A side dish of fresh, tender crisp asparagus has 88. And if you're like me, the cheese will make you hungry.

For the most part, this is cross posted at my regular blog, Collecting My Thoughts.

How others do it

2007-12-19T08:44:00.001-05:00

I was reading through the comments at a blog the other day. Both the blog writer and reader were commenting on their own obesity. The reader said she had successfully lost 60 pounds, kept it off for six years, been a counselor in a commercial weight loss program, and then gradually all the weight returned as she realized that without spending all her day thinking about what she would eat, there was no way she could maintain her weight.

And the thought occurred to me that most people of "normal" weight probably do just that--think about what to eat, when to eat, and how much to eat, and how the calories will be expended if overeating does occur. I do. So do others who are not overweight. In fact, my husband is the only person I know who seems to have built in signals that keep him from over eating, but if he does decide he's "packed on" 5 lbs., he stops eating crackers and peanut butter in the evening, and in a few weeks, he's back to normal (ca. 155 lbs.)

We went out to eat Friday night with friends we've known (but not well) for about 30 years. She's been about the same weight the whole time I've known her--extremely thin. She's probably in her early 70s, but has looked this way to me since her 40s. For dinner she ordered a turkey wrap and a salad. She took half the wrap order home. The next day she was going to be biking 20 miles to have breakfast with friends. The temperatures here were about 30 degrees, and it was windy. We then went to their home where she served a wonderful pumpkin tort made with Splenda topped with sugar-free Cool-Whip. You don't think she thinks, computes and calculates everything that goes in her mouth and how many calories are burned in biking and swimming?

Eating behavior will be discussed

2007-11-30T12:56:00.000-05:00

Ohio State Marion invites the public to attend the second monthly installment of Science Café, a free community dialogue on science, at 7 p.m. Tuesday (12/4) at the Rise & Dine Restaurant, Legacy Crossing, 142 McMahon Boulevard, Marion. Tracy Tylka, professor of psychology at Ohio State Marion, will discuss “Eating Behavior in the U.S.” Tylka will share her views and research on the attitudes and practices of parents and caregivers and how attitudes help shape children's future eating behavior.

From her web page:

Eating in the dark

2007-11-29T14:47:00.000-05:00

On my way to the coffee shop (6:15 a.m.) I waited at a long light change and glanced in the rear view mirror at the driver waiting behind me. It was a 5-way intersection and we were the only people there. I couldn't see her body, but I could see she was carefully removing wrapped food from a fast bag, probably White Castle, which is the only thing around here open that early. She seemed to be laying them out on the passenger seat. I saw 4 items by the time the light changed. I went straight and she went left, but we both entered the same parking lot from opposite ends. I thought she was going to eat there before heading for work. When I left the coffee shop her car was still there, so she was apparently employed in one of the other stores and perhaps opened. Which ever, she ate breakfast alone in her car in the dark. Not a healthy choice.

American obesity has leveled off, according to the news--33% of men and 35% of women are obese. How you eat is very important according to Brian Wansink, the new Executive Director of the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. If you are serious about eating a healthier diet, stopping at a drive through and eating out of a bag in the dark in an almost empty parking lot is probably not a good start to your day or the rest of your life.

Diets aren't easy, but this is

2007-11-28T05:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I walked 5 miles. I know that because I was wearing a step pedometer, and only one mile was "exercise" done outside. The rest was my normal activities at home, and going out twice to shop. This week I read, "Using pedometers to increase physical activity and improve health" (a review article) in the Nov 21, 2007 issue of JAMA, pp 2296-2304 (many public libraries have a subscription). The researchers had reviewed 26 published studies that reported on pedometers among outpatients, 8 randomized controlled trials, and 18 observational. The conclusion was that use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure. This was across all ages, races, gender, and state of health.

Some guidelines specifically recommend 10,000 steps a day, although I don't know that this goal would change the outcome. So, if you're like me and exercise isn't your thing, clip on that pedometer. I'm not sure why it works, but people, me included, seem to increase their activity level when using a pedometer.

The financial picture of fat

2007-11-08T17:56:00.001-05:00

Forbes.com has this to say about the financial implications of obesity:

The social cost.

Mike Huckabee, the big loser

2007-11-07T09:11:00.000-05:00

I support Mike Huckabee to be the next president of the United States, and yesterday he moved to 3rd among Republican candidates, behind Rudy and Thompson. However, he was making news in 2004 for becoming a "big loser" after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He changed his diet and began exercising regularly. I think his philosophy that we have no quick fixes in our personal life will carry over well to the White House.

"This is a process," Huckabee said. "There will never come a day where you can say, 'Wow! I can wipe my brow, call it quits and go back to my ways because I have done this thing.' That is critical to know. Everybody wants a quick fix and something that doesn't require any change or any effort." (Wapo)

Do you know how much you eat?

2007-09-25T16:34:00.000-04:00

[The researcher] rigged up half the soup bowls on a table with hidden hoses attached to them through a hole in the bowl. As people ate the soup, the hoses kept filling the bowls with more soup. After the study, the people with the bottomless soup bowls estimated they ate the same amount as the people eating from the regular bowls. In reality, they ate an average of 73 percent (and 113 calories!) more.

Read the whole story at University of Nebraska, Food Reflections.

If you're over 65, you might want to reconsider BMI

2007-07-16T20:00:00.000-04:00

A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health [may ask for registration] seems to show that being too thin or too fat is dangerous for older women, but being "just right" will mean reconsidering the ideal BMI.

Real Simple Weight Tips

2007-07-13T06:11:00.000-04:00

In the July issue of Real Simple magazine, Susan Freinkel pulls together research about why and how we gain weight as we age. Here's a few things I learned from her article.

Sent to you from the lobby of the Fountain Inn, Lakeside OH, and I do have on my walking clothes! Onward!

New Surgeon General to focus on obesity

2007-05-28T19:03:00.000-04:00

From Medscape.com
"WASHINGTON (Reuters) May 25 - President George W. Bush announced on Thursday that he had picked Kentucky physician James Holsinger to become the top U.S. health educator and said he would focus on reducing childhood obesity.

Holsinger's appointment as surgeon general requires Senate approval. He would replace Richard Carmona, who stepped down last year.

"Dr. Holsinger will particularly focus his efforts on educating parents and children about childhood obesity, a serious epidemic that decreases quality of life and burdens our healthcare system," Bush said in a statement.

Holsinger, 68, headed up Kentucky's health system and is the former chancellor of the University of Kentucky's medical center. He is also a retired Army Reserve major general."

2007-05-21T08:13:00.000-04:00

Blog Furlough

New study on genes and obesity

2007-04-14T06:02:00.000-04:00

"A nondescript gene that no scientist has studied before determines why some people gain more weight than others. A new study of nearly 40,000 Europeans found that people with mutations in both of their copies of the gene known as FTO are 70 percent more likely to be obese than those with regular copies of the gene. Researchers says that identifying a genetic basis for obesity could lead to novel treatments for the increasingly prevalent condition blamed for life-threatening heart disease and type 2 diabetes, among other disorders. . . Obesity is on the rise worldwide, correlated with gains in affluence. According to a recent study in JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association nearly 100 million men, women and children in the U.S. alone are considered obese."

It is called FTO, not for fat-to-obese, but because it was originally studied in a mouse that had a fused toe.

No where does it say this gene makes people fat, only that if you have this gene, you may need to be more careful about your calorie intake because you'll take on weight more easily than others. I don't think I have this gene--but I have gained 100 pounds since I graduated from high school. Usually I gain about 20 pounds over a period of years and then work hard to lose it, and it slowly comes back. Diets are not difficult; keeping weight off is. We are constantly faced with groaning tables and restaurants on every corner. When I jumped about 15 pounds in two years between 2002 and 2004, I could see exactly where the scale was going, so I've "lost" it yet again. However, I know it isn't truly lost, that it is hiding behind every bag of potato chips and box of take-out pizza.

Also, the research says that ELMM is the only real solution if you have this gene--Eat Less, Move More.

Cross posted at Collecting my Thoughts.

Travel by walking

2007-03-30T21:01:00.000-04:00

I must be missing something. Researchers have determined that 6th grade girls who walk to and from school (called "travel by walking" in the published study) have more minutes of physical activity than non-walkers. Eight people with a doctorate and one with an MS participated in designing and publishing this study. http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/161/2/153

The next thing you know someone will want to study the cutting edge concept that pop, potato chips and candy bars contribute to childhood obesity.

Cross posted at Collecting My Thoughts

Obese children at risk in surgery and for surgery

2007-02-25T15:21:00.000-05:00

Using a database at the University of Michigan, researchers looked at 6,017 pediatric surgeries at the UM Hospital from 2000 to 2004. They found that nearly a third of the patients – 31.5 percent – were overweight or obese. More than half of those children qualified as obese, according to the study, which appears in Journal of the National Medical Association, VOL. 99, NO. 1, JANUARY 2007, p. 46-51 (this is a journal that promotes the interests of physicians and patients of African descent). You can read this article full text without registration.

"The prevalence of overweight children having surgery presents challenges to surgeons, anesthesiologists and their teams. Overweight adult patients are more likely to have conditions such as type II diabetes, hypertension, asthma and other breathing problems, and are more likely to develop infections in their wounds after surgery. The researchers on this study say those conditions also are becoming common among overweight and obese children.

The results also suggest that children who are overweight or obese have an increased likelihood of requiring certain types of surgery. The surgeries these children were having performed most frequently included the removal of tonsils and adenoids, as well as other surgeries designed to assist with breathing problems and sleep apnea; orthopedic surgeries to fix broken bones and other ailments; and procedures designed to mend digestive and gastrointestinal issues." Summary from the UMHS press release.

Finally, an expert who agrees with me

2007-02-22T20:13:00.000-05:00

A recent issue of JAMA reviewed positively the book What to eat: an aisle by aisle guide. . . by Marion Nestle, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006. $30, ISBN 0-86547-7043.

The reviewer thought it was well written and indexed, and I was impressed to read that a nutritionist says what I do. . . "eat less, move more" and eat lots of fruits and vegetables and go easy on junk food (we called this "eating all the colors" in the old days).

Fat sells big

2007-02-07T13:12:00.000-05:00

Last week I noticed the following titles on the best seller list in USAToday.

The best life diet by Bob Greene
"A pretty down to earth read for anyone trying to incorporate a healthy lifestyle. Not just a quick fix for weight loss!" Comment at Amazon.com

You: on a diet by Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz
"It is VERY informative, and covers things that I have never read in other books..I highly recommend this book to all waistfull and waistless people." Comment at Amazon.com

The Calorie King Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate counter by Allan Borushek
It is so very easy to use and I have yet to look up some food, packaged or natural, that was not listed there, along with calories, fat and carbos.

The best life diet daily journal--goes with first title above

South Beach Diet by Arthur Agatston
"The good news: if you follow this diet you will lose weight! I lost 7 lbs in 3 weeks even with an occasional deviation. The bad news: sticking to the diet will not be easy." Comment at Amazon.com

Overeaters Anonymous

2007-01-27T08:17:00.000-05:00

It's not for everyone, but works for some. This comment was left at The Atkins Avenger at a post about OA:

"I have been going to OA for a number of years in Australia. I feel loved and supported in my group, but just as importantly challenged. My disease of overeating is about dishonesty - for years I thought I got fat even though I didn't eat very much. I truly believed that. It was OA that helped me to chip away at that self-deceit and see how much food I was putting in my mouth.

I hope you can find what I have found - a new way to live. I now eat three times a day, a miracle for someone who spent 35 years grazing all day. And I have found something else between those 3 meals - life.

Keep going back. It has worked for me."

Obesity and asthma and COPD

2007-01-26T15:32:00.000-05:00

"In a cross-sectional study of normal-weight, overweight and obese adults, waist circumference was consistently negatively associated with pulmonary function across the BMI categories.

"Waist circumference is a better predictor of pulmonary dysfunction than BMI in adults," study chief Dr. Yue Chen of the University of Ottawa told Reuters Health.

Obesity is associated with a wide range of health problems including respiratory dysfunction. "Intra-abdominal pressure causing a mechanical effect on the diaphragm is likely the reason for obesity associated with pulmonary dysfunction," Dr. Chen explained."

Am J Clin Nutr 2007; 85:35-39 as reported at Medscape.com via Reuters.

Low fat--low results

2007-01-19T14:51:00.000-05:00

And not much taste, either.

"The Women's Health Initiative (WHI), of which the Dietary Modification Trial is one component, is one of the most outstanding achievements in clinical research history. The National Institutes of Health established the WHI in 1991 to address the most common causes of death, disability, and impaired quality of life in postmenopausal women. This multimillion-dollar, 15-year project, involving 161 808 women aged 50 through 79 years, was designed to address many of the inequities in women's health research and provide practical information to women and their physicians about hormone therapy, calcium/vitamin D supplements, dietary patterns, and prevention of heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.

The Dietary Modification Trial component evaluated the effect of a low-fat (target 20% fat), high–fruit/vegetable and grain diet on the prevention of breast and colorectal cancer and heart disease. Between 1993 and 1998, 48 835 postmenopausal women with a mean baseline age of 62.3 years, mean body mass index of 29.1, and a dietary fat intake of at least 32% of total calories (approximately the 50th percentile for fat intake) were randomly assigned to either the self-selected dietary control group or the low-fat dietary intervention, which aimed to change dietary patterns but did not encourage weight loss or caloric reduction (even though the vast majority of participants were obese or overweight).

The trial did provide a unique opportunity to examine long-term effects of an ad libitum low-fat dietary pattern on body weight and the relationships between weight changes and specific changes in dietary components. The authors reported a 2.2-kg weight loss in the intervention group at year 1 (1.9 kg between groups) and a modest 0.4-kg difference between the groups at the 7.5-year mark (P = .01). They concluded that a low-fat eating pattern does not result in weight gain in postmenopausal women."

Editorial in JAMA 2006;295:94-95 You can register free for this site and read the articles if they are 6 mo. old.

Eat less; move more; eat all the colors. It works, but doesn't sell books.

To live long, avoid certain risk factors

2006-12-21T16:00:00.000-05:00

The November 15, 2006 JAMA reports on a study done in Hawaii of men of Japanese ancestry. The news on life style choices is always a bit grim, isn't it? Men who lived to be 85 and healthy, most likely in middle-age weren't overweight, didn't have high blood pressure, didn't smoke, or use alcohol excessively. Oh yes, and usually they had more education and a spouse.

One of the shortcomings of the study is that they were all ethnic Japanese. And it's just a guess on my part, but I would think living in Hawaii should give a person some sort of health boost just from climate and beauty.

"Midlife risk factors and healthy survival in men," by Bradley J. Willcox and others, JAMA, vol. 296, no. 19, p. 2343-2350.

From the abstract: "Of 5820 original participants, 2451 participants (42%) survived to age 85 years and 655 participants (11%) met the criteria for exceptional survival to age 85 years. High grip strength and avoidance of overweight, hyperglycemia, hypertension, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption were associated with both overall and exceptional survival. In addition, high education and avoidance of hypertriglyceridemia were associated with exceptional survival, and lack of a marital partner was associated with mortality before age 85 years. Risk factor models based on cumulative risk factors (survival risk score) suggest that the probability of survival to oldest age is as high as 69% with no risk factors and as low as 22% with 6 or more risk factors. The probability of exceptional survival to age 85 years was 55% with no risk factors but decreased to 9% with 6 or more risk factors."

Could this be the cause of obesity?

2006-12-11T11:25:00.000-05:00

"The share of daily caloric intake from food purchased and/or eaten away from home increased from 18 percent to 32 percent between the late 1970s and the middle 1990s, and the away-from-home market grew to account for about half of total food expenditures in 2004, up from 34 percent in 1974."

I'm sure the percentage eaten out is much higher now than the mid-90s.

Report from "Let's Eat Out," US Economic Information Bulletin, October 2006.

Abdominal fat in children

2006-11-27T15:31:00.000-05:00

This was reported at emaxhealth.com, medscape.com and a number of other medical and news stories:

"Abdominal obesity in childhood increased more than 65 percent among boys and almost 70 percent among girls between 1988 and 2004. The finding of growing girth is significant because abdominal obesity has emerged as a better predictor of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes risk than the more commonly used Body Mass Index, a weight to height ratio that can sometimes be misleading."

"According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2004, the percentage of 6- to 11 year-old children with high BMI scores rose about 25 percent (15.1 percent in 1999-2000 to 18.8 percent in 2003-04). But the increase in abdominal obesity of the same group over the same period was even more dramatic, more than 35 percent (14.2 percent in 1999-2000 to 19.2 percent in 2003-04)."

Turn off the TV and computer gaming and shoo them out the door.

The research appears in the November 2006, Vol. 118, of the journal Pediatrics. Stephen Cook MD is the author.

Could we have a defintion please?

2006-11-21T05:57:00.000-05:00

Or is this like porn. We know it if we see it? Look at this survey question done for the Kaiser Family Foundation about obesity in children.

"Please tell me if you would support or oppose each of the following. Do you support or oppose...the federal government regulating television ads for junk food and fast food that are aimed at children and teens the way they do for cigarettes and alcohol?"

I think I know a cigarette (even when promoted by a camel in a cartoon) or a bottle of beer when I see it, but what is "junk food," and what is "fast food?"

McDonald's is called a fast food restaurant. I can choose a lovely apple-walnut dish with yogurt, or a chicken cob salad, or a sausage biscuit. Are these "junk"; are they any "faster" than eating at a Mom and Pop grill because McDonald's has devised an efficient method of feeding large crowds? And what about sugar or chocolate coated cereal or sugery 10% fruit drink blends from mom's refrigerator? Is that junk; is that fast?

In this survey done in Feb. 2004, 53% of the 1,017 national adult sample strongly or somewhat supported federal controls, and 43% strongly or somewhat opposed federal controls.

We do need to control the settings on the TV; but even more so, purchasing and access to snacks--whether they come from a fast food restaurant or the kitchen pantry.

The Kaiser Family Foundation has released a new report on advertising embedded in children's programming. It’s Child’s Play: Advergaming and the Online Marketing of Food to Children -- Report. There is a summary, the full report and a news release available at the site.

Overweight or obese?

2006-11-09T16:19:00.000-05:00

Today, 64.5 percent of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese, according to the WIN (Weight Control Information Network, a government site. How do you know if you are among them? This site gives 2 measures, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, for estimates of overweight, obesity, and body fat distribution. Using their calculation, my BMI is 23.02. The government doesn't seem to care about buttocks or thunder thighs. Women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches or men with a waist measurement of more than 40 inches may have a higher disease risk than people with smaller waist measurements because of where their fat lies, according to WIN.

When Dr. Oz appeared on Oprah's show last week he said, "Fat around your legs and thighs is relatively harmless, but fat around your waist can lead to serious medical problems." Thanks, doc. Where have you been all my life?

Instead of the number on the scale, Dr. Oz says to focus on the your waist measurement. The ideal waistline for women is 32 and a half inches and 35 inches for a man. In the Oprah Show audience 47 percent of women and 93 percent of men were over the ideal waist size. That surprised me, because I usually perceive women as heavier than men. Must be looking at the wrong part of the body! My waist is about 28.

Benefits of drinking water

2006-11-01T15:40:00.000-05:00

Although I'm sipping a glass of water while I write this, I'm putting it on my blog as a reminder: water is important for weight loss. This comes from Weight Loss Fantasy, and I'm not familiar with the site, but it sounds right, doesn't it?

Drinking ample amounts of water is the best treatment for water retention. When the body doesn’t consume enough water it goes into starvation mode and starts holding on to every drop. Water retention can be bothersome and shows up as:

* Swollen feet
* Swollen hands
* Swollen legs

Diuretics are simple solution with short term effects and while it forces out the retained water it is also forcing out essential nutrients that your body needs. The easy solution is consuming the amount of water your body requires.

Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving your muscles their natural ability to contract by preventing dehydration. Water also helps to prevent sagging skin that is usually present after weight loss. During weight loss your body has more waste to get rid of and ample amounts of water help to flush out the waste.

Water can help relieve constipation. When the body isn’t consuming enough water, it starts taking what it needs from other sources and the colon is just one of those spots. The result ends in painful constipation.

The body does not function properly without water and it can’t metabolize stored fat properly. Retained weight piles on as excess weight. To rid your body of excess water you must drink more water. Water is essential to weight loss and staying healthy.

Just how fat are we?

2006-10-15T15:57:00.000-04:00

Very.

In 1991, four states had obesity prevalence rates of 15–19 percent and no states had rates at or above 20 percent.

In 1995, obesity prevalence in each of the 50 states was less than 20 percent. In 2000, 28 states had obesity prevalence rates less than 20 percent.

In 2005, only 4 states had obesity prevalence rates less than 20 percent, while 17 states had prevalence rates equal to or greater than 25 percent, with 3 of those having prevalences equal to or greater than 30 percent (Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia).

CDC, Trends 1985-2005

Obesity and the Poor

2006-09-30T09:11:00.000-04:00

Studies are showing that the states with the most poverty also have the highest obesity rates. I'm not surprised.

Life is about choices, no matter where you are in mobility and income. We start making these choices very early, most by observing what the people around us do. In the U.S., the largest group of poor people (certainly not all) are women with children. Early in life, probably mid-teens, these mothers made the poor choice to have sex, get pregnant, not finish school and if they married, it was after the birth of one or more children, or they didn't marry the father of their children.

These women probably also make poor food choices. Even if they have a minimum wage job and are technically "poor," with all the government programs available to them, they actually have the equivalent of purchasing power greater than many women earning a bigger paycheck--earned income tax credit, medicaid, food stamps, school lunch and breakfast programs for their children, and special education opportunities for training. So having enough money to buy the right food is not the issue, although for some, transportation to a supermarket may be a problem. Most American cities do not have good mass transit. Even so, a supermarket just presents us with more variety and more choices--like 8 types of Ritz crackers, or 10 types of potato chips, and gallons of varieties of soft drinks.

I think I could walk to a corner store or a Seven Eleven (small grocery attached to a gas station) and buy adequate food, but I'd have to ignore their primary product--snacks and high calorie, highly processed packaged food. They do have milk, cheese, bread, peanut butter, some fresh fruit, small cans of fruits and vegetables, pasta and yogurt. But a life time of making poor choices is a huge wall to climb.

Not wrinkles

2006-09-10T16:40:00.000-04:00

When asked what bothered them most about their bodies, a group of women aged 61 to 92 identified weight as their greatest concern.

Hetherington MM, Burnett L. Ageing and the pursuit of slimness: dietary restraint and weight satisfaction in elderly women. Br J Clin Psychol. 1994;33:391-400.

Feminizing the men

2006-08-30T05:59:00.000-04:00

"One of the many ironies I see in television advertising is this: they are selling products that feminize males. Eventually they will lose their audience. Nearly all the foods and drinks that are sold on TV during sports events turn males into females."

I know nothing about Art De Vany, but this item on his website might have something to think about: plant-derived estrogen. Lack of Vitamin A. Obesity.

"A male drinking beer and eating pizza will become less of a male soon. No longer the young, lean guys they use on the commercials after a few years of this. It is the same process; external sources of estrogen in the beer and pizza and internal sources from excess body fat and poor nutritional status."

Read the whole article on estrogen on a bun here.

Immigrants learn our eating styles

2006-06-05T16:00:00.000-04:00

When immigrants pick up our eating styles, they develop our BMI after 15 years. Hope their English progresses at that rate. My college roommate was born in China and now lives in Boston, via Rio De Janeiro. We got together about 15 years ago. She was just as tiny as during our college 40 years ago, and the recent Christmas photos don't reveal any change.

"Among different immigrant subgroups, number of years of residence in the United States is associated with higher BMI beginning after 10 years. The prevalence of obesity among immigrants living in the United States for at least 15 years approached that of US-born adults." JAMA. 2004;292:2860-2867.

Liten up

2006-06-01T18:42:00.000-04:00

I bought Edie's Lite peanut butter cup Ice cream--that's really silly and I knew it as soon as I scooped out a few spoonsful. It doesn't even feel the same on the spoon! So what do you do? You eat more to get the same satisfaction. That's why reduced fat food makes you fat.

Abdominal obesity

2006-05-28T14:40:00.000-04:00

One of my interests in this topic is my sister who died in 1996. She was an "apple" and I am a "pear." She had both breast cancer and diabetes. Note this conclusion of an article in The British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease, vol. 6, no. 2, 2006 (Available on line through Medscape.com, but may require registration)

"Abdominal obesity, particularly that due to an excess of visceral fat, is associated with an increased risk of developing insulin resistance and concomitant cardiovascular risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, inflammation a pro-coagulant state and thrombosis. Waist circumference is a useful measure of abdominal obesity and may be used, along with BMI, to identify patients most at risk of CVD. 'At risk' patients can be managed with lifestyle modifications and, if necessary, pharmacotherapy. The CB1 blocker, rimonabant, has produced clinically significant weight loss and improved some cardiometabolic parameters in clinical trials. It has been suggested that this new class of drug specifically targets intra-abdominal adiposity and may therefore offer 'added-value' in the treatment of obesity and associated cardiometabolic risk."

Overweight parents

2006-05-23T20:14:00.000-04:00

Caption: Children who grow up in households with overweight parents are more likely to become overweight adults themselves. The factors are a mix of genetics and environment. Parents' knowledge of nutrition; their influence over food selection, meal structure, and home eating patterns; their modeling of healthful eating practices; their levels of physical activity; and their modeling of sedentary habits including television viewing are all influential in their children's development of lifelong habits that contribute to normal weight or to overweight and obesity. Preventing and controlling childhood obesity will require programs and policies that are multifaceted and community-wide, but that emphasize the central role parents must play in these wider efforts. Photo by Joan Liftin in "The Future of Children: Childhood Obesity" Brookings Institution

Panera's isn't fast food

2006-05-20T14:52:00.000-04:00

Some people want to blame the fast food business for America's obesity, but what I saw in Panera's yesterday wasn't the problem.

An extremely overweight young woman came in with two normal weight children--I assume she was their mother. The little boy was maybe 7 and the little girl about 3. She bought breakfast, I think, because it was 8 a.m. She gave the little girl a very large chocolate brownie with chocolate icing. She and the little boy were sharing an iced muffin and a spinach egg souffle. She had a large coffee, but the children had nothing to drink, not milk, not juice. In actual calories, the muffin and souffle may have more than the brownie, but still, I would think by 10 a.m. you'd be scraping that little one off the ceiling just from a sugar high. And what a pattern to set.

On second thought, let's hope she was the babysitter; moms should know better.

Obesity

Words Americans can't resist

2006-05-13T19:32:00.000-04:00

These words in a book title or a store ad will almost guarantee success.

Gift
Free
Myth
Secret
Steps
Coupon
Sale
Save
New
Discount
Only
Shop

and

Diet

Eat, limp, take pills, have surgery

2006-05-04T07:54:00.000-04:00

A reader of USAToday says that when she complained of knee pain to her doctor, he said, "If you take the Cadillac body off of the Volkswagen frame, your knee won't hurt." Yikes. In this victim-knows-best world, that could get you sued. But instead, Ivory Dorsey of Georgia lost 30 pounds. She says losing weight is inconvenient and intentional. Gaining it is convenient and unintentional. Wellness, she says, is a conscious choice. She knew her choices. Eat, limp, take pills, then have surgery, or lose the weight.

I promised myself 30 minutes a day of exercise exactly 3 weeks ago, and most days I've exceeded that. I didn't adjust my promise (I never set goals) because exceeding is better than not meeting. I'm not the least bit puzzled about why I've put on 15 pounds the last two years, even though I retired six years ago. It's 1) broadband connection keeps me sitting longer than when I worked, 2) lack of regular exercise, and 3) eating more of just about everything, even healthy stuff.

And surprise, surprise. Not a single pound has come off even with walking 2 miles a day. It certainly comes easier than it goes, doesn't it?

I'm walking with a group of ladies who blog--from around the country and Europe. It's nice to have company. However, when they are other bloggers, no one needs to rearrange a schedule, or find a special location that easy for all. I've also loaded my tape player/radio and my cd player with new batteries. Today I'm starting the book about planets, by Dava Sobel who also wrote Galileo's Daughter.

weight loss
exercise
walking

Does your kitchen make you fat?

2006-04-19T09:01:00.000-04:00

That was the topic on the Bob Connors morning drive time show today. At first thought, you may say, well, of course, that's where the food is. But that's not what the interview with two young architects was about. An article on the size and design of kitchens appeared in the Washington Post and was picked up by ABC News, so it is getting some attention.

Kitchens have become entertainment rooms with the "great room" concept, troughs for eating (called islands) and lounges with TVs, all with food close at hand. I think the loss of the dining room is another problem. Eating in the kitchen encourages snacking, carry-out/carry-in meals, casual on the fly meals, eating alone, multi-tasking while eating, and poorly planned meals. When I plan a meal that will be served in the dining room, even if it is just for the two of us, I pay much closer attention to how it will look, how nutritious it is, and the timing.

What is in your kitchen and kitchen cabinets that has nothing to do with your eating or food preparation? Here's my list:

small TV (never on during meal time)
radio/cd player
car keys
stash for charge card receipts
basket for mail
cat's food and water bowl
junk drawer for candles, pencils, addresses, stamps, calendar etc.
telephone
notepad
reminders of appointments
artwork
magazines
cleaning supplies
kleenex
flower vases
several games
seasonal decor as needed
medications
flashlight

So think about it. Do you need a smaller kitchen? Do you need to move family and guest activities out of the food prep area? Why does food rather than people become our focus for entertaining?

Eat your McNuggets in Denmark

2006-04-13T05:54:00.000-04:00

Wonder why they can't reduce the bad fats in the USA.

"BOSTON (Reuters) - The chicken nuggets and french fries sold at a McDonald's in New York City may be more unhealthy than those sold in Europe, a study showed on Wednesday.

Three Danish doctors found widely varying levels of unsaturated fatty acid known as "trans fat" in foods purchased at McDonald's Corp and KFC fast food chains in 20 countries.

Studies show eating 5 grams of the fat per day increases the risk of heart disease by 25 percent.

In the large nuggets and fries meal, the amount of trans fat varied from less than 1 gram in Denmark to more than 10 grams in New York City, according to the research published in this week's New England Journal of Medicine." Full report.

Note to the government

2006-03-04T11:12:00.000-05:00

Stay out of my food pantry. According to yesterday's WSJ, there are 55 bills introduced in the current Congress which contain the word "obesity," approaching the number containing, "guns."

But perhaps nothing beats the bizarre, "calorie transfer" idea. It reminds me of the reverse of "Eat all your vegetables. There are children starving in China" that we heard during my childhood. Any child with half a brain probably wondered how this was going to help Chinese children. (Communists killed millions and millions of them by starvation and other means, but I doubt if cleaning up my lima beans helped them much.)

"The fundamental causes of obesity in the developed world are well recognized: overconsumption of high-energy, nutritionally poor foods, and reduced levels of exercise, ie, an excess of calorie intake over expenditure. The fundamental cause of malnutrition in the third world is a low-calorie diet, ie, a deficiency of calorie intake over expenditure. What unites the 2 halves of the global nutritional crisis into a single issue are these 2 simple realities.

So what can be done? The challenge is to create sustainable initiatives that can help those in the west to lose weight and create sustainable initiatives for food production and distribution in the third world. Calorie Transfer (www.calorietransfer.com) is an initiative that is looking to achieve just this and is based on a very simple concept 1) For every calorie removed from a diet in the first world, one or more calories should be added to someone's diet in the third world; 2) for every dollar spent on slimming products or vitamins, a cent should be contributed to third-world nutrition."

The problem in third world countries is not a shortage of calories, but a shortage of decent governments. In the 1930s, the Ukrainians didn't starve because they couldn't grow food; millions of North Koreans are on the brink of starvation, not because of lack of calories, but because of their government. Do you think there is not enough money in the Sudan to buy food? It's Arab Muslims killing black Muslims and that includes starvation. Corruption, ethnic wars, religious wars, no infrastructure to ship what could go to market, stores rotting at docks to be eaten by rats and stolen by thieves--none of this is going to change if I eat 100 calories less a day.

Lose weight and exercise, but don't throw your hard earned money down a black hole out of trumped up guilt. This organization sounds about as reliable as those e-mails you get from "African princes" who have lost their estates and only need 2 million dollars. If you want to help, use a well known organization with a long track record of working with local relief agencies like Lutheran World Relief, or Mennonite Central Committee or Baptist World Alliance. If you're not planning to improve the water sources, the agricultural methods, and the roads, you're just part of the problem, no matter how many pounds you shed.

Fry wars

2006-02-01T16:54:00.000-05:00

Nicholas D. Kristof's column today jumps into the obesity battles. Some of his ideas aren't too bad--in fact, they are common sense.

Ban soda, chips and other snacks from schools. Schools actually make money from fattening up their kids. This should stop.

Promote jogging and biking. Good idea, but many neighborhoods don't even have sidewalks and it certainly isn't safe in the streets.

Encourage exercise breaks at work.

Distribute fruits and vegetables to certain low-income people as Maine does. I'm not familiar with the program, but I do know people won't eat what they don't know. Turnips and kale are vegetables, and so are brussel sprouts. I have a feeling they'd be tossed no matter the nutrient load.

Expand P.E. in schools. This has been cut back and needs to be reinstated. How did the public schools get away with this?

Encourage taking the stairs with better design of stairways.

His worst idea is to tax junk food. Who is going to determine what is "junk?" And what will the government do with that tax money, and how will it do without it once it become dependent on it? Our state already taxes soda (not a food item). I'm heavier than I'd like to be, but are cheese and crackers junk food? Is peanut butter on toast?

Declare war on sloth. Good luck. That's a lifestyle for many.

For some reason he throws cigarettes into this mix. Last time I noticed, no one was eating them.

Is this in our future?

2006-01-24T17:12:00.000-05:00

According to the AMA, men should be concerned if their waist measures more than 40 inches; women, if their their waist is greater than 35 inches. A waist in exess of these numbers is also one of the diagnostic indicators of so-called metabolic syndrome. Seen here.

What is your BMI? There are formulas that will figure it for you.

Everyone's dieting

2006-01-13T04:59:00.000-05:00

I've heard that keeping a log or notebook is a good way to lose weight. I say this site, Pounds2Go, at someone else's blog. It appears to be sort of a group blog where members can log in and write about their progress or lack of it, and others can comment and encourage. I'm not a member.

2006-01-09T05:33:00.000-05:00

According to a 1996 survey of more than 100,000 American adults, 34.9% of the men and 40.0% of the women were trying to lose weight by consuming less fat.[1] More recently it has been estimated that 40% of American consumers are watching their carbohydrate consumption.[2] Despite the low-fat-vs-low-carb controversy (which dates back at least 180 years when Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, a French attorney, warned consumers of high-carbohydrate diets that they would "die in your own melted grease"), there is still no compelling evidence that dieting by itself produces permanent weight loss. Rather, the ongoing debates serve only to distract the ever-increasing population of overweight Americans from making the changes that could result in permanent weight loss, or at least a reduction in the rate of weight gain.
Continues here. The site may require you to register--I've been using it for over 10 years, so I don't know what cookies it may have inserted here.

The article appears in Medscape General Medicine, "On the Futility of Dieting"
Posted 11/01/2005, by Edward Abramson, PhD.

Holiday weight gain

2005-12-15T09:11:00.000-05:00

That's an expression where it is accurate to use the word "holiday" instead of "Christmas," at least in my house and on my hips. Beginning with the last week of October (Halloween and cooler weather), through two November birthdays, Thanksgiving, various seasonal invites and dinners, Christmas and then New Years, it is easy to add the conventional six pounds and only lose two each year. So this year, I'm "watching out" and "telling why" in journaling with an e-mail buddy who also needs to lose weight. It's my usual ELMM plan--Eat less move more--with an occasional Slim Fast if a party falls within 12 hours.

Last night I made the most wonderful scalloped potatoes, and had two helpings. I realize a lot of people avoid potatoes when watching calories--and I often do. But potatoes are a wonderful, miraculous gift from God. I used Half 'n Half and cheddar cheese--but it is a delicious, wholesome dish made with low fat milk. I just happened to have those ingredients.

Somewhere when I was working as an agricultural bibliographer (fancy name for a librarian) I read that when combined with milk it is a near perfect food (it lacks calcium). Potatoes are high in vitamin C, have no cholesterol, are fat-free, have many vitamins and minerals and are cheap and easy to store. It's the gravy, sour cream and sides that give it a bad name for weight watchers. The introduction of the potato to Ireland in the 17th century caused a huge population growth among the peasants because it so improved their nutrition.

"The potato, a name derived from the native American Indian word "batata", was first cultivated by the Inca Indians in Peru over 4,000 years ago. The mountainous terrain of the Andes, fluctuating temperatures, poor soil conditions and elevations over 10,000 feet proved to be the ideal settings for the Symara Indians to develop over two hundred varieties of potatoes. The potato is a member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae) along with peppers, eggplant and tomatoes. The growth and quality of potatoes is greatly influenced by cool temperatures, moisture, light, soil content and nutrients. Ideal conditions for best yields are daytime average temperatures around 70 degrees F and cool night temperatures as these affect the accumulation of carbohydrates and dry matters in the tubers.

In 1536, Spanish Conquistadors conquered Peru, became aware of the potato and carried them back to Spain. In 1586, the potato was introduced in Britain by Sir Francis Drake. In 1770, a French pharmacist named Antoine Parmentier, saw the potato as a solution to the recurring famine problem in France and helped King Louis XIV popularize it by creating a feast with only potato dishes. In 1774, Frederick the Great sent free potatoes to the starving peasants after the famine of 1774, but they refused to touch them until soldiers were sent in to persuade them. During his presidency (1801-1809), Thomas Jefferson served "French Fries" in the White House as an introduction in the US. In the mid-19th century, the British introduced potatoes to Nepal and they soon became a staple crop. The potato is now a very common food item worldwide, grown in about 125 countries and all 50 states in the US." Potatoes

It's been a month since I posted here. Realizing I was gaining weight with this blog, I went on a "diet." But this entry is cross-posted at my regular blog, Collecting my thoughts.

scalloped potatoes
holiday weight gain

Fat Ohio

2005-11-14T10:27:00.000-05:00

The Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases is designed to help states prevent obesity and other chronic diseases by addressing two closely related factors — poor nutrition and inadequate physical activity. The program supports states with developing and implementing science-based nutrition and physical activity interventions. The program’s major goals are balancing caloric intake and expenditure; increasing physical activity; improving nutrition through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables; reducing television time; and increasing breastfeeding.

In 2005–2006, 21 states are funded at $400,000 to $450,000 for capacity building. Seven states are funded at $750,000 to $1.3 million for basic implementation, bringing the total number of funded states to 28. CDC site.

Ohio is fat--I think Columbus is 5th or 6th fat city USA. We are not one of the 21 states taking federal dollars to fund yet another bureaucracy that will pay the salaries of nutritionists and physical therapists on temporary contracts as the money is filtered through the state offices. (I've been a librarian on state library contracts , so I know how this works.)

Cross posted from Collecting My Thoughts.

Uses military goal to lose weight

2005-11-05T18:56:00.000-05:00

This is certainly one of the most inspiring weight loss stories I've ever read. When a man was judged too heavy for the service, he lost the weight and returned three years later to the recruiter at 165 lb. He gained his dream, and lost a life time of frustration and embarrassment.

Michigan Dad loses 230 to enlist.

Warning: Halloween candy may cause obesity

2005-10-29T18:20:00.000-04:00

But you can have the kiddos sign this waiver as you pass out the candy.

" Trick or Treater acknowledges and understands that no warranty, either expressed or implied, is made by Neighbor as to the nutritional content of said Halloween treat. This document is offered in order to duly warn Trick or Treater that without a corresponding increase in energy output, weight-related conditions, risks, and hazards may lurk in candy bars, caramel apples, candy corn, cider, pixie sticks, lollipops, popcorn balls, chocolate and any or all other “treats” that may be served.

Trick or Treater is hereby informed that Neighbor’s food may contain any of the following: calories, carbohydrates, sodium (salt), fat, saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, peanuts, sugar, and gobbledy goodness.

Trick or Treater acknowledges that eating Neighbor’s treats in conjunction with other sweets (both up to and exceeding a pillowcase worth) may incur risks including, but not limited to, chocolate craving satiation, sugar high, furry teeth, and that icky tummy feeling."

No need to run

2005-10-27T09:09:00.000-04:00

It is reported in a recent issue of Chest that in a study of 133, middle-age, over weight and sedentary folks at risk for heart disease, 12 miles of walking a week at a moderate pace did just as much good as 12 miles of jogging or brisk walking. I'm taking a wild guess here, but don't you think the 12 miles is the key? That's 2 miles a day, 6 days a week, with time out to go to church on Sunday. If you're a slug or a couch potato even 15 minutes a day would be an improvement, wouldn't it?

Google's new blog finder

2005-10-04T08:12:00.000-04:00

Google has a new feature whereby you can find blogs by the bloggers name, or topic. I tried it with my name and then my name + a topic and found it very easy to use. http://blogsearch.google.com. However, it also makes it easier for the blog spammers to be target specific. These are the "Hi, great blog. Come and visit mine on [your topic]. So I'll have to add the stronger filters to the comments. My topical blogs are all getting hit.

I'm not the new me

2005-08-01T06:23:00.000-04:00

A weight loss blog has turned into a successful memoir of weight loss titled, I'm not the new me.

Health at Every Size beats Dieters’ plan for good health

2005-07-11T11:07:00.000-04:00

If you are a chronic dieter, you know that most diets don’t work in the long run. And if you are dieting to improve your health, you might consider this:
‘Behavior change and self-acceptance trump dieting hands-down when it comes to achieving long-term health improvements in obese women, according to a two-year study by nutrition researchers at the University of California, Davis. The findings suggest that significant improvements in overall health can be made, regardless of weight loss, when women learn to recognize and follow internal hunger cues and begin feeling better about their size and shape. Results of the study will appear in the June issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.’ Medical News Today

Here is the original article in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, June 2005, Vol. 105 no. 6. It’s a bit more complex than the condensed abstract for the consumer news, but is well worth reading.

Do your knees hurt?

2005-07-02T09:30:00.000-04:00

"For each pound of weight lost, the knee will experience a fourfold reduction in load during daily activities, according to the results of a study published in the July issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism. The authors suggest that this may be clinically meaningful in overweight and obese older adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

"The most important modifiable risk factor for the development and progression of OA is obesity," write Stephen P. Messier, PhD, from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and colleagues. "Weight loss reduces the risk of symptomatic knee OA, and for obese patients with knee OA, weight loss and exercise are recommended by both the American College of Rheumatology and the European League Against Rheumatism."

Medscape story here.

Now I've heard everything

2005-06-22T19:10:00.000-04:00

"An expanding waistline may have less to with what a person eats than what’s already inside, say microbiologists Jeffrey Gordon and Fredrik Backhed at the Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis. Variations in the population of bacteria living in the gut may explain why some people pack on extra pounds while others stay slim."

The article is free at Discover magazine.

The True Believer

2005-06-12T18:35:00.000-04:00

"Whatever else you might want to say about Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Julie Gerberding, she is not a quitter. Ever since controversy erupted over the CDC's claims about the number of so-called obesity-related deaths published last year in a paper co-authored by Gerberding, she has been out in front of the mikes trying to defend both her claims about what she persists in calling America's "tragic and unacceptable" obesity epidemic and the integrity of the CDC itself. The problem is that every time she gets up to speak her take-away messages destroy a little bit more of both her standing as a scientist and the credibility of her institution." Full story here.

Cavuto's essay

2005-06-10T14:53:00.000-04:00

Neil Cavuto, a Fox News analyst, has a thought provoking essay on how fat people are treated. The Google Ads (over which he has no control) when I read the essay were for Photos of Fat People and for Tim Russert's Book.

How to raise fat children

2005-06-08T20:13:00.000-04:00

"She hands them some breakfast, [in the car] usually a muffin, a Pop-tart or a banana. Then she drops them off at day care. . ."

This quote is from a Wall Street Journal story about how detergent researchers use the perfect storm of snacking on-the-run, but shouldn't we be worrying about the mini-heart attack and diabetes candidates we have strapped into the car seats in the SUVs?

Just so you don't think I'm picking on working Moms, this morning I saw at Meijer's (grocery/department store) a mother strolling through the aisles with a toddler in the baby seat of the grocery cart. When he'd start to whine and fuss, she'd pop food in his mouth that she'd apparently brought from home for this purpose. She's teaching him what to do when he's bored or frustrated or uncomfortable (he was all three), EAT.

Starting over at 54

2005-06-06T19:27:00.000-04:00

She started a path to a new life and good health after meeting Chazz Weaver, who set out to prove you CAN eat at McDonald's and lose weight if you use common sense and exercise.

WELL diet reduces blood pressure

2005-06-02T16:44:00.000-04:00

"(Reuters Health) Jun 01 - A diet with specified targets for fruit, vegetable and dairy intake -- the WELL diet -- is more effective than a typical low-fat diet in reducing blood pressure, Australian investigators report.

Dr. Caryl A. Nowson and colleagues at Deakin University in Burwood enrolled 54 male volunteers who completed their study. As reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition for May, the subjects had a body mass index between 25 and 35, with systolic blood pressure of 120 mm Hg or higher and diastolic blood pressure of 80 mm Hg or higher. Approximately one third were on antihypertensive medication."

Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81:983-989.

Seen at Medscape.com.

Good blog, good food

2005-05-16T15:07:00.000-04:00

I really hadn't intended to post any recipes here, but "A Weight Lifted; Healthy Weight Loss blog for women tired of dieting has some good ones along with posts and exercise and health. Check out that French Toast recipe!

My mother ate well

2005-05-13T09:17:00.000-04:00

According to Sharon Begley's column in today's Wall Street Journal (May 13, 2005) "if you are undernourished as a first trimester fetus, you won't pad your hips and thighs with enough fat tissue." Then as an adult, all the extra calories go to your waist (apple shaped as opposed to pear shaped). This makes you more susceptible to heart diseases, diabetes, and breast cancer.

Unfortunately, she doesn't cite sources, although she collects some interesting items, even what your grandmother ate affects your health! Even a smoking grandmother is a smoking gun. So I did a look through Google and did find an interesting, fairly recent book that may be available in your public library, called Prenatal Prescription:

"Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year on treatments for diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and some forms of depression--all conditions Peter Nathanielsz argues could be prevented with better maternal health, especially during pregnancy. In The Prenatal Prescription, a guide for expectant parents, the former obstetrician explains how fetal biology adapts to the environment in the womb in preparation for the challenges of life after birth, a concept he calls prenatal programming. "If you're a lion cub on the Serengeti Plain and you're short of food in the uterus, that's a pretty darn good indication that there's not much food outside," says Nathanielsz. "Your mother's not making enough kills, so you develop what's called a thrifty metabolism in the womb. You learn how to grab on to every calorie you can so that when you come out, you're going to survive this adverse environment outside."

My mom must have eaten well because since puberty, I've been pear shaped. All extra calories reside on my hips and thighs. Thanks Mom.

More on sleep deprivation and weight gain

2005-05-02T10:11:00.000-04:00

A recent article in Medscape Neurology and Neurosurgery, "The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Hormones and Metabolism" provides additional information on sleep habits, the endocrine system and weight gain. Apparently with lack of sleep, your hormones are telling you that there is famine in the land, so you better start eating!

"Sleeping and feeding are intricately related. Animals faced with food shortage or starvation sleep less;[8] conversely, animals subjected to total sleep deprivation for prolonged periods of time increase their food intake markedly.[9] Recent studies in humans have shown that the levels of hormones that regulate appetite are profoundly influenced by sleep duration. Sleep loss is associated with an increase in appetite that is excessive in relation to the caloric demands of extended wakefulness.

The regulation of leptin, a hormone released by the fat cells that signals satiety to the brain and thus suppresses appetite, is markedly dependent on sleep duration. After 6 days of bedtime restriction to 4 hours per night, the plasma concentration of leptin was markedly decreased, particularly during the nighttime.[10] The magnitude of this decrease was comparable to that occurring after 3 days of restricting caloric intake by approximately 900 kcal/day. But the subjects in the sleep-restriction condition received identical amounts of caloric intake and had similar levels of physical activity as when they were fully rested. Thus, leptin levels were signaling a state of famine in the midst of plenty."

So, apparently some of the obesity in our modern era may be due to not enough ZZZZZs, not just overeating. Perhaps when we don't see fat people in those old family photos it is because it was expensive to burn kerosene lamps, or there was no artificial light so you could party or work late, so everyone went to bed early?