With the holiday season just around the corner, here’s news which will be welcomed by those who’ve been meaning to lose weight but haven’t got around to it.

Crash dieting is an effective way to slim, scientists have found. Despite health warnings from nutritionists, research showed that dieters who shed the most weight in their first month also lost more in the long run.

And they were just as likely to maintain their new shape as dieters who lost less.

The message, says the study, is that the first few weeks of a diet are critical and may spur dieters on.

University of Florida researchers followed more than 250 obese women who were asked to cut their calorie intake and increase their exercise for 18 months. Those who lost more than 1.5lb a week during the first month lost more than two stone within six months on average.

But those who initially lost less than half a pound a week ended up losing just 11lb overall. The 1.5lb a week figure is well within the safe limits recommended by most dieticians.

Although women in both groups did put some weight back on, those in the speedy group fared no worse than the others.

Writing in the International Journal of Behavioural Medicine, the researchers said: ‘Because weight regain reverses the health benefits achieved with weight loss, considerable efforts have been placed on identifying behavioural factors that may be associated with long-term success. Studies have shown that rate of initial weight loss, even within the first few weeks of treatment, may serve as an important predictor of long-term success.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1274791/Crash-diets-work-best-Rapid-weight-loss-lead-shedding-long-run.html#ixzz0nKM2IGOs

Spare tyre health risk ignored - Active Fat campaigners
A wider waistline carries health risks

People are blinkered to the health dangers of carrying excess weight around the waist, say experts.

Most people have no idea that their spare tyre or muffin top puts them at increased risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease, a poll of 2,085 shows.

In all, 97% of people were unaware of a link despite 71% of those surveyed saying they had an expanding waistline.

Three leading UK charities are launching a new Active Fat campaign to raise awareness of the dangers.

Excess weight around the middle generates oestrogen and excess chemicals in the stomach, which put people at higher risk of killer diseases.

Women are at risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease if their waist measures more than 80cm (31.5 inches) while men are at risk at more than 94cm (37 inches).

Dr Mike Knapton, of the British Heart Foundation charity which is working alongside Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK, said: “That ‘harmless’ spare tyre around your waist is actually a major health hazard.

READ MORE AT BBC NEWS

Women can enjoy a tipple and stay slim, according to a study that shows moderate drinkers gain less weight than teetotallers. Women who drank red wine gained the least, but the results held for other wines, beers and spirits.

Although alcohol contains calories, the US researchers believe the women may have substituted it for other food. Their work in the Archives of Internal Medicine followed over 19,000 women over 13 years.

The women recruited into the study were aged 39 or over and of normal weight at the time they joined.

Over the next 13 years, on average, they gained weight progressively.

Those who drank no alcohol gained the most weight, and there was an inverse relationship between weight gain and alcohol consumption.

Even after accounting for lifestyle, dietary factors and things like smoking and exercise, the study found those who drank the least gained the most weight.

READ MORE AT BBC

The recommended half an hour of exercise a day may not be enough to stop weight gain.

According to a US study of 34,000 women, an hour a day of moderate exercise is needed to fight the flab.

Overweight women need to diet as well as exercise, a Harvard team reports in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The UK government advises adults to exercise for at least half an hour five or more days a week.

The US study followed 34,000 middle-aged women over 13 years.

The women completed regular questionnaires about the amount of time they spent on physical activity.

They were classified into three groups: those who did the equivalent of less than two and a half hours of moderate exercise a week, between two and a half hours and seven hours a week, and more than seven hours a week.

The average age of the women was 54, and the average weight gain was 2.6 kg over the 13 year period.

The high exercise group gained significantly less weight than the rest.

But there was no difference in weight gain between the two lower exercise groups.

The only group who didn’t gain weight during the study were normal weight women who exercised for an hour or more a day.

READ MORE AT BBC

In recent years, weight-loss surgery has emerged as an incredibly effective tool in helping patients manage obesity and make healthy lifestyle choices. However, weight-loss surgery is not for everyone, so you should understand the key factors used to determine if you are a good candidate for weight-loss surgery, like the LAP-BAND System.

While there are several medical factors that can determine whether or not you are eligible for weight-loss surgery; if you qualify, your commitment to the long-term weight-loss process will greatly impact the results. You may want to consider some of these issues on your own, but meeting with a weight-loss surgeon will help you gain an understanding of both the procedure and the lifestyle changes required afterwards.

Body mass index

The body mass index (BMI) requirements for weight-loss surgery were originally set by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and have been in place since the 1990s. As a result, weight-loss surgeons will look for patients with a BMI of at least 40 or a body weight at least 100 pounds over ideal weight. Patients with a BMI between 35 and 39 may also be considered for weight-loss surgery if suffering from at least one health condition related to obesity, including, but not limited to, diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, depression and high cholesterol.
BMI is the most commonly used method of determining an individual’s level of obesity. By using theBMI calculator provided by NewHope Bariatrics, you can see where you fall amongst the following BMI classifications:

o Healthy Body Weight - BMI from 18.5 to 24.9

o Overweight - BMI from 25.0 to 29.9

o Obese - BMI from 30 to 34.9

o Severely Obese - BMI from 35 to 39.9

o Morbidly Obese - BMI 40 and above

Failure of traditional weight-loss methods

Before agreeing to operate, weight-loss surgeons also need to determine if their patients have attempted to lose weight on their own. In most cases, surgeons will require that patients have tried traditional diet and exercise regimens prior to considering weight-loss surgery and documented the results. And in some cases weight-loss surgery patients have participated in medically supervised weight-loss programs. Weight-loss surgeons use this information to determine if their patients are committed to weight loss and lifestyle changes.Documentation of weight-loss efforts is also important when approaching the funding of weight-loss surgery. Like weight-loss surgeons, insurance providers typically require prospective patients to provide proof of repeated efforts to lose weight without surgical intervention.

Overall Health and Lifestyle

While there are many health conditions that may increase the urgency of weight-loss surgery, weight-loss surgeons will require all patients to meet certain lifestyle requirements as part of the program. To ensure that patients undergoing weight-loss surgery are able to experience long-term success and improve their overall health, surgeons will look for patients that avoid smoking, drinking and the abuse of drugs. If considering weight-loss surgery, it is important to eliminate these habits prior to beginning the process. After surgery, patients will be expected to avoid smoking and illicit drug use, while alcohol consumption should occur on a limited basis.

Commitment

Lastly, it is very important that all prospective weight-loss surgery patients be committed to permanent lifestyle changes. After ensuring that patients understand both the risks and rewards inherent in weight-loss surgery, some insurance providers will require psychological evaluations. As weight-loss surgery is not a magic bullet to erase obesity, it is important for all patients to understand the role that better eating habits and exercise play in the recovery process. Additionally, most weight-loss surgery procedures will require patients to meet regularly with doctors, attend support groups or meet with medical specialists to help support specific areas of follow-up care. The decision to have weight-loss surgery should not be taken lightly, and hence, doctors and insurance providers will insist that any patient undergoing the procedure is fully committed to each part of the lifelong process.

If you are trying to determine if you are a candidate for weight-loss surgery, you should consider your BMI and your past experiences with traditional weight-loss methods. If you feel you meet the criteria outlined here, you should then carefully consider both the potential benefits and responsibilities of weight-loss surgery. Though you may be unsure if weight-loss surgery is right for you, a consultation with a weight-loss surgeon will provide extensive insight into your condition and information about life after the procedure. In the end, if you are a good candidate for the procedure and feel prepared for the necessary lifestyle changes, weight-loss surgery can be the first important step towards a longer and healthier life.

Carole S. Guinane, a Chief Clinical Officer writes articles about obesity and weight loss for http://www.newhopetoday.com New Hope Today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carole_S._Guinane

Ever tried to avoid carbs in order to lose weight and found they still follow you everywhere you go? At my favorite restaurant, the fettuccine on the menu taunts me; at my friend’s baby shower, the sandwich platter beckons much louder than the mixed greens. And in a business meeting, the cookies distract me. Whether it’s a basket of warm bread, a tasty pasta or tantalizing desserts, carbs can be hard to quit.

Thankfully, you don’t have to. Despite their reputation for helping pack on the pudge (remember Dr. Atkins?), certain carbs can actually help you feel fuller longer and fight fat. The key? Fiber—found in whole grains, oats, certain legumes and even popcorn! When people follow a high-fiber diet—at least 34 grams of fiber a day—they absorb up to 6 percent fewer calories, research shows.

READ MORE at YAHOO HEALTH

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/healthieryou/15578/eat-pasta-drop-pounds/

Linda Ralph was so determine to lose all the fat that was clinging on to her body that she made up her mind last year to take drastic action. She spent a huge sum of money to get gastric band surgery. To keep her motivated, she kept a photographic diary to chart her weight loss.

Today, one year down the road, Linda has lost 140 pounds and gone from a size 24 to a slim size 10. For someone aged 50, this is a remarkable achievement and her story will trully serve as inspiration to many overweight women waiting to take the plunge and lose all that fat.

Click Here to read her diary, complete with all the pictures of the year that changed her life.

Image & Story Source from Daily Mail Online

One fourth of patients thinking about bariatric surgery are usually refused insurance coverage 3 times prior to obtaining approval.

On top of that, 60 percent say their health worsened during this waiting time period. A few insurance policies demand patients to verify they have attempted going on a diet, physical exercise, medication and psychotherapy. However a lot of policies will not cover these prerequisites.

Read More > Click Here

Obese teens who receive gastric banding achieve significant weight loss

A higher percentage of severely obese adolescents who received laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding lost more than 50 percent of excess weight and experienced greater benefits to health and quality of life compared to those in an intensive lifestyle management program, according to a study in the 10 February issue of JAMA.

Adolescent obesity is a serious health challenge globally. In the US, more than 17.4%, or more than 5 million adolescents were obese in 2004, an increase from 14.8% in 2000. Obesity is associated with both immediate and late health effects and reduced life expectancy, according to background information in the article. Lifestyle programs that have included changes in diet, exercise, and behaviour to promote weight loss often have poor results. “Bariatric surgery is now extensively used for adults and is being evaluated for adolescents,” the authors write. “Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (gastric banding) has the potential to provide a safe and effective treatment.”

Read More > Virtual Medical Center

Repeat weight-loss surgery carries a higher risk of complications than the initial surgical procedure, new research has found.

The surgical treatment, known as bariatric surgery, is the only effective method for long-term weight loss in severely obese people. Rates of repeat bariatric surgery are reported to range from 5 percent to 56 percent, according to background information in the new study.

In their report, Greek researchers looked at 56 patients who had repeat bariatric surgery between 1995 and 2008. The patients had an average age of 39.6, and an average body mass index (BMI) of 46.9. (BMI is a measurement that takes into account weight and height, and those with a BMI over 30 are considered obese.)

The three main reasons for the “revisional” bariatric surgery were: unsatisfactory weight loss after the initial procedure; severe nutritional complications such as protein malnutrition; and intolerable side effects such as blocking or narrowing of the digestive tract.

The patients were followed-up for an average of 102 months after their revisional surgery. None of them died, but 19 (33.9 percent) had serious complications within one to three months after surgery, including internal leakage from the surgical site, acute kidney failure and pneumonia.

READ MORE AT BUSINESSWEEK

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/636004.html