U.S. health officials have leveraged the star power of first lady Michelle Obama to roll out a new campaign against obesity, a preventable condition that drains billions of dollars from the economy.

Obama, who plans to take on childhood obesity as a cause, headlined the launch on Thursday of Surgeon General Regina Benjamin’s blueprint for what can be done at home, school and work to reverse the epidemic.

In her first initiative since becoming “America’s doctor,” Benjamin issued a report on the consequences of obesity to start a national dialogue on the subject.

“The number of Americans, like me, who are struggling with their weight and health conditions related to their weight remains much too high,” she said.

Source: Reuters. Read More Here

Slightly overweight adult seniors over 70 may live longer and were less likely to die in their 80s than those considered normal weight, Australian researchers have found.

Leon Flicker of the University of Western Australia, said in a release, “Our study suggests that those people who survive to age 70 in reasonable health have a different set of risks and benefits associated with the amount of body fat to younger people,”

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/01/28/overweight-longevity-seniors-australia.html#ixzz0dzlpgtDV

Almost nine in 10 people are not aware of the risks of carrying extra fat around their waistline.

A survey of 12,000 Europeans found most had no idea that a thick waist was a sign of a build-up of a dangerous type of fat around the internal organs.

The report from GlaxoSmithKline, who make weight loss drug Alli, said this “visceral fat” is strongly linked with type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Most people would lose weight once they found out the risk, the survey found.

Get Alli (60mg) Here

Report author Dr Terry Maguire, honorary senior lecturer at Queen’s University in Belfast, said people did not know that visceral fat, which you cannot see or feel and which sits around the organs in the abdomen, is there or that it poses a problem.

It is thought that the danger of visceral fat is related to the release of proteins and hormones that can cause inflammation, which in turn can damage arteries and enter the liver, and affect how the body breaks down sugars and fats.

Source: Read More At BBC

Doctors use the body mass index (BMI) as a simple way of assessing whether a patient needs to lose weight. So look at the chart above and find out if your weight is considered OK, Over Weight, Obese or even Clinically Obese.

The calculation is based on comparing a person’s weight with their body height. It applies equally to men and women.

You can quickly see the BMI assessment for your body on the chart above.

Alternatively, you can calculate your own BMI. Divide your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in metres, or divide your weight in pounds by the square of your height in inches, then multiply by 703.

A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight and one of 30 or above is considered obese.

People with BMIs between 19 and 22 live longest. Death rates are noticeably higher for people with indexes 25 and above.

The BMI is not infallible. For instance, it is possible for a healthy, muscular athlete with very low body fat to be classified obese using the BMI formula.

If you are a trained athlete, your weight based on your measured percent body fat would be a better indicator of what you should weigh.

Calculate Your BMI > Click Here

Source

The numbers are staggering. It seems that last year, over 124,000 people in Europe alone developed cancer simply because they were overweight. A jump of 77 percent over a 6 year period.

Studies done in Europe seems to show that overweight women have a higher incidence of developing cancer. This study went on to reveal that central European countries were recording higher numbers of new cases of cancer on account of being fat as compared to the rest of Europe.

The most common cancers linked to excess body weight were endometrial, breast and colorectal cancers. A leading researcher from the British University at Cardiff speaking at the ECCO-ESMO European Cancer Congress held in Berlin recently, was quoted as saying “It is possible that obesity may become the biggest attributable cause of cancer in women within the next decade”

They researchers used data from the WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer for their research and based it on WHO definitions, classing overweight as having a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 30, and obese as having a BMI of 30 or more. From an estimate of 70,000 cases of cancer that were attributed to obesity in 2002, their projections show that the number has increased to 124,000.

As for men, the figures were much less at 3.2percent of new cancer cases as compared to women who recorded 8.6

Obesity has long been known to raise the risk of cancer, and the evidence continues to mount. In June 2009, a Swedish study noted that women who had weight-loss surgery were 42 percent less likely to develop cancer during a 10-year study.

The researchers went on to say “In the face of an unabating obesity epidemic, and apparent failure of public health policies to control weight gain, there is a need to look at alternative strategies, including pharmacological approaches”.

Source

This is an interesting discovery. It seems that weight loss surgery helps women rather then men reduce their risk of cancer.

The correlation between being obese and the increased risk of developing certain types of cancer has been documented before. However what was unclear was whether weight loss surgery would reduce that risk.

Well, a recent study by Swedish researchers published in Lancet Oncology shows that women who have had weight loss surgery reduced their risk of cancer by a 42%.

It must be noted here, that obesity is linked to 20% of all cancers in women and about 14% in men. So a 40 odd percentage reduction in risk is quite substantial.

Apparently, the believe is that the surgery has some impact on the hormone levels.

The research done by this team has been quite extensive stretching for a period of over 10 years involving over 4000 individuals, half of which who had bariatric surgery as against the other half or so who received other forms of weight loss treatment.

Over the period the study was conducted, those who had surgery lost about 20kg as compared to those who did not losing only an average of 1.3kg. Regretfully the surgery appeared to have no effect on men’s cancer risk.

The beneficial effect of weight-loss surgery on women seemed to apply to a wide range of cancers.

However, exactly why the surgery had a beneficial effect remains a mystery - analysis could find no direct link with losing weight, or reducing food intake.

[This Heath report was published in the online edition of BBC News..Read the full article here. Obesity ops 'may cut cancer risk' Image from the BBC]

Yes, that’s a tricky title above, but this is true and not meant to fool you in anyway.

If you are a dieter, then the very sound of a liquid diet may not be your idea of a fun lunch. Fret not, for here’s another take on the term ‘liquid diet that sounds like good news. Did you know that consuming foods high in water is the key to losing weight?

Rice and pasta which are known to absorb water when cooked, as well as yummy stews and nutritious soups are a great way to lose weight because they keep you feeling fuller and for much longer. However, nutritionists say that if you think you could down a glass of water with your burger and fries, you are being fooled. It just does not work that way.

Research scientists from the British Nutrition Foundation say that the liquid, like in your soups or stew, has to be the main ingredient of the meal you are consuming. A good idea would be to add on lots of vegetables with these meals. Veges are known to be high in water and have fibre which brings on the bulk you need to keep you full. This allows you to eat more and feel full for much longer and yet you will be consuming less calories. For example, take 2 desserts as displayed on the image above, would you believe that they both have the same amount of calories!

Imagine how much weight you would lose if you choose to eat as suggested above, PLUS added on a proven and safe weight loss supplement?  Zotrim diet supplements is now available for you online. This proven diet formula has been tested scientifically to be effective for safe weight loss.

Buy Zotrim Diet Supplements here.

Read the full article  ‘Eat less while eating more?’ as reported on BBC news - Health.
[Image from BBC News]

I must say, this is the one of the most popular fatloss diet programs on the web today. Having been available since 2007, Fat Loss 4 Idiots has sold hundreds of thousands of copies to many happy customers. One of its biggest draw is its claim that you can lose 9lbs every 11 days, plus you get to eat 4 wholesome meals a day.

So is this fat loss system as powerful as it claims?

I have good news and bad news. The good news is that most users seemed happy with the program and did lose some weight. The bad news is many did not lose the 9lbs, BUT most reported they did lose an average of 3-4lbs over the course of every 11 days. The way I look at it, that’s great!

Fat Loss 4 Idiots

So, Why Has Fatloss 4 Idiots Been Rated Tops?

This is a budget diet program that is available for you online. No waiting for a package to be sent to your home or the sort. You go to their official website and place an order, and get instant download of all stuff you require to start your diet immediately. It’s that simple, I suppose its idiot proof.

It comes with a daily diet plan and a list of recommended foods which will help you lose fat, like which lean proteins you should eat, suggested fruits and vegetables. There are also tips on sources of fats from wholesome foods like eggs and cottage cheese plus suggestions of getting your carbs from oats and pasta.
You get a four meals plan for each day which looks quite palatable [see below]. These meals should be consumed two and half hours apart. Now that should sort out the hunger pangs that go with most diets.

Here’s the good part - no calorie counting, and no limit on portion size. All Fatloss 4 Idiots suggest is that you ‘Eat till you are Satisfied - Short of being Full’ Now that can’t be too difficult can it? Now we know why it’s so popular!

Here is just one sample meal plan:

Day 1
Meal #1: Flavored Oatmeal
Meal #2: Tuna Salad
Meal #3: Sandwich (any type)
Meal #4: Scrambled Eggs Meal

Day 2:
Meal #1: Banana Milk Shake
Meal #2: Chicken
Meal #3: Scrambled Eggs [and] Mixed Vegetables
Meal #4: Cottage Cheese

Day 3:
Meal #1: Chicken
Meal #2: Fruit Salad
Meal #3: Fish Filet
Meal #4: Cottage Cheese

Sounds good ya!

This Is The Part I Like.

Once you have gone through their 11 day diet program, you get to treat yourself.  It’s a 3-day ‘time out’! You get to cheat and eat whatever you want for 3 whole days, and then it’s back to a 11 day diet plan.

Keep Reading, It Get’s Better.

This diet program was designed for people who are usually sedentary. So, giving them a schedule of dreadful workouts to perform is not what it prescribes. They suggest that you do get involved with some form of frequent exercise like walking and other low intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. It is a well documented fact that anyone who goes on diet and adds a little exercise daily will get better results.

So, what’s the trick behind Fat Loss 4 Idiots?

What’s involved here are simple, well thought out weight loss principles that work on cyclic macro-nutrient ratios, or some call it calorie shifting. This tricks your metabolism and alters your metabolic rate. All principles behind this diet are common sense theories that are well documented like eating whole foods, drinking lots of water and doing regular simple exercises. The only thing here is that they have come up with a plan of action for you which brings about a change in your metabolism resulting in the burning of your fat. This has been proven to work.

Are You Looking for a Plan Of Action for Fat Loss?
Then Fatloss 4 Idiots might be what you need. Go take a peek at their official website and you will like what you see. I simply love one of their opening statements…’Food Is Not The Enemy’

Visit ‘Fat Loss 4 Idiots Official Website’

Looking for surgical options for weight loss? A procedure known as Vertical banded gastroplasty, or VBG for short is one such option.

In this procedure, the stomach is partitioned into two with staples and fitted with a plastic band to limit the amount of food that the stomach can hold.  Food then begins to empty from the upper pouch to the lower pouch through the small opening which was created by the banding.  This popular surgical procedure is part of a relatively new surgical subspecialty called Bariatric surgery.

Vertical banded gastroplasty may also be performed with the laparoscopic approach using precision small instruments and a camera, however this requires the selection of a competent surgeon with proper training in the laparoscopic approach. Of course it should be noted that going the laparoscopic way means that it does not require an incision and thus no scars. However, currently in the US, most of the VBG’s are still being carried out with open surgery.

The risks and complications are similar with Lap-Band surgery. It should also be noted that there may be long term risks involved. Studies have shown that patients who have had VBG are more likely to regain the lost weight as compared to those who have had gastric bypass surgery.  This happens as people get adjusted to the smaller stomach and tend to eat food with a high calorie content.  The statistics from a follow up study are not encouraging showing that up to 80% of patients were unable to keep off the weight 10 years down the road.

The Sun, a prominent newspaper from the UK has run a news report today with the headline - ‘Fatties Cause Global Warming’.

Well, it basically says that the rising number of fat people throught the world were blamed yesterday for global warming.
Scientists are saying that the increase in the number of obese people results in an increase in food production which is a major cause of CO2 gas emission - which then goes on to warm the climate.

It also points out that overweight people would rather drive than walk - and this is adding to the damage of our environment as well.

Quoting a doctor from a Medical School in London,who said “Moving about in a heavy body is like driving in a gas guzzler.” Each fat person is said to be responsible for emitting a tonne more of climate-warming carbon dioxide per year than a thin one.

This is resulting in the creation of an extra BILLION TONNES of CO2 a year if you take into account the number of overweight people as per WHO estimates.

So, what do you think? Fact or just another media hype?

There’s more to read at the Sun, so go read and let us know how you feel about this.

Source: The Sun: Fatties Cause Global Warming.