Tag Archives: Obesity

New National Obesity Statistics Are Troublesome

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obeseboyvectorbellyOverall throughout the United States, obesity rates remained steady in 2012 as compared to 2011, according to a study recently released by the Gallup-Healthways Organization and reported in numerous national news agencies. According to the data, Coloradans are the country’s least obese population while those living in West Virginia have the highest incidence of obesity. In addition to overall obesity rates, the rates of diabetes and high blood pressure were also examined and were essentially unchanged throughout the reporting period.

“Some might take comfort in the news that obesity rates remained the same, but I personally don’t think that just holding steady is good enough when we are already in crisis,” says Michael Omidi, M.D., a co-founder of Children’s Obesity Fund. “My concern is heightened by the major health concerns related to carrying excess weight. Diabetes and hypertension are serious conditions that can be debilitating in the short term and life threatening if allowed to persist.”

Although Delaware has reported a decrease in obesity rates between the years 2011 and 2012, three states, Georgia, New Jersey and North Carolina saw an increase in obesity. For the third year in a row, Colorado is the state with the lowest rate of obesity (the only one less than 20 percent) and West Virginia has the highest obesity rate at 33.5 percent. A full list of obesity rates within the 50 states is available on the Gallup.com website.

The national obesity rate remained steady at 26.2% in 2012, compared with 26.1% in 2011. This data was collected as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, and comes from more than 300,000 telephone surveys of American adults between January 1 and December 31, 2012.

- Courtesy of PRWeb

Reducing Childhood Obesity By 20%

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boyjumpingropeFrom Your Health Journal…..”I read an interesting article I wanted to promote written by Carol Mulligan of Sudbury Star entitled Reducing Childhood Obesity By 20%. In a Canadian suburb called Sudbury – politicians, groups, and individuals are being asked to work together to reduce childhood obesity by 20% in the next five years. Looking at the feedback from the article already, not much sympathy as one individual did not want to see limited tax money being used on this, while another said simply allow your kids to go outside to play more! But, it is not always that simple. Childhood obesity is on the rise all over the world as well as illness associated it such as cancer, heart disease, asthma, weak joints, and type 2 diabetes. Change is needed, as well as education of both parent and child. Please visit the Sudbury Star web site (link provided below) to read the complete article.”

From the article…..

The Sudbury and District Health Unit has given itself a B on a report card rating its performance in three key areas to reduce the number of overweight and obese children.

The health unit’s medical officer of health, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, was a member of the Healthy Kids Panel, which released a report in March called “No Time to Wait,” with 23 recommendations to tackle childhood obesity.

The unit gave itself an A for creating healthy communities, a B for offering programs and services to start children on the path to health and a C+ when it comes to changing the food environment.

While the report was commissioned by government, the panel doesn’t intend to wait for the province to act to address childhood obesity.

The health unit presented its report card Thursday to the Sudbury and District Board of Health, and sought its support to get working on the challenge.

The board passed a motion asking for the SDHU to be named one of 10 pilot communities in which a program will be tested to reduce childhood obesity.

Sudbury has higher than average rates of childhood obesity, with about 29% of children aged 12-17 overweight or obese versus the provincial 21%.

Obesity rates are higher among boys than girls, and among aboriginal children.

The health unit will aim to reverse the trajectory of obesity rates steadily increasing over 30 years. That could be because we are eating calories equivalent to an extra meal a day, registered dietitian Leslie Andrade told the board.

Obesity affects children’s mental, physical and emotional health, said Andrade, and requires urgent and immediate reaction.

The Healthy Kids Panel identified a three-pronged approach and it was those measures against which the SDHU measured itself.

The SDHU has adopted a balanced approach philosophy it aims to integrate into its healthy weights, healthy eating and active living programs.

That philosophy acknowledges the importance of eating well, being active and having positive self-esteem, said Andrade.

“If someone has a low self-esteem, the evidence does show they’re more likely to be dissatisfied with their bodies and more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviours that can lead to overweight and obesity,” said Andrade.

To read the complete article…..Click here

Teen Moms At Greater Risk For Obesity Later

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pregnantFrom Your Health Journal…..”An article from The University of Michigan Health System reveals in a new study that women who give birth as teenagers more likely to become overweight or obese later in life. Many used to think that teenagers who gave birth had to ability to bounce back quickly, as they were younger and more active. The study suggests women who give birth as teens are significantly more likely to be overweight or obese later in life than women who were not teen moms. Please take the time to visit the University of Michigan Health System web site (link provided below) to read the complete article/study.”

From the article…..

Women who give birth as teenagers more likely to become overweight or obese later in life

A new study debunks the myth that younger moms are more likely to “bounce back” after having a baby – teenage pregnancy actually makes women more likely to become obese.

Women who give birth as teens are significantly more likely to be overweight or obese later in life than women who were not teen moms, University of Michigan Health System researchers found.

The nationally representative study, which is the first believed to identify teen pregnancy as a predictor of obesity, appears in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

“When taking care of teen moms, we often have so many immediate concerns — child care, housing, school, social and financial support — that we don’t often think of the long term health effects of teen pregnancy,” says lead author Tammy Chang, M.D., MPH, MS, a clinical lecturer in the department of family medicine at the U-M Medical School and a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar.

“For the first time, we’ve identified our youngest moms as a high risk group for obesity, which we know to be one of the most debilitating, long-term health issues we face.”

The study was based on data from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a national study designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States.

After controlling for factors such as race, education, and socio-economic indicators, researchers found that women who had first given birth between the ages 13-19 had a 32 percent higher risk of obesity than women who had given birth at age 20 or later. The findings also showed that a significantly fewer number of women with a teen birth were normal weight compared to women without a teen birth.

To read the complete article…..Click here

Childhood Obesity Hits Home

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obesegirlvectorexerciseFrom Your Health Journal…..”I wanted to promote an excellent article I found from the LA Times written by Mary McNamara, who does such a great job with this article – - I had to share it. As you know, childhood obesity is on the rise, as 1 in 3 children are now considered overweight in the United States. Along with this, obesity related diseases are also on the rise, which include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, weak joints, cancer, and asthma. Change is needed, and educating families on healthy lifestyle is important. The author of this article (who states she was overweight as a child) states a deluge of cheap junk food, the ubiquity of high fructose corn syrup and other sugars, the absence of physical education in schools, outrageous marketing aimed at children, cost-cutting in school cafeterias — all make it far too easy for children to eat themselves sick. Well said. PLEASE visit the LA Times web site (link provided below) to read the FULL article. Ms. McNamara does such an excellent job educating her readers on this obesity epidemic facing our youth. Support her work!”

From the article…..

Take it from someone who knows: The struggle with childhood obesity, illustrated vividly on television, is a battle of both the mind and the mouth for an overweight kid.

I was a pioneer of childhood obesity.

By the time I was a junior in high school, I weighed more than 200 pounds. I was a fat kid before being a fat kid made you the topic of a national conversation and the first lady’s pet project, back when Gatorade still tasted gross and no one knew how many calories there were in anything.

For most of my childhood, I was the only fat girl in my class — I can still name the other two fat girls in my grade. Now, fat kids fill the playground and the high school bleachers, including a whole new breed of fat girl who wears skin tight jeans and mid-riffs and dares anyone to say anything. Seeing them, I must admit I am torn between despair and envy.

I never expected to see my childhood reflected on television — overweight young characters are still rare even post-”Hairspray” — but there they are, my modern equivalents, on “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution,” “Too Fat for 15 and Fighting Back” and, most recently, HBO’s multi-pronged documentary “The Weight of the Nation,” all part of a collective attempt to address America’s childhood obesity epidemic.

According to these shows, and many reports in other media, the root system of this crisis is insidious and widespread. A deluge of cheap junk food, the ubiquity of high fructose corn syrup and other sugars, the absence of physical education in schools, outrageous marketing aimed at children, cost-cutting in school cafeterias — all make it far too easy for children to eat themselves sick.

As a former obese child who fights all these forces to remain a normal-sized adult, I applaud every show, every article, every effort. But here is what I know about being a fat kid: It is at least as much about your head as it is about what you put in your mouth. Yes indeed, bad foods are cheaper and more seductive than healthful foods, and we need to call a cease-fire on the endless barrage of junk kids face. But it is also true that fat kids eat differently than non-fat kids, something that is rarely discussed.

To read the complete article…..Click here

How U.S. Obesity Compares With Other Countries

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bellymeasurementsmallFrom Your Health Journal…..”A very interesting article from PBS Newshour that I had to promote called How U.S. Obesity Compares With Other Countries written by Franco Sassi. We know that obesity is on the rise in many parts of the world, as well as obesity related illnesses such as heart disease, asthma, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and weak joints. Sedentary lifestyle, along with less physical activity and more technology is creating a planet of overweight humans. But, how does the United States compare to other countries with regards to obesity. New data is stating that in the U.S., Canada and Ireland, obesity is still on the rise, but the pace is slowing. Childhood obesity rates are slowing in the U.S., as well as in England, France and Korea. Obesity has become one of the biggest threats to public health in developed countries and increasingly so in emerging economies, especially in urban areas. Please visit the PBS Newshour web site (link provided below) to read the complete article. It was well written and very informative.”

From the article…..

New data is providing a gleam of hope in an otherwise fairly dark picture. After decades of rapid growth, adult obesity is stabilizing in many developed countries.

In the U.S., Canada and Ireland, obesity is still on the rise, but the pace is slowing. Childhood obesity rates are slowing in the U.S., as well as in England, France and Korea.

Despite these encouraging trends, obesity has become one of the biggest threats to public health in developed countries and increasingly so in emerging economies, especially in urban areas. At least one in two people are now overweight or obese in more than half of the 34 OECD countries — and numbers are set to rise further.

In most countries, obesity is strongly linked to gender and socioeconomic standing, with poorly educated women two to three times more likely to be overweight than those with more schooling. For men, disparities are less prominent and almost non-existent in many countries.

In the U.S., however, obesity is more likely to be linked to race than to income, with African-Americans and Hispanics more likely to be overweight than non-Hispanic whites or Asian-Americans.

Hover over the bars on the graphic below to see how U.S. obesity rates compare with other OECD countries. Click ‘Next story’ to see how self-reported obesity figures compare with measured rates in each country.

Why do we need to halt the epidemic? Obesity and the chronic diseases associated with it are killers, with severely obese people dying eight to 10 years earlier than their peers.

There is also a financial loss. In Sweden, for example, obese people earn some 18 percent less than others.

But the financial impact itself is mixed. During their life-span, an obese person costs the health care system 25 percent more than a person of normal weight, or up to 3 percent of total health expenditure in most OECD countries (5 to 10 percent in the U. S.). However, due to a shorter life expectancy, overall heath care costs for obese people are not higher than for a non-obese person.

To read the full article…..Click here

New Strategy To Reduce Teen Obesity: Sleep More!

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vectorboysleepFrom Your Health Journal…..”A great article on Psych Central written by Dr. Rick Nauert entitled New Strategy To Reduce Teen Obesity: Sleep More! This web site has discussed many different strategies to reduce obesity, the lessen the chance of disease associated with it such as heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and weak joints. One strategy to reduce obesity is to get adequate sleep, as sleep keeps the hormones related to appetite stable. This means when we get enough sleep, our bodies actually know when we are full, so we stop eating at appropriate times. But, when we do not get enough sleep, sometimes our bodies consume too much food, which can cause us to gain weight. Also, staying awake for longer hours also gives us more time to eat! So, I am not surprised when a new study suggests that sleeping an additional hour each night may reduce the prevalence of adolescent obesity. Previous studies have shown that a correlation exists between short sleep and obesity, but until now few have been able to rule out other variables such as time spent watching television and being physically active. Please take the time to visit the Psych Central web site (link provided below) to read the complete article. It was very interesting.”

From the article…..

Talk about a win-win deal: A new study suggests that sleeping an additional hour each night may reduce the prevalence of adolescent obesity.

Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania discovered that fewer hours of sleep is associated with greater increases in adolescent body mass index (BMI) for participants between 14 and 18-years-old.

Investigators say the findings suggest that increasing sleep duration to 10 hours per day, especially for those in the upper half of the BMI distribution, could help to reduce the prevalence of adolescent obesity.

Study results are available online in the latest issue of Pediatrics.

Previous studies have shown that a correlation exists between short sleep and obesity, but until now few have been able to rule out other variables such as time spent watching television and being physically active.

In the new study, researchers followed more than 1,000 Philadelphia-area high school students from their freshmen through senior high school years.

At six-month intervals, study participants were asked to report their sleep patterns. At the same intervals heights and weights were reported and BMIs were calculated.

Study authors suggest the results could have far-reaching implications and aid in reducing the high levels of adolescent obesity in the United States.

“The psychosocial and physical consequences of adolescent obesity are well-documented, yet the rate has more than tripled over the last four decades,” said lead author Jonathan A. Mitchell, Ph.D. “What we found in following these adolescents is that each additional hour of sleep was associated with a reduced BMI for all participants, but the reduction was greater for those with higher BMIs.

To read the full article…..Click here

Obesity Pill That Re-Wires Brain Into Feeling Full

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overweightmanFrom Your Health Journal…..”An interesting article from the Times of India entitled Soon, obesity pill that re-wires brain into feeling full. Scientists have gotten closer to developing a diet pill that can prevent obesity by “re-wiring” appetite control in the brain. A recent study has identified a population of stem cells capable of generating new appetite-regulating neurons in the brains of young and adult rodents. Scientists investigated the hypothalamus section of the brain – which regulates sleep and wake cycles, energy expenditure, appetite, thirst, hormone release and many other critical biological functions. The study looked specifically at the nerve cells that regulate appetite. This entire investigation could lead to many positive results in people who have a hard time reducing their calorie intake. In a day and age where obesity is causing people to become ill, and the worries about the rise in the cost of healthcare, this could lead to something positive. Let’s watch this closely to see how it turns out, and if it is entirely safe for humans. Please visit the Times of India web site (link provided below) to read the complete article. The Times of India is an excellent publication with many quality health articles.”

From the article…..

No more toiling hard in the gym to shed flab!

Scientists have inched closer to developing a new diet pill that can prevent obesity by “re-wiring” appetite control in the brain.

A new study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, has identified a population of stem cells capable of generating new appetite-regulating neurons in the brains of young and adult rodents.

The discovery by researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) could offer a long-lasting solution to eating disorders such as obesity.

Scientists investigated the hypothalamus section of the brain – which regulates sleep and wake cycles, energy expenditure, appetite, thirst, hormone release and many other critical biological functions. The study looked specifically at the nerve cells that regulate appetite.

The researchers used ‘genetic fate mapping’ techniques to make their discovery – a method that tracks the development of stem cells and cells derived from them, at desired time points during the life of an animal.

They established that a population of brain cells called ‘tanycytes’ behave like stem cells and add new neurons to the appetite-regulating circuitry of the mouse brain after birth and into adulthood.

“Unlike dieting, translation of this discovery could eventually offer a permanent solution for tackling obesity,” lead researcher Dr Mohammad K Hajihosseini, said.

To read the complete article…..Click here

Beating Childhood Obesity

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obeseboyvectoreatingFrom Your Health Journal…..”I had to promote an article by Angela Mollard in the Telegraph from Australia entitled Love the key to beating deadly child obesity epidemic. Childhood obesity is not just a problem in the United States, but all over the world. We are worried this could be the first generation of children whose life expectancy may be shorter than their parents. Obesity related illness such as heart disease, asthma, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and weaker joints are all on the rise. Changes is needed, education of families on healthy lifestyle is critical. The author points out how things have changed for children, as they even need their tonsils removed to breathe, as the states that ‘fat is the new normal’ in her article. She states that the love of our children should be the driving force to keep them healthy – getting them involved in sport, making sure they reduce sedentary lifestyle and technology, get them an hour of physical activity each day, and promote healthy eating. Please take the time to visit the Telegraph web site (link provided below) to read this full article. It is well written, honest, and direct! I found her article refreshing and sincere.”

From the article…..

Not much makes me cry but tears of quiet despair roll as I write.

Our children are so fat they’re having their tonsils removed just to breathe. Hips – once the curse of the elderly – are being replaced, worn out under the sheer weight of these kids’ bodies.

We are supposed to protect children. Instead, we’ve shackled them with this hideous, life-destroying condition we seemingly have no power to halt. We are flailing with obesity, unable to turn the tide because, fat, frankly, is the new normal.

And who wants to hear from a woman who isn’t?

But if we don’t talk about it – and God knows I’m tiptoeing here – then we might as well close the door on everything that is awkward and confronting: sexual abuse, immigration, domestic violence. We owe our children solutions to this crisis but in the absence of any we should at least be having a conversation. Only through the kernels of shared thoughts will come answers.

People are not fat by choice.

Something within them aches; something so private and – in many cases – undetectable that food is the only thing that soothes. Bread becomes a pillow, butter a blanket to wrap yourself in against the sharp edges of life.

I know because friends have been brave enough to tell me.

One eats to stave off the hunger of childlessness; another numbs her rotten childhood with the warmth of doughnuts and the unquestioning hug that is cake.

Overeating, as author Caitlin Moran points out, is the addiction of choice of carers and, therefore, women. Unlike drink or drugs, food abuse allows you to function.

“Fat people aren’t indulging in the ‘luxury’ of their addiction making them useless, chaotic or a burden,” she writes. “Instead, they are slowly self-destructing in a way that doesn’t inconvenience anyone.”

To read the complete article…..Click here

Children’s Obesity Fund Concerned By Link Between Diet Drinks And Obesity

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obesegirlvectorexerciseThe Omidi brothers, through their non-profit The Children’s Obesity Fund, would like to call attention to the new results of a 14 year study that found those who drink diet drinks with artificial sweeteners have a 15 percent increased risk for the development of Type 2 Diabetes than their counterparts who only drank regular soft drinks.

Children’s Obesity Fund founders Dr. Michael Omidi and Julian Omidi are concerned about recent findings that connect artificial sweeteners such as aspartame with the country’s obesity epidemic. A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported an increased risk of weight gain and the development of Type 2 Diabetes for those who drink diet soda.

“While it is no secret that sodas, whether they are sweetened with corn syrup, sugar or zero-calorie sweeteners, are not good for you, the only reasonable benefit to consuming a ‘diet’ drink is its lack of sugar and caloric content, which ostensibly facilitates weight loss,“ says Julian Omidi, Children’s Obesity Fund co-founder. ”This new research refutes that belief leading us to conclude that there is little to no weight control benefit in consuming a diet soft drink.”

Researchers followed more than 60,000 female subjects for 14 years. Subjects who consumed diet drinks regularly were found to have a 15 percent increased risk for the development of Type 2 Diabetes than their counterparts who only drank regular soft drinks.

It is theorized that the enhanced sweetness of the diet drinks results in dulling the taste receptors, causing the drinker to consume more calories in order to satisfy the craving for sweets. Another theory suggests that the brain chemistry is affected by the artificial sweetness of the diet drinks. And since the body is not receiving calories from the sweet drinks, the brain stops signaling the release of hormones when sweet things are eaten, which could cause the body to fail to register satiety from fats and sugars. In essence, the study shows that diet drinks condition the body to crave more sweet drinks and foods acerbating the obesity problem.

To read the full press release…..Click here

- Courtesy of PRWeb

Taking Care of Your Blood Pressure

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By Nisha Sharma

healthyheartbpBlood Pressure Monitoring

Monitoring blood pressure is important to keep the heart and veins of the body in optimal condition. First, an individual must schedule an appointment with a medical professional to determine if blood pressure is normal. A chronic abnormal blood pressure reading will determine what actions a patient must follow. When a patient visits a physician, several important vital signs assist in determining blood pressure health. Individuals might need to change to a low-sodium diet, increase exercise, lose weight or take daily prescription medication when blood pressure is abnormal.

Routine Physician Visits

Blood pressure is measured on adults with a specialized medical armband device called a sphygmomanometer. The device has mercury that rises to show diastolic and systolic rates. At the same time, a stethoscope is used to listen to heartbeats and respiration rates. Each individual has a variation of blood pressure readings throughout a day due to physical activity, health conditions, medication, diet and emotional stress. Blood pressure readings in combination with the temperature of the body, heartbeats per minute and pulse rates are important tests to determine physical conditions.

Abnormal Blood Pressure Readings

An abnormal blood pressure reading is the result of a chronic, temporary or emergency health condition. Many patients have higher readings due to nervousness while at a medical facility. Additional factors that show temporary abnormal readings are having a full bladder, recent exercise, smoking and consuming caffeine. Individuals with abnormal readings in a medical office setting can purchase a blood pressure monitoring device to check readings throughout a normal day. This is a great way for an individual to care for blood pressure health.

bloodpressureHypotension

Low blood pressure is a dangerous medical condition that causes fainting or dizziness. Emergency hypotension is a result of massive blood loss, hormonal imbalances, infection, toxins or thrombosis. Eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa change the chemical balance inside the body while often causing hypotension. A patient in a trauma situation resulting in blood loss can develop a shock condition rapidly. Low blood pressure more commonly occurs as a medical crisis than a chronic health condition.

Hypertension

Hypertension is a chronic condition of high blood pressure that causes the heart muscles to work harder to move blood through the veins and arteries. If an individual routinely has a high blood pressure reading, then arterial hypertension is present. Chronic hypertension damages veins, arteries and heart muscles. Hypertensive patients are more likely to have aneurysms, renal failure, heart attacks or strokes. Individuals with this condition must modify daily lifestyle to reduce blood pressure readings.

Lifestyle Modifications

A nutritious food plan with natural foods low in sodium such as fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein from poultry and whole grains assists in lowering blood pressure. Individuals should consume foods high in calcium, magnesium and potassium. Reducing emotional stress is imperative for hypertensive patients. Individuals can engage in physical activities to improve cardiovascular health and muscle strength. A physician will typically prescribe antihypertensive medication to assist in lowering blood pressure.

- Nisha represents a site called MHA.org.uk. She enjoys writing about elderly healthcare and dementia care.