An Epidemic of Obesity

We are in the midst of an epidemic of obesity. This would seem to contradict the well established fact that height and weight and shape are determined by genetics.

Are weight loss maintainers crazy?

On page 84 of "Fat, fighting the obesity epidemic" (2001, Oxford University Press, New York), Robert Pool relates,

Artificial sweeteners may be bad for you

Sugar is latest public enemy but there have recently been several studies of, and popular press reactions to, the idea that artificial substitutes for sugar may be worse for you than sugar. Two of these medical study reports are 1 and 2.

Basal Metabolism Is The Same

Basal metabolism is the energy requirement of doing nothing. It is the metabolism that must be maintained at all times to stay alive. It is the rate at which you burn calories when you are a complete rest in a comfortable environment several hours after eating anything. Basal metabolism maintains the processes and integrity and readiness of your body. It keeps your brain doing whatever it does.

BMI

There is a lot of sound and fury about the BMI (body mass index). On the one hand, opinion leading doctors say we all should know our BMI and act accordingly. Other pundits point out that it's an inaccurate way to condem people. Both of these points of view arise from misuse of the BMI. The BMI is simply a way to account for the fact that your weight varies according to your height. The BMI is also known as the Quetelet index after the Belgian astronomer who invented it in the early 19th century. Mr.

Burns My Butt: TV

You know what really gripes me? It probably gripes Earl Pitts, American, too. It's all the studies that try to show how watching TV causes children to get fat.

Changes in diet and lifestyle that decrease weight gain

This week's New England Journal of Medicine has an article that has been widely reported on the TV news and that sounds suspiciously exactly like what your mother has been telling you. (1)

Clues from the Hadza people

The cover story in February's issue of Scientific American is titled "Workouts and Weight loss. Learn the surprising evolutionary reason why exercise alone won't shed pounds - and what to do about it." (1) The evolutionary reason might be surprising but for readers of my column, that exercise, alone or otherwise for that matter, does not help you lose weight is not a new news flash. "What to do about it" is a teaser to make you want to buy this issue of Scientific American and find out how to lose weight.

Contradicting The Set-Point Theory

Weinsier and al. purport to have contradicted the set-point theory of weight control. The findings of their study are that resting metabolic rate and thyroid levels are proportional to fat free body mass (FFM) and energy intake. Obese individuals who have lost weight are not different in this regard from individuals who were never overweight.

Does dieting make you crazy?

Dieting is futile. Very few people manage a large percentage weight loss for more than a year. Frustration and weight cycling - losing and gaining back weight repeatedly - are the most common result. That's bad enough, but does dieting cause more serious problems?

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