Weight Loss & Weight Issues

According to ANRED (Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders), not everyone agrees on what "obese" means. There are personal definitions, and there is also a clinical definition.

Personal Definitions

Buying organically raised food is the best way to avoid GM crops, but you should know that even some organic food is being contaminated by GM crops grown in the same area. (Seeds, wind, pollen, and insects are almost impossible to control.)

Children's acceptance of a healthy diet is influenced by their mother's diet while they are in the womb and during breast feeding. Repeated exposure to a variety of foods in the mother's diet is necessary.

Men over 45 years of age who have osteoporosis should probably have their testosterone level checked. Hypogonadism (low testosterone level)
has been linked to both osteoporosis and depression.

Men with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides levels, and diabetes are more likely to have low testosterone.

Obesity during pregnancy and delivery has become a major concern of obstetricians.

A study by The British Columbia Reproductive Care Program researchers, based at BC Women's Hospital, indicates that "... obese women face numerous risks of complications and adverse conditions, including a far greater incidence of gestational hypertension and diabetes."

A study in the Journal of Preventive Medicie indicates that American women veterans "... receiving care at VA medical facilities during 2000, 68.4% were at least overweight ... with 37.4% classified as obese." Among the men, "... 73.0% were at least overweight, 32.9% were obese." Among women, obesity prevalence increased into the sixth and seventh decade of life before prevalence began to decline."

If you insist on eating fast food but still want to make the healthiest choice possible, check out the calories, total fat, salt content, saturated fat, and fiber content in specific foods you might order at McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and Wendy's.

"Government recommendations urge consumers to limit daily trans fat intake to no more than 1% of total calories. That comes to 2 grams per day for the average recommended 2,000-calorie daily diet... a KFC meal including three pieces of extra-crispy chicken contains 15 grams of trans fat, while a single pot pie contains 14 grams, charged the Center for Science in the Public Interest."

According to an article in the Globe and Mail, "Trans fats are formed when oil is partially hydrogenated -- a process by which liquid oil is made into semi-solid fats like shortening and hard margarine. Partially hydrogenated oils are used in processed foods to increase shelf life and improve taste."

The role of thyroid hormones, insulin spikes, fats, fiber, and carbohydrates, ageing in women, and drug therapy are discussed. Ways to increase the rate of metabolism to burn more calories are also suggested.