Obesity Specialists Report
There are many claiming to be obesity specialists and in this series of articles I will try to present the varying views of some of these so called specialists.
The first report comes from a supplement to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Many reasons for maintaining healthy weight are sited:
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Even moderate overweight places a constant burden on your back and legs
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Obesity specialists also say being overweight puts you at higher risk for complications following surgery
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Susceptibility to diseases like type 2 diabetes
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More vulnerable to cardiovascular disease and stroke
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High blood pressure
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Increased risk for developing cancer of the breast, prostate, colon and uterus
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More likely to develop gallstones and respiratory problems such as sleep apnea
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And last but not least, it is not uncommon for overweight adults to experience psychological, stress, reduced income and discrimination
Even weight losses as small as 5 to 10 percent can bring significant health benefits according to all obesity specialists. And where you carry your weight – apple shaped where fat is concentrated around your waist; or pear shaped when weight is concentrated on the hips and thighs is an important factor when considering health risks.
The obesity specialists at Mayo recommend a sensible approach to losing weight by limiting calories and eating foods from the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid.
Serving sizes count!
2 ½ ounces fish or chicken is the size of a deck of cards; 1 ½ ounces of beef the size of ½ deck.
vegetables 1 cup
small apple-size of a tennis ball
½ cup of pasta
2 ounces of cheese is the size of 4 dice
½ cup of dry cereal; ½ bagel, or 1 slice of bread
Obesity specialists suggest you look for these five criteria when evaluating a weight management program.
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Safety—adequate nutrition – should provide all the Recommended Dietary Allowances
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Reasonable weight-change goals – slow and steady – rapid weight loss is mostly fluid not fat
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Physician participation—consult your doctor if you go on a very low calorie diet or plan to lose more that 15 to 20 pounds
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Help in changing lifestyle—losing weight does little good if you can’t keep it off. You must learn new habits for eating and for exercise
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Upfront information on fees—know exactly how much a program is going to cost including supplements or foods you will have to purchase
Aim for a healthier lifestyle. Obesity specialists will tell you to make this your goal – not the number of pounds you can lose.
For more information:
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