Obesity Articles

80% of impotent men are obese

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:58:00 +0000

Men who are either over overweight or obese are at increased risk of having Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Obesity decreases blood flow to penis thereby causes sexual dysfunction. Australian scientists conducted research on 1,000 men to know the impact of obesity on their reproductive function. According to Statistics, 80% impotent men are obese. Obesity increases impotence risk in men by 30%.

Obesity can cause chronic diseases like Heart diseases, Cancer, Diabetes and now sexual dysfunction. We should not underestimate psychological impact of obesity on one’s life.

Mechanism of obesity causing heart diseases and impotence are similar. Obesity effects are due to defective blood circulation.

If you are an obese person with sexual dysfunction, you are a high risk candidate for heart disease and vice versa. You should not use drugs like Viagra without doctor’s advice.

Men who reduced their body weight through exercise had seen 70% reduction in Sexual dysfunction. 30% of obese men will be relieved from ED if they reduce their weight.

Lifestyle changes and exercise are enough to reduce Erectile Dysfunction levels in men.

Obesity lowers Breast Cancer survival rate

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:19:00 +0000

Obese women are at greater risk of developing breast cancer. Overweight women with high blood sugar and fat levels have more chance of developing breast cancer and have worst prognosis. Doctors conducted research study on 1,000 obese women. Of these, 561 women were diagnosed with Breast Cancer. This research study was conducted by Umea University scientists and published in the “Journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment”.

Death rate is also high in women (both pre and post-menopausal) who are diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. High blood sugar levels in obese women are the major culprit for rise in breast cancer risk. In the research, obese and overweight women have shown lower survival rates than normal weight women.

Inflammatory breast cancer (aggressive form) incidence is more in overweight women when compared to normal females. Severity of the breast cancer rises with increase in weight. Breast cancer recurrence is also high in obese women.

Obesity is the side-effect of Tamoxifen, common breast cancer drug. Doctors need to tackle this problem.

Obesity also increases risk of getting other cancers like Leukaemia, Multiple Myeloma, Thyroid Cancer, Kidney tumours and Colon Cancer. Obesity is the major culprit for increase in incidence of Diabetes, Hypertension and heart diseases.

More than 60% of women over 60 years are either obese or weight in America.

Why should we reduce weight?

1. To decrease risk of getting cancer.
2. To increase survival rate.
3. To reduce chance of recurrence.

Disciplined diet and regular exercise help in reducing obesity levels in the population.

Obesity linked to esophageal cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:53:00 +0000

Obesity and high refined carbohydrate intake may cause oesophageal cancer, according to latest research study published in "The American Journal of Gastroenterology". Incidence of esophageal cancer is high in very obese people with BMI is more than 35. Obesity is also linked with Prostate cancer, breast and uterine cancer, colon cancer and kidney cancer. Risk for esophageal cancer is high in obese men than obese women. This research was done by Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland.

Oesophageal cancer has very poor prognosis with below 20% survival rates. It is the eighth leading cause of cancer deaths in American men. Exact causes of oesophageal cancer are remaining unknown. People with gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) are at high risk for esophageal cancer.

Esophagectomy appears to be as safe in obese patients as in non-obese ones. One should need to decrease carbohydrate intake especially refined ones to prevent obesity epidemic.

Is overweight good for health?

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 13:10:00 +0000

Being slightly overweight is good for health, according to a United States federal research. According to the research results published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, overweight protect us from some causes of death. Researchers analysed death data of 2.3 American adults.

Overweight people are at low risk for deaths from tuberculosis, emphysema, pneumonia, emphysema and Alzheimer’s disease. According to the researchers, the extra fat in these people may provide additional vital energy to fight against these diseases. 5 to 8 kilogram extra weight is not as harmful as many thinks off.

Overweight: Body Mass Index (BMI) -25 to 30. 65% of Americans are obese. According to World Health Organisation, more than 400 million people are overweight around the world.

Obesity: Body Mass Index – above 30. 30% of American adults are obese.

Obesity increases mortality from diabetes, cancer, heart disease and kidney diseases. But overweight is not associated with excess deaths from cancer and heart diseases. Overweight increases death risk from diabetes and kidney disease. Obesity especially increases risk for some cancers like Colon cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and kidney cancer. People with BMI of more than 30 are at high risk for obesity related disorders.

More research is needed on this controversial subject.

Obesity main cause of cancers in non-smokers

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:59:00 +0000

Smoking is the number one cause of cancers in smokers but obesity is the main cause of cancers in non-smokers, according to a research study by British scientists. Non-smokers can prevent cancers by eating healthy diet and staying away from junk food. The research was funded by World Cancer Research fund and will be submitted at Royal society conference.

Obesity and cancer:

Obesity is the number one avoidable cause of cancer in non-smokers. Courtesy: Medicallook.

1. Obesity increases the breast cancer risk by increasing the level of oestrogen hormones and is the major reason for bowel cancer (12%) and kidney cancer in men. Obesity is responsible for 10-15% of breast cancers. Obesity increases breast cancer risk by 30% in post menopausal women.

2. Obesity increases bowel cancer risk by 60% in over weight men.

3. Obesity is responsible for 25% of kidney cancers.

4. 30% of oesophageal cancers are due to obesity.

5. Obesity is the major factor for 40% of womb cancers.

Increased consumption of fast foods and soft drinks are raising Obesity to epidemic levels due to empty calories. Lack of physical activity is adding fuel to this fire.

Vigorous daily exercise for 30-45 minutes is necessary for keeping weight under control. Government should ban junk food advertisements in the media.

Obesity pandemic is rapidly spreading

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:43:00 +0000

Obesity pandemic is rapidly spreading all over the world and is a major factor for rising incidence of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. 40% of men and 30% of women are overweight while 25% of men and 27% of women are obese, according to an extensive International study. The obesity survey was conducted on 168, 159 people aged 18 to 80 in 63 countries by INSERM (France health institute) researchers. This is the largest ever study was conducted on Obesity incidence and the results are alarming. The results of the survey were published in the “Circulation”, an American Heart Association journal.
Image Courtesy: China.org

Researchers took waist circumference as a tool to measure obesity as Waist circumference (Abdominal Adiposity or visceral fat) is more accurate marker of diabetes and heart disease than BMI. More than 30% of men and 50% of women have more than recommended waistlines and are at high risk for diabetes and heart diseases.

Canada and South Africa are the top countries in obesity (average BMI IS 29) while Eastern Asia has only 7% obese people.

For men, 5.5 inches increase in waist circumference will increase heart disease incidence by 35%.

More number of people are becoming obese due to change in lifestyle and eating habits. Obesity pandemic will show severe effects in future due to rise in childhood obesity rates. Government should ban junk food ads and parents should encourage exercise activity in children by controlling TV watching habits.

Obesity increases esophageal cancer link

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:58:00 +0000

Obese people six times more likely to get gullet cancer than normal weight people, according to a study published in the British journal “Gut”. Obesity and gastric acid reflux are major risk factors for developing esophageal cancer. Combination of both factors will increase gullet cancer risk by 16 times.

Highly obese people with body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more are at very high risk of developing gullet cancer than people with a BMI of between 18.5 and 25. Obesity is the second most cause of cancer while smoking is the most common cancer cause. Obesity is also responsible for diabetes and heart diseases. United States of America is the number one country in obesity.

How does Obesity raise cancer risk?

1. Obesity increases insulin level in the body which raises production of insulin-like growth factor.

2. Both hormones stimulate cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis (cell destruction).

3. Above 2 causes are triggers for cancer development.

Obesity is already reaching epidemic proportions even in children due to junk food eating habits and lack of exercise. Obesity “time bomb” will explode at any time.

How to control Obesity epidemic?

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:51:00 +0000

Obesity is gradually attaining epidemic proportions not only in developed countries but also in developing countries. People are getting obese cutting across country, class, economical status and region. Lack of physical exercise, junk food habits, lack of awareness and advertisements are fuelling the growth of obesity. Surprisingly, obesity is rapidly growing in low to middle income families due to use of cheap junk foods.

Obesity causes more than 50 diseases of which Diabetes, heart disease and stroke are major ones. It is very difficult to control blood sugar and blood pressure in obese patients. They gradually develop metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance if they failed to control their weight.

How to control Obesity?

1. Exercise for 30-45 minutes is best. Brisk walking is ideal and simple exercise to control one’s weight.

2. Eating diet rich in vegetables and fruits is good.

3. Stay away from fast foods which are rich in unsaturated fatty acids.

4. Never skip breakfast.

5. Stay away from soft drinks and other high calorie diet.

6. Encourage children to play physical games than computer games.

7. Schools should not allow the vendors to sell soft drinks and fast foods in their campuses.

8. Parents should control TV watching habits of children.

9. Governments should levy higher taxes on junk foods and high calorie drinks.

Controlling weight is in our hands. We just need determination to control this epidemic.

Obesity research: Childhood Obesity causes

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:51:00 +0000

Eating fast foods, lack of exercise, soft drinks and TV advertisements are the major reasons for increase in childhood obesity among American children, according to the research study published in the American Journal of Preventive medicine. This research study was done by researchers at Michigan University and the the University of Illinois at Chicago. Schools are providing easy access to the high-fat, high-sugar and salty foods thereby

encouraging unhealthy diet habits. Students are avoiding physical education classes as they are getting older. Most schools offer easy access to soft drinks for extra income. Television advertisements are playing major role in increasing junk food eating habits.

Surprisingly, teens from lower-income families are eating more junk foods due to lack of money to buy healthy foods, according to the study.

One in 6 American children and teens are overweight, according to the US Surgeon general office. 70% of these overweight children will grow into obese adults.

Obesity is major risk factor for causing type 2 Diabetes and hypertension. Depression is more in obese children due to low self-esteem.

Parents should create ideal environment for children to increase physical activity in them. They should control TV watching habits and unhealthy diet habits.

Childhood Obesity already reached epidemic proportions especially in developed countries. If proper measures are not taken, this time bomb will explode by causing chronic diseases like Diabetes when they will get older. Parents, schools and Governments should play active role in controlling childhood obesity.

Fatty liver- causes, diagnosis and treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 05:54:00 +0000

Along with diabetes, high triglycerides lvels and insulin resistance, Fatty liver is also a part of metabolic syndrome. Fatty liver is of 2 types – Alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Non-alcoholic fatty liver incidence is rising due to changing lifestyle habits. Fatty liver not due to alcohol abuse is called “Non-Alcoholic steatohepatitis”.

1. Incidence of fatty liver is 30% in urban areas while it is just 10% in rural people.
2. Fatty liver is most commonly present in obese people and alcoholics.
3. Incidence of fatty liver is 60-70% in Diabetics.

Who are at risk?
Those who have Body Mass Index (BMI) more than 25 are at high risk for fatty liver. Diabetics are always at risk.

Why Fatty liver is dangerous?

Like Diabetes, fatty liver is also a silent killer. We may not find significant symptoms in the initial stages. Symptoms will appear only when liver damage is started.

How fatty liver occurs?

1. As we are leading more sedentary life, there is a gradual accumulation of glucose in the liver. This excess glucose gradually changes into fat by Gluconeogenesis. This excess fat will be deposited in the liver cells leading to “Fatty Liver”.

2. Obese people suffer from “Insulin Resistance”. Even though, they have sufficient Insulin in the body, it failed to act sufficiently due to “insulin resistance”. So more fat will accumulate in the liver.

3. Breast cancer drugs like Tamoxifen, antibiotics like Tetracycline and long term use of steroids also cause fatty liver.

How to diagnose fatty liver?

Liver function tests may not help in the diagnosis of fatty liver. Ultrasound is the investigation of choice. Liver Biopsy will give definitive diagnosis. CT and MRI will give more information on the extent of damage. Serum C-peptide is the strongest correlative marker for fatty liver. One should check blood glucose and serum triglycerides levels in the body.
How to prevent Fatty liver?

1. They should stay away from smoking and Alcoholism.
2. They should exercise for 30-45 minutes daily.
3. Weight reduction is more important.
4. Take sufficient diet which is low in fat content.
5. Alcoholic drinks should carry warning about fatty liver.

Treatment for fatty liver:

1. Metformin may help to some extent.
2. Deoxy-cholic acid is the drug of choice.
3. Lifestyle modifications are paramount importance.

If patients are not treated for fatty liver, it turns into steatohepatitis and finally cirrhosis. Cirrhosis may lead to hepatocellular carcinoma.

Obese people with high blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes should consult doctor for the diagnosis of fatty liver.

Food Obsession –Symptoms and prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 01:49:00 +0000

Over weight or Obese persons want to control their weight. For that they do exercise and observe diet restrictions. After some time, as they want to decrease their weight at fast rate, they develop anxiety and stress. They loose control over food intake due to that stress. This results in Obesity and Over Weight. This condition is called Food Obsession.

Signs and Symptoms of food obsession:

1. They compare themselves with others and want to be like them (slim).
2. They cannot control their diet habits.
3. They eat more than the necessary.
4. They set unrealistic goals in weight reduction.
5. They suffer from sleeplessness.
6. They spend more time in exercise.
7. They cannot mingle with others. They suffer from inferiority complex.
8. They check their weight more often.

In the beginning, situation is like above. After some time, due to constant mental stress, they eat more food due to loss of control and become over weight (against their wish).

But, again they try to become slim; like that the cycle goes on. This vicious cycle results in depression.

How to stay away from food obsession:

1. Don’t set unrealistic goals.
2. Don’t go on thinking about food.
3. Eat food only when you are hungry.
4. Exercise as per the time limit.
5. Take the advice of counselor.

Please comment on this article.

Food Craving- Beware of that temptation

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 02:59:00 +0000

Some persons have got no feeling of appetite, but, they still have the desire to eat some sort of food items. This sort of situation is known as “craving”. So, they take either chocolate or ice-cream or pizza or chips and afterwards they obtain some sort of mental satisfaction and jolly mood.

Mainly, women prefer to take this sort of “ready to eat foods”, where as men like to have foods prepared at home. 92% of females are showing interest in taking ‘chocolates’’. But tastes may change depending on the moods.

Causes for food craving:

1. Anxiety and tension: Craving is more in these types of persons suffering from anxiety, etc.
These individuals exhibit keenness to take more sweets and fatty foods. When persons are under stress conditions, some chemicals are released in their brains, and in order to get relief from the stress, they go on eating and obtain calmness. Moreover, they do not take into consideration, the quantity of food they are taking.

There after they put on excessive body weight and become obese, within no time. As, the foods containing more carbohydrates, if taken in excess amounts, can not be digested by the body so easily.

2. Hypoglycemia: some times, the blood glucose levels fall into below normal levels and leads to craving.

3. Meal timing: The time schedule between breakfast and lunch or the gap of time between two main meals is five (maximum 6) hours, not more than that under any circumstances. But, if the time -gap is more, it leads to craving.

4. Changing in hormone levels:

It is more commonly seen in females (than males). Especially, during pregnancy and also before monthly menstrual cycle periods, the change in hormone levels in females, have effect on their food habits and prone them to eat more.

How to control this habit of "craving for food”?

1. Never Miss break-fast or main meals.

2. Take foods (not oily fatty, and sweet food items), containing less calories for every three hours. Prepare the diet-planning, so that the feeling of appetite cannot arise. By taking less amount of food at frequently (not more in quantity at a time), so that the blood glucose levels do not rise and be kept at normal levels.

3. Take foods containing more fiber and also fruits.

4. Take less salt and sugar, otherwise, they create temptation to eat more.

5. Reduce the habit of going to restaurants or fast-food centers.

6. Not stop taking the chocolate or ice-creams or any other food item you like altogether, but take rarely, that is weekly once that too a small piece.

7. After taking some food item, if you wish to have it more, take two glasses of water instead of that food item, as sometimes we mistake thirst for appetite.

8. Do walking or play with children, whenever you feel the sensation of craving.

9. Taste and smelling technique: If you still have the feeling of craving, feel the smell of banana or peppermint. By inhaling the smell of vanilla, the desire of taking sweets will gradually diminish. Continue this for one month; the desire for craving sweets goes away for good. The result is you lose the excess body weight.

The golden rule is: "Where there is will, there is a way’’.

Obesity Research - Cold virus may cause Obesity

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:37:00 +0000

A common virus, causing cold can be a factor causing obesity, according to a study conducted at the Pennington Biomedical Research centre at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
The researcher further says that “virus is not the only cause of obesity but this study provides stronger evidence that some obesity cases may involve viral infections.’’

The adenovirus-36 (AD36) has already been implicated at the cause of weighting gain in animals, and with this study also, researchers showed for the first time that it can also cause humans to pile on the pounds (kilograms).

These findings could accelerate the development of a vaccine or an anti viral medication to help fight the battle of the bulge, alongside the diet and exercise which the other factors are causing obesity.

A previous study showed that 33.3% of the obese people are infected with the virus, compared to their linear counter parts who are 10% affected.

In laboratory experiments, it is found that the bug appeared to promote the formation of fat cells from stem cells. The team took adult stem cells from fatty tissue left over from patients who had undergone liposuction (a procedure to remove fat from the body), and exposed some of it to AD-36, leaving the remaining cells untreated. They are allowed to grow in a tissue culture for a week of time, most of the virus-infected adult stem cells developed into fat cells, (where as the untreated cells did not develop in fatty cells).

The researchers further says , “it is not clear what drives the transformation, how long the virus lingers in the human system or whether its fat-enhancing effect continues after the body has cleared the virus.”

As the research is going on, the real mechanism will be revealed in the near future. As usual we should always keep in mind the other factors that cause obesity like,

-Lack of exercise,
-Excess food intake,
-Depression (sometimes the patient takes extra food to combat depression), etc.

If it is true, it may be difficult to control Obesity. Obesity is a major factor in causing Type2 Diabetes, Coronary Heart disease and other lifestyle related chronic diseases.

Exercise benefits on body and brain

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 02:14:00 +0000

Exercise has got two effects on our body:

1. Physical,
2. Mental (on brain).

1. Physical:

It reduces the body weight and fat content of the body (cholesterol level in the blood).

2. On the brain:

John Locke, a British philosopher 300 years ago wrote as, ‘’A sound mind in a sound body is, a short but full description, of a happy state in this world’’.

The research conducted for all these years proved it correct.

Recently, scientists uncovered some longer- lasting effects of exercise on the brain. It improves the mood of the person, sleep, resilience in the face of stress, and also raises self- esteem but decreases anxiety.

We have known, for he past so many years, about one effect of exercise i.e.; ‘’the endorphin high’’, that make us feel good after exercise. The nerve cells become more robust. The genes in the nerve cells signal the production of neurotrophic or growth factors (proteins) that induce nerve cells to grow more branches and make connections with one another and also give rise to new nerve cells.

Exercise acts as antidote to stress and aging process. It is a pretty good antidepressant and equal to drugs or psychotherapy.

The ‘hippocampus’ (a seahorse shaped region n the temporal lobe of the bran), in regulating mood and storing memories, - ‘gets smaller’’- when neuroplasticity and neurogenesis activities are sluggish.

Exercise, probably, acting like in the same manner (as medication and therapy on the patients with depression) appear to spur nerve growth in this region of hippocampus and relieves the patients from depression.

Brain has to regulate energy out put. It knows very well when you need to be active and when you don’t. For example, brains of the overweight people often make them hungry.

If you can sustain or stick to any exercise for at least two months, you are giving yourself the best chance to feel better. The type of exercise also doesn’t seem matter much.

30-40 minutes a day of moderate exercise is helpful. Brisk walking is the best exercise and it is highly helpful.

Golden word and good advice:

If you are one of those people with- ‘’I don’t feel much like exercising genes type’’—imagine and picture out healthy nerve cells as, plumping and sprouting, which definitely motivate you, to do exercise routinely and regularly and keeps your body and mind healthy and wealthy.

Golden word: ‘’ Health is wealth’’, this holds good for all the times.

Relation between waist line and Obesity

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:32:00 +0000

Researchers say that a quick check around the waist with a tape measure may be a better way of telling, if anybody is at risk of heart disease, than stepping on a scale.

People with larger waistlines (even if they are not overweight), are more likely to show the early signs of heart disease, than those with smaller waists.

Quote on waist line significance: “Inches are as important as pounds or kilograms (of bodyweight)”.

The team of researchers used the methods like,

-Magnetic resonance imaging,
-Electron beam computed tomography scans,
Several studies showed that-waist size is clearly linked with,
-Heart attack,
-Stroke, and
-Heart disease risk.

Government of America gave the following guidelines:

-Men should aim to have waist of 40 inches (102cm) or less, in circumference,

-Women should have 35 inches (89cm) waist line.

The researchers found no absolute cut-off but found that “the smaller the person’s waist, the clearer his or her arteries were observed to be.”

--High cholesterol level, High blood pressure, Lack of exercise, etc, are other known risk factors for the chances of having early artery clogging.
Weight alone does not do early artery clogging, but waist size does have much effect on artery clogging leading to heart ailments.

So the golden word is: “the longer the waist line –the shorter the life line.”

Obesity - Statistics, causes and diseases

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0000

Obesity and overweight together constitute as one of the top 10 global health problems as per the recent surveys conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Obesity Statistics:

1. Overweight adults in the entire world are: One billion (one hundred crore).
2. Children (under five years of age): more than 22 million.
3. By 2015 approximately overweight persons will be: 2.3 billion (230 Crores).
4. Obese people in 2007: 300 million (30 Crores).
5. By 2015 obese people will be: 700 million (70 Crores).
6. Obesity is a problem not only in developed but also in developing countries, where at present 115 million (11.5 crore), people are affected.

Obesity is an abnormal and excessive accumulation of fat mass in the body.

Over weight and obesity in adults is calculated as follows:

The body mass index (BMI= Body weight(in kg), divided by the square of the height(in meters).
"Overweight" in adults is defined as, when BMI is greater than or equivalent to 25 and "obesity’’ as when BMI is greater than or equivalent to 3o.

Basic mechanism behind Obesity:

The hypothalamus, a region in the brain, regulates food intake and the metabolism process in the body. Lack of balance between calorie intake (over eating) and physical activity (less spending of calories) is the reason for Obesity and Overweight. Then the caloric surplus is converted in to fat and stored in the body as adipose tissue.

Overweight and obesity are complex problems depending upon many factors.

1. Genetic factors:

The first recessive gene involved in obesity in mice and humans was identified by Prof. Jeffrey Friedman in 1994. Today, five mutations of this gene have been identified. It appears that predisposition to obesity is caused by a complex interaction between at least 250 obesity– associated genes. This would mean that people are not equal in their risk of developing obesity.

2. Nutritional factors (in perinatal period):

phenomenon called “Metabolic programming or Metabolic imprinting” during early life ,may modulate later obesity risk.

3. Life style factors:

With more number of people consuming energy-densed food and eating often in the day, without hungry, is causing obesity.

4. Sedentary life:

Today people are leading sedentary lifestyle than did their hunter-gatherer ancestors.

Risks or diseases due to obesity are:

1. Type-2 diabetes
2. Cardiovascular (heart) disease
3. Rising of blood pressure (BP) level
4. Strokes
5. Certain types of cancers, etc.

Always keep in mind this golden word: “Longer the waist line- shorter the life line”.
Source: Business line.

Cadila launched anti obesity drug - Slimona

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Mon, 28 May 2007 18:20:00 +0000

Cadila healthcare launched an anti-obesity drug “Slimona” in India. The drug is used to treat obese patients with associated risk factors like type2 diabetes or dyslipidemia. Slimona (Rimonabant) is a selective CB1 Endocannabinoid (EC) receptor antagonist. The drug comes in a tablet form of strength 20 mg to be consumed before breakfast once a day and is priced at Rs 5.50 a tablet. Obesity: A person is called obese when his Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 or above. Obesity is mainly due to uncontrolled diet habits and sedentary lifestyle. In urban India, 29% men and 45% women are overweight. According to WHO statistics, 300 million people are obese all over the world and 1 billion people are overweight. Obesity is the major reason behind increase in incidence of type2 Diabetes.

Slimona is a new class of drug in the treatment of Obesity.

Childhood Obesity is the third major health concern for Americans

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Mon, 07 May 2007 12:48:00 +0000

Smoking, Drug abuse and Childhood Obesity are the top 3 health problems for Americans. According to this national Poll conducted by C.S. Mott children’s hospital, Internet safety is the major concern for American women. Teen pregnancy is the no.1 health problem for blacks.

This survey was conducted in March 14-26, 2007, adult Americans were asked to rate 17 different health problems for children.

Among the top 3 health problems, Smoking and Drug abuse are in gradual decline while Childhood obesity reached epidemic proportions due to lack of diet control and sedentary lifestyle.

According to the survey, eating disorders and childhood cancer are not much concern for Americans.

Other top health concerns for Americans:
4. Alcohol abuse
5. Driving accidents
6. Teen Pregnancy
7. Internet safety
8. School violence
9. Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
10. Abuse and Neglect.

Childhood Obesity:

Courtesy: Foodfacts.

Among these, Internet safety is a new concern while Childhood Obesity is the rapidly rising health problem for American adults. Parents should deaddict the children from Television and Internet. They should encourage the children to take more outdoor activities. Government should ban unhygienic junk food ads on television and print medium.

Government should control violence and sex content in TV Channels and movies. These days, children are exposing to sex and violence at an early age. If this trend continues, teen pregnancy and school violence will occupy top slots in the future surveys.

Please share your health concerns.

What are Trans fats?

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Fri, 04 May 2007 12:50:00 +0000

Fat is a major source of energy for the body and aids in vitamin absorption both animal and plant-products contain fat. Fats are of two types:

1. Unsaturated fats are beneficial when consumed in moderation.

2. Saturated and Trans fat are harmful to the body.

Therefore choose foods low in both saturated and Trans fats for a healthy diet.

What are trans fats?

Trans fat (also known as Trans fatty acids), is a specific type of fat formed when liquid oils are converted into solid fats by adding hydrogen through process of hydrogenation. This increases stability of flavor and palatability and shelf life of food.

The Trans fatty food is unable to break down, So it accumulates in the body causing harmful effects.

Foods containing Trans fat:

A small amount of trans fat is naturally found in some animal foods such as Butter, Cheese, milk products, Beef and lamb.

Other foods containing trans fat are:

1. Some margarine, candies, cookies, Snack foods, French fries, noodles

2. Vegetable shortenings, Fried foods, Backed foods and other processed foods made with hydrogenated Vegetable oils.

The Nutritionists advises us a total fat in take of not more than 30 per cent of calories is ideal in the daily in take of food. The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) recommends that trans fat should not be taken in food at all.

Harmful Effects due to trans fats:

1. Cardiovascular risk: The primary health risk from trans fat consumption is more risk of Cardiovascular disease. The consumption of trans fatty acids raises levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and reduces levels of HDL (High Density lipoprotein) which is good cholesterol.

2. It causes the arteries to become clogged and develop heart disease and stroke.

3. There is a growing risk of Type-2 diabetes increase with trans fat consumption.

4.Trans fat may increase body weight and abdominal fat.

5. Trans fat causes liver dysfunction.

6. Trans fat intake is associated with greater risk of infertility of 50 per cent or more.

7. Trans fatty acids adversely affect the immune system in the body by lowering the efficiency of B-cell response and increases proliferation T-cells.

8. Trans fat lowers the amount of the cream in milk from lactating mothers and over all affects the quality of milk available to the infant.

9. Trans fatty acids affect the physiological functions of biological membranes that are critical for cell homeostasis.

Some Foods and their tarns fat content is as shown below.

1. Salad and toppings-contains 3 % of Trans fat.
2. Potato chips and popcorn---4%
3. Fried potatoes ---8%
4. Margarine---17%
5. Animal products---21%
6. Cakes, cookies, pies, breads and pizzas---40%

Steps to be taken to lower Trans fat in take:

1. Choose vegetable oils (expect coconut and palm oil) for cooking.

2. Limit foods which contain high amount of cholesterol such as liver and meat.

3. Most fish are in lower in saturated fat compared to meat and fish contains Omega 3 fatty acids which protects the heart. Hence fish may be taken in as food.

4. Replace saturated and Trans fat with mono and polyunsaturated fats in the food.

5. Avoid taking hydrogenated oil foods such as Dalda and Vanaspati.

Trans fat is not essential and provide no known benefit to human health and more over it causes harm to the human body, hence it is always good not to take trans fat containing food preparations in our diet.

Source: The Hindu

10 wise healthy eating habits

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Tue, 01 May 2007 12:25:00 +0000

Disciplined life style is essential for healthy living. One should control his taste buds in order lead a long term healthy life. We can avoid life style diseases like Hypertension and Diabetes with good diet habits.

How to maintain good health?

• Regular life: it is necessary to strictly follow a regular routine like getting early in the morning before sun rise. Remembering the God, Paying respect to the elders and observing fixed timings for food taking and for work.

• Exercise: A vigorous exercise like playing any game or sport or brisk walking for at least 45 minutes in the morning is essential.

Ten Wise eating habits:

1. Eat a well balanced vegetarian diet having sufficient quantity of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals which would be ideal food for good health.

2. Eat only when you are hungry and at fixed timings.

3. Breakfast should consist of fruits are fruit juices. Lunch and dinner should include cereals, pulses and milk products like curd etc.

4. Do not take any snacks between lunch and dinner and if hungry take fruits are fruit juices.

5. Fruits juices are normally taken 25 to 30 minutes before any meal.

6. Food should be chewed very thoroughly.

7. Water should not be taken at least with in half an hour before meal or one hour after the meal.
8. The eating place should have an atmosphere of calmness and peace.

9. Avoid anger, excitement and tension at meal time.

10. Better to avoid tea, coffee, cola drinks, alcohol, Drugs, and smoking.

Positive mental attitude:

1. Always remain cheerful. Have a hearty laughter for a few minutes every day.

2. Substitute forgiveness for revenge

3. Eschew anger, hatred and ill-feeling towards others. Remember that anger is an acid like which does more harm to the person himself rather than the opposite person.

4. Lust and passion must be kept under proper control.

Obesity: Causes and effects on the body

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:26:00 +0000

Obesity Statistics:

Incidence: As per the W.H.O. report, 30% of the people in western countries are suffering from obesity. Out of the 6 billion people in the world, 1 billion are obese people. The other side of it is 1billion people are without sufficient food and living in poverty. Obesity epidemic is gradually on rise in developing countries also due to fast growing economies.

Obesity Causes:

1. Modern life: Due to sedentary habits with little exercise is the main reason behind increased incidence of Obesity.
2. Fast food restaurants: These restaurants are growing in number in leaps and bounds. People are taking more junk and fatty foods. Due to these diet habits, more fat is stored in the body causing obesity.
3. Alcohol causes fatty liver and thereby more fat is stored in the body. Patient becomes obese.

The main trouble with many people is they consider obesity as a cosmetic problem rather than disease. But the truth is obesity is a chronic disease due to deposition of more fat in the body.

The important thing is over weight is not a disease but obesity is a disease. But the line of differentiation between the two is very thin.

4. Experts opinion:

A famous doctor says that obesity simply a bad news for both body and mind.
Another doctor says: Asians have more body fat, is not that they eat more but move less.

5. Other Causes of Obesity:

A. Increasing affluence
B. Little outdoor activity
C. Spending more time watching television and playing computer games.

6. Emotions: Can they cause obesity, but how?

People tend to eat more, when they are;

1. Upset
2. Anxious
3. under stress
4. Feel boredom.

To quell these feelings they eat more. This becomes a vicious cycle.

7. Hereditary: Small parts of the DNA that people inherit from their parents that determine the weight gain in them. These genes do not tell our body how to utilize extra calories.

8. Nutrition and pregnancy: One theory is that when children are under nourished in the womb of their mother, when become adults, they usually develop abdominal fat, even with the normal diet. This put them at greater risk of obesity related illnesses.

9. In Asians: Asians evolved a so called ‘’thrift gene’’ after living for thousands of years under near-famine conditions. Their bodies are, paradoxically, metabolically, efficient to deal with the relative abundance of modern life. It is a genetic trait.

Effects of Obesity on the body:

Obesity causes following diseases:

1. Diabetes
2. Heart problems
3. Rise in blood pressure
4. Incidence of some cancers is more in Obese people.

How to control Obesity:

1. Doing exercise – Walking is the best and simple exercise.
2. Eat more fruits and vegetables
3. Taking less fatty foods.4. Meditation and Yoga
5. Controlling stress and strain

A-Z about Fat and fatty foods

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:23:00 +0000

If excess fat is taken, it is stored in the body. This accumulated fat is the major reason for Obesity and Chronic diseases. Stay away from fast food restaurents. Follow disciplined diet habits. Take diet at regular intervals.

A for Apple: If fat is stored around the stomach, the person looks like apple- leads to heart disease.

B for Break- fast: Never avoid it. Breakfast is to be taken like a king.

C for Cereals: Eat whole grains. The extra fiber prevents cancer of the colon.

D for Dairy products: They are rich in Calcitriol hormone which preserves calcium in the body for stronger bones. It also burns more body fat.

E for Eggs: Take white part of it, if you are fatty. Otherwise take whole egg which contains more nutrients.

F for Fish: Take Salmon or Mackard fish which are rich in Omega -3 acids which are good for heart.

G for Green tea: Contains HDL Cholesterol (good Cholesterol) helps in reducing fatty levels in the blood.
H for Human Adeno virus: May cause obesity. Solution is washing your hands.

I for ice creams: Take sparingly. Otherwise it causes obesity and respiratory troubles in children.

J for Junk food: Some say it is an oxymoron. Stay away from fast food.

K for Ketogenic diet: It controls high BP and decreases obesity to some extent.

L for Lard: It is better to be avoiding it.

M for Meat: Red meat is strictly avoided. Chicken is taken in limited quantity.

N for Nuts: They contain Trans-fatty acids which are bad for the heart. It is rich in vitamin E.

O for Oil: Mono-saturated variety like olive oil is good. Corn and Sunflower oil are also good.

P for Prickles: Taking them leads to burning sensation in the stomach. Better to avoid.

Q for Quality: Quality of food taken is important not quantity.

R for Resvertroll: It is present in grapes. It lowers cholesterol.

S for Sugar: Which is white poison: Sugar causes diabetes& obesity, harms the teeth.

T for tea: High in flavonoids. Tea can protect the heart.

U: Up to date knowledge about health care is essential to every one.

V for Vegetables: Dark green vegetables are good for the heart.

W for Waist to Hip ratio: If stomach (abdomen) is 1.5 times larger than Hip, it is high risk of diabetes and high B.P.

X: As you like eat any thing in limited quantity.

Y for Yellow fruits: They contain vitamin A. which is good for healthy skin, eye sight.
Example: papaya and mango fruits.

Z for Zero – sugar and less calories diet is good.

Fasting weekly once is good for health.

Practice the above advises which keep you healthy and wealthy.

Childhood Obesity - effect of junk food ads

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 03:18:00 +0000

Junk ads on your Television are one of the main reasons for increase in childhood obesity rates. As per new study conducted by Kaiser Foundation, a non-profit organization, effect of junk ads is more on 8-12 year old children as they are not able to distinguish between ads and TV programmes. So it is not good to allow junk food ads during TV programmes which are aimed at children.

The study found that kids get exposed to over 18,000 ads each year with over a third of the ads for junk foods. 8-12 age group children are exposed to as many as 21 ads per day. Teenagers are exposed to 15-17 junk food ads per day. Most of these ads are not about fruits or vegetables, but about foods which are advised by nutritionists as not good for health.

Courtesy: SFPix.com

Childhood Obesity statistics:

More than 30% of children are over weight of which 15% are Obese. Obesity is more prevalent among boys than girls.

A study of 13 industrialised nations suggests that children of Australia are worse affected by these fast food ads.

Childhood Obesity is taking epidemic proportions as children are taking more unhealthy diet with little exercise. Diabetes especially type II is on rise in children as they are taking more junk diet. Children who are taking more junk diet are at risk for diabetes, heart attack and stroke in later life at an early age.

Prevention of Childhood Obesity:

1. Governments should ban or limit ads on junk food.
2. Governments, teachers and voluntary organizations should increase awareness among children on the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.
3. Parents should take care of television viewing habits of their children.
4. Parents should encourage their children to do more exercise.
5. Parents should act as role models to their children as kids try to imitate them.

Please comment on this article.

Facts about Fats

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 05:13:00 +0000

Fat in our body is also called lipids. Fat diet is the major cause for Obesity and Over weight.

Types of Fats:

Fats are 2 types.
1. Saturated fats
2. Unsaturated fats

Unsaturated fats are of 2 types.
1. Mono unsaturated
2. Poly unsaturated

At normal temperature, saturated fats are in solid form while unsaturated fats are in liquid form.
Fate of fat in our body:

After entering into stomach, fat is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol.
Fatty acids break into fat globules which gives immediate energy. The excess fatty globules again converted to fatty acids and stored under the skin and around certain organs. Some fat converts to glycogen to be utilized for immediate energy.

IS it good to take more fat in our blood?

1 gram of carbohydrate gives 4 calories of energy.
1 gram of fat gives 9 calories of energy.

Usually body takes the necessary energy for its functioning of routine body activities from fruits and cereals etc. Body utilizes fat as a second alternative only. Hence fat accumulates in the body due to non use in the first phase.

So, accumulated fat causes overweight which in turn leads to diseases like
1. Diabetes
2. High blood pressure
3. Bronchial Asthma
4. Bronchitis
5. Skin thickening

Fat in males and females:

In females, fat is present more in buttocks and thighs.
In males, fat is present around umbilicus (abdominal area).

Increase in fatty diet is mainly due to fast foods. Take more fruits and green leaf vegetables.

Please comment on the article.

Prostate cancer in Obese people

noreply@blogger.com (Krishna) — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 08:15:00 +0000

Research from National Institute of Cancer indicates that while excess weight may not be a causative factor for prostate cancer, there is a great chance that obese men are more likely to die of the condition. Study was conducted over 5 year duration.

While obesity did not impact the risk of developing prostate cancer, obese men were 46 percent more likely to die of the disease, while thin men were 25 percent as likely to die of cancer.

Lower levels of testosterone in obese men were linked to reduced risk of developing the cancer, while higher levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 in obese men helped the rapid progression of cancer resulting in death.

Obese men with prostate cancer are more likely to have aggressive tumors and to experience cancer recurrence after surgery compared to men of normal weight.