Myths About Obesity Like to Control You

"Weight loss and obesity are big business. Here are some factors that can make you rich if you happen to start a business related to weight management. Two thirds of America is overweight. Out of that, 50% are obese. 300.000 premature deaths are caused by obesity. Obesity is the fastest growing epidemic in the world. The world is hurling towards obesity at galactic speeds. Only 50 years back obesity was hardly heard of. Nearly 45% of the world population is obese or overweight in 2004."

Alright, these are hard facts, which cannot be denied. But just to give you some mental food to chew upon. Isn't it rather strange to live in a world, where the problems of one group are to the delight of another, because "big business" opportunities are emerging?

There is nothing wrong with helping other people to overcome their problems and get paid for that honourable effort. But, is the effort honourable just because we seem to help or is there something else implied? We have to look at the motivation behind the actions. Does the expert want to help, because he feels pity for his fellow man or is this merely a source of income?

This has far reaching consequences, of which these two seem to be of utmost importance.

1. If the motivation is business, the expert will not really be interested in healing the client, because that will harm his business.

2. If the motivation is business, he wants the client to stay dependent on him and his means (remedies, methods etc.)

The inevitable consequences of this are: The expert will favour a type of research that brings about medicines, drugs, devices and treatment methods, which will...

a. ...relieve the symptoms of the client by psychic and physical manipulation.

b. ...lead to a permanent dependency on the supply of this means.

It is a myth that there can be objective research, when there is economical interest. That is self evident. It is a myth that through "healthy competition" in the free market people will get the best products. Or, put in another way, they may be best, but simply for the wallet of the producers and distributors.

Most people are not in the slightest aware, how they are cheated. All problems, from obesity to whatever you can name, today are simply seen as factors of economy. I do not deny that there are honourable experts, whose only aim is to help their clients. They usually know that the financial aspect is taken care of automatically, if the motivation is pure and without ambiguity. I am talking about the mainstream here.

"Obesity increases a person's risk for gallstone formation, high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as cancers of the breast, endometrium, colon, kidney, and oesophagus. These are some of the reasons why world health officials are putting more money into obesity research and making sure that they get the information that they need to provide us with new ways to battle the new worldwide epidemic that is evolving. Obesity research is crucial in telling us what the root causes of obesity are and how we can tackle it."

This is just another myth. Believe it or not, the problem has been solved long time ago and the root cause is known to anyone with some real knowledge. But they will simply suppress it to be able to go on researching on and on and on...

And, by now you should have figured out why! Yes, you're right!

People will donate their last money for such honourable causes as battling obesity or other diseases. "World health officials" will get a big share of the heavy tax burden put on people just to feed it to some big companies in the name of research. Of course they won't be losers. Anyway, they should do whatever they like. It is their responsibility and they will destine the future of their lives accordingly. Cheaters will be cheated, as like attracts like.

But you, dear friend, you have to wake up to your own intelligence and power. I shall give you a hint to the root of every problem: Wrong decisions on your part. Learn to correct them, and you'll start to get better immediately. Find a person, which you have trust in. Pray for guidance. You will be helped, whatever your problem is.

Do you really think that you can overcome obesity or any disease or problem by simply taking some pills or talking to a person, who is mainly interested in his own business? Listen to this:

"Current and past medical research has shown us that obesity isn't entirely due to unhealthy living; it is also influenced by our DNA. People who have had members of their family that have suffered from being overweight or obese will be at a high risk level of suffering the same problems and therefore need to take extra steps to help prevent that from happening."

I'll ask you just one question: Who makes up your DNA?

Chance?

So, let's fix it, the scientist thinks, lets do some genetic research and manipulate it.

I'll tell you, what your DNA is: It simply is the physical expression of your thinking, feeling and willing. And that you can change for the better, if you want. And if you need some support on the physical plane: There are hundreds and thousands of natural medicines, which will do a much better job than pharmaceutical poison.

"Delphine Eberle's work (Diabetes, Aug, 2004), with the sterol regulatory element binding protein transcription factor, found that the two isoforms are linked to the 'plasma leptin concentrations in American obese families.' His group hypothesized, '...genetic variations of the SREB-1 gene could be associated with obesity and obesity-related metabolic traits such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia.' Interestingly, SREB-1 gene polymorphisms were found among obese cohorts when compared to nonobese cohorts. This means they are on to something and possibly not far from marking the SREB-1 gene as a clear link to obesity (1)."

See, "his group 'hypothesized' that something 'could be'". This is science. "Maybe, could be, perhaps..."

All they want to say is that it is not you, who is in charge, it is the SREB-1 gene. It controls you, and now we will figure out to control it back.

This is simply nonsense. Are you a machine or a person endowed with free will? Decide for yourself. This decision will determine your life more than anything else. This IS the root. Better crank up your own brain and think, than just get your mind controlled. It is actually much easier than you think. Just find your inner power, and the scales will fall from your eyes.

Fighting Obesity

Since the early 1980s, the Body Mass Index (BMI) has been advocated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and health professionals as a tool for indicating if a person is underweight, healthy, overweight obese.

Be aware that frame size, water retention, ethnicity,age, bone and muscle density can distort a persons BMI. For instance a healthy bodybuilder could have a BMI above 30 (ranked obese), due to muscle mass!

Calculating your BMI
1. Measure height in metres and multiply the figure by itself.
2. Measure weight in kilograms and then divide weight by height.
Example: You are 1.65m tall and weight 89kg
1. 1.65x1.65 = 2.72
2. Your BMI would be 89 divided by 2.72 = 32.72

This result shows that you fall into the very overweight category and therefore you should consider the benefits of a Herbalife ShapeWorks Programme.
BMI Thresholds
Male
Underweight: 20
Ideal: 20 to 25
Overweight: 25 to 30
Obese: 30 to 40
Morbid obesity: 40
Female
Underweight: 18
Ideal: 18 to 25
Overweight: 25 to 30
Obese: 30 to 40
Morbid obesity: 40

A recent study was made that found obesity appears to lessen life expectancy, especially among young adults. The researchers compared Body-Mass Index (BMI) to longevity and found a correlation between premature death and higher BMIs.

For example, a 20-year-old white male, 5 foot ten inches in height, weighing 288 pounds with a BMI greater than 40 was estimated to lose 13 years of his life as a result of obesity. While this study referenced extreme levels of obesity, there are still millions of overweight people with a life expectancy rate that is three to five years less than their healthy-weight counterparts.

It is therefore vital that obesity is targeted at an early age to enable people to lead a healthy and productive life. Not only will this be of obvious benefit to them, it will also relieve the pressure on the health care system, which has seen its resources stretched to the limit in dealing with this growing problem.Number of obese people set to increase.Obesity is on the rise due to unhealthy lifestyles and eating habits.

By 2010 over 10 per cent of the European population aged 15 and over will be obese* It is estimated that obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest cause of heart disease. Obesity can also cause strokes and diabetes which puts a strain on global healthcare systems and health costs.

People are leading unhealthy lives; skipping breakfast, eating junk food and lack of exercise have all contributed to the rise of obesity. The number of overweight people in the world has now topped one billion.

Over the next few years, it is vital that the message gets across about health and nutrition, so that people will lead healthier lives. It must be emphasised to the people the importance of healthy eating habits.

Obesity is a Risk to Your Health

Obesity is a disease that can lead to various serious problems. Many studies have shown that the prevalent rates of obesity have increased dramatically in the present decade and are expected to double if it is not controlled. Following in it’s wake are diseases like diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and even some forms of cancer.

Obesity is defined as being 20 percent or more above one’s desirable weight range. It is a medical condition that refers mainly to storage of excess body fat. The human body naturally stores fat tissue under the skin and around organs and joints. Fat is critical for good health because it is a source of energy when the body lacks natural energy necessary to sustain life processes, and it provides insulation and protection for internal organs. But the accumulation of too much fat in the body is associated with a variety of health problems.

Causes
A calorie is the unit used to measure the energy value of food and the energy used by the body to maintain normal functions. When the calories from food intake equal the calories of energy the body uses, weight remains constant. But when more calories are eaten than the body needs, the body stores those additional calories as fat, causing subsequent weight gain. One pound (1 lb) of fat represents about 3,500 excess calories.

Obesity is partially determined by a person’s genetic makeup. If a child inherited the excessive body fat cells of his obese parents, more likely, he will tend to eat more than his body needs; thus, making him an obese too. Copying poor eating habits of parents also affects a child’s body weight.

Lifestyles also play a key role in the triggering obesity. Eating big servings of food at restaurants and fast foods more frequently than nutritious home-cooked foods could help adding more calories and fats rather than limiting them. Devoting less time for exercise and other physical activities do not control weight gain. And doing untiring recreational activities such as browsing the internet, video games, movies, and television, plus using laborsaving devices of the modern living, such as personal computers, telephones, and remote controls, promote an inactive lifestyle.

Effects and Possible Complications
Obesity increases the risk of developing disease. Possible complications include:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Gallbladder disease
• Breathing problems
• Bloating and stomach upsets
• Varicose veins
• Severe psychological problems

In fact, according to some studies, almost 70 percent of heart disease cases in the United States are linked to excess body fat, and obese people are more than twice as likely to develop high blood pressure. Obese women are at nearly twice the risk for developing breast cancer, and all obese people have an estimated 42 percent higher chance of developing colon cancer. Almost 80 percent of patients with Type 2, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus are obese. The risk of medical complications, particularly heart disease, increases when body fat is distributed around the waist, especially in the abdomen. This type of upper body fat distribution is more common in men than in women.

The social and psychological problems experienced by obese people are also challenging. Discrimination for “fat” people is most likely to occur in educational institutions, employment, and social relationships. Other psychological effects include stress, nervous tension, boredom, frustration, lack of friends, depression, inferiority complex, and poor self-esteem.

Obesity Can be Overcome

In a world where slim, slender, and sexy are the standards of the society, obesity has no place. From television programs, commercials, and product advertisements to magazine features, billboards, and internet pop-ups, you won't be able to find men unpacked with biceps, triceps, and abdominal muscles nor women with vital statistics other than 36-24-36.

How strange society can be! It dictates what is wrong and what is right, what is proper and what is not that if you feel you don't belong to the "in" crowd, how sad and low can you be? People judge other people with no reasonable bases making the discriminated ones feel left out and unwanted. As sensitive people who belong to such unfriendly societies, we get affected by cold treatments and pathetic stares. But we can't let anybody make us feel inferior to them anytime. We were all created equal. Thus, we deserve to be feeling what they are feeling, to be doing what they are doing, and to be living how they are living in this strange world.

But reality check: how can we feel, do, and live the way other people do if there really is something that hinders us?

I used to be fat myself when I was young. Somehow, I felt inferior and caused me to envy a lot of people. I started wondering, why can't my crush notice me? Or why can't I join popularity contests? Is it really because of my physical attributes, particularly my body weight and figure? It's sad to see that my slim friends and classmates got to have whatever they like while I couldn't.

Indeed, it was because I was fat, and they are not. Even though the effects of my disorder was purely psychological and didn't bring any other biological problems, still it was unhappy and unhealthy.

As time passed by, I realized that I don't want to be left out. Instead, I want to be noticed and recognized. I want to feel happy, healthy, and satisfied. Thus, I made an effort to lose weight and get rid of excess fats in my body. Thankfully, with an ounce of willingness, a cup of patience, and a spoon of determination, I was able to achieve what once was only a dream. Such comments like "You look slimmer," or "Have you lost weight? Tell me your secret," was really music to my ears.

I have traveled the path of overweight and unhappiness in a single journey; it wasn't really a smooth ride - a trip not worth remembering. But, on the other hand, without that experience, I wouldn't have been in my position now -happy and contented, the real richness in the world. Thus, if I can do it, so can you. I don't want any other people to feel what I felt before - unwanted, alone, and taken for granted. Or worse, might even suffer from complications and other illnesses. Being fat, overweight, or obese is unhealthy, both in the mind and in the body. We know it. We've been there, right? Now, come with me to a journey where we can change not only our body size, weight, and figure, but our lives as well. There's nothing more wonderful than being able to do what you want to do or to go where you'd like you go. That is real happiness and contentment. And like me, you too can achieve it.

In a world where slim, slender, and sexy are the standards of the society, obesity has to go. So, let's go terminate it!

A Cause of Diabetes? ... Obesity

We all see the "daily" news reports that obesity related illnesses that are a growing killer in the world today. The death totals for obesity related diseases have increased by more than thirty percent in the last decade. Obesity contributes to heart disease, strokes, and diabetes and don't forget they contribute to a whole host of ailments including arthritis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) recently reported in a new study that self-reported diabetes has soared in the past six years. They also state that obesity is the main cause for this dramatic increase. Those groups more at risk are the older populations, poorly educated, and minorities. Minorities are predisposed than white Caucasians to develop diabetes. This first study was done on a regional basis; the new study involved the entire nation. The reports were alarming, and the CDC are concerned there will be even bigger problems in the future.

The Surgeon General states that the number of obese or overweight adults in this country is fifty percent more than it was just a decade ago. Children and young adults are increasingly being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which is mainly known as adult-onset diabetes, and even high blood pressure is a problem with 24 percent of the population in children.

Also studies show that one third of the children born in the year 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes and this also leads to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney problems, and undermines the brains to work correctly.

Researchers have found that obesity also disrupts the metabolism of insulin in the body. They found that excess weight at the waistlines lead to increased risk for developing diabetes and even cancer.

An interesting fact states that those adults who ate fast food at least twice a week and gained ten pounds were more likely to develop diabetes. Fast foods are not considered part of a healthy eating pattern, even though some fast-food franchises have been introducing fruits, salads, and bottled water for healthier choices.

We now know that adult only needs to lose from five to seven percent of their body fat to reduce the risk for diabetes and heart disease. That means that a 200-pound person would only need to lose a little as ten pounds to see benefits.

A moderate change in lifestyle will not only help reduce the risk of developing diabetes but also will benefit your health in many other ways. Exercise also benefits circulation problems, heart problems, osteoporosis, and many other health concerns. Moderate walking, and mild stretching routines are a good way to begin a healthy exercise program. It's important to talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise program. They will be able to guide you in starting out and give helpful ways to begin.

Studies have shown that increasing your exercise level, working up to 30 minutes a day, or having some form of moderate activity will bring good results. Even slowly walking, instead of the brisk walk recommended will give you many benefits.

Mild exercises for strength or yoga routines are good ways to begin an exercise program. Try parking your car farther out in the parking lot when you go shopping. This adds a few extra steps and if you do it consistently the steps will mount up.

You may want to try marching in place during television commercials.

Education is the key to preventing overweight and obese children and adults. Many of us do not understand the connection between calorie intakes, good and bad carbohydrates, and the ratio of proteins and fats in their diet. Simply understanding what happens to the food your body consumes will help us stay healthy. Seeing the results of obesity and obesity related diseases are a good way to help us decide to start living a healthier lifestyle. Regular exercise and healthy eating will go a long way towards lowering the risk of an obesity related disease such as diabetes.

As adults, we need to take the lead in our families towards controlling this epidemic of obesity related diseases. We have the ability to oversee what are children eat, look at labels before we buy a product at the store, and make healthy meals and snacks for our families.