Weight & Health

Weight & Health

• Although there are genetic and hormonal influences on body weight, ultimately excess weight is a result of an imbalance of calories consumed versus calories burned through physical activity.
• If you consume more calories than you expend through exercise and daily activities, you gain weight. Your body stores calories that you don't need for energy as fat.

Causes of weight gain

• Diet
• Regular consumption of high-calorie foods, such as fast foods, or increasing their portion sizes contributes to weight gain.
• Inactivity
• Sedentary people are more likely to gain weight because they don't burn calories through physical activities.
• Pregnancy
• During pregnancy a woman's weight necessarily increases. Some women find this weight difficult to lose after the baby is born. This weight gain may contribute to the development of obesity in women.
• Certain medications
• Corticosteroids and tricyclic antidepressants, in particular, can lead to weight gain. So can some high blood pressure and antipsychotic medications.
• Medical problems
• Uncommonly, obesity can be traced to a medical cause, such as low thyroid function or excess production of hormones by the adrenal glands (Cushing's syndrome). A low metabolic rate is unlikely to cause obesity. In addition, some medical problems, such as arthritis, can lead to decreased activity, which may result in weight gain.

Health problems

• If you're obese, you're more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems. These may include:
• High blood pressure.
• Excess weight causes an increase in your heart rate and a reduction in the capacity of your blood vessels to transport blood. All of these factors can increase blood pressure.
• Diabetes.
• Obesity is a leading cause of type 2 diabetes. Excess fat makes the body resistant to insulin, the hormone that helps your body maintain a proper level of a sugar (glucose) in your blood.
• Abnormal blood fats.
• A diet high in saturated fats such as red meat and fried foods, can lead to obesity as well as elevated levels of "bad" cholesterol. Obesity is also associated with low levels of "good" cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides. Triglycerides are the form in which most fat exists in food as well as in your body. Over time, abnormal blood fats can contribute to atherosclerosis — the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries throughout your body. Atherosclerosis puts you at risk of coronary artery disease and stroke.
• Coronary artery disease.
• This is a form of cardiovascular disease. It results from the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries of your heart. Over time these deposits can narrow your heart's arteries, so less blood flows to your heart. Diminished blood flow to your heart can cause chest pain (angina). Complete blockage can lead to a heart attack.
• Stroke
• Obesity is associated with atherosclerosis — the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries throughout your body, including arteries in your brain. If a blood clot forms in a narrowed artery in your brain, it can block blood flow to an area of your brain. The result is a stroke. Being obese raises your risk of a stroke.
• Osteoarthritis.
• This joint disorder most often affects the knees, hips and lower back. Excess weight puts extra pressure on these joints and wears away the cartilage that protects them, resulting in joint pain and stiffness.
• Sleep apnea.
• This serious condition causes a person to stop breathing for short periods during sleep and to snore heavily.
• Cancer.
• Many types of cancer are associated with being overweight. These include cancers of the colon, rectum, esophagus, kidney, breast and prostate.
• Fatty liver disease.
• When you're obese, fats can build up in your liver. This fatty accumulation can lead to inflammation and scarring of the liver. Such scarring can cause cirrhosis of the liver, even if you're not a heavy alcohol drinker.
• Gallbladder disease.
• Because overweight people may produce more cholesterol, which can be deposited in the gallbladder, the risk of gallstones is higher in obese people. Fast weight loss that exceeds 3 pounds a week also can increase the risk of gallstones.
• Fertility and pregnancy problems.
• Increased body mass may be associated with fertility problems for both men and women. Obesity may lead to gestational diabetes and other problems during pregnancy and may increase the risk of birth defects.
• Physical discomfort.
• As fat accumulates, it crowds the space occupied by your organs. Some obese people can't sit comfortably because of fat in their abdomen. In a seated position, an obese person may have limited ability to breathe. Pain in the back, feet, joints and muscles also may occur.
• Social and emotional consequences.
• Overweight or obese individuals may experience psychological stress, reduced income and discrimination.

Self care

Just a 5 percent to 10 percent weight loss can improve your health. Depending on your situation, your doctor may suggest prescription medication or weight-loss surgery.

Dietary changes

• To promote weight loss, lower your total calorie intake.
• Eat more plant-based foods — fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Strive for variety without giving up taste or nutrition.
• Cut back on calories is by limiting sugar and other refined carbohydrates and some types of fat.
• Depending on your situation, your doctor may suggest prescription medication to supplement these efforts.
• Pain comes very quickly, often at night.

• Cutting 250 calories from your daily diet can help you lose about half a pound a week: 3,500 calories equals 1 pound of fat. But add a 30-minute brisk walk four days a week, and you can double your rate of weight loss.

• It's best to lose weight through a healthy diet and regular exercise. But if you find it difficult to lose weight and the excess weight has produced medical problems, prescription weight-loss drugs may be able to help you.
• Your doctor may consider you a candidate for medication treatment if these criteria apply:
• Other methods of weight loss haven't worked for you.
• Your body mass index (BMI) is greater than 27 and you have medical complications of obesity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea.
• Your BMI is greater than 30.
• Two prescription drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for long-term weight loss. These drugs work in different ways and cause different side effects.

Sibutramine (Reductil).

• This drug changes your brain chemistry, making you feel full more quickly and also at the same time increasing your metabolism rate. Sibutramine generally helps you lose more weight than you could through diet and exercise alone. However, side effects can include increased blood pressure, headache, dry mouth, constipation and insomnia. These side effects diminished gradually with time.

• This drug prevents the absorption of fat in your intestines. Unabsorbed fat is discharged in the stool. Average weight loss with orlistat is modest — about 6 pounds after one year. Side effects associated with the drug include oily and frequent bowel movements. Because orlistat blocks absorption of some nutrients, your doctor will recommend that you also take a multivitamin.

Supplements

• L-carnitine.
• This supplement helps in increasing one’s metabolism rate. It’ll convert existing fatty acid to metabolic energy. It transports fatty acids into mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells. It works best with exercise.
• Chitosan
• It is a fiber-like substance extracted from the shells of crustaceans such as shrimp and crab. It is able to significantly bind with fat molecules and convert them into a form which the human body does not absorb.