The fact is that 54% of Americans (97 million individuals) are overweight. This number is at an all time high. The American public spends 45 billion dollars each year trying to lose weight. In spite of this, 23% of Americans (43 million people) are obese and 15% of American children (12 million children) are obese. Diet books describing numerous ways to lose weight abound. Weight loss products claiming to burn fat or increase metabolism are commonplace. Exercise tapes and exercise equipment are readily available. Fitness centers and health food stores are easily accessible. Still, obesity counts for 300,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. The cost of treating weight related diseases and its complications are over 99 billion dollars annually.
The time has come for Americans to take a rational approach to weight loss and weight management. Societies that eat very little fat have virtually no obesity. Reducing fat in the diet is an important component of weight loss efforts. In order to lose weight, caloric expenditure must exceed calorie intake. You must burn up more calories than you eat. The successful weight loss program incorporates reducing calorie intake and increasing calorie expenditure thru exercise.
There are no short cuts or easy weight loss plans. Beware of products that make claims to good to be true. Ephedra, also knows as Ma huang, is a notorious ingredient in many weight loss products. It is the active ingredient in many fat burning and appetite suppressant products. Ephedra stimulates the central nervous system, dilates airways, elevates blood pressure and increases heart rate. Sixty deaths related to the use of this substance have been reported. Dieters took more Ephedra than recommended without realizing the potential serious side effects.
The medical profession has known for a long time that being overweight or obese is not healthy. The most common complications of obesity include Type II diabetes mellitus, heart disease, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, gallstones, gastro esophageal reflux, and cancer. Americans need to understand that losing weight is not a cosmetic issue but a serious health issue.
The Type II diabetic has developed diabetes over time. They do not need insulin injections for most part but need to take oral medications. The vast majority of these people are overweight. Their blood sugar would likely return to normal if they lost weight and took regular walks.
Men with a waist circumference greater than 40 inches and women with a waist circumference greater than 35 inches have more heart disease. Their blood pressure is likely higher due to being overweight. Many times, the cholesterol levels of overweight individuals are abnormally high. These facts make obesity a risk factor for heart disease.
Overweight women have the highest rate of gallstones. These stones cause recurrent episodes of upper abdominal pain and many times require surgical removal of the gallbladder.
The burden of carrying extra weight by our joints contributes to the process of degenerative arthritis. Particularly susceptible are the knees and hips. The loss of mobility from painful joints decreases quality of life. Total joint replacements of worn out knees and hips are difficult cures.
Frequently, overweight individuals with large abdomen experience significant amounts of “heart burn.” They take a variety of medications to control this discomfort. Weight reduction commonly resolves this problem and no medication is required.
The vast majority of people with sleep area are overweight. Sleep area is caused by excess tissue obstructing the upper airway. These people snore loudly and frequently have very restless nights when trying to sleep. They awake tired and fall asleep easily during the day. Weight loss may keep these individuals from requiring surgery. The number of sleep area patients who fall asleep while driving is frightening.
It also appears that obesity increases the risk of cancer. Overweight and obese people have higher rates of breast, prostate, colon, endometrial, and ovarian cancer. Many people believe this is due to a high fat diet. A diet primarily of whole grain and vegetables promotes weight loss and has a lower incidence of cancer.
One of the other recognized complications of obesity is depression. Overweight individuals have a higher rate of depression. Some people who are depressed escape from their problem by overeating and become overweight. Whatever the scenario, the fact is obesity and depression are linked.
The medical benefits of losing weight are real. You are likely to live a longer, happier, healthier life by losing excess weight. The secondary gains of losing weight are better appearance, more energy, more comfort. If you have tried to lose weight before and failed, do not give up. You are not alone. It is easy to get frustrated. The fact is most people fail because of unrealistic expectations. Consumers must be mentally and physically ready to make lifestyle change to live healthier. Good results take time and effort. However, the benefits are worth every bit of sacrifice.
Many individuals believe that it takes boot camp like physical activity to lose weight. The truth is just the opposite. Strenuous exercise uses carbohydrates as the primary energy source for the first 30 minutes then begins to utilize fat for energy. Less strenuous exercise, such as walking, utilizes fat as the primary energy source. It is actually more beneficial to walk rather than run when trying to lose weight. Athletes should eat diets high in carbohydrates. Dieters should eat low fat diets and do non-strenuous physical activity.
We feel the way to reduce caloric intake is via a nutritious replacement shake. Dieters use the shake to replace a meal they choose. They continue to eat healthy food the other two meals but must restrict caloric intake to less than 1200 calories. We believe this approach has three important benefits. First, it makes the dieter make real food choices in what they eat. It encourages dieters to learn how to make healthy choices and avoid empty calories. Secondly, we can fortify the meal replacement shake with vitamins and minerals. A Clinician’s Choice multivitamin and our shake ensure you have no nutritional deficiencies while you are reducing your calorie intake. The shake is high in fiber to promote a sense of fullness. We also use B-complex vitamin to provide energy and other natural phytonutriants to reduce cravings. Finally, a program like ours has a built-in maintenance feature. If it appears that the dieter is gaining weight, they can simply restart the program as a corrective action. We feel this approach is safe, natural and effective.
Studies have shown that the most successful weight loss program do one more important thing. They provide a support system to the dieter. It is a difficult task to lose weight alone. We need encouragement. We need to have an outlet to turn to for support. We also need accountability. The Clinician’s Choice Weight Guardian program includes the support concept.
The best way to determine if you are overweight is called the body mass index (BMI). A BMI greater than 25 means you are overweight. A good way to start is to see your doctor for a complete physical. He can help you determine your BMI at that time. The next step is to find a way to change your life. A slimmer you means a healthier, happier you. If what you have seen here makes sense – join us.
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