Posts Tagged ‘obesity’
Sibutramine is a chemical that is used in weight loss products to suppress the appetite and moderately increase the metabolism. In South Africa, this chemical is present in prescription weight loss drugs like Reductil although minute doses may be found in over-the-counter (OTC) slimming products. Since early 2000 there has been much hype in the United States surrounding the use of sibutramine in the popular scheduled drug Meridia. This prompted many consumer safety groups to petition the FDA and request a ban on the sale of this drug. (Public Citizen : Sibutramine).
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Glycaemic index (US ~ glycemic) is the measure of a food’s ability to affect the blood sugar levels. This immediate effect is usually based on the type of carbohydrates within a food. Since all foods contain a mixture of carbohydrates, protein and fat to varying degrees, the glycaemic index is relevant to all foods, not only carbohydrates. Awareness about the glycaemic index (GI) of foods is important for us all, but particularly for those suffering with diabetes and obesity.
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Acupuncture is a system of healing closely linked to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) where needles are inserted into specific points in the body to trigger a physiological response. The theory behind weight loss with acupuncture is that a course of treatment sessions will help suppress the appetite and increase the metabolism thereby stimulating the body to burn more calories while eating less.
Losing weight is no easy task. It takes months, if not years, of sensible eating and daily physical activity. Some weight loss products may help with moderately increasing your metabolism, giving you more energy to workout for longer or assist your body in passing out water. Overall the effectiveness of these products are limited and should only be used as an adjunct to a medical weight loss program.
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The Tony Ferguson Weight Loss Program is a weight management program developed by an Australian pharmacist. It uses a combination of meal replacements, nutritional supplements and a healthy eating plan to assist with weight loss. Despite reports of the the Tony Ferguson Weight Loss Program being the next weight loss miracle, it is essentially a low calorie, low GI (glycaemic index), high protein diet with the usual mix of vitamins and supplements.
The growing epidemic of obese children is as much a disease as any other medical condition. This is a global phenomenon and South Africa is experiencing the same problem with overweight and obese children as other developing countries. The recent rise in childhood obesity can be attributed to more South Africans now living an urban lifestyle – high calorie and fatty foods combined with a sedentary lifestyle.
Before the age of 4 years, some children may be ‘plump’ and this does not concern many parents. This is sometimes referred to as baby fat but the reality is that an obese toddler is already a sign of a potential problem.
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