Weight Loss

Posted on Weight Loss

Weight loss surgery – is it worth it?

Weight loss

Weight loss

Weight loss surgery, also called bariatric or metabolic surgery, is sometimes used as a treatment for people who are very obese.

It can lead to significant weight loss and help improve many obesity-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.

But it’s a major operation and in most cases should only be considered after trying to lose weight through a healthy diet and exercise.

NHS weight loss surgery

Weight loss surgery is available on the NHS for people who meet certain criteria.

These include:

you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, or a BMI between 35 and 40 and an obesity-related condition that might improve if you lost weight (such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure)

you’ve tried all other weight loss methods, such as dieting and exercise, but have struggled to lose weight or keep it off

you agree to long-term follow-up after surgery – such as making healthy lifestyle changes and attending regular check-ups

Speak to your GP if you think weight loss surgery may be an option for you. If you qualify for NHS treatment, they can refer you for an assessment to check surgery is suitable.

You may can also pay for surgery privately, although this can be expensive.

Read more about NHS and private weight loss surgery.

Types of weight loss surgery

There are several types of weight loss surgery.

The most common types are:

gastric band – a band is placed around the stomach, so you don’t need to eat as much to feel full

gastric bypass – the top part of the stomach is joined to the small intestine, so you feel fuller sooner and don’t absorb as many calories from food

sleeve gastrectomy – some of the stomach is removed, so you can’t eat as much as you could before and you’ll feel full sooner

All these operations can lead to significant weight loss within a few years, but each has advantages and disadvantages.

If you’re considering weight loss surgery, speak to a surgeon about the different types available to help decide which is best for you.

Read more about the types of weight loss surgery.

Life after weight loss surgery

Weight loss surgery can achieve dramatic weight loss, but it’s not a cure for obesity on its own.

You’ll need to commit to making permanent lifestyle changes after surgery to avoid putting weight back on.

You’ll need to:

change your diet – you’ll be on a liquid or soft food diet in the weeks after surgery, but will gradually move onto a normal balanced diet that you need to stay on for life

exercise regularly – once you’ve recovered from surgery, you’ll be advised to start an exercise plan and continue it for life

attend regular follow-up appointments to check how things are going after surgery and get advice or support if you need it

Women who have weight loss surgery will also usually need to avoid becoming pregnant during the first 12 to 18 months after surgery.

Read more about life after weight loss surgery.

Risks of weight loss surgery

Weight loss surgery carries a small risk of complications.

These include:

being left with excess folds of skin – you may need further surgery to remove these

not getting enough vitamins and minerals from your diet – you’ll probably need to take supplements for the rest of your life after surgery

gallstones (small, hard stones that form in the gallbladder)

a blood clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism)

the gastric band slipping out of place, food leaking from the join between the stomach and small intestine, or the gut becoming blocked or narrowed

Before having surgery, speak to your surgeon about the possible benefits and risks of the procedure.

Read more about the risks of weight loss surgery.

Posted on Weight Loss

‘Lose the Wait, Lose the Weight’ – a new strategy for weight loss

“Balancing your career, relationships and health can seem impossible some times; especially in today’s society where it can feel like if you’re not focusing on your career for an unreal amount of hours per day, then you’re just not doing enough.

What we need to do is, instead of wishing for more time in the day, optimise the current time we do have available. We believe an infrared sauna can do that, with super charged health benefits that can do everything from burn 500+ calories in 30 minutes, to help deal with the mental health issues the stress we mention can cause. They might be more expensive than the average set of dumbbells – and might take up a bit more space – but when you’re paying for time, you can’t argue with the value.

If you’re not convinced yet, then maybe the following infographic can help.”

 

Please include attribution to www.uk-saunas.co.uk with this graphic.

Please include attribution to www.uk-saunas.co.uk with this graphic.

”

Posted on Weight Loss

WHY AMERICA IS GETTING FATTER: THE SCARY TRUTH ABOUT OBESITY

The numbers don’t lie—obesity in America is a real and growing threat to the health and wellness of millions, both young and old.
According to the Center for Disease Control, 34.9% of U.S. adults are considered medically obese—that’s 78.6 million people in this country! But do you know how bad obesity is for the body? With the life-threatening illnesses and complications that come from being overweight, it’s no wonder that the “obesity epidemic” in the United States is inspiring all types of healthy living initiatives from the grocery store to Capitol Hill.

Please include attribution to Top Medical Assisting Programs with this graphic.

http://www.topmedicalassistingprograms.com/sites/all/files/public/styles/medium/public/1773-Why-America-is-Getting-Fatter-Infographic-v3-%281%29.jpg?itok=eo1zaNDC‘ alt=’Americas Obesity Problem’ width=” border=’0′ />

Obesity in America by the Numbers

Forget the numbers on the scale and the clothing size you want to fit in—obesity has some even more startling numbers connected with it. According to the Center for Disease Control, a shocking 17% of children ages 2 to 19 are considered not just overweight, but obese. Obesity for adults is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of over 30.0. Illnesses caused by eating too unhealthily and carrying a harmful body weight are some of the leading causes of preventable death in this country—including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. In fact, as reported by the Harvard School of Public Health, overweight people have 32% higher risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD), while those who are obese have 81% higher risk!

With that in mind, consider that the National Institutes of Health estimate that 300,000 Americans die each year due to the obesity epidemic. That’s like the whole population of Cincinnati, Ohio being wiped out from obesity-related illnesses! On average, an obese individual’s annual medical costs are $1,429 higher than someone of healthy weight. That much money can pay for a whole family’s gym membership and some healthier food options.

Some Hidden Causes of Obesity

One of the best things you can do for your health is to take a good hard look at the food you eat. Huge contributors to the rise in obesity are the added fats, sugars, and chemicals lurking in foods that seem harmless. The New York Times reports that Americans eat 22 to 30 teaspoons of added sugar in their foods, with half of them coming from sugary drinks and sodas. And when you have a meal at a restaurant, you have no idea how many calories, grams of fat, or what types of ingredients are used to make your dish. So you might be looking at just one meal that packs a 1,500+ calorie punch—more than half the recommended daily intake for an average person. There has been a growing trend—and legislation in some states—that demands that food establishments list the calorie and fat content on menus to fully inform customers.

Combating Obesity in the United States

You may not be surprised to hear this, but preventing and combating the dangerous health effects of obesity have to do with exercise and eating habits that are often shaped when we’re young. Only 20.8% of adults over 18 years old meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for both muscle-strengthening and aerobic physical activity. Those guidelines recommend that Americans shoot for a minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, reports the Harvard School of Public Health. Many gyms offer trial periods or discounted first classes so that you can try a particular type of exercise before you commit to membership fees. The key to consistent and goal-achieving weight loss and management is to find a type of exercise you enjoy doing!

Healthier eating is also crucial to maintaining a healthy weight and body mass index (BMI). Unfortunately, the Harvard School of Public Health reports that eating costs about $1.50 more per day than an unhealthy diet, which really isn’t too much to pad to your grocery budget.

There has also been a legislative move to end “food desserts”—a term for urban and rural areas that are more than a mile away from healthy, affordable food options in supermarkets or restaurants. The Healthy Food Financing Initiative is working to develop grocery stores, small retailers and corner stores, and farmers markets to offer healthy and affordable food options to their community.

What You Can Do
One of the best defenses against the slippery slope of ongoing weight gain is to be aware of your eating habits and establishing an exercise routine that you stick to. If you’re passionate about inspiring healthy habits in others, then consider pursuing a career in healthcare or nutrition. And share this infographic to alert your friends and family to the dangers that unhealthy eating can lead to!

Leave a comment Posted on Weight Loss

Weight Loss and DNA – “Are These Genes Too Tight?”

DNA and weight loss

DNA and weight loss

71% of women that have dieted are currently unhappy with their weight with one in five admitting they are constantly dieting

Over a third say it doesn’t matter what they do they can’t lose weight and 59% are yet to find a successful way to manage their weight

Hope for serial dieters as evidence suggests DNA tests can reveal how your body uniquely responds to exercise, food and drink; whether an individual has the so-called ‘Fat Gene’

January is a peak time of the year for dieting, yet conversely, it’s also a bit of a peak time for quitting a diet. Frustration at not seeing the desired results after a few weeks can lead to many new-found dieters jumping straight off the bandwagon and back on the road toward unhealthy eating habits.

New research suggests that one in five women across the UK are constantly on a diet in one way or another, with 59% saying they’ve never found a way to control their weight.

So, perhaps the issue lies deeper within the make-up of the individual. In fact, the answers to how and why so many are failing diets could be held within our DNA. Very simple, non-intrusive DNA tests can tell us more about how our bodies process foods, giving an individualized perspective on what would work best for that person.

The discovery of a so-called ‘Fat Gene’ can lead to uncontrollable urges to snack and eat more than the average person. DNA tests can help identify the way each body stores and processes fats, assess risks from the likes of cholesterol and triglycerides as well as honing in on nutritional needs that should be focused on when planning a diet.

With a further 35% of women re-gaining their initial weight loss after a mildly successful diet, it seems apparent the need for a more permanent solution is greater than ever. Becoming even more evident as the research, commissioned by LloydsPharmacy, also reveals that a quarter of women feel they have ‘no control over their weight’ and a fifth are ‘at the end of their tether’ trying to deal with weight issues.

In the studio to discuss how our genes and DNA could be the key to unlocking dieting ideals are Dr. Lior Rauchberger and Dr. Dhiren Bhatt.

 

Leave a comment Posted on Obesity, Weight Loss

Easy-To-Follow Weight-Loss Guidelines for Men

Easy-To-Follow Weight-Loss Guidelines for Men

Easy-To-Follow Weight-Loss Guidelines for Menwe

 


It is estimated that in the UK, 1 in every 4 adults are obese with research suggesting that the ratio is likely to increase over time. Tackling obesity is a key government priority as losing weight can not only improve people’s lives but have a positive impact on the economy as well. Men are more likely to be obese than women in the UK (66% of men as opposed to 58% of women). Men also more reluctant to join weight-loss programmes and have a lower chance of reaching a healthy body weight by themselves than obese women.

The consumer market offers countless weight-loss aids that can significantly help lose weight and if coupled with a healthy lifestyle, the results can be astonishing. Due to men being less likely to embark on a weight-loss journey it is all the more important to motivate them to do just that. There is a better chance that a man will be inspired to lose weight if he can understand that his weight poses risks to his health. Apart from that, a few simple guidelines may also do the trick.

Don’t diet

Banish the 4-letter word all together as the term ‘diet’ is often synonymous with deprivation, which usually isn’t sustainable. Cutting out certain foods and food groups that you enjoy and have enjoyed your entire life is not realistic for most people yet 80% of losing weight depends on how you can control what you eat.  It is important to develop an eating strategy that you can stick to in the long run. If you are looking for permanent weight-loss you need to be prepared to make permanent changes to your lifestyle.

Do some mathematics

A single pound of fat equates to 3,500 calories. If you want to lose 1 pound a week you need to reduce your daily calorie intake by 500 every day. Take your current weight and multiply it by 11. That is a rough indication of how much calories your body needs to maintain its current status. Aim to subtract 500 calories from that number by making changes to your diet and exercise routine.

Develop a strategy

You do not have to do anything as drastic as overhauling your whole fridge overnight nor does it mean you have to avoid certain foods for the rest of your life. What it does mean is that need to figure out what compromises you need to make without feeling entirely desperate and deprived. IF you are prone to indulging in chips and soda every day start by cutting down to every second or third day. Small lifestyle changes will lead to substantial and sustainable weight-loss in the end.

Make sure you have a plan

A lot of people fail at their diets because they don’t have a plan. Plotting out your menus for the week or month is a very good place to start as you are more likely to stick to an eating plan if it is decided upon in advance.  Learning about portion control and how many calories are hidden in different food sources will also prove to be of great benefit. There are numerous handy applications available, such as MyFitnessPal,  that does all the calculations for you when you log your food intake. This is the easiest way to keep track of what you are eating and also keep you honest.

Add exercise to the equation

You can also control your calories by exercising more and burning them off while building muscle. Exercise will enable you to lose weight faster without having to starve yourself.  If you only alter the way you eat your body will burn both fat and muscle, making strength training of vital importance as it reduces muscle loss.

You did not gain your excess weight overnight nor can you expect to lose it instantly. A fad diet may see you losing weight fast initially but chances are good that you will regain everything you have lost and possibly even more. By taking a holistic approach to your weight-loss you will not only keep off the weight you lose but you will significantly improve your general well-being as well.