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Weight Loss and Obesity
Get the skinny on weight loss. Discover what works for you to improve your chances of losing weight and keeping it off. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.
- Aim for total nutrition with a multivitamin
Extra vitamins and minerals will help ensure your body gets the nutrition it needs, especially if you are avoiding certain foods.
- Find a diet that fits
For long-term success, choose a healthy diet that you can stay with.
- Create a custom exercise plan
Exercise you truly enjoy is much easier to stick to, so find activities that fit your personal style, fitness level, and workout opportunities.
- Find support
Improve your chances for long-term weight loss by joining a group while you adjust to new diet and exercise habits.
- Get a boost from pyruvate
Combining exercise with 6 to 10 grams a day of this supplement may help speed up your metabolism
- Try 5-HTP
Taking 600 to 900 mg of 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) per day may help curb your appetite.
These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Continue reading for more in-depth, fully referenced information.
- Eat healthy
Follow in the footsteps of successful long-term dieters by avoiding too much fat and eating a regular breakfast.
- Control appetite by controlling blood sugar
Choose foods with a low-glycemic index to help avoid blood sugar swings that can stimulate cravings.
- Maintain your weight with exercise
Make exercise a regular habit to help keep body weight stable.
- Avoid the yo-yo
Adopt realistic diet and lifestyle changes you can stick with, and get help forming healthier habits, to avoid frequent ups and downs in weight.
- Spice up your diet
Add cayenne pepper to your meals to help curb appetite and increase calorie burning.
These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Continue reading for more in-depth, fully referenced information.
Also indexed as:
- fat,
- lose weight,
- losing weight,
- obesity,
- overweight,
- weight loss
About this treatment
About This Condition
About two-thirds of the adult U.S. population is overweight. Almost one-third not only exceeds ideal weight, but also meets the clinical criteria for obesity. In the 1990s, rates of obesity more than doubled, and are currently rising by over 5% per year. Excess body weight is implicated as a risk factor for many different disorders, including heart disease, diabetes, several cancers (such as breast cancer in postmenopausal women, and cancers of the uterus, colon, and kidney), prostate enlargement (BPH), female infertility, uterine fibroids, and gallstones, as well as several disorders of pregnancy, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension. The location of excess body fat may affect the amount of health risk associated with overweight. Increased abdominal fat, which can be estimated by waist size, may be especially hazardous to long-term health.
For overweight women, weight loss can significantly improve physical health. A four-year study of over 40,000 women found that weight loss in overweight women was associated with improved physical function and vitality as well as decreased bodily pain. The risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, or other diseases increases in overweight men and women in all age groups. Losing weight and keeping it off is, unfortunately, very difficult for most people. However, repeated weight loss followed by weight regain may be unhealthy, as it has been associated with increased heart disease risk factors and bone loss in some studies. Rather than focusing on weight loss as the most important health outcome of a change in diet or lifestyle, some doctors advocate paying more attention to overall fitness and reduction in known risk factors for heart disease and other health hazards.
Excess body mass has the one advantage of increasing bone mass—a protection against osteoporosis. Probably because of this, researchers have been able to show that people who successfully lose weight have greater loss of bone compared with those who do not lose weight. People who lose weight should, therefore, pay more attention to preventing osteoporosis.
Last Review: 05-11-2011
Copyright © 2011 Aisle7. All rights reserved. www.Aisle7.net
Learn more about Aisle7, the company.
The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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