The graphs showed that 37% (100 million) of Americans are overweight, and 30 million are obese. However using a slimmer standard, overweight is a health risk for 71% of Americans.
Percent breakdown of overweight in 3 groups:

• White Americans - Male (32%), Female (33.5%)
• African Americans - Male (41.7%), Female (49.6%)
• Mexican Americans - Male (39.5%), Female (47.9%)

Three months ago two popular weight loss drugs were taken off the market, and those who took the drug are regaining the weight. About 4 million had taken Fen-phen, and 2 million had taken Redux (Dexfenfluramine). The drugs were taken off the market for causing heart valve problems. Most are trying to find safe alternative means of reversing the weight gain. Robyn Flipse, a registered dietitian says "It's frightening in a sense. I didn't expect these people to start gaining although I though the rate of loss would slow down".

In one of the biggest studies ever looking at the effects of weight on longevity, it was found that being too heavy shortens life expectancy to age 75. Previously it was thought that it was OK to put on extra pounds as you get older. Now it is believed that people in their 60's should weigh no more than those in their 30's. People who have Body Mass Indexes (BMI) of between 18 and 22 (which is quite thin) live the longest.

In a surprising new study, the editorial's authors, Drs. Roger Sherwin and Thomas Price of the University of Maryland School of Medicine indicate that dietary fat does not increase the risk of the most common type of stroke. Also, certain types of fat - including saturated fat and monounsaturated fat - may even decrease the risk of stroke in middle-aged men. Further studies are necessary to confirm this. This finding is in conflict with other studies linking heart disease with a high fat diet. "In the new study, the risk of having a stroke dropped 15% for every 3% increase in energy gained from total fat and dropped 9% for every 1% increase in saturated fat, the type found in meat and dairy products. The stroke risk declined 11% for every 1% increase in monounsaturated fat intake, the type of fat found in canola, nut and olive oil, according to a report in the current issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. There was no protective effect of polyunsaturated fat, which is found in fish and vegetable oils." Looks like moderation in everything still makes the most sense.

The American Heart Association has warned that doctors should be careful in prescribing a new diet drug called Meridia, known generically as sibutramine. This was warned because of health concerns that have caused other drugs to be recently pulled off of the market. The drug has caused elevated blood pressure in some people.

Fat mice have been found to have a defective gene for leptin receptors. This problem is probably not responsible for much humban obesity, but does show the leptin receptor is a key player in weight control.

Professionals find that diets high in fiber, especially from cereal, fruits and vegetables, lower the risk of heart attacks in men significantly. Men eating 29 grams of fiber per day had a 36% lower risk of heart attack. You can get an extra 10 grams of fiber from just eating an extra apple and banana or bowl of cereal. Study also applies to women. Also reduces risk of colon cancer (past studies). More to be studied.

Normal doses of chromium supplements do not provide fat shedding or muscle-building . It also may not make people stronger when used in large doses. Study from American College of Sports Medicine Journal.

10 % of college-age women suffer an eating disorder. They starve themselves or eat until they are stuffed, sometimes vomiting and sometimes not. Can lead to fertility problems, osteoporosis, and even death.

The greater the amount of aerobic exercise, the lower the risk of prostate cancer. Jan issue of American College of Sports Medicine Journal. Those with moderate or high exercise levels had a lower risk level.

Hardening of the arteries can be caused when people's blood pressure shoots up during stressful mental challenges. University of Western Ontario. People's blood pressure reaction to stress vaires widely.

FDA approved Olestra, a zero calorie artificial fat. Will be used in snacks. It doesn't clog arteries because it "slides" through the body. Some scientists and consumer advocates object, saying it has unusual risks. Two ounces of an olestra snack can act as a laxative. Other gastrointestinal side effects possible. It can wash certain nutrients out of the body, which are believed important for preventing disease. Dr Meir Stampfer of Harvard University wrote the FDA last week and said the nutrient depletion "could potentially produce a large number of deaths annually and major morbidity in the U.S. population." FDA says there are real effects in some people, they may be annoying, but not medically significant.

Cancer in rats has been caused by the 2 leading cholesterol-lowering drugs in the US. Should be used sparingly in humans, according to researchers. The drugs include lovastatin (Mevacor) and gemfibrozil.

Government guidelines now add moderate exercise to the "balanced diet". Eat lots of fruits, vegetables and grain products, less sugar salt and sodium, and very little fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. And try to balance with 30 minutes per day of low key exercise like gardening, housework, brisk walking, etc. Eat a wide variety of foods in moderation, and wine is OK too.

Scientists a step closer to developing obesity drug. Discovered the second half of the signal system that tells the brain when it is full. Have been attempting to find the receptor gene since discovery of the OB obesity gene. Obese people are resistant to the message due to deficiency in leptin receptors. Drugs may bypass that resistance. An obesity drug is probably still years away.

One Half of Americans do not exercise regularly, and are paying the price of heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases. Also the cause of osteoporosis, diabetes and some cancers.

Losing weight does better for your heart than exercise. The best thing to do, however, is both. Researchers were surprised to find that weight loss clearly produced more benefits than exercise alone.

Federal officials say there are fewer heart attack deaths because of increased awareness of eating lean foods and monitoring cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) is well known to increase the risk of heart attack. Increased levels of HDL(the good cholesterol) is considered beneficial. Fat consumption overall is down. Since 1992, cholesterol related heart disease deaths have been cut in half.

Ancient herbal remedies have lead to current day healing formulas. Such as cures or treatments for malaria, childhood leukemia, etc. Still, healing with plants is one of the least understood arts. Some European countries are much more advanced than US. Many countries have integrated herbal remedies into their regular health care, and are reimbursed by insurance. Growth in the US is about 10to 15 % annually, compare to the computer industry. It has exploded. The World Health Organization promotes their benefits.

The following herbs have shown to have the greatest medicinal promise: Garlic (lowers blood cholesterol), Echinacea (colds and flu), Gingko (anti-aging, memory loss, headaches, etc), Saw Palmetto (prostate enlargement), Milk thistle (hepatitis, cirrhosis), Bilberry (limb circulation, etc), Fever few (migranes), Ginger (nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness), and Valerian (sedative).

A study concentrating on black men shows severe high blood pressure reduced significantly with regular exercise. Most studies do not concentrate on severe HBP, this one showed exercise reduced enlargement of the heart caused by the additional pressure. Study concentrated on blood pressure greater than 180 over 110. Blood pressure over 140 over 90 is considered too high.

A survey done by the Center for Science in the Public Interest rated seven restaurant chains. They say when you order from the "lite", "guiltless" and "fit" menus, you really are eating less fat and fewer calories, so eat up! The ones with meals with low percent of fat from calories were(lowest %fat first): T.G.I. Fridays (lite pacfic coast tuna), Denny's (fit fare grilled chicken breast), El Torito (lite sonora burrito), Chili's (guiltless chicken salad), Olive Garden (garden fare capellini pomodoro), Chi-Chi's (lite specialities chicken chajitas), Chili's (guiltless veggie pasta), Big Boy (health smart cajun cod), T.G. I. Friday's (lite gardenburger), Chili's (guiltless fajitas), T.G.I. Friday's (lite garden dagwood sandwich), Olive Garden (garden fare capillini primavera, then shrimp primavera), Big Boy (health smart grilled chicken mozzarella), etc.

An increasing number of women are using the internet to lose weight. Used for finding information about fat free recipes, answers to questions, and support from others. Many have achieved weight loses of 50 or even more pounds.

Eat something one hour before walking in order to fuel your body. 100-300 Calories is best. Concentrate on carbohydrates. If taking a walk for over 2 hours, pack a snack. Good items overall are crackers, bagels, fruit, lowfat yogurt, cereal.

Walking with ankle weights could be injurious as it puts stress on the spinal column and knees. They do not build extra muscle.

In the last 30 years, the number of seriously overweight children and adolescents in the US has more than doubled, most since 1980. Pattern in adults is similar. Prime reason is physical inactivity, primarily due to watching too much TV, video games, and computers. Public health officials are worried that fat children are destined to be fat adults.

Those with insomnia or persistent pain can benefit from meditation, hypnosis and biofeedback according to some medical experts. Effectiveness varies by patient. In relaxation therapy, you focus repeatedly on a phrase, word, sound, prayer, muscular activity etc. until you become calm. Very good for lower back pain, arthritis, headaches.

Shaves fat beneath the skin, like liposuction, but better. Smoother looking, more precision. Fat shaved by blade spinning inside a tube, then sucks fat out. Less trauma. Drawbacks - possible higher risk of damaging nerves and blood vessels. Cost same as liposuction. Ten patients so fat, many more must be tested.

Researchers find that the risk of mortality is higher in underweight adult elderly people. Mortality rises sharply, the leaner they are. At 20 pounds overweight, the risk is not there. At 50 pounds overweight, risks begin to rise.

Alarming increase in overweight people in the US. The environment we live in does not support a healthy lifestyle. Eight percent increase in 11 years. Better eating habits have shown to reduce the problem, versus blaming on genes, etc. Best way to lose weight is a behavior change. Diet drugs don't make people skinny.

Women given grocery lists and meal plans lost 50% more weight. Short amounts of exercise adding up to 40 minutes per day, throughout the day, caused more weight loss than 40 minutes of continuous exercise per day.

People eat too many carbohydrates when dieting on low calorie diets, causing them to not lose weight. People on low fat diets cannot eat as much as they want. They must still watch calories.

Labels identifying nutritional content on food are causing people to overeat. They buy low fat choices, but eat too much of those items. People eat more if they think they are eating less fat.

One weight set / set of exercises is enough to build strength for the first few months. One set provided as much muscle thickness over 14 weeks as three sets did. There is disagreement as to whether one set was enough to provide the necessary edge after that.

When obese people take diet surveys, they underestimate how much fat they eat. Don't know if lying or unconscious omission. Further proof that people get fat by eating too much, versus biological problems.

High fat diets have been linked to an increased risk of blindness. Saturated fat & cholesterol increase macular degeneration by 80 percent. Vitamin supplements lowers risk of cataracts 40 percent.

Final recommendation not made on a new anti-fat drug announced Tuesday. Will meet again in November. Studies showed ultra-high doses of dexfenfluramine given to animals can permanently alter their brain chemicals.

In 30 years, the number of overweight children has greater than doubled. It is a pattern seen in adults. Overweight children tend to become overweight adults.

Exercising by woman fighting against osteoporosis is a poor substitute for estrogen therapy. Will only restore 1-2% of bone mass in a year's exercise program. Estrogen will do 3-4%.

FDA approval of dexfenfluramine: Scientists couldn't settle whether the govt. should allow sale of the new drug for obesity. The issue is whether the drug could hurt brain cells. It alters a brain chemical which makes people feel full. Animals fed ultra high doses got brain damage.

Article focused on a protein that makes mice shed pounds. "ob mouse". Scientific discovery of a protein called ob, injections over several weeks caused the obese mouse to slim down. The shots tell mouse's brain to stop feeding. Researchers caution.. don't know if it will really lead to a human treatment. Years of testing required. Requires daily injections. Cannot be made into a pill. Genetic obesity would not be helped by the treatment. Mice with diabetes that were injected had no effect. Injection's effects last only if drug is taken religiously. (Mouse that was taken off injections for 2 days had their weight shoot up). Side effects could prevent mass marketing. It is a hormone, which could cause "unpleasant surprises". Mice that were given an excess amount of the injection wasted away and died.

Presented a six step approach to walking for fitness. Get motivated: 30 minutes per day can increase longevity. Learn to walk: Stand straight, relax, lift rib cage, keep eyes straight ahead, lift front leg from hip, push off back foot, spring forward, land on heel, roll forward to ball of foot, pump arms. Trust your instincts: Warm up by walking slowly, then stretch leg muscles, walk slow to cool off at end, walk briskly but you should be able to carry on a conversation while walking. Keep moving: Start slowly, work up slowly each day. Go with comfort: Get a good pair of walking shoes. Make it a habit: Walk in different places, mall, treadmill, pool, etc., invite others to join, time goes quicker if talking to others while walking.

A study of men who never exercised and then started versus those who always did, showed it's never too late to start exercising. First, those who remain unfit forever had twice the number of deaths from all causes versus those in good physical shape (Heart attacks even greater). The study showed it is never too late to begin exercise to improve your risks. A sedentary lifestyle is a very important health risk. Those who exercise and become fit at any age will benefit from the improved risk. Thirty minutes per day is enough, and it does NOT have to be 30 consecutive minutes. Five or ten minutes of stair climbing or walking at various intervals is fine. It does not have to be strenuous.

Middle aged men were significantly less likely to get strokes if they ate a lot of fruits and vegetables. There was an decrease of 20% in the risk of stroke for every increase of 3 fruit or veggie servings per day. Strokes are third leading cause of death in the US.

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