Antoaneta Sawyer, PhD
Without doubt, obesity has reached epidemic proportions around the world and it is specifically reinforced in America. It is recognized as the most prevalent, recurrent, and relapsing pandemic disorder of the 21st century. (Source, ObesitySociety) Scientists are constantly defining obesity as the leading cause of chronic morbidity, disability and mortality, adding at around 112,000 excess deaths in the US. Latest study published in the New England Journal of medicine (Adams et al., 2006) showed an increased risk of mortality in overweight people (men and women). The excess body weight during midlife, including being overweight, was associated with an increased risk of death. (Source, NEJM). A potential decline in life expectancy in the US in the 21st Century is seen in a study done 2005, March 17, (Source, NEJM)
Obesity increases chances of developing all the co-morbid conditions that constitute the “deadly quartet” of the metabolic syndrome: abdominal obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. In fact, obesity is considered the main feature of the metabolic syndrome cluster as it packs many negative health effects, including increased risk of stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and several common cancers and it has been also shown to reduce sexual activity (WHO, 2005). (Source, Third Age)
More than 300 million worldwide are now classified as obese, according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2009). Another billion or people are considered now overweight in another study. The epidemic rate of morbid obesity in the US in the period (1986–2000) and (2000-2005) is studied by (Sturm, 2003; Sturm 2007).
Obesity is a disease that affects over one-third of the adult American population (approximately 72 million Americans). (Source, ObesitySociety) The U.S. Department of Health reports that each year, obesity causes at least 112,000 excess deaths in the US. Unfortunately, it doesn’t affect only adults as approximately 11 percent of all American children aged 6 to 17 are obese. (Source, ObesitySociety)
The rate of increased obesity is leading to major disability. The metabolic derangements, seen as part of metabolic syndrome can be outlined as a combination of: elevated Body Mass Index (BMI), an “apple shape,” visceral adiposity (belly fat), “nonalcoholic” type of liver cirrhosis, dyslipidemia (elevated LDL and triglycerides with decreased HDL), hypertension, glucose intolerance- all based on insulin resistance. Unfortunately this is one of the most mismanaged diseases in the clinical practice. (Source, NH-WC Beyond Holistic)
Obesity can shorten your life by 10 years, while extreme obesity - by 12 years, and put you at risk of developing a number of chronic conditions. Generally, obese people die young or develop premature morbidity and disability. (Source, About) The rate of morbidity and mortality is explained with maladies such as: type 2 diabetes, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, hypertension, asthma, sleep apnea, cardiovascular diseases, gout, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s disease, degenerative (bone and joint) diseases, asthma, fatty liver, gallstones, infertility, miscarriages, birth defects, pancreatitis, irritable bower syndrome, heart failure, multiple cancers: hormonal (breast and prostate) cancers, colorectal, gallbladder, pancreatic, lung, uterine, cervical, ovarian, kidney, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, and many others. (Source, Wiki)
Obesity is defined as excess adipose tissue, measured by the body mass index (BMI), defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters. BMI is seen as an indicator of obesity. A person with BMI > 25 is defined as overweight and a BMI > 30 as obese. The main causes for obesity, according to the metabolic experts are: bad diet, including an increased reliance on highly processed foods, high level of stress, and increased immobility. (Source, ObesitySociety)
Fat tissue is recognized as an endocrine organ and as such, secretes a number of metabolites, cytokines, lipids, and coagulation factors, leading to chronic proinflammatory status and secondary insulin secretion, which can cause insulin resistance that leads to type 2 diabetes. (Axima, 2006)
Lately, obesity has increased across all age groups, reaching different ethnic groups and educational levels. Many features of modern life seem to promote weight gain. The combination of immobilization and stress, abundant and easily available calorically dense, nutritionally empty foods, in tandem with late social and economic influences are all likely contributors to the rising obesity pandemic. (Source, NHLBI)
It is well known fact that societies, which produce a steady stream of constant abundance tend to become overweight societies – especially when much of the diet consists of calorically dense but nutritionally empty foods. The human body has a natural system that helps prolong life when food becomes dangerously scarce. Although this is a helpful mechanism of survival, it does not adjust for a life lived in constant and perpetual plenty. All of these environmental and lifestyle factors lead many to overeat and get too little physical activity, with the result that many people are overweight or obese. (Source, NHLBI)
Authors strongly believe that current dietary recommendations to increase the consumption of carb-dense foods are counterproductive to weight management. Author’s hypothesis is that high-carbohydrate diets based on carbohydrate foods that promote high glycemic response (i.e., high-glycemic-index foods) alter appetite and energy partitioning in a way that is conducive to body fat gain. Thus, carbohydrate-dense foods that have strong impact and postprandial effects must be strongly limited in the case of metabolic syndrome (Holt et al, 1995; Holt et al., 2003).
As conclusion, being overweight, alongside diabetes, having elevated cholesterol levels, and an increased blood pressure, constitute the foundation of metabolic syndrome modern pandemic. In recent years, obesity and overweight are reaching epidemic proportions. Underlying reasons for this global obesity pandemic are complex and still not completely proven. Whereas genetic predisposition plays an obvious part, changes in genetic makeup cannot explain the dramatic rise in obesity rates over the past 10-15 years believe Flegal (1999) and Seidell (2000).
Note * For more information on metabolic syndrome, disease and prevention, diabetes, obesity, diets and weight loss just click on the "Subscribe" button above in order to receive the Milwaukee Diets Examiner daily articles. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, NH-WC "Beyond Holistic" web site and NH-WC "Beyond Holistic" Blog.
Obesity increases chances of developing all the co-morbid conditions that constitute the “deadly quartet” of the metabolic syndrome: abdominal obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. In fact, obesity is considered the main feature of the metabolic syndrome cluster as it packs many negative health effects, including increased risk of stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and several common cancers and it has been also shown to reduce sexual activity (WHO, 2005). (Source, Third Age)
More than 300 million worldwide are now classified as obese, according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2009). Another billion or people are considered now overweight in another study. The epidemic rate of morbid obesity in the US in the period (1986–2000) and (2000-2005) is studied by (Sturm, 2003; Sturm 2007).
Obesity is a disease that affects over one-third of the adult American population (approximately 72 million Americans). (Source, ObesitySociety) The U.S. Department of Health reports that each year, obesity causes at least 112,000 excess deaths in the US. Unfortunately, it doesn’t affect only adults as approximately 11 percent of all American children aged 6 to 17 are obese. (Source, ObesitySociety)
The rate of increased obesity is leading to major disability. The metabolic derangements, seen as part of metabolic syndrome can be outlined as a combination of: elevated Body Mass Index (BMI), an “apple shape,” visceral adiposity (belly fat), “nonalcoholic” type of liver cirrhosis, dyslipidemia (elevated LDL and triglycerides with decreased HDL), hypertension, glucose intolerance- all based on insulin resistance. Unfortunately this is one of the most mismanaged diseases in the clinical practice. (Source, NH-WC Beyond Holistic)
Obesity can shorten your life by 10 years, while extreme obesity - by 12 years, and put you at risk of developing a number of chronic conditions. Generally, obese people die young or develop premature morbidity and disability. (Source, About) The rate of morbidity and mortality is explained with maladies such as: type 2 diabetes, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, hypertension, asthma, sleep apnea, cardiovascular diseases, gout, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s disease, degenerative (bone and joint) diseases, asthma, fatty liver, gallstones, infertility, miscarriages, birth defects, pancreatitis, irritable bower syndrome, heart failure, multiple cancers: hormonal (breast and prostate) cancers, colorectal, gallbladder, pancreatic, lung, uterine, cervical, ovarian, kidney, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, and many others. (Source, Wiki)
Obesity is defined as excess adipose tissue, measured by the body mass index (BMI), defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters. BMI is seen as an indicator of obesity. A person with BMI > 25 is defined as overweight and a BMI > 30 as obese. The main causes for obesity, according to the metabolic experts are: bad diet, including an increased reliance on highly processed foods, high level of stress, and increased immobility. (Source, ObesitySociety)
Fat tissue is recognized as an endocrine organ and as such, secretes a number of metabolites, cytokines, lipids, and coagulation factors, leading to chronic proinflammatory status and secondary insulin secretion, which can cause insulin resistance that leads to type 2 diabetes. (Axima, 2006)
Lately, obesity has increased across all age groups, reaching different ethnic groups and educational levels. Many features of modern life seem to promote weight gain. The combination of immobilization and stress, abundant and easily available calorically dense, nutritionally empty foods, in tandem with late social and economic influences are all likely contributors to the rising obesity pandemic. (Source, NHLBI)
It is well known fact that societies, which produce a steady stream of constant abundance tend to become overweight societies – especially when much of the diet consists of calorically dense but nutritionally empty foods. The human body has a natural system that helps prolong life when food becomes dangerously scarce. Although this is a helpful mechanism of survival, it does not adjust for a life lived in constant and perpetual plenty. All of these environmental and lifestyle factors lead many to overeat and get too little physical activity, with the result that many people are overweight or obese. (Source, NHLBI)
Authors strongly believe that current dietary recommendations to increase the consumption of carb-dense foods are counterproductive to weight management. Author’s hypothesis is that high-carbohydrate diets based on carbohydrate foods that promote high glycemic response (i.e., high-glycemic-index foods) alter appetite and energy partitioning in a way that is conducive to body fat gain. Thus, carbohydrate-dense foods that have strong impact and postprandial effects must be strongly limited in the case of metabolic syndrome (Holt et al, 1995; Holt et al., 2003).
As conclusion, being overweight, alongside diabetes, having elevated cholesterol levels, and an increased blood pressure, constitute the foundation of metabolic syndrome modern pandemic. In recent years, obesity and overweight are reaching epidemic proportions. Underlying reasons for this global obesity pandemic are complex and still not completely proven. Whereas genetic predisposition plays an obvious part, changes in genetic makeup cannot explain the dramatic rise in obesity rates over the past 10-15 years believe Flegal (1999) and Seidell (2000).
Note * For more information on metabolic syndrome, disease and prevention, diabetes, obesity, diets and weight loss just click on the "Subscribe" button above in order to receive the Milwaukee Diets Examiner daily articles. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, NH-WC "Beyond Holistic" web site and NH-WC "Beyond Holistic" Blog.
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