Have you ever thought to yourself, "Is the food I'm eating really as healthy as others claim?" Some foods are packaged to look like they're good for you when in fact they're anything but. For those trying to lose weight, here are some health food imposters to watch out for while grocery shopping:...
Over the years, two key indicators have measured a person's health risk due to weight: pounds (or kilograms) and body mass index (BMI). While that still holds true today, research has determined that these factors alone do not tell the whole story. In order to accurately assess your true health risk, you need to know your body's composition. That is, a reading of fat, muscle and water percentage will give you critical information for creating an effective strategy for safe, long-lasting weight loss....
In case you didn't know, it's National Women's Health Week. As doctor who specializes in obesity medicine, I'm grateful for this event because it gives me the opportunity to encourage women everywhere to take the time to reflect on their health. As a medical provider who specializes in obesity medicine, I specifically want to raise awareness about the specific risks excess weight and body fat pose to women. Sorry guys, you'll get your turn soon. ...
Think of your simple grocery list as part of that plan. If you call the right plays (that is, list the right types of food) before you step onto the field, you're more likely to win the game and see weight loss results....
Obesity leads to the development of other serious chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and even cancer. We can't heed that warning enough. While excess weight is often cited as the root cause of many chronic conditions, there's actually another sinister agent contributing to the development of obesity itself. Once called "the secret killer" by Time Magazine, chronic inflammation has become a major concern for medical providers and their patients in achieving good health and wellbeing....
The entertainer Will Rogers famously once said, "Advertising is the art of convincing people to spend money they don't have for something they don't need." It's a very cynical view on the value of advertising to be sure. But when it comes to the advertising of food, it evokes some thought-provoking questions....
As a follow-up to our celebration of National Women's Health Week in May, we are happy to do the same for National Men's Health Week this month (we said you would get your turn, guys). As a male CMWL program participant myself, I can easily identify with the challenges men face when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off. If you are a man, or are concerned about the health of men in your life, I strongly urge you to consider this information as you make decisions in your everyday life....
The saying "youth is wasted on the young" might just hold the most meaning when talking about weight loss. In our early years, we rarely give a second thought to the consequences of splurging on late night milkshake and fries. It may create temporary uncomfortable feelings, but we can bounce back the next day with fairly little effort. And then we do it again and again, because our young, energy-efficient bodies give us the runway to do so. How wonderful, right?!...
Obesity can hurt us, and not just with greater risks of serious health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. It affects our bones, joints, ligaments and tendons, which we need for optimal mobility in our busy daily lives. When our skeletal and muscular systems are compromised, physical injuries are more likely to occur....
If you are exercising regularly, but don't see the numbers going down on the scale, you might be misguided about the best way to lose weight. Many people fall into the trap that exercise alone will make the pounds come off. The training montages in action movies, extreme weight loss programs on TV, and fitness success stories can motivate us, but they paint an unrealistic picture about the role of exercise in losing weight. How has this idea gained so much credit? ...