Fat U.S.

I know you've heard it before "obesity is on the rise."

In fact, here's a staggering statistic: approx 67% of Americans are overweight or obese!

First things first, how do we determine what "obese" is?

One of the recent developments in the health care industry is this pesky measurement known as BMI.

It stands for "body mass index." It is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. This measure applies to both adult men and women. While usually a reliable measure of body fat, it does have some limitations.

Per the NIH:
- It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
- It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.

The breakdown goes like this:
-Underweight = <18.5
-Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
-Overweight = 25-29.9
-Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

Why is this important? Because the higher the BMI, the greater the risk for:
-heart disease (think...HEART ATTACK)
-diabetes
-and DEATH

But the good news is even a small weight loss (just 10 percent of your current weight) will help lower your risk of having these outcomes.

How do you do that?
1. Calories in less than calories out
2. Calories out more than calories in

Here's the difference:

In scenario #1, the focus is on monitoring your intake. For some that means the tedious job of counting calories. If that's your thing check out the Calorie King. If you're like me, that seems a little too labor intensive, so I just cut down my portion size (and yes I eyeball it!)

Scenario #2 focuses on the number of calories being burned (i.e. working out) or finding a way to make your metabolism work harder, faster and longer.

Some tricks include:
-eating 5-6 small meals daily, no more than 3-4 hours apart
-increasing your physical activity
-always including a carbohydrate and a protein together

Somewhere I heard a gasp...even bodybuilders eat CARBS; and while there are some benefits to a low carb diet, there is a saying in the world of biochemistry that I fondly recall from medical school "Fat burns in the flames of carbohydrates."

But what else can you do, especially if you have a lot of weight to lose and you're already doing the above recommendations?

1. alli:

This is indeed the only FDA approved, over-the-counter weight loss product. According to studies this product has been shown to aid in weight loss. But how? The following was taken directly from their site:

"The active ingredient in alli attaches to some of the natural enzymes in the digestive system, preventing them from breaking down about a quarter of the fat you eat. Undigested fat cannot be absorbed and passes through the body naturally. The excess fat is not harmful. In fact, you may recognize it in the toilet as something that looks like the oil on top of a pizza."

But here's the down side, again taken directly from the alli site:

"Because of the way in which alli works, eating meals with too much fat may cause side effects known as treatment effects...

...You may get:
* gas with oily spotting
* loose stools
* more frequent stools that may be hard to control...

...Eating a low-fat diet lowers the chance of these bowel changes. Limit fat intake in your meals to an average of 15 grams."

(By the way, there's approximately 13 grams of fat in a small order of McDonald's fries.)

So let's recap the pros and cons:

Pros:
-"lose 50% more weight than dieting alone" (courtesy of alli site)
-decreased fat absorption
-lower BMI with decrease in health risks

Cons:
-decreased fat absorption (you need fat to take in the fat-soluble vitamins D,A,K, and E)
-"treatment effects" (i.e. loose stools, gas with oily spotting, and worse case scenario frequent, difficult to control stools)
-No effect on metabolism

2. Jen Fe Fat Loss Patch

This product has been available since 2002. It is a transdermal patch that you replace every 24 hours. Using a combination of all-natural ingredients labeled as "Generally Recognized As Safe" by the FDA, this patch has been clinically tested and proven to work. This is a safe way to boost your metabolism, increase your energy, and decrease your cravings.

Pros:
-It's a PATCH! (no pills or shakes)
-Easy to use
-Clinically tested in an independent, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that showed consistent results
-All-natural generally recognized as safe ingredients

Cons:
-Can't buy it in Walgreens
-Needs to be used for at least 60-90 days
-May cause skin irritation for those with sensitive skin

Check out Christina Perry . She lost 40 lbs wearing this patch (and to think she had her last baby at 40!)

I hope this lens was helpful.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions:

info@catrinawilkins.com

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