TheRapidFatLossDiet.com

Archive for December, 2010

infertilityhospital.blogspot.com

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is warning that obesity during pregnancy increases the risk of several complications, including high blood pressure, a serious condition called preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. The ACOG opinion, published in the September issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, says obese women also are more likely to miscarry, to need a Caesarean section, and to have excessive bleeding and infection after a Caesarean section. Babies of obese women are more likely to be stillborn, be born prematurely and have spinal cord abnormalities called neural tube defects. The risks affect women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30, and are even higher for women with a BMI of more than 30.

ACOG Issues Guidance to Ob-Gyns on Impact of Obesity During Pregnancy

Washington, DC–The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists(ACOG) today released its first committee opinion on obesity duringpregnancy, a paramount issue as one-third of adult women in the US areobese. The ACOG document, “Obesity in Pregnancy,” explains the knownrisks that obesity poses to pregnant women and their babies and ispublished in the September issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

“Obesity has become an epidemic,” says Gary D.V. Hankins, MD, chair ofACOG’s Committee on Obstetric Practice, which developed the document.”At this point, 49% of non-Hispanic black women are obese, 38% ofMexican-American women are obese, and 31% of non-Hispanic white womenare. And, everything we do in obstetrics is made more difficult and morecomplex by obesity*from using external monitors to performing surgery.”

According to ACOG, some studies show that obesity is an independent riskfactor for miscarriage among women who undergo fertility treatment. Dataalso links obesity to miscarriage in women who conceived naturally.Obesity has been linked to an increased risk of gestationalhypertension, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes. And the higherthe body mass index (BMI) a woman has, the higher the chance she willneed a cesarean.

Other studies show that obese women have more complications during andafter cesarean surgery, including excessive blood loss, operating timegreater than two hours, and wound infection. Surgery in obese womenalso poses anesthetic challenges, among them difficult epiduralplacement and respiratory problems from difficult intubation.

Elevated risks to the babies of obese women include stillbirth,prematurity, macrosomia (large for gestational age), neural tubedefects, and higher rates of childhood obesity.

“A lot of ob-gyns don’t bring up weight with patients,” says Laura E.Riley, MD, immediate past chair of ACOG’s Committee on ObstetricPractice. “We’re hoping to open the dialogue between patient andphysician, so that patients come to understand that maintaining ahealthy weight isn’t just about how you look, but that it also has realmedical implications.”

Vivian M. Dickerson, MD, immediate past president of ACOG, emphasizesthat the time to begin frank discussions about weight is before apregnancy is achieved. “In preconception visits, we talk to patientsabout genetic risks and immunity to rubella, but rarely do we discusstheir weight or diet and exercise,” Dr. Dickerson says. “But optimizingyour weight before conception is one of the most important things youcan do to have a healthy baby.”

ACOG makes the following recommendations for ob-gyns dealing with obesepatients:

Explain to patients the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendationsfor prenatal weight gain: 25-35 lbs. for women of normal weight, 15-25lbs. for overweight women, and 15 lbs. for obese women.
Record height and weight for all women at the initial prenatal visitto allow BMI calculation.
Offer nutrition consultation to all obese women and encourage them to follow an exercise program. This should be continued after the baby isborn and prior to attempting another pregnancy.
Consider screening obese pregnant women for gestational diabetesduring the first trimester and repeating it later in pregnancy if initialscreening is negative.
Discuss potential pregnancy complications such as difficultyestimating fetal weight and obtaining fetal heart rate.
- Suggest that patients consult with an anesthesiologist prior todelivery or at the very latest, early in labor because they are at high risk for emergency cesareans.

To battle obesity, more people are turning to bariatric surgery. But asa result of the surgery, many patients who later become pregnant may seea host of complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia,intrauterine growth restriction, prematurity, and neural tube defects.The surgery can also lead to deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, folate,and calcium. On the other hand, pregnancies following bariatric surgeryare often less likely to be complicated by gestational diabetes,hypertension, macrosomia (large babies), and cesarean delivery.

“Because we’re just beginning to learn what the risks and upsides mightbe, it’s a balancing act for doctors and patients,” said Dr. Dickerson.”Patients need to proceed with caution because we really haven’t hadenough experience yet with this to make solid conclusions.”

ACOG’s recommendations for obese patients who are pregnant or planningto conceive include having a preconception consultation and weight-losscounseling, seeking information on the risks of obesity and pregnancy,and continuing nutritional counseling and exercise programs afterdelivery.

What Is The Doctor’s Reaction?

During most pregnancies, everything goes well.

But up to 25% of pregnancies are not routine. Some problems are minor and have no long-lasting effects; others, such as premature labor and maternal hypertension (high blood pressure) can endanger the life of the mother, the baby or both. Current screening and monitoring procedures are useful, but doctors still cannot predict or prevent every complication of pregnancy.

A report released today links a number of pregnancy-related problems to a single, preventable condition: excess weight. The risk of trouble during pregnancy is increased among women who are overweight (body mass index, or BMI, of 25 to 30) compared with women who are not; and the risks are even greater among women who are obese (BMI of 30 or greater).

Overweight and obese women face an increased risk of:

gestational hypertension (high blood pressure during pregnancy)
gestational diabetes (elevated blood sugar during pregnancy)
pre-eclampsia (leg swelling, high blood pressure and kidney disease) or eclampsia (similar symptoms as pre-eclampsia plus seizures or coma)
Cesarean section
excessive bleeding or infection following Cesarean section
miscarriage
delivering a baby with abnormalities in the spinal cord (called neural tube defects)
delivering a baby that is premature or stillborn
problems monitoring the health of the baby (such as detecting the fetal heart rate and estimating fetal size)

Studies also suggest that children of mothers who were obese during their pregnancy have a higher than average risk of childhood obesity.

Obstetricians and gynecologists are taking note, especially as the incidence of obesity is increasing. Experts are suggesting this important first step: talk about it. While doctors routinely discuss and recommend testing for a number of conditions around the time of pregnancy (including German Measles, HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis and gonorrhea), it is far less common for pregnant women and their doctors to focus on excess weight. These new guidelines aim to change that.

What Changes Can I Make Now?

Calculate your BMI and work hard to avoid excess weight. While it’s generally best to have a BMI under 25, it’s especially important to keep it less than 30. Talk with your doctors well before pregnancy about what you can do to lose those excess pounds. There is no one way that works for everyone, but most successful weight loss programs combine calorie restriction (including moderation of portion size) and exercise aiming for gradual, steady weight loss. If your weight is higher than ideal, ask your doctor about nutritional counseling and an exercise program that you can follow before, during and after pregnancy.

Regardless of your weight before pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy is expected and encouraged; however, for your health and for that of your baby, excessive weight gain should be avoided. According to current guidelines, the weight gain during a routine pregnancy should be between 25 and 35 pounds; however, overweight women should aim for a weight gain of 15 to 25 pounds and obese women should aim for a weight gain of 15 pounds.

Despite the risks associated with obesity during pregnancy, I would not recommend bariatric surgery (such as “gastric stapling”) for every obese woman who is considering pregnancy. While certain risks may be decrease with profound weight loss, others may increase (such as vitamin deficiencies or intestinal bleeding) we need more information about this approach before it can be routinely recommended.

What Can I Expect Looking To The Future?

Because the incidence of obesity is rising dramatically in this country, you can expect a dramatic increase in the number of women who become pregnant while overweight or obese. And that means you can expect a rising incidence of complicated pregnancies and deliveries. Increasing awareness regarding the impact of a woman’s weight on her pregnancy is an important first step, but only time will tell whether this awareness will translate into effective action.

You can expect researchers to study which programs work best to combat excess weight before pregnancy (including the option of bariatric surgery) and how best to handle complications that arise.

In the future, doctors will probably measure BMI more regularly for women who are planning pregnancy and will make their patients aware of the real risks associated with excess weight. It’s also likely that doctors will recommend more extensive screening for overweight and obese women who are pregnant so that problems are detected as early as possible. Finally, you can expect referrals for nutritional counseling and exercise programs to become a more routine part of obstetric practice.

Discover How You Can Treat Infertility Naturally, Without Drugs or Surgery

Weight loss testimonial: Hi my name is Edward and I lived a miserable life since I was thirteen years old when our family was torn apart by the divorce of my parents. The fact that I was no longer going to live with my Father again drove me into serious depression; I could no longer concentrate in my studies in school, I cold no longer see the value of live and I even contemplated suicide. My mum was always by my side to encourage me and my seven year old sister but that was not enough, the question I always asked her is why she had to separate with my Dad, the question I slept with and woke up with every single day.

This state of mental stress and depression caused me to gain a lot of weight since I was living in denial and the only way I would feel better was through eating, until I got to a point where all I could think about is food and the more I eat the more I gained weight. The situation was serious because I gained over sixty pounds in five months without me noticing it, my grades in school went from bad to worse to a point where my teachers became concerned and I had to be taken for counseling and physical fitness classes immediately.

Easy Weight Loss Blog:

As time went by the counseling and physical fitness classes did not bear much fruit because by the time I was eighteen weighing one hundred and ten pounds and at this point even walking almost became impossible. This affected my life in every way, I lost most of my friends and became the laughing stalk even little children teased me because it was evident I was unable to chase them, I could not get a date because girls could only stare at me in terror, at this point the solution was to stay away from people and be by my self, I had to find a solution, I tried weight loss pills, physical fitness exercises, green products, professional counseling but nothing on earth was working for me.

One morning while I was browsing the internet I came across this Easy Weight Loss Blog advert and I decided to go through it and see weather I could found something beneficial in it for me and wow it was amazing, In the blog there was a link to an awesome Weight loss website, In this site I learned Easy weight loss tips and weight loss tricks that enabled me to loose weight and body fat dramatically, I was loosing an average of twenty to twenty five pounds a month.

The Weight loss program literary changed my life, I now have a lean healthy body and my social life has improved greatly and this is the reason I have taken time to give you my story and if you are currently in the situation I was in, then know that there is still hope its not the end of the world for you, I have referred some of my friends to this site and it is just amazing. This is why I am telling people about this product because I have been in that horrible situation and I know how it feels. Please click this Weight loss link and get Guaranteed Weight Loss, Easy Weight Loss Tips, Simple Weightloss Tricks To Enable You Loose That Stubborn Belly Fat.

Obesity Surgery in India is offered with medical tourism in Asia. Medical Tourism India is a developing concept whereby people from world over visit India for their medical and relaxation needs. The reason India is a favorable destination for obesity surgery is because of its infrastructure and technology in which is in par with developed countries. India has some of the best hospitals and treatment centers in the world with the best facilities. We provide world class medical facilities with hospitals and specialized multi specialty health centers providing their expertise in the areas of Obesity Surgery in India. Ithas one of the best qualified professionals in each and every field, and this fact has now been realized the world over. Regarding Medical Facilities India has the most competent doctors and world class Medical Facilities.

Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person’s weight is greater than what’s considered healthy for his or her height. Obesity occurs over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might tip the balance include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods and not being physically active. Being obese increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and some cancers. If you are obese, losing even 5 to 10 percent of your weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breathing difficulty during sleep, certain type of cancer, osteoarthritis. Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive dietary calories, lack of physical activity, and genetic susceptibility. Evidence to support the view that some obese people eat little yet gain weight due to a slow metabolism is limited; on average obese people have a greater energy expenditure than their thin counterparts due to the energy required to maintain an increased body mass.

Classification of Obesity:

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health. It is defined by body mass index (BMI) and further evaluated in terms of fat distribution via the waist-hip ratio and total cardiovascular risk factors. BMI is closely related to both percentage body fat and total body fat. In children a healthy weight varies with age and sex. Obesity in children and adolescents is defined not as an absolute number but in relation to a historical normal group, such that obesity is a BMI greater than the 95th percentile. BMI is calculated by dividing the subject’s mass by the square of his or her height.

The health risks associated with Obesity:

Obesity is not just a cosmetic consideration; it is a dire health dilemma directly harmful to one’s health. In India, roughly 100,000 deaths per year are directly related to obesity, and more than 80% of these deaths are in patients with a BMI (body mass index, which will be discussed later in this article) over 30. For patients with a BMI over 40, life expectancy is reduces significantly (as much as 20 years for men and 5 years for women). Obesity also increases the risk of developing a number of chronic diseases including:

Insulin Resistance: Insulin is necessary for the transport of blood glucose (sugar) into the cells of muscle and fat (which is then used for energy). By transporting glucose into cells, insulin keeps the blood glucose levels in the normal range. Insulin resistance (IR) is the condition whereby the effectiveness of insulin in transporting glucose (sugar) into cells is diminished. Fat cells are more insulin resistant than muscle cells; therefore, one important cause of insulin resistance is obesity.
Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes: the risk of type 2 diabetes increases with the degree and duration of obesity. Type 2 diabetes is associated with central obesity; a person with central obesity has excess fat around his/her waist, so that the body is shaped like an apple.
High blood pressure (hypertension): Hypertension is common among obese adults. A Norwegian study showed that weight gain tended to increase blood pressure in women more significantly than in men. The risk of developing high blood pressure is also higher in obese people who are apple shaped (central obesity) than in people who are pear shaped (fat distribution mainly in hips and thighs).
High Cholesterol
Heart attack: A prospective study found that the risk of developing coronary artery disease increased three to four times in women who had a BMI greater than 29. A Finnish study showed that for every one kilogram (2.2 pounds) increase in body weight, the risk of death from coronary artery disease increased by one percent. In patients who have already had a heart attack, obesity is associated with an increased likelihood of a second heart attack.

Cause of Obesity:

The balance between calorie intake and energy expenditure determines a person’s weight. If a person eats more calories than he or she burns (metabolizes), the person gains weight (the body will store the excess energy as fat). If a person eats fewer calories than he or she metabolizes, he or she will lose weight. Therefore the most common causes of obesity are overeating and physical inactivity. At present, we know that there are many factors that contribute to obesity, some of which have a genetic component:

Genetics: A person is more likely to develop obesity if one or both parents are obese. Genetics also affect hormones involved in fat regulation. For example, one genetic cause of obesity is leptin deficiency. Leptin is a hormone produced in fat cells, and also in the placenta. Leptin controls weight by signaling the brain to eat less when body fat stores are too high. If, for some reason the body cannot produce enough leptin, or leptin cannot signal the brain to eat less, this control is lost, and obesity occurs. The role of leptin replacement as a treatment for obesity is currently being explored.
Overeating: Overeating leads to weight gain, especially if the diet is high in fat. Foods high in fat or sugar (for example, fast food, fried food, and sweets) have high energy density (foods that have a lot of calories in a small amount of food). Epidemiologic studies have shown that diets high in fat contribute to weight gain.
Physical inactivity: Sedentary people burn fewer calories than people who are active. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) showed that physical inactivity was strongly correlated with weight gain in both sexes.

Well experienced obesity treatment experts provide obesity surgery in India to foreign nationals with modern medical treatment protocols. Every year thousand of visitors are coming to India from around the world just for the medical check up and other type of surgery related to Bone or liver or others diseases. Many countries have developed links for speedy treatments in India for their nationals on account of the fact that in these countries one has to wait for extended periods of time to undergo operations. For more information on Obesity Surgery in India, please log on to: www.forerunnershealthcare.com or mail your queries at enquiry@forerunnershealthcare.com or call us at: +91-9371136499

Incoming search terms:

• medical treatment for obesity

The BMI is a statistical measurement derived from your height and weight. Although it is considered to be a useful way to estimate healthy body weight, it does not measure the percentage of body fat. The BMI measurement can sometimes be misleading – a muscleman may have a high BMI but have much less fat than an unfit person whose BMI is lower. However, in general, the BMI measurement can be a useful indicator for the ‘average person’
What is Obesity?

An obese person has accumulated so much body fat that it might have a negative effect on their health. If a person’s bodyweight is at least 20% higher than it should be, he or she is considered obese. If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 25 and 29.9 you are considered overweight. If your BMI is 30 or over you are considered obese.

People become obese for several reasons, including:

Consuming too many calories.
People are eating much more than they used to. This used to be the case just in developed nations – however, the trend has spread worldwide. Despite billions of dollars being spent on public awareness campaigns that attempt to encourage people to eat healthily, the majority of us continue to overeat. In 1980 14% of the adult population of the USA was obese; by 2000 the figure reached 31% (The Obesity Society).

In the USA, the consumption of calories increased from 1,542 per day for women in 1971 to 1,877 per day in 2004. The figures for men were 2,450 in 1971 and 2,618 in 2004. Most people would expect this increase in calories to consist of fat – not so! Most of the increased food consumption has consisted of carbohydrates (sugars). Increased consumption of sweetened drinks has contributed significantly to the raised carbohydrate intake of most young American adults over the last three decades. The consumption of fast-foods has tripled over the same period.

Various other factors also may have contributed to America’s increased calorie and carbohydrate intake:

In 1984 the Reagan administration freed up advertising on sweets and fast foods for children – regulations had previously set limits.
Agricultural policies in most of the developed world have led to much cheaper foods.
The US Farm Bill meant that the source of processed foods came from subsidized wheat, corn and rice. Corn, wheat and rice became much cheaper than fruit and vegetables.

Leading a sedentary lifestyle.
With the arrival of televisions, computers, video games, remote controls, washing machines, dish washers and other modern convenience devices, the majority of people are leading a much more sedentary lifestyle compared to their parents and grandparents. Some decades ago shopping consisted of walking down the road to the high street where one could find the grocers, bakers, banks, etc. As large out-of-town supermarkets and shopping malls started to appear, people moved from using their feet to driving their cars to get their provisions. In some countries, such as the USA, dependence on the car has become so strong that many people will drive even if their destination is only half-a-mile away.

The less you move around the fewer calories you burn. However, this is not only a question of calories. Physical activity has an effect on how your hormones work, and hormones have an effect on how your body deals with food. Several studies have shown that physical activity has a beneficial effect on your insulin levels – keeping them stable. Unstable insulin levels are closely associated with weight gain.

Not sleeping enough.
If you do not sleep enough your risk of becoming obese doubles, according to research carried out at Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick. The risk applies to both adults and children. Professor Francesco Cappuccio and team reviewed evidence in over 28,000 children and 15,000 adults. Their evidence clearly showed that sleep deprivation significantly increased obesity risk in both groups.

Professor Cappuccio said, “The ‘epidemic’ of obesity is paralleled by a ‘silent epidemic’ of reduced sleep duration with short sleep duration linked to increased risk of obesity both in adults and in children. These trends are detectable in adults as well as in children as young as 5 years.”
Professor Cappuccio explains that sleep deprivation may lead to obesity through increased appetite as a result of hormonal changes. If you do not sleep enough you produce Ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite. Lack of sleep also results in your body producing less Leptin, a hormone that suppresses appetite.

Endocrine disruptors, such as some foods that interfere with lipid metabolism.
A team from the University of Barcelona (UB) led by Dr Juan Carlos Laguna published a study in the journal Hepatology that provides clues to the molecular mechanism through which fructose (a type of sugar) in beverages may alter lipid energy metabolism and cause fatty liver and metabolic syndrome.

Fructose is mainly metabolized in the liver, the target organ of the metabolic alterations caused by the consumption of this sugar. In this study, rats receiving fructose-containing beverages presented a pathology similar to metabolic syndrome, which in the short term causes lipid accumulation (hypertriglyceridemia) and fatty liver, and eventually leads to hypertension, resistance to insulin, diabetes and obesity.

Lower rates of smoking (smoking suppresses appetite).
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) “Not everyone gains weight when they stop smoking. Among people who do, the average weight gain is between 6 and 8 pounds. Roughly 10 percent of people who stop smoking gain a large amount of weight – 30 pounds or more.”

Medications that make patients put on weight.
According to an article in Annals of Pharmacotherapy, some medications cause weight gain. “Clinically significant weight gain is associated with some commonly prescribed medicines. There is wide interindividual variation in response and variation of the degree of weight gain within drug classes. Where possible, alternative therapy should be selected, especially for individuals predisposed to overweight and obesity.”

Obesity treatments have two objectives:

To achieve a healthy weight.
To maintain that healthy weight.

People who are obese are often discouraged because they think they have to lose a lot of weight before any benefits are experienced. This is not true. Any obese person who loses just five to ten per cent of their body weight will have significant improvement in health – this would mean between 12-25 pounds for an obese person who weighs 250 pounds.

It is important for patients to realize that a small drop in weight is a good start and a great achievement. Experts have found that obese people who lose weight slowly and constantly, say one or two pounds each week, are more successful in keeping their weight down when they have reached their target weight.

According to the Mayo Clinic, successful and permanent weight loss is best achieved as a result of increased physical activity, changing how and when you eat, and modifying your behavior. Some patients may be prescribed medication, while others might undergo weight-loss surgery.

Dietary changes

The Mayo Clinic advises obese people to reduce their total daily calorie intake and to consume more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It is important that your diet is varied – you still need to feed yourself, and should continue to enjoy the tastes of different foods. The consumption of sugar, certain refined carbohydrates and some fats should be reduced significantly.

Ideally, you should work with your doctor, a dietician, and/or a well-known weight-loss program.

Trying to lose weight quickly by crash-dieting carries the following risks:

You may develop health problems
You will probably experience vitamin deficiencies
You chances of failure are significantly higher

People who are seriously obese may be prescribed a very low calorie liquid diet. These must be done with a health care professional.

Physical activityhe more you move your body the more calories you burn. To lose a kilogram of fat you need to burn 8,000 calories (1 pound of fat = 3,500 calories). Walking briskly is a good way to start increasing your physical activity if you are obese. Combining increased physical activity with a good diet will significantly increase your chances of losing weight successfully and permanently!

If you are very obese, are unfit, or have some health problems, make sure you check with a health care professional before increasing your physical activity.

Prescription:

Prescription medications should really only be considered as a last resort. If the patient finds it extremely hard to shed the pounds, or if his obesity has reached such a point as to significantly undermine his health, then prescription drugs may become an option.

According to the Mayo Clinic prescription medications should only be considered if:

Other strategies to lose weight have failed
The patient’s BMI is over 27 and he also has diabetes, hypertension, or sleep apnea.
The patient’s BMI is over 30

There are two approved drugs a physician may consider, Sibutramine (Meridia in USA/Canada, Reductil in Europe and much of the world) or Orlistat (Xenical). Bear in mind that as soon as you stop taking these drugs the overweight problem generally comes back – they have to be taken indefinitely. Some patients may not respond to these drugs, while others may find their beneficial effects may lessen somewhat after a few months.

Weight loss surgery (WLS) is also known as Bariatric Surgery. It comes from the Greek work baros, which means weight.

WLS is a development of cancer/ulcer operations that consisted of removing part of a patient’s stomach or small intestine. Those cancer/ulcer patients subsequently lost weight after surgery. Doctors decided the procedure might be beneficial for morbidly obese patients.

In 2008 about 220,000 bariatric operations were carried out in the USA (American Society for Bariatric Surgery). As obesity levels in America and many other parts of the world grow, so does the number of bariatric procedures. About 15 million people in the U.S. have morbid obesity; only 1% of the clinically eligible population is being treated for morbid obesity through bariatric surgery. According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, the average female surgery patient weighs about 300 pounds.

The American Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery says that Bariatric surgery can improve or resolve more than 30 obesity-related conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, hypertension and high cholesterol .

Basically, bariatric surgery alters your stomach or small intestine so that you are unable to consume much food in one sitting. This reduces the total number of calories you consume each day, thus helping to lose weight.

There are two types of bariatric surgeries:

Restrictive procedures - These make your stomach smaller. The surgeon may use a gastric band, staples, or both. After the operation the patient cannot consume more than about one cup of food during each sitting, significantly reducing his food intake. Over time, some patients’ stomachs may stretch and they are gradually able to consumer larger quantities.
Malabsorptive procedures - Parts of the digestive system, especially the first part of the small intestine (duodenum) or the mid-section (jejunum), are bypassed. Doctors may also reduce the size of the stomach. This procedure is generally more effective than restrictive procedures. However, the patient has a higher risk of experiencing vitamin/mineral deficiencies because overall absorption is reduced.

Health risks associated with obesity:

Bone and cartilage degeneration (Osteoarthritis)
Obesity is an important risk factor for osteoarthritis in most joints, especially at the knee joint (the most important site for osteoarthritis). Obesity confers a nine times increased risk in knee joint osteoarthritis in women. Osteoarthritis risk is also linked to obesity for other joints. A recent study indicated that obesity is a strong determinant of thumb base osteoarthritis in both sexes. Data suggest that metabolic and mechanical factors mediate the effects of obesity on joints (University of Bristol).
Coronary heart disease
Obesity carries a penalty of an associated adverse cardiovascular risk profile. Largely as a consequence of this, it is associated with an excess occurrence of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. (Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee)
Gallbladder disease
Being overweight is a significant risk factor for gallstones. In such cases, the liver over-produces cholesterol, which is then delivered into the bile causing it to become supersaturated. Some evidence suggests that specific dietary factors (saturated fats and refined sugars) are the primary culprit in these cases (University of Maryland Medical Center)
High blood pressure (Hypertension)
There are multiple reasons why obesity causes hypertension, but it seems that excess adipose (fat) tissue secretes substances that are acted on by the kidneys, resulting in hypertension. Moreover, with obesity there are generally higher amounts of insulin produced. Excess insulin elevates blood pressure. (Weight.com)
High total cholesterol, high levels of triglycerides (Dyslipidemia)
The primary dyslipidemia related to obesity is characterized by increased triglycerides, decreased HDL levels, and abnormal LDL composition. (Howard BV, Ruotolo G, Robbins DC.)
Respiratory problems
Obesity can also cause respiratory problems. Breathing is difficult as the lungs are decreased in size and the chest wall becomes very heavy and difficult to lift. (Medical College of Wisconsin)
Several cancers
In 2002, approximately 41,000 new cases of cancer in the USA were thought to be due to obesity. In other words, about 3.2% of all new cancers are linked to obesity
Sleep apnea
Obesity has been found to be linked to sleep apnea. Also, weight reduction has been associated with comparable reductions in the severity of sleep apnea. (NHLBI)
Stroke
Rising obesity rates have been linked to more strokes among women aged 35 to 54.
Type 2 diabetes
One of the strongest risk factors for type 2 diabetes is obesity, and this is also one of the most modifiable as it can be partially controlled through diet and exercise.

According to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of health and healing, the Kapha Dosha (humour) is primarily responsible for fat and adipose tissue in the body and therefore reducing Kapaha is the key to a successful weight loss program. Below you will find some effective tips from ayurveda to help reduce Kapha Dosha and thus battle obesity and being overweight.

Of the four dimensions of our being, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, in this article I will cover the Physical Dimension which is most important for the reduction of Kapha and the correlating reduction in weight.

Weight Loss Tips from Ayurveda:

1. Ayurvedic Diet for Weight Loss:

Obviously an anti-kapha diet is the place to start when looking to lose weight. This means eating lots of fruits, vegetables, spicy foods and whole grains.

2. Exercise for Weight Loss:

The following Ayurvedic guidelines should be followed for proper exercise with regard to weight loss:

* More Exercise the Better: Kapha’s qualities of fixed, dull, heavy, soft and cold are all negated via exercise. In other words, the more exercise you do the more you reduce Kapha and therefore fat in your body.

* Exercise Without Excessive Strain: According to Ayurveda, Kapha individuals need the most vigorous exercise, but at the same time, the exercise should never be extreme. Find a good balance between doing too little and over doing it. Breaking a nice sweat is good, but being totally breathless is probably too much.

* Be Consistent: A Kapha body type has a propensity towards weight gain so you need to make exercise a daily part of you life. The hardest part will be to get the exercise program underway. Once this is done Kapha people tend to be very determined and steady, so they will be able to adhere to it long term. Getting started though is another matter for Kapha types and usually requires shock treatment. In the spirit of shock treatment, understand that by NOT exercising and NOT losing the weight you are putting your longevity and quality of life at risk. Enough said, start today!

* Yoga for Weight Loss: Yoga offers an excellent way to include holistic exercises into your fitness program. These exercises will not just help you lose weight, but will also help your overall health and well-being.

* Post Exercise Diet: After exercises do not drink cold liquids. This period is key as you are trying to increase the metabolic fire in your cells so they burn more calories and drinking cold liquids at this time will negate this important benefit which exercise bestows.

3. Hard Physical Work to Burn Calories:

According to Ayurveda reduction of Kapha is promoted by living a physical, active lifestyle. In today’s age of technology, computers, TVs, TiVO, internet, etc, manual labor is getting more rare for people to do. So you need to consciously incorporate physical work into your life. Whether that be mowing the lawn, tending to the garden or shoveling snow, it is important to not live a sedentary live of watching TV and eating twinkies.

4. Massage Therapy to Reduce Fat:

There are many treatment modalities in Ayurveda of which massage is highly recommended. In the context of weight loss and reducing Kapha, strong massage with light oils such as mustard or flaxseed is helpful.

5. Sleep Guidelines for Weight Loss:

No napping or going to bed early. If you want to reduce Kapha and weight remember you burn more calories when you are awake and being active, than when you are happily snuggled under the blanket.

The above recommendations will surely help you with your weight loss goals and in addition to helping you get slim, they will also make you more healthy and fit.