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There are
many physical factors that contribute to obesity cited in the research
literature. Listed in Table One are most of the important ones. It’s quite
clear that a far greater percentage of the obese population in America
suffer their obese condition as a result of the final factor
(Socio-Cultural / Environmental) as opposed to the more medically oriented
ones. America is the only country on earth with an obesity problem of
epidemic proportions. Yet, the factors listed in Table One are probably no
different for the world than what exists in this country.
TABLE ONE: FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO OBESITY
Excessive Stimulation of
Appetite Center
Adipose Cell Hyperplasia
Hyperlipidogenesis
(Increased Lipoprotein Lipase activity)
Lesions
Decreased Lipid
Metabolism
Decreased Lipolytic
Hormones
Defective Adipose Cell
Lipolysis
Abnormality in Autoimmune
Innervation
Decreased Lipid
Utilization
Aging
Defective Oxidation of
Fats
Defective Thermogenesis
Inactivity
Under-exercising
Genetic Predisposition
Endocrine and Metabolic
Disturbances
Cushing's Syndrome
Gallbladder Disease
Diabetes Mellitus
Hypertension
Thyroid Disorders
Thrombosis
Kidney Disorders
Frohlich's Syndrome
Socio-Cultural /
Environmental
Stress
Poverty (poor diet)
Emotional Disturbances
Childbirth
Temperature
Now, having said this, I
will ask a very important question:
WHAT IS SO
DIFFERENT ABOUT WHAT GOES ON HERE IN THE USA AS COMPARED
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD?
I have given this
question a lot of thought lately. Here are a few pertinent points to
ponder.
- Food is FAR cheaper
here
- No one walks or
bikes anywhere
- People eat prepared,
processed food here
- Marketing forces are
powerful (the world has far fewer TV ads)
- Kids and women
pretty much run the family
Now, there are many other
factors that ought to be considered as well.
- This country,
perhaps more than most, is so spread out that walking or biking are
not practical modes of transportation.
- With most women
working nowadays, cooking real food from scratch has become
impractical.
- Related to the
working woman issue is the fact that eating 5-6 small meals has become
impractical.
- The prevalence of
sugar-laden soft drinks (which are also often caffeine-laden) in this
country, coupled with the declining quality of our water supply, has
made soda the drink of choice.
The hard line approach to
all this would be to say, "So what! Do something about it! You are
responsible for your own obesity! Stop eating so much junk food and get to
the gym!"
Ugh! So many people
believe this! Yet so few have the wherewithal to begin. And, when they do
begin, they fail more often than not! One solution out of many, many that
I could list is to begin when you’re READY to begin!
According to a recent
study of more than 3,000 people followed for three decades, yo-yo dieting
-- losing weight and gaining back all or more of it -- can double the risk
of developing and dying of heart disease. who directed the study, says too
many people rush into diets under circumstances that make lasting success
unlikely. Dr. Kelly D. Brownell, a weight-control specialist at Yale
University, devised the following test to help dieters assess whether the
time is right to try to lose weight.*
Goals and
Attitudes:
1. Compared with previous
attempts, how motivated to lose weight are you this time?
1 not at
all
2 slightly
3 somewhat
4 quite
5
extremely
2. How certain are you
that you will stay committed to a weight loss program for the time it will
take to reach your goal?
1 not at
all
2 slightly
3 somewhat
4 quite
5
extremely
3. Consider all outside
stress in your life (work, family obligations, etc.) To what extent can
you tolerate the effort required to stick to a diet?
1 cannot
2 can
somewhat
3
uncertain
4 can tolerate
well
5 can
easily
4. Think honestly about
how much weight you hope to lose and how quickly you hope to lose it.
Figuring a weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week, how realistic is your
expectation?
1 very
unrealistic
2 somewhat
unrealistic
3 moderately
unrealistic
4 somewhat
realistic
5 very
realistic
5. While dieting, do you
fantasize about eating a lot of your favorite foods?
1 always
2
frequently
3
occasionally
4 rarely
5
never
6. While dieting, do you
feel deprived, angry or upset?
1 always
2
frequently
3
occasionally
4 rarely
5
never
If you scored: 6 to 16,
it is not a good time to diet; inadequate motivation and commitment and
unrealistic goals can get in your way; 17 to 23, think about ways to boost
your diet readiness before you begin, 24 to 30, your path is
clear.
Hunger
Cues:
7. When food is
mentioned, do you want to eat even if not hungry?
1 never
2 rarely
3
occasionally
4
frequently
5
always
8. Do you have trouble
controlling your eating when your favorite foods are around the
house?
1 never
2 rarely
3
occasionally
4
frequently
5
always
9. How often do you eat
because of physical hunger?
1 always
2
frequently
3
occasionally
4 rarely
5
never
If you scored: 3 to 6,
try to control the attitudes that occasionally make you overeat; 7 to 9,
dieting will be easier if you try to resist external cues and eat only
when you are physically hungry.
Control
Overeating:
10. Although you planned
to skip lunch, you are talked into going out to eat.
1 if you would eat
much less
2 if you would eat
somewhat less
3 if it would make no
difference
4 if you would eat
somewhat more
5 if you would eat
much more:
11. You go off your diet
by eating a fattening, forbidden food.
1 if you would eat
much less
2 if you would eat
somewhat less
3 if it would make no
difference
4 if you would eat
somewhat more
5 if you would eat
much more:
12. After faithfully
following your diet you decide to test yourself by eating a
"treat."
1 if you would eat
much less
2 if you would eat
somewhat less
3 if it would make no
difference
4 if you would eat
somewhat more
5 if you would eat
much more:
If you scored: 3 to 7,
you recover rapidly from mistakes, but should get professional help if you
often alternate between strict dieting and eating out of control; 8 to 11,
you have a flexible, balanced program that is not disrupted by unplanned
eating; 12 to 15, your reaction to problem-causing eating events can be
improved.
Bingeing and
Purging:
13. Have you ever eaten
lots of food rapidly and felt the eating was excessive and out of
control?
2 yes
0
no.
14. If yes, how often
over the past year?
1 for less than once
a month
2 about once a
month
3 a few times a
month
4 about once a
week
5 about 3 times a
week
6
daily
15. Have you ever purges
to control your weight by using laxatives, diuretics or induced
vomiting?
5 yes
0
no.
16. If yes, how often
during the past year?
1 less than once a
month
2 about once a
month
3 a few times a
month
4 about once a
week
5 about 3 times a
week
6
daily.
If you scored: 0 to 1,
binge eating and purging are not your problem; 2 to 11, get professional
help if these eating patterns arise more often; 12 to 19, your potentially
serious eating problem needs immediate professional
attention.
Emotional
Eating:
17. Do you overeat when
you feel anxious, depressed, angry or lonely?
1 never
2 rarely
3
occasionally
4
frequently
5
always
18. Do you celebrate
feeling good by overeating?
1 never
2 rarely
3
occasionally
4
frequently
5
always
19. When things don't go
well with others or on your job, do you eat more than you would
like?
1 never
2 rarely
3
occasionally
4
frequently
5
always
If you scored: 3 to 8,
you don't seem to let emotions affect your eating; 9 to 11, monitor your
occasional tendency to eat in response to emotional highs and lows and
find alternative activities; 12 to 15, you need to find other ways than
eating express your feelings.
Exercise:
20. How often do you
exercise?
1 never
2 rarely
3
occasionally
4 somewhat
5
frequently
21. How confident are you
that you can exercise regularly?
1 not at
all
2 slightly
3 somewhat
4 highly
5
completely
22. Do you have a
negative or positive picture about exercise in your mind?
1 completely
negative
2 somewhat
negative
3 neutral
4 somewhat
positive
5 completely
positive
23. How sure are you that
you can work regular exercise into your daily schedule?
1 not at
all
2 slightly
3 somewhat
4 quite
5
extremely
If you scored: 4 to 10,
change attitudes that are blocking your way to regular exercise; 11 to 16,
to feel more positive about exercise, think of ways that are fun and fit
your lifestyle; 17 to 20, your path is clear to a more active
life.
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