Obesity

Obesity is defined as a state of being more than 20 percent above normal weight, or having a body fat percentage greater than 30 percent for women and 25 percent for men.

Signs and Symptoms:

Obesity is divided into several categories based on how the fat is distributed in the body. Fat primarily distributed around the waist is referred to as male-pattern or android obesity, since it is typically seen in obese males. In android obesity, the waist is bigger around than the hips (apple-shaped). In gynecoid obesity, the hips are larger (pear-shaped). Android obesity carries with it a greater risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, while gynecoid obesity increases the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast cancer

Causes:

Theories of the underlying causes of obesity are tied to brain serotonin levels, diet-induced thermogenesis and the inner workings of fat cells. All of these models support the notion that obesity is not just a matter of overeating. They explain why some people can eat large quantities of food and not increase their weight substantially, while for others just the reverse is true. For example, a certain amount of the food we consume is converted immediately to heat. This is known as diet-induced thermogenesis (heat production). There is evidence that the level of diet-induced thermogenesis is what determines whether an individual is likely to be overweight. In lean individuals, a meal may stimulate up to a 40 percent increase in heat production. In contras, overweight individuals often display only a 10 percent or less increase in heat production. The food energy is stored as fat instead of being converted to heat.

Dietary Factors:

There are literally hundreds of diets and diet programs that claim to be the answer to obesity. However, the basic equation for losing weight never changes. In order for an individual to lose weight, energy intake must be less than energy expenditure. This goal can be achieved by decreasing caloric intake (dieting) or by increasing the rate at which calories are burned (exercising) most individuals will begin to lose weight if they decrease their caloric intake below 1500 calories per day and do aerobic exercise for fifteen to twenty minutes three to four times per week. Starvation and crash diets usually result in rapid weight loss (largely muscle and water) but cause rebound weight gain. The most successful approach to weight loss is gradual weight reduction (1/2 to 1 pound per week) through adopting long-term dietary and lifestyle modifications.

Conventional Drugs:

• Appetite suppressants: benzophetamine (Didrex); dexfenfluramine (Redux); fenfluramine (Pondimin); mazindol (Sanorex); phentermine resin (Lonamin)

• Fat absorption blocking agents: orlistat (Xenical)

• Stimulants: dextramphetamine sulfate (Dexedrine); Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)

Natural Medicines:

• Bitter orange

Effectiveness =C Safety = C

• Cayenne pepper

Effectiveness = B+ Safety = A

• Chitosan

Effectiveness = B- Safety = B

• Chromium

Effectiveness = B- Safety = B

• Conenzyme Q10

Effectiveness = B Safety = A

• Ephedrine-caffeine combinations

Effectiveness = A Safety = D

• Fiber

Effectiveness = A Safety = A

• Garncinia

Effectiveness = D Safety = B

• Pyruvate

Effectiveness = B Safety = B

• Spirulina

Effectiveness = B Safety = C
Aron Bryant, www.naturalwire.com. Natural Remedies for over 70 Common Health Conditions