The following article is an excerpt from the book, PREPARING CHILDREN FOR THE FUTURE.
A free copy of the e-book can be requested by email, AskDrMel@yahoo.com
The article is directed to adolescents and young adults as well as their parents.
Overview – Importance of Weight Control. Diets discussed. Obesity and Disease.
Weight Control: Obesity has become a serious national health problem. The consequences are dire. Increased heart disease, diabetes and many other medical conditions are directly related to excessive fat tissue. Despite nutrition-fact labels, the upward trend of weight gain continues. Numerous diets are advertised to curb obesity and promote health. Low fat, low protein, low carbohydrate, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan are just a few of the more popular diets that are in vogue today. If most diets are properly adhered to, weight loss will be successful. If fewer calories are ingested, weight loss has to occur.
However, in many cases, once the diet is stopped, excessive weight quickly returns. The trick of preventing weight from getting out of control is to monitor how heavy you are. Weigh yourself at least two to three times a week. If you see that you’ve gained too much, cut down on the quantity of food ingested and avoid carbohydrates, such as bread and pasta. Your success will depend on your will power to avoid excessive food intake and your motivation to lose weight. It may take several days for the body to adjust to a diet lower in calories. Patience is important. If you feel hungry, drink plenty of water and eat snacks low in calories and high in volume, such as popcorn. If you are not achieving your weight loss goals and have doubts or questions about the diet, talk to your medical professional.
There is no one diet for everyone. Special diets are needed for people with specific needs. Celiac Disease sufferers cannot take gluten; a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye. Many cardiac patients are told to avoid cholesterol, and are advised to follow a low fat diet and, in extreme cases, a vegan diet, which has no ingested cholesterol. A vegetarian diet avoids all animal products, but permits eggs and milk products.
A vegan diet does not permit any animal products or foods that are derived from animals. Therefore, even honey is forbidden on a vegan diet as it is a by-product of an insect. I personally have chosen a vegan diet because of medical reasons and I think it is important that if you choose a specific diet, you must be able to justify that diet in your own mind and keep reminding yourself of its necessity. I recommend that all confer with physicians or dietitians as to the appropriateness of any particular diet.
If you truly believe that the weight loss is important for your health, then the diet will be easier to follow. However, research the pros and cons of each diet, know its limitation and potential harmful effects. For example, vegan diets are low in vitamin B12, a nutrient necessary for the formation of proper red blood cells. With the advice of your physician, the correct amount of Vitamin B tablets must be taken with a vegan diet.
More by Dr. Mel: Friends And Foes http://bit.ly/2MR8Oq0
Exercise
Exercise is vital for the health and well-being of your body and will help you in weight management. Muscle movement, joint mobility, bone strength as well as cardiac tissue are improved with proper exercise. The amount of exercise that you do will depend on your age, underlying medical conditions, physical handicaps and exercise tolerance. Seek medical advice on types of exercises that you should perform as well as time constraints if you are suffering from any medical malady. Your goal in doing exercise is to build up stamina and muscle strength and to help with diet management.
Diabetes
Diabetes is an abnormality in controlling the sugar levels in the blood and can be associated with many side effects. Heredity plays a major role, but many other factors contribute to the expression of this chronic condition. Most experts recommend that sugar intake be limited even before the onset of the disease and especially if there is a family history. Unfortunately, many foods have added sugars and may be camouflaged as corn syrup, sucrose, maltose, etc. Read labels and research the item if you are not sure of what it is composed.
Heart disease
Cardiac diseases are very common in this country and heart attacks are a major cause of death. High levels of blood lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides levels have been associated with many cases of heart attacks and strokes. For those with a strong family history of cardiac disease or abnormal laboratory cardiac blood tests, close monitoring by your physician is recommended. Medications and proper diet appear to lower these blood chemicals and help manage associated medical problems. Reduction of stress, proper nutrition and exercise will help reduce heart disease and stroke fatalities.