Obesity Epidemic

by Brian Chan, B. Sc. (Nutrition) USA

The obesity epidemic is sweeping over the entire world at an alarming rate. The scariest thing is that most people don’t realize why or how this is happening – and many aren’t aware that it is happening at all.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement which compares weight and height (kg/m2), and defines people as overweight (pre-obese) when their BMI is between 25kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2, and obese when it is greater than 30 kg/m2. Statistics from the World Health Organization show rising levels of overweight and obesity cases in countries across the globe. In fact, obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion adults overweight – at least 300 million of them clinically obese. This phenomenon is not just in developed countries, but in developing and emerging nations at a much faster, more alarming rate.

Childhood obesity is already epidemic in some areas and on the rise in others. An estimated 22 million children under five are overweight worldwide. In fact, the fastest growing age group for obesity today is in children under 2 years of age.

Do you know that the number of fat cells in your body is determined during childhood and remains the same for the rest of your life? They only shrink or expand when weight is lost or gained during adulthood.

Research has shown that those who develop obesity at such young ages find it extremely difficult to lose weight later in life, as their body might have developed as much as 3 times the normal amount of fat cells found in the body.

Let’s look at some statistics closer to home. Studies have shown that Singaporeans and Malaysians have 5% – 6% more body fat than European Caucasians of the same age and same BMI.

“We noticed that although Singaporeans are less obese compared to people of (other) developed countries, our heart disease trend is similar to theirs," says Mabel Yap, head of research and information at the Singapore government’s Health Promotion Board.

This is alarming that we Asians could possibly suffer the bad health effects of obesity even at lower body weight or BMI levels.

Obesity, or the state of being overweight, is a disease. But one that is much overlooked and disregarded.

It’s almost as if society isn’t willing to acknowledge its presence or the many harms it can and has been proven to cause. Maybe this is because there is absolutely NO medical cure for obesity.

Some of the health risks associated with obesity include:

• Increased risk of premature death
• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Certain Cancers
• Fatty Liver Disease
• Chronic Venous Insufficiency (lack of blood flow to the extremities)
• Breathing Problems
• Arthritis
• Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism

So what causes obesity? Many people have the misconception that obesity is caused by the amount of "fat" you eat. This is partly true, but does not provide a full picture.

There are 2 main lifestyle factors that contribute to weight gain –

1. excessive caloric intake
2. a lack of physical activity.

It’s really that simple.

We are putting on weight because we’re eating too much (of everything, not just "fats") and not getting enough physical exercise.

Simple as it seems, these 2 issues are not easy to fix. Factors such as the lack of time, work and family commitments, social pressures, etc. all get in the way of our path to lose weight.

What’s even worse, is that high-caloric, low-nutrient foods are so easily accessible everywhere we go.

When we get hungry and have a high-caloric, low-nutrient meal, it satiates our hunger and appetite. But after a while, the body realizes that it has been "cheated” with foods lacking in nutrients. The starving cells then "cries out" for more food.

This is a vicious cycle that is found in almost every single person’s diet and lifestyle today, and is often referred to as “carbohydrate addiction”. Simple carbohydrates such as white flour, white rice, and sugary foods are the main culprits for the obesity epidemic. One could totally avoid fats in one’s diet and yet still put on weight due to an over-consumption of simple carbohydrates.

Simple carbohydrates are harmful because they are digested very quickly by the body and metabolized into sugar. Unless one is very active physically and able to “burn off" all this sugar, the sugar is stored in the form of fat. What makes things worse is that simple carbohydrates are depleted of nutrients, fibre, and all natural good stuffs, leaving you full for the moment and hungry soon after.

Fried foods, processed snacks, canned drinks, fast food all contribute to weight gain, but none as subtle and harmful as the simple carbohydrates that have become a staple in almost every Asian’s normal diet.

Metabolic Syndrome (MS)

What is Metabolic Syndrome? Metabolic Syndrome is defined as a combination of medical disorders that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It affects 1 in 5 people, and prevalence increases with age.

So why is Metabolic Syndrome (MS) so dangerous? First, let’s take a look at how it works.

MS is caused primarily by a high amount of visceral fat in the body. Visceral fat is fat that is stored in and around the organs in the abdominal cavity. Most people are unaware that visceral fats are not simple fat cells, they are actually active glands that secrete inflammatory chemicals, cytokines, which damage the small arteries and the endothelial lining of blood vessels. It leads to complications that involve multi-organs including the heart, kidneys, brain, eyes, nerve trunks, peripheral vessels, and etc.

Visceral fat has also shown to be one of the causes of insulin resistance in the body, a condition in which body cells become less sensitive to the glucose-lowering effects of the hormone insulin. It reduces glucose uptake in muscle and fat cells, and when in liver cells, results in reduced glycogen synthesis and storage and a failure to suppress glucose production and release into the blood.

If insulin resistance exists, more insulin needs to be secreted by the pancreas. If this compensatory release does not occur, blood glucose concentrations increase and type 2 diabetes occurs.

Signs and Symptoms of Insulin Resistance (IR) include:

• Fatigue.
• Brain fogginess and inability to focus. Sometimes the fatigue is physical, but often it is mental.
• High blood sugar.
• Intestinal bloating. Most intestinal gas is produced from carbohydrates in the diet, mostly those that humans cannot digest and absorb.
• Sleepiness. Many people with insulin resistance get sleepy immediately after eating a meal.
• Weight gain, fat storage, difficulty in losing weight. For most people, too much weight is due to high amounts of fat storage. The fat in IR is generally stored in and around abdominal organs in both male and female. It is currently suspected that hormone productions in these fats are precipitating causes of insulin resistance.
• Increased blood triglyceride levels.
• Increased blood pressure. Many people with hypertension are either diabetic or pre-diabetic and have elevated insulin levels due to insulin resistance. One of insulin’s effect is to control arterial wall tension throughout the body.
• Depression. Because of the deranged metabolism resulting from insulin resistance, psychological effects are not uncommon, including depression.

NewLlfe™ Holistic Solutions

An approach that combines both nutritional and lifestyle solutions can offer a glimmer of hope to our increasingly overweight society – whether the goals are for immediate healthy weight loss or for long-term weight management. The ultimate goal should not focus on aesthetics, but rather on achieving and maintaining a healthy body composition level. Many people can shed a few pounds in the short term but sustained weight management involves more than just diet alone. Drugs used for weight control carry undesirable side effects whereas NewLife™’s holistic approach to weight loss is safe, non-intrusive, and cost effective.

Step 1 – Detoxification

Without detoxification and a nutrient dense diet that nourishes and assists the body in the elimination of toxins, our body losses its strength and vitality. Chemicals and toxins that accumulate over time cause the liver and kidneys to become overworked and severely weakened. This causes the immune system to become suppressed, contributing to the rise of degenerative diseases.

Getting rid of these toxins while boosting your natural detoxification system is essential to achieving long-term weight management and healthy metabolism.

Get started immediately on Dr. Lynn Tan’s Detoxification and Rejuvenation Programme

Step 2 – Stress Management

Research has shown that stress causes the adrenal glands to release excessive cortisol, a stress hormone that triggers cravings and causes over indulgence in simple carbohydrates such as candy, pastries, chocolates, ice cream, and etc, even when one is not hungry.

Besides, excessive cortisol contributes to hormonal imbalances, giving way to a host of other degenerative diseases.

Stress, anxiety, and depression are modern-day plagues. It removes the joy from our lives!

Studies have shown that people who are prone to stress and depression have lower levels of essential fatty acids, and that supplementation is important.

• Omega Gold Flax Seed Oil
• Chamomile Tea
• Vitamin B Complex

Step 3 – Eat Quality, Not Quantity

The secret to fat loss is simple. It’s called ‘caloric deficit.’ Losing weight is made possible through a simple equation. The calories you burn must be greater than the calories you eat. (calories burned > calories eaten). When you are on a diet or lifestyle that follows this equation, you will lose weight.

While creating a calorie deficit, further fat loss can also be achieved by making dietary adjustments and eating higher-quality foods! You will be surprised that by grazing the whole day, you not only beat hunger pangs, but speed up your metabolism at the same time.

Eat 3 hearty meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) that consist of complex carbohydrates, high quality protein, and low in fats daily.

Snack in between meals with nuts, seeds, fruits, juices, or yoghurt.

Adequate protein consumption actually promotes the release of glucagon, a natural fat burning hormone secreted by the pancreas. Besides, the body burns two times the calories digesting protein compared to fats and carbohydrates. Fresh, organic, low-fat yoghurt is an excellent source of protein. It is easy to digest, contributes to colon health, boosts immunity, and contains around 10 to 14 grams of protein per 8 ounces, which amounts to 20% of the daily protein requirement for most persons.

Essential fats are also instrumental for any weight-loss diet plan. You should aim to consume roughly 25-30% of your food from protein, 25% from dietary (good) fat. and the rest from carbohydrates.

Eating quality foods and reducing your portion sizes are sure-fire ways to drop kilograms!

• Spirulina
• ColostrumX
• Low Fat Yoghurt
• Virgin Coconut Oil

Step 4 – Hydration

Keeping the body hydrated is essential for weight loss as it helps increase your metabolic rate. You should drink a total of at least 2.5 litres of pure, clean water daily. Adequate amount of water enhances mental alertness and improves toxin elimination. It also keeps the urinary tract and kidney healthy.

• Distilled Water

Step 5 – Micro Nutrition

Supplementation is the only sure way to get sufficient nutrient intake. With over-harvesting and crop rotation, soils are now void of essential nutrients and minerals. With the right and adequate amount of nutrients, weight loss can be achieved in a natural way. Each of the micronutrients promotes essential wellbeing of the body, from the nervous system to the digestion system, from the hormonal system to the elimination organs and many others.

NewLife™ Weight Loss Pack gives you all the essential nutrients to help the body properly metabolize fat:

• N. Zimes P.A. Plus
• Kelp
• Herbal Klenz
• K-Salt
• Chromium Picolinate
• Immuflora

Step 6 – Exercise

According to WebMD, “Every pound of muscle uses about six calories a day just to sustain itself, while each pound of fat burns only two calories daily." The more muscle (or lean body mass) a person has, the more calories one’s body will burn throughout the day – even when resting or sleeping.

Exercise promotes fat-loss and muscle building. It also helps to strengthen and increase bones mass.

Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed than you were before you worked out. It promotes sound sleep too. and a good night’s sleep can improve your concentration, productivity and mood.

• Rebounder

Step 7 – Be committed to all the 6 steps above

Even the very best of diet plans would be of no use if it is without the commitment to succeed. Therefore, it is important to set realistic goals by writing down and keeping a record of your daily life. Monitor your weight and body fat level as you make dietary and lifestyle changes. Each day will bring you closer to a longer, healthier, and fitter life.