Bariatric surgery is a term that encompasses many different treatments — such as a gastric sleeve surgery. All of these treatments and surgical procedures are aimed at obese people who need to lose weight. The idea with each of them is they alter your digestive system to promote more weight loss. Many obese individuals need […]
At one time or another, we are subject to fat shaming and weight discrimination. Even in the sacred space of healthcare, practitioners often treat us indifferently rather than properly. The New York Times newspaper reports our healthcare system — in its attitudes, equipment and common practices — is ill prepared. And its practitioners are often […]
Living with obesity is a difficult experience. And finding obesity help is a world-wide need. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers anyone with a BMI over 30 to be obese and a BMI over 40 to be severely obese. That’s about 13% of the world’s total population according to WHO. Consequently, it’s important that we […]
Dealing with obesity is a tough process, and you could well reach the stage where you need to consider weight-loss surgery. This is a big step in the life of any obese person because it signals the opportunity for a new beginning. Sometimes natural weight loss just doesn’t work, and this is when it becomes […]
Is obesity contagious? Before you grab me by my shoulders and begin shaking me hard while shouting in my face “what kind of question is that?” hear me out. I am not referring to the generic definition of contagious and suggesting that if you drink from the same glass as an obese person that you […]
Weight loss makes us look and feel good, but that’s not where the goodness stops! Our weight can affect many areas of our lives, and it can be incredibly surprising to find out how. So, if you’ve been looking for a little more motivation to pick up that workout DVD, or to head to the gym […]
Causes of Immobility Immobility can result from any disease or disability that requires complete bed rest or causes extreme limitations of activities. People who have strokes that cause full or partial paralysis or people who have severe spinal cord injuries are examples of immobile persons. Immobility that extends for six months or more can lead […]
Studies show that prolonged periods of inactivity increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. As a society, we share a sedentary lifestyle that is more hazardous to our health than smoking. We sit in our cars on the morning commute, sit behind a desk for eight hours, sit in our cars for […]
Those who are overweight or obese tend to gain weight in excess at the holidays. While weight gain can follow any holiday, for most Americans the most difficult period is during the six-weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Although weight gain is only a few pounds, it is weight that is never lost. Read: The Skinny […]
Risks of Weight Gain and the Need for Early Prevention It’s easier to recognize a problem once the evidence becomes overwhelming. Denial and other defense mechanisms can keep blinders on for a long time, but denial can eventually be broken. I ignored my weight gain for many years before I finally recognized I had a […]
The stigma about obesity can remain even after a person is successful at weight loss. I myself found that I still believed some of the “fat stereotypes” after my bariatric surgery and weight loss! I needed to shift my perception in order to come to terms with the obesity baggage that I carried for years. […]
Perhaps you were obese for as far back as you can remember. Or perhaps you were healthy and fit and turned obese over time. The result is the same in either case — and many of the reasons for why we become obese are also the same. Why We Were Obese A few years ago […]
If you are one of the 6.8 million morbidly obese Americans then you are probably aware of the stereotypes that accompany the diagnosis. I know them well, as I was morbidly obese before my gastric bypass surgery in 2003. What many do not understand are the metabolic, lifestyle, and genetic causes of obesity. Too many […]
I have worked in the health and wellness industry for my entire career. But it was not until I lost weight following gastric bypass surgery that anyone would hire me on their staff. Before losing weight, I only could get hired for temporary work assignments. That went on for nearly 10 solid years. This practice […]
It has been estimated that 50% to 60% of money that is spent to address health issues is spent on conditions that could be improved with stress management, diet and exercise. CVS Caremark came under fire when they seemingly coped an attitude of, “Why pay when people get ill? If they had just exercised and […]
People who were once obese but have since lost weight often have problems exercising owing to joint degeneration caused by carrying excess weight for years. However, I’ve been using a novel protein powder that promotes joint health. My knee pain has gone away and I’m back to running! Another benefit is the high degree of amino […]
