Weightloss Central

Study says Weight-loss Programs and Gym Memberships Work Well Together

Hugh C. McBride — Wed, 23 Jul 2008

Quick quiz: What is the best way to lose weight and reduce body fat? (A) Enroll in Weight Watchers or (B) Join a Gym?

According to researchers with the University of Missouri, the ideal answer may be (C) All of The Above.

In what the ScienceDaily news service identified as a first-of-its-kind study, UM researchers used sophisticated body-composition measurement devices - including computer tomography (CT) scans - to evaluate the effectiveness of Weight Watchers programs and gym memberships over a 12-week period.

Steve Ball, the assistant professor of exercise physiology with MU's College of Human Environmental Sciences who led the study, told ScienceDaily that study participants who followed the Weight Watchers program lost a higher average percentage of body weight, but gym-goers experienced a greater reduction in body fat percentage.

"[Weight Watcher] participants' body fat percentage did not improve at all because they lost a much higher percentage than expected of lean tissue," Ball said, noting that the loss of lean tissue can be problematic because of an associated slowing of the body's metabolism. "What your body is made of is more important than what you weigh."

Members of the study's fitness center group lost less weight than did their WW counterparts, but Bell said his team believed they got a better health benefit from their workouts because their losses were primarily intra-abdominal fat (which accumulates around - and can negatively impact - vital organs).

Though Weight Watchers participants were less successful at reducing body fat percentage, the study found that they were more likely to stick with their efforts. ScienceDaily reported that most of the WW enrollees remained throughout the duration of the study, while many fitness center participants abandoned their workout plans before the 12 weeks were up.

"I think the outcome of the study speaks volumes about the necessity for a multi-pronged approach in order to lose weight [and] body fat and gain health benefits," Bell said.

Office-based Weight-loss Programs Show Promise

Hugh C. McBride — Tue, 22 Jul 2008

Researchers with the University of Cincinnati and the University of Washington have discovered that office-based weight-loss programs have "enormous potential" to help employees shed unwanted pounds - but the analysts concede that work remains to be done to determine the long-term effectiveness of such efforts.

"Work sites have the advantage in many ways," Michael Benedict, a UC pediatrics and internal medicine specialist, told Cincinnati Enquirer staff writer Peggy O'Farrell for her July 4, 2008 article. "You've got a captive population. You can continually reinforce the program, and you've got repeated opportunities to contact your participants with education and reinforcement messages."

Benedict said that understanding basic human psychology is one of the keys to implementing a successful workplace-based weight-loss program. "The social network of the worksite is probably something you could really leverage to your advantage," he said. "Weight-loss competitions have some promising results. People are competitive by nature, especially at work."

Will Dunham, a staff writer with the Reuters news service, reported that Benedict's analysis of 11 office-based programs found that employees who participated in the programs lost between 2.2 and 14 pounds, while the weights of co-workers who didn't participate fluctuated from a loss of 1.5 pounds to a gain of 1.1 pounds during the same time period.

But Dunham noted that the analysis, which evaluated studies conducted in the United States, Britain, Japan, Sweden, New Zealand, and Australia between 1994 and 2006, did not document the long-term results of office-based programs.

In a phone interview with Dunham, who reported on the study in a June 30, 2008 article, Benedict conceded that there were limitations to the good news indicated by his analysis.

"The programs are helpful for at least short-term, modest weight loss in people who actually participate in them," he said, adding that "the overall body of work really is still fairly incomplete."

Japan Cracks Down on Obesity

Hugh C. McBride — Mon, 21 Jul 2008

A new national law in Japan calls for companies and local governments to measure every adult's waistline. If a man's waist is over 33.5 inches and a woman's is over 35.4, he or she must attend a program to lose weight. Companies and local governments must measure at least 80% of employees or citizens and meet various deadlines to help people lose weight or else face fines.

Some people believe the new campaign is a way to force the private sector to share more health costs and concerns.

Almonds May Assist Weight-loss Effort

Hugh C. McBride — Fri, 18 Jul 2008

They can be calorie-rich and filled with fat, but that doesn't mean nuts have no place in a healthy diet. As sources of fiber, protein, and minerals, nuts can be a tasty part of a balanced diet, and at least two nutrition experts have advocated on behalf of one "excellent" nut.

Writing in the July 3, 2008 edition of the Green Valley (Arizona) News & Sun, Dr. Rallie McAllister wrote that almonds can be a marvelous munchie for healthy eaters:

If you're searching for a snack food that can help you lose weight and gain health, almonds are an excellent choice. ...For folks trying to cut back on high-cholesterol animal foods, the crunchy nuts are a protein-rich alternative to eggs and meat. Ounce for ounce, almonds contain nearly as much protein as lean meat [and] unlike animal sources of protein, nuts are high in fiber.

Much of McAllister's article was based on a study of 65 overweight adults at California's City of Hope National Medical Center that was published in the November 2003 issue of the International Journal of Obesity. During that study, researchers discovered that individuals who ate three ounces of almonds each day lost significantly more weight and experienced greater reductions in blood pressure than did members of a control group who consumed an equal amount of calories, but no nuts.

"The weight-loss benefits of eating almonds came as something of a surprise, since the study was originally designed to evaluate the cholesterol-lowering effects of almonds," said Dr. Michelle Wien, who led the City of Hope study. "As it turned out, the dieters who ate almonds lost more weight than would be expected if they were taking prescription diet pills."

According to McAllister's article on Wien's research, a fiber inherent in almonds may help the body evade the effects of some of the calories and fat contained in the nut. "The fiber binds with a portion of the fat, so that it doesn't come into contact with the intestinal wall," Wien said. "It just gets flushed out of the body."

Study says Surgery Can Cut Cancer Risk for Morbidly Obese Patients

Hugh C. McBride — Wed, 16 Jul 2008

A study by researchers with the McGill University Health Center in Montreal, Canada, shows that morbidly obese individuals who undergo successful bariatric surgery may reduce their risk of developing some types of cancer by as much as 80 percent.

According to a news release posted on the MUHC website, researchers compared data on more than 1,000 morbidly obese patients who had bariatric surgery there between 1986 and 2002 with health information on 5,746 patients with similar weight profiles who did not have the surgery. The researchers discovered that the rate of cancer diagnosis for the patients who had the surgery was 85 percent lower for breast cancer and 70 percent lower for colon and pancreatic cancer than it was among those who didn't have the procedure.

"This is one of the first studies to suggest that bariatric surgery might prevent the risk of cancer for a significant percentage of morbidly obese people," said Dr. Nicolas Christou, who led the study and presented the preliminary results June 18 during the 25th annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery in Washington, D.C. "We're hoping that these results will help the government and public health authorities realize the importance of this procedure in the fight against the various pathologies associated with obesity," Christou added.

Because obesity has such a complex effect on health, Christou noted that further research is called for to determine the relationship between bariatric surgery and a patient's likelihood of developing the types of cancers that were addressed in this study.

Study Casts Doubts on Ability of Gym Classes to Impact Obesity Rates

Hugh C. McBride — Mon, 14 Jul 2008

Contrary to what many gym class advocates might expect, researchers in British Columbia have found that increasing the amount of time children spent in physical education classes had no effect on obesity rates among participants.

According to a June 25, 2008, report by the Canwest News Service, analysts who reviewed 13 trials involving more than 10,000 students found no significant difference in body mass index between students who spent the most time in physical education classes and those who were given the fewest opportunities to hit the gym.

"School-based physical activity interventions do not improve BMI, although they may have other beneficial health effects," Dr. Kevin Harris of B.C. Children's Hospital, one of the study's coordinators, told CNS reporter Pamela Fayerman. However, Harris noted, physical education classes have been associated with "improvements to bone mineral density, aerobic capacity, reduced blood pressure and increased flexibility."

After decades of steady increases, childhood obesity rates recently leveled off at about 30 percent - a rate that pediatricians and other health care experts predict may lead to shortened life expectancies for today's youth.

"It is possible that interventions that focus on improving the diet of children may have more significant effect on body composition," Harris told CNS. "[But] phys-ed shouldn't be looked at as a central component of any obesity strategy."

Big Breakfasts May Boost Long-term Weight Loss Success

Hugh C. McBride — Sat, 12 Jul 2008

Venezuelan researchers have discovered that eating a big breakfast may be a crucial component of successful long-term weight loss and maintenance.

Working in conjunction with scientists from Virginia Commonwealth University, a team from the Hospital de Clinicas in Caracas determined that the potential for long-term success is dependent upon a dieter's ability to increase her feelings of fullness while minimizing cravings for carbohydrates. Eating a large, carbohydrate-rich breakfast appeared to quash these cravings, the researchers found, thus allowing dieters to follow a low-carb, low-cal meal plan the rest of the day.

"Most weight loss studies have determined that a very low carbohydrate diet is not a good method to reduce weight," the study's lead author, Daniela Jakubowicz, MD, said in a June 23, 2008, article on the ScienceDaily research news website. "[An extremely low-cal diet] exacerbates the craving for carbohydrates and slows metabolism. As a result, after a short period of weight loss, there is a quick return to obesity."

The 96 women who participated in Jakubowicz's study were divided into two groups: one that was limited to a 1,085-calorie, strictly low-carb diet, and one that was put on a 1,240-calorie, "big breakfast" plan.

Four months into the study, the women in the low-carb group had lost an average of 28 lbs., while the big breakfast group averaged a 23-lb. loss. But by the eight-month mark, the average low-cal dieter had regained 18 lbs., while the big breakfast-eaters had lost an average of 16 additional pounds.

Jakubowicz, who said she has been advising patients to follow a big-breakfast program for more than 15 years, said that one of the other reasons the program is healthier than a strict lo-carb approach is that participants can benefit from the fiber and vitamins found in fruit.

Surgeon General says Childhood Obesity Rates Remain 'Embarrassing'

Hugh C. McBride — Thu, 10 Jul 2008

Statistics have shown that the United States may have experienced some limited successes in the struggle against childhood obesity - but the nation's top health advisor cautioned against undue enthusiasm over these preliminary results.

In June 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, after decades of steady increases, the rates of childhood obesity and overweight showed no significant changes between 1999 and 2006. But Steven Golson, the acting U.S. surgeon general, said that this recent leveling off should not be considered a victory.

"We're still triple where we were in 1980," Golson said during a June 19 press conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. "That's nine million children over the age of six that are overweight, and that should be embarrassing to every parent, to every teacher, to every leader in this community and to people all around the country."

The Arkansas News Bureau reported that Golson was in Little Rock with Melissa Johnson, executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness, to honor the state for being one of five winners of the National President's Challenge, a nationwide effort designed to encourage health promotion and physical fitness.

LAPD Hires Dietician to Improve Officers' Health

Hugh C. McBride — Tue, 08 Jul 2008

If Rana Parker gets her way, Los Angeles's "thin blue line" is going to be getting a lot thinner.

Parker, who was hired in July 2007 as the Los Angeles Police Department's first dietician, works with recruits and veteran officers to help them incorporate sound nutritional choices into their daily lives. The LAPD is believed to be one of the first major U.S. police departments to bring a full-time nutrition adviser on board.

In a May 31, 2008, Associated Press article, writer Shaya Tayefe Mohajer outlined the primary philosophies behind Parker's programs:

"I joke with them that I'm not the food police, that I'm just here to give them information, education and hopefully give them motivation to help themselves," [Parker] said.

By targeting recruits, Parker is trying to instill good eating habits before the rigors of the field make it difficult to find time for balanced meals. She's provided one-on-one counseling to about 90 recruits, taught a nutrition course to about 500 others and made presentations to more than 400 officers.

"They may be sitting in their car and all of a sudden they need to go for a sprint, which might end in a fight as well," Parker said. "They need to be in good shape so their body can handle that kind of stress."

According to Capt. Joseph Curreri, who has served with the LAPD for almost 35 years, Parker's efforts aren't only resulting in a slimmer force - they're also helping rid the department of one of the most prevalent negative stereotypes about police officers.

"We don't eat doughnuts anymore," Curreri told Torrance Daily Breeze staff writer Brandon Lowrey. "We eat croissants."

CAMA Disputes Link Between Obesity and High-fructose Corn Syrup

Hugh C. McBride — Sun, 06 Jul 2008

The American Medical Association says that one of the commonly assumed causes of obesity may not be as villainous as some people have been led to believe.

A news release posted on the AMA website says that delegates to the organization's annual policy-making meeting have approved a resolution noting that there is no scientific evidence linking high-fructose corn syrup with the steady increase in obesity rates in recent decades.

The release, which says that high-fructose corn syrup does not appear to be more dangerous than any other caloric sweeteners, advocates moderation when including the substance in one's diet, and also calls for additional research into the matter.

"At this time, there is insufficient evidence to restrict the use of high fructose corn syrup or label products that contain it with a warning," AMA board member Dr. William Dolan said in the release. "We do recommend consumers limit the amount of all added caloric sweeteners to no more than 32 grams of sugar daily based on a 2,000 calorie diet in accordance with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans."

On its website, the Corn Refiners Association published a release applauding the AMA's decision. "This science-based decision by the nation's leading medical body reaffirms that no single food or ingredient is the sole cause of obesity. Rather, too many calories and too little exercise is a primary cause," CRA President Audrae Erickson said.