Medical Facts...and Fiction

The goal of this section is to define the problem, the epidemic of obesity in this country in adults and in children. Data in this section are designed for the health care professions as well as for the public, with relevant references. In this regard, we will not re-invent the wheel, but will access all useful sources already published...invoking the "Fair Use Doctrine" for this educational effort when actual citations are not given. Of course, with over 50 years of clinical experience represented among the professional complement of this family enterprise, in addition to the experience of guest contributors, we will often express our own insights and opinions.

GS

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Various Topics for May 26, 2008

May 26, 2008

  • Regular exercise appears to control some gene expression, to the benefit of the patient.  This seems based upon the fact that skeletal muscle is the largest single tissue in the body, and that this tissue exhibits a plasticity responsive to the body's needs (see American Scientist, Vol 1,2, 2005). 
  • High protein foods keep hunger at bay, working through the Ghrelin hormone mechanism.  Carbohydrates and fats do the opposite.  And sugar substitutes also appear to contribute to weight gain.  This is another reason to become familiar with the Glycemic Index of foods, as reported in an earlier offering in this section. 
  • Adequate sleep is vital to good health.  The proper amount has been reported to be 8-9 hours per night, but not more than 9 hours.  And sleep deficits cannot be made up by extra sleep on weekends.  Impediments to sleep include: spicy foods, a big dinner, gassy vegetables, speed eating, alcoholic drinks within four hours of bedtime, and coffee intake after breakfast (see Elizabeth Somer, RD, "The Food and Mood Cookbook").  Actual sleep disorders must also be addressed, especially Obstructive Sleep Apnea, preferrably by a certified Sleep Specialist. 
  • Vigorous walking on a regular basis has been reported to "slow biologic aging to a crawl". 
  • Yet another medical report provides "strong evidence for a beneficial effect of higher conformity with the Mediterranean dietary pattern on risk of death from all causes, including deaths due to CVD and cancer, in a US population" (see Archives of Internal Medicine, 2007: 167(22), 2461 - 2468). 
  • Although we suspect that sufficient chewing is also necessary to control hunger, it has been reported that chewing gum containing sorbitol has been associated with chronic diarrhea and severe weight loss.  Not the way to go. 
  • More on treatment of Diabetes Mellitus.  The newer 'T2D" medications have been found to carry a risk of bone fractures.  It appears that adiposites and osteoblasts have a common origin.  This class of medicines increases the production of adiposites and decrease osteoblasts!!  "Talk to your doctor...."
GS

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