Index

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

• Here's a guide book after our own heart: "The Portion Teller", by Lisa R. Young, Ph.D.  It's not mainly what you eat, but how much that is most important.  Thus, "THE RULE OF HALF". 
• Cigarette smoking has long been associated with glucose intolerance, leading to Diabetes Mellitis.  Now comes a report (British Medical Journal, April, 2006) that significant exposure to second-hand smoke does the same thing. 
• Choices and Priorities.  Who wants to live to age 99years?  If so, all you have to do is restrict yourself to an intake of 900 calories per day.  I don't think so.  Moderation in goals and methods...and have fun getting there. 
• The same is true regarding the use of vitamins: common sense, and awareness of the fact that Vitamins A, D, E, and K can be toxic.  A good rersource is an article by Tara Parker Pope published in the Wall Street Journal on 3/20/06, Sec. B1, entitled "The Case Against Vitamins". 
• Avoid entirely the "Gorilla Glue" of arteries: "partially hydrogenated vegetable oils" and the resulting "transfats".  See New England Journal of Medicine, 354:15, 4/13/06, pp1801-13.
• Exercise.  More is better...but you don't need much to do yourself a lot of good.  For example, just 1000 extra calories of work, just 145 calories per day,  is very helpful.  That's just 20 minutes of brisk housework per day.  a 10 minute walk is 50 calories.  Doing a flight of stairs 4 times per cay is 100 calories.  See the latest book by Harvey Simon of Harvard Medical School entitled "The No Sweat Exercise Plan".  You can do this...and more.
• Look up the symptoms, signs and miseries of Diabetes Mellitis,  now in epidemic mode in this country.  Not pretty.  But even if you have a strong familial predisposition to this disease, life-style changes taken soon enough can trump the bad genes in the closet.  See NEJM 355:241-50, 2006. 
• What foods are "Organic".  Predictably, the food grinches who manufacture our foods are busy playing games with this valuable lable.  See the NYTimes article on the subject that appeared in Section C1 on 11/1/05. 
• What have we been telling you?  Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet is better than a low-fat diet.  See Annals of Internal Medicine: 145, #1, 7/4/06, pp1-20.   So, there you have it!

GS