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FitnessMantra Weekend: Can You Be Overweight Yet Malnourished?

10

June

Linkfitnessmantra04:34 pmAdd comment

Fitness Mantra del.icio.us page Welcome to “FitnessMantra Weekend”, your once-a-week health news update. As always you can also stay updated with the latest in fitness news by subscribing separately to the Fitness Mantra del.icio.us feed.

Think of the word “malnourished” and I am sure you see unfortunate images of starving Somalian children in your mind which is why when you look at an overweight person on the street, the last thing to cross your mind would be “My Goodness! He’s so malnourished!” Yet that is precisely what may be the case for many a so-called “fat person”!

british flag Many Britons overweight, malnourished, a surprising article on MSNBC explains this apparent contradiction in terms. Dr. Alastair McKinlay, a gastroenterologist puts it bluntly: “There’s a widely held misconception that if you’re fat, you can’t be malnourished.”

Yet there is apparently no other word for the thousands of Britons who outwardly appear portly and “nourished”, but who, in reality are “medically malnourished” because their diet is largely composed of fat, salt and empty calories. The absence of fruits and vegetables in the popular diet, means there is a grave absence of the essential vitamins, minerals, proteins and fiber that together are the hallmark of true nourishment.

There’s more to this than meets the eye:

While malnourished fat people are hardly in danger of starvation, other health problems are possible along with obesity-related complications like diabetes and heart disease. Once they start losing weight, malnourished people may actually burn their own tissue, including muscle, rather than fat.

Do read Many Britons overweight - and malnourished in its entirety to understand why eating well is different from eating right.

More health and fitness stories from this week follow:

What Replaces Those Trans Fats May Be Almost as Bad for You: In response to the 2006 FDA requirement that trans fats be listed on nutrition labels, makers of packaged goods from potato chips to Oreos have brought their totals down to zero. Does this mean that junk food is now the new health food? “No!”
Yoga tested as back pain therapy: The potential for yoga to be used to treat low back pain is being investigated by researchers.
UN health agency calls for ‘trans fat-free Americas’: The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a regional arm of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), called today for the elimination of industrial trans fats from food supplies throughout the Americas in order to prevent heart attacks.
Many Britons overweight - and malnourished: It may be obvious that most Britons are overweight. What isn’t so obvious is that at least 2 million of them are likely malnourished - and that includes some of the people who are too fat.
French lessons: Eat petite, be petite: Obesity is far less common in France than in the United States, and some researchers contend that smaller French portions are a key reason.
Drinking coffee may cut liver cancer risk: Drinking coffee appears to lower the risk of developing liver cancer, according to findings published in the medical journal Gastroenterology.
Many Americans do maintain weight loss: Though dieters often see their weight “yo-yo,” a new national survey suggests that many Americans do fairly well at keeping the pounds off.
Pupils ‘unaware of green beans’: Some primary school children have never heard of green beans, according to a new study.
‘Exercise after eating’ diet tip: Exercising after meals can help promote weight loss by boosting hormones that suppress appetite, say UK scientists.
Losers Are Just Plain Lucky: Why some people struggle more than others to shed pounds is a mystery … but a new report shows that eating according to the glycemic index may be a way for some people to overcome this disadvantage.
Omega-3 fatty acids can lower blood pressure: A diet with liberal servings of fish, nuts and seeds rich in nutrients called omega-3 fatty acids can help lower a person’s blood pressure, according to a study.
Entertaining TV shows make you eat more: People eat more when they are glued to the television, and the more entertaining the program, the more they eat, according to new research.

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Have a great weekend!

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FitnessMantra Weekend: How Good Is Your Diet IQ?

03

June

Linkfitnessmantra11:15 pmAdd comment

question mark Now, if I asked you (or any other fitness-conscious person) how many calories you needed to consume everyday to maintain your weight, I am pretty sure you could rattle off the answer right away and you would probably be pretty close to the right answer.

But did you know that on average only11% of Americans would get this right? This and other diet disconnections are discussed in “Diet IQs disconnected from reality“, an MSNBC article that comes to this conclusion based on the results of the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation’s second annual Food & Health Survey of 1000 adults.

Among the most striking “disconnects,” was knowledge about good and bad fats. While current guidelines recommend people consume more polyunsaturated fats, found in fish and some whole grain foods, and monounsaturated fats, found in nuts, avocados and vegetable oils, 42 percent of those surveyed said they were trying to eat fewer polyunsaturated fats and 38 percent reported trying to cut down on monounsaturated fats!

However, 70 percent of people said they were trying to cut down on saturated fat, more than last year’s 57 percent. Saturated fats are found in meats, dairy foods, and coconut and palm oils, among other sources, and have been tied to an increased risk off heart disease and stroke.

Also, while a high majority of those surveyed said they were physically active at least once a week for health benefits, only 44 percent said they “balanced diet and physical activity” for weight management, which is the direct concept of “calories in, calories out” - another big disconnect.

You can learn all about understanding calories and using that knowledge to your advantage from “5 links to calorie-conscious fitness“. While each of those links open in separate windows, check out some other interesting stories from this past week:

Half of EU Adults Overweight, Obese: More than half of adults in European Union nations are obese or overweight and the young are increasingly making Europe a fat continent, the EU’s top public health official said Wednesday.
Ice cream craving? Treats to feel good about: With temperatures on the rise and the days growing longer, it gets harder to resist buying an ice cream cone or throwing a pint of Ben & Jerry’s into the grocery cart.
Fitness boot camps taking it to the parks: Fitness boot camps have grown in popularity as people look for a way to enjoy the outdoors while avoiding the hassle of the gym and the cost of a personal trainer.
Making Meals a Family Affair: Most parents look for ways to give their children an edge, but many miss an easy and often inexpensive recipe for success: eating together.
Regular exercise increases “good” cholesterol: Regular exercise appears to modestly increase levels of high-density lipoprotein, or “good,” cholesterol.
Doubts over obesity pill claims: Some of the health benefits claimed for a new weight loss drug may not be justified, say experts.
Soy Nuts Lower Blood Pressure in Postmenopausal Women: Soy nuts may help lower blood pressure in postmenopausal women, a new U.S. study finds.
Junk food ads increasing on kids’ shows: A new Federal Trade Commission study found that half of the ads for junk food, sugary cereals and soft drinks are on children’s programs, double the number 30 years ago.
Lazy ‘can be encouraged to move’: However, advice had to be tailored to individual needs - adopting a “one size fits all” policy would not be as effective …
Diet IQs disconnected from reality: Ninety percent of Americans say breakfast is an important part of a healthy diet, but just 49 percent manage to eat breakfast every day, a new survey shows.
Air hostesses told to shed weight: An Indian court has ruled against a group of female flight attendants who were grounded from the national airline for being overweight.
Shake your way to fitness - or brain damage?: What if you could burn fat while shaking a martini? Actually, it’s your body that shakes like a martini on a new type of fitness machine that’s generating lots of buzz and celebrity use.
New Jersey starting agency to battle obesity: New Jersey’s health department is escalating the battle against the bulge by starting a new Office of Nutrition and Fitness to better coordinate programs to prevent obesity.