We will be bringing news from the bariatric, healthy living world.
Healthy Eating News
Are you ready to do some spring cleaning?
It’s that time of year to re-organize your life. Wondering where to start? Try the kitchen! Your kitchen may be the gathering spot for family activity as well as entertaining, but more importantly, your kitchen is where meal planning and preparation happens several times every day. Here are some tips to organize your kitchen that will save you time and make it a little easier to plan and prepare meals at home.
Take inventory… create a master shopping list.
Coming up at LifeWeigh’s June 2008 support group, the dietitian will discuss grocery shopping tips to help you choose the best items for your pantry.
Maintenance: clean as you go along
Other Tips:
This month’s issue of Better Homes and Gardens suggests having a wire mesh basket for each day of the week. Label each basket with the day of the week and corresponding meal planned for that day. Place all pantry ingredients needed according to the recipe into the basket. This will help shorten preparation time and help you to stick with your meal plan.
If you have school age children in the household, designate and label a shelf dedicated to healthy snacks.
Limit appliances, utensils, and other items on your counter top. Wrap cords around appliances in storage and roll up excess cords from appliances on your counter top.
Organize: Create a home for products. Store similar items together (canned goods together, coffee mugs and filters in a cabinet near your coffee maker, cooking utensils in a drawer near the stove). Wire mesh baskets may also be useful for grouping items such as medicine and spices to eliminate clutter and provide convenience to find what you need. Choosing square containers and baskets will help you make better use of your space when compared to cylinders. Don’t forget to take advantage of vertical space too. Install vertical dividers in your cabinet for storage of platters, cookie sheets, and cutting boards. Martha Stewart suggests using tension rods as a cost effective alternative.
Clean: Work on one area at a time. Divide your kitchen into sections. Clean the refrigerator and the oven, empty a cabinet, and wipe down the shelves. Consider transferring some products to containers to eliminate spills, preserve freshness, and offer better use of space (ie: flour, sugar, cereal). You should also discard old products, replace worn towels and rags, and consider donating unused utensils or appliances. Seasonal and special occasion items may be better stored in another area of the home to make more space available in your kitchen.
Healthy Activity News
Clean: Work on one area at a time. Divide your kitchen into sections. Clean the refrigerator and the oven, empty a cabinet, and wipe down the shelves. Consider transferring some products to containers to eliminate spills, preserve freshness, and offer better use of space (ie: flour, sugar, cereal). You should also discard old products, replace worn towels and rags, and consider donating unused utensils or appliances. Seasonal and special occasion items may be better stored in another area of the home to make more space available in your kitchen.
Three Components to a well balanced exercise routine
Aerobic Exercise
Strength Training The heart isn't the only muscle to benefit from regular exercise. Most of the other muscles in your body enjoy exercise, too. When you use your muscles and they become stronger, it allows you to be active for longer periods of time without getting worn out.
Strong muscles are also a plus because they actually help protect you when you exercise by supporting your joints and helping to prevent injuries. Muscle also burns more energy when a person's at rest than fat does, so building your muscles will help you burn more calories and maintain a healthy weight.
Different types of exercise strengthen different muscle groups, for example:
Strong muscles are also a plus because they actually help protect you when you exercise by supporting your joints and helping to prevent injuries. Muscle also burns more energy when a person's at rest than fat does, so building your muscles will help you burn more calories and maintain a healthy weight.
Different types of exercise strengthen different muscle groups, for example:
· For arms, try barbell or dumbbell curls, triceps kick backs with dumbbells, triceps extensions using a rope attachment with the pulleys.
· For chest, try dumbbell, bench, or chair press, chest flies using the pulleys or chest flies using dumbbells, and push-ups.
· For stronger legs, try running, biking, rowing, or skating. Leg extensions, curls, and cardiovascular exercises such as the treadmill, elliptical trainer, and stairmaster also work the legs. Squats, leg press, and lunges are not recommended due to increased risk of lower back and knee pain.
· For shapely abs, you can't beat rowing, yoga or Pilates, and crunches.
Flexibility TrainingStrengthening the heart and other muscles isn't the only important goal of exercise. Exercise also helps the body stay flexible, meaning that your muscles and joints stretch and bend easily. People who are flexible can worry less about strained muscles and sprains. Being flexible may also help improve a person's daily tasks at home. Some activities, like dance or martial arts, obviously require great flexibility, but increased flexibility can also help people perform better at doing house hold chores, such as yoga, Pilates, and water aerobics. The main thing with stretching is to make sure u stretch to the point of slight discomfort and never to the point where you’re feeling pain. Hold each stretch for 40 seconds and repeat this 4 times. Some examples of stretches would be a back stretch where you’re flat on your stomach and using your arms to arch up almost as if you’re doing a push-up. Another back stretch would be to lay flat on your back, bring your knees together and rotate them left and right, holding that stretch for 40 seconds while maintaining your shoulders flat on the ground. For more information, make an appointment with the LifeWeigh Health and Fitness program.
Like other muscles, the heart enjoys a good workout. You can provide it with one in the form of aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise is any type of exercise that gets the heart pumping and quickens your breathing. When you give your heart this kind of workout regularly, it will get stronger and more efficient in delivering oxygen (in the form of oxygen-carrying blood cells) to all parts of your body. If you play team sports, you're probably meeting the recommendation for 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous activity on practice days. Some team sports that give you a great aerobic workout are swimming, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, hockey, and rowing. But if you don't play team sports, don't worry — there are plenty of ways to get aerobic exercise on your own or with friends. These include biking, running, swimming, dancing, in-line skating, tennis, cross-country skiing, hiking, and walking quickly. Your goal is to exercise at least 80% of the time at your target heart rate for optimal resting metabolic improvement. You can keep track of your heart rate by either checking your pulse yourself for 10 or 15 seconds then multiplying that number by 6 or 4, or you can use a heart rate monitor using a watch.
Bariatric News from Dr. Rosen
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery STATEMENT ON JAMA STUDY ON Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding January 23, 2008
News headlines around the world read “Obesity Surgery Can Cure Diabetes” after the first randomized controlled study of the effect of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB) on type 2 diabetes was published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). As bariatric and metabolic surgeons we have known this for years. But today’s study, along with the two landmark studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine in August 2007 that showed a significant survival benefit for people who have bariatric surgery, provide new and important evidence that can no longer be ignored – bariatric surgery saves lives and can eliminate or dramatically improve disease! However, despite this evidence, other clinical studies and the endorsement of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), many private health insurers continue to restrict access to bariatric surgery. This must change before more lives are lost to obesity, type 2 diabetes and many other diseases. The following is a summary of the JAMA study followed by the abstract: Significance and Impact of Study 1) This is the first randomized controlled trial in the medical literature demonstrating superior efficacy of bariatric surgery (Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding) compared to conventional medical therapy for the treatment of early type 2 diabetes. The complete remission rate of 73% vs. 13% for medical management is among the highest reported in the literature for any combination of therapy used to treat type 2 diabetes in a randomized controlled trial. The results suggest that bariatric surgery should be considered a treatment option for patients with Type 2 diabetes and mild to moderate obesity. 2) This study is the first randomized controlled trial demonstrating superior efficacy for bariatric surgery compared to conventional therapy in diabetic patients with BMI < 35. It supports evidence from other studies that demonstrate select groups of patients with BMI < 35 may benefit from bariatric surgery. It further calls in to question the NIH guidelines established in 1991 that hold BMI of 35 as an absolute lower limit for suitability for bariatric surgery. 3) Though the study was not powered sufficiently to compare complication rates between medical and surgery treatment of diabetes, complication rates for medical and surgical therapy were comparable. No serious adverse events occurred in either group. Other studies support a relatively low complication rate for bariatric surgery in this patient population suggesting a reasonable risk/benefit for bariatric surgery in this population. 4) The very positive results for surgery achieved in this trial together with the improved survival data from SOS and Adams et al (NEJM, Aug 2007) support the justification for a new multidisciplinary consensus conference for the role of surgery in the treatment for obesity as well as diabetes. 5) This study suggests other areas for examination. These include durability of remission, effect of surgery on more advanced diabetes, the relative risk/benefit of other bariatric procedures, and the impact of surgery on secondary complications of diabetes such as blindness, renal failure, and cardiovascular events. More government-supported research, specifically well designed clinical trials, should commence to address the important issues raised by this and other studies. The US government has invested relatively little in evaluation of surgical treatment for diabetes or obesity. 6) The very positive results for surgery achieved in this trial together with the improved survival data from SOS and Adams et al (NEJM, Aug 2007) raise an ethical and legal argument against 3rd party payors who refuse to provide coverage for bariatric surgery based on widely accepted criteria adopted by Medicare, NIH and many other US government agencies. 7) Prevention: Although this study provides strong evidence for bariatric surgery as an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes, theU.S. government, health care providers, civic leaders, and policy makers must place more focus on diabetes prevention in order to reduce the impending burden of diabetes for generations to come. ABSTRACT Summary and Implications of Adjustable Gastric Banding and Conventional Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes. A Randomized Controlled Trial Published in JAMA Jan 23, 2008Dixon JB, Obrien PE, Playfair J, Chapman L, Schachter LM, Skinner S, Proietto J, Bailey M, Anderson M. JAMA. 2008:299 (3): 316-323 ● Context Observational studies suggest that surgically induced loss of weight may be effective therapy for type 2 diabetes. ● Objective To determine if surgically induced weight loss results in better glycemic control and less need for diabetes medications than conventional approaches to weight loss and diabetes control. ● Design, Setting, and Participants Unblinded randomized controlled trial conducted from December 2002 through December 2006 at the University ObesityResearchCenter in Australia, with general community recruitment to established treatment programs. Participants were 60 obese patients (BMI >30 and <40) with recently diagnosed (<2 years) type 2 diabetes. ● Interventions Conventional diabetes therapy with a focus on weight loss by lifestyle change vs laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding with conventional diabetes care. ● Main Outcome Measures Remission of type 2 diabetes (fasting glucose level <126 mg/dL [7.0 mmol/L] and glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] value <6.2% while taking no glycemic therapy). Secondary measures included weight and components of the metabolic syndrome. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. ● Results Of the 60 patients enrolled, 55 (92%) completed the 2-year follow-up. Remission of type 2 diabetes was achieved by 22 (73%) in the surgical group and 4 (13%) in the conventional-therapy group. Relative risk of remission for the surgical group was 5.5 (95% confidence interval, 2.2-14.0). Surgical and conventional-therapy groups lost a mean (SD) of 20.7% (8.6%) and 1.7% (5.2%) of weight, respectively, at 2 years (P < .001). Remission of type 2 diabetes was related to weight loss (R2 = 0.46, P < .001) and lower baseline HbA1c levels (combined R2 = 0.52, P < .001). There were no serious complications in either group. ● Conclusions Participants randomized to surgical therapy were more likely to achieve remission of type 2 diabetes through greater weight loss. These results need to be confirmed in a larger, more diverse population and have long-term efficacy assessed.
Bariatric News from Barb MacTaggart
Obesity in Young Children Summary of article by Deborah Krepcio, RN, MSN, CPNP, Kathleen Foell, RD, MS, Sara C. Folta, PhD and Jeanne P. Goldberg, RD, PhD
Childhood obesity is a rapidly growing health problem which extends across populations, races, ethnicity, income, or education. Children in the U.S., ages 2 to 5, approximately 26% are overweight (greater than the 85th percentile on BMI charts). Weight problems lead to other health problems. Obesity is the most common cause of abnormal acceleration of growth in childhood. It leads to early puberty in girls and abnormalities in sexual development in boys. Diabetes mellitus is becoming more prevalent also. Obese children are more likely to become obese adults, and obese adults have a greater risk of developing health problems such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, gallbladder disease, respiratory disease, certain cancers, gout, and arthritis. Childhood obesity has psychosocial consequences also. Studies have shown that even young children are sensitized to obesity, and older children rank overweight children as low potential friends.
Causes of childhood obesity: Hormonal imbalances are rare, and account for less than 1% of children. Inactivity contributes to obesity and has been documented even in babies less than a year old. The percentage of body fat is inversely related to their activity level. Dietary trends also contribute to obesity. Compared to 25 years ago, children have doubled their intake of soda (almost all is regular, not diet). Children are also consuming foods higher in calories, such as pizza and snack foods. Consumption of vegetables has decreased, except for fried potatoes, which has increased. Families eat more meals away from home, and these meals typically have more fat and saturated fat, less dietary fiber, and less nutrients, and large portions. Television viewing also contributes to obesity, not only because it displaces physical activity, but also food intake increases. Children view advertising which affects food preferences. Typically, these foods are nutrition poor.
Interventions: Limit children’s television and video game time. Keep a food diary and review with a health professional. Avoid using food as a reward for good behavior or to keep the child occupied. Schedule meal and snack times. Caloric restriction is ineffective for managing children’s weight. Encourage children to eat slowly. Eating should not be in front of the TV. Decrease the amount of calorie dense foods offered to the child. Encourage physical activity the entire family can participate together. Make realistic goals with one or two changes at a time with positive reinforcement
Dr. Rosen Note: This is the same calories in – calories out equation we all talk about. We are learning that our bodies and minds can influence this equation to a great extent and there are multiple influences including genetics that can make calories in worse and our society can make the calories out less. Let’s all work on these for all of our families to become healthier.
General Health (Outside source)
Science Topics (Outside source)