What is Obesity?

Obesity is defined as a state of being more than twenty percent above "normal" weight, or having a body-fat percentage greater than thirty percent for women and twenty-five percent for men. Another measurement of obesity is having a body mass index greater than 30.

What causes Obesity?

Theories of the underlying causes of obesity are tied to genetics, low brain serotonin levels, impaired diet-induced thermogenesis (heat production), and the inner workings of fat cells. All of these models support the notion that obesity is not just a matter of overeating. They explain why some people can eat large quantities of food and not increase their weight substantially, while for others, just the reverse is true. For example, a certain amount of the food we consume is converted immediately to heat, which is known as diet-induced thermogenesis. Diet-induced thermogenesis is the method by which the body "wastes" calories. There is evidence that the level of diet-induced thermogenesis is what determines whether an individual is likely to be overweight. In lean individuals, a meal may stimulate up to a 40% increase in heat production. In contrast, overweight individuals often display only a 10% or less increase in heat production. The food energy is stored as fat instead of being converted to heat.

What dietary factors are important in Obesity?

There are literally hundreds of diets and diet programs that claim to be the answer to obesity. However, the basic equation for losing weight never changes. In order for an individual to lose weight, energy intake must be less than energy expenditure. This goal can be achieved by decreasing caloric intake (dieting), and/or by increasing the rate at which calories are burned (exercising). Most individuals will begin to lose weight if they decrease their caloric intake below 1,500 calories per day and do aerobic exercise for 15-to-20 minutes 3-to-4 times per week. Starvation and crash diets usually result in rapid weight loss (largely muscle and water), but cause rebound weight gain. The most successful approach to weight loss is gradual weight reduction (0.5 to 1 lb per week) through adopting long-term dietary and lifestyle modifications.

What nutritional supplements should I take for Obesity?

Foundation Supplements. There are three products from Natural Factors that I think are critical in supporting good health:

• MultiStart (age and gender specific multiple vitamin and mineral formulas). Follow label instructions.
• Enriching Greens - a great tasting "greens drink" containing highly concentrated "greens" like chlorella, spirulina, wheat grass juice, barley grass juice, etc., and herbal extracts. Take one serving (one tablespoon) in 8 ounces of water daily.
• RxOmega-3 Factors - A true pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplement. Take two capsules daily.

SlimStyles is a program and a family of products from Natural Factors that is based upon breakthroughs in the understanding of human appetite regulation and methods to improve sensitivity to the hormone insulin. SlimStyles works because it is based upon achieving five key goals:

• Effectively decreasing appetite leading to a reduction of calories consumed.
• Improvement in the sensitivity of body cells to the hormone insulin.
• Increasing metabolism and the burning of fat without the use of harsh stimulants.
• Resetting the mechanisms that control fat cell size and body weight.

The secret to the success of the SlimStyles Slim for Life Program is a revolutionary new fiber supplement known as PGX (PolyGlycopleX) - a unique blend of selected, highly viscous soluble fibers that act synergistically to develop a higher level of viscosity and expansion with water than with the same quantity of any other fiber alone. Taking PGX with or before each meal every day in conjunction with healthy eating habits and moderate exercise leads to effective and permanent weight loss.

PGX is included in several products from Natural Factors. For example, it is the key ingredient in the SlimStyles Meal Replacement Drink Mix with PGX - a sophisticated, low carbohydrate, very low glycemic index meal replacement drink that also contains undenatured whey protein, natural flavors and sweeteners along with vitamins and minerals. PGX is also included in the WellBetX line of products for glucose management. For more information, go to www.slimstyles.com.

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is converted in the brain to serotonin. Low serotonin levels trigger appetite especially sugar cravings. As far back as 1975, researchers demonstrated that administering 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) to rats that were bred to overeat and be obese resulted in significant reduction in food intake. It turns out that these rats have decreased activity of the enzyme that converts tryptophan to 5-HTP and subsequently to serotonin. There is much circumstantial evidence that many humans are genetically predisposed to obesity via the same mechanism. A series of four human clinical studies of overweight women, conducted at the University of Rome, have shown that 5-HTP is an effective weight loss aid. The recommended dosage is 50 to 100 mg twenty minutes before meals.

Green tea extracts concentrated for catechins (polyphenol flavonoids) safely enhance the metabolic rate and diet-induced thermogenesis. I recommend the SlimStyles Thermogenic Formula for the best results.

Comment:

The successful program for obesity is consistent with the four cornerstones of good health: a positive mental attitude, a healthy lifestyle (especially important is regular exercise), a health-promoting diet, and supplementary measures. All of these components are interrelated, and no single component is more important than the other. Improvement in one facet (cornerstone) may be enough to result in some.

One seemingly simple recommendation that I have for promoting weight loss is to turn off the television. This recommendation is especially important in children you are obese. Good scientific studies have shown that there is a dose-related effect with TV viewing and obesity (i.e., the more TV one watches, the greater the degree of obesity). TV viewing leads to reduced physical activity and the actual lowering of resting (basal) metabolic rate to a level similar to that experienced during trance-like states. In addition to television lowering basal metabolic rate, exercise levels tend to be lower in people who watch a lot of TV. Exercise is critical for achieving effective weight loss for the following reasons:

• When weight loss is achieved by dieting without exercise, a substantial portion of the total weight loss comes from the lean tissue primarily as water loss.
• When exercise is included in a weight-loss program, there is usually an improvement in body composition due to a gain in lean body weight because of an increase in muscle mass and an accompanying decrease in body fat.
• Exercise helps to counter the reduction in basal metabolic rate that usually accompanies calorie restriction alone.
• Exercise increases the basal metabolic rate for an extended period of time following the exercise session. Thus, extra calories are consumed for many hours after each exercise session.
• Moderate to intense exercise may have an appetite suppressant effect.
• Individuals who exercise during and after weight reduction are better able to maintain the weight loss than those who do not exercise.
• Exercise helps diminish anxiety and it reduces depression- two major factors that often lead to stress-induced eating to find a sense of comfort.

How do I know if the program is working?

When you jump on the scales, you are looking at your total weight, not the relationship of fat to muscle or body composition. While being overweight is a risk factor for heart attacks, storkes, and type 2 diabetes, it is not the critical risk factor. Correctly stated it is increased body fat that is associated with these diseases, not increased body weight. To more accurately determine body composition I recommend using a scale that utilizes a safe, low level amount of electricity to determine body fat percentage known as bioelectrical impedence. Since fat does not conduct much bioelectricity, a higher degree of impedence of the electrical charge is associated with higher body fat percentage. The most popular scales of this sort are manufactured by Tanita (see www.tanita.com) and range in cost from $55 to $200 depending upon desired features. Ideally, women should strive to keep their body fat percentage below 25% and men 20%.

Feedback:

Please let Dr. Murray know how this program has worked for you by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Testimonials:

"I lost over 30 pounds and dropped 4 pant sizes. I've tried everything but nothing else worked. I feel better than I have in years. I have more confidence and my family has really noticed my extra energy. I feel like a new person." SB

"Finally a diet that works. I've tried low carb diets and low fat diets but none of them compare to SlimStyles. I consistently lost weight, even though I cheated a bit. (Well maybe more than I would admit.) The program is simple and fits right into my busy life. After years of struggling I finally reached my weight loss goals." CK

"I love the way I look! Not only have I lost the weight and kept it off, but my energy levels are better than ever. The SlimStyles program is easy to follow, flexible and practical. The best thing is I didn't feel deprived. I was never hungry and the shakes were great." RS

Condition Center Caution:

• Dr. Murray’s recommendations and protocols for nutritional support are not intended as a substitute for appropriate medical care.
• The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
• If you have a medical condition or disease, please talk to your doctor prior to using the recommendations given.
• Do not self-diagnose. Proper medical care is critical to good health. If you have a health concern or undiagnosed sign or symptom, please consult a physician, preferably a naturopathic doctor (N.D.), nutritionally oriented medical doctor (M.D. or (D.O.), or other health care specialist. Please go to www.naturopathic.org to find a qualified naturopathic doctor (N.D.) in your area to help you.
• Make your physician aware of all the nutritional supplements or herbal products you are currently taking to avoid any negative interactions with any drugs you are taking.
• If you are currently taking a prescription medication, you absolutely must work with your doctor before discontinuing any drug or altering any drug regimen.