by Melanie on June 13, 2007
Hi! I'm Melanie. A little birdie told me that possibly you aren't subscribed to this site. Are you nuts?
Subscriptions are totally free, and you can sign up either for Emails or the RSS feed. It's so easy, so do it now, and welcome to Dietriffic!
Have you been finding weight loss a continuous, uphill struggle? If you haven’t been successful in meeting your weight loss goals, you need to stop and assess the reasons why.
Do you lack Motivation?
Are you ready for lifestyle changes? Do you realise you need to lose weight for your long-term health? Can you honesty say that weight loss it really important to you currently?
If you have answered no to these questions, you may not be ready for a lifestyle change at present. You should, however, aim to prevent further weight gain by following a healthy lifestyle. Include more fruit and vegetables, cut back on foods high in fat and sugar, and try to be more physically active each day.
[click here to read on…]
by Melanie on June 8, 2007
Trying to quit smoking can be extremely tough. For some, the possibly of gaining weight adds an additional pressure, which they wish to avoid, and many even refuse to quit smoking as a result.
So why do some gain weight?
There are a number of possible reasons. With the increased ability to smell and taste, sometimes more food is eaten. Also, many substitute smoking with food, as they don’t know what to do with their mouth and hands. Nicotine is also thought to suppress appetite and increase metabolism, and therefore maintaining a low weight is less difficult.
Many people do start to lose the weight they gained as they adjust to being a nonsmoker. It is also possible to quit smoking and not gain weight. The best way to do this is to make a few diet and lifestyle changes at the time when you stop smoking.
What practical steps can you take?
[click here to read on…]
by Melanie on April 24, 2007
Scientists from Exeter and Oxford Universities have discovered a variant of the FTO gene, which may contribute to obesity and other related problems, such as diabetes.
This study was part of the Wellcome Trust who are trying to identify the genetic variations that may predispose people to, or protect them from, major diseases.
The study found that people carrying one copy of the FTO allele have a 30% increased risk of being obese compared to a person with no copies. However, a person carrying two copies of the allele had a 70% increased risk of being obese, being on average 3 kilograms heavier than a similar person with no copies. [click here to read on…]
by Melanie on March 23, 2007
We are all well aware of the detrimental effects of obesity upon health, however when we think about the rise in childhood obesity, the problem becomes extremely poignant.
ABC News reported upon a controversial case this evening. At the age of eight years old British boy Connor McCready weighs 218 pounds and is nearly four times the average weight for his age.
[click here to read on…]
by Melanie on March 21, 2007
I recently came across an article, which was rather upsetting, and as a result I’ve been thinking about the human mindset towards weight loss. The article was from the Sydney Morning Herald dated February 5th 2007, and discussed the many issues that 16 and 17 year old girls have with eating.
A 2003 report by the Commonwealth Office of the Status of Australian Women found that between 40 and 82 percent of women aged between 18 and 23 were dissatisfied with their weight and/or shape. According to US estimates from The National Institute of Mental Health, between 5 and 10 percent of girls and women (I.e. 5-10 million people), and 1 million boys and men suffer from eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or other associated dietary conditions. Of this an estimated 10 percent of female college students suffer from a clinical or sub-clinical (borderline) eating disorder. In the UK, nearly 2 in every 100 secondary school girls suffer from anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder.
[click here to read on…]
