Americans and Weight Part 2

Yesterday I wrote about a study demonstrating that over the past 20 years, Americans are leading a less healthy life style now than they did 20 years ago.

Possible reasons? The need for dual working parents leaving less time for meal preparation, the increased use of high-fructose sweeteners during that time period, growth of fast food chain restaurants, childhood focus on the internet and other sedentary activities as opposed to playing outside. These are just some of them. Many, Many more.


The implications of this are tremendous if left unchecked. Expenditures on healthcare which are breaking the bank already will worsen even more crippling our country's ability to fund anything else. As individuals, we should focus more on the lifestyle issues that may make us susceptible to illness and as parents, help our children learn healthier behaviors.

Americans and Weight

A study was released from the University of South Carolina and released in the American Medical Journal that showed that over the past 20 years Americans have developed a less healthy life-style despite being inundated with much data about the medical riskes associated with weight problems. A survey was administered to Americans in the 1980s and and the same survey was given from 2002-2006. The survey was basically 5 points asking for information about smoking, drinking, exercising, and consuming foods that were "healthier".

Here is some of the data: Now, only 8% of Americans surveyed check off positively on all 5 issues as oppoed to 16% 20 years ago. The obesity rate is 36% now as oppoed to 28% in the 1980s. LESS people exercise regularly now than 20 years ago.

Why, despite the increased knowledge we have now associated weight with illness are we actually becoming heavier? More tomorrow. Hve a great Saturday.

Americans and Weight

Good morning from Vegas...

A study was released from the University of South Carolina and released in the American Medical Journal documented that despite being better informed about the health benefits of eating better and living a healthier life-style, less Americans are conforming now then they did 20 years ago.

A health check-list, including eating choices, exercising, smoking and consumming alcohol was administered to people in the 1980s and then the same check-list to people from 2003-2006.

Here is some of the data: Only 8% of Americans now meet all 5 of the healthy life-style criteria as compared to twice that number in the 198023. The obesity rate has risen from 28% to 36%. Those people eating 5 fruits and vegetables a day dropped from 42% to 26%.

The question is why, given the fact that we have been better educated over the years as to the association of weight with disease, that the numbers are getting worse as opposed to better.

Will continue this discussion tomorrow.

Have a great Saturday!

weight and vegas

Sorry for the late post. Some business meetings out here and arrived midnite their time. As I was walking toward the registration desk at the hotel, I noticed a disproportionate number of overweight people at the bar and at the gaming areas. Staying up late to gamble and drink is probably an activity the habitual morning exercise person does not do, even on vacations. I was thinking that casinos are probably a bad vacation choice if you are in a weight losing mode. When you gamble here, waitresses are bringing free drinks, and often when alcohol is consummed, you find yourself eating more food. This adds up to pounds going on as opposed to off.

Of course, not everyone gambling in a casino is a gamblerholic (okay, I admit...I played a fee blackjack hands). "Vices" tend to come in packages, and smoking, drinking, gambling and eating seem to all be related. Often the addicted gambler cannot understand how the alcoholic can ruin their life, the smoker cannot understand how someone can lose all their money to a casino and the drug addict cannot understand how someone can get up to over 300 pounds.


Addictions are in part chemically related and envbiromentally fostered. As this relates to families who have a high rate of morbid obesity, clearly "nature and nurture" contribute greatly. This does not mean that if you come from a family where virtually everyone is overweight, that you have a predestined future. This can be changed but clearly much work is required.

I hope that when I return, Serotonin-Plus is not owned by MGM-Mirage and the staff is not dealers and waitresses! Okay, I promise not to gamble away the business!

weight loss and sabotaging each other

I had a nurse visit yesterday for her follow-up appointment and it was a challenging week for her with much work stress. She related that she was making too many trips to the break room/kitchen area and there bountiful amounts of backed goods that were brought in my other nurses. When I go to the hospital, I would similarly notice incredible amounts of high-caloric foods that were brought in by the nureses for other nurses.

In a similar manner, many of my tracher patients tell me that their break rooms look like the Old Country Buffet. Teachers, similar to the nurses make it a habit to bring in for others a variety of cookies, cakes and other high-caloric food sources. This is all done inakind manner to try to make their peers feel recognized for their hard work.

However, with weight problems afflicting 67% of Americans, how much "good" are we doing hy tempting overweight people with these "gifts"? Would you tempt an alcoholic with a bottle of wine? Tempt a drug dealer with a fix? Then why tempt your overweight colleagues with food?

We tend to "nurture" or as a sign of caring, by bringing people food. Taking a step back, by feeding overweight people wrong food sources, you are hastening their early death. Why would anyone do this?

Whether you are a teacher, nurse, or in any other profession where there is a break room/kitchen area, if your intention is to bring in somethoing for everyone, I would urge you to think hard about what you are bringing in, the make-up of the people you are bringing it to, and assess whether you are really being kind or unconsciously hurting people.

weight gain and accountability

Yesterday we had a number of patients cancel their appointments for followup visits in the program. This is a very common occurrence after a three-day weekend. Why? The reason is that a number of people gain weight during the holiday weekends because of excessive eating and drinking. When Tuesday rolls around, there is a feeling of "embarrassment" or a fear that when they weigh in there will be a rebuke or negative reaction from us.

After a weight gaining week, this is the exact time NOT to cancel your appointment. There is absolutely no reason to be embarrassed and certainly our role here is supportive...not judgemental like a parent or a teacher if you "mess up".

Holiday weekends are very challenging because it seems as if everyone around us is consumming alcohol, eating high-caloric foods, etc. It is very difficult not to partake of these activities and if weight gain occurs, IT IS OKAY!!! Not every week will be a successful weight loss week. The key is monitoring what happens by writing down your weight weekly and having a reaction planned based on what you see. When you are in the visit phase of your program of course come in that week. We will help you focus, prescribe you the med, and get you back on track!

weight loss and excuses

" I traveled and the meetings all had pizza and sandwiches and chips....I couldn't find anything to eat"

"I had no time for exercise this week...work was too busy"

" I was with friends and everyone was drinking alcohol"

" I had no time to keep my food diary"

" I didn't have time to go out shopping for food"

" I was so busy at work I forgot to take my pills"....


On any given week in our program, when a patient has an "off" week, meaning that they do not lose or actually gain weight, these, amongst lots of others are the reasons that are provided. Quite frankly, these are all really good reasons as to why we can get off track. Once again, as we have discussed previously, as soon as we stop thinking about our weight loss efforts, we start going back to old behaviors and weight goes back on.

I implore you to write down all the reasons as to why you get sidetracked at times, and then on the same piece of paper, write down possible actions you can take to negate that challenge. As an example, if you are attending meetings where food is being provided, perhaps you can contat the person responsible for providing the food and request some choices that are compatible with your weight loss efforts.

Losing weight is not easy....gaining weight is. There are many excuses/reasons why we have difficulty, but try to rise above these challenges for long term success.