Understanding Obesity
Too many weight conscious people get most of their dietary information from popular magazines. What's worse, many doctors are told by patients that they are following certain dietary advice in advertisements from TV, radio, magazines and newspapers—two sources which grossly mis-inform individuals about the facts of being overweight.
That's what a study showed in the International Journal of Obesity (vol.10, 1986) and in the International Journal of Eating Disorders (vol.3, 1984). It was revealed that 75% of the information in articles on dieting was unreliable. Fortunately, certain basic facts about being overweight exist:
… Being overweight or obese is not usually due to overeating. Actually, most overweight people eat very little, relative to their thin counterparts. Actually, it's not unusual for a slim individual to consume in excess of 3,000 calories a day and maintain their weight.
… Dieting through caloric restriction may temporarily reduce the size of fat cells, but does not decrease their number.
… Probably most overweight and obese people have a low metabolism which is partly or mostly responsible for their condition. Dietary/calorie restriction not only creates the risk of nutritional deficiency, it can also slow the metabolism further. This is why dieters typically gain back their weigh plus more, following a crash program. And most diet plans are the short term, "quick loss" type.
What can you do?
… Find out from a reputable professional if your metabolism is low. An oral temperature below 98.6 degrees F may indicate a sluggish metabolism. (See the article below.)
… Consider easy exercise as a healthy means of raising your metabolism and burning fat. More intense forms of exercise often will not do this long term.
… Be sure breakfast is part of a balanced diet. This can include some natural fats such as butter, vegetable oils and eggs.
… Learn as much as you can from reliable sources. Ask your nutrition-oriented doctor for recommendations.