ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The obesity epidemic is far-reaching, impacting the young, old and everyone in-between. This is bad news for seniors, who gain fat and lose lean muscle mass as they age.
The combination of the obesity epidemic and aging fat has dangerous implications for older individuals. Obesity is associated with an increased risk for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and arthritis. Adults ages 70 to 79 are at a critical period for the development of physical disabilities. A high level of body fat combined with loss of lean muscle mass can contribute to the onset of physical disabilities.
Recent research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C., reveals there are more obese seniors than ever before. From the early 1980s to 2000, the obesity rate in older adults doubled.
"For this extra amount, we've increased the amount of fat mass with a very moderate increase in lean mass, which means we're not just getting bigger, we're also getting fattier," lead author Jingzhong Ding, M.D., Ph.D., a Wake Forest researcher, told Ivanhoe. "We also found lean mass gradually declines and fat mass increases with age."
Researchers measured body composition changes in 1,786 adults ages 70 to 79 from 1997 to 2003. They found both men and women gained fat and lost lean muscle mass during the study. People who spent a larger proportion of their living years during the obesity epidemic were more likely to be fat. Participants split into 10 groups based on their birth year. People who were younger during the onset of the obesity epidemic were most likely to be fat. Eighty-year-old men born in 1927 had about 10 more pounds of fat and 3.75 more pounds of muscle compared to 80-year-old men born in 1918.
Statistics from the 1980s did not clearly indicate the body composition of older adults. Further research is needed to determine whether the obesity epidemic has an evident impact on the ratio of fat to muscle.
"We have this increased body size, but we don't know exactly how the fat mass and lean mass is distributed. Hopefully there will be a proportional amount of body fat and lean mass," Dr. Ding said.
This research provides further evidence of the severity of the obesity epidemic. "This trend of the obesity epidemic has crossed all age groups ... Young, middle-aged and older individuals have this problem, so it seems like this epidemic is, indeed, continuing," said Dr. Ding. "We have to come up with a strategic plan and try to deal with this problem in a different way."
A simple, healthy and tasty recipe to enjoy this weekend!
You only need (8 servings):
1 cup Flour
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1/3 cup Water
1 tbs Lemon Juice
1 tsp Cream of Tartar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
18 Egg White
How to prepare it:
1. Sift flour and 3/4 cup sugar together 3 times.
2. Beat egg whites, water, lemon juice, cream of tartar, and vanilla on low speed 1 minute.
3. Increase speed to medium and beat until mixture increases in volume 5 times(about 1 1/2 to 3 minutes).
4. Beat in gradually on medium speed, about 1 tablespoon at a time, 3/4 cup of sugar. This should take two to three minutes. Beat until soft peaks from Mixture should be pourable.
5. Sift about 1/8 of flour mixture evenly over the surface of the batter. Gently fold into the batter. Repeat until all of the flour mixture is incorporated, being careful to not over mix.
6. Pour the batter into a 10-inch ungreased tube pan with removable bottom. Title pan to level the top.
7. Bake in center of oven at 350° F. for 35 to 40 minutes or until cake is nicely colored and springs back when gently touched.
8. Invert cake immediately until completely cool.
9. When cool, run a sharp knife around the sides of the pan and remove outside pan. Run knife around the bottom of the pan to remove the bottom.
Encontré este otro artículo en Internet, con el mismo tema al que añadí hace un par de días en inglés. Esta basado en las reflexiones de varios libros de trastornos alimenticios. A pesar de ser un extenso vale la pena pasar 5min a leerlo.
Qué les parece?
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Como la anorexia y la bulimia, la adicción a la comida suele estar relacionada con problemas emocionales. La raíz del problema no está en lo que se coma, sino en el porqué, de modo que se convierte en una dependencia muy difícil de superar por uno mismo.
Los científicos han demostrado que la actividad eléctrica que se genera en determinadas zonas del cerebro es la responsable de que, ante determinadas experiencias, sintamos dolor o placer. Quienes las padecen buscan con las conductas adictivas un cambio autoinducido: repiten actuaciones concretas para provocar con ellas que las células nerviosas del cerebro produzcan una actividad generadora de un sentimiento específico.
Cada persona desarrolla una forma particular de enfrentarse al miedo, la ansiedad, el estrés, el dolor o la culpabilidad. Algunas son capaces de tratar directamente el problema, pero muchísimas recurren a la bebida, las drogas o el exceso de trabajo. Para otras se hacen crónicos los dolores de cabeza, estómago o espalda.
Estos intentos para eliminar o reducir el estrés o el dolor son temporalmente relajantes y placenteros, por lo que cuesta darse cuenta de que, a la larga, serán inapropiados y dañinos. Todo el mundo sabe que el exceso de comida no es sano, pero sus perjuicios no se notan mientras comemos.
Encubrir otros problemas
No hay una única causa que lleve a una persona a abusar de la comida. Geneen Roth, autora de varios estudios sobre el tema, en su libro Cuando la comida sustituye al amor explica así como para ella, que deseaba perder peso, los kilos de más suponían un escudo con el que protegerse de otros problemas:
”Mientras tuviera la atención pendiente en lo que comía, del tamaño de la ropa que usaba, de la celulitis y de cómo sería mi vida cuando finalmente consiguiera perder peso, no había persona capaz de herirme profundamente. Mi obsesión por el peso era más apasionante e inmediata que nada que pudiera sucederme con una amiga o un amante. Cuando me sentía rechaza por alguien, me decía que esa persona rechaza mi cuerpo, pero no a mí, y que cuando adelgazara las cosas serían diferentes“.
En otro libro, Una sustancia llamada comida, Gloria Arenson, que ha sido directora del Centro de Tratamiento de Desórdenes en la Comida de Los Ángeles, coincide en que muchos de estos enfermos desean de forma inconsciente ganar peso. No sólo se trata de evitar enfrentarse a un problema mayor que el peso.
Entre las mujeres, por ejemplo, es frecuente que ”se aferren a la gordura para negar su sexualidad“. Además, explica que ”las personas con baja autoestima pueden sentirse incomodas cuando se sienten observadas por el sexo opuesto y para ellas la grasa es un abrigo que cubre y protege a la persona.“
Enfermo sin perfil
Los comedores compulsivos son tanto hombres como mujeres de todas las edades y clases sociales. Algunos lo son periódicamente y otros se atiborran de comida diariamente. También hay quienes no se dan atracones, pero que no dejan de comer en todo el día.
Quienes tienen este problema comparten algunas de sus penas con las personas bulímicas. Ambas tienen episodios recurrentes de atracones en los que en espacio de tiempo corto ingieren grandes cantidades de comida, prefieren los alimentos ricos en calorías, a veces comen a escondidas, han intentado más de una vez perder peso y debido a la alternancia entre ayunos y empachos sufren variaciones en su peso.
Con todo ello llegan después los sentimientos de repulsa hacia ellos mismos y la depresión. Es bastante frecuente que hagan dieta constantemente. Se mantienen en permanente estado de privación, de modo que cuando su resolución por seguir el régimen desaparece tienen la sensación de que tienen que comer grandes cantidades para resarcirse de las privaciones anteriores.
Adicción a la Comida: Plan de Cuatro Niveles
Gloria Arenson n su libro Una sustancia llamada comida propone un ”plan a cuatro niveles“. Hacerse consciente de la adicción a la comida y, a partir de ahí, plantearse superar el problema.
1. Nivel físico: la conducta. La autora recomienda llevar un diario en que se reflejen los ”episodios de atracón“, y puntuarlos por su intensidad según una escala del uno al diez.
2. Nivel emocional: los sentimientos. Con cada una de las anotaciones, hay que preguntarse qué hay en nuestras vidas que merezca una puntuación como la que se le acaba de otorgar a la comilona.
3. Nivel cognitivo: los pensamientos y las creencias. Como no se ha encontrado nada que merezca esta puntuación, hay que analizar qué pensamos sobre nosotros mismos después del atracón y por qué creemos que lo actuamos así.
4. Nivel transpersonal: la recuperación del poder. Hay que dejar de sentirse una víctima y se deben buscar las medidas para lograrlo, si se cree necesario hay que solicitar la ayuda de un especialista.
I saw this article in Internet and wanted to share with all you because I think that is an interesting matter. It might seem a little long but can make us consider about the causes of the overeating. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Emotional eating is the practice of consuming large quantities of food -- usually "comfort" or junk foods -- in response to feelings instead of hunger. Experts estimate that 75% of overeating is caused by emotions.
Many of us learn that food can bring comfort, at least in the short-term. As a result, we often turn to food to heal emotional problems. Eating becomes a habit preventing us from learning skills that can effectively resolve our emotional distress.
Depression, boredom, loneliness, chronic anger, anxiety, frustration, stress, problems with interpersonal relationships and poor self-esteem can result in overeating and unwanted weight gain.
By identifying what triggers our eating, we can substitute more appropriate techniques to manage our emotional problems and take food and weight gain out of the equation.
How Can I Identify Eating Triggers?
Situations and emotions that trigger us to eat fall into five main categories.
* Social . Eating when around other people. For example, excessive eating can result from being encouraged by others to eat; eating to fit in; arguing; or feelings of inadequacy around other people. * Emotional . Eating in response to boredom, stress, fatigue, tension, depression, anger, anxiety or loneliness as a way to "fill the void." * Situational . Eating because the opportunity is there. For example, at a restaurant, seeing an advertisement for a particular food, passing by a bakery. Eating may also be associated with certain activities such as watching TV, going to the movies or a sporting event, etc. * Thoughts . Eating as a result of negative self-worth or making excuses for eating. For example, scolding oneself for looks or a lack of will power. * Physiological . Eating in response to physical cues. For example, increased hunger due to skipping meals or eating to cure headaches or other pain.
To identify what triggers excessive eating in you, keep a food diary that records what and when you eat as well as what stressors, thoughts, or emotions you identify as you eat. You should begin to identify patterns to your excessive eating fairly quickly.
How Do I Break Myself of the Habit?
Identifying eating triggers is the first step; however, this alone is not sufficient to alter eating behavior. Usually, by the time you have identified a pattern, eating in response to emotions or certain situations has become a pattern. Now you have to break the habit.
Developing alternatives to eating is the second step. When you start to reach for food in response to a trigger, try one of the following activities instead.
* Read a good book or magazine or listen to music * Go for a walk or jog * Take a bubble bath * Do deep breathing exercises * Play cards or a board game * Talk to a friend * Do housework, laundry or yard work * Wash the car * Write a letter * Or do any other pleasurable or necessary activity until the urge to eat passes
What If Distracting Myself Isn't Enough to Keep Me From Eating?
Sometimes simply distracting yourself from eating and developing alternative habits is not enough to manage the emotional distress that leads to excessive eating. To more effectively cope with emotional stress, try
* Relaxation exercises * Meditation * Individual or group counseling
These techniques address the underlying emotional problems which are causing you to binge and teach you to cope in more effective and healthier ways. For more information on these techniques, contact your doctor.
As you learn to incorporate more appropriate coping strategies and to curb excessive eating, remember to reward yourself for a job well done. We tend to repeat behaviors that have been reinforced, so reward yourself when you meet your nutrition management goals. Buy that blouse, take that vacation, or get that massage you wanted. By rewarding yourself for a job well done you increase the likelihood that you will maintain your new healthy habits.
In this special day, I would like to share with you an easy and healthy recipe for today. I hope you enjoy it in loving company. Mediterranean Chicken Salad for 2 You need... - 1/4 cup dried orzo (rice-shaped pasta), about 1 1/2 ounces - 1 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil - 1/2 tablespoon tomato paste - 1 tablespoons water or condensed chicken broth - 1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar of your choice (rice, tarragon, balsamic, etc.) - 1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon (optional) - 1 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoons Dijon mustard - Pepper to taste (add salt to taste if you wish) - 1 1/2 cups diced, cooked chicken breast (about 4 breasts, or the meat shredded from a rotisserie chicken - 1 cup cherry tomato halves - 3 oz jar marinated artichoke hearts, well-drained, rinsed, and chopped - 1/4 cup coarsely chopped kalamata olives - 1/4 cup dried currants (optional) - 1 tablespoons drained capers - 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts* (optional)
How to prepare it... 1. Cook orzo in a medium saucepan of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to the bite (about 8 minutes). Rinse under cold water, drain well, and let cool. Put in a medium bowl. 2. Add olive oil, tomato paste, water, vinegar, fresh tarragon, lemon juice, and mustard to a small bowl or food processor, and pulse or whisk to blend well. Season dressing to taste with pepper and salt, if desired. 3. Add chicken to cooked orzo along with tomatoes, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, currants, and capers. Drizzle dressing over the top, and toss. 4. Serve each large scoop of chicken salad on a bed of romaine or spinach leaves, and sprinkle toasted pine nuts over the top.
* Toast the pine nuts in a toaster oven until golden brown, or put in a nonstick frying pan and heat over medium heat, stirring often, until golden brown.
Nutritional information per serving: 365 calories, 38 g protein, 23 g carbohydrate, 13 g fat (2.3 g saturated fat, 8 g monounsaturated fat, 1.9 g polyunsaturated fat), 90 mg cholesterol, 4.3 g fiber, 700 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 33%.
And what about yours, any other ideas to surprise your better half?
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- In a country where childhood obesity has reached epic proportions, finding new ways to help kids fight fat is more important than ever. A recent study reveals children who get 10 to 11 hours of sleep per night weigh less than their sleep-deprived counterparts and have an easier time "battling the bulge" as young adults.
Researchers at Northwestern University report 3- to 12-year-old children who get 11 or more hours of sleep each night have lower body mass index (BMI) measures than children who sleep less than 11 hours and go to bed late. In fact, children who sleep more than 11 hours per night are 17.1-percent less likely to be overweight as young adults than those who sleep fewer than 11 hours per night. Children who get fewer than eight hours of sleep each night have higher BMIs and stand a greater chance of being overweight as young adults than children who get more than eight hours of sleep. Night owls can still stave off obesity if they wake up one hour later each morning, a measure that decreases their chances of becoming overweight by 5.8 percent.
Researchers studied 2,281 children and recorded the number of hours they slept, what time they went to bed, and what time they woke up. Study authors followed up with the children when they were between 8 and 17 years old. In addition to weight gain, shorter sleep cycles were also associated with behavioral problems, decreased mood, and poor school performance. Kids who got more sleep between ages 3 and 12 were more likely to maintain a healthy weight as young adults.
Emily Snell, a graduate student and lead researcher for the study conducted at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., told Ivanhoe sleep affects weight for several reasons. "If you don't get enough sleep, you're more tired during the day, and you have less energy for physical activity," she said. In addition to giving children the energy they need to perform everyday activities, sleep influences hormones that regulate appetite and satiety. Snell also pointed out children have more opportunities to eat the longer they are awake.
"One thing that influences children's bedtime is how much television they're watching at night," said Snell. "I think we all know from experience that watching television can be associated with eating snacks, and children have increased opportunity to eat when they are awake longer." Snell said parents can help ensure kids get to bed on time by keeping their children's rooms free of television sets. She also recommended establishing a set bedtime routine, and getting pre-school and elementary-age children in bed by 8:00 p.m. on school nights.
