Pill for ADHD to help with weight loss?

Well, this is a first. Using Adderall to fight obesity.

Now, there are pills to fight obesity, but this isn't one of them. In fact, this drug is used to treat ADHD.

It might have a good side effect of weight loss for those that need it, but when I saw the risk such as death for those that have heart problems and possibly becoming maniac or hearing voices, it is a bit worrisome.

While this hasn't been approved by the FDA, it hasn't been seen as illegal either.

So is it ethical? That is a question that is being asked.

I think risks are big. Very big, especially with a heart problem.

If this drug was seen as being useful, some of the properties should be taken and others left out. Instead, it is being given to kids that don't need it for ADHD so they are getting medication for things that aren't a problem.

To me, it is almost like taking cold medicine to help you sleep. Yes, it works, but there is a lot of unnecessary medicine added into your body that you don't need.

Another thing I wonder about is whether or not the weight comes back if they stop taking the medicine. If so, to keep the weight off they would always have to take it and then comes the issue of effects that drugs can have on someone if they are used for a long period of time.

While the idea seems to be a decent one, there has to be a better way.

High Calorie food

Surprise! Some food you might have thought was healthy turns out not to be. This includes granola bars and bagels, which most people consider healthy.

I knew some things were unhealthy, but applescauce? I never knew there were so many calories in it.

I have tried to be healthy and have to admit, I've used some of these foods, thinking they were healthier than other choices. Apparently I was wrong.

I used to have bagels instead of other food that I thought was unhealthy, but a four ounce bagel equals four pieces of bread. That surprised me more than some of the others.

Luckily, the website gives sugguestions of foods to have in place of the high calorie offenders. I think I'll have to try some of them.

Danger in Obesity Surgery?

It appears obesity surgery could have complications.

The surgery best known for helping those with obesity is gastric bypass surgery.

The new complication is vitamin deficiency of B1. Without B1, there can be effects on the brain and nervous system, including memory loss.

I had never thought of vitamin deficiency as a problem with this type of surgery. I thought maybe it would be related to the parts of the body that were operated on.

However, I have heard sucess stories related to this surgery. While there is the worry about this, with a good medical team, I think it could be caught before there is damage.

Not only is it healthy to lose unnecessary weight, but it helps a person emotionally. I knew someone who had the surgery done (I met her after the surgery) and she said her life was so much better since then.

I guess a person needs to decide if they feel the some of the dangers are worth the risk, which should be done with all surgeries.

BMI might not be accurate

BMI, which is known as body mass index might beinaccurate.

I found it interesting that the BMI did not match the percentage of fat the students really had.

I had my doubts about BMI though. Muscle weighs more than fat, but it is not bad. When I ran track, I lost some weight then started to gain it again. One of my coaches pointed out it was muscle though.

Then there are a lot of people who work out a lot and have a lot of muscle. That doesn't make them overweight though.

I wonder if there is a way to really measure fat. I think each person is built differently and that could play a part. It would be interesting to see if there will be another measurement that comes from this study that will help determine the actual body fat a person has.

Not your average 100 Smartest Diet Tips

Now, normally I wouldn't look twice at 100 diet tips. I thought it would be the same thing such as eating a certain amount of fruit, dairy, etc.

These were actually interesting and I think they could work. Instead of demanding a complete change in lifestyle overnight, there are hints to slowly help turn things around, without using a fad diet.

I think more people need to use approaches like this. Especially since spring will soon be here, which means no more bulky coats.

I do have one suggestion to add, which I use when I have a craving for something sweet. I often have Hershey Kisses in my kitchen. I keep them put away so that temptation isn't there. However, if I feel the urge for something sweet, I have just one and put the rest away. Sometimes something small like that is all you need.

Another diet tip is to find exercise you enjoy. I have mentioned DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) before, but any kind of dance can help and some prefer that to running on a treadmill. If you enjoy the exercise you choose, you'll be more likely to go/participate.

Hmm. Guess this would make 102 diet tips. Feel free to leave comments with any tips you want to contribute.

Prince Charles wants to ban McDonalds?

Apparently even British royal family are concerned about health.

Personally, I never knew that Prince Charles ate organic food or set up a farm on one of his estates that does't use artificial pesticides or fertilizers. I never thought the eating habits of the royal family.

When he suggests, banning McDonalds, he was in the United Arab Emirates when he said this. They have the world's second highest number of diabetes cases per capita.

McDonald's replying that Prince Harry ate there in 2005 is, in my opinion, silly. That was over a year ago, possibly close to two years, depending on the month.

I think moderation is the key in this though. Eating an excess of McDonald's or other fast food can cause weight problems and health problems. However, if people would focus on eating such foods in moderation would help fight these problems.

Besides, if Prince Charles wanted to talk about obesity problems, maybe he should concentrate on things in his own country.

With obesity on the rise in the United Kingdom, second in the world only to the United States, perhaps Prince Charles should look at his own people and the health issues and weight issues with them.

Lose weight without exercising

Yes, it is possible to lose weight without setting foot in a gym or lacing up a pair of running shoes. In fact, you can do it without without any excerise.

I really find this an interesting idea. It makes a lot of sense though. You either burn off calories, or you don't eat them to begin with. I can see this being true.

There have been times when I have eaten less for one reason or another and lost weight, even though I didn't go to the gym. So a person who wants to lose weight can do it without exercise.

It's not difficult either. Perhaps it is something as simple as refusing second helpings at dinner, or cutting back on snacking throughout the day.

Personally, I think it is good to exercise. It helps tone muscles and also helps reduce the possibilities of some ailments. Besides, a lot of people I know say they feel better after exercising.

That is something that not a lot of people realize. Losing weight by eating less helps if a person is overweight or obese, but that doesn't mean it does the same thing as exercise. That's why the two go hand in hand.

However, if you can't get to the gym, or don't have time to jog around the block, cutting back on some calories could help.

Can sleep battle obesity?

Now, when I was little, I was told to sleep so I wouldn't be tired the next morning, or if I was sick, I was told sleep would help me get better.

And now, it appears sleep helps children fight obesity.

This is the first time data has been collected over five years, which is the only way to do it for such a study.

I do have some thoughts on this study though. The numbers drop from 36 percent to 30 percent chance of obesity if there is an extra hour of sleep. However, I think the total amount is important.

At least some other studies explain WHY.

It does make sense. I know that I stay up later than I should on some nights and that does throw off my metabolism. If anyone has ever stayed up late, they probably have experienced it as well, maybe getting hungry at 1 am or snacking on chips while attempting to do some late night cramming.

So what does this mean? Try to go to bed earlier. Or if you can't, at least you can feel better about hitting the snooze alarm.

Battling Obesity with video games

Kids can now fight obesity and other health related illnesses through a video game.

Body Mechanics sounds like a bit of an odd name, but it is easy to remember. I never would have thought of having a video game for this!

I did hear about people losing weight playing Dance Dance Revolution, but that is not a typical video game, and it is one I love to play.

I think having a DVD included with the game will help a lot. It might help push the idea a bit more.

I just wonder, will it work? It is giving facts, giving questions to decide if the character lives or dies. But is it enough? And what about when the questions start to be repeated. Then it is just automatic. Will it work?

Keep your eyes open for it starting this Tuesday. We'll have to see if a lot of people buy it and see if it leaves an impact on the children.

Obesity report cards for kids

I know people are trying to help keep kids healthy, but obesity report cards?

I don't really know what to think of this program. I mean it is good that kids are healthy, but are obesity report cards really the best way to do it?

I think it could be disheartening for kids and yes, it might hurt their self esteem. However, would it be better to wait until they are older to worry about it? Maybe it isn't something the schools should focus on, but I think it is important.

Personally, I have seen children eat a lot of unhealthy things and I know that it can continue to affect them throughout life. It creates a pattern that should be fixed before it gets out of hand.

In my old junior high, everyone had to take a swim/gym class. I think that might be helpful elsewhere too, to help get kids in shape. I wonder if that would be better than report cards. Show how to fix some of these problems instead of just saying "This child is obese" or "This child is borderline obese" or "This child is of average weight".

But to be fair, the reports have influenced some kids to change their habits. Maybe that is what they need. I know when I was little, they measured our weight and height, but never mentioned what was considered a healthy weight.

Perhaps this will catch on like the trans fat ban.

First trans fats bans, now counting calories

It appears that Americans are getting more serious about their health, or at least some are.

So what is the newest idea?

Calories posted with items on the menu.

The California bill will be going to Governor Schwarzenegger if it gets through legislation.

Basically, this bill means putting calories on all the food items at restaurants. I have to admit I have sometimes wondered about the calories and other nutrition information when at a restaurant. However, it is only shown on food that are considered 'healthy'.

I know this could pass, which would affect all of California, and it is possible that other states might want to do the same thing. However, the cost to restaurants could be high, especially if they change their menu often.

It is mentioned that children eat twice as many calories in a restaurant. I think that could be true for most people.

I just wonder if seeing the calories will bring in less business or a change in what people order. I know I have had some food at places like that isn't healthy and probably wouldn't have touched it if it was listed.

Personally, I am torn on this issue of knowing and not knowing. While it would help with health decisions, I think the staggering numbers would be a bit intimidating.

It could help though. I know I don't go out to restaurants as often as some, but it would let people see what their calorie intake is, and where the calories are coming from.

Another new diet pill

So what makes this new diet pill so special?

It's the first one approved by the FDA.

Now, personally, I have never used diet pills just because I've heard of all the side effects. There are also so many out there. However, this one is approved by the FDA, the first one ever.

How it works is an interesting concept, absorbing fat and then having it leave the body in a natural manner. However, like with many drugs there are side effects to think about and certain people can't use it.

The important thing that most people forget is that this pill should be INCLUDED with healthy eating and exercise not IN PLACE of those things.

I am fairly certain that since this new pill has been FDA approved, there will be a lot of people who will want to try it. It might help, but I think eating healthy and exercising are more important.

Caffeine and donuts?

While I knew there would be a lot in terms of trans fat bans occuring as well as other changes in food, I never thought that caffeine would be added to food. And yet, someone wants to do it.

Caffeine in donuts.


The man who wants to market these says he could put in 100 milligrams of caffeine, which is the same amount in a 5-ounce cup of coffee. However, research says that this could be dangerous. 12-ounces of soda pop has between 30 to 55 milligrams of caffeine, so just this could equal more than 36 ounces of soda pop.

Personally, I don't drink coffee, but I also try not to have too much caffeine, mostly because if you are addicted to it and don't get it, it's nearly impossible to function.

There is just so much caffeine out there, do we really need to add more? Also, this could lead to an increase in donuts, which are certainly not good for anyone's health.

Calories

Well, we are moving on from trans fat and saturated/unsaturated fat, at least for the time being.

Everyone has seen the number of calories listed on food labels. However, what are calories?

According to Medlineplus

"1 calorie is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1 degree Centigrade. The calorie measure used commonly to discuss the energy content of food is actually a kilocalorie or 1000 real calories. This is the amount of energy required to raise 1 kilogram of water (about 2.2 pounds) 1 degree Centigrade."

Basically, this means that the amount of calories eaten will affect the amount of energy a person has throughout the day.

The question is, how many calories should a person have each day? In the past, 2,000 has been the average amount suggested. However, now there is more of a focus on shaping that number depending on the individual.

The American Cancer Organization has a calculator to help calculate calories needed to maintain your weight or how many to eat to get to your ideal weight.

One suggestion to help is also to choose food that has nutrients in them, since you have to eat calories to survive, you might as well have food that is good for you too.

Trans fat bans

Trans fat bans have been in the news lately. It seems whenever I look, I see another city is either banning transfat, or they are considering it.

Tiburon, California was the first city to ban trans fat.

New York City followed soon after. People seem very concerned about the changes this will cause, yet the only change will be the use of healthier oils used in cooking. Food will still be available as it was before.

Not everyone likes the idea of the trans fat ban though.



This is a clip from CNBC where Justin Wilson from the Center for Consumer Freedom and Steven Joseph of BanTransFats.com talk about the ban in New York.

Bans are now being considered in Chicago, Boston, California and even internationally, Calgary in Canada and Waverly in Australia.

A helpful site www.bantransfats.com has a lot of information about that. Also, it is run by the man shown in the video above, Steven Joseph.

Saturated and unsaturated fats

I have explained trans fat, but what about other fats? Yes, there are different types of fats. Two more specifically. One of them is a bad type of fat, but the other is considered good.

According to Medicine Net.com saturated fat is "A fat that is solid at room temperature and comes chiefly from animal food products. Some examples are butter, lard, meat fat, solid shortening, palm oil, and coconut oil. These fats tend to raise the level of cholesterol in the blood."

Medline Plus also talks about another type of fat, unsaturated fat, which is sometimes used in place of saturated fat to help either lower cholesterol or keep it low. There are two types, monounsaturated fats such as olive oil and canola oils and polyunsaturated fats which include oils from fish, corn, sunflowers, and soybeans.

Another popular polyunsaturated fat is Omega 3, which can help the body in many ways. Since the human body is unable to make these fats itself, it must come from food such as fish, especially tuna, salmon, and mackerel as well as earlier mentioned oils.

These are very helpful and have been said to be good for the heart and that these might also help reduce a person's risk to other health problems such as diabetes, strokes and mental decline to name just a few of them.

So what makes the difference? The atoms of saturated fat do not have double bonds between molecules. Due to not having any gaps, the CH2 can't be broken up and can lead to clogged arteries. However unsaturated fat molecules have double bonds this allows the CH2 to break up, which means arteries are not negatively affected.

What is trans fat?

Trans fat has been in the news for quite awhile, especially about how unhealthy it is for a person's health. So here is an important question.

What is trans fat? According to Medicinenet.com trans fat is:

"An unhealthy substance, also known as trans fatty acid, made through the chemical process of hydrogenation of oils. Hydrogenation solidifies liquid oils and increases the shelf life and the flavor stability of oils and foods that contain them. Trans fat is found in vegetable shortenings and in some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods and other foods."

In other words, trans fast is often created by those processing and making the food that is consumed. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (http://www.fda.gov), trans fat is made when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil, which is called hydrogenation. This is supposed to extend shelf life of the food and keep the flavor as well.

Trans fat is not often found naturally and if it is, it is usually in some products that are animal based.

The American Diabetes Association has a list of food high in trans fat including stick margarine, shortening and certain processed food, including a lot of snack food.

Webmd.com also had a list of the top ten foods that have the most trans fat. Most would think fast food would be first, but it was fourth, following margarine, packaged food like cake mixes and soups.

The New Epidemic

When most people think of epidemics, they think of influenza or perhaps of even the Black Plague that killed hundreds of thousands of people in the 14th century.

However, the epidemic facing some nations in the world, especially the United States, is the obesity epidemic. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines obesity as having a body mass index of 30 or above.

According to this organization, obesity has become a problem over the past 20 years. Over 60 million adults and nine milllion children are obese. Being obese can lead to a number of problems, yet people are more focused on children getting a hold of drugs and alcohol, or they worry about getting cancer due to genetics.

It is time to wake up and see that obesity is a national crisis that should not, and can not, be ignored. Not only is it physically damaging to someone's body, but it can affect a person's self esteem.

The best way to fight this epidemic is to be knowledgable and know the risks (including certains cancers, heart disease and developement of Type II Diabetes) that are involved when reaching for the last drumstick or having fast food for lunch and dinner.