Weight Loss and Disease Prevention: Dietary Suggestions and New Recommendations of American Health Authorities

According to a long-term research conducted by the Reality Coalition — a national association of experts on obesity and diabetes, the health authorities and media should re-evaluate their recommendations regarding weight loss. The Coalition scientists suggest that many current publications are misleading the reader by saying that health benefits can be achieved only by losing considerable amounts of body weight. In fact, dropping even some weight can be extremely healthful for most overweight and obese individuals.

Professor George Blackburn, a co-chair of the Coalition, says that dieters can greatly benefit from losing modest amounts of body weight over a long period of time. This can be accomplished by switching to a healthy diet that emphasises low-calorie, high-fibre meals and restricts fatty foods. Additional benefits can be derived from moderate exercise, behavioural changes, and certain dietary supplements that can help the body burn dietary calories and fat storage.  “Losing even a little weight is very healthful for obese people”, - adds Dr. Blackburn.

According to a recent publication that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, overweight patients can successfully shed unwanted pounds by incorporating any diet that restricts dietary calories – some examples are low-carb diets, such as Dr. Atkins’, South Beach, or Dr. Bernstain’s;  and low-fat nutritional plans, such as Mediterranean or “official” Food Guide Pyramid diets.

The Reality Coalition is inviting the media to participate in making America leaner and healthier by incorporating a practical and realistic approach to the issues of slimming and dieting.

Although improving physical shape may be the key motivation many people have about weight loss, improving health due to slimming has a significantly more important impact on general well-being of an overweight person. The U.S. health authorities estimate that, in the year 2000, over 100,000 more death cases were linked to obesity in comparison to healthy weight. According to the National Institute of Health, more than 65 percent of the American population are currently overweight, and more than 30 percent are considered obese, with the obesity rates steadily increasing at an alarming rate. If the current trend is not promptly addressed, the benefits in life expectancy due to modern medical achievements will wear away.

Obesity is linked to an elevated risk of contracting a number of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, some types of cancer, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Major contributing factors to gaining excess weight are overeating, sedentary lifestyles, and genetics. Numerous studies have demonstrated that even a modest decrease in the body mass index can drastically improve health status in overweight and obese people.

In view of the above weight loss suggestions stated by the Reality Coalition, it is interesting to have a look at the current dietary guidelines of the prestigious American Heart Association, or AHA. The most recent publication coming from the AHA was their response to a popular Israel nutritional study that had explored weight-loss benefits of three different diets, including a very low-fat dietary regime. On July 17, 2008, the American Heart Association stated that they were reconsidering their previous dietary recommendations that had advised the public to eat low-fat diets (in which less than 30 percent of daily calories should have come from fat). Now, the AHA says that restricting fat in the diet may not be as healthy as was previously believed.

Instead, the American health authorities, including the AHA, currently stress the avoidance of so-called trans-fatty acids found in a variety of processed foods, margarines, baked goods, and heated vegetable oils. Recommended products for weight loss and prevention of diabetes and other “diseases of civilization” include whole-grain foods, vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, dairy, fish, poultry and lean meats.

Wayne Hammel