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what is it?
Overweight people have too much body fat; the medical term is obesity. The condition is linked to a number of health risks including heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, joint problems, back pain, gallstones and respiratory problems.
Overweight is generally worked out in terms of your height, weight and the area of your body surface, a collection of measurements known as your body mass index or BMI. The distribution of weight is important too. People who carry most of their weight around their waist ('apples') are more at risk of health problems than those who accumulate weight on their hips and thighs ('pears').
what causes it?
Overweight occurs when your body's energy intake (how many calories you eat) exceeds your energy output (how many calories you burn in activity). Your precise energy needs are determined partly by how active you are and partly by your basal metabolic rate (BMR) or the rate at which you use up energy, both of which may have an inherited component. However regular exercise can increase the metabolic rate and help with weight control.
Some hormonal conditions such as underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) are linked to overweight. However the vast majority of overweight people do not have a hormonal problem.
The only way to burn off excess fat is to reduce your food intake at the same time as increasing your energy output by taking more exercise, so that your body is forced to start using its fat reserves. Complementary therapies are only likely to help as part of a properly designed diet and exercise programme.
how complementary therapies may help
Each therapy has been coded from 1 to 5 depending on the amount of scientific evidence there is for its effectiveness. The higher the number the stronger the evidence, so 5 = definitely, 4 = probably, 3 = possibly, 2 = opinion, and 1 = rumour. (There is more detail about these in the 'does it work?' section of 'before you start'.)
Having said this, the codes aren't meant to be cast in stone or to put you off trying a particular therapy or therapies if you feel they might be helpful to you.
Go to therapies for a full description of each individual treatment, plus information on how to find practitioners.
acupuncture
(code 2)
Some people report that stimulating acupoints help reduce hunger and help in weight loss, although there is no reliable research confirming this.
ayurveda
(code 2)
Diet is a mainstay of ayurvedic medicine. A practitioner will look at your diet and lifestyle and advise on how to adjust these in order to balance the three doshas. This may be combined with detoxifying techniques, massage and herbs.
A study carried out in 1990 showed that an ayurvedic herbal formula was an effective aid to weight loss, although other studies have subsequently cast doubt on this.
herbal medicine
(code 2)
A herbalist will look at your overall diet and lifestyle and make suggestions as to how you can adjust these to achieve weight loss. Herbs that may be recommended include guar gum, malabar tamarind and mate tea, although there is no strong evidence for any of these.
nutritional therapy
(code 2)
The therapist will look at what you eat and advise you on how to adjust your diet. Sometimes food intolerance is said to make weight loss more difficult, with wheat and dairy products cited as common culprits.
You may be recommended to take a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement to ensure you are getting all the nutrients you need. Other supplements may be advised including chitosan, chromium picolinate, hydroxycitric acid (HCA), pyruvate and spirulina , although there are no firm studies to support any of these.
» help and info
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(July 2002)
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