Battling Obesity

By Ng Peng Hock

Smoking can help one stays slim.

Are you sure?

It does not sound convincing at all but unfortunately it is a common belief among teenage girls.

Besides the many healthy problems like heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke, and many others that are associated with overweight, the other important issue for teenage girls is their body image.

Research conducted in the United Kingdom and Canada showed that 1/3 of girls view weight gain as a reason not to give up cigarette.

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By Mike Anthony

Myth: You will do fine with a high protein/low-carb diet

Fact: This kind of diet looks to get most of the daily required amount of calories from protein foods, such as dairy products and meats, and a very small portion taken from foods that have a lot of carbs, i.e. potatoes, fruits, pasta, and bread. The main problem with this kind of diet is that many of the most common foods that people like to eat are excluded, which makes it easy for this kind of dieter to get bored or frustrated. When boredom and frustration take their toll, the end of the diet is usually close behind. Another problem with this diet is that the carbohydrates recommended usually lack in essential nutrients, while advocating that the dieter eat cheese and bacon which will raise cholesterol levels.

What it all comes down to is that high protein/low-carb diets result in fast weight loss in some people, but it isn’t just fat that is lost. People lose some of their lean muscle mass as well, and a lot of water, as the kidneys now need to work harder to excrete the extra waste that is coming in from fat and protein. The stress added to your kidneys is not healthy at all and, in the long run, leads to dehydration, headaches, feelings of dizziness and nausea. Before starting a long-term diet, you would do well to discuss it with your doctor. If you are really set on dieting, try a balanced diet first, because it will help you lose weight without hurting your bodily systems.

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