Nibbles: Dietitians prejudiced against obese, optimism helps you live longer and helping kids get fit
Many students see overweight as lazy
If you’re overweight and visiting a dietitian for help, you probably want that person to think that you’ll actually follow the guidelines they set out for you, but a study suggests that a lot of dietitian students these days are prejudiced against overweight people. Students were given profiles of patients that were identical except some patients were obese and some were of normal weight. They were asked their perceptions of the patients, how willing they thought they would be to adhere to treatment and their general opinions about the obese. Those who reviewed the cases of obese people said they were less likely to follow treatment guidelines and also said their diets were of poorer quality and their health status worse than normal weight patients, even though their diets and health information were the same other than their weight.
Deaths caused by obesity up 35 percent in UK
British statistics show that since 2003 the number of deaths that are linked to obesity have risen by 35 percent, accounting for 1,203 deaths in England and Wales in 2007 (this doesn’t count Scotland, where the situation is also dire). Experts say the actual number may be even higher because obesity isn’t always listed as a cause of death on death certificates. A post-mortem expert says bodies are weighed and measured so that a body mass index of all fatalities could be collected, but they don’t keep track of trends in weight. Still, it’s clear that there are more obese people dying than ever before, with some morgues having to install wider refrigerator doorways to accommodate bigger bodies.
Optimistic women seem to live longer
If you want to live as long as possible and you’re a woman, you might need to change your attitude. A look at 100,000 women presented at a meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society found that those who were optimistic had a lower risk of cancer-related death as well as heart disease or early death from any cause. The women were followed for eight years, and those who reported being the most optimistic had a 30 percent lower death rate from heart disease than less-positive women, while those on the hostile end of the scale had higher death rates overall and a 23 percent increased risk of dying from cancer.
Diabetes drugs given before lifestyle changes
The Royal College of GPs in Britain says that diet and exercise should come first when a person is diagnosed with diabetes, but in many cases people are getting medications soon after diagnosis without giving lifestyle changes a chance. A study of 650 people found 36 percent were on medication within a month of diagnosis and 13 percent were actually on two drugs within the first weeks of their diagnosis. Researchers said giving people a pill makes it seem like their lifestyle is not the problem so they don’t think they have to make any changes to see improvement.
People should be playing more racquet games
The leader of the Middlesex squash club says that British people (and others as well, no doubt) should lay off the gym and take up a racquet sport like squash. He says top players burn as many as 25 calories a minute running around the court, far more than is possible on most gym equipment. Plus you don’t have to queue up for sweaty machines, you have a built-in buddy who’ll be disappointed if you wuss out and something to look forward to at the end of a long day. While we don’t have a lot of squash stateside, joining a tennis league or another team sport could be better motivation to work out than your gym membership.
Kids need more exercise to stop obesity
Finally, while school programs that get kids moving are better than nothing, health experts say that little bit of exercise isn’t enough to stave off childhood obesity. Frederick Hahn, author of a new book on the subject, says school exercise programs are too low impact and that weight training should be added to the regimen to make kids stronger and help them lose weight. Working out with weights is a sure way to change body composition, which is what a lot of kids these days need more than just blowing off steam midday.
(By Sarah E. White for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)
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