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By David W. Feld, MD, Jupiter Obgyn –
In the United States today, 69% of the adult population is either obese or overweight. Unfortunately, 33% of children are in these categories as well. Furthermore, data suggest that over 65% of women aged 45 to 55 years and 70% of women aged 55 to 75 years are overweight. Using body mass index (BMI), 40% of these woman are classified as obese.
As we enter into 2013, I’m reminded of all the past New Year resolutions that have come and gone, both on a personal basis, as well as the ones often promised by my patients. The main reason that they were never realized is the same reason diets don’t work. They both imply a temporary solution, rather than a lifestyle modification.
For over three decades I’ve provided my clientele with free nutritional advice. I encourage them to look at the long-term picture, and not use the idea of a “resolution”, or a “diet”. I assist them in making healthy choices, and attempt to save them money by doing it on their own. Additionally, for those that need specific recommendations for targeted counseling, enrollment in such programs as hospital-based nutritionists and Bariatric consultations may be necessary.
There are a myriad of weight-management businesses available, all claiming exceptional outcomes. The bottom line is that it all begins with you. In order for things to change, you have to change. Old habits die hard, but they can be conquered.
As we enter the first month of the New Year, I would like to address the area of dietary discretion, or, excuse the alliteration, “critique your carbohydrate, caloric consumption”. Ask yourself, how do I rate my eating habits, and is it getting the job done? Probably the hardest question to answer is, “What constitutes healthy eating”.
It is beyond the scope of this article to analyze the pros and cons of the various popular nutritional plans available, be it the recommendations of the US Department of Health and Human Services, or the multiple doctor programs, or those advertised in the media.
The bottom line is that, while all of these plans have some validity, they have not improved the health of our nation during my three decades as a physician. Cancer, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, poor cholesterol and other illnesses are at an all-time high, and these are all, for the most part, preventable maladies.
The one nutritional platform that has withstood the test of time, that is evidenced-based, and can change your lifestyle permanently, and that I personally promote, is the Mediterranean diet.
It is constantly being reviewed, from the best-selling book “The Blue Zones”, by Dan Beuttner, a frequent visitor to the Dr. Oz show, to Dr. Oz himself, to Dr. Patricia J. Sulak, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Texas A&M, to the double-blind studies on the research engine, Pub Med.
This is a diet rich in legumes, grains, nuts, fish, fruits, and vegetables. It is low in dairy products, which are overrated and over-advertised, and red meats and saturated fatty acids.
Soti et.al., in 2008, published a meta-analysis of 12 studies involving over 1.5 million participants which revealed a lower incidence of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and a general reduction in mortality. If you reduce inflammation by great nutrition, you may reduce the incidence of other diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, as well.
The old axiom, “you are what you eat”, is more accurate than when it was coined over 800 years ago by Maimonides, the great Torah scholar and physician. It was loosely translated over the years by the French, to “tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are”. Any way you interpret it, we must make a commitment to ourselves to eat smarter and healthier, and eliminate the idea that fads work. Weight-loss diets promising quick, extraordinary, and lasting results usually do not live up to their expectations. You must be vigilant, responsible, and committed to lifestyle resolution. This is not a race, it is a lifelong marathon.
KEY MESSAGES:
1) Enjoy food, but restrict calories
2) Avoid oversized and “super sized” portions
3) Increase your portions of vegetables and fruits(especially berries)
4) Avoid dairy
5) Avoid added salt
6) Drink water, not soda
7) Read labels. Look for levels of carbs, calories, and salt
With that in mind, the next few monthly articles will address not just caloric and carbohydrate restriction, but also what you can do to change your sedentary lifestyle. All these modalities are motivation to prevent illness, and to improve your present health-problems, if applicable.
What has amazed me over my long career is the innate ability of our bodies to ward off disease in spite of how we treat and abuse our cells. The present generation may be living longer due to improved treatment of cancer, heart disease, and the like, but we are certainly a sicker society dependent upon the pharmaceutical and medical-device industries, to treat illnesses. Most of these diseases are preventable and treatable through improved dietary habits. If we don’t do something soon, our present young citizens may be the first generation to experience shorter lifespans. Each and every one of us, especially healthcare professionals, needs to make a commitment to better health and habits, for it is commitment that turns your dream into reality.
Jupiter OBGYN
David W. Feld, MD
210 Jupiter Lakes Blvd, Suite 101
Jupiter, FL 33458
561-747-3777
