We are surrounded by colour
It is not only the plants and trees and their flowers and fruits which provide us with colour, but also the many wonderful creatures who share this planet with us who contribute to the amazing colour palette, and the planet herself.
What more dramatic colours could you ask for than the variations of the blues of the sky, the blue/greens of the oceans, and the reds and oranges of sunsets - to name but a few.
The subject of Nature is enormous, however see related topics above right for some examples which have been written with the Colour Therapy / Nature connection in mind.
According to me try wearing Yellows, Orange or Purple on upper body when you go out or in office or at workplace. Try to wear black at night while sleeping or from evening to Morning But not in sunlight. This will help in releasing body fat upto some extent. Males try wearing Red color under garments for strong Immune system, this will help you in long workouts in Gym or Swimming
Yellows
Yellows are associated with sunlight and good luck, they are uplifting, joyful colors. They stimulate and enliven, and instill positive, cheerful, energetic feelings. They also encourage flexibility and adaptability. Yellows are connected with the ego, will and intellect. They are associated with mental energy and activity, stimulating the left side of the brain. Yellow activates the motor nerves and can generate energy for muscles.
Home - Yellows used in kitchens and baths are stimulating and great colors to wake up to. They are also great in areas where studying or homework may
occur. They should not be used in bedrooms, where the stimulation may make sleeping difficult. Yellows are a good choice for children who suffer from attention deficit disorder.
Overuse - Too much yellow can cause excessive mental stimulation, feelings of detachment, and arguments.
Chakra - Yellow is connected with the Solar Plexus Chakra, which governs the nervous system, metabolism, and emotions.
* Color Therapists use yellow for their positive effects on the nervous system,
gastrointestinal tract, and to treat arthritis, rheumatism, digestive problems, eczema, and constipation.
Oranges
Oranges are associated with joy, excitement, creativity, movement and ambition. They have a warming effect, and instill a feeling of playful energy,
and celebration. Since orange is a combination of yellow and red, it combines the strength and drive of red with the lighter more thoughtful nature of yellow.
Home - Orange creates a social atmosphere, related to creativity,
excitement, fun, and humor. It is a good color for kitchens and dining rooms, since it can stimulate the appetite. Oranges are a good choice for children who suffer from attention deficit disorder.
Overuse - Too much orange can lead to irresponsible behavior, nervousness, or restlessness.
Chakra - Orange is connected with the Sacral Chakra, which govern the digestive system, and sexual organs.
* Color Therapists use orange to treat problems like asthma, cold, digestion, thyroid problems, and to stimulate lactation.
Reds
Reds are associated with strength, passion, sexuality, instinct, and vitality. They can instill the feelings of power and security. Red can increase heart rate and raise blood pressure. Magenta is less physical and more spiritual in nature. It can instill feelings of protection, self-respect, and
self-awareness. Pink is connected with love, romance, caring and compassion.
Home - Reds are great in spaces where you want a lot of activity. They are empowering in meeting rooms. They can bring a romantic, cozy feel to a bedroom, however it may make sleeping more difficult. Reds can be effective in a small space where we spend a shorter period of time. Short and quick exposures to red can be enough to give our energy levels a boost. Reds are a good choice for
children who suffer from attention deficit disorder. Pink will have a very calming
effect in a room.
Overuse - Too much red can cause exhaustion, fear, aggression, and
anger. Too much magenta can be mentally draining and lead to arrogance.
Chakra - Magenta is connected with the Crown Chakra, which governs our spiritual energy.
Purples
Purples are associated with meditation and inspire contemplation. They are soothing and tranquil colors. Violet is connected with insight, dignity, respect, intuition, and clairvoyance. Deep purples are rich and regal colors.
Lavenders instill peace and well-being.
Home - Purples are great in areas for study, but should not be used in a busy or active room. Lavender can become gray looking in rooms that do not have
much natural light.
Overuse - Too much purple is linked to mental fatigue, and stagnation.
Chakra - Violet is connected with the Brow Chakra, also known as the "third eye", which relates to the mind, knowledge, and governs sensory organs.
* Color Therapists use violet to reduce hunger, control irritability, and to calm
mental illness.
Black
Black is associated with a feeling of protectiveness, mystery, and the unknown. It is an absorbing and silent color. Grays are associated with
neutrality and tranquility. Instead of standing out on their own, they tend to
support and influence more vibrant colors.
Home - Blacks should be used in small quantities along with other colors. Grays are good to use in any space, to help balance the effect of vibrant colors. Grays are a good choice for children with learning disabilities.
Overuse - Too much black can be draining, negative, overwhelming or depressing. It can soak up energy and vitality.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Acupuncture Treatment for Obesity
According to contemporary research studies, acupuncture has been proved as an effective treatment for obesity. By stimulating metabolism, it allows the body to use food and sometimes reduces the desire to eat excessively. To know more, read below.
Research studies claim that acupuncture treatment can help obese patients lose weight naturally. Acupuncture is widely used throughout the world and is one of the main pillars of Chinese medicine. Inserting acupuncture needles outwardly into several parts of the body can be proven beneficial lose weight. Besides, it can stimulate metabolism and thereby enable the body to utilize food efficiently instead of storing it as fat.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient treatment, originated in China that attempts to cure illness or relieve pain by puncturing specific areas of the skin with needles.
Basically, the pressure points which are used specifically vary depending on individual factor. Experts decide which points should be used with regard to the patient’s fat distribution, emotional status, eating habits and other factors. For your convenience we are presenting some of techniques of acupuncture which can help you to reduce your weight.
Acupuncture Points
There are several acupuncture points (365 points have been identified in Chinese acupuncture maps) which focus on peripheral nerve junctions, referred to as ‘trigger points’.
Needling or ‘traditional acupuncture’, in which fine stainless-steel needles are inserted through the skin to various depths, kept in place for varying lengths of time or further stimulated manually or electrically that is called ‘electroacupuncture’.
Treat these points by colors, seeds or Magnates
- Press needles in which short acupuncture needles are taped into place for extended periods with pressure being applied on a regular basis.
- ‘Acupressure’ in which beads are massaged or pressed at specific locations.
- ‘Moxibustion’ involving the application of heat, by burning small grain-sized pellets of combustible material on or near the acupoints.
- ‘Cupping’ or using cups of various materials to create ‘negative pressure’ or a vacuum on the skin surface for increased blood circulation and point stimulation.
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (’TENS’) which involves applying electrode pads
The commonest method used for the treatment for obesity is Auricular (ear) Acupuncture. Normally the acupuncture points used in the treatment of obesity include ‘Hunger’ and ‘Stomach’ points.
Diet & Exercise
In any kind of weight loss program, diet and exercise should always be given the first priority. Most people who come for acupuncture treatments, however, have been given diets and exercise regimens before. They may have good knowledge of what they should and shouldn’t eat but they feel depressed or irritable when they try to stay on a diet. Acupuncture should relieve such problems and improve will power along with aiding in weight loss.
Acupuncture & Weight Loss
After acupuncture treatment, expected weight loss is about two to four pounds a week. Six to ten acupuncture treatments are usually sufficient, and these can be given once or twice a week. Weight loss continues after the treatments are completed until normal weight is achieved. The results of acupuncture usually last for minimum six months and sometimes it extends to a year. In the meantime, if the craving to eat excessively returns, a few more acupuncture treatments can mitigate it easily.
Benefits of Green Tea, How It Helps in Weight Control
A recent research study that people who have been regular tea drinkers for more than 10 years showed lower body fat levels compared with those who don’t drink tea regularly. Drinking tea is a better life choice. It’s naturally calorie-free and helps quench your body’s thirst for the daily fluids it needs. And, especially green tea can help you lose weight and keep the weight off.
Is green tea really good for weight loss? You may believe it or not, you can find green tea or green tea extract added in the compilations of popular weight loss supplements available today. The manufacturers of these supplements add it only because the benefits of green tea for weight loss are numerous.
If you understand the following benefits of green tea you can better understand how green tea helps in weight loss.
Fat Burner
Most importantly, green tea extract often replaces the caffeine component of standard ephedrine - caffeine - fat burning stack. It makes green tea a decent quality fat burner in and of itself.
Powerful Anti-Oxidant
Apart from this, it also provides additional benefits than what plain caffeine could do. It’s a powerful anti-oxidant, just like vitamin C and beta-carotene. Researchers suggest that the active ingredient called epigallocatechin gallate is up to 200 times more powerful than vitamin E as an oxidant.
Glucose Regulator
Green tea also acts as a glucose regulator i.e. it slows the rise in blood sugar following a meal, by slowing the action of a particular digestive enzyme called amylase. This enzyme is pivotal in the breakdown of starches that can cause blood sugar levels to soar following a meal.
Good Calorie Burner
Green tea aids weight loss also by increasing the metabolic rate, helping those who use it to experience greater calorie burn. A recent study showed that the ingestion of green tea, which is rich in catechins, leads to both a lowering of body fat and of cholesterol levels.
If you’d like to try green tea, you have a couple of choices: buy it in isolation or buy a popular fat burner that contains a good dose of green tea in its formulation. Drink green tea instead of regular tea or coffee. You really don’t need to take a pill or spend a ton of money to get this stuff into your system.
It is certainly true that green tea is a good health-promoting supplement and a good weight loss supplement as well. It’s one of the few natural supplements with some decent clinical proof validating its claims. The only condition to get best out of green tea is to get a good diet and exercise program under way.
Is green tea really good for weight loss? You may believe it or not, you can find green tea or green tea extract added in the compilations of popular weight loss supplements available today. The manufacturers of these supplements add it only because the benefits of green tea for weight loss are numerous.
If you understand the following benefits of green tea you can better understand how green tea helps in weight loss.
Fat Burner
Most importantly, green tea extract often replaces the caffeine component of standard ephedrine - caffeine - fat burning stack. It makes green tea a decent quality fat burner in and of itself.
Powerful Anti-Oxidant
Apart from this, it also provides additional benefits than what plain caffeine could do. It’s a powerful anti-oxidant, just like vitamin C and beta-carotene. Researchers suggest that the active ingredient called epigallocatechin gallate is up to 200 times more powerful than vitamin E as an oxidant.
Glucose Regulator
Green tea also acts as a glucose regulator i.e. it slows the rise in blood sugar following a meal, by slowing the action of a particular digestive enzyme called amylase. This enzyme is pivotal in the breakdown of starches that can cause blood sugar levels to soar following a meal.
Good Calorie Burner
Green tea aids weight loss also by increasing the metabolic rate, helping those who use it to experience greater calorie burn. A recent study showed that the ingestion of green tea, which is rich in catechins, leads to both a lowering of body fat and of cholesterol levels.
If you’d like to try green tea, you have a couple of choices: buy it in isolation or buy a popular fat burner that contains a good dose of green tea in its formulation. Drink green tea instead of regular tea or coffee. You really don’t need to take a pill or spend a ton of money to get this stuff into your system.
It is certainly true that green tea is a good health-promoting supplement and a good weight loss supplement as well. It’s one of the few natural supplements with some decent clinical proof validating its claims. The only condition to get best out of green tea is to get a good diet and exercise program under way.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Home Remedies for Weight Loss
Honey: Mix one teaspoon of honey with two teaspoons of lime juice and some pepper. Drink this at least once a day.
Boiled Water: Drink a glass of boiled water every day after a meal.
Ginger Tea: Drink ginger tea 2-3 times a day.
Black Pepper: Seasoning foods with black pepper will decrease the need for salts and fats, and will still add flavor to foods. This will also help reduce weight.
Cinnamon: This spice can act as a low calorie sweetener to help reduce the amount of sugar needed in a recipe. It also adds a unique flavor to most cookie recipes.
Shudh Guggulu: Take Guggulu with a teaspoon of ginger and honey twice a day. This helps increase a body's metabolism.
Trifla: This is another diet aid that contains amalaki, bibbitaki, and haritaki. This should be taken at least once a day if one chooses to use this supplement.
Raw or Cooked Cabbage: The intake of cabbage reduces the conversion of sugars to fat.
Therefore, eating plenty of this well help increase the body's ability to metabolize fatty foods.
Vitamin B-12:Take a vitamin B-12 tablet at least once daily. For further information on vitamin usage, read the directions on the vitamin bottle, and consult a doctor for more information. This vitamin comes also in leafy dark green vegetables, so eat many of these as often as possible.
Boiled Water: Drink a glass of boiled water every day after a meal.
Ginger Tea: Drink ginger tea 2-3 times a day.
Black Pepper: Seasoning foods with black pepper will decrease the need for salts and fats, and will still add flavor to foods. This will also help reduce weight.
Cinnamon: This spice can act as a low calorie sweetener to help reduce the amount of sugar needed in a recipe. It also adds a unique flavor to most cookie recipes.
Shudh Guggulu: Take Guggulu with a teaspoon of ginger and honey twice a day. This helps increase a body's metabolism.
Trifla: This is another diet aid that contains amalaki, bibbitaki, and haritaki. This should be taken at least once a day if one chooses to use this supplement.
Raw or Cooked Cabbage: The intake of cabbage reduces the conversion of sugars to fat.
Therefore, eating plenty of this well help increase the body's ability to metabolize fatty foods.
Vitamin B-12:Take a vitamin B-12 tablet at least once daily. For further information on vitamin usage, read the directions on the vitamin bottle, and consult a doctor for more information. This vitamin comes also in leafy dark green vegetables, so eat many of these as often as possible.
When one follow the above diet recommendations and partake in one or more of the ayurvedic remedies, that person will be cured from obesity.When not sure about how to apply herbal remedies or diet tablets, one should consult an ayruvedic specialist who is trained to help people in determining correct dosage. This is especially true for children inflicted with any disease, but is true for everyone. All medicines should be taken within the recommended guidelines.
weight loss using Cinnamon and Honey formula
*NOTE:The honey used needs to be REAL RAW UNPASTEURIZED HONEY. If it says PURE honey it is most likely pasteurized. It is best to only buy honey that says RAW or UNPASTEURIZED on the label. The difference is that the enzymes are all heated out of the pasteurized honey.
This should be prepared at night before going to bed.
1. Use 1 part cinnamon to 2 parts raw honey. 1/2 tsp cinnamon to 1 tsp honey is recommended but can use more or less as long as in the ratio of 1 to 2. --- so 1 tsp cinnamon to 2 tsp raw honey is ok too as an example.
2. Boil 1 cup...that is 8 oz of water.
3. Pour water over cinnamon and cover and let it steep for 1/2 hour..(30 minutes)
4. Add honey now that it has cooled. Never add honey when it is hot as the heat will destroy the enzymes and other nutrients in the raw honey.
5. Drink 1/2 of this directly before going to bed. The other 1/2 should be covered and refrigerated.
6. In the morning drink the other half that you refirgerated...but do not re-heat it...drink it cold or at room temp only.
Do not add anything else to this recipe. No lemon, no lime, no vinegar. It is not necessary to drink it more time in a day...it is only effective on an empty stomach and primarily at night.
This works for most people. Inches are lost before any measurement on the scales. This program will cause significant inches lost...but you will reach a plateau and may not lose anymore. This is because the cinnamon and honey cause a cleansing effect in the digestive tract and cleans out parasites and other fungus and bacteria that slow down the digestion...causing a toxic build up. (Lowers pH) Once this is all cleaned out then you will most likely have the weight loss slow down.
Other side effects from a cleansing can occur because of toxins being released...if this occurs, cut back on how much you use or take a break.
Additionally people report increased energy, more sex drive, and feeling happier/mood enhancer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month ... which we know today as the honeymoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This should be prepared at night before going to bed.
1. Use 1 part cinnamon to 2 parts raw honey. 1/2 tsp cinnamon to 1 tsp honey is recommended but can use more or less as long as in the ratio of 1 to 2. --- so 1 tsp cinnamon to 2 tsp raw honey is ok too as an example.
2. Boil 1 cup...that is 8 oz of water.
3. Pour water over cinnamon and cover and let it steep for 1/2 hour..(30 minutes)
4. Add honey now that it has cooled. Never add honey when it is hot as the heat will destroy the enzymes and other nutrients in the raw honey.
5. Drink 1/2 of this directly before going to bed. The other 1/2 should be covered and refrigerated.
6. In the morning drink the other half that you refirgerated...but do not re-heat it...drink it cold or at room temp only.
Do not add anything else to this recipe. No lemon, no lime, no vinegar. It is not necessary to drink it more time in a day...it is only effective on an empty stomach and primarily at night.
This works for most people. Inches are lost before any measurement on the scales. This program will cause significant inches lost...but you will reach a plateau and may not lose anymore. This is because the cinnamon and honey cause a cleansing effect in the digestive tract and cleans out parasites and other fungus and bacteria that slow down the digestion...causing a toxic build up. (Lowers pH) Once this is all cleaned out then you will most likely have the weight loss slow down.
Other side effects from a cleansing can occur because of toxins being released...if this occurs, cut back on how much you use or take a break.
Additionally people report increased energy, more sex drive, and feeling happier/mood enhancer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month ... which we know today as the honeymoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are You Eating the Right Colours?
Are you balancing your carbohydrates with the calories and the fiber with the protein? Great!
Now, how about paying close attention to the colours of your diet? Surprised? Read on...
While having a balanced diet is important to keep a body nourished, you may also want to learn how colours can play an important role in the integration of your diet to your day-to-day life.
Colours act as visual and physical cues and can affect your daily mood, behaviour and goals.
How Do Food Colours Affect You?
Colours are nothing but frequencies. Each frequency has a different effect, physically and emotionally. Knowing the properties of colours can help you plan your meals accordingly. Incorporate these in your diet to help suit your personality, mood and goals.
For instance, eating something red as part of your meal each day can add to the digestive capability of your body. An apple or tomato salad would do the trick. The colour red acts as a cue for higher metabolism and activity.
On the other hand, greens in your food replenish natural health and vitality. Including a dose of beans or spinach or peas in your daily meal can ensure you stay hydrated (from a colour perspective) and healthy.
If you are on a weight loss program, it would help to drink plenty of yellow fruit juices (eg- sweet lime or pineapple). The colour yellow enhances physical activity and energy and helps burn the extra calories.
If you want to add on a few kilos, make sure you include adequate blue in your diet. This could be in the form of blueberries or healthy smoothies made of other blue fruits. And while blue may be tougher to find, you could include blue cheese (Roquefort) or blue cabbage in your salads.
Purple is a colour for stress relief and it helps relax the body. Purple cabbages, beetroot and brinjals can bring their calming purple influences to your hi-stress power lunches and dinners.
White food and drink act as cleansing agents. You can use white foods to help you get through tough times in your relationships or to help overcome negative issues. Choosing to include plenty of milk, cauliflowers and white mushrooms in your diet keeps you cleansed and happy.
Quick Tips
A Colour Balanced Healthy Meal in 10 Minutes
Pastas come in different colours. Throw together coloured pasta of your choice with fresh vegetables and olive oil. Garnish for a quick and healthy colour balanced meal in just 10 minutes.
Colour Your Cocktail Party
At your next cocktail party, try and use as many different coloured fruits and ingredients to colour your margaritas and long island ice teas. Label each drink with its characteristic colour property.
For instance, name your yellow mango margarita 'fitness freak' and your coconut pina-colada the 'cleansing potion'. Watch people choose their drinks. There may be a story behind their choice!
Long Work Hours Could Lead to Obesity
Messing with the Eye
Medical Director of Shroff Eye Hospital, Dr. Abha Shroff, says, "Staring at the computer for hours on end, might cause some very uncomfortable temporary eye problems."
When your eye has to constantly focus on something (the computer screen) in a closer range, the eye muscles tend to get tired very soon.
So, more often than not, you are straining your eyes, which could cause problems like eye dryness, neck pain, blurry near sight, headaches or difficulty changing focus.
Dry eyes can also occur because you tend to blink less while concentrate on the computer screen and keep our eyes wide open. This results in drying up of the tear film.
Slumber Facts
Sleep Specialist Dr. Jagdish Shah feels that if you are a workaholic, you are invariably inviting a silent killer into your life.
Age ---->Minimum Amount of Sleep Required Daily
Medical Director of Shroff Eye Hospital, Dr. Abha Shroff, says, "Staring at the computer for hours on end, might cause some very uncomfortable temporary eye problems."
When your eye has to constantly focus on something (the computer screen) in a closer range, the eye muscles tend to get tired very soon.
So, more often than not, you are straining your eyes, which could cause problems like eye dryness, neck pain, blurry near sight, headaches or difficulty changing focus.
Dry eyes can also occur because you tend to blink less while concentrate on the computer screen and keep our eyes wide open. This results in drying up of the tear film.
Slumber Facts
Sleep Specialist Dr. Jagdish Shah feels that if you are a workaholic, you are invariably inviting a silent killer into your life.
Age ---->Minimum Amount of Sleep Required Daily
50 and above ---->6 hours
35-50 ---->8hours
Below 35 ----> 9-10 hours
According to Dr. Shah, workaholics tend to have disturbed sleep or even sleeplessness. This is simply because the body functioning, especially the autonomic nervous system goes haywire.
On the other hand, he believes that workaholics can feel also extremely tired and sleepy even after having a night's rest.
…so, does working those extra hours still seem like fun to you?
Diet, Exercise Work for Older Obese Adults
It's never too late for obese adults to improve their heart risks through diet and exercise, the results of a new small study suggests.
The researchers, who enrolled 27 obese men and women age 65 or older, found that calorie cutting and exercise helped participants shed pounds and lower their blood pressure, bloodsugar and blood fats called triglycerides.
What's more, there was a sharp drop in the number with metabolic syndrome, a collection of conditions that raise a person's risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The findings appear in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Diet changes and exercise have been shown to improve heart disease risk factors in young and middle-aged obese adults, but less is known about the benefits for older adults. In fact, there's some controversy over advocating weight loss at older ages, according to the authors of the new study.
For one, a heavier weight is relatively less important in the health risks of an elderly person compared with a younger adult. In addition, many older adults are frail, which can make lifestyle changes difficult. But the new findings show that older obese adults can indeed alter their lifestyle, and benefit from it, according to Dr. Dennis T. Villareal of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
"We demonstrate that older adults can successfully lose weight and are compliant with interventions," he told Reuters Health. Beyond that, they can also reap the potential heart benefits seen in studies of younger obese adults, according to Villareal.
He and his colleagues based their findings on a 6-month study of sedentary, obese adults randomly assigned to follow diet and exercise therapy or to serve as a non-exercising comparison group.
All of them had mild to moderate physical limitations and nearly all had metabolic syndrome. The average body mass index was 30 or higher.
Those with metabolic syndrome had at least three conditions that increased the risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar and abdominal obesity.
Over six months, the treatment group cut calories and attended group exercise classes three days a week. In the end, they lost an average of 18 pounds, versus no weight change in the comparison group.
The number with metabolic syndrome fell by 59 percent, while the comparison group again showed no change.
More studies are needed to see if this translates into less heart disease and a longer life, according to the researchers. For now, older adults who want to make lifestyle changes should talk to their doctors about the best and safest ways to do so, Villareal said.
The researchers, who enrolled 27 obese men and women age 65 or older, found that calorie cutting and exercise helped participants shed pounds and lower their blood pressure, bloodsugar and blood fats called triglycerides.
What's more, there was a sharp drop in the number with metabolic syndrome, a collection of conditions that raise a person's risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The findings appear in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Diet changes and exercise have been shown to improve heart disease risk factors in young and middle-aged obese adults, but less is known about the benefits for older adults. In fact, there's some controversy over advocating weight loss at older ages, according to the authors of the new study.
For one, a heavier weight is relatively less important in the health risks of an elderly person compared with a younger adult. In addition, many older adults are frail, which can make lifestyle changes difficult. But the new findings show that older obese adults can indeed alter their lifestyle, and benefit from it, according to Dr. Dennis T. Villareal of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
"We demonstrate that older adults can successfully lose weight and are compliant with interventions," he told Reuters Health. Beyond that, they can also reap the potential heart benefits seen in studies of younger obese adults, according to Villareal.
He and his colleagues based their findings on a 6-month study of sedentary, obese adults randomly assigned to follow diet and exercise therapy or to serve as a non-exercising comparison group.
All of them had mild to moderate physical limitations and nearly all had metabolic syndrome. The average body mass index was 30 or higher.
Those with metabolic syndrome had at least three conditions that increased the risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar and abdominal obesity.
Over six months, the treatment group cut calories and attended group exercise classes three days a week. In the end, they lost an average of 18 pounds, versus no weight change in the comparison group.
The number with metabolic syndrome fell by 59 percent, while the comparison group again showed no change.
More studies are needed to see if this translates into less heart disease and a longer life, according to the researchers. For now, older adults who want to make lifestyle changes should talk to their doctors about the best and safest ways to do so, Villareal said.
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