You may not have thought about it, but weight loss has some amazing “side effects”. We all know that medications have side effects, some of them life threatening. And that is true of common prescriptions for common conditions. Since we typically associated “side effects” with prescription medications, let’s consider some common current examples:
Tag Archives: obese
Obesity is a Real Disease!
The American Medical Association made headlines June 18, 2013 by acknowledging that obesity is, in fact, a true disease. For those struggling with overweight and for those of us engaged in the medical battle against obesity these past 20 years, this was not really news, but an affirmation of sorts. Indeed, both the medical causes and complications of obesity are just as medical in nature as other common diseases. Let me explain…
3 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight (And None of Them Are Willpower)
Don’t Blame Your Lack of Willpower for Your Troubles at the Scale
by Emily Farris, Kansas City Enhance Health & Wellness Magazine, Jan-Feb 2011
Download the article as a printable PDF or view the article layout online.
“If only I wouldn’t have had that first French fry…”
“If only I didn’t like pasta so much…”
“If only I could resist the chocolate croissant at the coffee shop every day…”
If any of those statements sound familiar, you’ve probably blamed your willpower, or lack thereof, for excess weight at some point in your life. But Dr. Rick Tague, M.P.H. and founder of the Center for Nutrition and Preventative Medicine in Leawood and Topeka, Kansas, would tell you to stop being so hard on yourself. In fact, he says willpower has very little, if nothing, to do with weight.
Diabetes on the Rise
By Dr. Rick Tague
A Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey found that 11.3% of adults in America (26 million people) have diabetes as of Oct. 2009, up from just 10.4% in Jan. 2008. The rate of type 2 diabetes mellitus could climb to 15% by 2015 if current trends continue. The report contributes this rise to increases in obesity rates, noting that people who are obese are 3x more likely to receive a diagnosis of diabetes compared to their non-obese counterparts. Kansas ranked among the states with with the lowest increases.
Why Are You Overweight?
By Dr. Rick Tague
The Real Answer May Surprise You
I usually ask patients why they think they’re overweight. Too often the answer is predictable. “I don’t have self-control.” Or, “I’m too lazy to exercise.” The fact is that overweight individuals are typical of all Americans. 95% of Americans do not exercise regularly, even though everyone is aware of the benefits.
So, not exercising is not the cause of obesity. Otherwise, 95% of Americans would be obese! And, I’ve never seen any research to support the notion that overweight individuals suffer from a lack of “self-control”. They tend to be successful in their careers, their families, and in their personal lives. After treating thousands* of patients, I have not seen that lack of self control is any more common in overweight individuals.