News & Opinion » Weight Loss

Fat for Fat Loss – New Study Finding Fat Can Help with Weight-Loss

emily501 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:48:43 +0000

A new study released in April 2009 has found that a form of fat actually aids in metabolizing fat and losing weight. The fat, called brown adipose tissue (or brown fat in laymen’s terms), burns calories, while the more common fat, which is yellowish-white, stores calories and packs-on-pounds in undesirable problem areas.

According to NPR.org, brown fat generates heat and helps maintain the body’s core temperature. It is predominant in infants, as they are more prone to colds, and as age increases, brown fat decreases. Though younger people have more brown fat than older people, leaner people have a higher distribution than obese individuals. It is unknown whether or not obesity is caused by the lack of brown fat or if the amount of brown fat decreases as the individual gains weight.

This discovery could reinvent the weight-loss industry as it could generate new ways to burn fat. Researchers speculate there could be a drug formulated to activate brown fat. Brown fat is activated in the presence of cold weather, so keeping the thermostat down could also be of benefit for people looking to shed some weight.

As Finances Dip, Waistlines Expand

emily501 — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:28:08 +0000

Want to find a performing stock in the plummeting economy? Think fast. Fast food. Fast food companies, as well as comfort food manufacturers, have seen a surge in profits over the last few months as many turn to gorging-down their financial woes. McDonald’s experienced a 5% increase in sales in January 2009, while Cadbury (the chocolate egg guys), saw a 30% increase during 2008, as reported by Imperial Valley News, “Avoiding Recession Weight Gain.”

According to the American Heart Association, 145 million men and women over 20 are overweight in the US, and of these individuals, 74.1 are obese. Obviously, finances are not the sole reason for these staggering numbers. Still, the emotional toll of financial instabilility may create a lifestyle revolving around stress, shame, guilt, and/or uncertainty — all of which are emotional cues to eat. The Cleveland Clinic goes so far as to account emotional eating as responsible for 75 percent of overeating.

By taking responsibility for finances, creating accurate records and a livable budget, analyzing and searching for the root of emotional distress, and understanding what non-eating activities alleviate your mood, overeating and avoiding weight gain in the recession allows you to contribute to the best investment around: your health.

Finding a Qualified Trainer

emily501 — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:16:07 +0000

With an estimated 40 to 400 trainer certification programs, it’s hard to differentiate a qualified trainer than one simply with a piece of paper stating they are “certified.”

Good trainers are able to assess your overall health and fitness level, and formulate an appropriate exercise regimen to keep you motivated and in-shape. Bad trainers may have preset exercise plans for all their clients, or keep you doing the same regimen consistently, causing a plateau in your fitness level.

Look for trainers certified in programs with accreditation, as these certification programs have more sound standards.