Medically obese individuals weigh 15% or more over their ‘ideal’ weight. Obesity becomes morbid when it begins to affect his or her health and wellbeing. Obesity also describes a presentation, an image of a person. In fact, it is an abnormal condition most commonly caused by overeating, an unhealthy habit, a ‘bad’ habit. It is a harsh word, offending, and even insulting often times. It lowers self-esteem more than one cares to admit. Thus, it is first and of utmost importance, the impact on cosmetic value, that I would address obesity.

Obesity is a global epidemic without exception. It is a very difficult medical problem to manage, because the solution involves a great deal of decision making and lifestyle changing, self-motivation and discipline.

We often hear friends link size to genetic bearing. While it is true that we are all different, … let us take our pets for example, the different canine species. Some are lean and fast like greyhounds; some are slow but strong like bulldogs. It is also true for us. Some of us are thin, even with our verocious appetites for all kinds of food, even snacking on junk foods. Others have great difficulty to lose weight instead of gaining, although they eat very little and try their darnest to abide by the dieting menu. So, what is going on here… If we care to look deeper into the lifestyle of the thin and healthy person, we may find that he or she is always on the move, both physically and mentally. Food is not always a priority, instead rigorous activity, laborious work, or exercise occupy most of the waking time. It is the lifestyle that we must learn from the thin, the strong and the healthy. It is the adaptation into the new, exciting, upbeat lifestyle that composes a true challenge.

Obesity sets a vicious cycle of unhealthy living and diseases. The fat penetrates organs and weakens them. Many diseases will be clinically manifested earlier such as DIABETES MELLITUS, HYPERTENSION, AND CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE. The overweight condition creates undue stress to the body and over time causes arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. These then further debilitate and cause even more sedentary lifestyle, and the cycle continues.

Healthy diet must compose of all of the necessary factors including grains or complex carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fat, protein, vegetables, and fruits. Know that any types of food, even vegetables or fruits, when taken in excess, will be converted and stored as fat in the body. In our society, the predominant cause of obesity is overeating and diet rich in calorie and fat. I would venture to support the use of a LOW CARBOHYDRATE diet as a good and safe diet to lose weight initially and for a short term, meaning three to six months, with your medical supervision. It is natural for the body to use carbohydrate to produce calories or energy needed. When we deplete the carbohydrate reserve, the protein and fat is converted into glucose to produce energy. By this simplified mechanism, we are able to utilize the excess fat and in turn reduce the person’s excess weight.

What about exercise?

The skeletal framework is designed with different muscle masses attaching to different bones and they are then connected with tendons and ligaments. The whole structure is mobile and always looking for the best balance and harmony in each position. When we exercise, our body is ‘flex’ and ‘fluid’. Further, exercise has multiple medical benefits such as increasing bone and muscle mass, and in the growing youth, exercise will help them grow taller and shapely.

Exercise helps to clear and sharpen the mind, and avoid or delay the onset of diseases I have mentioned. In my opinion, the best cardiovascular exercise is the aerobic exercise, which includes walking, jogging, running, bicycling, swimming, aerobic dancing. These types of exercise are meant for cardiovascular fitness, endurance, and strength. The athletes will be lean, fast and strong.

Remember not to confuse exercise with exertion. I hear so many times, patients tell me that they are on their feet all day long, all the time, at work, and they don’t have any more time or energy to exercise. A real dilemma, isn’t it?… Not really, as the saying goes, when there is a will, there will be a way … Studies have recommended aerobic exercise a minimum of three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes.

There is no secret or magic potion. One can overcome obesity only through discipline, diet, and exercise. You must be totally ready and committed with a change of lifestyle, and believe that the reward will be more than enough. Dr. Atkins and his best selling books have correctly used the low carbohydrate diet principle to treat obesity. The diet is not a new diet, in fact it is the old diabetic diet, however how it is used and marketed by Dr. Atkins as a weight loss diet is remarkable. Congratulations to Dr. Atkins.

Well, now it is time for all of us to get motivated. Remember to first discuss it with your doctor. Good luck.

By Budi Bahureksa, D.O., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.O.I
County Woman, February/March 2002