Trends in Obesity and the Worst Restaurants

Medical science has been struggling with the causes and ways to prevent obesity, which is one of the worst health issues in this country.

First, we need to once again address our diet! The Center for Science in the Public Interest has called out nine unhealthy dishes at restaurant chains in its annual Xtreme Eating Awards.

https://cspinet.org/news/dave-busters-uno-among-2016-xtreme-eating-award-recipients-20160801

One of this year's nine winners is the Whole Hog Burger at Uno Pizzeria & Grill, which has five types of meat and four types of cheese. It packs more calories than an adult needs in a day, along with six days' worth of sodium. This does not help!

In Golden NH et al., Pediatrics 2016 Aug 22, the researchers summarized some knowledge about obesity in children:

The following behaviors are associated with obesity and eating disorders in adolescents:

• Dieting: associated with a 2.0-fold increased risk for becoming overweight and a 1.5-fold increased risk for binge eating.

• Family meals: improve the quality of dietary intake and provide opportunities for modeling healthy food choices.

• Weight talk: comments made by parentsabout their own weight or to encourage their child's weight loss may be perceived as hurtful, even when well-intended.

• Teasing about weight by a family member.

To help prevent obesity and eating disorders, the report recommends pediatricians do the following:

• Discourage dieting, skipping meals, and diet pills; focus on healthy eating and physical activity rather than on weight.

• Promote a positive body image.

• Suggest more-frequent family meals.

• Encourage families to talk about healthy eating rather than weight.

• Ask overweight and obese adolescents if they are being mistreated or bullied; address issues with patient and family.

• Monitor weight loss in adolescents who should lose weight.

In addition, Trajkovski M and Wollheim CB., reporting in Nature 2016 Jun 9; 534:185, have found the the bacteria growing in the intestine of fat people is different than others, and suggest that this may be related to their diet, the antibiotics they took as children, and, specifically, certain proteins produced by these abnormal bacteria.

In another study, evaluating participants of the show "The Biggest Loser", (Obesity (Silver Spring) 2016 May 2), researchers found that there was an unusual adaption that led to regaining the weight easily. In the past, evolution selected for a trait that helped protect our hungry ancestors: In the face of substantial weight loss, our resting metabolic rate falls. We burn fewer calories, thereby discouraging further weight loss.

However, in fat people, their metabolic rate did not increase when they ate more calories, resulting in rapid weight gain. This may be a genetic adaption that can only be overcome by consistent exercise