DIET

Professional beliefs about the possibility of long-term weight loss by those who have a lot to lose have not changed much since 1958, when the renowned obesity specialist Dr. Albert J. Stunkard of the University of Pennsylvania said: "Most obese persons will not stay in treatment. Of those who stay in treatment, most will not lose weight, and of those who do lose weight, most will regain it."
from the National Weight Control Registry

There are many aspects involved in how, and what, we eat: emotional, chemical, physical, genetic, cultural, psychological parameters are part of the mix.

Obese may be food 'junkies' with constant cravings

TB protection may have favored obesity

2/3 americans overweight

Metabolic syndrome epidemic

figure from the NYTimes

from a recent study:

Group	Body Mass Index
anorexic women	14.72
fashion models	17.57
other models and centerfolds	18.09
normal women	21.86.
bulimic women	23.66

calculate your own BMI

Set Points and Leptin

Enteric Nervous System, the little brain

figure from Science The Gut and Energy Balance: Visceral Allies in the Obesity Wars

Hughs Lectures

1 2 3 4

CULTURAL

Ted Talk

surgical approaches and dangers

Bariatric Surgery

Types of Bariatric

May be best treatment for diabetes

Liposuction leads to redistribution of fat.

DIETS

Live Longer A diet low in calories leads to longer life in animal studies

Low-Calorie Diet May Lead to Longer Life for people

Another Potential Benefit of Cutting Calories: Better Memory

Fate of fat

Barbara's Obesity NewsLetter

To Cut Calories, Eat Slowly

Many diets stress lowering fats and replacing them with carbohydrates. Others suggest lowering carbohydrates inducing ketosis and getting ones calories from protein such as Atkins . The Zone advocates decreasing carbohydrates in favor of fats and proteins. Ketosis induces light headedness and naseua which may reduce one's appetite but doesn't seem desirable in terms of life long committment.

While it may be psychologically easier to give up fats or carbohydrates, the best advice is to have a balance between proteins, carbohydrates and fats:

A low carbohydrate diet (high protein and fat) will cause loss of water weight (excretion of amonia) and lead to ketosis (we need to keep the brain fed).
A low fat diet (high protein and carbohydrates) may have the problems Barry Sears talks about in his zone books. The carbohydrates cause insulin to be released, there is then a rebound effect when the blood sugar gets low and one gets hungry for a high carbohydrate meal and the cycle repeats. Some think this may ultimately cause insulin insensitivity and diabetes.
A low protein diet (high carbohydrates and fats) will be very high in calories and dangerous to your health since only half our amino acids can be made the rest need to come from protein in the diet.

Exercise