Obesity, weight change raise miscarriage risk

New research suggests women who have had a miscarriage could be at greater risk of miscarrying again if they are obese. Researchers at Lodon’s St. Mary’s Hospital found obesity raises the risk of miscarriage by 73 percent, but they also warned against trying to lose too much weight during the time of pregnancy.

The team followed the progress of 696 women whose reasons for miscarriage were classed as “unexplained” by a fertility clinic. Of the 696 women whose cases were followed, more than half were of “normal” weight, 30% were overweight, and 15% were obese, meaning they had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above.

Although the links between being obese and having problems conceiving and complications during pregnancy are well known, this study claims to be the first to look specifically at “recurrent” miscarriage, for which there is often no obvious cause.

The older the woman, the higher chance she had of having another miscarriage, but, when the figures were adjusted to account for this, obesity emerged as another possible factor.

Researchers said there are many infertility solutions available to women looking to have kids, but recommended health lifestyles and diets as being the most important components of any future pregnancy plan. While there was no difference in the miscarriage rates for overweight, normal and underweight women, the risk of further miscarriage increased sharply for obese women.

In Houston, Consider How Your Weight Loss Program Treats You as a Customer

Just like with any other service, choosing a medical weight loss program Houston has as much to do with the company and the process being a good fit for you as the actual diet plan. Action 13 News in Houston recently reported on a case of a MediFast customer who tried to cancel her diet plan after only a few days, but waited months to see a refund – and only got one after calling her local news station for help.

MediFast is a well-known weight lost program that focuses on re-educating patients on the right way to eat for their bodies and their special dietary requirements by providing them with pre-prepared meals and shakes. Patients begin losing weight right away with the low-calorie meals, and without the option to add an extra pat of butter to the pan or eat second helpings of dinner, making diet-friendly choices becomes much easier.

The customer reported that after two days of participating in the program, her poor success with cooking the pre-prepared meals forced her to re-evaluate her decision and she returned the meals she had not used. She was told that she would receive a refund online within six weeks, but it didn’t actually come until four months later after she contacted the news to bring light to her situation.

It’s unknown whether this is something that MediFast customers trying to get returns frequently experience or if it’s just an isolated incident, but it goes to demonstrate two important points about choosing a weight loss program:

The program needs to be the right fit for you – and if you realize that it’s not, you need to switch to another because you simply aren’t going to lose weight if you can’t stick to your plan.
If you’re looking into a structured, paid program (like MediFast or Weight Watchers), it’s important to trust the company you’re working with and know that their business practices are legit.

Maybe point number one is going to help you see weight loss success more than point number two, but do keep in mind that giant corporations with huge, multiple-state accounting departments tend to “lose track” of stuff more often and it’s often harder to get in touch with the right person to help you with your problems. But no matter what the issue you have with your weight loss program, taking a stand will go a long way towards your health and your checkbook.

Read the original story here – and for more information on a wide variety of custom-tailored weight loss programs from a medical clinic Corpus Christi, visit IMC online.

Chia Seeds: The Omega-3 Laden, Weight Reducing Superfood

For such a potent, nutritional superfood, it’s a shame Chia seeds were popularized in the United States as little toys to grow on silly clay figurines. This ancient Mayan grain deserves better and, just recently, people have been waking up to health benefits Chia seeds provide, according to cardiologists in Michigan.

Chia seeds are either white or black and both types are highly nutritious. Originally grown in Mexico and the Southwest, Chia seeds were an important part of the Aztec-Mayan diet. Warriors used Chia as their main source of fuel during conquests. Medicinally, they also used it to relieve joint pain and stimulate saliva. As a result, researchers have been studying the plant and have found it provides a variety of health benefits:

Weight Reduction : The essential fatty acids contained in Chia seeds helps to boost metabolism and promote lean muscle mass. The seeds are sometimes added to food to provide bulk and nutrients while adding very few calories. For these reasons, many people have found Chia quite useful in weight loss and weight maintenance.

Energizing:  The word “Chia” comes from the Mayan language and means strength. Chia seeds are a balanced blend of protein, carbohydrates, fats and fiber. It is said that 1 tablespoon of Chia can sustain a person for 24 hours.

Supports Heart: Health Chia seeds can help reduce blood pressure. The seeds contain one of the highest known plant sources of essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6). EFAs cannot be synthesized by our bodies however, it is very important that we get enough to support our immune, cardiovascular, nervous and reproductive systems, according to cardiologists in Dearborn MI.

Blood Sugar Stabilization : Chia seeds slow down the rate at which complex carbohydrates are digested and then assimilated into the body. The soluble fiber helps to stabilize blood glucose levels resulting in steady, sustained energy.

Brain Power:  EFAs are known to make cell membranes more flexible and efficient making nutrients more readily available and nerve transmission more efficient. This helps to improve brain function (including memory and concentration).

Today, commercial production if Chia seeds is increasing and Chia products have become easier to find in health food stores around the nation. To use Chia Seeds simply add them to salad, granola or yogurt. For the best results and higher absorption, soak Chia seeds in water until they expand. The possibilities are endless and so are the health benefits.

Exercise In Middle-Age Reduces Health Problems Later On

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new study that found moderate levels of physical activity can help people in their 40s-60s avoid health complications later in life that are linked with weight gain and chronic pain syndromes.

According to the study, people that were active in middle-age had lower levels of inflammatory markers. Researchers found the benefits of physical activity in lowering inflammation lasted for throughout the years and recommended at least 150 minutes moderate physical activity every week.

In the study, approximately 4,200 men and women aged who were around 49 years old were asked to report their daily physical activities like walking, gardening, sports and housework.

Researchers recorded their responses and measured the levels of inflammatory markers including C reactive proteins and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The research team again measured these inflammatory markers 11 years later.

The results showed that people who were physically active in their middle-age had lower levels of inflammatory markers compared to people who had lower levels of physical activities. In addition, active adults had stable levels of these markers even during a 10 year follow up study, which meant less visit to physical therapy St. Paul.

At the beginning of the study, less than half (49.1 percent) of the study group participants had the recommended amount of physical activity. The rate jumped up to more than 83 percent post-retirement.

Houston Woman Sees Weight Loss Success on “Extreme Makeover”

Houston has led numerous top ten lists of heaviest cities and cities with the highest rates of childhood obesity in the past decade. Speculation abounds as to why Texas is consistently ranked as the home of the highest obesity

Nyla Gibson lost 157 pounds on Extreme Makeover

rates in the nation – most attribute it to a climate and air quality score that makes outdoor recreation unpleasant or even difficult; factor in a southern diet rich in fried foods and refined starches, and it’s understandably difficult for Southerners to find the motivation to stay healthy.

However, living in Houston (or any US city) doesn’t mean it’s impossible to make life changes and get in shape. Nyla Gibson, a 29-year-old native of Alexandria, LA who now lives in Houston, lost 157 pounds during the past year by changing her diet, exercising, and learning to cook for herself rather than eat out. Gibson participated in the most recent season of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition” and was one of eight contestants to lose weight in their own homes by working with a coach. The weight loss and exercise coaches on the program counsel contestants on what they’re doing wrong and how to make the enormous changes required to fix their diet and exercise problems.

The idea of coaching patients – such as with the coaching provided by a weight loss center Houston residents might visit – on how to change their lives differs vastly from diet models like the Atkins Diet or South Beach Diet, which teach dieters bizarre techniques for dropping weight in the short term but don’t address the underlying reasons that they’re overweight or unhealthy. The result is that patients drop weight, but return to their old eating habits (i.e. eating out, not exercising, and making unhealthy snack or dessert choices) as soon as their extreme diet is over. Without a new education on healthy eating, the return to their old habits means that the weight will come back – and the health benefits of losing weight will be lost.

Seeing a health, fitness, or weight loss coach can be an enormous help in finding ways to lose weight and keep it off. For more information from a nutritional coaching and family practice Victoria TX dieters trust for committed and convenient in-home health advice (like that provided to Nyla Gibson on Extreme Makeover), visit Internet Medical Clinics online.

Specialised weight-loss programs are the healthiest option

Confronting weight loss can prove difficult and for that reason specialists are required to develop unique treatment programs to encourage weight loss while considering the different complex factors that can lead to weight gain. Clinics such as medical clinic Corpus Christi has developed specialized programs which assist persons with specific weight problems.

One of the principal causes of weight gain leading to obesity is an individual’s diet. Such problems are prevalent in the United States with an estimated 68% of adults being classified as overweight or obese according to the Weight-control Information Network. Obesity remains one of the biggest health problems in the United States, as it can lead to cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

The challenge for medical clinics is to tackle these problems by offering its clients the best service available which focuses on: the underlying causes of weight gain and dietary practices, whilst providing medical counselling and support to each client. Specific weight management programs are created to assist in the most effective methods of reducing weight whilst improving health.

The medical clinic Houston have set themselves the objective of ensuring that each client reaches their personal targets, providing them with a fuller, healthier life, while offering the assistance necessary should they wish to go beyond those targets.

Dietary adjustments and significant weight reduction can provide those who have suffered from obesity with a new lease of life, allowing them to take-part in activities that prior to the adoption of a specialized weight loss program would have been impossible.

The uniqueness of such programs allows those who adopt the specialized programs to realize that the sky really is the limit.

Clinic selling IVF treatment drug as weight loss supplement ordered to stop

Two weight loss clinics in Ireland have been ordered to stop advertising an IVF treatment fertility drug as a weight loss supplement.

The Irish Medicines Board has demanded that the clinics to remove the ads on their website.

The IMB’s concern related to the clinics advertising products containing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as a weight loss drug.

The drug is used to improve IVF success rates, but has no effect on fat metabolism, fat distribution or appetite.

It has the potential to cause ovarian hyper-stimulation and also the risk of unwanted multiple pregnancy if the user is not aware of the drugs intended purpose.

In the US, oral products containing HCG have been advertised. The US Food and Drug administration has sent warning letters to a number of companies about their unsubstantiated claims regarding weight loss using this hormone.

The IMB investigated allegations made against two clinics and said it is satisfied that the advertisements relating to HCG either have already been removed or are in the process of being removed from the websites.

Both companies are now complying with the Medicinal Products (Control of Advertising) Regulations, 2007.

The bottom line: IVF treatment agents should be used for their intended purpose.