Tag Archives: obesity

Biggest Losers on ‘Biggest Losers’


Knees, ankles and feet are the biggest losers in this boot camp stupidity.

‘Biggest Losers’ is off and ‘running’ again for another season in 2014

There is going to be another group of individuals with joint and soft tissue damage once again.

The ‘boot camp’ exercise programme that we see on television may shed a few kilos quicker but it does this at the expense of damaging joints and is not sustainable when the contestants get out of the enclosed environment.

The frustrating thing for me is seeing these people pushed over the edge physically and the injuries that develop. Continue reading →

What is LCHF?

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LCHF is eating by the concept of a diet of Low Carbohydrate and High (Saturated) Fat intake. It is sort of two thirds of the No Fructose concept.

Fructose is half of sugar. Sugar is a carbohydrate and the fructose portion ‘makes you’ hungry and gets turned into the ‘bad cholesterol’ – the small dense LDL’s (low density lipoproteins).

Glucose is another carbohydrate and it makes up half of sugar and is the basic carbohydrate in starch, bread, pasta and rice.

Glucose that is not used up immediately by the brain and muscle in particular goes to fat production. Continue reading →

Inroads in the ‘Junk Food’ Hospital Debacle

Photo: Inroads in the 'Junk Food' Hospital DebacleLast week saw the introduction of some changes at the Launceston General Hospital. A start!There has been a relabelling of the drink fridges in the hospital cafeteria. The Coca Cola signage is down and replaced with Mt Franklin Water. Same company but a different message.After existing stocks are depleted they will no longer stock Red Bull or Mother.Some of the vending machines now have healthier options. Cheese and biscuits and a nut mix in the first one I came across.It’s not up to the 80% healthy options but it is a step by the Food Services department to change.They are also in negotiation with the ‘Pink Ladies’ to see what can change at the kiosk level.Great to see that one of the head cooks and I believe 2 of the dieticians came along to my presentation on Friday night. Let's see if anything comes of that.Alas NO inroads with withdrawing chocolates off the desks in the ward situation. The Minister of Health, Michelle O’Byrne is not willing to do anything confrontational coming into an election early next year. Hopefully the nursing staff will develop a conscience when it comes to advertising poor food choices directly in the face of patients suffering from the build-up effects of those poor choices. I wonder if the ongoing decision to keep selling them is based on their stubbornness and pride though! No one likes admitting they are wrong but this one remains a no brainer.

Last week saw the introduction of some changes at the Launceston General Hospital. A start!

There has been a relabelling of the drink fridges in the hospital cafeteria. The Coca Cola signage is down and replaced with Mt Franklin Water. Same company but a different message.

After existing stocks are depleted they will no longer stock Red Bull or Mother.

Some of the vending machines now have healthier options. Cheese and biscuits and a nut mix in the first one I came across. Continue reading →

Dining with the Devil

Photo: ‘Dining with the Devil’This Irish hospital CEO gets his salary bonuses from ‘Mars Bars’ sales. Profits from the sale of junk food in the kiosks are the apparent funding model for this hospitals senior management.The Launceston General Hospital unfortunately ‘Dines with the Devil’ as well. The CEO, John Kirwan has told me that the funds from the sale of Junk Food via the hospital auxiliary buys much needed equipment for the hospital. In particular the funds often go to bed purchases and the latest ‘big’ expense is now the purchase of ‘Bariatric’ beds. These are for those super obese patients.We know that poor food choices account for the majority of obesity related conditions including Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, Dementia and all the rest.Am I the only one that sees the irony of all of this?Does the end truly justify the means?The trouble with hospitals selling and promoting Junk Food is that somewhere along the line they are ‘profiting’ at the expense of the well-being of the community. I do not for one minute believe this is just a Launceston issue. All I hear is the same all around Australia.I suspect the Devil is enjoying his dining partners.Time to break up the party.http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/david-mcwilliams/david-mcwilliams-linking-hospital-boss-benefits-to-sale-of-mars-bars-makes-me-sick-29768858.html

This Irish hospital CEO gets his salary bonuses from ‘Mars Bars’ sales. Profits from the sale of junk food in the kiosks are the apparent funding model for this hospitals senior management.

The Launceston General Hospital unfortunately ‘Dines with the Devil’ as well. The CEO, John Kirwan has told me that the funds from the sale of Junk Food via the hospital auxiliary buys much needed equipment for the hospital.

In particular the funds often go to bed purchases and the latest ‘big’ expense is now the purchase of ‘Bariatric’ beds. These are for those super obese patients. Continue reading →

Feedback from the Heart Foundation or lack thereof. Out of date once again!

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Many of you will have signed the online petition calling for the Heart Foundation to stop giving out of date advice regarding diet in the management of cardiovascular health. Nearly 20000 signatories now on board.

Jessie Reimers from Brisbane has put her efforts behind this and the cause was put up on A Current Affair last week.

The Heart Foundation (HF) responded that very evening and once again tried to dismiss it as sensationalist and misinformed. They have described Jessie as ‘the petition author is not qualified to give health or dietary advice and we would encourage people to seek such advice from qualified professionals.’

By definition that makes me as unqualified as much as the next person. All that I have done is look at the information that is now so readily available and come to my own conclusions. I then have put ‘on the line’ my own qualifications and am very happy to take this stand and go against the Heart Foundation. Continue reading →

‘Creation’ Explained from the Food Aspect

Photo: ‘Creation’ Explained from the Food Aspect – a light hearted opinionIn the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ice Cream and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan said, "You want chocolate with that?" And Man said, "Yes!" and Woman said, "and as long as you're at it, add some sprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.And God created the healthy yoghurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.So God said, "Try my fresh green salad." And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.God then said, "I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them." And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof. God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it "Angel Food Cake," and said, "It is good." Satan then created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's Food."God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy centre into chips and deep-fried them in Polyunsaturated Oils. And Man gained pounds.God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.Then Satan created Cuts to the Health Care System.Amen#GaryFettkeNoFructose #lchf #diet #WeightLoss #fat #sugarfree #sugar #SweetPoison #Fructose #NoFructose #IQS #carbs

‘Creation’ Explained from the Food Aspect – a light hearted opinion

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

Then using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ice Cream and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan said, “You want chocolate with that?” And Man said, “Yes!” and Woman said, “and as long as you’re at it, add some sprinkles.” And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled. Continue reading →

Damage control by the beverage and sugar industry?

Photo: Coca Cola Sweet Symposium: a spotlight on fructose and sugar-sweetened beverage trends Damage control by the beverage and sugar industry?It is on December 2 Sweet Symposium: a spotlight on fructose and sugar-sweetened beverage trends in Sydney – Free and put on by Coca Cola.Be warned - This is the Coca Cola company that is 'Not part of the Obesity problem but wants to be part of the solution.'One can only imagine that the take home message from this meeting will be that Sugar is fine in moderation and that as a population we are ingesting it in moderation.I was challenged to review several of Dr John Sievenpiper's articles earlier this year. He is the fly in expert for this Coca Cola sponsored event.My take on what I have read from his papers.Most of the articles failed to acknowledge the food industry sponsorship.He often looks at fructose metabolism alone and fructose virtually never comes into our diet in isolation. It is generally ingested with glucose in the form of sugar. His experiments are generally not reflective of ‘real life’.The doses he has referred to in the past are low by Australian human consumption averages.Sievenpiper often looks at ‘meta-analyses’ where you put together a whole lot of smaller studies with average results and then expect better results by combining all of them together. Be very careful in interpreting these papers.I don’t know exactly what he will be discussing but it may be useful to understand this prior to attending.I cannot make it to the meeting but will try and watch it on the free webinar. Just a matter of joining it from the link.If the Sydney locals can get along it could be interesting. Let me know how you go.https://engage.vevent.com/index.jsp?eid=3045&seid=12&fb_source=message

Coca Cola Sweet Symposium: a spotlight on fructose and sugar-sweetened beverage trends

Damage control by the beverage and sugar industry?

It is on December 2 Sweet Symposium: a spotlight on fructose and sugar-sweetened beverage trends in Sydney – Free and put on by Coca Cola.

Be warned – This is the Coca Cola company that is ‘Not part of the Obesity problem but wants to be part of the solution.’ Continue reading →

Bariatric Surgery – Not My Recommendation

I think Lap Banding and Stomach bypass procedures are expensive surgical procedures for an elite few and the procedures have significant risks in the short and long term. Bariatric surgery is not a sustainable option for the wider society. There is a better option by taking control of your diet and lifestyle.

For every success of Bariatric surgery I see a failure. Continue reading →

Bariatric Surgery – Not My Recommendation

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I think Lap Banding and Stomach bypass procedures are expensive surgical procedures for an elite few and the procedures have significant risks in the short and long term. Bariatric surgery is not a sustainable option for the wider society. There is a better option by taking control of your diet and lifestyle.

 

For every success of Bariatric surgery I see a failure. I regularly see people who have had the surgery but have reverted to their old weights and habits.  You can still get call calories in a liquefied form. Sure there are the success stories touted in the media and even by surgeons. Continue reading →