Consider the Facts

Fact # 1:

Weight management is balancing caloric intake (food) with caloric expenditure (metabolism and physical activities).  To lose weight, caloric expenditure needs to be more than caloric intake.

Fact # 2:

Irrespective of genetic predisposition and acquired endocrinological or metabolic abnormalities, losing weight and gaining weight is governed by the laws of physics.

 Fact # 3:

Most of the people who lose weight by following different weight loss programs will gain it back.

 Fact # 4:

Since we introduced low-fat and fat-free processed foods, the population in the US has become fatter.

 Fact # 5:

In surveys done in 1976-1980 and in 2003-2004, data show the prevalence of overweight in children from 2 - 5 years increased from 5.0% to 13.9 %; for those aged 6-11 years, the prevalence increased from 6.5% to 18.8%; and for those aged 12-19, the prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.4%.

 Fact # 6:

From 2000-2005, the US obesity rate increased by 24%.

People with BMI over 40 grew by 50% -- twice as fast.

Morbid obesity increased by 75% -- three times as fast. 

 Fact # 7:

Sixty-six percent of the US population is either overweight or obese.

 Facts # 8, 9, and 10:

Look for them in Dr. Hamdan’s forthcoming article titled The Fourth Dimension: The Weight Management Companion.

Body Mass Index:

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a relationship between your height and weight as indicated in the formula below.  The BMI tells you if you are overweight and also predicts your risk of weight-related illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, gall bladder disease, and pain secondary to arthritic joints.  This index is meant for adults only.

Note: Individuals with dense developed muscle mass tend to have a high BMI score but have very little fat; the BMI score in this case does not reflect an accurate analysis.  Muscle tissue weighs much more than fat tissue.

Interpreting BMI:

                          < 18                  Underweight

                         18-24.9              Desirable

                         25-29.9              Overweight

                         30 and above     Obese



Source:  Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, 2001

You can also calculate your BMI by applying one of the following formulas.

Imperial:  Your weight in pounds times 703, divided by your height in inches squared.

BMI = (Wt. X 703) ÷ (Height) ²

Example:  If you weigh 170 lbs and your height is 65 inches

                 BMI = (170 X 703) ÷ (65X65)

                          = 119510 ÷ 4225

                          = 28.3

Metric:  Your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height in meters.

BMI = Wt. (kg) ÷ (Height) ²

Example: if you weigh 90 kg. and your height is 1.80 m, then

                BMI   = 90 ÷ (1.80x1.80)

                         = 90 ÷ 3.24

                          = 27.8







Dr. Hamdan’s strategy for managing weight is a combination of four factors:

1. Modifying behavior:  Some are included in the “steps toward traditional Mediterranean diet.”
2. Reducing caloric intake (food):  Choose low calorie foods (salads and soups, for example) and avoid simple carbohydrates (sugar, candy, soda, and sweets).
3. Increasing physical activities/exercises.  This boosts the metabolic rate during and hours after the activity or exercise.
4. While the above three are known, the fourth factor will provide an additional effective solution for the overweight/obesity epidemic.  It is a healthy and natural way to deal with overweight/obesity. It takes into consideration the biochemistry of nutrition.  It offers a solution beyond the present scientific thinking.  Look for The Fourth Dimension: The Weight Management Companion to be published here soon.

   ---

   ---

   Mediterranean diet benefits heart even without weight loss: study; May 1,2013; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_136423.htm

5. ---



• The Surprising Reason People Get Fat; http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02963/The-Surprising-Reason-People-Get-Fat.html

  ---

• Why We Get Fat? New York Times; Dec. 27, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/28/health/28zuger.html?_r=0

  ---

• Why are we so fat? National Geographic. http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-human-body/human-body/fat-costs/

  ---

• Fat shaming can lead to weight gain. 07/30/13 
• ttp://www.huffingtonpost.comk2%26pLid%3D351197



Slender Phoenician women 800 BC

Salad

Beans

 Green Tea

 Soup

Apples

MDCphotoz

  Exercise and walk

Follow Steps Towards Traditional Mediterranean Diet