According to a new article on CNN.com, being an overweight woman might cause you to receive sub-standard medical care.

 Recent studies have found, if you are an overweight woman you: 

• May have a tougher time getting health insurance or have to pay higher premiums
• Are at higher risk of being misdiagnosed
• Are more likely to receive inaccurate drug prescriptions
• Are less likely to find a fertility doctor who will help you get pregnant
• Are less likely to have cancer detected early and get effective treatment for it

In their defense, doctors say extra body fat can literally obscure some illnesses, including heart disease and different types of cancer. For instance, it’s more difficult to hear heart and lung sounds in an overweight patient.

Ultrasounds are also more difficult to interpret when a person has more than eight centimeters of subcutaneous fat because the beams can’t penetrate the tissue. For women, this is particularly relevant because ultrasound is used to diagnose uterine tumors and ovarian cysts and to evaluate health during pregnancy.

There’s no doubt that medical professionals need to take a hard look their individual prejudices that may be effecting how they care for overweight women. Neglecting heavy women means ignoring the obesity epidemic.

A recent study out of the US examining the health of women over a 33 year period has produced some alarming results. The results suggested that for every 2.2 pounds gained (over the healthy BMI range) since the age of 18 women’s chances of living past 70 years old in good health are reduced by 5 per cent. The study defined ‘in good health’ as ‘not only being free of chronic disease, but having enough mental and physical ability to perform daily tasks like grocery shopping, vacuuming or walking up a flight of stairs.’

Aviva Must, the professor and chair of the public health and community medicine department at Tufts University School of Medicine, commented on the implications of this study over the long term, “We know we’re extending life span, but we don’t know if we’re extending healthy survival. If one is going to spend the last three decades of one’s life with compromised physical and mental function that may not be the picture of aging we have when we think of living into our 90s.”

To read the full article, visit News.ca.msn.

With the Swine Flu making news around the world, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention have been examining factors that may make certain individuals more susceptible or at a higher risk of contracting the flu.

Interestingly, obesity appears to be one such risk factor. An article in the Washington Post today discussed a survey which examined Californian’s who had been admitted to hospital because of swine flu. The article suggested that obesity could be a risk factor for serious complications from the flu, similarly to the risk posed by conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and pregnancy.

While results were inconclusive, CDC epidemiologist Anne Schuchat revealed that they were “surprised by the frequency of obesity among the serve cases”. Other risk factors included lung ailments, immune disorders, heart disease, pregnancy and diabetes.

A recent study (published by the Associated Press-iVillage) has found that, not surprisingly, of the 1,000 women surveyed, up to half aren’t happy with their weight, including some of those that were within a healthy weight range. The study suggests that women are more focused on how they look rather than the state of their health. Nutritionist and spokeswoman for the American Diabetic Association, Keri Gans was quoted as saying “So many women think more about the number on the scale than whether their blood pressure or cholesterol is normal”.

Many of us can identify with this idea, and according to dietician Lisa Cohn this distorted view of what’s more important is due to the constant bombardment of images and ideas from the media about how we should look, rather than on our health.

Keri Gans offers the following advice when attempting to make good health a focus rather than obsessing over numbers on the scale, she says “If you are eating a healthy diet and watching your portions, nine times out of ten your weight will be what it should be”.

To read the full article, visit NYDailyNews.com.

Last week Michelle Obama announced that an organic fruit and vegetable garden would be planted at the White House (read article). The Obama family is hoping that the produce from the garden can be used in their meals. The inspiration for the garden was to educate and inspire younger generations to eat healthy and incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into their diet.

Organic fruits and vegetables are grown without the use of chemicals and pesticides, and while there is still some debate over whether organic foods have greater health benefits than regular fresh foods, we do know that organically grown foods are better for the environment and taste great. We might not all have a green thumb or the space to plant our own organic vegetable garden, but we can at least try to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into our meals.

For those who are based in Toronto, and keen to eat healthily and organically, why not try Live Food Bar, Camros Organic Eatery, Whole Foods Market or the Organic Food Company.

It is well understood and accepted that obesity impacts negatively upon our health. However, a recent study published in the online U.K medical journal The Lancet, has further quantified just how detrimental obesity can be to our life expectancy and quality of life.

According to the study, which tracked the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and cause of death, it was suggested that an increase of one-third over the healthy BMI range heightened a person’s chance of death by a third. For an individual with a BMI over 40, that equates to approximately 10 years.

The heightened mortality rate among those who are severely overweight, was suggested to be due to the increased incidence of health issues such as diabetes, stroke and most of all heart problems, such as heart attacks. The impact of obesity on longevity has been likened to the impact of a life-long smoker.

The research suggested that a BMI of between 22.5 and 25 was the ideal for a prolonged life expectancy. Hopefully, with this research in mind, we can all find the motivation needed to loose weight and create a healthy life!

To read more on this study, visit Bloomberg.com or The Lancet.

A new regulation that has just passed in B.C is a step in the right direction for those of us who are trying to make healthier food choices! The Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport announced that, as of September 30, 2009, restaurants in B.C will no longer be allowed to use trans fats in their cooking (read article). 

Trans fats are commonly found in many processed foods as they help preserve food freshness. However, this type of fat can be detrimental to health, as it clogs arteries and is known to increase the risk of heart disease.

While at the moment the trans fat ban is only in place in B.C, we can all try to avoid consuming trans fats by making more informed food choices. While some companies are reducing the amount of trans fats in their products, there are others that are still high in trans-fat. Foods which are commonly high in trans fats include for example margarines, deep fried foods, pastries, donuts, cakes, chips, cookies and crackers. For a more detailed list of foods high in trans fat, visit EatRightOntario.ca. 

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the best way to eat healthily and avoid trans-fat is to ‘eat as much fresh food as possible, limit consumption of processed foods, eat five to 10 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, eat lower-fat products, and include items from the four food groups’. (Read full article here).

More information about trans fats can also be found at Health Canada.

With winter gone and spring upon us, there’s plenty to look forward to – warmer weather, spring flowers, spring cleaning (maybe not) and the selection of spring fruits and vegetables to enjoy!

Incorporating foods that are currently in season into meals, not only gives us the chance to try out new recipes and keep meals fresh and interesting, but when foods are in season they are also tastier and have a higher nutrient content.

Fruits and vegetables that are in season during spring include, for example; strawberries, blueberries, cherries, asparagus, spinach, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers.

Great ideas on how to enjoy more fresh foods, and recipes for the Best Spring Salads, can be found at Chatelaine.com. You can find it  here.

Or for more information on foods that are in season during spring, visit Seasonalcooking.com or click here .

Recently I have seen and heard a lot about the Goji berry. My mother buys them in bulk in China town and she eats them raw like candy, and even puts them into her tea and oatmeal. So I was a bit curious to try them and see what all the hype was all about. I hate raisins and they kind of reminded me of them, well at least their appearance. The taste however, is similar in taste to raisins but tarter. My overall evaluation was, tastes all right but is it worth eating them morning, day and night?

Goji berries have been hailed as the newest super food, however where did they come from? They seem to have sprung up from nowhere! When a product just appears on the market and gets so much hype, I immediately think, “Yeah just another marketing ploy.”

So I decided to Google them and learn a bit about them. The Chinese have been using these little red berries for thousands of years. So in actuality they are not new, however just new to western culture. They have inspired a surge of interest for their use in treating diabetes, hypertension, malaria, fever, cancer and other ailments. They have high antioxidant properties, higher than the pomegranate, blueberries, and grapes. Antioxidants help your body get rid of free radicals which cause cancer and many other unpleasant things.

Well that’s enough for me, they sound great, however they are not cheap like raisins.

It’s a proven fact; these days obesity and being overweight is as common as getting catching a cold in winter. Struggling with overweight issues is something the majority of adult Canadians deal with, almost 60% actually. What is starting to become a scary trend is the increasing number of obesity in children… 4 years ago it was at 26% so who knows what it has increased to now!

What is causing this?

Well there are always the usual suspects;

- Instant, microwaveable and pre-packaged foods

- Fast food restaurants and junk food

- Less activities and sports

- More TV, computer and video games

And then there’s the lack of these;

- Setting a good example

- Purchasing healthy, nutritious-laden foods

- Education on nutrition

But more surprising than ever was the fact that most parents who have overweight children just don’t seem to see it. Only 9% of parents admitted having an overweight child in 2006. Is this denial? Indifference? A form of neglect? Or, as researchers mention in the article below, is it rather because parents think their own kids are amazing, focus on the positives and turn a blind eye to any “faults” if you will?

Whatever the reasons, I believe it is time for parents to take accountability, lead the way by example, stop providing unhealthy foods or snacks and don’t set your kids up for a difficult, unhealthy future. Teach them early for a life-long lesson!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story…

Rian