Obesity:
Behavioral Changes Needed To Keep The Pounds Off
ScienceDaily (Feb. 20, 2008) According to Rena Wing, professor of psychiatry
and human behavior at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and
director of the Weight Control & Diabetes Research Center at The Miriam
Hospital, people who are most successful in preventing weight gain, and dieters
who lose weight and keep the pounds off, have made major changes in their in
diet and exercise routines.
Using new research findings, Wing will make her case for big behavioral changes
to stave off weight gain at the annual meeting of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science in Boston.*
"We live in an obesogenic environment that relies heavily on fast food,
automobiles, and remote controls -- all which can be labeled as 'toxic' to
maintaining a healthy body weight," Wing said. "With our research, we
want to determine the most successful strategies for maintaining a normal weight
in this toxic environment. We've found that bigger changes are needed for
success."
Along with James Hill of the University of Colorado Denver, Wing founded the
National Weight Control Registry, the largest prospective investigation of
long-term successful weight loss maintenance in the world. The registry includes
data on more than 5,000 men and women who have, on average, lost 70 pounds and
kept the weight off for six years.
At the symposium, Wing and Hill will present alternative views of how to best
address the obesity epidemic. The crisis is worldwide in scope -- health experts
call it "globesity" -- with more than 1 billion adults overweight and
at least 300 million of them clinically obese.
Hill will argue that small daily changes, say using the stairs, are enough to
prevent incremental weight gain that can lead to obesity. Wing, however, will
make the case that much larger life-style changes -- say exercising 60 to 90
minutes a day -- are needed to prevent weight regain.
"Our data from the National Weight Control Registry suggests strategies
associated with successful weight maintenance include high levels of physical
activity and conscious control of eating habits," said Wing. "Dieters
who remain diligent about diet and exercise are much less likely to gain weight
back."
Examples
of conscious control include frequent weighing, following a consistent dietary
regimen across the weekdays and weekends, and taking fast action if small weight
gains are observed.
Wing will also present new research findings that support the notion that large
behavior changes are necessary in maintaining a normal weight -- even in those
who may not have to overcome a genetic or physiological propensity toward
obesity.
"There's no way around it," Wing said. "If you want to lose
weight and keep it off, you need to really change your lifestyle, particularly
if you're overweight or have a family history of obesity. The obesity epidemic
won't go away simply because people switch from whole to skim milk. They need to
substantially cut their calories and boost their physical activity to get to a
healthy weight -- and keep minding the scale once they do." (The symposium
entitled "Fighting the Global Obesity Epidemic: Small Steps or Big
Changes?" was presented Feb. 17, 2008. Top
of Form
Brown
University (2008, February 20). Obesity: Behavioral Changes Needed To Keep The
Pounds Off. ScienceDaily.
Retrieved February 28, 2008.)Bottom
of Form
The behavioral changes needed to get a grip on your weight, and the weight of
your loved ones, are not out of your reach. There are far too many examples of
people and families who have successfully changed their behavior and been
rewarded with remarkable results. You can be shown and encouraged how to
accomplish your weight loss and improved quality of life, however it is up to
you to take the first steps. You have all the power to make the life altering
change in your life and the life of your loved ones. You are never too old, too
out of shape or too tired to make it happen if you want to accomplish your goal.
Offer your excuses to someone else, I have used most and heard many there is
always a way to make it work, if you really want to have an impact.
Successful losers of weight share four common behaviors: watch less than 10
hours of TV per week, weight themselves at least once a day, eat breakfast every
day and exercise, on average, 1 hour per day. This data is sited from the
National Weight Control Registry.
If I can go from 205 pounds to 135 pounds and maintain between 135 and 140 lbs
believe me, you can too.
Next week we will offer the results of those in our community who participated
in the Snickers Half or Full Marathon in Albany, GA on Saturday.
More information about events in the surrounding area of Valdosta include:
March 8th Azalea Century Bike Ride This is a participatory
event, not a race, presented by the Valdosta Lowndes Parks and Recreation
Department. There are four different distances that can be ridden: roughly 25,
50, 75 and 100 miles. Families are welcome to get involved and you can best
decide on what distance to participate in. Check out the Azalea City Cyclists
web site for more, or get applications at Get Active or with the Parks and Rec
Department. There is also on-line registration available and the Borderline
Bluegrass Festival will be going on at the South Lowndes Complex when you finish
there. Helmets are required to ride.
March 15th - Azalea Festival 5K and 1 mile This event is open to
all runners and walkers who want to complete the 5K or 1 mile distance. Ages of
people who have joined in the past are from 4 year olds to 74 years young in
either of the two events. The mile is more for the younger children, but anyone
can challenge themselves to complete the 1 mile or 5K distance. Applications are
available at Get Active and Valdosta-Lowndes Parks and Rec locations plus on
line at www.valdostasportsandevents.com
.
April 5th Berrien County 3rd Annual Puppy Trot. This
event includes a 4 mile and a 1 mile Dog Walk. The events are open to all
walkers and runners, just sign up for the event that appeals to you the most.
There is a cool t-shirt with a fun design, awards and medals for all the Dog
Walk participants. Proceeds benefit the Berrien County Humane Society.
April 12th Valwood presents Victory for Victoria, a 5K and 1 mile
event on the Valwood campus. Proceeds benefit the St. Judes Brain Research
Program. More information will be forth coming shortly.
April 19th Hope and Faith 5K Run and Walk is presented by HUMC
and SpaceMakers Custom Closet Interiors.
This is an event to raise money for the American Cancer Society Relay for
Life. Over 140 people enjoyed this event last year with 10 year olds all the way
up to 77 year olds joining in on the fun and festivities.
All
of these events will be good for the entire family to be involved. Be sure to
put the dates on your calendar right now. Applications are either at Get Active,
or will be soon. You will find how much fun and encouraging these events
are and you will want to participate in others coming in May thru July 2008,
including Baytree 8K on July 4th. Make the decision now to be a part of these
events raise your bar.
There are weekly, FREE activities for the runners and cyclists in the area.
Runners can show up at Get Active Running and more on Saturday and Sunday
morning at 7AM for all-comer runs from 4 to 8 plus mile runs. For more
information on the runs, check out the web page www.getactivevaldosta.com
, call or send an email. Cyclists can meet for rides on Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday and Sunday. For more information on the cycling rides, check out the
web page at www.azaleacitycyclists.com.
Do you have results you want to share about yourself, a loved one or friend? Do
you want to share what motivates you to being active? Send an email to me at Get
Active Running and more.
If you have questions about your walking, running or other training, drop me an
email and I will do my level best to answer your questions. Check out www.getactivevaldosta.com
to get connected. Listen to the Get Active South Georgia radio show on Tuesday
evenings from 6 to 7PM on Talk 92.1 FM to receive additional information or to
ask questions.
Thank
you,
Todd
& Alice Smoot
GET
ACTIVE
Running
and more
GET
ACTIVE SOUTH GEORGIA
as
heard on
Talk
92.1 FM Tuesdays 6 to 7 PM
GET
ACTIVE SOUTH GEORGIA
as read weekly in the Sunday VDT - look for us
www.getactivevaldosta.com
3200-C
North Ashley Street
Valdosta,
GA 31602
229-219-0010
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In
the long run, one must have goals to succeed.
"To
give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift" Steve
Prefontaine