pwarnerLFI

Weight Management: Embracing Women's Health

2005-03-17T11:37:00.000-08:00

Weight Management: Embracing Women's Health: "A crucial element to managing weight throughout life is a positive attitude and the right kind of motivation. If you make health, not appearance, your weight management priority, you are setting a realistic goal, not a formula for failure. A healthy weight is definitely not the lowest weight you can reach or some ideal you get from a chart. When your motivators are health, increased energy, and self-esteem, your chances for lifelong weight management become much more realistic.

Eating for good health and to maintain a healthy weight is virtually one and the same. Choosing a healthful eating plan that includes a wide variety of nutritious food choices can accomplish both objectives. Additionally, people who keep physically active are more successful at maintaining a healthy weight, while also reaping many rewards in addition to weight management which include heart health, strong bones, and stress relief.

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The level of leptin, a molecule produced by fat cells and an important signal in the regulation of appetite and energy expenditure, is far higher in women than men at every BMI level, which may explain why women are more likely than men to become overweight.
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Insulin resistance, which is thought to play a role in raising blood pressure, is correlated with blood leptin levels in men, but not in women.
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Men are more likely to lose fat within the abdomen, whereas women are more likely to lose fat residing just under the skin. This creates greater declines in triglyceride levels and increases in HDL (good) cholesterol levels in men, compared to women losing the same amount of weight.
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Exercise appears to reduce blood leptin concentrations in women but not in men.
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Only 10 % of people with anorexia or bulimia are men."

Weight Management: Embracing Women's Health

2005-03-17T11:36:00.000-08:00