The skinny on weight loss: Part XIII

In my last article entitled "Belly Bulge Can Be Deadly for Older Adults - Part A," I mentioned that on Aug. 9, 2010, I got an article off the Internet entitled "Belly Bulge can be Deadly for Older Adults," by Carla K. Johnson, AP medical writer.

She was writing about a new study appearing in that Monday's archives of Internal Medicine. It was described as "One of the largest studies to examine the dangers of abdominal fat..." and "...the first to analyze waist size and deaths for people in three BMI (Body Mass Index) categories: Normal, overweight and obese." In all three groups, waist size was linked to higher risk. "About 2% of people in the study had normal BMI numbers but larger than recommended waists."

The study suggests that men and women with the biggest waist lines have twice the risk of dying over a decade as those with the smallest tummies. Surprising, bigger waists carry a greater risk of death even for people whose weight is "normal" by the Body Mass Index or BMI, a standard measure based on weight and height.

"Even if you haven't had a noticeable weight gain, if you notice your waist size increasing that's an important sign," said lead author Eric Jacobs of The American Cancer Society, which funded the study. (No significant weight gain but an increase in waist size can occur when you gain fat as you age and lose muscle, which weighs more than fat.)

To check your girth, wrap a measuring tape around your abdomen at the navel. Men should have and abdominal circumference of no more than 40 inches (37-39 according to a think tank meeting of the American Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in 2007) and women should have an abdominal girth of no more than 35 inches. In the article the University of Missouri School of Medicine stated- When using BMI it fails to identify half of the people who have excess body fat.

A tape measure or a belt that doesn't buckle the way it used to "may tell you things your scale doesn't," Jacobs said.

Dr. Samuel Klein, an obesity expert at Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis, who was not part of this study, commented about the theory held by some scientists that belly fat secretes proteins and hormones that contribute to inflammation and interferes with how the body processes insulin and raises cholesterol. He is skeptical about the theory. "Removing belly fat surgically doesn't lead to health improvements. That may be a stand-in for some other culprit that is causing both belly fat and poor health." Klein said the new study, while showing a link between waist size and mortality, doesn't pinpoint exactly how much belly fat is dangerous for normal, overweight and obese people. The 40-inch for men and 35-inch for women cut off points are irrelevant for many people, he said.

Folks, this is what we've been saying all along. The problem in most cases is too much insulin. But I was flabbergasted to see at the end of the article which stated, "What can be done to fight belly fat? It's the same advice as for losing weight. Eat fewer calories and burn more through walking, bicycling and other aerobic exercise." ("Sit-ups are useless," Klein said.)

Those of you who have read my past articles or have been to my free class on this topic know that this advice for the most part is essentially worthless in treating the underlying problem and sustaining long term weight loss.

Hear how the Ideal Protein diet treatment is the best answer out there for this condition. To attend a free class or to schedule a free consultation, please call (208) 772-6015. Come on Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint and Bonner County, let's shape up and get healthy together!