Dr. Gary A. Bachman

Achieve Your Desired Body Weight

The Fattening of America

There is a battle raging in homes across the country. It's not the battle of the sexes, nor the generation gap. It is the battle of the bulge, the war against weight, an indiscriminate struggle pitting men, women and children against the bathroom scale.

How do these toxins get into the body?

In today's world of processed foods and pollution, toxic substances exist almost everywhere. They are in the food you eat, the water you drink (from fertilizers, chemicals and other additives such as colorings and preservatives), and the air you breathe (from automobile emissions, pesticides and industrial pollutants). Some of the body's own compounds must be detoxified as well.

Experts are now calling the 'fattening of America' a national epidemic. Despite dramatically reducing the fat in our national diet over the last 15 years, Americans continue to get fatter. Consider these facts:

1. In 1991 one third of the population was found to be obese, a 32 % increase over the previous 10 years.
2. In the last 7 years, while intake of dietary saturated fats and cholesterol were decreasing, the weight of young adult Americans increased by 10 pounds!
3. At 23% body fat, the average American man is 53% fatter than his ideal (15% body fat).
4. At 32% body fat, the average American woman is 45% fatter than her ideal (22% body fat).
5. Obesity is associated with increased risk of heart disease, hypertension, various cancers, adult onset diabetes and reduced life expectancy to mention a few.
6. The annual cost of treating conditions associated with obesity has been conservatively estimated to be $39 billion.

Balance is the Key

The 'fattening of America' leaves many perplexed! They ask "why is it that today I am more conscious of what I eat, how much meat and fat I consume and how important exercise is, yet I continue to gain weight and feel more fatigued year after year? What's wrong? What am I missing?" The missing critical element is balance! It has been discovered that a balanced ration of the macronutrients (i.e. proteins, carbohydrates and fats) in our diet, along with proper calorie intake and exercise, are keys to permanent weight loss and optimal health. It is known that each time we eat these macronutrients we generate a complex response by a number of the body's important hormones. These hormones along with our caloric intake ultimately determine how much fat the body will store. Knowing how to use a balanced diet to control these hormone responses is critically important to successful weight loss, maintaining proper body composition and achieving vibrant health.

Diet, Hormones and Body Fat

An imbalanced ration of dietary macronutrients influences the levels of three powerful hormone regulators; insulin, glucagon and serotonin, which then dramatically influence body fat. Consuming excessive refined carbohydrates (i.e. sugar, white flour, etc.), inadequate protein and excessive poor quality fats may produce the following hormone imbalances and their effects:

Elevated Insulin May Result in:

1. Increased hunger, fatigue, mental confusion or depression.
2. Removal of carbohydrates from bloodstream, stimulating fat formation and storage.
3. Blocking the release of fat from storage.

Reduced Glucagon May Result in:

1. Decreased Mental Clarity and alertness
2. Decreased endurance
3. Increased hunger.
4. Decreased healing and repair processes.
5. Reduced release of fat from storage.

Imbalanced Serotonin May Result In:

1. Increased appetite and carbohydrate craving.

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