| We only have to look at a Titian painting to | | | | Cytokines lead to a communication breakdown |
| recognize that at one point in the history of Western | | | | between body cells and insulin which leads to |
| culture, fat was considered beautiful. Before the 20th | | | | excessive insulin production by the pancreas, creating |
| Century, corpulence was touted as a sign of wealth | | | | a situation that is a literal "time bomb" for heart |
| and luxury, largely because most people were barely | | | | disease. In addition, this excessive insulin production |
| surviving on a meager existence. | | | | can raise fibrinogen concentrations in the |
| Ironically, now in our era of affluence and plenty, we | | | | bloodstream, thus allowing blood to clot more easily, |
| have to contend with the health and economic | | | | a situation that is a direct risk factor for heart |
| problems of obesity. We have a population in North | | | | attacks and strokes. |
| America that is more than 55% overweight. More | | | | Because of their size, obese individuals are more |
| than 20% of those overweight are considered | | | | often than not sedentary in lifestyle. Inactivity in and |
| obese, a situation which proves to be an economic | | | | of itself is also a coronary risk factor. Data from |
| burden on our Health Care system because of the | | | | more than 88,000 women in the Nurses' Health Study |
| coronary risk factors associated with obesity. In | | | | shows that a lean sedentary woman had 1.48 greater |
| 2004, total national health expenditure in the USA | | | | risks for coronary heart disease than a slightly |
| was $1.9 Trillion or $6,280 per person. | | | | heavier but physically active woman. |
| Why is obesity a risk factor for heart disease? | | | | However, the same study also showed that obesity |
| Among obese individuals, triglyceride levels are | | | | alone is a risk factor, in fact, an even greater risk |
| unusually high, while HDL levels tend to be low; both | | | | factor than inactivity because coronary disease risk |
| of these situations are risk factors for heart disease. | | | | was highest for women who exercised the least and |
| A recent study involving tissues collected from | | | | had the greatest waist-to-hip ratio. The conclusion |
| autopsies of 3000 men (15-34 years old) who had | | | | that obesity itself is a risk factor is also supported by |
| died of external causes (not heart related) identified | | | | a study of 5881 overweight and obese individuals |
| an association between obesity and coronary | | | | which showed that being overweight increased the |
| atherosclerosis. | | | | risk of heart disease by 34%, while being obese |
| Abdominal fat which characterizes obese individuals is | | | | increased the risk to 104%. |
| also an area of concern. A study of 1300 Finnish men | | | | What can we do to help someone we know who is |
| (42-60 years old) suggests that abdominal fat is an | | | | obese or dangerously overweight? |
| independent and major risk factor for coronary | | | | Acknowledgement of the problem is the first step. |
| events. Several reasons have been suggested for | | | | Very often, individuals are in a state of denial about |
| this: a) stomach fat is continually released into the | | | | the seriousness of their weight situation. A visit to |
| bloodstream in the form of artery-clogging fatty | | | | the doctor or a healthcare professional who deals |
| acids; b) abdominal fat also releases compounds that | | | | with the morbidly obese is essential. So are visits to a |
| facilitate risk factors such as atherosclerosis, | | | | nutritionist, fitness consultant and body work |
| metabolic syndrome and inflammation; c) abdominal | | | | therapist. Only then can the individual be presented |
| fat initiates biochemical events that lead to insulin | | | | with options viable and necessary for his or her |
| resistance, a precursor of Type 2 diabetes and heart | | | | situation. |
| disease. | | | | In severe cases of obesity, surgery would be part of |
| Obesity is often a precursor to metabolic syndrome, | | | | the solution. Lifestyle changes that include exercise |
| a dangerous health situation that is manifested | | | | and healthy eating are more than essential. Just as |
| through a cluster of symptoms—excess body | | | | critical are bodywork therapies that can uncover |
| fat, insulin resistance, low HDL cholesterol, high | | | | some of the real issues behind addictive eating. |
| triglyceride levels and high blood pressure—all | | | | Learning to read body cues of hunger, depression, |
| risk factors for coronary events. People with | | | | stress is equally important for re-mapping a new life |
| metabolic syndrome release immune system | | | | and a whole new cartography of food and |
| messengers called "cytokines" into their bloodstream. | | | | consciousness, body and mind. |