Yoga, Obesity And Metabolic Syndrome

Bob Crowther recommends reading Robert Lustig's book, Fat Chance.

Bob notes that an active yoga practice can contribute to reduce the occurrence of two diseases: obesity and metabolic syndrome.

I noted in a recent post that obesity has been recognized by the American Medical Association as a disease - as an indicator of a number of health risk factors that may lead to atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.

Excess food consumption and sedentary lifestyles contribute to being overweight and obese.

Obesity Research Center

Obesity can lead to Metabolic Syndrome - a disease diagnosis variously defined within the medical community.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) applies this diagnosis when three or more of the following metabolic risk factors are exhibited:

• abdominal (visceral) fat 
• high triglycerides (fats in blood) 
• low HDL (good cholesterol) 
• high blood pressure 
• elevated blood sugar levels 

The NHLBI defines risk factors as "traits, conditions, or habits that increase your chance of developing a disease."

The proteins, lipids and carbohydrates we consume as food are processed to provide the energy that sustains our bodies and involve structures within our cells known as mitochondria.

Metabolism is the term used to denote these complex biochemical reactions. 

Book Of Interest

 Fat Chance (2012)

For a more expanded and detailed review of the biology of metabolic syndrome, including the significance of insulin resistance and how the mitochondria are impacted by excessive amounts of sugars and fats, read Chapter 9 [Metabolic Syndrome: The New Scourge] in Dr. Robert H. Lustig's book.

Lustig and other investigators have noted that gender, ethnicity and genetic differences complicate the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome for individuals of normal weight and those classified as obese. 

This author includes triglycerides, alcohol and fructose (a sugar) among the worse food offenders contributing to negative metabolic outcomes. 

Physical activities including yoga and changes in nutrition can moderate the systemic damages within individuals exhibiting obesity and metabolic syndrome symptoms.

 # Yoga And Obesity #Yoga And Metabolic Syndrome

Yoga, Body Mass Index And Obesity

Bob Crowther, a yoga student, instructor in his 60's, shares some thoughts on a topic of national interest within the medical, public health and fitness communities.

Controversy about the Body Mass Index (BMI) as an indicator of healthy and unhealthy body fat levels continues to be debated by health care professionals. 

The equation relating weight and height was developed during the 19th century by the Belgium, Adolphe Quetelet, as a relatively easy way to measure the level of obesity in the general population. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cite Ouetelet's numbers that classify adult individuals as being underweight (below 18.5), normal (18.5 - 24.9), overweight (25.0 - 29.9) and obese (30.0 and above, with additional categories for the morbidly obese). 

Ranges for children and teens also have been generated. 

Online free calculations of ones BMI can be made at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) website.  

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Five years after the National Public Radio interview with mathematician Dr. Keith Devlin during 2009 about why the BMI is a flawed risk indicator, his criticisms still resonate today with the publication of recent studies about different types of fat, fat metabolism and risk differences in genders, ethnic and age groups. 

Dr. Devlin and other critics of the BMI classification numbers contend the equation to measure obesity in the general population is being inappropriately applied to individuals and is inaccurate as it does not distinguish mass attributed to muscle, bone and fat types. 

They cite examples where body fat can be overestimated (individuals with muscular body types) and underestimated (loss of muscle with aging).

Various imaging technologies (including MRI, DEXA scans, a type of X-Ray) are available which claim to more accurately distinguish between these tissue types and address the BMI limitations.

The public continues to receive new research data warning of the dangers associated with abdominal (visceral) fat and how this fat differs from other types found throughout the body.

The NHLBL and other health agencies have acknowledged the limitations of the BMI and suggest waist circumference of men (40 inches) and women (35 inches) be used to identify risks of obesity (heart disease, type 2 diabetes).

 This group cites many other conditions as risk factors (including smoking, cholesterol, high blood pressure) for diseases associated with the overweight and obese.  

Keeping physically active and addressing nutrition choices have been encouraged by physicians. 

The hatha yoga activities that i and others do daily provide empirical evidence that lean muscle can be realized when accompanied by changes in attitudes and eating behaviors. 

# Yoga And BMI # Yoga And Obesity #Yoga With Bob Crowther