WATCHING shows like The Biggest Loser, you can't help but be impressed at the astonishing weight loss some people achieve.
But you also notice a side effect of that achievement - excess skin.
Is a calorie still just a calorie if consumed at 3 am?
Does eating dinner right before bedtime cause weight gain?
Research suggests that like sleep and wake cycles, the regulation of appetite, energy metabolism and weight are tied to an internal circadian (24-hr) clock. Eating when the hormones involved in metabolism are on sleep mode, such as is common for night shift workers and many college students, may increase a person’s risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
America's relationship to food and health has certainly changed in the 20 years since Cooking Light debuted. Some of those changes may seem discouraging: Rates of obesity and diabetes have risen, food-borne illnesses frequently make headlines, and more people eat meals -- often fast food -- away from home than ever before.
So we already know that a well-balanced diet and regular exercise are key factors to a successful weight loss plan. But are you aware of the role that sleep plays in your plan? Yes, it is a fact that adequate sleep is important for weight loss. Recent medical studies show that sleep loss can increase hunger and affect your body's metabolism to a point that can make weight loss and maintenance more difficult. So if you have been consistent with your reduced calorie menu and fitness plans, you still may be able to enhance your success with better sleep.
Using data on more than 27,000 women taking part in the Women's Health Study, researchers identified participants with metabolic syndrome, a collection of symptoms including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, low HDL ("good") cholesterol, high triglyceride levels and insulin resistance.
After years of weight struggles, Darrah and Peter Clarke are finally living healthier. They both recently had gastric bypass surgery at SMDC.
"It was a wonderful success," said Darrah. "Myself personally, I've lost 90 pounds."
Charity is a funny word.
It somehow implies kindness to strangers through a nonprofit or church program for needy people. But sometimes, charity really does start at home. In this week's guest column, Alan Graham — founder of the nonprofit Mobile Loaves and Fishes, which feeds homeless people — pays tribute to a friend whose gift changed his life.
