Over a third of 60-70 year olds are battling the bulge

Scottish researchers claim that despite being a problem mainly associated among younger people, obesity is more widespread than first thought and over a third of 60 to 70-year-olds are now at a dangerous weight level.

The team involved in the new study also discovered that the amount of males aged 18 to 22 with a waist measurement in excess of 40 inches (102 cm), has doubled, increasing from 4.6% to 10.7%.
Meanwhile, the number of women in the same age bracket who have a waist size greater than 34.5 inches (88 cm) has almost tripled, increasing from 9.25% to 24.4%.

The team from the University of Glasgow analysed statistics from the Health Survey of England and the Scottish Health Survey, contrasting information relating to 1994 to 1996 against similar facts from 2008 to 2010.

They found that the total number of people with a body mass index (BMI) reading of more than 30 (I.e. classified as ‘obese’) had risen 5 to 15% on average, with an evident peak at age 60 to 70. Up to 38% were obese over both sexes.

The peak was seen at five to ten years later than what was observed during 1994 to 1996 for men, and but was no different for women.

Prevalence of BMI over 30 has doubled in young English men (to 10.7%) and tripled in young Scottish males (to 12.1%). Women fared worse though with 17.8% in England having a BMI of over 30 and 20.1% in Scotland.

Waistlines are clearly expanding at a fast rate, with researchers finding the percentage of people having a ‘large’ waist circumference – 102 cm/40 inches for men, 88 cm/34.5 inches for women – spiralling from 30% to 70% for men aged 80 to 85 and for women between the ages of 65 and 70.

It seems Scots are gripped in an even worse obesity crisis than their English counterparts as the prevalence of a large waist circumference increased fourfold to 12.7% in young men, and almost fivefold in women, to 28.2%.

Professor Mike Lean, whose research has been published in the International Journal of Obesity, commented: “People are growing fatter later in life, with waist sizes rising more persistently than BMI which may indicate increased loss of muscle mass in old age. Within the 14-year period of this study, we also are seeing more young people entering adult life already obese, and more older people have adverse body composition. The continuing rise of waist circumference in older age groups is evidence of continued body fat accumulation and redistribution into older age, which is a major public health concern. The proportion of people with a ‘normal’ BMI has dropped to only about 15 per cent of UK adults by the age of 65. This rather small proportion now includes unhealthy people who have illnesses that have caused weight loss or prevent weight gain, as well as those who are genuinely healthy and active. So older people with an apparently ‘healthy’ BMI are not all healthy.”

Professor Lean added: “The use of BMI alone as a measure for adiposity in this age group may be misleading and using waist circumference might be better for identifying adverse changes in body composition.”

Health watchdog warn doctors not to blame obese patients for being fat

Doctors have been warned to refrain from blaming and pointing the finger at patients for being overweight or obese.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have created new draft guidance for tackling obesity, and in particularly the correct manner in dealing with obese patients. In the past NICE have asked doctors to actually stop saying the word “obese” as it may be deemed “derogatory”.

All doctors, GPs and other health professionals should now strive for a more sensitive tone which is “respectful” and “non-blaming” as this will “minimise harm”, according to the health watchdog.
Rather than looking at short-term and temporary weight loss, the guidance on lifestyle weight management programmes will aim to help overweight and obese people to both lose weight and then maintain the healthier weight, focusing on achievable goals, with positive long-term lifestyle changes.

NICE advise that more patients should be referred “lifestyle weight management” programmes such as Weight Watchers as programmes which thoroughly assess their diet, levels of activity and behaviour may save money in the long-term. Specifically, adults with a BMI in excess of 30 kg/m² and those identified as overweight or obese through the NHS Health Check or other services should be referred to these programmes.

Obesity is linked to a huge range of serious health problems such as type-2 diabetes, certain cancers (e.g. breast and prostate cancer), arthritis, heart disease (from smoking and high cholesterol), infertility, asthma, back pain, depression and kidney disease.

NICE say that such conditions, and the many more that have been linked to obesity, place a massive strain on the already stretched NHS, costing an estimated £5.1 billion each and every year and “placing a huge strain on the health service”.

Professor Mike Kelly, director of the centre for public health at Nice, said: “Being overweight or obese can have serious consequences for an individual’s health, not only physically with increased risk of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, but it can also affect their mental health as a result of stigma and bullying or discrimination. Levels of obesity in England are rising, with a little over a quarter of adults classified as obese and a further 41% of men and 33% of women overweight.
Professor Kelly continued: “This is a huge proportion of our population. This new draft guidance focuses on the provision of effective lifestyle weight management services and makes a number of recommendations to ensure that the providers of programmes whether from the private, public, or voluntary sector follow good, evidence-based practice.This draft guidance isn’t about quick fixes, it is about ensuring lifestyle weight management services support people in the long-term. Programmes that address diet, activity and behaviour change can help people who are obese lose weight but they are only cost-effective if the weight is kept off.”

Gut bacteria could be heavily linked to obesity risk

A team of scientists have found that ‘good’ gut bacteria could play a key role in determining if you become or overweight or obese and help to protect against suffering from a heart attack or stroke – medical problems often caused by being overweight.

The findings from two studies demonstrate that by adhering to a diet rich in fibre, this could help to alter the makeup of these germs, and allow people to more easily shed excess weight.

“We know gut bacteria affect health and obesity, but we don’t know exactly how,” commented Dusko Ehrlich, one of the co-authors of the two new studies and coordinator of the International Human Microbiome Standards project.

He added: “People who put on the most weight lack certain bacterial species or have them at very low levels. This opens ways to develop bacterial therapies to fight weight gain.”

There are many health experts who are adamant it is the gut that is the primary area that is crucial in regards to weight gain or weight loss.

Jeffrey Cirillo, a professor at Texas A&M Health Science Center’s department of microbial pathogenesis and immunology, says: “It is now well known that bacteria in our gut play an important role in our health and well-being, possibly as important as our own immune response and proper nutrition. This means that disruption of the bacteria in our gut by use of antibiotics or eating foods that help only particular bacteria grow can have effects upon our entire bodies.”

Back in March a study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, explaining that gastric bypass surgery resulted in weight loss (in mice) due to changes in their intestinal bacteria.
The new studies were published yesterday in the journal Nature, and in one of them, the researchers looked at gut bacteria of 169 Danish people who were obese and 123 Danish people who were not obese.

Those obese were generally found to have ‘less diverse’ gut germs, with more abnormalities with regards to metabolism. Those with a less diverse group of germs also tended to put on weight.
Cirillo says that although there is some uncertainty how obesity and bacteria are linked, from the research it would seem that the germs themselves have metabolisms which impact the overall metabolism within the human of where they live.

Study co-author Ehrlich says there may be a practical application to be had from the research, commenting: “The study lays ground for a simple test, which should tell people what their risk for developing obesity-linked diseases is,” If they are found to be at risk, diet changes may be necessary he says.

For a second study, researchers tracked the gut bacteria of 49 overweight and obese people as they were put on diets that were low-fat and low-calorie in an attempt to lose weight, but were also high in protein and included foods rich in fibre such as fruit and vegetables. The participants subsequently seemed to benefit from a change in the bacterial makeup within their guts because of the diet.

“Although these are relatively early and small studies on the topic, they suggest that management of our own diets can improve the richness of the flora within our guts and decrease our chances of becoming obese,” said Cirillo. “This does not mean that changes in diet will be effective for all people or that they can prevent obesity no matter how much someone eats, but that they can help the situation.”

Almost 80% of adults don’t do enough exercise

Nearly eight out of every 10 adults in England may not be getting enough exercise each week and putting their health at risk.

This worrying statistic comes from a study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and conducted by the University of Bristol, where researchers looked at data from over one million adults in England from the Active People Surveys (APS).  It was discovered that 80% were not adhering to governmental targets of engaging in moderate exercise at least 12 times in a four-week time period.
The APS analyses an individual’s socioeconomic position in addition to factors such as the weather and availability of sports facilities to them.

According to the researchers, the study demonstrates a clear association between a person’s education, household income and local area deprivation in accordance with the amount of physical activity they engage in.

It was found that better educated and wealthier individuals were more likely to exercise, whilst the poorer and less educated were more likely to not bother with much exercise. However on the whole, the majority of adults are seemingly way under the recommended levels of activity required to keep healthy.

Those with a degree apparently only had a 12% chance of being inactive but those without any qualifications were in fact three times more likely to not exercise.

Other findings from the study were the fact 8% of people physically capable of walking had not done this for even a mere five minutes continuously in the previous four weeks. Involvement in the most common activities was found to be ‘very low’.

In addition, researchers said nearly half (46%) had walked for less than 30 minutes continuously during leisure time, whilst 88% had not been swimming and a staggering 90% had not even been to a gym in the last four weeks.

Unsurprisingly, the study findings suggested that warm weather provided people with more motivation to exercise and rain decreased the amount of physical activity.

Carol Propper, professor of economics at the university’s Centre for Market and Public Organisation, said: “Physical inactivity is the most important modifiable health behaviour for chronic disease, so knowing who is physically inactive is important for designing cost-effective policy interventions.”

Tam Fry, spokesman for the National Obesity Forum and honorary chairman of the Child Growth Foundation, hit out at the figures and said: “No-one should be at all surprised by these woeful statistics,” and blamed the government for not  doing enough to use the London 2012 Olympics as a springboard for more participation in grassroots sport.

To stay healthy, NHS guidelines state that adults aged 19-64 should try to be active daily and get at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. This can include fast walking, hiking, volleyball, rollerblading or basketball. However, on top of this the NHS recommends to engage in muscle-strengthening exercises on 2 or more days each week. This can include heavy gardening (such as digging and shovelling), lifting weights, yoga and exercises that use your body weight for resistance (such as push-ups and sit-ups).

It is apparent that many of the population are simply not doing enough to stay active and this in conjunction with poor diets are causing more and more people to become overweight or obese. The good news for those overweight or obese is that it is never too late to make positive changes and a healthy, balanced diet in conjunction with exercise and a weight loss aid such as Xenical, Alli, or XLS-Medical will provide you with the tools to live a much healthier life.

Can new weight loss drugs rival Xenical

Recently, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approved two new weight loss medications (Belviq and Qysmia), and America breathed a sigh of relief. While weight loss drugs have always been a topic of controversy, over the years it has become clear that their addition to the dieting efforts of many individuals, who struggle with obesity, is extremely beneficial. And with more than one third of Americans (35.7%) falling under the obese category, it is no surprise that medical alternatives to diet and exercise, are needed to counteract the issue.

New obesity treatments are needed to bridge the gap between diet and exercise and the more radical option of bariatric surgery. This is a view backed up by Dr Sue DeCotiis, New York City based Medical Internist and Weight Loss Management Specialist, who said, “While there are potential side effects with every medication, long term studies show that overweight patients do much better losing and keeping off weight, when they are prescribed a weight loss drug.”

“Weight loss medications work in conjunction with healthy eating and exercise, and offer individuals a chance at a real lifestyle change. Those who suffer from obesity often have a host of other health problems that come with the condition. These drugs can alleviate those symptoms, and the result is that many of these patients will live longer and avoid the consequences of medical problems, such as hypertension, stroke, and heart attack.”

Listed below is a description of current weight loss drugs and how they work. Previously the only option was Xenical, but now for the first time in 13 years, Doctors will have a choice of which weight loss drugs to prescribe to overweight or obese patients.

Belviq (Locaserin)

Approved by the FDA in late June of this year, this medication works by activating a receptor in the brain that helps a person to eat less and still feel full. By regulating the appetite, it lowers the likelihood of individuals overeating. It works best in patients who suffer from weight related conditions, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. At least 47.5% of patients lost at least 5% of their body weight from the medication, as opposed to 20.3% who took a placebo during a trial study period.

Qsymia (Phentermine & Topirmate)

This combination of the drugs Phentermine (an appetite suppressant and stimulant) and Topirmate (an anticonvulsant with weight loss side effects) is the most recent of the crop of weight loss medications, that have been approved by the FDA. Drugs in this category are primarily considered appetite suppressants. With the medication producing dramatic weight loss in patients, this is one of the clearest signs of hope for those suffering from obesity related diseases. About half of the patients lost 10% of their body weight and four-fifths lost 5%.

Contrave (Bupropion & Naltrexone)

This drug that is still to be approved by the FDA, works by combining two active ingredients that have been used for over twenty years. With Bupropion initiating the weight loss, Naltrexone sustains it by preventing the body’s natural tendency to counteract efforts, to lose weight. The result of this combination is to reduce appetite and increase the body’s metabolism, giving those who are suffering from obesity related illnesses the ability to sustain continued weight loss, by addressing the portion of the brain that controls food cravings.

Xenical (Orlistat)

Xenical, which is the most established and proven of the weight loss drugs, is a lipase inhibitor. Xenical does not enter the patient’s blood stream, but works in the digestive system in the small intestine as a fat absorber. It blocks out a third of the fat in food eaten in a patient’s diet, leading to steady weight loss. Research involving 11,131 woman and 4,418 men, who had been over weight for an average of 14 years, showed that 87% lost at least 5% of total body weight, half lost at least 10%, around 20% lost more than 15% body weight and some patients lost more than 25%.

Only time will tell which of these weight loss drugs is the most successful. Unfortunately here in the UK Belviq is not expected to be released until 2013 and there has been no UK release date as yet for Qsymia and Contrave. However all is not lost as here in the UK we still have Xenical available, which has a proven track record for assisting weight loss. Here at Medical Specialists Pharmacy we can dispense Xenical after an online consultation with one of our doctors and as soon as these other weight loss drugs become available, we will be offering them. Check our news section for further updates.

Traffic light test could provide early diagnosis of liver disease

A new traffic light test could help doctors diagnose liver disease earlier in high risk populations. The Southampton Traffic Light (STL) test, developed by Dr Nick Sheron and colleagues, at the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, combines several different tests and clinical markers.

It is estimated one in five adults inEngland, some 10 million people regularly exceed Government advice on safe drinking. However because liver disease develops without symptoms, many people have no idea they have liver failure until it is too late.

The Department of Health states, “Men should not drink more than three to four units of alcohol a day and women should not regularly drink more than two to three units a day.”

The Royal College of Physicians also advises no more than 21 units per week for men and 14 units per week for women. An average pint of beer or lager contains roughly two units of alcohol. A small 125ml glass of ordinary strength wine has one and a half units, while a 25ml shot of a 40 per cent spirit has one unit.

The Southampton Traffic Light test combines different tests and indicators, to give a score showing the likelihood of a patient developing a problem. The researchers said, “The test can diagnose liver disease much earlier, enabling those at risk to change their drinking habits, which could save their lives.”

They also went on to say, “That while it should not be a substitute for clinical judgment or other tests, it could help GP’s determine the potential severity of liver disease, in high risk patients such as heavy drinkers, those with type 2 diabetes or the obese.”

Dr Nick Sheron, a consultant at Southampton General Hospital who led the study, and who published his work in the British Journal of General Practice, hopes the test will save lives. He said, “We are reliant on general practitioners detecting liver disease in the community, so they can intervene to prevent serious liver problems developing, but so far we haven’t been able to give them the tools they need to do this.”

Nurses could take blood from those doctors recommend to be tested one week, for them to return for the results the next. Like traffic lights, the scores are given in three colours. Red will mean the patient already has liver fibrosis and may have cirrhosis. Amber means there is at least a 50:50 chance of scarring, with a significant possibility of death within five years. In such cases patients should be advised to stop drinking, to reduce their chance of developing further diseases, whilst green means there is no cirrhosis.

It was given to more than 1,000 patients, and their progress carefully followed, in some cases over several years, to assess the ability of the test to predict the onset of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis.

After proving accurate in severe liver disease, it is hoped the test could help GPs accurately assess the potential severity, of liver disease in high risk patients, including heavy drinkers, those with type 2 diabetes, or  people. Dr Sheron said, “It is a powerful tool and a message for people. We find that for most patients this is a pretty good stimulus to stop drinking or at least to cut down to safe levels.”

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said, “One of the challenges of liver disease, which is rising dramatically in this country, is the silent nature of the condition, which is that it is often too late to reverse the damage. This large study from Dr Sheron and colleagues in Southampton may prove really useful for guiding the right patients towards specialist care in a timely way.”

Many gastric surgery patients pile the weight back on in the future

Weight loss surgery, also called bariatric surgery, first came to public recognition around a decade ago after it was offered as a last-ditch weight loss method by government watchdog NICE, for individuals who are dangerously obese. This includes those with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40 or those with a BMI of more than 35 and who also have a serious health condition which could be helped by weight loss such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

The most common forms of weight loss surgery remain either a gastric band or a gastric bypass. The former is where a band is inserted into the stomach to reduce its size. The aim is that it will take a smaller amount of food to make you feel ‘full’. With a gastric bypass, the digestive system is diverted past most of your stomach. This then results in the digestion of less food and it takes much less food to make you feel full. By bypassing part of the small intestine, this means a reduction in how much food and nutrients are absorbed, leading to weight loss.

There is currently a massive demand on the NHS for weight loss surgery operations, so much so that there is more demand up and down the country than available supply, resulting in a long waiting list. Although roughly 8,000 weight loss procedures occurred last year in England on the NHS, this is probably a small portion of the obese population. In the UK an estimated 60.8% of adults and 31.1% of children are at least classified as ‘overweight’.

If somebody wanted to go private and not join the ever-growing NHS waiting list, it would set them back between £5,000 – £8,000 for a gastric band and it is even more expensive for gastric bypass surgery, usually costing between £9,500 – £15,000. However, the big question everybody is now asking – is it all worth it?

Information from various studies from across the globe, expert opinions, and those who have had the procedures themselves paint a damning view of the actual benefits of weight loss surgery. If the cost alone is not off-putting, other factors could be. A Brazilian study that analysed 782 patients who had undergone weight loss surgery, found that 63% actually gained weight within two years. In addition, a German review into a collection of studies on weight loss surgery discovered that 30% of patients piled on their previously lost weight within merely 18 to 36 months.

The weight gain has led to a high volume of people even requesting a second operation. One Dutch study of patients who’d had a gastric band fitted, found that approximately a third required another operation within 5 years and half needed one within 10 years. A famous figure to have had repeated weight loss surgery is Kerry Katona, who first caused controversy by undergoing £15,000 liposuction surgery in August 2008, just four months after giving birth.

Althought Katona initially dropped from 12 stone to 8; by June 2009 she had piled on 2 stone of what she had lost. Then in January 2011 she paid £650 for mesosculpt treatment to get rid of the stretchmarks on her stomach. Just nine months later she had piled on another stone and in April of this year she forked out a further £8,500 for more liposuction.

What people aren’t prepared for it seems is the after-life of having weight loss surgery. Many patients will struggle to adjust to the fact their stomach will not cope with the same sized portions as previously, or the fact they will have to try and adhere to a strict diet plan. Bianca Scollen, of the support group Weight Loss Surgery Info, says “In the first year, or two years, after the surgery, you feel like you’re walking on air. But three or four years on is a very different thing. In a way, losing the weight is the easy part; it’s changing your lifestyle and keeping it off that’s hard. Some people find the sight of their new, slimmer shape is enough to keep them motivated, but for others it’s not so easy.”

Professor Jane Ogden, of health psychology at the University of Surrey, further comments, “Hunger isn’t just a biological process — it can be about feeling fed up and wanting comfort, or feeling bored. Unless patients have changed their attitude towards food, they end up cheating — grazing, or drinking lots of water so their stomach can manage more food.”

The most worrying aspect of bariatric surgery though is that there still seems to be many health risks involved, when the main point of the surgery is to benefit the patient’s long term health. Many private companies offering weight loss procedures do not provide adequate aftercare, important in avoiding weight regain. Moreover, this leads to risk of a multitude of complications such as vomiting, infection, gastric bands slipping or leaking and intestinal blockages. According to statistics from the Medical Defence Union, there has been a doubling of negligence claims against independent bariatric surgeons between 2008 and 2010. With evidence of weight gain post-surgery, and serious health complications involved, it could be time for people to rethink their weight loss strategy!

Women who frequently work long hours and eat out may pile on the pounds

Warnings have been released this week in regards to women at work and their weight. Firstly, an Australian study claims that women who put in more than 35 hours at work each week are likely to gain weight. The researchers say that those who stay late at the office will probably not bother spending the time to prepare a healthy meal when they get home, or engage in any exercise.

The same study also indicates that those women who are working for more than 49 hours each week are at a higher chance of smoking and drinking more. This backs up what we reported last week, where we analysed the links between work and alcohol intake.

Research was led by Dr Nicole Au from the Centre for Health and Economics at Monash University, Melbourne. Dr Au and her team assessed 9,276 women aged between 45 to 50 years old, spanning over a two year time period. Over half (55%) gained weight during this time, with the average gain being 1.5% of their initial weight. The above average weight gains were said to be ‘extreme’. In addition, it was discovered that 65% of subjects involved had a ‘risky’ level of alcohol intake and 36% did not bother to do any kind of exercise at all.

Dr Au gave some explanations on why the women may have piled on the pounds, saying, “This study highlights the increasing number of women entering the workforce and the effects on their ability to maintain a healthy weight. Longer work hours may reduce the time spent preparing home-cooked meals, exercising and sleeping which are risk factors for obesity. Policies that assist women who work long hours to reduce the time costs of sustaining a healthy diet and their physical activity routine may have positive benefits.”

In a separate study that has been published online in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Diabetics, links between women who ate out often and weight gain were investigated. The news may come as a blow to women at work who regularly ‘meet the girls’ for their lunch-break and share a joke about abandoning their diet for the day (which usually spirals into more days!).

Dr Anne McTiernan led the study and she spoke on the findings, saying, “When it comes to weight loss, evidence from randomised, controlled trials comparing different diets finds that restricting total calories is more important than diet composition such as low-fat versus low-carbohydrate. Therefore, the specific aim of our study was to identify behaviours that supported the global goal of calorie reduction.”

Her team discovered that the women who maintained a personal food diary, actually lost around 6lbs more than the others. Also it was noted that women who ate out at least once a week lost an average of 5lbs less than those who instead opted to eat at home.

Dr McTiernan added, “For individuals who are trying to lose weight, the No. 1 piece of advice based on these study results would be to keep a food journal to help meet daily calorie goals.  It is difficult to make changes to your diet when you are not paying close attention to what you are eating. We also think skipping meals might cluster together with other behaviours. For instance, the lack of time and effort spent on planning and preparing meals may lead a person to skip meals and/or eat out more. Eating in restaurants usually means less individual control over ingredients and cooking methods, as well as larger portion sizes.”

However, some could argue that the study results do not fairly reflect a large population of the women around the country. After all, the analysis came from just 123 women who were aged 50 to 75. All were assigned specific diets and exercise patterns, with each woman being overweight or obese to begin with. Perhaps a better, more accurate study would have centred on women from all age groups and a higher number of the population than just 123 women. In addition, allowing subjects to eat their usual foods would have brought back different results without question.

With 30,000 Brits dying each year from various complications from obesity, both men and women need to consider how best to maintain their weight and health. Government predictions say that with current trends continuing, by 2025 nearly half of men and over a third of women will be obese.
You can act today though and make positive changes to your life. Firstly, an intelligent new calculator has been created by researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Click here  to see where you are on both a national and global scale. You may just receive the shock required to kick-start a new you!

Fat firemen shatter the typical athletic and muscular image we have of them

It appears that our emergency services may be lagging behind in the battle to fight the flab. Less than four months after we reported that overweight police officers could face meaty fines and suspension, firemen have now come under scrutiny.

Regulations in place demand that all staff must have a formidable level of fitness in order to deal with a multitude of serious and critical situations. Just some of the tasks they need to cope with include carrying hefty equipment, erecting heavy ladders and carry potential victims of fire to safety. Indeed, when one imagines a firefighter, the stereotypical image is that of a hunky male with a rippling six-pack and bulging biceps – however the reality looks far from this.

Analysts have declared that over half of firemen could be too fat to effectively carry out their duties. Given that past U.S. studies made the shocking discovery that 80% of firefighters were deemed overweight or obese, it was surely only a matter of time before UK firefighters faced similar scrutinisation.

Therefore, experts at Loughborough University studied 735 firemen and came back with some alarming results. They found 53% were actually classed as overweight and a further 13% were obese. The situation looks to be a long-term issue as the University first assessed the firefighters in 2008 and found almost identical results. The previous research found 54% to be overweight and 11% were obese.

If the possible inhalation of smoke fumes was not damaging enough, their extra weight immediately puts them at an elevated risk of numerous health problems such as high cholesterol, heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and breathing problems such as sleep apnea and asthma.

The Loughborough researchers have published a detailed analysis of their results in the journal Occupational Medicine and spoke of their concerns, saying, “Obesity among firefighters can present a hindrance to operational effectiveness. The proportion of firefighters who are either overweight or obese is lower in this UK sample than that found in US studies. But it was higher than that found in the general population. Given the negative implications of obesity for performance, there is a need for further investment in health promotion research and practice.”

Weight loss can give obese men a rise in testosterone levels

Results from a study into diabetes conducted by Irish-based doctors were delivered on Monday night at The Endocrine Society’s 94^th Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas. Doctors from Dublin analysed almost 900 males for their ‘Diabetes Prevention Program’. The men who were involved in the study had an average age of 54 years old and all had prediabetes, which means they were at a heightened risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and also at a good risk of developing heart disease. Prediabetes is also known by other names such as non-diabetic hyperglycaemia and impaired glucose tolerance.

It is common knowledge that if you are overweight you are more at risk of developing diabetes. Men who are at risk of the disease can drastically reduce their chance of getting diabetes through weight loss and overweight men are also at a higher chance of having low testosterone levels. With this in mind, study co-author Frances Hayes and colleagues decided to further investigate the correlation between weight loss and testosterone levels. They decided to ignore men who had been prescribed medicine that could potentially conflict with their testosterone levels, or those who had previously been diagnosed with hypogonadism. This is a term for when the sex glands lack the ability to effectively produce hormones.

The men recruited for the study were segregated into three parties. The first group consisted of 293 men and these were instructed to begin 150 minutes of exercise each week, eating fewer calories and a low-fat diet. The second group included 305 men and they were given the diabetes medication metformin and finally the last group of 293 men were given a placebo to take.

After a year of their respective programs, it was found that the incidence of low testosterone in both the groups taking metformins and placebos was mostly unchanged. The numbers slightly decreased from 24.8% to 23.8% and 25.6% to 24.6% for each group respectively. However, most change was noted in those who had made alterations to their lifestyle, with this group seeing a massive reduction in low testosterone; down to 11% from an initial 20% at the beginning of the study.

Dr Hayes gave her view on the results, “Doctors should first encourage overweight men with low testosterone levels to try to lose weight through diet and exercise before resorting to testosterone therapy to raise their hormone levels. Losing weight not only reduces the risk of prediabetic men progressing to diabetes but also appears to increase their body’s production of testosterone.”

It appears then that we can conclude weight loss has many benefits to obese middle-aged men. Obviously it will probably boost their confidence with the opposite of sex but it seems getting rid of your love handles can also boost sex drive, give you a stronger erection and improve your sperm count. If you are suffering from erectile problems and are interested in receiving information on the vast range of treatments available at Medical Specialists Pharmacy, you can click here. The medications we provide for male impotence can be obtained with or without a private prescription, and pending approval from one of our registered Doctors, can arrive to you within a mere 24 hours. Prices start from as little as £29.97 for 4 Viagra tablets. We also have Cialis, Levitra and Levitra ODT at great prices too.

Survey shows over half of Britain are “fat”

Analysts “Bioglan” have published a survey which shows almost half of the population are overweight or obese.  The survey shows that the Scottish are the heaviest, with 52% being classed as overweight or obese.  Northern Ireland, the North East, and the South East are bottom in the table, all tied with just 46%.

The survey would appear to indicate that East Anglia is the healthiest region in the UK.  Only 6% eat 2 or more takeaways per week, compared to the whopping 31% of Londoners who are gorging on more than 2 takeaway meals every week. In addition, only 7% of East Anglians claim to drink 14 or more alcoholic drinks per week in comparison to the heaviest drinkers in the North East and North West, whereby 13% of both regions admit to drinking more than 14 drinks every week.

Interestingly though, the survey is not entirely doom and gloom. It does show improving attitudes and habits to maintaining a good level of health.  For instance at least 60% of people in all regions claim that they go to the gym at least once a week, which is a positive sign. Moreover, there are many experts who claim that the Body Mass Index (BMI) that is used to calculate the level of an individual’s body fat, is unfair and prejudiced against those with high muscle mass.

However, for those looking to lose extra pounds, Medical Specialists can help! Offering prescription and non-prescription genuine branded medications such as Xenical and Alli, we now boast even lower prices and have a vast wealth of knowledge and understanding about our patient’s feelings and the problems they incur.

Many UK women face cancer risk 'due to Obesity'

Nearly fifty percent of women in England are at increased risk of some cancers because of their large waistlines, says a cancer charity.

The World Cancer Research Fund warning is based on data from the Health Survey for England suggesting 44% have a waist size exceeding 31.5 inches (80cm). Research has found that these women are particularly at risk from bowel and breast cancer. A third of men had a larger than recommended waistline.

The Health Survey for England, which monitors trends in the country's health and is commissioned by the Department of Health, was published earlier this month. It contained information and statistics on obesity and raised waist circumference in men and women in England. Previous scientific studies have shown that excess body fat increases cancer risk.

Strong evidence

There is strong evidence that a large waistline is particularly harmful and raises the risk of cancers of the bowel, pancreas, breast (post-menopausal) and womb lining, the World Cancer Research Fund says.

Dr Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science for WCRF, said it was often thought that men were more likely to put on weight on their stomach. "But these statistics show that, actually, women in England are more likely to have a raised waist circumference than men.”This is why it is important that we let women know that this is just as relevant for them, particularly as breast and endometrial cancers account for about a third of newly diagnosed cancers in women," she said. Dr Thompson added: "Over the last few years the evidence has become increasingly strong that excess body fat and particularly fat carried around the middle, is a cancer risk factor."

What treatment is available for Obesity?

So far there are only two treatments that are available in the UK which are Xenical and Alli, both are the same drug Orlistat. Orlistat works in the digestive system in the small intestine as a fat absorber. It blocks out a third of the fat in food eaten in a patient's diet.

Xenical is the stronger of the two medications which is double the strength of Alli which is why it is only available on prescription for people who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 28. To Buy Xenical Online please click the highlighted link

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Alli is available without the need for a prescription and has shown to be able to aid weight loss buy cutting out the fat in a person’s diet. To Buy Alli Online please click the highlighted link

Weight loss business growing at fast pace

As obesity remains a health concern for most of Europe and especially the UK, the market for weight loss supplements or diet pills has grown strong in the UAE.

"Despite the economic crisis across the globe, the weight management market is still accelerating as the core targets of this market are the consumers for whom health and beauty is of higher importance than the cost. Such impulsive consumers are driving the growth of the market," Dr Safeek Ali, a dietician at Welcare Hospital, told Gulf News.

"The market players are therefore formulating attractive advertisements and brand promotions to gear up their product revenues amongst the numerous other alternatives and substitutes that are available in the market."

Big names

The two biggest players in the UAE weight-loss pills market were Xenical, produced by Swiss giants Roche, and Reductil, made by the US's Abbott Laboratories.

At the beginning of this year, Reductil was recalled from the shelves of 300 licensed pharmacies across the emirates due to risks they carried of increasing the chance of heart attack and stroke. Following this, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a campaign against weight-loss products that contained certain prescription drugs and chemicals, many of which were being sold as dietary supplements.

They issued warnings about more than 70 products found to contain undeclared chemicals. According to pharmacists, Xenical is the only chemical product on the market. According to recent national statistics, more than 60 per cent of Emiratis are overweight.

The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 25 per cent of men and almost 40 per cent of women aged over 15 in the UAE are obese. Health experts have put it down to diet, lifestyle and education.

Obesity in the UK

More than half of the adult population in the UK is either overweight or obese. About 2 in 5 adults in the UK are overweight while 1 in 5 adults are obese. The number of obese people in the UK is rising, particularly among young adults.

How do you know if you are overweight or obese?

Your BMI (Body Mass Index) relates your weight to your height and describes how much of your body is made up of fat. If your BMI is greater then 25 then you are overweight and if it is greater then 30 then you are obese.

If you have a BMI which is greater than 28 and would like to Buy Xenical Online please click the highlighted link.

Fat absorption inhibitors & Weight loss

If you are one of the millions of people in the country who are currently trying to lose weight, you might be tempted to try a diet supplement. As anyone who has lost weight can tell you, shedding extra pounds is hard work, and it takes a lot of focus and dedication. Counting calories, watching what you eat and getting enough exercise can be daunting. These are just a few of the reasons why the diet supplement business is so popular and enormous; people who are literally desperate to lose weight are looking for ways to help make the process easier and quicker.

Popular forms of weight loss supplements are Fat absorption inhibitors. Fat absorption inhibitors are drugs that prevent fat from absorbing into the body. Xenical is the only fat absorber that is currently approved for use in the UK. It works by blocking about 30 percent of fat from being assimilated. The weight loss drug Alli, available over the counter, is really Xenical in a smaller dosage.

Studies of Xenical & Alli have been fairly positive, people who took Xenical were found to lose weight.

If you really want to take a weight-loss drug, it seems like either Xenical or Alli are both designed to give the same result—a lower number on the bathroom scale. But it would probably be a really good idea to look over the side effects of both medicines, the diet you would be expected to follow at the same time, and if doing just the diet alone would give you the results you are looking for.

Obesity rates '20% higher now than in the 1960s'

Despite UK’s love affair with high fat foods like condensed milk & microwave dinners, people enjoyed healthier lifestyles in the sixties than they do now, experts claim.
Although it was an era when people had less access to gyms, those overweight were also more likely to try to slim then.

It is thought that modern lifestyles have contributed the shift in people’s health. Fewer people now walk to work or school with more than double the proportion of people owning cars, while television ownership has risen from 75 per cent of households to almost 99 per cent.

The research, by the Change4Life health campaign, examined data from surveys in 1967 and compared the responses to a poll this year.
It reveals that in 1967, nine out of 10 people surveyed had tried to lose weight during that year but in 2010 that had fallen to just over half (57 per cent).
Of those considered overweight, only 7 per cent in 1967 had failed to do anything about it, while 43 per cent of people overweight today admitted taking steps to slim.
More than three-quarters of 1960s adults said that they walked for at least half an hour every day compared to only 42 per cent in 2010.
And although weight loss technology was still in its infancy, 2 per cent of people claimed to have used vibrating massage belts – the 60s equivalent of Power Plates – for weight loss in 1967.

Professor Oddy, the social historian and author of The Rise of Obesity in Europe: a Twentieth Century Food History, said: “Nowadays, our increasingly sedentary lives paired with the proliferation of a wide range of unhealthy foods have combined to create a very difficult environment for people to reach and maintain a healthy weight.”
In the 1960s only 1 per cent of men and 2 per cent of women in England were classed as obese compared to today’s 25.2 per cent of men and 27.7 per cent of women.
At the end of the 1950s, the average man weighed 10.2 stone (65kg) and the average woman 8.7 stone (55kg). Today the average weights are 13.2 stone (83.6kg) and 11.1 stone (70.2kg) respectively.

The health problems associated with obesity are numerous. Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem. It's a health hazard. Someone who is 40% overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as is an average-weight person. This is because obesity has been linked to several serious medical conditions, including:
• Heart disease and stroke.
• High blood pressure.
• Diabetes.
• Cancer.
• Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Gout.
• Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea (when a person stops breathing for a short time during sleep) and asthma.

Survey on counterfeit drugs market

According to a survey conducted in 14 European countries, 77 million people (ie one in five Europeans) admitted to buying prescription-only medicines from unlawful sources. A majority prefer to buy prescription drugs on the internet, “without realising that between 50% and 90% of medicines sold online are counterfeit and that some contain dangerous substances, such as boric acid”. The ‘Cracking counterfeit Europe’ survey revealed that the counterfeit drug market is estimated to be worth €10.5 billion. The Germans, Italians and Spaniards are the three biggest consumers of medicines bought illegally. Weight-loss drugs, flu remedies and erectile dysfunction pills are the products sold most often. The survey, carried out between 27 October and 8 November 2009, was initiated by Pfizer, the world’s number one pharmaceutical firm and owner of one of the medicine falsified most often, Viagra.

Hollywood director too fat to fly

US director Kevin Smith (star of Dogma, Jay & slient Bob) was left embarrassed after he was asked to get of his flight from Oakland to Burbank because he was overweight.

Smith was shocked by the request, and the Clerks director claims he was told that his weight made him a safety risk.
The airline states that obese passengers must be able to lower both armrests or pay for two seats.

He said on his Twitter page: "I know I'm fat. But was [the flight captain] really justified in throwing me off a flight for which I was already seated?
"I'm way fat. But I'm not THERE just yet. But if I am, why wait till my bag is up and I'm seated WITH ARM RESTS DOWN in front of a packed plane with a bunch of folks who'd already IDed me as Silent Bob" (a character he has played in several of his films).
Smith was offered a £62 voucher as compensation, and managed to board a later flight with the airline.

Warning over counterfeit weight-loss capsules

Consumers are being advised about the dangers of buying medicines from unregulated websites.

27th January 2010 — The discovery of supplies of counterfeit alli, a weight-loss medication, has prompted a consumer warning from The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The fake capsules were found in the United States, but MHRA says people in the UK could be able to buy them on the internet.

alli is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and is available over the counter in the UK with the genuine product containing the active ingredient orlistat or commanly known as Xenical.

The Food and Drug Administration in the US has been working with GSK. Laboratory testing of the suspected counterfeit product, 60mg alli capsules (120 capsule refill kit), have revealed it contained sibutramine instead of orlistat.
Europe-wide medication alert

Last week the European Medicines Agency recommended that the licence for sibutramine should be suspended across Europe because evidence suggested it caused a higher risk of non-fatal heart attacks and strokes.

Mick Deats, Head of Enforcement at MHRA, has issued a warning about the dangers of buying medicines from unregulated internet pharmacies. “The trend of self-diagnosing and self-prescribing is potentially dangerous,” Mr Deats says in a statement on the Agency’s website.

He adds that “Buying weight loss medication from unregulated websites is a dangerous way to slim down. You don’t know what you’re taking and your condition is not being monitored by a healthcare professional. It’s just not worth taking that type of risk.”
Checking it’s the genuine article

The MHRA advises consumers to check that the website has a physical address that’s clearly displayed and the green cross logo of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

The Agency says counterfeit alli has some obvious differences from the genuine product:

* The fake product has no Lot code on the end flap of the outer packaging.
* The fake medication has a plain foil inner safety seal under the plastic cap, without any printed words – the authentic product seal is marked “sealed for your protection”.
* The counterfeit capsules contain white powder instead of small white pellets.

Furthermore, in the UK the genuine capsules are not available in packs of 120; they’re only available in smaller packs of 42 or 84.
Buy from registered pharmacies: Manufacturer

Emma Boran, a spokeswoman for GSK, sent us a statement saying: “GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare in the US has identified a small quantity of fake weight loss product, falsely packaged and labelled as alli sold on US online auction websites, such as eBay.com.

“GlaxoSmithKline fully supports the MHRA warning concerning purchasing medicines from unregistered websites. All retail pharmacies in Great Britain, including those providing internet services, must be registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

“Consumer should only buy alli online from safe and trusted registered pharmacy websites such as those of high street retailers. GSK does not condone illegal sales of alli from websites not authorised to make such sales and recommends that users check the authenticity of the online pharmacy they are looking to purchase alli from.”
The MHRA says anyone with concerns should ask their pharmacist or their GP for advice. Consumers can report any suspected counterfeit alli to the 24-hour MHRA Counterfeit Hotline on 020 7084 2701 or email counterfeit@mhra.gsi.gov.uk.

Reductil Banned as risks outweigh benefits

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has completed a review of the obesity medicine sibutramine (Reductil) on the basis of new safety information from a large clinical trial, the Sibutramine Cardiovascular OUTcomes (SCOUT) study. The review has found that the cardiovascular risks of sibutramine outweigh its benefits. The EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended suspension of the marketing authorisation for this medicine across the European Union.

Further information is available on the EMA website.

Pharmacists are now unable to dispense Reductil and Doctors are also unable to write prescriptions for the obesity medication.

If you are looking for some help with losing some weight after the New Year Xenical is still the best option as Xenical is a lipase inhibitor and does not enter the patient's blood stream, but works in the digestive system in the small intestine as a fat absorber. It blocks out a third of the fat in food eaten in a patient's diet, leading to steady weight loss. Buy Xenical online at www.medical-specialists.co.uk

Council to impose 'No Fry Zone' around primary schools in drive against obesity

Lewisham Council is considering adopting the radical proposal of a 1,300ft 'No Fry Zone' around all of its 65 primary schools after it was revealed that one in four 10-year-old children are obese. If agreed by councillors later this month it would mean that no new fast food shops - such as fried chicken shops and burger bars - will be allowed to open within 400m of a school.
So if children want to visit a fast food shop at lunch time they will have to walk over a 800m to get there hands on a fattening lunch - hopefully burning some calories off on the way.
With a distance of just over half a mile, a brisk walk to the nearest takeaway and back to school would take at least 10 minutes.

Councillor Ute Michel, of the Green Party, said the proposal was being put forward to full council later this month. She said: 'Our children's health actually gets far worse rather than better during their time in school. 'Despite making progress in making school meals healthier and teaching about healthy diets, takeaways are fuelling junk food culture just outside the school gate undoing much of that good work.'

She said that council chiefs would also work with existing takeaways - who will not have to close under the proposals - to provide 'healthier options' on their menus.
Adele Greenway, who has two children aged six and nine, said there was still time for a child to walk to a takeaway at break time.

She said: 'It's all very well encouraging children not to eat greasy fried food, but with a lunch break of 50 minutes that gives them plenty of time to nip to the kebab shop for a burger and chips even if it's 10 minutes there and back.
'At least the kids will be getting some exercise and burning off the calories, but they'll still be eating lord knows how many calories.'

Takeaway shop worker Khalid Mohammed said the scheme wouldn't stop kids getting their hands on unhealthy food.
He said: 'Whether they put the no fry zone in place or not doesn't really matter.
'If someone wants chips and a burger or fried chicken they will walk the five minutes it takes to get there. 'All it is is a hassle for them - they'll still make the trip and they'll probably take orders from all their classmates too.'
Waltham Forest Council in East London pioneered the scheme last year after 93 per cent of locals backed the plan.