New Hope for People with Weight Problems, a book by Lawrence J. Cheskin (Prima Publishing, 2002), is a helpful resource for overweight and obese people who are having trouble losing weight. Sometimes diet and exercise just aren't enough to make weight loss happen, and there may be an underlying cause that you aren't aware of. This book offers new hope for weight loss in people with weight problems who have tried and failed at dieting.
Cushing's Syndrome, for example, is one of the potential problems Cheskin discusses. Cushing's Syndrome is caused by a defective pituitary gland that causes adrenal glans to overproduce cortisol. Excess cortisol is what prompts the body to store excess fat in the belly. You can tell if you have Cushing's Syndrome if you carry excess fat in your face and abs and have a large hump over your neck. Aside from obesity related side effects, Cushing's Syndrome often leads to diabetes, osteoporosis and spinal fractures.
Other reasons for excess fat storage in the body include:
- Polycycstic Ovarian Syndrome, in which high estrogen causes extra body hair, irregular menstrual cycles and difficulty getting pregnant. It also makes your body resistant to let go of the excess fat.
- Leptin is out of balance so fat cells aren't signaling to the brain that enough fat is stored.
- Family history of obesity, heart conditions and cancer affect your health and potential for weight loss.
- Your medical history signals whether your body is healthy or you have a tendency for infection, disease or excess fat storage.
- Your weight history is a good predictor of your future weight. If you have been overweight since childhood and are an obese adult, it will likely be difficult for you to shed the extra pounds.
- You body has a natural set point as far as weight and it is extremely hard to push past this number and maintain the weight loss.
- Above all, your eating habits play a key role in your body's fat percentage.
Weight Loss Drugs
Cheskin describes over-the-counter diet pills and supplements in New Hope for People with Weight Problems. Some pills give you a false sense of fullness, some speed up your metabolism by targeting your central nervous system and some block fat and prevent our bodies from digesting it. But all of these weight loss supplements have one thing in common and that is unwanted side effects. Side effects from diet pills range from dry mouth to heart trouble, making them a risky choice for dieters.
Alternative Therapy for Weight Loss
New Hope for People with Weight Problems suggests a varies of alternative therapies that can be used alone or in combination with each other or with traditional medicine.
- Homeopathy
- Hypnosis
- Herbs
- Chiropractic care
- Magnetic therapy
- Acupuncture
- Reiki
Cheskin also mentions the use of a behavior psychologist. While it isn't necessary to figure out what is causing you to eat before you start a healthier lifestyle, it can be helpful to discover reasons you are self-sabotaging your weight loss efforts. You will be able to explore your motivation for losing weight and the behaviors that trigger overeating as well (61).
Morbid obesity is life-threatening and can cause a host of medical problems from high cholesterol to diabetes. New Hope for People with Weight Problems is a helpful book for discovering why your body has a tendency to store excess fat and what alternative treatments are available to help you lose weight.
