Obesity
There are few words in our culture more loaded with negative meanings than “fat”. To be fat – especially in women – is often to feel like a social outcast. In contrast to being overly thin (“You can never be too thin”, as the saying goes), to be overly large is commonly regarded as a sign of greed and laziness – not to mention “unhealthiness”.
Yet the truth is far more complex and some researchers have concluded that the health risks of moderate obesity (about 11kg/28lb over the conventional height/weight chart limit) have been greatly exaggerated. Indeed, there is evidence that it is healthier than excessive thinness. It is perfectly possible to be fat and fit, while trying to get thin can seriously damage your health. Excessive dieting can actually lead to long-term weight gain because your body is programmed to get back to a physiological “set point” as soon as possible – and while you have been dieting your metabolism has slowed down, making it more difficult to lose the weight next time round. However, true obesity (defined as a 20 percent excess of body weight) is a different matter and does cause physical problems. If your weight is enough to restrict movement it may be difficult to take exercise. Arthritis may also be exacerbated by weight, and obesity may be a cause of late-onset diabetes as well as of cancer of the colon and rectum in men. It has also been associated with heart disease and high blood pressure.
But why do people become obese in the first place? The answer lies in a complex interaction between eating styles, genetic inheritance, exercise, and your physiological set point. Moreover, people may become or remain obese for various psychological reasons such as fear of a relationship – being fat may be seen as a form of protection.
Other factors involved in the complex process of weight gain include food allergies, nutritional deficiencies, chemical toxicity, a sluggish metabolism, lack of exercise, a diet high in refined and processed foods, insulin imbalance, or impaired thermogenesis (the mechanism by which fat is burned to produce heat).
There may also be further psychological complications of guilt, self-loathing and fear of “forbidden” food, driving the vicious circle of dieting and bingeing – as well as causing one of the most serious health problems of being fat, namely stress.
THE ORTHODOX APPROACH
Despite (or even because of) all our efforts to get thin, 98 percent of people fail to maintain weight loss. However, orthodox physicians still seem to have little other than diet sheets to offer. But they believe that lack of exercise is a major contributing factor – young girls in particular often starve themselves unnecessarily and unsuccessfully when more exercise would go a long way towards solving their problem. There are also some new drugs available on prescription that are said to make the brain believe the stomach is full.
THE HALE APPROACH
Physicians will be the first to admit that dietetics and nutrition are not taught well in medical school. Provided the reason for your obesity is not a glandular condition or other disease process, complementary therapies are the best starting point. Initially, ask you physician for an assessment to rule out these factors. In most circumstances, you should avoid orthodox “diet pills” wherever possible.
The right weight for any individual is the subject of much debate between the fashion industry, feminists and health-care practitioners. However, the subject of this section is obesity, which I define as being not just plump, or rather fat, but seriously overweight to the extent that you health is put at serious risk.
The causes of obesity are complex – they could be genetic, physiological or psychological. The Hale Clinic cannot treat the first of these, but we have developed a program which addresses the physiological and psychological causes of obesity.
We begin with hypnosis, to put the patient in the right frame of mind to lose weight and to make them aware of the weight-reducing program they will be following. The hypnotherapist/psychologist also looks at any psychological issues that may be an impediment to losing weight (though this will not be relevant in every case).
Then the programme proceeds as follows:-
• Developing a good nutritional program and making sure there are no deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, etc.
• Checking for any allergic reactions to food which could be causing bloating and weight gain.
• Assessing hormonal, digestive and elimination functions to ensure that they are functioning correctly; if necessary, advice is given on how to improve these functions. Consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner will identify your particular body type; the practitioner will then be able to advise you on which foods to eat.
• Assessing the musculo-skeletal system to see if there have been any back injuries – which could affect a person’s weight. Ideally at the same time, while taking account of any back problems, a specially tailored exercise program should be started. This might begin with yoga or T’ai Chi and walking and build up to running and/or working out in a gym.
• After a few weeks of following this program, the patient does a Buteyko breathing course for a week. This will considerably reduce appetite, detoxifying the body, help reduce allergic reactions, improve digestive elimination and boost hormonal functions.
In certain cases a quick drop in weight can bring psychological issues to the fore, so continual contact with the hypnotherapist/psychologist is important. A lifetime commitment to changing the pattern of breathing is necessary if weight is to be kept in check.
PSYCHOTHERAPY/NUTRITION
One therapist uses a combination of psychological and physiological approaches to address problems of obesity. These include N.I.P. (neurolinguistic programming), a form of hypnotherapy. “We look at the pattern of eating: why you eat, when you eat and so on”, she says. “Are you eating out of habit, do patterns and beliefs need to be changed? Is your mind stopping you from eating healthily?
“I would look into whether certain food are causing weight to stay on because of sensitivities – and may recommend a blood test for food intolerance”.
She also checks for thyroid imbalance and discusses the possibility of blood-sugar imbalance. “Then, exercise and food elimination diets – for people with food sensitivities – can help”.
Treatments and how long they take are variable and tailored to the individual. Results are variable, too. The therapist says she sometimes sees a very gradual improvement, but at other times treatment “can produce amazing results”. More about nutrition... More about psychotherapy...
HYPNOTHERAPY
“Nine times out of ten”, says one hypnotherapist, “clients come to me having tried many, many diets. But those diets haven’t worked. People are often in great distress; They want something done now, but reductions in weight must be achieved gradually. Treatment can take months and involves a permanent change in eating habits, as opposed to dieting”
Hypnotherapy opens up a two-way process in which the therapist both listens to and helps supply suggestions to the subconscious. He attempts to discover the cause of the problem. “Some people describe an addiction to food. There may be a compulsion to eat, the roots of which lie in the past. Some people may have secondary gain in making themselves unattractive. Through hypnotherapy I can work out a sensible eating program, coupled with positive suggestions to the subconscious to promote maintenance of that program” More about hypnotherapy...
ACUPUNCTURE
One specialist in Chinese medicine uses a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs to balance the body’s metabolism, eliminating blockages in the flow of energy along the meridian. “By regulating energy balance in this way”, he says, “and by also addressing diet and exercise, it is possible to help people lose around 14lb in weight over a two-month period”. More about acupuncture...
COLONIC HYDROTHERAPY
While colonic irrigation is not used as part of a weight-loss program in the sense of “purging” the body, it can be helpful if weight gain has been caused by excess toxicity in the body. “If the body is holding on to toxins which are stored in the fat cells”, explains a colonic therapist, “colonic irrigation can help by detoxifying the system. This enables the body to break down fat cells”.
She finds that this form of treatment can also help reduce cravings for food because, by improving the metabolism and the absorption of nutrients, it is aiding the body to get what it needs from food more efficiently. More about colonic...
AYURVEDA
By introducing an eating regime that is appropriate for the individual constitution – moving away from heavy, oily, cold foods to light, dry and healing foods – the practitioner capacity and shed excess weight. More about ayurveda...
SUPPORTIVE TREATMENTS
Remedial Yoga
The practice of yoga increases the circulation of blood through the body, relieving feelings of sluggishness and stimulating digestion. It also stimulates the endocrine system, which controls the workings of the major organs. Yoga can relieve compression around those organs, helping to release toxins from the body. On the emotional level, yoga can help you feel more positive about yourself and in control of your body, encouraging a sense of strength and vigour.
Chi Kung
In Chine medicine, fat is viewed as unspent energy. Chi Kung exercises and breathing restore the flow of energy, allowing the body to return to its natural shape. “First Chi Kung” exercises are especially recommended. Once mastered, they can easily be practiced at home.
Healing
While there is no “quick fix” for obesity through healing, it can be a process which enables people to take responsibility for their own health. The healer is in some ways a vehicle for the transfer of energy, which can give you the strength and awareness to make radical changes in your lifestyle. In this way healing for obesity can bring a shift in consciousness which allows you to find your own solutions.