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.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy opens up a two-way process in which the therapist both listens to and helps supply suggestions to the subconscious in an attempt to discover the cause of the problem.

Acupuncture

Colonc Hydrotherapy

While colonic hydrotherapy 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 colonic hydrotherapy can help by detoxifying the system. This enables the body to break down fat cells.

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.

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.