Sunday, October 3, 2010

Weight loss/Control glossary of terms

Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request
Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request

A Little Help With Some Difficult terms

------------------------------------------

Aerobic Exercise. Any activity involving large muscles, done

for an extended period of time. Aerobic exercise can be done

for weight loss, but it also provides cardiovascular

benefits. Examples of aerobic exercise include walking,

biking, jogging, swimming, aerobic classes and cross-country

skiing.

Aloe. Herbal product derived from the aloe plant, it is

often added to herbal weight loss products. However, it has

not been shown to effectively promote permanent weight loss.

Different parts of the aloe plant may be used. Aloe gel may

lower blood glucose and keep other medications from being

properly absorbed. Aloe leaf lining has more side effects,

including nausea, diarrhea, lowering of serum potassium and

laxative effects that could be dangerous to individuals not

in good health.

Appetite Suppressants. Medications that act upon the brain,

"tricking" it into believing that it is not hungry or that

it's full.

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. A body composition test

that works by sending a small electrical signal through the

body, enabling the amount of fat, muscle and other lean

tissue to be measured.

Body Composition Test. A test used to determine the current

percentage of body fat a person has.

Body Mass Index (BMI). A popular method used to gauge

whether or not a person is overweight. BMI is calculated by

dividing a person's weight (in kilograms) by his or her

height (in meters, squared).

Calorie. A unit of measure for the amount of energy released

when the body breaks down food.

Carbohydrate. Any of a large group of sugars, starches,

cellulose and gums that the body uses by converting into

glucose, a simple sugar, for fuel.

Cascara. A common ingredient used in weight loss products.

One of the few herbs approved by the FDA as an

over-the-counter drug. It is a strong stimulant laxative.

Catecholamine. A chemical in the brain that affects mood and

appetite.

Chitosan (KITE-o-san). A dietary supplement made from

chitin, a starch found in the skeleton of shrimp, crab and

other shellfish. It has not been shown to contribute to

permanent weight loss.

Cholesterol. A type of fat that circulates in your blood. It

comes from two sources. the body makes its own regardless of

what is eaten and from foods containing animal products.

Dietician or Dietitian. A person who specializes in the

study of nutrition.

Diuretic. A drug that promotes the formation of urine by the

kidney.

Diuresis. Water loss

Duodenum. The beginning portion of the small intestine.

Ephedrine (Ma-Huang). A common ingredient in herbal dietary

supplements used for weight loss. Ephedrine can slightly

suppress your appetite, but no studies have shown it to be

effective in weight loss. Ephedrine is the main active

ingredient of ephedra. Ephedra is also known as Ma Huang,

not ephedrine. High doses of ephedra can cause very fast

heartbeat, high blood pressure, irregular heart beats,

stroke, vomiting, psychoses and even death.

Extensive Gastric Bypass. A gastric bypass operation in

which portions of the stomach are removed. The small pouch

that remains is connected directly to the final segment of

the small intestine, thus completely bypassing both the

duodenum and jejunum.

Fat. Organic compounds that are made up of carbon, hydrogen,

and oxygen, it is the body's most concentrated source of

energy. Like protein and carbohydrates, fat is a principal

and essential component of the diet.

Fat Absorption Inhibitor. Medications that work by

preventing the body from breaking down and absorbing fat

eaten with meals.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Government agency whose

mission is "to promote and protect the public health by

helping safe and effective products reach the market in a

timely way, and monitoring products for continued safety

after they are in use."

Food Triggers. A situation or emotion that causes a person

to eat such as stress or depression.

Gastric Banding. A surgical procedure in which a band made

of special material is placed around the stomach near its

upper end, creating a small pouch and a narrow passage into

the larger remainder of the stomach.

Gastric Bypass. A type of operation that combines the

creation of a small stomach pouch to restrict food intake

and the construction of bypasses of the duodenum and other

segments of the small intestine to cause malabsorption

(decreased absorption of nutrients).

Glucomannan. Made from the root of Amorphophallus Konjac, an

herbal supplement that is said to contribute to weight loss

by delaying the absorption of glucose from the intestines.

Guarana. A nervous system stimulant derived from the seeds

of a Brazilian plant of the same name, it is often found in

herbal supplements that promote weight loss.

Guar Gum. Also known as guar, guar flour, and jaguar gum, it

is a dietary fiber obtained from the Indian cluster bean.

Used extensively as a thickening agent for foods and

pharmaceuticals, it is commonly sold as an herbal supplement

to promote weight loss.

High Protein Diet. Diets that recommend receiving up to 30%

of calories (or more) from protein as opposed to the

recommended 10%-15% from protein. These diets also recommend

low carbohydrate consumption and are often high in total

fat.

Hydrostatic Body Fat Testing. A body composition test

performed by submerging the person in water and then

measuring his or her underwater weight.

Jejunum. The middle section of the small intestine.

Ketone. Waste products in the body that are a result of fat

burning.

Ketosis. An abnormality of the body's metabolic process,

resulting in an increase of ketones in the blood, which can

increase the risk of developing kidney stones. Ketosis is

prevented by eating at least 100 grams of carbohydrates a

day.

Ma-Huang. See ephedrine.

Meridia. See Sibutermine

Metabolism. The amount of energy (calories) your body burns

to maintain itself. Metabolism is the process in which

nutrients are acquired, transported, used and disposed of by

the body.

Monounsaturated fat. A type of fat found in large amounts in

foods from plants, including olive, peanut and canola oil.

Mortality. The rate of death.

Obesity. An excess proportion of total body fat. The most

common measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI).

Orlistat. A commonly prescribed fat absorption medication,

it is sold under the brand name Xenical.

Phen-fen. A weight loss drug made up of fenfluramine and

phentermine. Its use has been linked to heart valve problems

and has been banned by the FDA.

Phenylpropanolamine (PPA). Once a common weight loss

ingredient in appetite suppressants, recent studies have

linked PPA to an increased risk of stroke. The FDA warns

consumers to avoid use of products containing PPA.

Polyunsaturated Fat. A type of fat that is found in large

amounts in foods from plants, including safflower, sunflower

and corn oil.

Protein. An organic compound that is the "building block" of

the human body. Protein builds and maintains muscle tissue.

Pyruvate. Formed in the body during digestion of

carbohydrates and protein, some studies indicate that it may

help with weight loss. Although it appears to be safe,

claims of boosting metabolism, decreasing appetite and

aiding in weight loss require further study.

Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). The level of essential

nutrients required to adequately meet the known nutrient

needs of practically all healthy persons, according to the

Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of

Sciences.

Restriction Operation. The type of surgery most often used

for producing weight loss. Food intake is restricted by

creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach where the

food enters from the esophagus. Examples of restriction

operations include. gastric banding and vertical banded

gastroplasty.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RGB). The most common gastric

bypass procedure. First, a small stomach pouch is created by

stapling or by vertical banding. This causes restriction in

food intake. Next, a Y-shaped section of the small intestine

is attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the

duodenum as well as the first portion of the jejunum.

Saturated Fat. A type of fat most often found in animal food

products including milk, eggs, meat and butter. Saturated

fat is also found in vegetable products such as coconut and

palm oil. Studies show that too much saturated fat in a

person's diet increases heart disease risk.

St. John's Wort. An herb that is primarily used as an

antidepressant due to its effects on serotonin. There is

limited research indicating its use for weight loss.

Serotonin. A neurotransmitter found in the brain that

affects mood and appetite.

Sibutramine. A common prescription appetite suppressant, it

is sold under the brand name Meridia.

Vertical-Banded Gastroplasty. The most frequently used

restrictive operation for weight control. During it, both a

band and staples are used to create a small stomach pouch.

Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD). A short-term weight loss diet,

VLCDs are commercially prepared formulas of 800 calories or

less that replace all usual food intake. Not all VLCD need

be formulas; they could just be low calorie meal plans.

These diets (in fact most diets less than 1000 calories) are

low in essential nutrients and require vitamin/mineral

supplementation.

Xenical. See Orlistat

Yerba Mate. Also known as Paraguay tea, this strong central

nervous system stimulant is often sold as a dietary

supplement. It has not been proven to cause weight loss.

Weight Cycling. The repeated loss and regain of body weight.

When weight cycling is the result of dieting, it is often

called "yo-yo" dieting.

Source: WebMD

You have permission to publish this article electronically or

in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included.

A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.







This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

0 comments:

Post a Comment