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.
About The Author
Michael Lewis has been collecting articles and information on Weight Loss and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and related health benefits. He has created and edits numerous web sites about this subject. Michael is a staff writer for http://www.ageforce.com and several other websites. If you would like to contact Michael you can e-mail him at Michael@AgeForce.com or if you would like to know more about Weight Loss, HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and related health topics please visit us at AgeForce.com.
Quick, what's the first thought that pops into your head... Read More
Cellulite is not a medical condition or an aesthetic mutiny... Read More
Weight Loss Red Flag GuideDespite claims to the contrary, there... Read More
My responsibility as a high profile fitness expert lies not... Read More
*Do you truly believe that not eating or cutting back... Read More
If you are looking for a way to lose fifty... Read More
Weight loss can be a difficult goal to achieve. Some... Read More
Weight loss information is often confusing and misleading. The more... Read More
If you are about to begin a diet, the number... Read More
Hannah was distressed that, with all the inner work she... Read More
Losing Weight quickly and easily has become one of the... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight, the holidays literally... Read More
Low Carb, Low Fat, More protein, Eat all the fat... Read More
Have you ever experienced this scenario before?"I have successfully lost... Read More
There is no question that having a massage makes you... Read More
Here are seven tips for getting the calories out of... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
Now that the temptations of the Holiday season have passed... Read More
Dumping syndrome is an effective result of the gastric bypass... Read More
The only way you will ever follow through on an... Read More
When considering that pathological eating disorders and their related diseases... Read More
The following are diet tips that can help you shape... Read More
1. What is Atkins Diet? Dr. Atkins diet, first introduced... Read More
If you are fighting the battle of the bulge (overweight... Read More
In March 2003 our then 13 year old daughter, Helen,... Read More
Do calories matter or do you simply need to eat... Read More
Are you often overcome with an urge to splurge on... Read More
You have probably heard the old myth, that you should... Read More
Have you ever wondered how actors stay in such great... Read More
A distorted body image is one of the symptoms that... Read More
One of the hardest aspects of getting yourself into shape,... Read More
We have plans for everything these days. That is how... Read More
You've heard the popular advice on weight loss diets. Cut... Read More
If you want to reduce your body fat, focus on... Read More
Have you ever just felt like you were doing everything... Read More
One-size-fits-all diets don't work....but then you probably know that already.... Read More
Speculating on the scientifically proven memory unreliability, the memory specialist... Read More
Abdominal liposuction refers to liposuction, or lipoplasty, that is performed... Read More
Negative Calorie Effect in FoodsWhatever food we... Read More
1. CUT THE SIMPLE CARBS.It's unfortunate that the majority of... Read More
The words I read made me furious. There it was,... Read More
I know how difficult it can be do stick to... Read More
Every Journey Worth Taking Begins with a Single StepHere are... Read More
I get asked all the time, "what do you think... Read More
There Is A Right Way to Chew!Chewing your food is... Read More
Experts say obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest health... Read More
Fat has had a lot of bad press and for... Read More
If you're on a weight loss program you're under constant... Read More
Once upon a time, I fretted about going to a... Read More
If you're taking a fiber supplement or eating a high... Read More
We in the diet and exercise industry have our own... Read More
Activity means both mental and physical activity.Mental activity is similar... Read More
If you want to reduce your body fat, focus on... Read More
More and more people are turning to hypnosis or hypnotherapy... Read More
Gastric bypass surgery has many forms and can involve stapling... Read More
Have you ever stepped on the scale after a week... Read More
On a little island half way in between Guam and... Read More
You are ready to shed those energy draining, body crippling,... Read More
All of us that have had a love-hate relationship with... Read More
Many of us have tried losing weight in the past... Read More
Maybe you've heard about body dysmorphia ? it's a mental... Read More
Obesity is a disease that affects approximately 60 million people... Read More
Do you have a big event coming up? Perhaps you... Read More
The Dr Atkins Diet has been around for ages, but... Read More
1. The lower the calories eaten per day, the harder... Read More
Resistance training, also known as strength training, does not require... Read More
Weight Loss |