Interesting article and stats I found…

Has Obesity Finally Reached Its Peak?

by Mary Jane (MJ) Bovo, M.D.  

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As national overweight and obesity percentages seem to level off, experts call for additional methods of weight-loss support

Have Americans become as fat as they can possibly get? That might be one logical conclusion to draw after hearing news of the government’s most recent check of the nation’s obesity rates. Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) revealed a bit of encouraging news about what some have called “a turning point in the nation’s obesity epidemic” (CNN.com, 2006).

But all is not as rosy at it may seem. So opines researcher Harry Balzer of The NPD Group, the New York-based market research firm that compiled the data. While the overweight and obesity percentages among women—currently at 62% and 33% respectively—have held steady for the last few years, Balzer’s agency noted several disturbing trends. Unfortunately, the percentages for men and children continue to rise every year. Balzer adds that while it is encouraging that women as a group are not gaining any more weight, “the bad news is that we haven’t found a way to lose weight” (CNN.com, 2006).

In light of these caveats, several health experts have called for more aggressive studies on current weight-loss techniques to assess their effectiveness. In addition, many professionals have used the JAMA article to encourage their overweight and obese patients to do something about their weight promptly, without any further delay. As a medical doctor, I often inform my own patients about the potential of dietary supplements to support weight-loss, especially when they are used with a reduced-calorie eating plan and sensible exercise program.

Green Tea Gears Up Weight Loss
One of the most encouraging supplements in recent years has been Green Tea Extract. More than 10 years of scientifically controlled clinical trials suggest that Green Tea may be an authentic fat burner.

One of these studies actually used a sealed respiratory chamber to measure the exact amount of fat oxidation (fat burning) increased by a 140-milligram dose of Green Tea extract versus a placebo. The Green Tea extract used in the study contained about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of green tea, which is less than the caffeine in half a cup of coffee. Dutch scientists using the respiratory chamber found that Green Tea extract raised the fat-burning rate by 4% (Dulloo et al, 1999). While this percentage may not seem significant, in daily terms it is similar to burning off an extra 50 to 75 calories every meal.

In another study, Japanese scientists found that simply drinking green tea every day caused the participants to lose up to five pounds and an inch around the waistline in as few as 12 weeks. This study, conducted at the Health Care Products Research Laboratory in Tokyo, found that drinking green tea also positively affects LDL cholesterol as it takes off fat, while leaving lean muscle intact (Nagao et al, 2005).

Why an Extract Is Better Than Tea
If you are considering drinking Green Tea as a way to lose weight, there are two things to remember. For one, Green Tea does not seem to work without caffeine. The Dutch research team found that—while a “low-caf” Green Tea still may affect body weight, waist circumference, and body fat—a fully caffeinated Green Tea extract provides an additional benefit by impacting leptin, a molecule also known as “the hunger hormone” (Westerterp-Plantenga et al, 2005).

Secondly, to get the full benefits of Green Tea for fat burning, you would need to consume the catechins (the active polyphenol compounds in Green Tea) contained in about 40 cups of Green Tea but the caffeine contained in only one cup. Therefore, people who rely on large amounts of green tea beverages rather than capsules or, better yet, soft-gel caps containing Green Tea extract are at greater risk for “over-caffeination.” Meanwhile, clinical research at UCLA suggests that all of the antioxidant polyphenols of Green Tea are fully present in an extract without the need for excessive caffeine (Henning SM, 2004). Considering this research, it seems more practical to take a daily supplement that contains concentrated amounts of Green Tea extract.

Other Nutrients Help Weight-Control Efforts
Over the last few years, nutritionists also have looked for effective alternatives to ephedra, the stimulant that was pulled from the market. They may have done so in Advantra-Z®, a proprietary blend of herbal extracts. One of the ingredients in the Advantra-Z® combination contains synephrine, a key metabolic compound. During a series of research tests at UC San Francisco, clinicians found that Advantra-Z® seemed to enhance cardiovascular energy, which could encourage higher metabolism (Haller, 2005).

In addition, many researchers have become intrigued by Citrus Aurantium (bitter melon extract), a compound found in an herbal blend known as Xenedrol. Tests of Citrus Aurantium reveal that this natural herb contains five potent compounds that encourage thermogenic activity (fat burning). According to a company that markets Citrus Aurantium, researchers suspect that this herb may stimulate the cell receptors in the body that are responsible for triggering thermogenesis. They report: “Thermogenesis, or the production of heat in the body, increases the resting metabolic rate and the rate at which fat is released from body stores and broken down to help burn calories” (Luff, 2006).

If you are an overweight man or woman, it’s encouraging to know that natural compounds such as Green Tea extract, Advantra-Z and Citrus Aurantium can provide an additional dimension of weight-control support. While it may still seem fantastic to dream of a pill that can “melt down the pounds,” a sensible diet and exercise program along with a combination of these nutrients just might give you the additional power to achieve the leaner, healthier body that you deserve.

References:
CNN.com. (2006). Tipping point in obesity epidemic? www.CNN.com. April 5. Retrieved online May 30, 2006 from http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/diet.fitness/04/05/fatter.americans.ap/index.html.

Dulloo, A.G. et al. (1999). Efficacy of a green tea extract rich in catechin polyphenols and caffeine in increasing 24-hour energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 70(6), 1040–1045.

Haller, C.A. et al. (2005). Hemodynamic effects of ephedra-free weight-loss supplements in humans. The American Journal of Medicine, 118(9), 998–1003.

Henning, S.M. et al. (2004). Bioavailability and antioxidant activity of tea flavonols after consumption of green tea, black tea, or a green tea extract supplement. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 80(6), 1558–1564.

Luff, S. (2006). Ingredients for weight-management products. Nutritional Outlook, 9(3), 60–67.

Nagao, T. et al. (2005). Ingestion of a tea rich in catechins leads to a reduction in body fat and malondialdehyde-modified LDL in men. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81(1), 122–129.

Reuters Limited. (2006). Midlife obesity raises risk of Alzheimer’s disease. www.Yahoo!News.com. April 6. Retrieved online June 8, 2006 from http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060407/hl_nm/health_alzheimers_dc;_ylt=AlrmN7XaupkYfdbzet_eY.OISbYF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA

Westerterp-Plantenga, M.S., et al. (2005). Body weight loss and weight maintenance in relation to habitual caffeine intake and green tea supplementation. Obesity Research, (7), 1195–1204.