Anti-addiction drugs used to treat obesity.File photo dated 08/09/09 of an obese woman. Issue date: Friday July 30, 2010. Dramatic effects have been seen from a weight loss recipe that combines anti-addiction drugs with dieting and exercise. A group of obese trial patients put on the programme lost up to 6% of their bodyweight over the course of a year. US researchers, led by Professor Frank Greenway, from the Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, recruited 1,742 patients aged 18 to 65 for the 56 week trial, but only half saw it through to the end. Participants were randomly prescribed either a combination of the drugs naltrexone and bupropion or "dummy" placebo pills. See PA story HEALTH Obese. Photo credit should read: Fiona Hanson/PA Wire URN:9246550 (Press Association via AP Images)
<p style=
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<p class="MsoNormal" style=
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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>Researchers at Harvard
University recently reported that just over one-third of Americans
are obese. The Harvard researchers also project that this number
will only grow in time.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>By 2050 the researchers
think that America will have a population that is 42 percent
obese.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
“text-align: justify; text-indent: 14pt;”><span style=
“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>This has become a serious
issue for many college campuses and health associations in recent
years who are trying to battle the weight gain trend in the United
States.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>“The freshman 15 is real,
and it happens to so many people,” Glenda Richey, coordinator of
fitness at the UNA Student Recreation Center, said.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>According to the American
College Health Association, only 36 percent of college age students
eat three or more fruits and vegetables a day.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
“text-align: justify; text-indent: 14pt;”><span style=
“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>Also according to the ACHA,
just over one-third of college students are overweight based on
their body mass index or BMI.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>Peggy Bergeron, a nurse with
UNA’s Health and Wellness Center, warns students that the effects
of obesity are dangerous.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>According to Bergeron,
obesity can cause: hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, sleep
apnea, psychological problems and many other issues.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>“Be mindful of what you eat
and participate in a regular physical activity,” Bergeron said.
“Developing good habits and lifestyles now will make it easier to
maintain [these lifestyles and habits] for life.”
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
“text-align: justify; text-indent: 14pt;”><span style=
“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>Bergeron said that exercise
and good nutrition is a key in the weight-control challenge. She
suggested students cut out most of the fast foods, processed foods
and sodas in their daily diets.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
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“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>Bergeron also suggests
students take a good look at their serving sizes and read the
labels on the foods they consume.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
“text-align: justify; text-indent: 14pt;”><span style=
“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>Both Bergeron and Richey
recommend students take a look at their calories in versus their
calories out.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
“text-align: justify; text-indent: 14pt;”><span style=
“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>Most students are typically
not doing the physical activities they once did, Richey
said.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
“text-align: justify; text-indent: 14pt;”><span style=
“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>“Students should participate
in a variety of workouts, do not do the same thing all the time,
change it up,” Richey said. “Personalize your workout; what works
for someone, may not work for someone else.”
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
“text-align: justify; text-indent: 14pt;”><span style=
“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>Richey recommends students
who are healthy enough to work out should participate in some sort
of cardio to get the heart rate up for at least 20 minutes four to
five times a week.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
“text-align: justify; text-indent: 14pt;”><span style=
“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>“Get a friend that you can
be accountable with and work out together,” she said.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
“text-align: justify; text-indent: 14pt;”><span style=
“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>Everyone can use a trainer,
even the most experienced athletes, Richey said. She suggests that
students take advantage of the free trainers that UNA’s Student
Recreation Center offers.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=
“text-align: justify; text-indent: 14pt;”><span style=
“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times;”>For information on
nutrition, contact Bergeron at the UNA Health and Wellness Center
at 256-765-4328. To set up a time to meet with a trainer at the
Student Recreation Center, contact Richey or her staff at
256-765-6021.