What is Obesity?
Obesity occurs when an individual has an increased amount of body fat. It is usually defined as being 20-30% above the normal/average body weight for someone of the same age, gender, and height and can be measured by one's Body Mass Index (BMI) or more accurately their Body Fat % (BF%). Normal BMI is between 18.5–24.9 and calculated by dividing your weight (kg) by your height (meters squared). Normal body fat percentage is between 21-33% for women and 8-25% for men. This can be calculated by various methods including BioElectrical Impendance Analysis machines. This is the method we use at Kleinburg Integrative Health.
What causes it? There are many potential causes of obesity. Some factors can be one or many of the following: poor diet, over eating, pregnancy, lack of physical activity or inactivity, stress, genetics and gender (women are more likely to become obese, due to increase body fat mass).
What are my treatment options? Most healthcare providers believe that overweight individuals should try to lose weight gradually. This reduces the risk of nutritional deficiencies and increases the likelihood of long-term success.
Conventional approaches: It is well known by medical doctors that a high BMI or body fat% is associated with many forms of chronic disease. Unfortunately most general practitioners do not have enough time in their short visits to educate patients and provide the ongoing care that is necessary support patients trying to loose weight. A referral to a trained practitioner such as a Holistic Nutritionist or Naturopathic Doctor can make success in achieving the ideal weight a reality.
Natural alternative or complimentary options
A healthy diet and exercise are major contributors in treating Obesity.
It's not just a matter of cutting out candy and hamburgers however. Many people do not realize that the food they thought was healthy for them, is working against their goals to loose weight. Food allergy and hormone testing done by a trusted laboratory are very helpful tools in identifying food intolerances or hormonal imbalances (female hormone, thyroid hormone) that may be effecting a persons digestion and metabolism.
Dr. Slipacoff, ND has been trained in The Healthy and Active weight loss program. This therapeutical nutritional program is designed to support weight loss by determining which foods optimize your metabolism. An assessment is completed including BIA testing, measurements and blood work to test thyroid, liver and various other metabolic process' and the nutritional program is formulated based on the results.
Both the Holistic Nutritionist and Naturopathic Doctors at Kleinburg Integrative Health can work with you to improve your diet and get on the right path to weight loss and better health.
If you are looking for effective treatments for weight loss and excess weight and live in or near Vaughan, come visit us at KIH clinic. We are located in Kleinburg (Vaughan), Ontario, right in the heart of the Kleinburg village. Fill out the form to the right of this page and we will get right back to you promptly with up-to-date, accurate and useful information on the next best steps in the treatment of your condition/concern.
Resources:
Natural Standard Databases: http://naturalstandard.com.ezproxy.ccnm.edu/databases/conditions/all/condition-obesity.asp