Achieving successful body fat loss is a difficult but essential component of achieving optimum good health. Unfortunately many Australians are in the habit of jumping on the dieting roller coaster by choosing extreme, un-natural diets. Results on these diets are achieved by cutting out one of more of the essential macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate or fat) to create an unbalanced and nutrient deficient diet. This leads to temporary weight loss due to a lack of calories - starvation. This style of diet is not sustainable in the long term and as soon as old habits are reintroduced the weight is regained often with a little extra. The final result is decreased self-esteem, depression and the start of a new diet.

If we could incorporate the ways of our ancestors by eating more natural foods, increasing our activity and developing a better relationship with our food, we would not only achieve successful body fat loss but other aspects of our lives would also improve. For example reducing body fat in overweight individuals has been shown to positively affect fertility, cardiovascular risk, diabetes and insulin resistance, hormonal imbalances, sleep disturbances, energy and digestive problems.

• People with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or greater are classified as overweight, and as obese if their BMI reaches 30 or more.
• 1 in 5 adults are obese. Even more alarming, 40 percent of 5 to 8 year olds are obese.
• Overweight and obesity increase the risk of CHD. It is estimated that about 5% of deaths from CHD in men and 6% of such deaths in women are due to obesity (a Body Mass Index (BMI) of greater than 30 kg/m2)
• "Sedentary Australia has panted up alongside the United States in the weight stakes, with 55 per cent of our population overweight or obese, the Australiasian Society for the Study of Obesity revealed yesterday… Statistics showed 7.3 million Australian adults were overweight or obese, Professor Lesley Campbell said, "We like to call ourselves a sporting nation but what we mean by that is that we watch a lot of sport," she said. "One third of us are totally inactive.."( Source: The Age 24/10/98 )

The aim of Natural Weight Management is to focus on all aspects of health (mental, physical and emotional), as well as body fat loss. The program is therefore based on each individual's unique lifestyle, stress levels, activity, genetic programming and dietary intake. The philosophy behind the program is to encourage permanent and enjoyable lifestyle changes. This is done through private consultations, education and behaviour modification and individually tailored programs. There are many factors that can be attributed to increases in body fat, these include blood sugar imbalance, fatty liver, hormonal imbalance, digestive disorders, slow metabolism, low levels of muscle mass, under active thyroid, or poor eating habits. These factors will be determined through nutritional assessments and where necessary diagnostic testing.

Program breakdown

1. One hour initial consultation with a qualified Clinical Nutritionist which will include:

• Medical history - personal and family illness
• Dietary analysis - review of current diet and possible nutrient deficiencies
• Lifestyle analysis - review of current activity levels, stress and energy
• Diagnostic tests - Bio-Impedance Analysis, Zinc taste test, Blood pressure, Indican test, Urine analysis, glucose and cholesterol skin prick test (see details under diagnostic tests).

2. Follow-up sessions involving dietary and nutritional advise and repeat diagnostic testing.

An integrative approach to body fat loss has a high success rate and will ensure results that are easier to attain and will last a lifetime, this is due to the rebalancing of the whole body. Making changes of any kind, be they at work, home or of a dietary nature, requires Practice, Planning and Perseverance. The Nutritionist at YourHealth will work with you at every stage to help you achieve your goal. The YourHealth Weight Management Program is available at our Sydney centres in Edgecliff - Ph 02 9328 1066 and Manly Ph 02 9977 7888. For further information on other services please contact reception or visit our website at www.yourhealth.com.au to find your closest YourHealth Medicine Centre.