We live in a land of virtually unlimited food supply and we like to make substantial use of this. Industrialised farming, fast means of transport and improved ways of cooling and preserving food, ensure that the food availability is enormous and independent of the seasons. While man once required excess body fat as a reserve for lean times, today refrigerators and preservation methods mean that we rarely encounter supply shortages. However, our metabolism is still set on efficient energy intake from food and on the storage of body fat. The per capita consumption of fat and products based on white flour has grown rapidly in the last 50 years, whereas that of high-fibre wholemeal products has declined sharply. Professor Dr. Walter Feldheim, University of Kiel, described obesity as a dietary fibre deficiency disorder - because fibres saturate and, thus prevent overeating.
A lack of exercise in everyday life as well as perceived stress during leisure time, lead to us eating more and more fast food, processed as well as part-processed products. These products burden the physique with plenty of fat. What’s more, eating is a process driven by emotion. In fact, by eating many people try to satisfy needs other than hunger and use it as an outlet in emotionally stressful situations such as anger, sadness, loneliness or insecurity. This type of eating has nothing to do with satisfying one’s hunger or indeed with the necessity to supply the organism with energy, nutrients and health-preserving vitamins and minerals. [...]
Table of Contents
Being overweight and its numerous causes
What are the consequences if overweight individuals remain overweight?
Steps towards a ‘lighter’ life
Frequently asked questions
Medical Obesity programs and helpful Internet links:
Objectives and Core Topics
This work aims to provide a comprehensive guide for overweight individuals to understand the physiological and behavioral causes of weight gain, while offering practical, long-term strategies for sustainable weight reduction and healthier lifestyle management.
- Analysis of physiological and psychological factors contributing to obesity.
- Implementation of a balanced, high-fibre, and low-fat nutritional concept.
- Integration of regular physical activity into daily routines.
- Evaluation of medical support, supplements, and common weight-loss myths.
Excerpt from the Book
Being overweight and its numerous causes
We live in a land of virtually unlimited food supply and we like to make substantial use of this. Industrialised farming, fast means of transport and improved ways of cooling and preserving food, ensure that the food availability is enormous and independent of the seasons. While man once required excess body fat as a reserve for lean times, today refrigerators and preservation methods mean that we rarely encounter supply shortages. However, our metabolism is still set on efficient energy intake from food and on the storage of body fat. The per capita consumption of fat and products based on white flour has grown rapidly in the last 50 years, whereas that of high-fibre wholemeal products has declined sharply. Professor Dr. Walter Feldheim, University of Kiel, described obesity as a dietary fibre deficiency disorder - because fibres saturate and, thus prevent overeating (see page 15). A lack of exercise in everyday life as well as perceived stress during leisure time, lead to us eating more and more fast food, processed as well as part-processed products.
These products burden the physique with plenty of fat. What’s more, eating is a process driven by emotion. In fact, by eating many people try to satisfy needs other than hunger and use it as an outlet in emotionally stressful situations such as anger, sadness, loneliness or insecurity. This type of eating has nothing to do with satisfying one’s hunger or indeed with the necessity to supply the organism with energy, nutrients and health-preserving vitamins and minerals.
Summary of Chapters
Being overweight and its numerous causes: This chapter examines the environmental, physiological, and emotional drivers of modern obesity and introduces the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a diagnostic tool.
What are the consequences if overweight individuals remain overweight?: This section details the severe long-term health risks associated with obesity, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, while debunking the efficacy of extreme crash diets.
Steps towards a ‘lighter’ life: This chapter provides actionable advice on behavioral changes, including meal planning, conscious eating, and the importance of increasing dietary fibre and physical exercise.
Frequently asked questions: This section addresses common inquiries regarding dieting, the use of slimming products, metabolic health, and specific lifestyle management questions.
Medical Obesity programs and helpful Internet links: This final section lists professional resources and recommended further reading to support readers in their weight management journey.
Keywords
Obesity, Weight Loss, Nutrition, Dietary Fibre, BMI, Metabolism, Yo-Yo Effect, Physical Activity, Healthy Lifestyle, Caloric Intake, Satiety, Cardiovascular Health, Carbohydrates, Low-fat Diet, Behavioral Change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work focuses on providing a medical and nutritional foundation for understanding obesity and offers a practical, long-term roadmap for achieving sustainable weight loss through healthier habits.
What are the primary themes covered?
The core themes include the physiological causes of weight gain, the health consequences of obesity, strategies for dietary adjustments, the importance of exercise, and guidance on navigating supplements and commercial weight-loss programs.
What is the primary objective of this guide?
The primary objective is to empower readers to move away from quick-fix diets and toward a lifelong, healthy, and conscious approach to eating and physical activity.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The advice is based on established nutritional science, incorporating clinical insights on macronutrients, the role of dietary fibre, and behavioral psychology to ensure the recommendations are medically sound.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the analysis of obesity causes, the identification of "fat traps," detailed nutritional strategies, the role of exercise, and an evaluation of medical support and slimming products.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Obesity, Weight Loss, Metabolism, Dietary Fibre, Yo-Yo Effect, and Healthy Lifestyle.
Why are crash diets discouraged in the text?
The text discourages crash diets because they are unnatural, induce stress on the body, lead to muscle loss, and trigger the dreaded "Yo-Yo effect" once normal eating patterns resume.
How does the book address the role of emotional eating?
It highlights that emotional eating—using food to cope with anger, stress, or loneliness—detaches the individual from true physical hunger, and suggests practical steps to regain control through conscious eating and behavioral awareness.
What is the author's stance on L-carnitine?
The author views L-carnitine as a supplement that can support metabolic function under specific conditions, such as during a structured weight-loss program, but emphasizes that it is not a "miracle cure" for fat loss on its own.
- Quote paper
- Sven-David Müller (Author), 2012, Losing weight in your sleep – lose weight easily and stay thin, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/283882
