I have thrown myself at researching the overweight and obesity issues facing over 60% of Australian adults (including myself - albeit now a lesser self than about 18 months ago). I am applying for a role within the weight loss industry and am interested in feedback as to the effectiveness of these and similar programs.

The more I've read about Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, various diets, products, pills and surgical procedures the more I'm concerned with the obesity trends facing Australia (and a signficant part of the globe), but also the charlatans, the false hope and the growing emotional pulls on potentially vulnerable people.

My question to the group is twofold:

1. Is weight gain (overweight and obesity) more than a physical issue? If so, what programs address the more holistic approach to wellbeing, rather than pure scales based weight loss?

2. For those brave enough to admit it! If you've tackled or are tackling weight loss, what programs have you tried? what worked? what didn't? Did any address the wider emotional / environmental aspects or were they focused just on physical "weight loss"?

Any feedback would be great.

I think the best approach is public humiliation. i.e. The biggest loser.

Seriously though. I see this as such a simple issue.

It's really boring really, but boring doesn't sell, and people want a quick fix.

My opinions...

Eat less exercise more.
Don't 'go on a diet'. Change your life to a permanently sustainable eating and exercise routine you can live with.
Have a big breakfast to start metabolism and lessen the desire to snack.
Eat a large variety of foods.
Accept your body shape and have realistic expectations
Try not to use food as comfort, or at least recognise when you are doing it.

Whitty is spot on - losing weight has to come from within and (perhaps like a drug user) you have to be motivated and ready. It doesn't matter whether you go to WW, JC or do the Kibbutz Diet, the Hollywood diet or any other marketed diet ultimately you are the one that has to do the work - no easy fix available or magic pill. A wide variety of healthy foods in moderation with exercise.

I liken the obesity explosion to the consumer explosion - eating or shopping to fill a void (that void may be different for different people). I won't go into the reasons for the void as it would take a thesis but simply put we are too focussed on ourselves (the me me generations) and less focussed on the care and wellbeing of each other.

Not sure how we could restore our connectedness with each other as a community but if I was going to advise others on weight control it would have to include what is going on in their lives, emotionally, financially ie. are expectations too great are they overextended etc. I don't think obesity is just about eating too much that is just the symptom of another disease.

Best thing is to get onto Sydney University Glycemic Index website,
http://ginews.blogspot.com/ should do it. For information and science they must be the best around; in their ongoing study they invite feedback. They understand that every 'body' is different. Great recipes too!

Previous posters have number 1 covered so excuse any repetition.

"1. Is weight gain..."

It has to come from within. Being lazy or searching for a magic immediate cure won't succeed. Whitty has covered the how to. It is pretty basic. Two choices:

(a) If you diet heavily you enjoy a quick early weight loss but can end up as weighty with a slower metabolism. Initially water and muscle are lost then you gradually get onto your fat reserves. Your body senses imminent starvation and hormonally slows down your basal metabolic rate (BMR). Lean tissue loss also results in a reduction in BMR. Hence less energy and automatically being less physically active. The end result is eating a lot less to stay in the same place. It is like running on the spot and expecting to go somewhere. Eventually hitting this wall and the discomfort of being chronically hungry causes people to break the diet and with a lowered metabolism they easily regain the weight.

(b) If you eat sensibly (don't forget alcohol and soft drinks as they are a quick source of empty kilojoules) and exercise regularly you get a much more gradual decline and might even get an early increase if your underexercised muscles suddenly catch up (they are denser and heavier than fat) but it sticks and works. While you are exercising you expend energy so you burn off more kilojoules. While you are resting the gradual increase in lean tissue (muscle) gradually increases your BMR giving you an edge in kilojoule burning over your previous state. When you are not stuffed from exercise (which should be normally if you aren't overtraining) you tend to have more energy and be automatically more active. Likewise when you have less weight to carry it is easier to be more active. It is less rewarding initially however long term it works.

"2. For those brave enough to admit it!..."

I'll admit it I've fluctuated about 30kgs. These day I tend to be near the lower end. I was fully aware of the fundamentals and wasn't led astray.

Good Morning Cori

Fancy seeing you here. I was just wondering why you did not get back as we are building the web page for the center.

Well whatever you do best of luck to you Cori.

The centre is ready pretty much so its all up to you now.

Afraid I have little time to give other than assist Antje to get it under way.

Too busy with our Animal Welfare Organisation
Cheer