Weight control and diet

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Biological and Medical Caus...
• Cultural and Emotional Caus...
• Risk Factors
• Complications
• Weight Loss and Maintenance...
• Weight Management
• Medications
• Other Treatments
• Resources
• References

• Cancer prevention guidelines from the American Cancer Society stress the importance of maintaining a healthy weight throughout life. A healthy weight is even more important than eating specific healthy foods, when it comes to cancer prevention.

• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to buy a product known as the "Brazilian diet pill." This product is labeled as a dietary supplement, but contains several chemicals found in powerful prescription drugs. - 1 Comment
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Diabetes diet

• Highlights
• Introduction
• General Dietary Guidelines...
• Major Food Components
• Weight Control for Type 2 D...
• Heart-Healthy Diets
• Diabetic Exchange Lists
• Exercise
• Resources
• References

Obesity

• Signs and Symptoms
• What Causes It?
• Risk Factors
• Preventive Care
• What to Expect at Your Provider's Office
• Treatment Options
• Other Considerations
• Supporting Research

Heart-healthy diet

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Dietary Changes
• Lifestyle Changes
• Resources
• References

• In 2006, the American Heart Association (AHA) revised its dietary and lifestyle recommendations. The new guidelines specifically recommend limiting daily saturated fat intake to less than 7% and trans fats to less than 1% of total daily calories.
• The AHA recommends consuming plenty of deep-colored vegetables and fruits, eating oily fish at least twice a week, and including whole grains in your daily diet.

• Women with existing heart disease may consider taking fish oil supplements, suggests 2007 AHA guidelines. Women should include a variety of low-mercury fish in their diet. - 3 Comments
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Cholesterol

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Cholesterol's Effect on the...
• Cholesterol's Effect on the...
• Risk Factors
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Lifestyle Changes
• Treatment
• Resources
• References

• LDL (“bad") cholesterol goals for children should be 190 mg/dL or less for children without heart disease risk factors and 160 mg/dL or less for children with heart disease risk factors.
• Children who are overweight or obese, as well as those with a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease, should get their cholesterol levels checked.
• For overweight and obese children with cholesterol imbalances, diet changes and exercise should be tried before drug treatment. For children with cholesterol imbalances who have a family history of cholesterol and heart problems, statins are the best first-line drug therapy.

• Garlic, whether raw or in supplement form, does not help lower LDL in patients with moderately high LDL levels, according to a 2007 Archives of Internal Medicine Study.
• Policosanol, a dietary supplement derived from sugar cane, has no effect on cholesterol, indicates a 2006 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study.

• In a 2007 JAMA comparison study of four diet plans (Atkins, Ornish, Zone, and LEARN), the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet was best at raising HDL (“good cholesterol”) levels and lowering triglyceride levels, but did not affect LDL levels. - 0 Comments
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Diabetes - type 2

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Causes
• Risk Factors
• Symptoms
• Screening Tests
• Treatment
• Lifestyle Changes
• Medications
• Long-Term Complications
• Emergency Complications
• Resources
• References

• Sitagliptin (Januvia), the first in a new class of diabetes drugs called DPP-4 inhibitors, was approved in 2006.
• Janumet, a 2-in-1 pill that contains both sitagliptin and metformin, was approved in 2007.
• These drugs are taken by mouth and may be more convenient for patients than exenatide (Byetta), a similar drug. DPP-4 inhibitors do not cause weight gain and may pose a lower risk for hypoglycemia than some other diabetes drugs.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and heartburn

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Causes
• Risk Factors
• Symptoms
• Complications
• Barrett's Esophagus
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Prevention
• Medications
• Surgery
• Resources
• References

• Obesity and GERD. Increased weight in women is linked to more frequent GERD symptoms, according to the Nurses' Health Study, which included 10,545 female participants. Overweight and obese women were two to three times more likely to have frequent symptoms than women of normal weight. - 0 Comments
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High blood pressure

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Diagnosis
• Causes
• Risk Factors
• Complications
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Lifestyle Changes
• Medications
• Classes of Medications
• Resources
• References

Diabetes

• Signs and Symptoms
• Causes
• Risk Factors
• Diagnosis
• Preventive Care
• Treatment Approach
• Other Considerations
• Supporting Research