Here is a guest post by Rachelle Holmes about the worldwide obesity epidemic.

Cosmetic practices performed by top surgeons like Dr. Lack of MetropolitanMD, a Chicago Liposuction specialist, may not be the only answer to our world’s weight problem. With buzz around obesity, it’s difficult to miss information congruent to weight loss, dieting, surgery, and exercise; although, gastric bypass and pills are amongst the least favorable options.

Scientists have actually been looking into developing a molecule that will effectively shut down the fat gene that is creating this monster of a problem. In other words, by providing an active inhibitor to the FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated gene), these experts can work toward a therapy for individuals.[1]

According to the World Health Organization, the commonness of obesity is growing at alarming rates – This is based on data collected for both developed and underdeveloped countries. This includes overweight numbers close to 1.6 billion [1] for adults over the age of 15, along with obese in the range of somewhere near 400 million. With such large figures, it’s difficult to think that obesity isn’t an epidemic of mass proportion.

Obesity creates many health problems; it increases the risk of premature death, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and cancer. These are among the most severe of cases; obesity also comes with its own short term shortcomings. It’s true that most overweight people have sore bones, muscles, and suffer from shortness of breath, fatigue. It’s also natural that most people who are overweight suffer from depression or depressive symptoms.

With these new developments and studies in China, we can certainly have more hope for solving the obesity epidemic. Scientists are just beginning to learn how the fat gene actually works, but have tested and seen it’s effects on all different ethnicities.

It’s important that we all work towards avoiding the problem of obesity. The only way to spread this message is through education regarding fitness, exercise, and healthy eating habits. Although with these recent studies, Chinese scientists have made great strides in the search for a solution towards our already unhealthy planet.

Rachelle Holmes of plastic Surgeons Chicago, MetropolitanMD.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has recommended that the FDA revoke the “generally recognized as safe” status of salt. According to this recent AMA press release:

“Cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of Americans. People who reduce dietary sodium intake are taking an important step in preventing future health problems,” said AMA Board Member and practicing cardiologist J. James Rohack, MD. “We hope these recommendations will encourage food manufacturers and restaurants to modify their current practices of adding unhealthy amounts of sodium to their products.”

The FDA is also called upon to impose new limits on sodium in both processed and restaurant food. The AMA is recommending a 50% reduction in allowable sodium, as well as a program to help educate the public about the health benefits of long-term sodium reduction.

Last year the consumer advocacy group, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), filed a lawsuit with similar demands. But the FDA has been dragging its feet, citing technological barriers and poor sales as the causes. For more information, check out the CSPI’s report, “Salt: The Forgotten Killer [pdf].”

What are your chances of dying in 4 years?

A new mortality test designed for people aged 50 and over aims to predict just that. The higher your score, the higher your risk of dying.

The test is just 12 questions in length. It takes about 60 seconds to complete. And yet it still has an accuracy of roughly 81%.

If you’re younger than age 50, the test will have less relevance for you. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to answer the questions to see what you score.

The test has already received some criticism because it omits some questions that seem obvious and includes questions that seem less relevant.

For instance, you receive a 1-point penalty if you have “Difficulty pushing or pulling large objects like a living room chair because of a health problem.”

If you’d like to read the complete article and review all 12 questions, go here:

“Turned 50? Fail this test and you might not see 54″

On Monday, I went in for my 2nd chiropractic visit. Dr. Aaron confirmed subluxation in my spine. The good news is, it’s not as bad as I suspected.

The arc of my neck is very good. Dr. Aaron says it’s the best he’s seen in the last 6 months or more. I’m 2 degrees off of optimal.

But I do have slight curvature in my spine, specifically in my lower back and between my shoulder blades. A series of corrective visits over the next 12 months with Dr. Aaron should help to realign my spine and get my nervous system operating at peak health.

As part of the initial consultation, I got an adjustment on Monday. It took only about 7 or 8 minutes, but I felt a lot better afterward. The word that kept coming to mind was “loose.” I just felt loose. The tension in my lower back was gone, and it was more comfortable to sit.

My wife, Stephanie, will be going in tomorrow to begin her consultation. We’re young, but it’s good to correct any misalignments early before they promote any vertebral degeneration. In a later post, I’ll talk about the difference between going to a chiropractor for relief versus going to one for correction…

Yesterday I visited a chiropractor named Dr. Aaron Miller. My Mom and Dad both recently paid for a series of chiropractic visits with Dr. Aaron, and they encouraged me to look into it. And so I am.

The purpose of the first visit is to gather information. For instance, what kinds of traumas I’ve experienced and the current condition of my posture.

I’ve always thought of myself as “doing just fine” until I started listing some of my symptoms and various traumas I’ve experienced. I discovered I’ve been in 6 car accidents, not to mention countless skateboarding and snowboarding accidents, which, quite frankly, have probably done more damage to my body than the car accidents.

Dr. Aaron also had me stand on a double scale to measure my weight distribution as well as my posture. He pointed out that my right shoulder is lower than my left, and my right hip is lower than my left. He also point out that my right hand hangs farther forward than my left, which implies a twist in the spine.

Needless to say, I’m eager to find out what the x-rays say and what Dr. Aaron recommends. (My next visit is Monday, November 14.)

On a side note, chiropractic care (as I understand it) is based on the idea that the spine is the most important structural element of your body because it houses the spinal cord, the center of your nervous system. When the spine is out of alignment, it can cause disruption in the nervous system, which hinders the body’s ability to operate and heal itself. This spinal misalignment is called “subluxation.”

It’s all very fascinating to me. I’ll make sure to give you an update next week after my 2nd visit.