non pharmacological treatment of obesity

A) Dietary change: by three methods

I) Caloric restriction:

daily caloric intake allowance:

25 years 65 years
Men 3200 cal 2550 cal
Women 2300 cal 1800 cal
- Make sure you eat a good variety of food from all the main food groups but very few fats. Don't avoid bread and potatoes. Fiber rich carbohydrates fill the stomach and take longer to digest so delaying hunger.
- Weigh your food and work out the calories.
- A calorie controlled diet is an ideal opportunity to reform your eating habits. Because you can eat almost anything you like as long as you don't exceed your calorie allowance.

II) Altered proportions of food groups:

Simply you can choose your diet by increase the consumption of protein and decrease the consumption of fats and carbohydrates.

III) Use of sugar and fat substitutes:

Sugar substitutes:

Saccharin: It and its salts (Na, K and Ca) are intense sweeteners, a dilute solution having about 300-400 times the sweetening power of sucrose. Saccharin’s safety is supported by 30 human studies, a century of use and the approval of the World Health Organization.

Aspartame: It is synthetic dipeptide and intense sweetening agent about 180 to 200 times as sweet as sucrose. Each g provides about 17 kJ (4 kcal). Toxicity due to methyl alcohol or aspartic acid is not common. It is contraindicated in patients with phenylketonuria who can't metabolize phenylalanine. A safety review by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Food (ECSCF) concluded that no causal link could be established between the consumption of aspartame and the occurrence of epilepsy, seizures or any behavioral changes. Not used in cooking as it loses its sweetness by heat.

Xylitol: It is used as a bulk sweetener in foods and as a sweetener as it is non-cariogenic and is less likely to cause dental caries than sucrose.

Sorbitol: It has half the sweetening power of sucrose.

Fructose: Fructose is sweeter than sucrose or sorbitol. It is used as a sweetener in foods for diabetics.
The last 3 sweeteners are not calorie free

Fat substitutes:

One way is to continue providing the creamy texture and quality of fat but not its caloric content by using fat substitutes.
- Protein-based fat substitutes: EX: Simpless
- Fat-based fat substitutes: EX: Olestra
Olestra cannot be broken down by the body for absorption and therefore passes through the GI unaltered and provides no calories. It produces the mouthfeel of real fat and can withstand high heat. As it cannot be digested, Olestra can cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea. On the other, Olestra inhibits fat-soluble vitamins (Vit A, D, E and K) and carotenoids.

Types of Diet Programs:

There are different types of diet programs that get help you to reduce weight. Diet programs are of different kinds like the Atkins Diet Program, South Beach Diet Program, Zone Diet Program, Low carb Diet Program, Diabetic Diet Program, Cabbage Soup Diet Program, Mediterranean diet program.

Atkins Diet Program:

Atkins Diet programs starts with restricting carbohydrates and eating more protein. It then gradually reintroduces carbohydrates, although it distinguishes between "good" and "bad" carbohydrates.

South Beach Diet Program:

This nutritional program allows eating protein and pure fats but restricts processed and refined carbohydrates. The primary goal of this diet is weight loss.

Zone Diet Program:

It attempts to stabilize insulin levels by reducing calories and eating the appropriate balance of proper sources of carbohydrate, protein, and fat. This results in overall better health.

Low Carb Diet Program:

Low Carb Diet Programs are food diet programs for weight loss and dietary health that advocate restricted carbohydrate consumption.

Diabetic Diet Program:

Diabetic diet programs help the diabetic patients who want to lose weight. The best diabetic diet vegetables will supply you with carbohydrates, protein and dietary fiber as well as vitamins and minerals. One half cup of vegetables (cooked) or one cup of raw vegetables with your meals will help you maintain control.

Cabbage Soup Diet Program:

The Cabbage Soup Diet programs claim that the more you cabbage soup (fat burning soup) you eat, the more weight you'll lose.

Mediterranean Diet Program:

The Mediterranean diet patterns include a high consumption of fruit and vegetables, olive oil and fish, bread and other cereals.