Of Mice and Men

It’s long been obvious to many who struggle with overweight that human bodies are not all the same. Some stay slim with little or no effort, whereas others gain weight even while trying to lose.

It’s tempting when faced with a bulging body to turn to drugs. But a new study from Canada, conducted by the University of Alberta Hospital, says that data on the safety of weight loss drugs is too limited, especially where their impact on the cardiovascular system is concerned.

In the three weight loss drug categories—appetite control, regulation of diabetes, and restriction of the absorption of fat—a variety of side effects have been observed, ranging from raised blood pressure to altered mood. Yet, despite such risks, it’s expected more and more will turn to drugs to control weight as the epidemic of obesity grows.

Along with the publication of the six-year Canadian study comes news of experiments with mice that may have an impact on the human obesity epidemic.

Scientists genetically altered a mouse to make it slim. Not only does it eat less, it has a higher metabolic rate, producing a body weight that’s only 75% that of a typical mouse.

Weight loss is big business, and science is throwing its huge weight behind research that will lead to genetic and drug therapies to control obesity. How safe some of these newer therapies will prove to be when they finally reach the market will not be apparent for some years.

In other research with mice, just released, obesity has been linked to bacteria in the gut. The study also looked at the human gut. In both mice and humans, overweight was accompanied by the presence of about 20% more bacteria from the family of firmicutes. At the same time, bacteroidetes were present in far greater numbers in both mice and humans with normal weight.

Interestingly, the bacteroidete count increased as people lost weight, while the firmicutes decreased in population. But when firmicutes were transplanted into mice with normal weight, they began putting on fat.

It’s apparent that the bacterial population of the gut has a lot to do with how well the human body functions. Digestion plays a key role in what goes on in every corner of our bodies.

As with most health issues, it’s crucial to recognize that the body is a complex organism that works synergistically. This is why Ron Garner’s book Conscious Health is an invaluable tool not only for weight loss, but also for correcting many of the diseases of modern society.

It’s not only the amount of food we put in our mouths that affects our weight, nor even just the type of food. It’s also how the food was produced. Many of our food sources are affected by agricultural practices that distort the food to the point that it may be harmful to health instead of nutritious. Ron Garner alerts us to what’s beneficial and what’s detrimental.

Additionally, we are all faced with toxic overload from the widespread use of chemicals in our environment. Phytoestrogens, for example, are abundant in modern society. Mimicking the effects of estrogen, they can cause a range of health problems, including weight gain. Yet even some of the plastics in which our water and food are delivered, particularly some of the plastics that are not clear, release phytoestrogens.

A variety of factors play into the problem of weight gain, and Ron Garner offers us ways to help the body function optimally, minimizing such problems. There’s an especially insightful section about the digestive system, which will help you promote the health of your gut. Simple steps like adding probiotics to your diet can make a world of difference.

Conscious Health doesn’t ask us to become fanatical about our health, but it does ask us to educate ourselves in some basic knowledge that can spare us a great deal of suffering and even save lives.

Conscious Health reads easily for the layperson, even though it presents a wealth of well-researched information. It’s a book everyone should have on their bookshelves.