Thursday, August 26, 2010

Why some lose weight easily?

Using MRI and magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy, German researchers have found why some people lose weight and body fat when they exercise and eat less and others don't. 

The study can now help predict who will benefit from lifestyle changes. 

"You may have two individuals who weigh the same and have the same body mass index (BMI), but have very different levels of internal fat," said lead researcher and physicist Jurgen Machann, Dipl. Phys., from University Hospital Tübingen in Tubingen, Germany. 

"Abdominal and liver fat are the two most important factors in predicting whether a lifestyle intervention will be successful," he added, 

The researchers performed MRI and MR spectroscopy on 243 individuals prior to and nine months after a lifestyle intervention. 

The intervention called for a weight loss of 5 percent, reducing fat intake to a maximum of 30 percent of total calories (including less than 10 percent in the form of saturated fat) and engaging in moderate physical activity such as walking at least three hours a week. 

Each of the participants, which included 144 females (mean age 44.5 years) and 99 males (mean age 47.3), was considered at risk of developing type 2 diabetes as a result of obesity, measured by a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or greater or having an impaired glucose tolerance or a first-degree relative with the disease. 

"Common methods, such as body impedance analysis, may determine that a body consists of 25 percent fat, but that does not tell you how the fat is distributed. BMI is a good measure for obesity but not necessarily a predictor for health risk, because not only the amount of fat, but also its distribution are essential. Only by looking inside the body can you establish the amount of visceral (abdominal) and liver fat," said Machann. 

MRI allowed researchers to differentiate fatty tissue from lean tissue throughout the body. MR spectroscopy generated additional data on the fat content of individual organs, such as the liver. 

Researchers used improved insulin sensitivity to measure the success of the lifestyle intervention. 

Individuals with type 2 diabetes do not respond correctly to insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas that aids in metabolism. In pre-diabetes, cells become resistant to the action of insulin. 

After nine months of participating in the lifestyle intervention, insulin sensitivity improved in 71 percent of the men and 58 percent of the women. Individuals with improved insulin sensitivity lost significant amounts of visceral fat (a mean reduction of 19 percent for women and 20 percent for men) and liver fat (a mean reduction of 35 percent for women and 44 percent for men) while reducing 3 to 5 percent of body weight. 

"The participants who improved their health status as a result of diet and exercise started out with lower baseline levels of abdominal and liver fat," Machann said. "In our study, these two factors predetermined whether or not a lifestyle intervention would be successful for a particular individual." 

Individuals who did not improve insulin sensitivity as a result of lifestyle changes lost much smaller amounts of visceral fat (a mean reduction of 4 percent for women and 6 percent for men). 

The men also lost less liver fat (a mean of 15 percent), and women gained a mean of 22 percent in liver fat. 

"Our results demonstrate that with MRI and MR spectroscopy, we can determine who will benefit from dietary changes and exercise and who will need other interventions," said Machann. 

Results of the study are published online and will appear in the November issue of the journal Radiology. 



BABY FOOD RECIPES

BABY FOOD RECIPES - CHICKEN HEARTS APPLE
Baby food recipes

Material:
250 grams of chicken liver
2 apples, peeled, seeded, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and cut into pieces
3 pieces potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 tablespoons green peas

Directions:
1. Cook all ingredients until cooked.
2. Drain and puree (or chopped finely for children ages 8 months and up)

BABY FOOD RECIPES - FISH APPLE
Baby food recipes

Material:
2 pieces of fish fillets
2 apples, peeled, cut into pieces

Directions:
1. Boil the ingredients until cooked. Drain and puree.

Note:
For children 8 months, the food should not be crushed but only finely chopped. It is good to stimulate the growth of teeth and to train the muscles of the mouth and gums to bite.

BABY FOOD RECIPES - CARAPPEAR
Baby food recipes

Material:
2 stalks carrots, peeled, cut into pieces
2 apples, peeled, cut into pieces
2 pieces of pear, peeled and cut into pieces

Directions:
1. Kl Boil carrots for 10 minutes, then amsukkan apple and pear. Cook until soft.
2. Drain and puree (or chopped finely for children ages 8 months and up)

BABY FOOD RECIPES - steamed fish
Baby food recipes

Material:
1 snapper fillet (or other fish species, according to taste)

Directions:
1. Steam the fish until cooked and then mashed.
2. Can be mixed with pureed vegetables (carrots, broccoli, etc.).

BABY FOOD RECIPES - Broccoli POTATO
Baby food recipes

Material:
7 broccoli florets, discarding the stem
2 potatoes, peeled, cut into pieces
Chicken broth / meat taste (only boiled water chicken / meat, without salt or other seasonings)

Directions:
1. Steam the broccoli and potatoes until cooked.
2. Blend the two ingredients with the processor / blender.
3. Give the broth to taste.

BABY FOOD RECIPES - VEGETABLE INTERFERENCE
Baby food recipes

Material:
1 carrot, peeled, cut into pieces
1 piece of potato, peeled, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons green peas (can be replaced other green vegetables, eg broccoli,
zuchini, celery, etc.)
Chicken broth / meat taste (only boiled water chicken / meat, without garammaupun other seasonings)

Directions:
1. Boiled / steamed until cooked all the ingredients and puree.
2. Give the chicken broth / meat taste.

BABY FOOD RECIPES - CHICKEN SOUP
Baby food recipes

Material:
1 piece of chicken thighs, remove skin, cut meat into pieces (bones were not removed)
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 potatoes, peeled, cut into pieces
1 stick carrot, peeled, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons green peas
500 ml water

Directions:
1. Cook all ingredients until cooked.
2. Discard the chicken bones, then puree all ingredients

BABY FOOD RECIPES - puree CARROT
Baby food recipes

Material:
2 medium carrots, peeled
Boiled water to taste

Directions:
1. Steam the carrots until tender then puree. Add water as needed.
2. Presentation: Give the carrot puree as single or mixed foods
with pulp POTATO / SWEET POTATOES porridge.

BABY FOOD RECIPES - pea puree
Baby food recipes

Material:
250 grams of fresh or frozen peas

Directions:
1. Boil peas until cooked and then mashed.
2. Strain the rough skin so do not take part inedible.
3. Presentation: Give peas puree as a single food or
mixed with porridge POTATO / SWEET POTATOES porridge.