Our Health Report CardWritten by Dave Saunders
Today in United States we spend over one and a half trillion dollars a year on health care. That represents highest spending per person in world. With that entire investment one would think that Americans are healthiest people in world. And yet a recent report from World Health Organization ranked United States 37th in overall health. This certainly does not earn United States an “A.” If you factor in spending, it would even seem like we get an “F” in our state of health.So with all this talk about health, question is what is health? The World Health Organization has defined an internationally recognized definition of health. According to World Health Organization, “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely absence of disease or infirmity.” So let’s break this down. Physical well-being is what body lives through, enjoys and desires, as well as agreement with which body interacts with environment. Mental well-being is what a person thinks and processes carried out by brain. This also includes a spiritual balance for a state of mental harmony.
| | Why Weight? Effective Weight Loss Programs Are Here!Written by Larry Denton
There are two different types of weight-loss programs available--clinical and non-clinical. Knowing what a good program will offer and what to watch out for may help you choose a weight-loss plan that will be successful for you.A non-clinical program may be commercially operated, such as a privately owned weight-loss chain. You can follow a non-clinical program on your own by using a counselor, guide book, website, or weight-loss product. You can also join others in a support group, worksite program, or community-based projects. Non-clinical weight-loss programs may require you to buy and use program's foods or supplements. A safe and effective non-clinical program will offer books, pamphlets, and websites that are written or reviewed by a licensed health professional such as a medical doctor (M.D.) or registered dietician (R.D.). It should provide you with balanced information about following a healthy eating plan and instruct you about getting regular physical activity. Leaders or counselors in such programs should show you their training credentials, since they may not be licensed health professionals. A few cautions about non-clinical weight loss programs. If a program requires you to buy packaged meals, find out how much meals will cost--they may be beyond your budget. Also, by eating prepackaged meals, you do not learn food selection and cooking skills you will need to maintain weight loss over long term. Avoid any diet plan that suggests you eat a certain formula food, or combination of foods for "fast and easy" weight loss. Some of these diets work in short term because they are low in calories, but they may not provide all nutrients and minerals your body needs and they do NOT teach healthy eating habits.
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