Neglected issues in obesity epidemic

Hugo Rodier, MDAdjunct professor University of Utah

College of HealthDepartment of Nutrition

School of medicine (Family and Preventive Dept.)

True, but….

• Statistics

• Eat more veggies

• Exercise

• Calorie counting

• Menu listings

• Food labeling

• Making committments

Shifting emphasis• Metabolism• TOILing membranes• Xenohormesis• Nutragenomics• Calories AND Information• Addiction• Food Politics• Community structures• Pollution• Gut connection• Thermostat• “Birds of a feather”• Mind-body-spirit connection• Sex (hush…)

Metabolism

• Everything in the Universe is Light• Light=Energy and Information, E&I• Solar E&I and photosynthesis• Top soil• Food =Light=E&I• Laws of Thermodynamics• Thermodynamics in humans=

metabolism• All cells need E&I to do their job

TOILing membranes

• Toxicity

• Oxidation

• Inflammation

• Less than Optimal Mitochondrial function

Xenohormesis

• Very small molecules (toxins, micronutrients) have a profound effect on cellular function, “What Role Has Nutrition Been Playing in Our Health? The Xenohormesis Connection,”

J. Integrative Medicine 2007;6:22

• “The dose makes the poison” proven wrong.

• Ammunition for nutritional, environmental thinkers

Nutrigenomics, Nutrigenetics

• Genetics account for only 5% of the problem

• Genes are nothing, until copied• Food (E&I) influences how our

genes are copied• Our ancestors’ feeding habits

cannot be overcome overnight• Indiana Jones discovers ancient

tribe deep in the Amazon

Calories AND Information

• Diet soda pop and obesity Why?• Artificial sweeteners• Bad information in processed

foods• Counting calories =starving all day• Diets high in protein and fiber,

regardless of calories, help people lose weight

• Have you ever seen obese people filling up on fruits and veggies?

For nerds

“Why obese patients don’t lose weight with low calorie diets?” AJCN 2007;85:346

“Personal metabolomics as a next generation nutritional assessment” J. Nutrition 2003;133:4260

Int J. Obesity Relat Metabolism Diso 2000;24:451.J. Int Med 2003;254:401 Int J. Obes Relat Metab Dis 1996;20:1051J. Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism 2007;92:386J. Scientific American Report 2006;16#4:19

Addiction

• Why weight loss programs fail

• We must have the courage to face the music

• Behavioral/Public Health approach missing

• Childhood issues

• Stress

• Cell membrane receptors for valium, alcohol, opioids, endorphins and processed sugars

Food Politics: “follow the $”

• Big Food and government• Farm bill• Corporate farming• Codex• Food processing= addiction• HFCS• More $ with processing• Disinformation and confusion

Community structures

• Energy economics= E&I; Enron boys

• Automobile society

• Urban sprawl

• Walkable venues= Europe=environmentalism= socialism

Pollution

• Pollution increases TOIL• Think of retained exhaust fumes

jamming engine• Remember diet soda pop• Green movement• Detoxification to the forefront• Antioxidants• Persistent Pollutants and the Burden of Diabetes,”

J. Lancet 2006;368:558

Gut connection• Colonization by gut organisms that crave refined

sugars, chocolate• How did they get there?• How does it feel to be controlled by microscopic

organisms?• “The Planet of Bacteria”• The Microgenome: study of genes we carry, most

of which belong to intestinal organisms• Probiotics help with metabolism

J. Diabetes 2007;:56:1761• Aberrant microflora = TOIL

J. Cancer Research 2009;69:4827• “Obesity and Gut Flora,”

J. Nature 2006;444:1009

Thermostat

• It’s broken, or TOILing• Worse with intestinal inflammation• V.A.T. = beer-belly. It sends toxic

endocrine signals to thermostat• 95% of neurotransmitters in gut• Recall feeding healthy baby• Another reason we can’t control

sugar-cravings

“Birds of a Feather”

• Who we hang out with has powerful influences on our behavior New York Times magazine, Sep 13th 2009

• Peers > parents

• Obese friends

• Smoking friends• Loneliness= pain

J. Science 2003;302:237

Mind-Body-Spirit

• TOIL, the “L” also stands for LOVE, LIGHT (vitamin D3)

• We create our own reality

• Rosetto, Pennsylvania

• Gaia, Atlas: never give up

• Face your demons• “The Most Powerful Therapeutic Force”

JAMA 2002;287:1909

Sex: best motivation?

• Health, great motivator…• …But, reptile brain cannot be

denied, only controlled• Use natural forces to our

advantage• Erectile dysfunction and less

vaginal sensation with insulin resistance and poor circulation

• Who do you want to attract?

Solutions: Addressing neglected issues

MetabolismTOILing membranesXenohormesisNutragenomicsCalories AND InformationAddictionFood PoliticsCommunity structuresPollutionGut connectionThermostat“Birds of a feather”Mind-body-spirit connectionSex (hush…)

NSP: supplementation

Conclusion

Gandhi's advise

“It is only with the heart that we can see clearly”