A few words with Doctor Peter Forbes

The calculation of your waist circumference and BMI may or may not put you at risk for the many diseases listed.  However, the information that follows may help you to better understand your ‘rapport’ with certain foods.

“Drug-like Foods”

If you fear not being able to do without certain foods (chocolate, nutella, sweet beverages, fast food, bread etc.) it may help you to realize that these foods only have power over you because you eat them on a regular basis.

Sadly, for these foods we love too much:

    the more we eat, the more we want,

so (….mercifully)

    the less we eat, the less we want.

Consequently, you may be surprised to see your attraction for these foods that are often devoid of any nutritive properties, diminish considerably as soon as you break the habit.  Their attraction was solely based on a “drug-like effect”; that is, on the endorphin receptors in your brain.  That “drug-like effect” requires a constant supply in order to persist.

For a more striking portrayal, I refer you to the excellent movie “Supersize Me” in which this list of diseases is graphically illustrated.

Despite epidemic levels of obesity in North America, where almost 40% of adults have more than 40 lb to lose, it is very important to note that modest weight-loss (10 lb or 4 kg) and being more active ( 30 minutes – twice a week) can greatly decrease risk factors.  We notice a 25% decrease of diseases like diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia with just a 10% body weight reduction.

Peter Forbes M.D.
Consulting Physician