Healthwise Clinic Natural Health Blog » Andrew Loosely

Obese, fat or just plain overweight?

Jean — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:53:54 +0000

: Image by didbygraham via Flickr

The word “obesity” may become less in evidence if a new government initiative takes hold.

Ann Milton, who is England’s public health minister stressed she was speaking in a personal capacity, and said: “If I look in the mirror and think I am obese I think I am less worried [than] if I think I am fat.”

She said too many staff working in the NHS were worried about using the word “fat” , but suggested it could help encourage “personal responsibility”. Use of the word “obese” when “fat” is the everyday word was presumably taken up so as not to stigmatise people who were overweight As obesity (fatness?) threatens a high proportion of the population including children, a more proactive approach has been considered necessary.

Interestingly Professor Steve Field, of the Royal College of GPs, said he agreed with Ms Milton and already tried to use the term fat as much as he could.

“I think the term obese medicalises the state. It makes it a third person issue. I think we need to sometimes be more brutal and honest.

“You can be popular by saying the things people want to hear and in the NHS we too often do that when we should be spelling things out clearly.”

But Professor Lindsey Davies, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, which represents public health professionals, warned against using ‘fat’ when dealing with patients.

“People don’t want to be offensive. There is a lot of stigma to being a fat person.”

She said health professionals started using the term obesity to encourage patients to think about the condition in a different way.

“Obesity is something that happens to people rather than something they are. The language you use all depends on the relationship you have with a patient.

“I would probably be more likely to say something like ‘can we talk about your weight’ rather than obesity, but that is a judgement you make on a patient-by-patient basis.”

I know from personal experience it was when the scales tipped a lot in the wrong direction, and the waistband was just too tight that I got motivated to do something about weight. It can take a lot of discipline to undo the comfort food / trigger patterns. I certainly noticed the unbelievable amounts of chocolate available on sale when at the supermarket checkout, or when buying petrol. After a while though the eating patterns get reestablished, and temptation is easier to resist.

About one in five adults in the UK is obese, a figure that has tripled since 1980. One of the danger zones is a large waist contributing to an “apple” shape. If your waist is around 40 inches and you would like to look sleeker and feel better telephone the clinic 01628 668339 and ask for an appointment with Andrew Loosely. He can tell you what to eat for your particular condition (which is much more accurate than simply your body type) as well as help you plan your diet to suit the season. What you eat in summer is different from the appropriate food during other seasons. As well as losing weight you get the maximum all-round health benefit.

And the best way to keep the weight off? Enjoy healthy food, take gentle exercise, avoid stress and have a happy life!

Use fat instead of obese – minister (bbc.co.uk)

Seaweed to make junk food healthier!

Jean — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:38:07 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Seaweed as you will know from Andrew Loosely’s last newsletter is a great addition to soups and casseroles.

It is rich in minerals and can help to reduce weight. Andrew particularly recommended it during March which is the natural time to lose weight. All good!

I see in the press that seaweed’s weight-losing abilities are now going to be used as an addition in junk food! The thinking being that nobody can do without their junk food, so the best plan is to make it secretly help you to lose weight.

I suppose this is for two reason

The idea of eating seaweed is weird. After all you could be at the beach and look down at the seaweed and you would be unlikely to think of having a quick munch!

Seaweed may not be on sale in places where you can buy junk food. It is mostly in health food shops.

Seaweed to help you lose weight in junk food

Seaweed is presented in thin sheets and in fact doesn’t look like what we think of as seaweed at all. It is not universally available in mainstream supermarkets here in the UK.

More information about edible seaweed.

Read more about the team from Newcastle University who conducted the research to put the seaweed into bread and their plans for more seaweed- based junk food products

But the best thing would be to make sure you are on Andrew Loosely’s newsletter so you get health tips for the season delivered to you .. real health nuggets not chicken nuggets!

Period Pain Control – exercise? contraceptive pill? acupuncture?

Jean — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:47:37 +0000

A report into period pain conducted with 650 female students at the University of Birmingham concludes that no link was found between exercise and removing period pain.

“After taking into account mood, ethnicity, weight, smoking, and use of the contraceptive pill, they found no link with how much exercise a woman did and whether she suffered from period pain, or how bad her pain was.”

At Healthwise we never assume that exercise on its own is the answer but the right exercise combined with the right diet, and the right attitude at the right stage in the month can contribute greatly.

Acupuncture is often the catalyst which can get the body balanced and reduce pain, and increase a feeling of well-being. We don’t just want to stop period pain but help women feel well and enjoy life.

Even more interesting is the comment by Professor Steve Field who is Chairman of the College of GPs – as reported on the BBC -

“Some exercise is good for you of course but the main treatment for period pain is the contraceptive pill.”

We strongly dispute this and in our experience at Healthwise the main treatment for period pain is to get to the source of the unbalanced energy.

Professor Field is also quoted as saying “It is a common problem and people usually self medicate”.

Self medication presumably means pain killers which again are not correcting the original problem. Period pain may be common, unfortunately, but it is most definitely not normal.

Andrew Loosely will explain all this in more detail in an ebook to be published shortly. If you have period pain and would like to be notified when the book is released please sign up to the newsletter list. The book will help all women to understand the four stages of the monthly cycle, and the food, exercise and approach that is needed at all stages throughout the month.

Please don’t take the contraceptive pill assuming that is the best route to pain-free periods.

Pass the oink-ment

Andrew — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:24:50 +0000

With all the current panic surrounding swine flu, what are we to do – Get on with our lives and hope for the best or hide away from the world wishing it would all go away?
Western and Eastern medicine have different perspectives on how best to deal with this issue. As a pharmacist and a practitioner of natural medicine we find that a combination of both approaches is the most effective way in fighting this pandemic before it gets out of control.
Both trains of thought would agree that prevention is better than cure. The campaign to CATCH IT, BIN IT, KILL IT aims to reduce the spread by encouraging good hand hygiene.
From a treatment point of view, western medicine suggests the best option is with the anti-viral tamiflu. This is currently available in England when you meet the symptom criteria. At this point you are given a reference number for a designated medical centre and your healthy friend collects it for you. Tamiflu doesn’t cure the virus but is believed to speed up the rate of recovery.
Chinese medicine, when dealing with an epidemic, takes the same initial precautions as western medicine but the treatment approach is where it differs. This is comprised of a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine to help the body fight off the virus naturally. During the SARS outbreak many people were successfully treated using herbal medicine made up of very strong anti-viral plants. This approach helps the body fight off the virus more efficiently and completely without side effects. The best approach of course is prevention and again herbs are used for this. There is a simple 3 herb combination that has been proven in clinical trials to be very effective in increasing immune function. This helps to protect against contracting the virus in the first place.
A few tips to protect yourself from the pandemic
1. Ensure good hand hygiene by washing hands after sneezing, coughing and after being in public places.
2. Follow the campaign “CATCH IT, BIN IT, KILL IT” by having a supply of clean tissues with you at all times. Use each tissue only once.
3. Keeping your immune system strong is vital. Try to get plenty of sleep, eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and try to avoid sugar and alcohol as they quickly weaken immunity.

By Philip Crilly and Andrew Loosely

Radio Interview with Debbie McGee on hay fever

Jean — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:31:34 +0000

Andrew Loosely spoke on the Debbie McGee show on Radio Berkshire.

You can hear a replay and get some hay fever tips by going to Radio Berkshire, clicking on Debbie McGee, and in the pop up window moving the pointer over to the right to 1 hour and 8 minutes.

It will only stay live for 7 days so listen in!

Andrew Loosely to be interviewed on Radio Berkshire

Jean — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:30:18 +0000

Listen to Radio Berkshire on Sunday 6th June to hear Andrew Loosely talk about what you can do for your health – especially if you suffer from hay fever.

He will be interviewed at 10:15 am.

Listen in locally on a radio at 104.4, 104.1, 65.4 and 94.6FM.or online from anywhere in the world

Andrew Loosely radio interview on Marlow FM

Jean — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:21:32 +0000

Andrew Loosely was interviewed on Marlow FM the community radio station. He was a guest on “That Fabulous Friday Feeling”

Andrew explained that in fact he works all day on a Saturday at Healthwise Clinic but gets a double dose of a fabulous friday feeling. Clients come in for treatment on a Friday so they are all prepared for the weekend, so he enjoys their enjoyment before the weekend, and he gets his Friday feeling on a Saturday which is the day before his weekend starts on a Sunday. Andrew said that in fact he gets a good feeling every day of the week when he talks to his clients, and knows he is helping them improve health in body and mind.

Andrew gave some hints on improving health at this time of year. Hay fever is very common at the moment, and Andrew explained that a tea made from peppermint and elderflower, or alternatively from nettles would be help to soothe the unpleasant cold-like symptoms, and strengthen the body.

He concluded by giving a quick diagnosis of the health of Gordon Brown by looking at his face. This is one of the four methods used to assess health. If you want to know more you will have to ask at Healthwise…

Spring health changing to summer health

Jean — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:42:22 +0000

We are heading towards summer which has an impact on your health and well being.

Health issues for summer are different from the health issues in spring. There are different health problems and health opportunities which become relevant – and therefore – can be treated most effectively during that season.

This is relevant for identifed problems but also for a your attitude.

The aim of natural health is that your body is healthy, and you have a sense of wellbeing.

We can re-balance your energy with acupuncture and herbal medicine to make the changes, but you are the keeper of the key to health.

As we move into summer (as defined by the lunar calendar sytem) Andrew Loosely will be providing tips and hints on what to do for your health during this season.

Fertility Clinic in Burnham, Bucks

Jean — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:43:59 +0000

The Healthwise Fertility Clinic in Burnham in Buckinghamshire is situated in the High Street. When clients walk down the street and find us the often say that they already feel more relaxed.

Burnham is a mix of large village and small town…with interesting independent shops as well as some major supermarkets. You don’t get high rise blocks of offices.

It is a perfect location for those in the Thames Valley who are looking for help with fertility, and want individual and supportive treatment. You get a whole package of treatment including acupuncture, herbal remedies and education which directly relates to you and your condition.

Andrew Loosely’s excellent reputation attracts people from Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, Amersham, Taplow, Maidenhead and Henley as well as further afield.

Trains from Paddington to Reading and the West Country stop at Burnham. Sometimes people from London prefer to be seen in Burnham because they enjoy seeing the green fields on the journey, and the fact that we are in a small town High Street. However, they also come to our London clinic which is in Harley Street.

You are very welcome for an initial consultation in Burnham or London so please call us on 01628 668339, and ask for our brochure.

Taking charge of your fertility

Jean — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:07:46 +0000

Fertility is an issue that affects mind, body and spirit.

Couples who come to Healthwise Clinic for acupuncture to help conception, have often had their condition described as infertility, or unexplained infertility.

Our approach is to think in terms of the positive condition rather than describing it in a negative way. Therefore we prefer to use the word fertility for our treatment, rather than infertility.

As the body, mind and spirit are all linked, there is a chance that the description infertility may in inself be counter-productive to conception and pregnancy.

So if you are finding it difficult to become pregnant, an important first step can simply be stop thinking of yourself as infertile.

At Healthwise we encourage you to take charge of your own fertility and offer a course of treatment which is specific to your condition. This includes acupuncture, and a course of herbal remedies in capsule form, plus a wealth of information about small changes you can make in your lifestyle.

If there is anything mechanically wrong with either partner we find it out straight away. Don’t forget, though that because the body, mind and spirit are all linked, there is an infinite capacity for change.

We are delighted that the fertility treatment at Healthwise Clinic has helped couples conceive where once they had no hope. Part of that is due to the fact that we empower you to take charge of your own fertility.

Give us a call if you would like an introductory consultation either in Burnham, Bucks or in Harley Street in London. Telephone 01628 668 339