In 2013, the most searched-about diet was the paleo diet, that "mimics the diets of our caveman ancestors" which include meats, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. According to Wikipedia, paleolithic nutrition is based on the premise that human genetics have "scarcely changed since the dawn of agriculture, and modern humans are genetically adapted to the diet of their Paleolithic ancestors." Other names for the paleo diet include caveman diet and stone age diet.

Some medical experts take issue with the premise of the paleo diet, that human genetics have not changed much in the last 10,000 years. Other experts contend Paleolithic people actually ate more grains and legumes, and less meat. The paleo diet does offer a number of benefits by excluding refined foods like sugar and processed oils.

Another popular diet which is gaining favor with the medical community is the Mediterranean diet, that "emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats" (Mayo Clinic).

According to Dr. Farooq Ahmad of California Medical Weight Management, "the Mediterranean diet is a simple, healthy diet with lots of vegetables. You can follow this diet by making just a few changes. We recommend cooking your own meals, and avoiding restaurants and especially fast-food diners whenever possible."

To learn more about diet and nutrition, visit California Medical Weight Management at http://calmwm.com.

The old year is winding down. We're preparing for a new year. This is a time of year when many dieters will fall off the wagon because of tempting holiday treats. Dieters commit (or recommit) themselves to losing weight in January. It's also a time for new fad diets and plain old misinformation. One of the biggest sources of confusion is the discussion about exercise and weight loss. So let's look at the facts.

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According to the Harvard School of Public Health, "At its most basic ... obesity results when someone regularly takes in more calories than needed." In an excellent article for the Washington Post, Deborah Cohen of the Rand Corp. discusses five myths about obesity. Here's what Ms. Cohen has to say about physical activity and weight loss:

There is compelling evidence that the increase in calories consumed explains the rise in obesity. The National Health and Nutrition Examination found that people take in, on average, more than 500 more calories per day now than they did in the late 1970s, before obesity rates accelerated. That’s like having Christmas dinner twice a week or more. It wouldn’t be a problem if we stuffed ourselves only once a year, but all-you-can-eat feasts are now available all the time. It’s nearly impossible for most of us to exercise enough to burn off these excess calories.

This calorie-burner chart from the USDA illustrates the problem of trying to lose weight through exercise. It would require almost two hours per day of walking or bicycling (moderate physical activity), or more than an hour a day of strenuous activity (like chopping wood), in order to offset an extra 500 calories. In an article about childhood obesity, the New England Journal of Medicine agrees, calling the importance of physical activity for weight loss "a myth."

Physical education, as typically provided, has not been shown to reduce or prevent obesity. Findings in three studies that focused on expanded time in physical education indicated that even though there was an increase in the number of days children attended physical-education classes, the effects on body-mass index (BMI) were inconsistent across sexes and age groups. Two meta-analyses showed that even specialized school-based programs that promoted physical activity were ineffective in reducing BMI or the incidence or prevalence of obesity.

In an article for PubMed, the American Dietetic Association further explodes the myth of physical activity and weight loss: "[A]lthough exercise does increase energy output during and after exercise and can expend energy from fat for many overweight persons, excessive caloric expenditure has limited implications for substantially reducing body weight independent of nutritional modifications."

The bottom line is that obesity is a numbers game. Calories in, calories out. If you eat more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. If you eat less, you will lose weight. While exercise in fact does burn calories, it is not a good method for weight control, if you are suffering from obesity. I mention this because so many people are put off by the idea of losing weight, if they think it requires hours a day at the gym. That is not true. Healthy diet choices, which is something we can all control (cut down on fat, sugar, and processed foods), are the most important factor in treating obesity. Physical activity (exercise) comes in a distant second.

Of course moderate physical activity and exercise should be part of a healthy lifestyle. California Medical Weight Management's physician-supervised, three-step weight loss program provides you with the diet tools you need to make healthy lifestyle choices, including an exercise program tailored to your personal needs. In the "long run," proper diet and nutrition are the best approach to weight loss. Overeating, then trying to burn off extra calories by spending hours at the gym, is an unworkable solution.

To learn more about fast, safe and effective weight loss, visit California Medical Weight Management at http://www.calmwm.com.

(Originally published at: http://www.calmwm.com/blog/exercise-and-weight-loss-debunking-the-myth)

Obesity refers to having high accumulation of body fat whereas the term overweight refers to getting excess body weight in comparison to the set standards. Your body weight should be in right proportion to your height. Having extra weight may add to poor quality of life, along with sleep disorders, hip disorders and general mobility. 

It is really not easy to treat the problem of obesity as it depends on the basis of your lifestyle, diet, genetic, and physical activity. If you wan to reduce the fat, then it requires you to work according to the instructions of dietician and obesity specialist professionals. There are various methods for the treatment of weight loss and all the treatments require changes in your physical activity and eating habits. So, it all requires your willingness to lose weight. Other than that there are some Medical Weight loss locations that help you lose weight through surgery. 

The weight loss surgery, also known as bar iatric surgery, helps people with severe weight related problems and it helps people lose most of their weight. This surgery is very effective if someone is seeking to lose weight with a long term effect. But, this surgery can help you get sustained weight loss only when you completely comply with diet and physical activity modifications. The surgeons also confirm that the ultimate success of the surgery depends on the changes you are required to make on your lifestyle after the surgery. Moreover, every bar iatric surgeon requires that patients should follow the medical guidelines for the remainder of their lives, and they should demonstrate complete to disqualification for the weight loss surgery. The clinic should be fully equipped with techniques that cause less pain and help you recover fast. To get most of the benefits and achieve a long-lasting effect, it requires going through an analysis where a team of medical experts determine that whether you willingness to follow proper diet and exercise routine. 

There are many clinics that help you lose the excess weight. You can approach a Weight Loss Clinic that has experienced surgeons at its staff as it ensures that you do not suffer from any complications after the surgery. A few of the clinics with experts at their end help to repair problems that may occur after the surgery. They help you lose excessive weight despite having complicated medical history that often leads meet the criteria or not, and then the whole procedure starts to bring a change to your physique.