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Support Group Newsletter Volume 5, Issue 4 Summer 2016 In the News NSV “Biggest Loser Winners Regain Weight” National media outlets reported on a new NIH study that found many competitors on NBC's "The Biggest Loser" leave the show with a slower metabolism, making it more difficult to keep off weight. Physicians studied 16 former contestants from Season 8 of The Biggest Loser, who lost anywhere from -75 to -240lbs through the show. And what they found was, “most of that season’s 16 contestants have regained much if not all the weight they lost so arduously. Some are even heavier now.” The study found that during and after losing weight, contestants' resting metabolic rate (amount of calories burned when at rest) slowed down. Participants come out of the weight-loss competition burning about 500 fewer calories a day and contestants who drop the most weight see the greatest slowing of their metabolisms As the years went by, their metabolisms did not recover. The extreme dieting and extreme exercise alters metabolism and, over time, makes it harder and harder to lose weight. To read the article in its entirety go to http://nyti.ms/1TeVWnG Many thanks to JoAnn Tropiano for sending the information and link! (Non Scale Victory) Michelle S. suffered from a condition called Pseudotumor Cerebri Pseudotumor cerebri occurs when the pressure inside your skull increases for no obvious reason. Symptoms mimic those of a brain tumor, but no tumor is present. Obesity has been associated with Pseudotumor Cerebri, which occurs in 1 to 2 people in 100,000. About 4 to 21 obese women in 100,000 develop the condition. Obese women under the age of 44 are more likely to develop the disorder. The increased intracranial pressure associated with Pseudotumor Cerebri can cause swelling of the optic nerve and result in vision loss. Approximately 96% of people afflicted with Pseudotumor Cerebri experience complete resolution after bariatric surgery. Michelle is now 6 months post Sleeve Gastrectomy. At her recent visit not only had she lost 72 pounds in 3 months, but she reported that there is no longer any pressure on her optic nerve! Truly a fantastic Non Scale Victory! Congratulations to Michelle! If YOU have a Non Scale Victory you wish to share, please email me – [email protected] – and I will report it in a future newsletter. Support Group Newsletter 1 Fitness Apps to Get Your Child Moving! (and maybe yourself, too) Come on in, the water is fine! Swimming is, without question, an effective way to burn calories. And, since swimming is a nonimpact sport, it's neutral on common problems areas like the lower back and knees. But how much of a calorie-burning workout is it, truly? First, your weight plays a big factor in how much is burned. Generally, the more you weigh, the more you burn. These estimates are from research data from the American College of Sports Medicine. They are based on one hour of swimming, rather than the total distance an athlete covers. A 130-pound person swimming freestyle for one hour will burn 590 calories swimming fast, and 413 calories swimming slower. A 155-pound person swimming freestyle for one hour will burn 704 calories swimming fast, and 493 calories swimming slower. A 180-pound person swimming freestyle for one hour will burn 817 calories swimming fast, and 572 calories swimming slower. A 205-pound person swimming freestyle for one hour will burn 931 calories swimming fast, and 651 calories swimming slower. According to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, only one in three children are physically active every day. What are they doing? Children nowadays are spending more the seven and one-half hours a day in front of a screen, whether it’s a TV, computer or smartphone/table. Smartphone apps and games are now available that encourage exercise and nutritional awareness. And more good news – many of them are FREE! Here are a couple of examples: Treasure Dash – Race for Lost Wonders This game is played by standing up and jumping in place to get your character to move and who will move around the game as the child moves. 7 Minute Workouts with Lazy Monster In ”Lazy Monster” a little orange monster leads various workouts that don’t require exercise equipment and can be completed in 30 second intervals. To keep kids coming back, the game has a rewards system with points that unlock other workouts. NFL Play 60 This game gets the child up and moving in place to outrun a coach. They can collect coins to earn points and unlock new characters and power. Eat & Move-O-Matic This app is an informative way for children to learn how many calories are in the foods and how long they will have to exercise to burn them off. Support Group Newsletter 2 Our Before and After bulletin board is filling up! These members recently celebrated their 1 year Surgi-versary! Please submit your photos! They have a major impact on potential patients who see them at the new patient seminars. MJ MB ER DD JH RD JJ FW MH CM OMG CS Did You Know? Together they have lost a total of 888lbs! Kudos to our 2 & 3 year alumni CB DC LD NB and UP who have together maintained a weight loss of … 321.4 lbs!! Best Follow Up Award goes to BH who at 5 years has kept off 101 lbs.! The word 'gymnasium' comes from the Greek word gymnazein, which means 'to exercise naked. The attachment of the human skin to muscles is what causes dimples The number one cause of blindness in the United States is diabetes The first Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages were three inches wide and eighteen inches long. You made your own bandage by cutting off as much as you needed. The first known heart medicine was discovered in an English garden. In 1799, physician John Ferriar noted the effect of dried leaves of the common plant, digitalis purpurea, on heart action. Still used in heart medications, digitalis slows the pulse and increases the force of heart contractions and the amount of blood pumped per heartbeat. Ben and Jerry’s was originally going to be a bagel business. They ended up changing their minds when they found out how much it would cost to get all the needed equipment for making bagels. Support Group Newsletter 3 Sunscreeen FAQs From the American Academy of Dermatology The summer is here… FINALLY! Time to heat up the BBQ, dust off the beach chairs and find your flip flops. The arrival of summer also means protecting your skin from the harmful effects of the sun. Who needs sunscreen? Everyone. Sunscreen use can help prevent skin cancer by protecting you from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of age, gender or race. In fact, it is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. The following physical characteristics also increase the risk for sunburn, skin damage, and skin cancer: Blond or red hair Blue or green eyes Fair skin Freckles Moles (also called nevi) Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn. Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun. Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look tan, you may wish to use a self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it. When should I use sunscreen? The American Academy of Dermatology recommends everyone use sunscreen that offers the following: Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, when possible. Check your birthday suit on your birthday. If you notice anything changing, itching or bleeding on your skin, see a board-certified dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early. What sunscreen should I use? Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade. Broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays) Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or higher Water resistance A sunscreen that offers the above helps to protect your skin from sunburn, early skin aging3 and skin cancer. However, sunscreen alone cannot fully protect you. In addition to wearing sunscreen, dermatologists recommend taking the following steps to protect your skin and find skin cancer early: Every day if you will be outside. The sun emits harmful UV rays year-round. Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate your skin.7 How much sunscreen should I use and how often should I apply it? Use enough sunscreen to generously coat all skin that will be not be covered by clothing. Ask yourself, “Will my face, ears, arms or hands be covered by clothing?” If not, apply sunscreen. Most people only apply 25-50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen. Cont. on page 5 Support Group Newsletter 4 Cont. from page 4 Follow the guideline of “1 ounce, enough to fill a shot glass,” which dermatologists consider the amount needed to cover the exposed areas of the body. Adjust the amount of sunscreen applied depending on your body size. Apply sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes BEFORE going outdoors. Skin cancer also can form on the lips. To protect your lips, apply a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Sunscreen products are regulated as over-thecounter drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has several safety and effectiveness regulations in place that govern the manufacture and marketing of all sunscreen products, including safety data on its ingredients. Sunscreen labels now provide you with more information about what type of UV protection a sunscreen offers and what a sunscreen can do. On the label, you’ll see whether the sunscreen: Reapply sunscreen approximately every two hours, or after swimming or sweating, according to the directions on the bottle. Is Broad Spectrum, which means the sunscreen protects against UVB and UVA rays and helps prevent skin cancer and sunburn. Broad spectrum sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB rays. What is the difference between the rays? Has an SPF of 30 or higher. While SPF 15 is the FDA's minimum recommendation for protection against skin cancer and sunburn, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends choosing a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Sunlight consists of two types of harmful rays that reach the earth — UVA rays and UVB rays. Overexposure to either can lead to skin cancer. In addition to causing skin cancer, here’s what each of these rays do: UVA rays (or aging rays) can prematurely age your skin, causing wrinkles and age spots, and can pass through window glass. UVB rays (or burning rays) are the primary cause of sunburn and are blocked by window glass. The United States Department of Health & Human Services and the World Health Organization’s International Agency of Research on Cancer have declared UV radiation from the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, as a known carcinogen (cancercausing substance). There is no safe way to tan. Every time you tan, you damage your skin. As this damage builds, you speed up the aging of your skin and increase your risk for all types of skin cancer. Has a Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert in the Drug Facts section of the label, which means the sunscreen will only prevent sunburn and will NOT reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. Is Water Resistant (effective for up to 40 minutes in water) or Very Water Resistant (effective for up to 80 minutes in water). This means the sunscreen provides protection while swimming or sweating up to the time listed on the label. Sunscreen manufacturers now are banned from claiming that a sunscreen is "waterproof" or "sweat proof," as the FDA has determined that those terms are misleading. Even when using a water-resistant sunscreen, you should reapply after getting out of the water or after sweating. Who regulates sunscreens? Cont. on page 6 Support Group Newsletter 5 Constipation After Weight Loss Surgery Cont. from page 5 What type of sunscreen should I use? The best type of sunscreen is the one you will use again and again. Just make sure it offers broadspectrum (UVA and UVB) protection, has an SPF of 30 or higher and is water. A sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 blocks 97 percent of the sun’s rays. Higher-number SPFs block slightly more of the sun’s rays, but no sunscreen can block 100 percent of the sun’s rays. Can I use the sunscreen I bought last summer or do I need a new bottle? Does it lose its strength? If you find a bottle of sunscreen that you have not used for some time, here are some guidelines you can follow: The FDA requires that all sunscreens retain their original strength for at least three years. Some sunscreens include an expiration date. If the expiration date has passed, throw out the sunscreen. If you buy a sunscreen that does not have an expiration date, write the date you bought the sunscreen on the bottle. That way, you’ll know when to throw it out. You also can look for visible signs that the sunscreen may no longer be good. Any obvious changes in the color or consistency of the product mean it’s time to purchase a new bottle. Your skin is the largest organ you have so it's essential you take care of it, especially during the summertime, when UV levels can wreak havoc on exposed skin. While those killer rays may feel sensational, the effects of sun exposure may not be as agreeable over time. Constipation is never comfortable. Being constipated means your bowel movements are difficult or happen less often than normal. Almost everyone has it at some point in life, and it's usually not serious. Still, you'll feel much better when your system is back on track. The normal length of time between bowel movements varies widely from person to person. Some people have bowel movements three times a day. Others have them only once or twice a week. Constipation is not uncommon during the first few months following weight loss surgery. Immediately after surgery the normal movement of your digestive tract that moves food from one end to the other will be less than normal. Changes to your digestive tract and the composition of food moving through will be different. Causes of Constipation Following Bariatric Procedures The most common causes of constipation in bariatric surgery patients are as follows: Reduced food intake Reduced intake of water Reduced physical activity Side effects of iron and/or supplements Side effects of narcotic pain relievers The combination of multiple or all of the above can result in some major problems with constipation that can alarm patients as they recover. Because of potential problems with hemorrhoids, hernias, and intestinal blockages, it is important to prevent constipation. Here are some ways to prevent or treat constipation: Cont. on page 7 Support Group Newsletter 6 Cont. from page 6 GERD If you are on an iron supplement, it may be necessary to take a stool softener. Exercise daily to increase bowel motility Add fiber supplements such as Benefiber or Metamucil to your water Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) happens when your stomach contents come back up into your esophagus. Drink at least 64 oz. of water or other sugar-free, caffeine-free, non carbonated fluids daily Stomach acid that touches the lining of your esophagus can cause heartburn, also called acid indigestion. Always consult your bariatric surgeon about stool softeners or laxatives. Does GER have another name? Doctors also refer to GER as By the third week following your surgery, your bowel habits should start to return to normal. acid indigestion acid reflux acid regurgitation heartburn reflux How common is GER? Having GER once in a while is common. What is GERD? Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a more serious and long-lasting form of GER. What is the difference between GER and GERD? GER that occurs more than twice a week for a few weeks could be GERD. GERD can lead to more serious health problems over time. If you think you have GERD, you should see your doctor. “It’s not who you think you are that holds you back; it’s who you think you’re not.” ~Unknown How common is GERD? GERD affects about 20 percent of the U.S. population. Cont. on page 8 Support Group Newsletter 7 Cont. from page 7 laryngitis—the swelling of your voice box that can lead to a short-term loss of your voice pneumonia—an infection in one or both of your lungs—that keeps coming back wheezing—a high-pitched whistling sound when you breathe Who is more likely to have GERD? Anyone can develop GERD, some for unknown reasons. You are more likely to have GERD if you are overweight or obese pregnant woman taking certain medicines a smoker or regularly exposed to secondhand smoke Symptoms and Causes of GER and GERD What are the symptoms of GER and GERD? What are the complications of GERD? Without treatment, GERD can sometimes cause serious complications over time, such as Esophagitis Esophagitis is inflammation in the esophagus. Adults who have chronic esophagitis over many years are more likely to develop precancerous changes in the esophagus. Esophageal stricture An esophageal stricture happens when your esophagus becomes too narrow. Esophageal strictures can lead to problems with swallowing. Respiratory problems With GERD you might breathe stomach acid into your lungs. The stomach acid can then irritate your throat and lungs, causing respiratory problems, such as asthma—a long-lasting disease in your lungs that makes you extra sensitive to things that you’re allergic to chest congestion, or extra fluid in your lungs a dry, long-lasting cough or a sore throat hoarseness—the partial loss of your voice If you have gastroesophageal reflux (GER), you may taste food or stomach acid in the back of your mouth. The most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is regular heartburn, a painful, burning feeling in the middle of your chest, behind your breastbone, and in the middle of your abdomen. Not all adults with GERD have heartburn. Other common GERD symptoms include: bad breath nausea pain in your chest or upper part of abdomen problems swallowing or painful swallowing respiratory problems vomiting the wearing away of your teeth Cont. on page 9 Support Group Newsletter 8 Cont. from page 8 Lifestyle modifications may also help. What causes GER and GERD? GER and GERD happen when your lower esophageal sphincter becomes weak or relaxes when it shouldn’t, causing stomach contents to rise up into the esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter becomes weak or relaxes due to certain things, such as Increased pressure on your abdomen from being overweight, obese, or pregnant. smoking, or inhaling secondhand smoke Taking certain medicines, including those that doctors use to treat asthma— a long-lasting disease in your lungs that makes you extra sensitive to things that you’re allergic to calcium channel blockers—medicines that treat high blood pressure antihistamines—medicines that treat allergy symptoms painkillers sedatives—medicines that help put you to sleep antidepressants—medicines that treat depression 1) Don't lie down after eating. 2) Avoid foods known to cause reflux. If you're at risk for GERD, avoid: Fatty foods Spicy foods Acidic foods, like tomatoes and citrus Coffee or any caffeinated beverage 3) Do Not Smoke Nicotine can relax the muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) 4) Cut back on alcohol. As with smoking, alcohol can cause the LES to relax Following bariatric surgery, especially the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, patients may notice symptoms of GERD. If this occurs contact your surgeon’s office and schedule an appointment. You may be prescribed a PPI – Proton Pump Inhibitor such as Dexilant, Prilosec or Prevacid. PPIs reduce the production of acid in the stomach. This leaves little acid in the stomach juice so that if stomach juice backs up into the esophagus, it is less irritating. This allows the esophagus to heal. Support Group Newsletter 9 CALENDAR st June 21 New Patient Seminar 7pm Call 732-744-5955 to register 98 James Street Suite 212 Edison, NJ 08820 Ph 732-744-5955 Fax 732-906-4967 th July 4 Independence Day www.jfkforlife.org Check us out on our FACEBOOK page! TH JULY 13 & 21ST SUPPORT GROUP 6:30PM TH JULY 14 BASTILLE DAY UNJURY can be purchased through Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons in the JFK for Life office in Edison. UNJURY is available in single serve packets for $1.99 each or 17 serving canisters for $22.95. Unflavored is $20.95. Also available is a Starter Kit with 10 single serve packets, a shaker and a thermometer for $21.20. UNJURY is available in Chocolate Classic, Chocolate Splendor, Strawberry Sorbet, Vanilla, Chicken Soup and Unflavored. Contact Kelly DeFabio, RD for details. Join the OAC JULY 19TH NEW PATIENT SEMINAR 7PM Call 732-744-5955 to register AUGUST 10TH SUPPORT GROUP 6:30PM AUGUST 16TH NEW PATIENT SEMINAR 7PM Call 732-744-5955 to register The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is a more than 50,000 member strong non profit organization dedicated to giving a voice to the individual affected by the disease of obesity. They assist individuals along their journey towards better health through education, advocacy and support. One of their core focuses is the fight against weight bias and discrimination. For more information go to www.ObesityAction.org Support Group Newsletter 10 Food and Transfer Addiction The Obesity/Addiction Connection Although many complex factors may be involved in excessive behaviors such as overeating, gambling and drug abuse, they are similar in a number of ways. The brain is changed and reward circuits are disrupted (whatever feels good needs more to feel the way it used to feel) Behavior eventually becomes involuntary Symptoms of Food Addiction: Repetitive consumption of food against the individual’s better judgment Loss of control of the amount of food eaten Preoccupation with food Hiding your food to keep people from knowing what you are eating Preoccupation with body weight and image Continuation with food related behaviors despite evidence that food is causing harm Addictions WLS patients need to be aware of: Prescription Pain killers Gambling Alcohol and other drugs Shopping Risk taking Exercise Tobacco How to prevent addiction after WLS: Find healthy ways to get your endorphin “fix” Listen to family and friends if they express concern any behavior they may see as excessive Develop coping strategies that do not involve excess If a behavior becomes problematic, discuss it with your therapist or health care provider Make yourself accountable to friends and family as you moderate your behavior STAY CONNECTED to your support group! What is Addiction Transfer? Swapping the compulsive use of food for some other compulsive behavior or substance. On line screening tools: www.alcoholscreening.org www.drugscreening.org www.overeatersanonymous.org Who is at risk? The bariatric patient who: What to do if you think you have an addiction? Does not recognize and confront his/her own compulsive use of food. Has a personal history or family history of addiction. Has a history of a pre- existing mental health diagnosis. Support Group Newsletter 11 A major global analysis From the desk of Karen Rose, LCSW published in The Lancet has revealed a dramatic increase in the number of people with obesity in the world. The number of people with the disease went from 105 million in 1975 to 641 million in 2014. Underweight has diminished dramatically around the world, and obesity is now the greatest nutrition disease faced by mankind. Thank you to Doreen Puliafico for sharing this article about dispelling the myths around weight loss surgery: “Let's start with the big one: Weight loss surgery is a cop-out for people.” https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3a %2f%2fwww.prevention.com%2fweight-loss%2f8misconceptions-about-weight-loss-surgery-that-youprobably-stillbelieve&data=01%7c01%7cpsullivan%40jfkhealth.org%7c8 6058dd652c64b10b42008d379864c46%7c2564b4e2dd4a49 9d8c4b62be7798f3d9%7c0&sdata=vYdS4oc4E4WRmeCd9 vCPVDlTW5RUnjZ9D5TYKDG2B30%3d For additional information on this topic, go to https://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgerymisconceptions If YOU find an interesting article or have a topic you would like to learn more about, please email [email protected] OR [email protected] OR [email protected] Support Group Newsletter 12 Health Benefits of Probiotics By Kelly DiFabio, RD The human gut contains more than 400 types of microorganisms that protect you from toxins and help you digest and absorb the nutrients in your food. Some of these are considered “good” or “helpful” gut bacteria called Probiotics. Probiotics can be found naturally in your body and can be found in food and supplements. As you are rebuilding your gut bacteria after Bariatric Surgery it can be beneficial to include foods and supplements to promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria. Benefits of Probiotics: Research is ongoing about how and why probiotics work. Some of the potential benefits include: Synthesizing vitamins (particularly B Vitamins) Boosting your immune system by producing antibodies for certain viruses Decreasing the risk of developing dental caries Speeding recovery from bacterial vaginosis Reducing the problems associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Ulcerative Colitis, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Helping people with Lactose intolerance digest dairy products more easily Reducing antibiotic related diarrhea Reducing blood pressure, cholesterol, and insulin resistance Food sources: Yogurt (look for “Contains active cultures” on the label) Kefir Cottage cheese Fermented dairy products Fermented vegetables - kimchee, sauerkraut Fermented soy products – miso, tempeh, soy sauce Organosulfuric compounds – Garlic, onions, chives, citrus fruits, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts Supplement sources: Probiotics can vary from brand to brand. It is best to take a high quality probiotic supplement with several different strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species versus mass quantities of few strains. It is recommended the supplement contain the specific strains: L. acidophilus, B. longum, and B. bifidum, L. fermentum, and L. rhamnosus. Be sure to check expiration dates of your Probiotic supplements to ensure live cultures. Brands such as Nature Made, Bariatric Advantage, Renew Life Ultimate Flora Crital Care, Now Foods, and Puritan’s Pride Premium Probiotic 10 supply excellent probiotic sources. Prebiotic versus Probiotic: While probiotics are live cultures in food and “good” bacteria in your gut, Prebiotics are the non-digestible food ingredients that provide food for the good bacteria to grow. Add Prebiotic foods to your diet to boost the effects of your Probiotics! You can find Prebiotics in foods such as: High fiber whole grains – oatmeal, Flax, Barley High Fiber vegetables – Asparagus, Jerusalem Artichokes, Leeks, Dark Greens Fruit - Berries, bananas Legumes Onions Honey Maple Syrup Red wine Support Group Newsletter 13 “I’ve lost all my weight. Why can’t I just eat anything I want but in smaller amounts ?” To be successful after any bariatric surgery you have to change your lifestyle. This includes eating a healthy diet and exercising. The gastric sleeve allows you to eat any type of food. But your new diet should be high protein and very small amounts of simple carbohydrates. Try to avoid sugar, sweets and white flour. Foods that are spicy or highly seasoned can cause gastritis or acid reflux. that make any significant contribution to our diet. Drinking alcohol also reduces the amount of fat your body burns for energy. While we can store nutrients, protein, carbohydrates, and fat in our bodies, we can't store alcohol. So our systems want to get rid of it. This takes precedence over the metabolism of protein, carbohydrates, absorbing nutrients and burning fat. So when you are considering what to eat or drink, consider this… Why you had surgery Where you are Where you want to be “What About Alcohol?” Alcohol is very high in calories and contains no nutrients. Alcohol consumption should be avoided for 3 to 6 months following your surgery. Remember that you will feel the effects of alcohol much more quickly than before your surgery. Take special care when driving! “Why are calories in alcohol extrafattening?” Living Near Fast-Food Places Hurts Less-Educated Most Alcoholic drinks are made by fermenting and distilling natural starch and sugar. Living in a neighborhood full of fast-food outlets is especially unhealthy for people who are poorly educated, a new British study suggests. Being high in sugar means alcohol contains lots of calories – seven calories a gram in fact, almost as many as pure fat! “Neighborhoods are clearly important in shaping what all of us eat, no matter how educated we are,” said researcher Thomas Burgoine, a fellow at the University of Cambridge. “But this effect appears to be much greater for those with lower levels of education,” he said in a university news release. Calories from alcohol are 'empty calories', they have no nutritional value. Most alcoholic drinks contain traces of vitamins and minerals, but not usually in amounts Support Group Newsletter 14 Cont. on page 15 Cont. from page 14 The researchers wanted to understand how the availability of fast food influences diet and obesity. To find the answer, they examined survey results from 6,000 adults ages 29-62 living in Cambridgeshire, a county in England. The study found that the least educated people had unhealthier diets than the most educated, even if they lived in the same neighborhoods full of fastfood restaurants. In those neighborhoods, the least educated people ate about one-third more unhealthy fast food a day than the most educated people. That’s the equivalent of nearly 9 pounds of unhealthy food a year, the researchers said. The least educated people were also the most prone to obesity. While the study did not prove cause-and-effect, the researchers think the findings show the value of regulating the number of fast-food outlets in neighborhoods. “Our results suggest that these policies will be effective across socioeconomic groups, but, critically, particularly for the most disadvantaged. This could help to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in diet and health,” said study senior author Pablo Monsivais, a public health researcher at Cambridge. This is important, Monsivais said, “because attempts to encourage more healthy living at an individual level have largely failed to reduce health inequalities.” Some say such initiatives have been especially ineffective among disadvantaged groups, he added. The study was published in the May 11 issue of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Who Doesn’t Like Ice Cream? I don’t know too many people who don’t enjoy ice cream now and then, especially in the summer. In fact, I don’t know anyone. If you are a fan, have you tried this? Artic Zero Fit Frozen Desserts This skinny alternative really has just 75 calories per serving! It isn’t too shocking when you consider that makers of the treat replaced the cream and milk typically found in ice cream with water and whey protein. Example: Buttery Pecan has 75 calories, 2.5 g fat, 10 carbs, 7 g sugar and 3 g protein. Go to www.arcticzero.com to check out all their products. Support Group Newsletter 15 Remember! B.G.T.Y. Be Good To Yourself What Are We Talking About? VACATIONS Promote Creativity Reduce Stress Help You Sleep Better Strengthen Relationships Enhance Memory Prevent Burnout Make Lasting Memories The Staff at JFK for Life wishes everyone a healthy, happy and safe summer! Support Group Newsletter 16