Epidemiologic studies among specific populations have helped to define the risk for gallstone disease among persons losing weight. During follow-up of the Nurses Health Study cohort, the incidence of clinically recognized gallstones was determined after collection of self-reported heights and weights obtained 2 years apart. Compared with women whose weight changed less than 4 kg, women who lost 4 to 10 kg had a 44% increase in the risk for gallstone disease with the weight loss, and women who lost more than 10 kg had a 94% increase in the risk for gallstone disease when controlling for BMI and other risk factors for gallstones. A study in Maastricht, the Netherlands, evaluated the relative contributions of BMI and a history of dieting (yes or no) among 151 men and women who were hospitalized for acutely symptomatic gallstones compared with community controls [29]. Using univariate analysis, a history of dieting doubled the risk for gallstones, but this association largely disappeared with control for the confounding effects of BMI. In an ultrasonographic study of a representative sample from Copenhagen County, Denmark, men with a history of more than one “slimming treatment” (weight loss of more than 5 kg) had a statistically significant doubling of gallstone disease prevalence (11.0% compared with 5.2%). Women had a statistically nonsignificant 79% increase in gallstone disease prevalence with more than one slimming treatment (17.9% compared with 10.2%). Among men, but not women, the association was statistically significant after adjustment for all other risk factors, including highest body mass index ever (a nonsignificant risk factor among men). In the first U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a history of dieting among women (but unknown degree of weight change) was associated with an increase (67%; P = 0.001) in incidence of hospitalization with gallstones during the following 10 years [30]. All of these studies excluded patients with previously undetected gallstones before treatment (about 4% to 8% [32, 33, 35, 36]) and then evaluated all available patients for the development of gallstones after weight loss. If persons on weight reducing diets eat fewer meals and therefore increase overnight fasting periods, they may be at higher risk for development of gallstones. A U.S. population-based study found a doubling of incidence of hospitalization for gallstones among women who fasted overnight for more than 14 hours compared with women who fasted for 8 or fewer hours [30]. Fasting increases gallbladder bile lithogenicity and gallbladder volume [50, 52-55]. No data were presented in these or other studies on the risks for repeated dieting for the development of gallstones. No study has compared the risk for gallstones among weight loss diets differing in caloric content or nutrient composition. It is not known if weight loss due to increased physical activity has any effect on gallstone formation. Continue reading more of this report here: http://www.GoodHealthInfo.info Send a blank email and get a free, 4-part email weight loss course now: goodhealthinfo@sendfree.com

[ Note: This article was written by fitness and nutrition author Jon Benson. we thought you would enjoy the information. ]

I bet you didn’t know this …

Obesity…even being overfat… is a disease.

No, really.

At least that’s what several social groups wish you to believe. “Suffers Of Obesity” is just one of those groups. Their entire stance is obesity (which, btw, can be only 30lbs or so over your ideal bodyweight) is an actual disease.

Well, is it?

Yes… and no.

Comedian Ricky Gervais has a hilarious go at this stance… that obesity is a disease. You sometimes have to laugh, you know? ; )

“No… it’s not a disease… it’s greed. You just love to eat,” or so Gervais believes.

Well, in my first newsletter for 2010, a new decade with new ideas, I’m here to share a new idea with you:

     We really need to redefine some words.

One of those words is “disease”.

Case-in-point:  Wikipedia.com defines disease…

“In human beings, “disease” is often used more broadly to refer to any condition that causes pain, dysfunction, distress, social problems, and/or death to the person afflicted, or similar problems for those in contact with the person. In this broader sense, it sometimes includes injuries, disabilities, disorders, syndromes, infections, isolated symptoms, deviant behaviors, and atypical variations of structure and function, while in other contexts and for other purposes these may be considered distinguishable categories.”

Let’s think about that.

If you bump your knee against a sharp object, is this a new disease called “bumpuskneeitis?” Er… no. It’s an accident. Sure, it may ’cause’ a specific set of symptoms that could broadly (as in as broad as the back-side of a barn) be considered a “disease”, but … no. It’s an accident with biological consequences.

Social problems?  So, if I decide to read 17 books on why my parents suck as a teenager and develop anti-social behavior, is this a “disease”?  NO!  This is the angst of youth combined, perhaps, with poor parenting!  Sure, it can lead to mental issues that could be classified as “disease”, but guess what?

It’s totally within your control. No one force-fed the books to the teen. And no one is force-feeding you, or anyone you know.

That decision is yours and yours alone… and anyone, repeat ANYONE on the face of planet earth can change their behaviors and attitudes toward food.

Okay, some more thoughts on disease:

Let me give you a few examples of what is typically thought of as “disease”…

— Leprosy
— Cancer
— Hypothyroidism

We’ll just take three… there are thousands as you know.

Now, we can all agree that these three states represent true “disease”. The first you could catch by accident; the second is a combination of genetics, environment, and who-knows-what-else, and the third is almost always genetic.

One, cancer, is something you ‘may’ be able to do something about. For example, lung cancer. 90% of lung cancer patients contract the disease from smoking.

Let’s just cover these 90%, shall we?

And folks, I’m asking for an open mind here…

Is lung cancer, in the case of the 90%, REALLY a disease?

     Or is it a biological consequence?

Sure, “cancer” is a disease. But what caused it in this case? Something involuntary? Hardly. Something that could not be stopped?

No way.

The 90% caused it. Period.

Welcome to the real world.

So, I propose this:  We redefine “disease” as an abnormal biological condition that we DO NOT have direct cause or effect over.

Airborne viruses: Disease.  Obesity: NOT a disease.

And yes, lung cancer in chain smokers:  NOT a disease; it’s a biological outcome. The end result should be treated as a disease, of course, but come on: Where is the responsibility folks?

Life, if you want to life it fully and without fear, is ALL about taking total responsibility. That’s empowerment. Anything less is… well, LESS.

In our example, lung cancer is no more a “disease” than, say, me hitting myself over the head with a hammer every day and causing brain damage is a disease.

Brain damage (not self-induced) = disease.

Brain damage caused by self-inflicted hammer-hitting = biological consequence. In this case of sheer stupidity!

Now, one could (and many will) make the argument that I had a “mental” disease that caused me to WANT to hit myself over the head with a hammer… but… well…

At this point we need to redefine the word “disease” in my opinion. Here’s why:

First, if this were the case, I could say that all criminals have a disease.

They all have a mental disease that makes them want to kill, steal… you name it.

This may in fact BE true… we do not know… but do we hold them NOT responsible if it is? No, we do not.

And that brings us back to obesity.

     Obesity and being overfat is not a disease folks…
     —— >  it’s a biological consequence.

And, with the exception of the extremely ‘rare’ cases of total glandular dysfunction from birth, obesity… your bodyweight… is your responsibility.

Period. End of story.

Sorry, but that’s the way the ball bounces.

Am I being mean? No. I was obese. I have a right to speak my mind about it, and trust me:  My depression (a disease… sorta… some genetic, but a lot of it was caused by eating too much sugar) definitely aided in my obesity.

Then how come I’m not obese any more?

I found a better way to eat. I re-trained my body to crave this style of eating (and exercise) over stuffing myself with pizza and burgers every day.

Here’s what I use:

Click.Here———–>  My No-Disease No-Obesity Wake-up Call!

It torches bellyfat… and it reprograms the body and mind to use food as fuel… especially if you use my “7 Minute Body” workout system (you can get it at 77% off after you pick up EODD on the page above… ; )

So be brave. Be fearless. And be responsible.

Oh… and be sure not to catch “internetemailitis”… its a disease that causes you to want to check your email more than 10 times a day.

I have it. So be careful… may be contagious. : )

P.S. In my journey from obesity to total leanness I had to overcome ‘real’ diseases, like pituitary failure from a high fever (i.e. viral pneumonia that almost killed me) and, yes, clinical depression (partially my fault; partially not… i.e. half disease, half biological consequence.) So I have sympathy, believe me. But I also know what you can do once you have a solid plan in place and a determined mind.

Then no “disease” can stop you… at least the ones that do not kill you.

So go for it… be brave, be responsible… and be lean!

click.here ——>  My No-Disease No-Obesity Wake-up Call!