March 2015
Webinars 

 

Overweight/Obesity and Preconception Health 

  

In partnership with the Association for Maternal and Child Health Programs, the  National Preconception Health and Health Care Initiative, and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, these webinar recordings focus attention on the impact of obesity on the health of young women and any future children they may wish to have. They also share strategies and resources for  MCH and chronic disease partners. Click here to access the webinars. 
 

HBO Documentary Films: The Weight of the Nation Trailer (HBO Docs)
The Weight of the Nation Trailer (HBO Docs)
Check out the four-part HBO Documentary Films series, The Weight of the Nation, which explores the obesity epidemic in America. 
What if we're wrong about diabetes? 
Peter Attia: What if we're wrong about diabetes?
Peter Attia: What if we're wrong about diabetes?

As a young ER doctor, Peter Attia felt contempt for a patient with diabetes. But years later, he received an unpleasant medical surprise that led him to wonder: is our understanding of diabetes right? Here he discusses in a Ted Talk how assumptions may be leading us to wage the wrong medical war.

Resources
Click here to view this and other infographics designed to help women eat healthier.
 
The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is dedicated to raising awareness and improving access to the prevention and treatment of obesity, providing evidence-based education on obesity and its treatments, fighting to eliminate weight bias and discrimination, elevating the conversation of weight and its impact on health, and offering a community of support for the individuals affected.
 
The American Diabetes Association leads the fight against the consequences of diabetes and fights for those affected by diabetes by funding research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; providing objective and credible information; giving a voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes; and delivering services to hundreds of communities.
 
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) provides information about diabetes to people with diabetes and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about diabetes.
 
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the professional association of OB/GYN physicians offers a wealth of information for the care of all women affected by obesity and diabetes.

Women's Health:

Obesity & Diabetes

 
Obesity

Over 60 percent of adult women in the United States are considered overweight or obese. About 36 percent of overweight adult women are considered obese and 8 percent are considered to have extreme obesity. There is no single cause of overweight and obesity, and in fact, many factors play a role in excess weight gain, including diet, physical activity, environment, culture, and genes. Overall, however, overweight and obesity result from an energy imbalance. 
 

The body needs a certain amount of energy (calories) from food to maintain basic life functions. Body weight tends to remain the same when the number of calories eaten equals the number of calories the body uses. Over time, when women eat and drink more calories than they burn, the energy balance tips toward weight gain, overweight and obesity, putting them at risk for a number of health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.

 

There is no single approach to preventing or treating overweight or obesity. Treatment may include a mix of lifestyle interventions that include diet and exercise. There are also medications and surgeries available to assist with long-term treatment of obesity, though women considering these options should consult their health care providers.


Diabetes

Diabetes currently affects over 246 million people worldwide. In the United States alone about 24 million people have diabetes, half of whom are women. Almost one quarter of them don't know it.

 

There are three main types of diabetes:

Type 1: This type is commonly diagnosed in children and young adults, but it's a lifelong condition. This type of diabetes is characterized by a lack of insulin, so treatment involves daily insulin shots or use of an insulin pump, making healthy food choices, getting regular physical activity, taking aspirin daily (for many people), and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

 

Type 2: This is the most common type of diabetes -- about 9 out of 10 people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Onset can happen at any age, even during childhood. With this type, the body makes insulin, but the insulin can't do its job, so glucose is not getting into the cells. Treatment includes taking medicine, making healthy food choices, getting regular physical activity, taking aspirin daily (for many people), and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Women with type 2 diabetes generally produce less and less insulin over time, which means that they may need to increase their medications or start using insulin in order to keep diabetes in good control.

 

Gestational: This type of diabetes affects about 1 in 20 pregnancies. During pregnancy a woman's body makes hormones that keep insulin from doing its job. To make up for this, the body makes extra insulin. But in some women this extra insulin is not enough, so they get gestational diabetes. Fortunately, gestational diabetes usually goes away when the pregnancy is over; however, women who have had gestational diabetes are very likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

 

While the exact causes of types 1 and 2 diabetes are still unknown, there are things women can do to prevent the condition. Comparable to the recommendations to prevent and manage obesity, the best way to prevent diabetes is to make certain lifestyle changes: adding more whole grain foods, fruits, and vegetables to the diet; exercising more, even if that means taking short walks; losing weight -- even a relatively small amount (10 to 15 pounds) has been proven to delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Women that aren't sure where to start should talk to their health care provider.

 

Resources
 ChooseMyPlate.gov provides practical information to individuals, health professionals, nutrition educators, and the food industry to help consumers build healthier diets with resources and tools for dietary assessment, nutrition education, and other user-friendly nutrition information. These online resources and tools can empower women to make healthier food choices for themselves, their families, and their children.
 
HealthyWomen is the nation's leading independent health information source for women. Their core mission is to educate, inform and empower women to make smart health choices for themselves and their families. This site provides a wealth of information about diabetes, diet and fitness among other health topics.
 
DiabetesSisters offers a range of education and support services to help women of all ages with all types of diabetes live healthier, fuller lives. We understand the fear and isolation that often comes with living with diabetes because we are an organization that is managed by women who are living with diabetes.

Feature Blog  

 

My Doctor DIDN'T Fat-Shame Me And It Was A  Radical Life-Changing Experience

 

Lesley Kinzel is the Deputy Editor at xoJane.com. In this blog  post she describes her journey in finding a healthcare provider. Click here to read the article.  

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