For many obese people, a doctor’s care just doesn’t cut it. A recent study at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, shows that health education is a better way to fight obesity. The study followed about 500 obese people for six years. Half the participants continued regular visits with their doctors. The other participants received about 30 half-hour sessions with a
health educator over two years. The educators helped patients develop individual diet and exercise plans.
Among the men who received health education, fewer developed metabolic syndrome (a group of symptoms that raise one’s risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes). Women who received health education lost weight during the first year, but did not have a lower rate of metabolic syndrome at the end of the study. Researchers speculated that women and men may need different amounts and types of health education.
This supports our position that diet and lifestyle changes, in conjunction with a coaching program, is more effective at healing diabetes than conventional medical care.
By Jim Healthy
Previous Post: Cocoa Helps Decrease Frailty in Diabetics
