When taking a glance down Niagara Falls Boulevard, with the array of fast food joints, gourmet coffeehouses and big beefy steakhouses lining its curbs, it's not hard to understand why obesity is on the rise. While it's a problem that hits many in the gut, one UB program may have a solution that could help people coping with obesity shed the pounds and get healthy.
To assist in finding a solution to the disease, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York recently approached UB's School of Public Health and Health Professions to collectively devise a research program to assist overweight individuals in losing pounds without resorting to surgery.
According to the New York State Department of Health, three out of five Western New Yorkers are overweight or obese, with each county of Western New York seeing a definite increase in obesity between the years 1999 and 2004.
The obesity epidemic has become such a problem in the country that many overweight individuals, including students, seek to drop the pounds by means of surgical solutions. Desperate to lose their weight, these candidates often do not realize they are at serious risk for side effects like heart disease, diabetes and sleep apnea.
"The study is designed to aid individuals in losing weight by means of a low calorie diet," Michael Noe, professor of social and preventive medicine and principle investigator for the study, said. "Our objective is to use an aggressive non-surgical approach to weight loss."
Participants considered for the study, dubbed the Healthy People 2010 campaign, must have a Body Mass Index greater than or equal to 40. BMI uses the height and weight of a person to determine the amount of body fat in a person and determine standards for obesity.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention a healthy BMI for adults falls between 18.5 and 24.9. Twenty-five to 29.9 is considered overweight, and anything over 30 is considered obese.
The study consists of four separate treatment groups, referred to as arms, which partake in the study. There are also two subgroups, which consist of two groups each.
The first of the two groups will be given an 800-calorie diet to follow for the first 12 weeks after which they will follow a 1400-calorie diet for the next three years. The second of the two groups will be given a 1400-calorie diet from the day of the study and must follow it for three years.
Finally, each subgroup will have one medicated and one non-medicated group.
The FDA drugs that will be administered to the subjects are one of two medications: Sibutramine, which acts as an appetite suppressant, and Orlistat, which blocks fat from being absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.
Overweight individuals who have considered surgery like gastric bypass have already failed at many attempts to dieting. In this program, Dr. Noe and his colleagues are stressing behavior modification and plan to educate the participants in healthy eating and exercise.
"We want individuals to develop a better understanding of their eating habits," Noe said. "An improved approach to the participant's lifestyle is essential."
Although exercise is optional, individuals are stressed to implement at least extra walking exercise into their daily activities. They will each be given a pedometer to keep track of the amount of steps they take.
Some UB students, who also struggle with unwanted weight gain at school, have found walking is an essential key in keeping the pounds off.
"For some students, there is always the problem of the freshman 15," Kristi Klier a junior English major, said. "I actually lost the freshman 15 because of all the walking I did on campus."
Jean Jitomir, a second-year nutrition graduate student, thinks people would have an easier time improving their diet and exercise habits if access to more activities was prevalent.
"There should be more promotion of active behavior," Jitomir said. "Also, unhealthy foods should be discouraged. Obesity cannot simply be blamed on lack of will power or fat-promoting genetics."
The study brings hope to the community that the vision of a healthier society is possible.
"We hope to bring the reality of the Healthy People 2010 campaign to fruition," Noe said. "Both for the participants in the study and for the Western New York community."
With poor choices for on-campus dining, how do you think obesity plays a part in college life and how can it be fought?
A healthier choice of food and better exercise.
Damayy Brown
Medical Technology
Junior
I think you can fight obesity by staying active and using the campus resources such as the gym.
James Ghazarian
Political Science
Junior
If youOre a dormer you can walk to class and if youOre a commuter, park farther away from class.
John Ritzly
Biological Science
Freshman
ItOs hard when places with fried foods such as HubieOs are open more often than other shops like Greens and Beans.
Leica Meliton
English
Junior
Whoever is in charge of the food on campus should try to gear more programs to help students fight obesity. However, it is also on the person to take more responsibility for themselves and watch what they eat.
Jesse Hellinger
Communication
Senior
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
