By now, you’re probably familiar with the problem. Americans are facing an epidemic that threatens the health—and many times, survival—of their population and the generations to follow.
It’s called obesity. Unbelievably, 65 percent of the U.S. population is overweight, according to a national survey compiled by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s more than half the country!
But the statistics don’t stop there. Over 25 percent of Americans are obese, or carry 20 percent or more than their ideal weight, according to the CDC. That’s one in four people! That’s right, the United States has the dubious distinction of being the heaviest nation on earth.
But the weight itself is only part of the problem. Our obesity epidemic is creating serious health complications as well, not the least of which is Type 2 Diabetes. This condition of insulin resistance, formerly seen primarily in those over 60 years old, is now found routinely in school children as young as eight or nine.
If you believe there’s nothing that can be done about the nation’s weight problem—and yours in particular—think again. Because what this book is about to present will change everything you thought you knew about weight loss.
What follows here is an effective weight management system. Let’s not even call it a diet. A diet implies you follow rules for a certain period of time, then resume your normal eating patterns, hoping and praying that the weight won’t come back.
A weight management system works for you now and in the future. By mastering this unique way of classifying foods, you can not only lose weight right now, but also keep it off for the rest of your life.
In the process, you can improve your health and even lengthen your life by reducing the risks of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and a host of degenerative diseases associated with excess weight.
The system is called the glycemic index (GI), and has often been called the “missing link” in the dieting dilemma. Originally developed for patients suffering from Type 2 Diabetes, it recently became clear that it could help anyone manage their weight and prevent diabetes before it becomes a permanent problem.
The glycemic index evaluates foods according to how quickly the body converts the carbohydrates in the foods into glucose, or blood sugar. Foods that are low on the glycemic index create a slow, moderate rise in your blood sugar that is optimal for energy efficiency.
As an individual trying to lose weight, you want to choose low GI foods, which lead to lower insulin levels following your meals. This will help keep your hunger at bay and help you feel full longer. Additionally, the slower the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose, the more efficiently your body can dissolve fat and convert it into energy. It’s a win-win situation!
You are expecting a book that guides you along a weight loss program, and indeed, that is what you will find here. But first, there is one more point to be made about the role of health and the glycemic index.
This book talks briefly about a little-known syndrome called Metabolic X Syndrome. While this may sound like the title of a Grade B science fiction film, Metabolic X Syndrome is, in fact, a serious health condition. I need to emphasize here that it is not a disease or a disorder in and of itself. Rather, it is a set of circumstances that your body possesses that may raise your risk of developing diabetes. It is, in essence, a precursor to Type 2 Diabetes.
If you discover, after reading this book, that you may actually be one of the millions living with Metabolic X Syndrome, don’t panic, and definitely don’t give up your weight loss goals. Because armed with the information in this book, you still have a remarkable opportunity to change the direction of your health.
