Obesity is a multi-factorial disorder

SHARED FROM:

The Star Wednesday 31 July 2013

Along The Watchtower By M. Veera Pandiyan

The Fight against Fat-And-Fat bias

            According to Prof. Dr. Mohd Ismail Noor, president of the Malaysian Association for the study of obesity, there are strong links between under nutrition and obesity with both occurring in low income households.  The American Medical Association has declared obesity a ‘disease’, giving rise to assumption that people had no control over the condition.

            While obesity is linked to risk for diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, there is much bigotry against people who are overweight than most of us care to admit.  The ideal type for women during the Victorian era was plum, fleshy and full-figured.  But today’s fashion industry disclaims women in the same size.  Dr. Denise Cummins, a prominent “fatness expert”, wrote in Psychology Today, saying that the relationship between food intake and energy expenditure is far more complex than the simple “calories eaten, calories burned” equation which doctors and personal trainers would have us believe.

           Obesity is a multi-factorial disorder in which environmental and genetic factors interact to yield a disorder of energy balance.  Dr. Linda Bacon, famous fatness activist, in her book, Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth about Your Weight has provided a compelling research results showing that overweight people tend to live longer.  In short, it says fat is simply not the kind of killer it had been portrayed to be.

YOU AND TOUR TEENS

SHARED FROM:

The Star 2 Wednesday 31 July 2013

Teens and Tweens By Charis Patrick

Communicate not alienate

 

            When your children are younger, they insisted on telling you about everything they’ve done, usually several times over, and very loudly too.  But as they enter teenage years, they often sever the lines of communications!

            Most of the battles that we fight with our teens and tweens are actually the result of bad communication.  They are slowly becoming more independent.  They began to rely more on other people and less on us for all their needs.  We may have been their closest and most trusted adviser and consultant over the years, and they do still need our wisdom and guidance but they also need their own space.

            Becoming a teenager is a difficult stage in life.  Even the happiest and most well-adjusted childhood can’t totally prepare them for.  Once the lines of communication start breaking down, it becomes harder to know what’s going on in your teenage child’s; life.  Because they stop telling you.

 

            Don’t jump to conclusion.  Don’t mistake their reluctance to communicate for outright rebellion.  Don’t try to over compensate.  They’ll misinterpret the healthy interest as smothering.  Back off a bit.  Give them the space they need.  Try to keep things in perspective.  The world is full of wise, mature, honest, generous, wonderful people who just happen to be untidy.

You and your teen come from two different worlds,

two different perspectives

and a giant disconnect

that can make communication a real mystery

-Debbie Pinces-

5 Secrets for Communicating With Teenagers

            Distance and explosiveness are often the only ways a teenager knows how to communicate when things get intense.  This of course will cause more conflict.

            Family life has a way of catching us off-guard.  The intensity may get under our skin, that’s making us loose our cool over all the wrong things.  Minor incidents may become full-scale dramas.  It’s vital not to get drawn into endless minor conflicts that don’t really make any difference in the long run.

 

            Authority as parents is based entirely on the strength of our relationship with your teens or tweens.  So the more your teens learn to tune you out, the harder you’ll find to get thoughts them about anything important.  Only draw a line in the sand when you are absolutely sure it has to be there.  Otherwise your teen will be tempted to shut you out altogether, and they’ll also be deprived of your help, support, love and advice that matter when they desperately need it.

The fear of failure

FAILURE SELDOM STOPS YOU

WHAT STOPS YOU IS THE FEAR OF FAILURE

- Jack Lemmon

DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE: GET WHAT YOU PROJECT AND EXPECT

SHORT NOTES FROM:

DEALING WITH PEOLE YOU CAN’T STAND

HOW TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE AT THEIR WORST

DR. RICK BRINKMAN AND DR. RICK KIRSCHNER

MCGRAW-HILL, INC

(226 PAGES)

PART 2

SURVIVING THROUGH SKILLFUL COMMUNICATION

 

GET WHAT YOU PROJECT AND EXPECT

            Thoughtless negative reaction of people around the problem people tends to provoke them.  Give them the benefit of the doubt.

            Pygmalion effect is where people rise or fall to the level of other’s expectations.  Even so, the Pygmalion Power is not the easiest thing to use when someone is acting like a jerk.

            Defending oneself to criticism, even when it seems unfair, tend to make things worse.  The implications are that the defenses may be misunderstood and it may later be used against you.  So, just verbally appreciate the criticism with no defense, no explanation and no justification.  Simply hear the other person out thank her for communicating.

When People Are At Their Worst,

Project And Expect The Best

The Action Plan is:

• Use Pygmalion Power
• Give the benefit of the doubt
• Appreciate criticism

DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLESpeak to Be Understood

SHORT NOTES FROM:

DEALING WITH PEOLE YOU CAN’T STAND

HOW TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE AT THEIR WORST

DR. RICK BRINKMAN AND DR. RICK KIRSCHNER

MCGRAW-HILL, INC

(226 PAGES)

PART 2

SURVIVING THROUGH SKILLFUL COMMUNICATION

 

Speak to Be Understood

            What we say to people can also produce positive effects.  The tone of voice used can send people either a positive or negative message.  Even when the words used are well chosen, if the tone of voice used is hurried, defensive, or hostile, people many imagine something very different from what is really intended.  The mixed messages can cause big problems is all relationships.  People are found often suppressing their emotions to avoid conflict.  So, acknowledge your tone and clarify what it is saying.

            ‘Intent’ is another equivalent important area code; we always assume someone will understand our positive intent.  But what really happen was the implied intent was almost always being misunderstood.  To prevent misunderstanding, learn to communicate your positive intent.  Speak your intent first to prevent many misunderstandings.

            Honesty can be effective no matter what difficult behavior a person engages in.  The more you trust, the more likely you’ll be heard.  Remember that whenever you speak to be understood, your communication will inevitably have an influence on the problem people.  Be careful.

 

When Communicating With Problem People

Speak To Be Understood

The Action Plan Is:

• Monitor your tone of voice
• State your positive intent
• Tactfully interrupt interruptions
• Tell the truth
• Be ready to listen