FOX Health

Archive for March, 2009

Should You Smell the Flowers?

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

Dr. BassettThe first step is to reduce outdoor seasonal “triggers” by identifying the plants and flowers that will cause you discomfort. Get tested to choose the “right” plants, shrubs and flowers that are better for you. By knowing your allergies you can also plan ahead and modify your gardening schedule. This involves having the knowledge regarding peak periods throughout the day to the culprit allergens as well as staying tuned to learn the pollen count in your town or city.

Pollen counts from the previous day are available for main cities via the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) as well as in local newspapers and with the daily weather reports on radio and TV. The Web site for the National Allergy Bureau is www.aaaai.org/nab.

You may need to adjust your planting and/or gardening activities as seasonal symptoms such as itchiness of the eyes, nose and throat, sneezing may be worse on windy, dry, sunny and clear days may be associated with greater airborne pollens as wet, cloudy and windless days can see a reduction in outdoor plant pollens.

Colorful flowers:
Plants with bright, showy flowers are better for people who have allergies. Their pollen is large and because they are pollinated by insects, the pollen is seldom airborne. Plants that cause allergies usually have flowers that are small and insignificant looking and have no color for attracting nectar.

The following trees, shrubs, and plants have been found to be BETTER for people with allergies:

Alyssum
Apple
Azalea
Begonia
Cacti
Cherry
Clematis
Columbine

Crocus
Daffodil
Dahlia
Daisy
Dogwood
Dusty Miller
Geranium
Hibiscus


Hyacinth
Hydrangea
Impatiens
Iris
Lilac
Lily

Magnolia
Narcissus
Pansy
Pear
Petunia
Phlox
Plum
Roses

Salvia
Snapdragon
Sunflower
Tulip
Verbana
Viburnum
Zinnia

If you are considering adding trees to your landscape, you should AVOID planting the following:

Alder
Ash
Aspen
Beech
Birch
Box Elder
Cedar

Cottonwood
Cypress
Elm
Hickory
Juniper
Mulberry
Oak

Olive
Palm
Pecan
Poplar
Sycamore
Walnut
Willow

 

 

Dr. Clifford W. Bassett is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital and on the faculty of NYU School of Medicine. He is the current vice chair for public education committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. No information in this blog is intended as medical advice to any reader or intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.

Hearts in Motion Brings Health Care, Hugs to Guatemala

Friday, March 20th, 2009

By Melanie Schuman Rattigan

I’m a TV producer — a profession which affords me many travel opportunities as well as the chance to meet people from every walk of life.  It’s a job of logistics and sound editorial judgment.  I’ve covered the Amish school shootings, fighting in Tripoli, Lebanon between the national army and Al-Qaeda militants, the Pope’s recent visit to New York City and a host of other stories.

surgery_blog_Holding hands with a woman as I explain the recovery procedure after surgeons remove a 12-pound tumor from her uterus is not an event I could have planned.  Staples up and down her belly are not an easy sight, especially as she grimaces in pain. Yet whatever compassion I can share as I relay the doctor’s orders to a small group of nurses (two to be exact) covering the women’s ward at a state-run hospital in Zacapa, Guatemala is as important as anything I do on a day-to-day basis.

Two years of high school book Spanish nearly 20 years ago shockingly goes a long way in such circumstances with a bit of practice. What goes farther? An open mind.

Click here to see photos from my trip to Guatamala.

Over the course of the past seven years, I have traveled to Guatemala five times with a group called Hearts in Motion. Since 1990, the group has worked with resources already in the country to build a support system for those needing education, medical care and a helping hand — all the while, remembering how important it is to respect its culture, its way of doing things.

blog_boy_On these trips I’m away from the chaotic world of New York City and faced with the challenge of doing something completely outside my skill set. I see children suffering a variety of maladies that those who grow up in the United States usually only see in movies or on the news. Many are the result of poor nutrition or a lack of pre-natal care. Others, for both children and adults, are accidental — burns from cooking cornmeal in their one-room home, accident victims missing limbs and even men missing fingers who work day-in and day-out in the campo (fields).

Many people in this third-world country look at the “gringos” — a slang term for Americans — as wealthy. By comparison we may be, but not in terms of money. Many of us are lucky enough to have clean clothes, something to eat and a place to go to school. A parent, spouse or sibling who tells us they love us. In so many places I have visited in Guatemala, I have seen the joy in a child’s face or the face of a sun-tanned abuela (grandmother caring for her 10 grandchildren) when I simply hug them. A hug, that’s it. The group I travel with — Hearts in Motion — may give them vitamins, a blanket or a life-saving surgical procedure. Yet a simple sign of compassion mean just as much.

garbage_blog_It can be shocking to see the degree of poverty — kids walking around the mountains and mudslide-devastated villages without shoes, firemen and emergency response teams with no more than a bottle of Tylenol in the back of an empty ambulance.

Truthfully, I’m well aware that many in our country do not have healthcare and that poverty exists around the very corner on which I live in New York City. I often wonder if my 10 days spent each year in Guatemala would be better served here in the U.S. I’ve even been asked that by my own family members.

Perhaps it’s selfish — I know I can put down the blackberry, stop running errands and devote myself emotionally and physically for 10 days uninterrupted to help these people get through another day. I don’t think anyone would say they love cold showers, unusual bugs, brushing your teeth with bottled water and other septic-related issues I don’t need to discuss.

blog_girl_82_1201Somehow I feel I cheat. I fly home and return to the creature comforts life here affords and I wonder: who benefited more? The Guatemalans or me?

Melanie Schuman Rattigan is a coordinating producer for the FOX News Channel. Hearts in Motion is a non-profit 501 (c) 3, non-denominational organization that focuses on the needs of impoverished children and families.  It’s predominant focus is in Central and Latin America, but it also has several programs in operation in the United States. You can find out more information at www.heartsinmotion.org.

Diet Myths Debunked

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

tanya_zuckerbrot5MYTH: EATING AFTER 8 CAUSES WEIGHT GAIN
The reason most people think that eating at night causes weight gain is because people tend to eat extra at night, not taking into account what they have already eaten during the day. Well, the way it works is that at the end of the day, the more calories you eat, the more weight you gain — regardless if it’s during the day or at night.  Even the healthiest foods, when eaten in greater amounts than needed for energy, will be stored as fat. It is not possible to circumvent the laws of thermodynamics and energy balance. It all comes down to calories in vs. calories out.
However, the reason most people do gain weight from eating at night is because they have a late dinner after not eating for a long period of time. This makes it hard to make good food choices and also to keep portions in control. You may end up picking up a slice of pizza or two whereas if you weren’t as hungry you would have time to cook a healthy dinner without sabotaging your diet.

The second concern that comes with late night eating is “mindless” snacking in front of the TV or hanging out with your buddies. People tend to pig out on ice cream, cookies, or pizza (not on celery and carrots) and this leads to weight gain because it is usually extra calories taken in.

So aim to spread your calories throughout the day and if you do have to eat a late dinner, don’t worry about it leading to weight gain as long as you have not overeaten during the day.  Try and eat most of your carbs during the day (carbs are used for energy so eat them at breakfast, lunch and snack to fuel your activities: work, school, gym, etc). At night, focus on eating protein and vegetables since most likely your lying around and don’t need the energy from carbs.

MYTH: SUGAR MAKES KIDS HYPER
This is a huge myth. It has even spawned a popular phrase:  “sugar buzz.” But when researchers put it to the test, they found no evidence that sugar led to hyperactivity in kids or adults. Researchers found that hyperactivity of children at parties or any type of festivity is from the environment they are in. In fact, in one study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, they gave some kids sugared foods and gave others foods with artificial sweeteners. Their parents and the researchers didn’t know who was eating sugar and who wasn’t. They monitored the kids for things like irritability and hyperactivity and they found no difference. 

Another cause for hyperactivity could be from caffeine found in soda or even chocolate. Sugar may have an effect on kids with established hyperactivity, but it won’t make a non-hyperactive child become hyperactive. All sugar will do will increase your energy level, but it won’t cause hyperactivity. Many people still blame sugar for their children’s “wild” behavior, but technically speaking there is no science that proves this.

Any food that affects blood-sugar levels can create an adrenaline surge, which will lead to a burst of energy. However, many kid-favorite, sugary snacks are lacking fiber which is the  reason why your child may become hyperactive.  So if your child is often bouncing off the walls of your home, simply swapping an orange for orange juice or high-fiber cereals for sugared varieties, will keep their blood sugar levels normal.

MYTH: SWALLOWED GUM STAYS IN YOUR BODY FOR 7 YEARS
For the most part, gum is as indigestible as a paper clip. Gum is made from gum resin, flavoring and sweeteners. The human body cannot digest gum resin. Many of us were told as children that it would stick to our insides for seven years, but that is absolutely not true. Our bodies move indigestible material through our digestive systems and out of our bodies in bowel movements.

Many people don’t realize this, but chewing gum can cause bloating because it causes you to swallow air. All that air gets trapped in your GI tract and causes pressure, bloating, and belly expansion.

There is absolutely no nutritional benefit to gum. Sugar-free gum often contains sorbitol. Sorbitol is a sugar substitute that acts as a laxative, which draws water into the large intestine. As little as four sticks of sorbitol-containing gum can cause bloating and abdominal pain.

MYTH: ORGANIC FOOD IS HEALTHIER THAN CONVENTIONAL FOODS
According to The Institute of Food Technologists, organic food is no healthier than conventionally grown foods. Organic food means that its ingredients were grown without chemical pesticides, fertilizers or insecticides. It’s healthy because there are no chemicals, but organic doesn’t necessarily mean the food is nutritious.

Of course, even organic or all-natural food can pack on pounds. So be careful you don’t get carried away.  Take organic potato chips and cookies for example. Over eating these will still make you fat!

Considering organically-grown food can cost more than twice as much as conventionally-grown food, sticking to a diet rich in whole grains, lean protein, fruits and vegetables is your best bet to your healthiest and happiest diet.

MYTH: RAW VEGETABLES ARE ALWAYS BETTER THAN COOKED VEGETABLES
Not so. The amount of nutrients you get from vegetables can differ for a number of reasons, such as how long you store them and how (or if) you cook them. Although cooking vegetables can lose nutrients, cooking can sometimes increase the amount of nutrients available to the body. An example of this is the antioxidant lycopene in tomatoes. Cooking tomatoes releases more lycopene than is available in raw tomatoes.  In addition, in January, a report in The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry concluded that cooking carrots, zucchini and broccoli was better than eating them raw.

Loss of nutrients can occur in cooking because some vitamins, like vitamins B and C, dissolve in water. Some can be lost if the vegetables are boiled for too long. Steaming or stir-frying helps retain the vitamins when you cook vegetables. The fact of the matter is vegetables are powerhouses of nutrition, no matter which way you eat them. Whether raw or cooked, five servings of vegetables a day are recommended for good nutrition.

MYTH: CARBS MAKE YOU FAT
One of the greatest diet myths is that carbs make you fat.  Nothing can be further from the truth. If the only thing you ate all day was a bagel, that bagel would not make you fat.  It’s not that carbohydrates make us fat; it’s the quantity we eat which packs on the pounds. For example Italians live on pasta. Yet they eat pasta as their starter-primo piatto, which consists of 1 ½ cups equaling 375 calories. Then they follow with a segunda or main course of lean meat or fish and vegetables.

In the United States, on the other hand, we most often eat pasta as our main course. A typical main course serving of pasta in this country is about 4 cups, or 1,000 calories. Big difference! 

The secret to eating carbs and shedding pounds is eating high-fiber carbohydrates. Fiber is the zero calorie, indigestible component of carbohydrates. The more fiber a food contains, the less digestible carbohydrate there is. It is the net carbohydrate, not the total carbohydrate that gets converted and stored as fat.  High-fiber carbohydrates have lower net carbohydrates than foods that contain no fiber. In addition, fiber adds texture, bulk and chewing satisfaction, which aids in consuming fewer calories, yet still feeling full. Choose whole grain breads, cereals, fruits vegetables, and legumes to fill your tank without gaining weight. 

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of Skinnyandthecity.com.    She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

Inside the Mind of Josef Fritzl

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

ablow052710During August, 1984, Josef Fritzl, then 48, imprisoned his 18-year-old daughter Elisabeth in a damp and moldy secret room he had constructed beneath his home.  Over the ensuing years he raped her numerous times, “fathering” seven children with her.  One of those children died shortly after birth due to breathing complications Fritzl allegedly neglected to address — an act for which he was on trial for murder.  He had already pled guilty to incest and to threatening to gas or electrocute Elisabeth and her children if they attempted to escape.  Now, he has admitted to all the charges against him.

Fritzl had a history of sex crimes.  He had exposed himself to women before progressing to violent rape at knifepoint.  He was arrested for that rape, but ultimately freed.

Fritzl’s actions are so monstrous that they might seem to defy any attempt to begin to understand them.  Certainly, there is no psychological explanation that could begin to excuse them.  But, if we look for possible roots of Fritzl’s evil, a few may be traceable back to his own childhood development: Fritzl’s pathological relationship with his mother and his childhood in Nazi Germany.  I shared my perspective on both topics with John Glatt, whose book on Fritzl called Secrets in the Cellar, was just published.

According to Glatt, Fritzl described very powerful impulses to have sex with his mother. He actually prided himself on being as strong a person as she was and, therefore, able to resist having a sexual relationship with her.  This implies that Fritzl’s mother either attempted to seduce her son, or that he at least believed she was attempting to do so. And if that is the case, then imprisoning Elisabeth underground and creating a family with her could be a kind of reenactment of Fritzl’s buried childhood fantasies and fears of incest (or his actual incestuous experiences, if they occurred).  With Elisabeth, however, he was the aggressor, the one in control, rather than the potential victim.  So it may have been transmuted Oedipal desires that Fritzl brought to life in the dirt beneath his home, this time taking his daughter captive, rather than being captured himself.

It also bears noting that Fritzl’s personal development — including his battle against such fierce Oedipal desires — took place against the political backdrop of Nazi Germany. Remember, Fritzl threatened to gas his children if they escaped their underground prison.

Fritzl grew up within half a mile of the Mauthausen death camp in Amstetten.  He would literally have seen and smelled smoke rising from the crematorium.  The mingling of secrecy and an organized death camp with his sexual fantasies is hard to ignore, given the dark, buried chamber he constructed to father a second family by repeatedly raping his own daughter.

Why Elisabeth?  Perhaps she was especially sensitive.  Maybe she represented something he lacked. Humanity.  Sensitivity.  A magical, emotional, intuitive quality. Maybe looking at her in the light of day threatened to reconnect him with what he had lost in his own character, an innocence that had been taken from him.  Better to bury her.

Surely, we can’t know the precise way the toxic ingredients of Josef Fritzl’s heart and mind mingled to create a monster. He hasn’t revealed enough of his childhood and adolescence for a complete map to be drawn from horrors he experienced to the ones he perpetrated.  But Fritzl’s complete lack of empathy for his daughter Elisabeth, his wife and all the other children in his home and beneath his home means that someone showed him no mercy at a critical point as his personality took form.  Because there are no new monsters that spring, fully formed, onto the planet.  In well over a decade evaluating and treating violent men and women, I have found every single one capable of monstrous acts was created, not born.

Dr. Keith Ablow is a psychiatry correspondent for FOX News Channel and a New York Times bestselling author. His newest book, “Living the Truth: Transform Your Life through the Power of Insight and Honesty” has launched a new self-help movement. Check out Dr. Ablow’s website at livingthetruth.com or e-mail him at info@keithablow.com.

Lessons From Natasha’s Fall

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

siegel1What can we learn from actress Natasha Richardson’s awful skiing accident this week?  Dr. Steven Flanagan, director of Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center where I work, rightly characterized Richardson’s sudden loss of consciousness after seeming fine at first as possibly “talk and die syndrome.” He was quoted right here on FoxNews.com as describing the likely buildup of blood in the head that may have overwhelmed her consciousness and caused her to blackout after first seeming to be okay.

What else can we learn? That a person can be alive and thriving one minute and have her life snuffed out the next? Who among us doesn’t know that skiing is a dangerous sport? It has been several years since a blow to my knee convinced me not to take any more chances with my livelihood and health.  Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way.

Not knowing the details, I can’t say whether she was taking chances, whether this terrible accident could have been avoided. I can’t say whether she had a hidden aneurysm in her brain that predisposed her to a bleed, or even whether prompt medical intervention, drainage and anti-inflammatory medications and life support can still bring her back. We are all hoping to find out that she is back awake and speaking with visitors tomorrow.

As is usual with celebrities, the media reports so far have been shrouded in mystery and contradiction, ranging from minor injury to looming death. As these are sorted out over the next few days, it is worth reminding readers just how often we learn incorrect facts about medicine from the sudden illnesses of those we admire.

Whatever actually happened to Natasha Richardson, and whatever happens from here, there are a few important conclusions we can already draw. 1. Skiing is a dangerous sport which can injure more than your legs. 2. The brain is a closed compartment with no outlet for blood or swelling until the swelling subsides and the blood is reabsorbed. 3. If the brain itself is not damaged, but only swollen or compressed by blood, then there is still hope for her survival.

The latest reports say that she has been flown from Quebec to New York City, and I can attest to the fact that there are medical centers here with the ability to bring people back from a deep coma.

Dr. Marc Siegel is an internist and associate professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. He is a FOX News medical contributor and writes a health column for LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel is the author of “False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear and “Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic.”  Read more at www.doctorsiegel.com

Sexpert Q&A: Can My Gyno Tell?

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

yvonne_headshot2yvonne-q1Dear Yvonne,
My boyfriend and I started engaging in both types of intercourse and it’s pleasurable, but I’m wondering if my gynecologist will know I’m having either when she does my exam?
—B

 

yvonne-a2Dear B,
Unless your gynecologist notices bruises on your pelvic region or tears in your vaginal or anal lining, usually he or she will not be able to tell that you’ve been sexually active. When males or females visit with a physician for an examination, the more honest and forthcoming they are about their sexual behaviors, the easier it will be for the physician to provide any needed medical help.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Dr. Manny Explains New Alzheimer’s Test

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

dr_manny_blog2This is a great day for patients at risk of developing Alzheimer’s. This new test presented by a team from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine really solidifies other studies that have looked at potential biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

The test is very straightforward for the patient. The first step is to undergo a spinal tap, which involves inserting a very thin needle into the patient’s back and extracting cerebral spinal fluid from the spine. This is a similar technique to what many patients undergo when they get regional anesthesia for certain surgical procedures. It has minimal pain and minimal side effects, including headaches, which tend to be relieved with treatment.

Once the fluid is extracted, these doctors analyze the fluid for certain proteins, which have been already identified in patients with Alzheimer’s. One of those proteins is called tau and the other is amyloid beta42. These proteins correlate with the build-up of plaque in the patient’s brain, which leads over time to the degenerative effect of Alzheimer’s.

In the study’s results, the test accurately ruled out Alzheimer’s in 92.4 percent of subjects. I think that this study could lead to the test’s possible use in clinical settings especially to diagnose early cognitive impairments which could ultimately lead to Alzheimer’s in families with risk factors.

Is Late Night Stress Wreaking Havoc on Your Diet?

Monday, March 16th, 2009

tanya_zuckerbrot4Having the occasional late-night snack won’t pack on the pounds, but according to many studies, if nighttime noshing becomes a habit, it might. Yet, when the clock strikes twelve and you’re still wide awake, it’s often unfeasible to resist raiding your kitchen from top to bottom. Although a box of donuts or a pint of ice cream might seem like your only hope to get you through the night, don’t succumb!

Foods high in sugar can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep because they can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels and your waistline. Foods which release serotonin in the brain through an amino acid known as tryptophan are associated with a calming, anxiety-reducing effect and even drowsiness, helping you to fall asleep.  Simply put, serotonin helps to alleviate stress, sending you off to a peaceful night’s sleep. Replacing those sugar-laden snacks with healthy alternatives will allow you to drift off to dream land guilt free.

The Fix:
Whole grains are a low-fat way to trigger some insulin production which will induce sleep without weight gain. Dairy products and lean protein contain the magic tryptophan, an amino acid that also helps the brain produce serotonin and melatonin.

The Food:
2 whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese
½ whole-wheat pita with 2 slices of lean turkey breast
1 packet instant oatmeal or ½ cup high-fiber cereal with ½ cup warm skim milk

The Fix:
These nutty snacks are full of magnesium and B vitamins, both of which help promote serotonin — the relaxing neurotransmitter. Natural sugars in apricots boost blood-glucose levels, which sag while you sleep. The most “serotonized” fruit is the banana. Bananas are high in vitamin B6, melatonin and serotonin which help us feel drowsy.

The Food:
1 oz of pistachios and 8 dried apricots
1 oz almonds and an apple
½ Banana with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter

*Chamomile Tea: Okay, so this isn’t a snack. Chamomile has a mild sedative effect and is well known among the sleeping problems crowd. The oatmeal cookie triggers insulin but has some other good side effects.

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of Skinnyandthecity.com.    She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

5 Ways to Fight Hair Loss

Monday, March 16th, 2009

82x104_sadickHair loss isn’t just a problem that men have to deal with. It can be a devastating and embarrassing issue for women as well.  By the time a woman realizes she’s losing her hair, most likely, she will have already lost up to 50 percent of it. 

So, I recommend that women see an expert at the first sign of hair loss. Today, there are many treatment options that can both slow down hair loss as well as encourage new growth. Seeing a specialist to understand the underlying causes of why you may be experiencing hair loss is the key to quickly addressing the problem.

There are many things that you can do to prevent further hair loss, breakage and damage. Here are a few tips to help you out:

1. Use a natural bristle brush – plastic or artificial brushes can be aggressive with your hair and scalp. They tend to pull and damage the hair. A natural brush will help to limit damage from styling and brushing, leaving your hair fuller and more beautiful.

2. Using a hot setting on your hair dryer can be extremely damaging to your hair. Switch the hairdryer to a cooler setting. It might take longer to dry and style your hair but it will prevent harm. I also advise against curling, flat irons or other hot styling tools.

3. Always use a nourishing conditioner when you wash your hair with shampoo. Conditioners help restore the natural oils that are removed from the hair and scalp during the washing process. A nourishing conditioner will help soften and strengthen your hair. Keep in mind also that protein-based shampoos and conditioners are extremely effective in maintaining a healthy head of hair.

4. Avoid wearing hair in a tight pony tail. The pressure asserted on your hair, the follicles and the root is excessive when your hair is styled in this fashion. This pressure weakens the hair and can result in hair loss. 

5. Avoid coloring your hair on your own. The chemical process that colors your hair actually strips and re-pigments your hair. Many home color kits contain harsh chemicals that damage your hair. These chemicals alter the stability of the hair and weaken its integrity. If coloring is necessary, go to a professional or use a natural colorant.

Lastly, consider adding leafy vegetables and eggs to your diet. It’s been shown that diets rich in calcium and iron can help reduce or prevent hair loss. It’s also a good idea to eat protein-rich foods. However, diet alone is not a solution and I encourage anyone with hair loss to seek the advice of a professional hair loss expert.

Dr. Neil Sadick is one of the most renowned dermatologists and researchers whose multiple discoveries have strongly influenced and transformed the future of dermatology. He is a Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and President of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. Dr. Sadick is author, or co-author, of more than 500 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has contributed more than 75 chapters of medical books. Read more at www.sadickdermatology.com.

Sexpert Q&A: Getting a Little Too Comfortable?

Friday, March 13th, 2009

yvonne_headshot2yvonne-q1Dear Yvonne,
I am a 50-year-old-man who has lost all interest in — and avoided — sex with my partner since she has gained weight. Watching her gobble a double pie a la mode for a nighttime snack was like an anti-Viagra for me. When I met her 3 years ago, she was perhaps 30 pounds thinner. I noticed an older photo of her and she appeared to be perhaps 50 pounds heavier. Do women lose weight to meet a man and seek commitment as if crossing a finish line to find the food again?
—JK 

yvonne-a2Dear JK,
Both men and women often seek to be physically fit in order to attract a potential partner. Many do “let themselves go” once they have the commitment since they feel that the woo’ing phase of the relationship no longer requires work. However, it’s hard to say, if your partner intentionally lost weight to “nab” you, and then didn’t have a care in the world when she put the weight back on.

The reasons why people put on weight are very complicated and numerous. Factors that lead to weight gain include:

          o Diets high in calories (sodas), saturated fat (fried foods), and/or sugar (candy)
          o A lack of exercise
          o Not getting enough sleep
          o Stress
          o Health problems, for example, hypothyroidism
          o Medications
          o Menopause

In order to reclaim your sex life, try to spend quality time with your lover in ways that keep both of you active and eating healthy meals. Instead of being critical, try to be compassionate by expressing concern for her health, and offer to be of assistance in any way possible. Feeling sorry for yourself won’t do you or her any good.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

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