http://1.usa.gov/nDrXOa

In 1997 the United States federal government opened the floodgates for direct-to-consumer marketing of pharmaceuticals by relaxing previous restrictions and legislation.^[1] Just one year prior, reports indicated pharmaceutical sales advertising expenditures ranged around just over half a billion dollars. By 2009, that amount had skyrocketed to nearly five billion dollars, just in direct-to-consumer advertising alone, not including advertising to physicians and clinicians. ^[2]

With the dawn of DTC advertising, consumers were able to see for themselves the plethora of prescription drugs available to them for any and every type of ailment and illness. Until that time, the average consumer was relegated to blind faith in their physician, and his advice to, “Take two of these and call me tomorrow.” A report by AARP from 2010 indicates 90% of Americans aged 18 and over have heard or seen a pharmaceutical advertisement. ^[3]

There are three basic recognized direct-to-consumer ad campaign types: product claim ads, help seeking ads, and reminder ads.^[4] These marketing types fall under various policies and laws, and are not all regulated by the FDA. Their focus on certain drugs goes from unmistakable and deliberate, to mere presumptions of knowledge about a product on the part of the consumer. 

• Product claim advertising has the most restrictions put upon it since it does mention a specific drug. Per the Food and Drug Administration, this type of marketing must make clear what the drug is for, how it can help, and what the risks are in taking it. 
•  Reminder ads, while still considered advertisements for specific drugs, are not under such stringent requirements, since they do not specifically say what conditions they treat. They are not required to list all the possible side effects and risks. Although still regulated by the FDA, the advertisements cannot portray either visually or audibly what the drug is for. Further, there are certain drugs that cannot be advertised by way of reminder advertisements because their side effects are too serious, and therefore must be mentioned, according to the policies of the FDA. 
• Help seeking ads are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission because they do involve trade policies and laws, but there is no oversight by the FDA. Help seeking ads are designed to bring consumers’ attention to such conditions as asthma and erectile dysfunction. However, the marketing does not advertise any specific drug in any way. The ads will sometimes have a phone number and the name of a pharmaceutical company where consumers are invited to call to get more information about certain conditions and their treatments.

Pro-activists for the direct-to-consumer cause tout the benefits of more knowledge on behalf of the individual patient. Such knowledge, they say, allows consumers to make more informed choices, along with their physician, as to the best course for their care. Physicians have reported a more active role on the part of the patient, which leads to a better quality of care in most instances. Patients being more informed about their own medical conditions and having and informed understanding of their healthcare could quite possibly play a very important role in provisional quality care in the United States with all the upcoming changes to healthcare laws regulations.

The question arises as to whether or not the ideals of the stronger physician/patient relationship actually work in retrograde. Naysayers point to the many physicians reporting a more aggressive approach on the part of some patients, who insist they need a certain type of medication or procedure, when it would not, in fact, be beneficial to them. Doctors report a feeling on the part of patients that the doctor is withholding something from them, when in fact the doctor simply wants not to over-diagnose or over-prescribe. Physicians describes incidents where they have had to “fire” patients due to the patients’ refusals to cooperate with what the doctor wants to prescribe for a course of treatment.

With the enactment of laws to prohibit drug companies from overstating the benefits of drugs while understating the risks and side-effects, the pharmaceutical industry has been forced to re-evaluate how it presents its products to the consumer. A 2010 report from Reuters tends to suggest it is somewhat of a cat-and-mouse game, with the FDA constantly trying to stay up-to-date on the most recent hard advertising push by ‘Big Pharma’.^[5]   

As insurance premiums and prescription prices increase, the pharmaceutical industry will have no choice but continue to push sales to stay in the market. There will have to be an eventual understanding between the physician, the patient and the regulating bodies as to how patients are informed of all their treatment options. Until then, it is ultimately up to the consumer to make informed educated choices about their health, while remembering to take into consideration the opinions of the physicians, who are, ultimately, the final authority on what treatments and prescriptions are appropriate to each situation.

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Would you like to lose a few pounds? More than a few? Me too.

These days we do so much online. We can run businesses online. We stay in touch with friends and family online. We shop online. So why not make the Web work for us when we’re trying to lose weight too? Fortunately there are plenty of online weight loss tools out there that do just that. And many of them are free!

Today I want to share some of my favorite free online weight loss tools with you, in the hopes that at least one of them might prove to be useful in helping you reach your own goals.

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1. FitDay.com — FitDay is a pretty comprehensive online weight loss tool. You can track what you eat in your food journal as well as tracking your exercise routines. You can track your weight changes. You can look up calorie information for the foods you eat. And you can look up how many calories different exercises burn. It’s my favorite all-around tool for tracking. You can get a PC download version if you prefer that over the online one, and they offer a premium membership if you want more advanced reports and to have ads removed from the site.

2. SparkPeople.com — A friend turned me onto SparkPeople.com a couple of years ago. It’s a free online weight loss community. If you don’t want to go it alone, this might be what you’re looking for. You’ll have a great support network, challenges to keep you motivated, and you’ll get plenty of tools and trackers to help you put your weight loss plan into action.

3. FitWatch.com — This site is much like FitDay.com as far as the calculators, tools, and trackers go. This site used to be my preference of the two, although not for any particular reason. They’re both fantastic resources, so play with both of them and see which one’s free version is most appealing to you.

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4. CalorieKing.com — CalorieKing is a calorie counting website. You can certainly use the more comprehensive tools I mentioned, but if you’re just curious about calories, this can be a more straightforward option. I specifically love CalorieKing though because they seem to have more thorough information about restaurant foods than some other calorie counting websites I’ve used.

5. YouTube — YouTube is a surprisingly good source of free workout material for those looking to lose weight. You can find countless online workouts you can do from the privacy of your own home. I would just caution you to look for videos from reputable fitness instructors as opposed to amateurs. There is always a risk of injury when trying a new workout, and you need to stay serious about your safety.

What about you? Do you have any favorite free online weight loss tools you’d like to share with our readers? Do you have feedback on any of these? Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts!

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When it comes to getting health information online consumers have to be careful. Inaccurate information isn’t just wrong. It can be downright dangerous — even deadly. Yet it seems that every John and Jane Doe is willing to spout their advice online on blogs, in forums, and on other sites about everything from weight loss products to natural cures. Sometimes they’re compensated to write glowy reviews of health products they don’t actually believe in, sometimes the information that’s true for one person could have serious risks for others, and sometimes they’re just wrong.

Still, the Web should make it easier to find health-related information, right? And fortunately there is a lot of reputable health information available online. Here are ten tips that can help you separate the credible sources of health information from the less-than-reputable.

10 Tips to Help You Identify Reputable Sources of Health Information on the Web

1. Look for government health agencies. A .gov extension on the website address means it’s a government site in the U.S. Different countries might use slightly different extensions or the same tied to their country-specific extension.
2. Look for well-known health organizations (like the American Heart Association) that specialize in certain health areas. They usually use a .org extension in their site address. But note that a .org extension alone doesn’t make a site reputable.
3. Look for health information from educational institutions such as well-respected medical schools. In this case a .edu extension in the site name can help you sort the real institutions from sites simply trying to appear like one.
4. 

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   See what products / services the sites are selling or promoting. Is there a blatant conflict of interest? Having advertising doesn’t always mean a site’s information is untrustworthy. But if the whole site seems to be set up around promoting a specific product, that’s a big red flag.

5. Always look for author credentials for health articles online. Was the article written by a doctor? Just a health writer? Someone else? How credible is the actual author?
6. Look for credentials of interview sources if the author isn’t a medical professional. There’s nothing wrong with getting information from health writers. They’re specialists in their own right. But if that’s the case, you need to look at their sources. They should be including interviews from medical professionals if they don’t have those credentials themselves.
7. How old is the information? You should always look for the most up-to-date health information as new findings come out and recommendations are changed all the time.
8. Read the “About” page for background on the site. Who runs or funds it? Is it an unbiased source? Are there ulterior motives you should know about such as studies funded by drug manufacturers? (Note that these studies aren’t necessarily untrustworthy. These companies are sometimes the only ones that can afford to do the research, and it’s often better to have the research done by them than not at all. That said, you should be aware of it when you decide how trustworthy that information is to you, since there still is bias in the information if they sell pharmaceuticals and supplements.)
9. Look for contact information. If you can’t find out where a site owner is located, they’re less credible than a respected organization with an address, phone number, email address, etc. all available. Location information is important, especially with health information where there are different rules regarding pharmaceuticals and medical treatments depending on where you (and the information provider) are.
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    Make sure statistics and claims actually cite sources like studies conducted by reputable institutions. If someone just throws statistics at you with no source, be skeptical. It might be a made up number, or a misunderstanding of the facts. No one should cite statistics, medical ones or not, without source citation. It’s plagiarism at best and dangerous misinformation at worst.

No matter how much you trust a website’s health information, it’s always a good idea to check multiple sources for confirmation. And please, contact your doctor or other healthcare professional if you have questions about your specific condition or circumstances. Online health information is not a substitute for medical care.

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You’ve probably been hearing about the flu for a while now — especially how important it is to get your flu shot. But maybe you’ve also known friends or co-workers who recently became sick to their stomachs, saying they had a “stomach flu.”

Do you know what a “stomach flu” actually is? Is it really a type of flu at all? Today we’ll briefly explain what each illness is and what the symptoms of each are so you can get a better idea of what you might be suffering from.

What is the Flu?

The flu is the common name for influenza viruses. According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu is a contagious respiratory illness that affects anywhere from 5 – 20% of the U.S. population each year and hospitalizes more than 200,000 patients yearly due to complications.

A “Stomach Flu” is Actually Not the Flu

Sometimes when people have stomach problems, from serious cramping and nausea to vomiting, they say they have the “stomach flu.” But technically, there is no such condition. The flu is a respiratory illness and usually doesn’t affect the digestive system. What people refer to as a “stomach flu” is actually called gastroenteritis. According to WebMD.com, that means there’s an “irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines… caused by a virus, bacteria, parasites in spoiled food or unclean water, or another trigger.”

A true flu will actually seem more like a serious and hard-hitting cold than a stomach or other digestive issue. Here are some of the symptoms of each to help you better determine what you really might have so you can treat your illness accordingly until you’re able to visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Symptoms of the Flu

• Fever
• Headache
• Extreme tiredness
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle aches

The CDC also notes that while stomach symptoms may appear, those symptoms are more common among children, and they are “rarely the main symptoms of influenza.” [source]

Symptoms of Gastroenteritis (or the “Stomach Flu”)

Because gastroenteritis can be caused by both viruses and bacteria (among other triggers), symptoms can vary. But according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) of the National Institutes of Health, here are some symptoms of viral gastroenteritis. [source]

• Watery diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Fever
• Chills
• Abdominal pain

According the New York Times, bacterial gastroenteritis has similar symptoms but also potential bloody stools and loss of appetite. Bacterial gastroenteritis is also a common result of food poisoning from bacteria in spoiled or undercooked foods. [source]

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As you can see, some symptoms of gastroenteritis are shared with influenza viruses like headaches and fevers. The abdominal pain might also seem similar to the muscle aches of a flu, and since being ill in general can make someone feel worn out, it’s possible some people confuse that with the serious exhaustion common to the flu.

If you’re ill for a prolonged period of time, are concerned that you may become seriously dehydrated or that you may be suffering from other complications of either disorder, please seek medical attention right away. It’s never a good idea to simply guess as to what’s wrong with you. Your healthcare professional may be able to prescribe an antiviral or antibiotic medication that can help, or alert you to any further treatment needed.

* Disclaimer. The author is not a medical professional and information is not designed to serve as medical advice. Facts provided in this article are strictly for informational purposes. Please seek the assistance of a qualified healthcare professional if you become ill.

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Most people spend a lot of time at work. What happens there can affect our general health and wellness fairly significantly. We can catch an illness for example or become so stressed out that we can’t function properly. Today let’s put the focus specifically on office jobs and what you can do to create a healthy workplace either for yourself or your employees.

Here are five things you can do to maintain a healthy workplace in your office:

1. Keep the office, and your desk area, clean and clutter-free.

Cleanliness is obvious, so we won’t go into detail about that. But clutter is a bit different. You can generally control the clutter of your own area (or as an employer, you can control clutter in shared areas like break rooms or file rooms). Clutter might not be unhealthy in the sense that it can make you sick, but it can increase an employee’s stress level while at work. And too much stress is not only unhealthy, but it can hurt productivity.

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2. Make sure water is always available.

If your office doesn’t have a break room with a sink where employees can at least get tap water, install a water fountain or a water cooler. Staying hydrated is important for your employees’ health, and water is a healthier option than having them rely on coffee all day every day. If you’re a worker, you can also bring your own water with you in a thermos or bottle if your employer doesn’t provide enough safe drinking water.

3. Open a window and bring nature indoors.

While many offices have decent air circulation through the ventilation system, some (especially smaller offices) might not. “Stale” air can become unhealthy. Keep it circulating and refreshed with new air, especially during times when employees are sick. Opening a window (when the weather calls for it) can help. Adding live plants can also help to refresh the air around your office, keeping it cleaner and healthier.

4. Offer ergonomic office equipment.

From keyboards to chairs, many different pieces of office equipment and office furniture come in ergonomic options these days. If you want to create a healthier work environment in your office, consider investing in some for your employees. You could help them decrease back strain (and back injuries risk putting them out of work for a while), and you can help them avoid things like carpal tunnel syndrome if they type a lot.

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5. Encourage healthier habits.

While you can’t control everything your employees choose to do, you can make an effort to encourage healthier choices when at work. For example, you can ban smoking within the office building as well as immediately outside of the doors (so nonsmoking employees aren’t walking through the second hand smoke). You could also avoid installing vending machines stocked with junk food, and opt for healthier snack options instead — either also through vending machines or by bringing in healthy snacks periodically. Some companies take it even further by offering on-site gyms, walking paths outside of the office, or in extreme cases even providing bikes for employees to get to work (as much in favor of “going green” as improving employees’ health).

What kinds of things do you do to keep your office healthier, or to stay healthy in a not-so-healthy office environment that’s largely out of your control? Leave a comment and tell us about it.

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We have the ability to emote our in-depth feelings in many forms – like by being happy, sad, angry, or by exhibiting tens of other emotions. These varieties of emotions do have an impact on our mental and physical state, more so, the heart, which is considered as the seat of emotions.

In our modern day life, we experience all kinds of stresses that make us vent out negative emotions in form of irritation, frustration, disappointment, remorse, aggression, contempt, rage, or envy, and even lead us to states of depression that give a heart sinking feeling, creating erratic heart rhythm patterns. It only makes sense to conclude that practicing the opposite with positive emotions would lead to heart wellness or heart-uplifting feelings with harmonious heart rhythms.

A clinical research by the Canadian Nova Scotia Health Survey as published in the European Heart Journal concludes that heart diseases can be prevented by increasing positive emotions, which indirectly help us in improving our sleep habits, heart rate regulation, and even cause cessation of negative influences like smoking. People who are usually happy, and habitually experience emotions like enthusiasm, excitement, happiness, and joy have less chance of developing heart diseases in comparison to those who generally are unhappy and resort to negative emotions.

Positive emotions service and cleanse our heart and mind of all the negative energy that obstruct our personal growth and make the heart unhealthy. People who make positive emotions a part of their mental set, attitude, habit, and as a default emotional state in everyday life are less venerable to stress. In fact, such people are able to cope much better with any stressful situation and use positive emotions as a protective shield effectually to diminish the chances of developing a heart disease.

Dr. Karina Davidson of Columbia University in New York, the co-author of this research emphasizes that everyone should include some amount of pleasurable activities in their day-to-day life routine. It could be something which gives you peace of mind and a sense of contentment like indulging in hobbies like gardening, reading interesting novels, listening to favorite music or even socializing with friends and relatives, and having a great laugh and time together.

While more research and experiments are underway to establish and prove relationships about how positive emotions affect and service our heart or cardiovascular system, we already have in place many stress management and control programs that teach us the ways to reduce negativity. There are workshops and life coaching skills that address the concerns of home-work life balance to root out the resulting stress factors and induce effective strategies to pursue positive emotions.

The ancient civilizations had come up with techniques like meditation to counter negative feelings and sprout happiness from within, thus negating the factors responsible for increase of stress hormone levels, blood vessel constriction, and higher blood pressure. No matter whether you follow the ancient or the modern approaches, one thing is sure that practicing good attitude with a positive outlook creates positive emotions that can service and protect your heart.

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From the antioxidant benefits of tomatoes to “the incredible edible egg”, people are turning from fad diets and processed foods to more natural, wholesome fare. Health-conscious people are also resorting to homeopathic remedies for common aches and pains, as well as more natural alternatives for skincare. One of the most overlooked resources for wellness both inside and out is the common cucumber. This garden staple has become a standard for fragrances, bath products and aromatherapy, but the nutritional benefits have historically been overlooked in favor of more savory, colorful foods. It may be surprising to find this produce-aisle standard is a veritable treasure trove of nutrients and minerals necessary to good health and wellness.

Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins needed to meet standard recommended daily nutritional needs. Just one cucumber contains vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. According to the National Institutes of Health, each of the nutrients the cucumber provides is essential to good health. Vitamin B6 is essential for proper nervous- and immune-system functionality. Vitamin B12 is important for nerve and blood function and is involved with the production of DNA. Magnesium is one of the most important minerals our bodies need. It is stored mostly in bone. Magnesium is important in the function of many of the body’s systems including blood sugar, metabolism, muscle and nerve function, and blood pressure.

Cucumbers are not just good for gaining necessary nutrients, but are also excellent for snacking. Having next to no calories, sodium or fat, they provide a filling, healthy snack without risking packing on the pounds. When you are feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by people for quick meals to thwart off starvation, because they store well.

Beyond the necessary nutrients cucumbers provide, they are excellent for home remedies and natural treatments. Here are a few natural remedies you can try at home:

• The meat of the cucumber is excellent for a cooling touch on tired eyes. Cool, fresh slices of cucumber are perfect for a quick spa treatment. If the cucumber has been refrigerated, the coolness will alleviate puffiness and under-eye redness, while the hydrating properties will reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

• Cucumbers are purported to be a quick way to minimize the appearance of cellulite? Rub a slice or two of cucumber along your problem area for a few minutes. The enzymes in the cucumber will cause the outer layer off collagen to firm and tighten and reduce the visibility of cellulite. This works well for reducing the appearance of wrinkles as well.

• If you want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache, eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up without the traditional headache and groggy, flu-like symptoms. Sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes in the cucumber replenish nutrients the body loses, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding a hangover and the ensuing headache.

• When you are stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa, cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water. The chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber react with the boiling water and is released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown reduce stress.

• When you have just finished a date and realize you don’t have gum or mints you can take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for thirty seconds to eliminate bad breath.

• According to Christina Venessa Becherer of Livestrong.com, the skin of the cucumber is just as nutrient-packed as the meat, and is a good source of fiber, imperative to good digestive system function.

Long overlooked as both a food and remedy source, cucumbers are an inexpensive, simple staple to keep around the house for snacking, quick home remedies and as an alternative to expensive, harsh beauty products. The next time you are looking for a quick, low-calorie snack, or a natural home spa treatment, try the lowly cucumber.

Trina L. Grant is an award-winning professional freelance writer specializing in health and wellness topics. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of healthy lifestyles with others. Check out more about health and wellness on her website.

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Our body and mind have an intricate and interesting inter-dependable relationship. We know how exercise helps us to feel better and confident of ourselves, and recreational physical activities like playing sports, hiking or even body massage, rejuvenates us and relaxes our mind. These are some of the ways by which the body influences our mind and attempts to alter the mental state. However, we sometimes forget that this is a two-way process, and we can also influence our body by inducing changes to our mental state.

It is a known fact that when we face difficult situations, undergo overwhelming circumstances, or indulge in incessant worrying, we experience a negative state of mind in the form of anxiety, stress and anger. It has been proved through research that these mental attributes have a detrimental effect on our body, in addition to our mental health, and cause increased muscle tension in the body. The physical effect of this mental setup is not only limited through various signs and symptoms like having headaches and back pain, but also manifests as constipation, skin disorder, and other physical disorders.

Grave effects of mental ill health include developing abnormal blood pressure, acquiring diabetes, building up heart disease, or increasing the chances of getting a stroke. Depression, one of the mental ill health states, is responsible for increase in mortality from these major physical diseases. A disturbed mind may even trigger practices or habits that lead to gaining of weight, setting up of irregular metabolism, or even exhibiting psychosomatic illness in the body. However, the kind of effect one experiences is a matter of subjectivity, and varies from person to person. Conclusively, there is no denying that mental health affects one’s physical health.

Mental health can be roughly defined as the ability to enjoy life, have a resilient character, achieve balance in life, and have greater emotional and cognitive flexibility. Since such a person would enjoy good sleep, follow an adequate nutrition diet, and lead a lifestyle conducive to stress-free living, as stress is the main culprit that robs the body of its health status. A stable, calm, and peaceful mind is quintessential to maintain a good heart health, get rid of body toxins, and develop a strong immune system of the body.

Ways to eliminate stress in order to attain good mental health include developing healthy mental habits such as indulging in mindful exercises like meditation, visualization, and observing one’s thoughts, which helps one release the tension and clear the mind, making it relaxed and focused. Being optimist, practicing positive affirmations, and bearing positive attitude makes one more determined, positive, and powerful to endure or lessen body pains. It has been found that encouraging forgiving intentions or letting go, also reduces mental stress that helps reduce the body toxins and vulnerability to physical problems.

We can leverage this information and understanding to develop good mental health and thus improve our physical health. Somebody once said: “You become what you think about,” and it holds good in matters of health.

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You should feed your bulldog puppy with great care if you want him to be healthy. The food can be prepared indoor or can be purchased from the market. The quality of food is divided into three classes, high quality food, mid quality food and the low quality food. To get a better health for your puppy, you must ignore the low quality food. The low quality food uses substandard material for food production. That is why the price of low quality food is also less. Some companies manufacture low quality food material which cannot be termed as suitable for the health of your puppy in the long run.

The food quality can be decided based on the price of the food products as well as by the items listed on the food packets and containers. The low quality food lists some vague items on the food packets like meat, bone meal or meat meal. The meat contained in these types of food products is derived from certain very unhygienic sources such as from road killed animals. Euthanized animals are used for getting meat by these firms. The chicken used is also of very low quality and so are the dogs or horse. The combinations are also often wrong and the food is stale and unhygienic.

The mid quality food items are a class better. It lists a specific type of meat such as lamb, chicken or beef. They are also used as products and as products ingredients. But it might come from any part of the animal.

The best are the high quality food products. They list the ingredients of the food products in a very specific manner. Thus, the packets and containers of high quality food groups contain only the specific food type used and no other constituent. Like it would list only chicken and you will find no mention of other animal meat like dog or horse meat. The high quality food can be consumed by humans also.

Firms like Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan and Eukaneba are some of the reputed firms in the dog food business and manufacture high quality food. All the veterinarians will recommend this food for your dogs as it has very good effects on the health and longevity of your animal. One of the firms which provide quality food at reasonable prices is Solid Gold.
Food for your bull dog might be millet, lamb and lamb meat, cracked pearled barley, rice bran, oatmeal, flax meal, dries chicory meal, blueberries, amaranth, copper, vitamin supplements like B1, B2, Riboflavin, vitamin D, folic acid etc.
The puppies should be given a planned diet. They have very small stomachs and hence are unable to digest huge amount of food. A puppy which is eight years old should be fed four times a day. The puppies that are very young should be given much of dry food and warm water. Then reduce the water content in small amounts until the puppy is able to chew and digest solid kibble. The puppy should be given puppy food till he is one year old. After one year, the dry food can be left for him to eat anytime of the day or you can feed him yourself once a day. Good food combinations given in recommended dosage and in proper time will make your puppy healthy and fit.

Millions of Cases of Diabetes in 2000 and Projections for 2030, with Projected Percent Changes.

Westerners have always taken pride in their ability to produce, cook and eat the most sumptuous, savory foods. Food is the centerpiece of family life in much of Western life, with dinnertime often being the main part of the day when a family can get together. Food brings people together, acts as source of comfort, and has for centuries been used for peace offerings, gifts, and to celebrate and to mourn. However, the preoccupation with pleasing the palate has become an obsession in much of Western society.

Obesity in Western culture has become such widespread phenomenon as to be a featured segment on most newscasts at least once a night. Television shows such as “The Biggest Loser” throw a beacon on the problem with glaring klieg lights, putting the issue in front of people in a way many may never have seen it. Whether one sees those kinds of shows as exploitative or just mindless fodder for reality television, it cannot be denied the medium has thrust the issue of obesity into the public eye. Now that the overall health issues of obesity have begun to unanimously trump the issue of looks and physical attractiveness, it has garnered enough attention to be able to get its fair share of research funding and media coverage.

While there are many explanations for the obesity phenomenon, it boils down to more sedentary lifestyles, which are fueled by consumption of nutrient-deficient, calorie-laden foods. A rise in white collar jobs over the last several decades, and automated machinery to make even manual labor easier have combined to reduce the amount of natural exercise people used to get at their jobs. Being over-worked, under-paid and perpetually under tremendous stress in a bad economy does not help the cause. The ‘rat race’ so readily identifiable in American culture has caused the staples of the family dinner table to be pizza and chicken tenders. Hormones and other additives used to preserve and flavor food, as well as speed the growing process, has wreaked havoc on the dietary habits of most people living in Western culture.

When the issue came to the public awareness with such staggering, sudden clarity with the arrival of the Western financial recession and the healthcare issue in the United States came under such fire, it spurred more aggressive research practices and more in-depth care from healthcare providers. There are doctors who specialize in the treatment of obesity, and wellness programs to help those who are obese are so abundant as to be innumerable.

One of the lesser-known aspects of obesity is the issue of its correlation to diabetes mellitus type 2. The lavish lifestyles and notoriously bad eating habits of Westerners have caused the rates of both obesity and diabetes to skyrocket in the last twenty some-odd years, initially leading doctors and researchers to believe obesity must have something to do with late-onset diabetes. Currently, the New England Journal of Medicine reports about ninety percent of diabetes is caused by obesity.

According to National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC), a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are nearly twenty-six million diagnosed cases of diabetes type 2 in the United States, which makes up almost nine percent of the population.

The cost of obesity and diabetes on the pocketbooks of Western citizens is another catalyst in the drive to substantially lower the number of environmental- and lifestyle-induced cases of diabetes. With the world economy in such dire straits, there is a sudden charge to lower the cost of anything and everything that is not financially solvent. The cost to taxpayers is becoming ever more burdensome as Westerners continue to eat themselves into financial and physical ruin. Until Westerners realize there must be a consistent, responsible move on the part of the general population to control this ever-worsening problem, there is little evidence of any slowing down of the obesity phenomenon, and its ensuing problems such as diabetes.