There is no such thing as being simply overweight!

Two out of three North-American individuals are overweight or outright obese.-- It is not the weight per se that is the problem, but the underlying lack of health that triggers your weight gain. You must start seeing weight gain as an expression of an internal imbalance or even a starting illness. You don't simply "get fat."

• Have you gained weight around your waistline and cannot seem to get rid of it?
• Is your waistline no longer showing that desired hour-glass figure?
• Have you developed a beer-belly?
• Has your body started to turn an apple-shape?
• Or, are you packing on weight around your thighs and look like a giant pear?

Did you know that during a lifetime an individual of average weight who does not consume unneeded calories consumes 60 million kilocalories and more in food? Unfortunately, most overweight individuals consume considerably more in empty calories and, in addition, expend less energy.

The medical books describe many causes for weight gain: genetic factors, brain damage, endocrine system disorders, prescription drugs, environmental influences, socioeconomic status, psychological components (incl. binge eating and mid-night snacking), excess food intake, large portion size, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Genes often are overrated. They are no more than about thirty percent of all the influences that contribute to weight gain. Initial indications point to the fact that your genes mostly determine where the fat in your body is deposited, not how much fat your body packs on.

One of the recent discoveries is that of a protein called leptin. Leptin is one of the hormones produced in your adipose tissue and links to the brain cells that are responsible for your energy metabolism.

Mainstream medicine rarely looks at mineral deficiencies, adrenal and thyroid hypofunction, or food intolerances as likely causes of weight gain and obesity; all of which natural medicine emphasizes as reasons for "heavyset families."

The bottom line is that the proverbial beer-belly and midriff obesity are clear indicators of insulin resistance and a high risk of diabetes.