Stefan Chmelik on Weight problems, obesity, & metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome describes a cluster of factors including dyslipidaemia (high or low blood fat levels), glucose intolerance, diabetes and hypertension with organ fat. The problem is a new one and related to modern lifestyle, but increasing worldwide in direct relation to obesity levels.
I have had many people over the years say to me “I put on weight even if I barely eat anything”. For the most part, these people are not deluding themselves, but are victims of Metabolic Syndrome.
Because of the body-mind connection that is central to holistic medicine, a whole-person approach is needed to recover from this problem. What this means is that we recognise that the body affects the thought processes and vice versa. This is why it is so hard to get the motivation to do the things you know will help you – the mind as well as the body becomes sluggish and sustained effort is impossible to maintain.
Just dieting is not enough, and simply talking the problem through is not enough. The right treatment programme will incorporate several aspects, but in a way that is manageable and with all the support you will need.
Conversely, some people find it hard to gain muscle no matter what they eat. This is hard to live with, as the people around them invariably call them ‘lucky’. In reality, it is another form of metabolic imbalance.
