Alternative Therapy for Weight Loss

Lawrence Cheskin's book covers reasons the body stores fat, an overview of diet pills used as appetite suppressants and alternative therapies for weight loss.

New Hope for People with Weight Problems, a book by Lawrence J. Cheskin (Prima Publishing, 2002), is a helpful resource for overweight and obese people who are having trouble losing weight. Sometimes diet and exercise just aren't enough to make weight loss happen, and there may be an underlying cause that you aren't aware of. This book offers new hope for weight loss in people with weight problems who have tried and failed at dieting.

Cushing's Syndrome, for example, is one of the potential problems Cheskin discusses. Cushing's Syndrome is caused by a defective pituitary gland that causes adrenal glans to overproduce cortisol. Excess cortisol is what prompts the body to store excess fat in the belly. You can tell if you have Cushing's Syndrome if you carry excess fat in your face and abs and have a large hump over your neck. Aside from obesity related side effects, Cushing's Syndrome often leads to diabetes, osteoporosis and spinal fractures.

Other reasons for excess fat storage in the body include:
Polycycstic Ovarian Syndrome, in which high estrogen causes extra body hair, irregular menstrual cycles and difficulty getting pregnant. It also makes your body resistant to let go of the excess fat.

Leptin is out of balance so fat cells aren't signaling to the brain that enough fat is stored.

Family history of obesity, heart conditions and cancer affect your health and potential for weight loss.

Your medical history signals whether your body is healthy or you have a tendency for infection, disease or excess fat storage.

Your weight history is a good predictor of your future weight. If you have been overweight since childhood and are an obese adult, it will likely be difficult for you to shed the extra pounds.

You body has a natural set point as far as weight and it is extremely hard to push past this number and maintain the weight loss.

Above all, your eating habits play a key role in your body's fat percentage.