CHICAGO (Reuters) - David Kirchhoff, chief executive officer of Weight Watchers International Inc, shed 35 pounds (15.9 kg) with his company's program and sees a growth opportunity in helping more men shrink their waistlines.

"Dealing with weight was not a thing a lot of guys thought about, frankly, until fairly recently," Kirchhoff said at the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit in Chicago on Monday.

"Men are as likely to be measured overweight or measured clinically obese as women. The ill-health effects that come with that are the same for men as for women, yet women are twice as likely to do something about it," said Kirchhoff, who attended his first Weight Watchers meeting in New York in 2000 and remains svelte.

Men historically have accounted for less than 10 percent of Weight Watchers' business and the company last year signed up former NBA star Charles Barkley as its first male spokesman in a bid to drive that higher.

"Men have to take a hold of the issue of obesity and health. It's just as important for guys as it is for women," said Kirchhoff, who also blogs about weight loss, nutrition and exercise at http://manmeetsscale.blogspot.com/.

When asked by Reuters Insider if men could one day account for half of its members, he said: "I'd like to think that that was a possibility one day, but I think it's going to take us a little while to get there."

Rivals in the roughly $61 billion U.S. weight management industry also are keen to add male customers.

Nutrisystem Inc, whose pitchmen include legendary football player Terry Bradshaw, aggressively markets to men on sports channels and other mainstream media.

Elsewhere, Nestl S.A.'s Jenny Craig weight-loss system offers a program called Jenny for Men.

Roughly two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese. Increasing affluence in developing countries is contributing to global obesity.

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Weight Watchers sees growth in slimming men

Enlarge Sean Locke/iStockphoto.com

Studies show that friends and family gain weight and lose weight together.

Studies show that friends and family gain weight and lose weight together.

Here's another good reason to lose weight: It might benefit your friends, family and co-workers. Such altruism might be just the final "nudge" some of us need.

Researchers are finding that the friends and family of obese and overweight individuals who lose weight lost weight themselves, and sometimes a lot of it. Dr. John Morton, who directs Bariatric Surgery at Stanford Hospital & Clinics, calls obesity a "family disease."

"We all gather around the table to enjoy a meal together and we learn lessons when we do that," Morton says. "Just like you impart morals to your sons and daughters, you can do the same thing around the dinner table as well and it can be good or bad; we see that all the time."

In fact, studies have shown that friends and family tend to gain weight together, in large part because they share similar eating and exercise habits. But over the years, Morton picked up another trend among his patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery, and their families. The obese and overweight sons, daughters and spouses of his patients lost weight, too.

So Morton decided to do a formal study and track families of 35 patients who had gastric bypass. One year after the surgery, he found that indeed, other overweight and obese family members lost weight, between 8 and 45 pounds.

"This was noteworthy in that these patients were able to accomplish that just by coming to the same visits that the bariatric surgery patient did," he says.

The so-called "halo effect" has been shown among people who drink alcohol and people who smoke, as well as those who gain weight. But now, Morton showed a positive halo effect losing weight.

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Gain Together, Lose Together: The Weight Loss 'Halo' Effect

L.A. Bariatrics, a leading weight loss program in Los Angeles, invited its patients to gather one recent Saturday afternoon and celebrate each other's weight-loss victories.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 12, 2012

65 Marina Del Rey Hospital bariatric surgery patients gathered that afternoon to celebrate each other's weight-loss triumphs. 15 patients who had reached their goal weight were honored by the attendees and staff members.

"My work as a surgeon starts them on the road to weight loss, but surgery isnt an easy way out," said Dr. Jeremy Korman, the medical director for Marina Del Reys bariatric program. These patients should feel very proud of the remarkable weight loss theyve achieved, as well as all the hard work and dedication it took."

The attendees included patients who have reached their goal weight with the aid of gastric bypass, lap band, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric plication, or other procedures; patients who are continuing to work toward their goal weight; and their loved ones.

Patients who had reached their goal weight were congratulated by the crowd. Pictures from before they began their weight loss journey were displayed on a projector, and the patients came forward to give brief speeches. They recounted how their procedures had changed their lives and gave encouragement to their fellow patients who had yet to achieve their goal weight.

One speaker, Lena, said that having surgery was the best decision she could have ever made.

The path I was on was clearly destructive, Lena said. I needed to put myself first and make my health top priority. Because I couldnt be a better person, a better wife and a better mother until I did. Now Im Dr. Kormans biggest fan and proud to have his staff on my team.

Lena has lost over 130 pounds and maintained her weight since undergoing gastric bypass in 2009.

Another patient, Rachel, said that after giving birth to her son, now 3, she was embarrassed to be seen because of the weight she had gained over the years.

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Weight Loss Surgery at Marina Del Rey Hospital Can Change Lives, Hospital Celebrates Patients' Achievements

Published 1:06am Monday, March 12, 2012

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) Jay Bruce hopes a weight loss will help him get through a long season. The Cincinnati Reds hope it will make him a heavy hitter.

Bruce and Miguel Cairo hit RBI singles and the Reds beat a split squad of Los Angeles Angels 5-4 Sunday.

Bruce came into camp 16 pounds lighter than he ended last year. He has hit safely in all five of his spring appearances.

Hes swinging good, Reds manager Dusty Baker said. Hes quick. Hes going to have to learn to wait (on the ball). He can wait a lot longer now. Anytime you gain weight or lose weight theres always a period of adjustment.

Bruce was listed at 225 pounds last season but dropped to 209.

I wanted to be a little quicker in the field and on the bases, Bruce said. Sixteen pounds off will make it easier on my knees over 162 games.

Cairo, the veteran utility player who filled in for third baseman Scott Rolen most of last season, is hitting .417 in exhibition play.

Mat Latos pitched three innings for the Reds. He allowed a two-run homer to minor leaguer Alexi Amarista.

It was fine today, Latos said. I just want to continue to work on throwing strikes.

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Weight loss has Bruce swinging well for Reds

Many health benefits have long been attributed to the sacred lotus leaf of the Far East. However, recent medical studies have confirmed how this natural plant has outstanding weight loss attributes as well. A recent article posted on health and wellness portal BeWellBuzz.com supported by empirical research studies explains several of the positive attributes of this plant of the lotus family.

Las Vegas, Nevada (PRWEB) March 12, 2012

The Sacred Lotus or Nelumbo Nucifera as it is known by botanists, is a plant of the lotus family and is sometimes also referred to by the names Bean of India, Indian Lotus, or He Ye in Chinese cultures. The lotus is used in many cultures to stop bleeding, and is a common treatment for blood in the urine or for heavy menstrual bleeding. It is also thought to have overall invigorating qualities in regards to the circulatory system. It can be used to treat diarrhea and skin disorders. However, recent research explains how this natural element is effective in weight loss for humans.

According to a recent study conducted by Korean nutrition and metabolism scientists Ji-Yung Park and Huan Du at the Department of Food and Nutrition, Inha University, Incheon, Korea in 2010, scientists stated that lotus leaf extract, when combined with L-carnitine was shown to prevent adipogenesis, or the formation of fatty tissues. The study confirmed that lotus leaf slowed the absorption of fat and carbohydrates, increased energy expenditures and rapidly increased lipid metabolism. The study also confirmed that lotus leaf significantly reduced the increase of weight in those tested.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994410/ -- link to medical research provided by Korean Scientists.

In Chinese medicine it is used as a treatment for the digestive and circulatory systems. Because of its bitter qualities, it causes the stomach to secrete more stomach acid, which can aid in food digestion. The sacred lotus also causes the liver to secrete increased amounts of bile, which breaks down fats from your diet more quickly and efficiently.

Another animal study reported in "Nutrition and Metabolism" magazine suggested that sacred lotus interfered with the bodys digestion and absorption of fat and carbs. At the same time, it accelerated the breakdown of fat and helped the body burn it faster. The lotus flower has been eaten and taken as a holistic treatment for various disorders for centuries, without any ill effects.

To read about some of the ways people can introduce lotus leaf into their diets for weight loss, please review the following article posted at BeWellBuzz.com.

http://www.bewellbuzz.com/wellness-buzz/indian-lotus-and-weight-loss

About BeWellBuzz.com

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Sacred Lotus Leaf Linked to Effective Weight Loss

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 12, 2012

Diet Doc HCG Diet announces new HCG diet forum to answer common question of HCG dieters.

Diet Doc HCG Diet & Weight Loss is the only safe, prescription HCG diet in the USA that doesn't have people eating only 500 calories per day. Eating too few calories is called a starvation diet and health risks, such as hair loss, extreme hunger and fatigue will be common in many people reports Julie Wright, president of Diet Doc.

The HCG diet forum is an area people can learn how the modern-day HCG prescription diet can help them lose rapid weight safely, without adverse side effects as seen in many.

Common questions include, "if I take HCG, will I get pregnant easier", or "does hCG cause pregnancy symptoms"? The answer is no, because the prescription HCG prescribed by the Diet Doctors is a micro dose and will not register a "false positive" as there will not be enough urine HCG. On the reverse, HCG prescription cannot cause a pregnancy test to show positive if droplets are placed on the pregnancy test as a pregnancy test takes millions of HCG to register within a pregnancy test reports Wright.

People also think by dropping their caloric intake to 500 calories per day when the Diet Doctor recommended 800 calories per day will make them lose weight faster. This simply isn't true. The weight that is lost on the 500 calorie diet is muscle. This is unsafe and can lead to cardiac problems, hair loss and extreme hunger and fatigue. Diet Doc does not support this type of dieting, taking a hard stand that this is unsafe.

Eating too few calories is what Dr. Oz spoke about during his Dr. Oz HCG segment. Responsible weight loss doctors know 500 calories is unsafe. It's not even necessary to get the weight off fast reports Wright. People on the Diet Doc Weight Loss Program report little to no hunger. This is because a variety of methods, diet and products are used to help eliminate hunger allowing dieters to easily drop their calories within a safe range for them personally, then when specific foods and weight loss shakes, diet food and prescription medication is used, the weight comes off at a rapid pace, but safely reports Wright.

Diet Doc modernized a doctor-supervised weight loss program that personalizes a diet for each person taking their health history, gender, age and lifestyle into consideration. Diet Doc also formulated weight loss shakes, diet food and a weight loss oil that is clinically proven to burn fat. This comprehensive approach to weight loss is how dieters lose an average of 7 pounds per week reports Wright.

Diet Doc HCG Diet are a team of weight loss physicians, weight loss nurses, nutritionists and weight loss coaches offering the only medical, HCG diet in the USA with HCG phase 1 (loading for two days), HCG phase 2 (Diet Doc's low calorie portion of the diet, no less than 800 calories per day) and HCG phase 3 (maintenance, keep the weight off) protocols.

Diet Doc's proprietary HCG phase 3 Maintenance program designed to keep the weight off long-term is offered free of charge to Diet Doc patients.

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Diet Doc HCG Diet Announces New Site to Help Dieters With Q&A Regarding HCG Diet