Measuring RMR Instead Of Estimating With A Formula
The Microlife BodyGem and MedGem indirect calorimeters measure Resting Metabolic Rate, which can decrease due to hypothyroidism.
A large study that looked at data from nearly every general medical practice in England suggests that water fluoridation may increase the risk of developing hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. This condition, in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones, is associated with symptoms such as fatigue, obesity and depression.
The study found that locations with fluoridated water supplies were more than 30 percent more likely to have high levels of hypothyroidism, compared to areas with low levels of the chemical in the water. Overall, there were 9 percent more cases of underactive thyroid in fluoridated places.
Unlike BMR formulas, such as the Harris-Benedict or Katch-McArdle formula, which are based on age, height, weight and body composition; and have no way to factor in an underactive thyroid; Microlife indirect calorimeters accurately measure RMR, to help your clients manage their weight more effectively.
The paper, published today in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, also directly compared the fluoridated city of Birmingham with the city of Manchester, which doesn’t add the substance to the water. After controlling for factors such as sex and age (women are more likely than men to have the condition, and the elderly more likely than the young), the researchers concluded that doctor’s offices in Birmingham were nearly twice as likely to report high levels hypothyroidism, says study co-author Stephen Peckham, a researcher at the University of Kent.
The connection between fluoridation and thyroid problems has not been widely studied, says Thiessen, who wasn’t involved in the paper. But the research that does exist shows that at a certain dose fluoride does indeed impair the activity of the thyroid gland, through an as-yet-unclear mechanism, she says.
In fact, fluoride was used to treat hyperthyroidism (or an overactive thyroid) in the 1950s. It may put a damper on the gland’s activities by suppressing the activity of various enzymes, causing physical damage or interfering with the absorption and use of iodine, a substance that is critical for thyroid health, Thiessen says.
The BodyGem® and MedGem® devices by Microlife are tools that will provide information vital for determining a personalized calorie budget, based on individual metabolism, necessary to achieve and maintain proper weight and nutrition.
Additionally, the BodyGem and MedGem devices play a significant role in providing individual’s daily caloric needs to improve individual care through nutrition assessment.
Click on the links for more information on the Microlife BodyGem or MedGem indirect calorimeters
Contact me at 1-800-743-3328 to discuss Microlife BodyGem RMR System Kit pricing options.
Harvey Harris