The economic impact of obesity is becoming an increasing burden to the health care system of our country. According to a study published in the journal "Obesity Research", the taxpaying public pays an astronomical $39 BILLION for obesity-related health problems through its Medicare and Medicaid programs. This represents an estimated 50% of the cost of obesity-related illness.

And with the rising incidence of childhood obesity, this cost is likely to escalate in an exponential fashion in the future.

What these numbers tell us is that taxpayers pay a disproportionate amount of money to care for the problems of obesity (and thus have a vested interest in encouraging good health.) According to Tommy Thompson, Secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services, "Obesity has become a crucial health problem for our nation, and these findings show that the medical costs alone reflect the significance of the challenge."

This is not merely an issue of body image - it is a critical issue of national importance. As a gastroenterologist, I am seeing an increasing number of people in my office with abnormalities of the liver related to a condition called Non-Alcoholic Steatosis, or "Fatty Liver." This is a condition where fat is deposited in the liver, much as it would be deposited around your waistline, hips or thighs. However, while fat on your hips may cause your clothing to be tight, fat in your liver may lead to liver damage that can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure. Complete liver failure is only treatable by liver transplantation. Donor liver supply in our country is extremely limited, and the cost associated with liver transplant is extremely high, both in the short- and long-term.

If the epidemic of obesity is not arrested, the economic impact of obesity-related diseases, such as fatty liver, has the potential to cripple our nation's economy. Too much "doom and gloom," you say? Not really. I'm merely trying to reinforce the importance of maintaining your good health. And I'd like to offer a new pyramid framework in which to think of your dietary needs.

Back to fatty liver for a second. It is largely believed that the underlying cause of this disorder is the elevated insulin levels associated with someone who is obese. Of course, as you all know by now, insulin levels are elevated by consuming refined carbohydrates. Therefore, it logically follows that if you lower insulin levels, you may reverse this trend. And in fact, in many people, this is precisely what happens. I have encouraged many of my patients with Fatty Liver to follow the principles of the Walker Diet, and have seen dramatic results. In the typical 3-month follow-up period with these patients, I have seen 15-20 pound weight reductions, improvements in the lipid profiles (decreases in bad cholesterol and triglycerides, increases in good cholesterol), and improvements in their sense of well-being.

How can we take control of our own health and reverse these dangerous trends? We must reeducate ourselves on the appropriate balance of food in our lives. I believe that the current "Food Pyramid" has done a great disservice to the American public, as it was not properly formed or implemented. The reliance on carbohydrates in this pyramid is akin to building it upside-down; it was bound to topple over, and it has, in the form of rising obesity rates. Now in fairness, the pyramid does suggest whole grains and some complex carbohydrates, and this is good advice. Nonetheless, the reliance on carbs is still a problem. A properly revamped pyramid should actually place more importance on protein.

Protein is not only necessary for life, it is important for helping to maintain adequate amounts of muscle mass. Thus, protein must be at the foundation, or close to it, of any sensible eating plan. It has been this way since humankind was living in caves. A food pyramid with protein at the top will never allow for long-term fitness. I would like to remind you that a low carb, high protein diet can be low in saturated fat, and can be very healthy for you. Additionally, I want to dispel the notion that low carb equals low fiber --it does not have to be that way.

Think about it this way -- if you starve yourself on low-fat diets loaded with carbs, you will deplete your muscle mass. This has the double whammy of making you less fit, and it decreases your metabolic rate. Remember, that every pound of muscle you lose decreases your baseline metabolism by 50 calories per day. That means that if you lose 5 pounds of muscle by dieting and by consuming an inadequate amount of protein, you will need to eat 250 fewer calories. Conversely, if you gain 5 pounds of muscle by incorporating resistance training to your low carb Walker Diet, you will increase your metabolic rate by 250 calories each day.

As I mentioned, protein is very important for maintaining a healthy diet. As such, in the food framework forming the foundation of the Walker Diet, there is an abundance of high quality protein and fiber, a moderate fat level with good fats, and a low saturated fat level. Additionally, in the Maintenance phase, which is your "low carb for life" blueprint, we encourage you to eat antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. This framework, or pyramid, should be the source of information for food choices to help you lead a healthier, leaner life.

A New Framework For Thinking About Nutrition:
A Pyramid Revised

LOW FAT PROTEINS:
Protein sources that are of high quality and low in saturated fats, such as chicken, turkey, soy, eggs, fish (low mercury varieties), and dairy products low in saturated fats, such as reduced fat cheese. Walker Diet shakes and spaghetti, which are high in the best quality proteins and fibers.

VEGETABLES:
Vegetables of all sorts, especially green, leafy vegetables, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and green beans.

FRUITS:
Fruits, especially berries, apples, peaches and pears. Less often, fruits with a high glycemic index, such as grapes, mangos and bananas.

ACCEPTABLE CARBOHYDRATES:
Acceptable carbohydrates, such as whole grains, sweet potatoes, beans, Walker Diet Quick Potatoes and pretzels, and other foods that are high in fiber and low in "bad" carbs.

GOOD FAT:
Good quality fats, such as those derived from nuts and monounsaturated oils. For example, Walker Diet Organic Olive Oil, which provides a rich source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, combined with high levels of antioxidants.

SATURATED FAT:
Beef, regular cheese, other regular fat dairy products.

Notable exceptions:
Low carb sweet treats, such as candy, should be consumed sparingly. Therefore, they are not directly part of the pyramid's framework, but are an adjunct.

The foundation of my pyramid is built on two large blocks: protein and vegetables, or fiber. That is because I want to stress the importance of vegetables and high-fiber foods, as well as protein. Next, you can treat yourself to some foods with a higher glycemic index, but yet still healthy: fruits. Finally, other acceptable carbs are added, followed by good quality fat, and then higher saturated fat foods. Sweets are treats, and even though they're low carb, they should be used sparingly.

Walker Diet products are designed to fit into this framework and fill a role that other low carb diets do not. For example, in Phase One of the South Beach Diet, you are not getting much fiber at all. Granted, this is short-term, but it can lead to problems with constipation. The Walker Diet Shakes are designed to be used in the Rapid Reduction phase and throughout your time on the Walker Diet. These healthy low carb shakes have 6-11 grams of fiber per serving. This is a very important benefit, as low fiber leads to constipation and increases the risk of cancer and heart disease.

The nutritional profile of the Walker Diet shakes is superior to others, with 24 grams of protein, and these shakes are certainly a lot better for you than bacon and sausage every morning. They contain a lot less sodium and far more vitamins and minerals than practically any other food choice that people typically make. Remember, Walker Diet is designed to be the "Healthy Low Carb Lifestyle." Further, I developed them to be delicious and more enjoyable than others on the market.

As you progress through Continued Reduction to the Maintenance phase, you will still make choices off the Walker Diet Framework. And we will continue to provide you with some good choices. Our Soy Pretzels are a great source of soy protein and fiber, with 4 grams of fiber per serving. And soy protein has many health benefits that have been well documented, such as reducing the risk of heart disease and possibly cancer. In fact, in a recent study published in the April issue of Biology of Reproduction, soy protein was shown to potentially decrease the risk of prostate cancer. When soy is digested, a molecule called equol is created in the intestine that blocks DHT, a potent androgen connected to prostate cancer growth. Soy is beneficial for both men and women, and we make use of it in our Walker Diet pretzels, spaghetti and Quick Potatoes to help improve your health. Reflecting on taste again, the spaghetti and potatoes are vastly superior in taste and texture to other competitive low carb products, I personally guarantee it! This is important, because if you do not like the taste, you will not use the product and receive the benefits.

Over the next several months, you will see many new products introduced to the Walker Diet, and each of these will have a place in the pyramid. We will continue to bring you superior quality food: remember, this isn't just low carb food, it is delicious health food. When you make your food choices, do so wisely. Without being too melodramatic, the future of our country may very well be at stake!

As always, I wish you the best of health.