Man "too fat" to live in New Zealand

27 July 2013 Last updated at 05:09 ET

Nearly 30% of adults are overweight in New Zealand

Authorities in New Zealand have told a South African chef he is too fat to be allowed to live in the country.

Immigration officials said Albert Buitenhuis, who weighs 130kg (286 pounds), did not have “an acceptable standard of health”.

He now faces expulsion despite shedding 30kg since he moved to the city of Christchurch six years ago

New Zealand has one of the highest obesity rates in the developed world, with nearly 30% of people overweight.

Mr Buitenhuis and his wife, Marthie, moved from South Africa to Christchurch in 2007. At the time, the chef weighed 160 kg.

Until now, their annual work visas had been renewed with “very little problem”, his wife said.

“We applied year after year and there were no issues,” she said.

“They never mentioned Albert’s weight or his health once and he was a lot heavier then.”

But in early May, the couple was told their work visas had been declined because of Mr Buitenhuis’s weight.

“The irony is that at the moment he weighs less than when we first arrived in New Zealand and also less than in his first medical, which was accepted by [immigration authorities],” his wife said.

The couple has appealed to New Zealand’s immigration minister, citing the chef’s recent weight loss.

An immigration spokesman said Mr Buitenhuis was rejected because his obesity put him at “significant risk” of complications including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and obstructive sleep apnoea.

“It is important that all migrants have an acceptable standard of health to minimise costs and demands on New Zealand’s health services,” he said.

BBC News – Asia

Man "too fat" to live in New Zealand

Solid Tips For Dropping Those Extra Pounds

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Many people strive to lose weight. One thing that stands in their way is their lack of knowledge. Use the tips in this article to enhance your weight loss efforts. Using these tips will allow you to quickly reach your goal to lose weight.

You must consume fat in order to burn it. There are good fats, like Omega fatty acids, which most foods do not include. Fatty acids like these, found in legumes and fish, can help you lose weight and lower cholesterol.

If you want to keep your lost pounds from returning, lose the weight slowly. You may want the pounds to come off rapidly, but quick results will probably be short-lived. Avoid the gimmicks that promise those fast results with little effort, and instead, focus on losing your weight pound by pound, week by week.

Make time for breakfast in the morning, before you go to work. If you are rushing out the door, it is so simple to just grab an unhealthy breakfast pastry. But, there is virtually no nutrition in such items. There will be no excuse for you to have to eat calorie-filled pastries if you eat fruit and oatmeal at home.

It is imperative to your weight loss goals that you eat at a certain time every day. Research has shown that if you know when your next meal is scheduled for, you will be less likely to pick at foods while waiting for your next meal. Make sure that you stick to this timeframe so that you can develop a strong regimen.

Portion control is an essential part of shedding extra weight. Also, incorporate no more than 3 ounces of poultry, meat and different types of fish into your plan. If you watch the food that you consume, you will have a better chance to attain your weight loss goals.

Let others know when you are working on weight loss. Create a blog to discuss your weight loss out in the open. This is great because it shows a commitment to your goals and also, you know that others are counting on you to lose weight.

Discuss your family and friends\’ diets with them. Look for people who have the look that you would like. Inquire about their fitness routines and the level of activity they get daily. They may provide you with some tips that can help you lose weight.

You should never consider your fork as a shovel. When eating, focus on taking smaller sized bites until you get full. By eating fast, you are eating more, because you don\’t have a chance to find out at what point you are full. It can be easy to lose weight if you apply a few tips.

Dieting can be simpler by making simple substitutions. Look over all your recipes that are fattening and see if they are ways you can change them up to make them healthier. In place of butter, try some lower calorie spread. Rather than sour cream, you could use fat-free yogurt. You do not have to stop eating your favorites if you change them.

You need to watch how many calories you consume in order to lose weight. If you eat more calories in a day than you burn, weight loss just is not going to happen. Eating a lot of calories can hinder weight loss. Keep track of what you are eating so that you can adjust your calories and lose weight.

Weight loss will work better for those that know what works best for them and their body. If you function best in the morning, wake up earlier and enjoy a morning workout session. If you are a night owl, do your routine in the evening. It behooves you to find the time of day that works best for you.

If your weight loss is stalled, step up your workout intensity. Your body tends to adapt to a workout that you are constantly doing and that leads to it no longer having the same affect.

While on a diet, purchase inexpensive clothing as your body will change and your new clothes will no longer fit in a few months. That way, you can still look good in clothes that fit you when you are trying to lose a few sizes or more.

Although it may feel impossible, you will be able to reach your weight loss goals. Try to take all of your measurements so that you can chart your progress later down the road.

The tips you have just read have worked for so many people and they can definitely help you too. Don\’t waste time reading and researching diets that seem too good to be true. You can implement changes in your diet and activity level to start losing weight. By using these tips, you will soon see great results.

Check best diets to lose weight and weight loss food programs for more info.

Solid Tips For Dropping Those Extra Pounds

VIDEO: Melissa McCarthy Called "Hippo," "Tractor-Sized" by Movie Critic Rex Reed

Melissa McCarthy and Jason Batemen star in the new comedy, Identity Thief, hitting theaters this weekend, and unfortunately the comedy aspect is being overshadowed by an obnoxious review. Film critic Rex Reed absolutely ripped apart Melissa in his review in the New York Observer, calling her “tractor-sized,” a “screeching, humongous creep,” and “a gimmick comedian who has devoted her short career to being obese and obnoxious with equal success.” Then Reed tops it off by calling Melissa a “female hippo.” It’s one thing to insult the movie, but attacking Melissa for her size is just wrong!

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VIDEO: Melissa McCarthy Called "Hippo," "Tractor-Sized" by Movie Critic Rex Reed

For Smart, Permanent Weight Loss Seek Balance In Your Life

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There are many ways to lose weight and work out. When it comes down to it, though, you have to find something that works for you. Nothing works for everybody. When you want to start losing weight, you should explore different avenues to find one that can work best for you.

Avoid all soda. While soft drinks may be delicious, they\’re full of sugar and empty calories. Instead, drink water. When you do, you\’ll notice that you\’ll drop a significant amount of weight. If you still crave something sweet to drink, opt for natural, fresh-squeezed fruit juices as an alternative.

Be skeptical of low-fat and low-calorie labels. Many of these foods have very little nutritional value and are packed with preservatives and artificial sweeteners. These chemicals can make it more difficult for you to lose weight because they impair your metabolic rate.

Yogurt is a good weight loss treat. Plain or low fat options are the best choice. Use yogurt to prepare salads and desserts. Fresh fruit can also be added as a nutritious alternative to your snack. Yogurt is delicious and high in calcium. It\’s also great for your bones.

Keep track of your daily calories. You need to figure out how many calories you need every day. Then record the calories you are consuming in each meal. Once a person knows how many calories are needed, it will be easier to determine the optimal amount of food to be eaten.

Incorporate fruits and vegetables into tasty dishes by learning to make healthy sauces or dips as an accompaniment. Natural apple sauces can be terrific, healthy dips for fruit, and you can also add smart dipping sauces to raw veggies so that you eat more of them than ever.

When pursuing a weight loss goal, you should always weigh yourself on a regular basis. In this way, you can keep track of your weight loss progress. Track your progress with a journal or notebook. When you keep your program organized, you have a better chance to lose weight.

During the day, try to incorporate walking into your routine. This activity helps to increase your blood flow so that you can stay healthy as well. You should walk at a swift pace for at least 30 minutes on most days to burn off around 250 calories per half hour stint.

Keep a food diary. It is not a necessity to count the calories. This is a good way to monitor how much food you eat everyday and when you eat it. That might be much more than you\’ve thought! Keeping track also keeps you aware of what you eat. Is that additional cookie really worth you having to keep track of it?

Find out what your ideal weight is. To determine your ideal weight employ an online calculator. It may be different from what you think. You can then set a more reasonable goal when you use this information to guide you.

It is often hard to stay on a diet when traveling. When you are on the road, bring your own snacks and meals and avoid the roadside stops. Pack a cooler full of foods like crackers, granola bars, cheese, yogurt and lots of fruits and vegetables. All these items are healthy and easily edible while you travel. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated as well!

You can make working out fun by including a good friend. This helps motivate you and helps you feel less alone. The added competition and fun you get by working out with a friend can really increase the effectiveness of your workout!

There are two good reasons to incorporate protein into your regimen to lose weight. The first of these is that it won\’t add extra pounds in the same way that carbs will, but more importantly it is necessary in helping you build up your muscles. Larger muscles also give you the ability to work out more efficiently and burn fat quicker.

Omelets are a great breakfast choice. Throw in some veggies like onions, spinach, bell peppers or broccoli. You can include some low-fat cheese, but stay away from full-fat versions. The extra fiber will also fill you up quicker, causing you to not eat as much, and it will keep you full longer so you won\’t need that mid-morning snack.

Talking weight loss is easier than actually doing it. Just make this very day your starting point and move on from there. You\’ll wonder what took you so long in the first place.

Changing your lifestyle is very effective in weight loss. The advice provided above informs you of how to properly lose weight so that you won\’t gain it all back later. Losing weight involves a lot of uncertainty, and the tips you\’ve just read provide a port in the storm when doubt strikes.

Check dieting for weight loss and fast weight loss plans for more info.

For Smart, Permanent Weight Loss Seek Balance In Your Life