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Trends in 2004

Concern over Americans' obesity epidemic is driving a national effort for new public policies, programs and products to help us trim the fat. Computerized cardio equipment, immune-boosting and disease-fighting foods, and low-carbohydrate diets will increasingly serve as important counterweights to the problem.

And of course, we're always worried about how we look. Wrinkles and age lines may be smoothed for longer periods of time thanks to a new "face filler" being considered, and the much-maligned silicone breast implant may be poised for a comeback.

Cosmetic products

Men and women seeking to eliminate facial lines and wrinkles, or to plump up their lips, will have new, longer-lasting alternatives to collagen and Botox next year. Two of them are made from hyaluronic acid gel, which is a natural component of the skin.

Earlier this month, the FDA approved the facial filler Restylane, made from hyaluronic acid found in roosters' combs. An advisory panel in late November recommended approval of a synthetic form of hyaluronic acid called Hylaform, which is likely to get the agency's go-ahead as well.

The long-standing controversy over silicone gel breast implants may reach a milestone in 2004 if the FDA decides to allow the devices to be sold again. They've been banned since 1992, although breast cancer survivors and some healthy women have been able to get them through research studies. In mid-October, an FDA advisory panel voted nine to six to approve the devices made by Santa Barbara-based Inamed.

Although the FDA typically goes along with its advisory panel's recommendations, little is certain when it comes to silicone implants.

Diets

With Americans heaping ever-larger portions on their plates and suffering from ever-increasing rates of obesity, along with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, everyone wants to know what the ideal diet might be. Nutritionists agree that there is no one-size-fits-all diet plan for everyone.

But evidence has been mounting that limiting carbohydrates (especially the low-fiber, starchy varieties your body turns into sugar) can be beneficial for many people and may even improve levels of some of the most dangerous cholesterol in the blood. Two popular plans, the Atkins and South Beach diets, rely on increased protein and fat for the bulk of daily nutrition. As a result, food producers can be expected in 2004 to continue adding low-carbohydrate products to grocery shelves.

Fitness

Fitness equipment is getting smarter, thanks to sophisticated computer technology that gives users more information about their workouts. That, in turn, will lead to shorter, more efficient routines. Some cardio machines already come equipped with portals to plug in PDAs to track fitness progress, and others have built-in wireless heart rate monitors. In 2004, EVO Fitness will introduce a treadmill with a computerized system that senses if users are pronating (rolling the foot inward) or supinating (rolling the foot outward). The deck of the treadmill then stabilizes to balance the runner's gait. Also look for small, portable machines that can be taken on vacation. No excuses now for not staying in shape.

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-upcoming22dec22,1,1225868.story?coll=la-home-health