Medical Questions & Answers » Diet

Overweight And Underweight Problem

medicalquestions — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:00:29 +0000

I am 25 kg overweight, but after dieting, I always revert to my old bad habits, and regain any weight lost. I would appreciate it if you could provide information on having a balloon inserted in my stomach to assist with weight loss.
A technique is being used by a small number of specialist doctors, in which a tube with a deflated balloon at its end is swallowed. Once in the stomach, the balloon is inflated, to fill up approximately three-quarters of the stomach volume. The tube is removed, and the balloon can remain in place for weeks or months.
While present, the balloon fools the stomach into believing that it is already full, thus reducing the appetite and desire to eat. The obvious aim is to reduce the calorie (kilojoule) intake of the patient to the point where they lose weight.
There are complications with the procedure. It is possible for the stomach to become inflamed, ulcers to develop, the outlet from the stomach may become blocked, uncontrollable vomiting may occur, and in very rare instances the stomach may rupture.
Obesity and overeating in some people is a habit that is extremely hard to control, and they continue to eat, and further expand the stomach, despite the presence of the balloon. The balloon cannot remain in place permanently, and once it is removed, those who may have lost a great deal of weight often start gorging again and regain all the lost weight.
There is no easy answer to obesity—only lots of different difficult and/or expensive ones. The cheapest and most effective is self-discipline, diet and exercise—but that is certainly not an easy option.

I am 18 years old, female, slightly underweight, very attractive and have a perfect figure. I can eat anything I like and still maintain my figure. How long will it be before I start to put on weight every time I eat something fattening?
I am delighted that you have such self-confidence in your appearance, but I would suggest that you act cautiously around any friends who are even slightly overweight or who have a figure a little less spectacular than your own, or you may not live long enough to find out if you will ever become fat and flabby!
The best way to find out if you will have a weight problem in the future is to look at your parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts. If they are overweight, then you have a high risk of following in their footsteps. Your weight is determined by several factors including inherited tendencies, the metabolic rate of your body (rate at which cells burn energy) and obviously your diet and exercise level.
You should decide on an ideal weight, and merely eat a nutritious diet, low in fatty and processed foods until you reach that weight, be that in a few months or a few years. Once ar that weight, modify your food intake and exercise level to maintain that weight.

Tablets for Losing Weight

medicalquestions — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:00:59 +0000

I have heard that when tablets containing cider vinegar, kelp, vitamin B6 and lecithin are taken along with a sensible diet and no extra exercise, you lose weight fast—12 lb in two weeks. Is this true?
There is no easy way to lose weight, and anyone who believes in the above formula will also believe in the tooth fairy and Easter bunny!
There is a simple (but not easy) way to lose weight—eat less and exercise more. This method has the great advantage of being not only effective, but cheap! Millions of dollars are spent by Australians every year on special diets, magic formulas, ‘guaranteed’ tablets, patent mixtures, acupuncture, hypnotherapy and quack remedies in order to lose weight. None of these are more effective than the simple formula of eat less and exercise more; all are more expensive, some may be harmful, and none work long term.
Being overweight is not a crime, although women’s magazines make it seem to be, as all have diets of some type or other. You do not have to look like Princess Diana to be acceptable in society. There are no medical risks in being up to 20% greater than average weight for your height, age and sex. Only over 40% greater than average weight do medical risks become significant.
The most important factor in your weight is your choice in parents, followed by your diet and exercise levels.
Many fat people should accept their weight, avoid gaining any more, and not damage their health by yo-yoing up and down by ten kilos every few months as they go on and off diets. This is more damaging to health than staying overweight.
If you plan to lose weight, start on a sensible diet that you can maintain for years to come, exercise regularly, and certainly do not try to lose 12 lb in two weeks!

Right Exercise to Lose Weight

medicalquestions — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 06:00:33 +0000

I have been told to exercise to lose weight. Is jogging the best form of exercise?
No. The most effective forms of exercise, that work all the major muscle groups with minimal risk of stress injury, are swimming, gymnastics and cycling.
Swimming is without doubt the ideal exercise, as there is no stress on the support structures of the body, while every muscle is being worked. Group activities such as gymnastics (or variations of this such as aerobics) tend to give more encouragement to exercise, and are less boring than endlessly pacing around a grass oval by yourself. Cycling does not cause foot and leg stress, and the scenery changes rather more rapidly than in jogging.
Any form of exercise is better than none in an attempt to lose weight, but jogging has several disadvantages. It tends to cause leg and foot injuries, particularly if running on a hard surface; there are dangers in jogging on roads; and only the lower half of the body receives adequate work. Those who do like jogging should ensure that it is done on a grass surface in good quality shoes, and where there are no traffic hazards.

I am a thirteen year old girl, 164 cm tall and weigh 55 kg. I feel fat because I have fat legs. Am I overweight? What is the average weight for a girl my age?
The average weight for someone of your age and height is 47 to 51 kg, so you are a little overweight statistically. It would be equally important for me to know your degree of maturity.
Girls at thirteen can still be flat chested and have no sign of changing into a woman, or they may be well developed and appear to be a grown woman. Those with a woman’s figure will weigh more than those who are still girls.
Almost certainly you will grow taller in the next year, so the sensible thing to do is to watch your diet, get some exercise and make sure that you do not put on any more weight, and let your height slowly increase. You will grow up into your present weight, and thin out as a result. Losing weight is NOT a good idea at your age unless you are grossly obese.

Simple And Best Way To Lose Weight

medicalquestions — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:00:23 +0000

Is there a simple and cheap way to lose weight?
A There are no easy ways to lose weight, only hard ones, but losing weight can be simple and cheap. There is no need to buy costly diet foods or attend expensive courses. Following these five points, while using a lot of willpower, and I guarantee you will lose weight.
1. Eat Only Three Times A Day.
Never eat between meals, and drink only water or black tea/coffee if thirsty. Set aside three half-hour periods a day for eating, and do not eat at any other time.
2. Eat Only The Correct Foods.
There are scores of diet charts available that will tell you which foods are low in calories. Do not stick to only one food group, but eat a balanced diet.
3. Exercise Regularly.
Get up a good sweat and make your heart race at least once a day.
4. Eat Less.
If you are not losing weight at the rate of four kilograms (nine pounds) a month, you are still eating too much. Do not weigh yourself more than once a week, and remember that weight loss does not occur steadily, but with sudden weight loss, and then a period of no loss. That is why the loss must be averaged over a month.
5. Keep Going.
It is pointless spending months losing weight, only to put it on again. Your diet should be one for life, not just a few weeks or months.

What causes obesity? I am very careful with my diet, but still overweight.
Your choice of parents is the most important factor in your weight, particularly if you do stick to a good diet. Obesity is hereditary, and children of fat parents should be carefully watched to make sure they do not put on too much weight in childhood.
The other big factor (pardon the pun!) is of course your diet. Many fat people claim they eat nothing, but when monitored they are seen to nibble little bits of food all the time between meals. Their meals may be small, but their calorie intake is enormous. Exercise is the third factor, and obviously people who exercise regularly are going to burn off more calories and fat than those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
There are some diseases, such as an under active thyroid gland, which may be responsible for obesity, but less than 1 in 100 fat people have these diseases, and they can be easily tested for by your GP.

Overweight Since Childhood

medicalquestions — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:42:38 +0000

Well, I’ve been overweight since childhood. I used to be 65 kg, but in due course of time I managed to cut down to 54 kg for a height of 5 ft. I do loads of cardio — 1 hour of walking followed by 2V2 hours of jogging, then weight training, then 1 hour of walk in the evening. I eat very little — loads of fruit in the morning for breakfast, a light dinner including lots of veggies. Still I’m unable to shed the last extra pounds which are really stubborn. Now when I get back to normal eating or stop exercising for 10 days I put on drastically. Why are my upper thighs so bulky and awful? I do lots of running, still why don’t I get muscle tone? Kindly guide as to where I’m going wrong.

AIf your numbers are correct it would seem like you are exercising for nearly 5 hours every day — and eating too little! Overtraining can also result in mental and physical burn-out. which is why you stop exercising completely for prolonged periods. The other very real danger you’re courting is injury, given the orthopaedic stress you are subjecting your body to.
A gruelling exercise regimen coupled with an overly stringent diet plan is impractical, as it is hard to maintain. The resulting weight gain on cessation of exercise and resumption of ‘normal’ eating habits is your body’s way of rebelling. iorn extra pounds can be shed without punishing yourself. A weight loss of a pound a week is advisable, by creating a calorie deficit of 500 every day. This deficit can be created through a combination of diet and exercise.
Work out for no more than 1 to 1Vfe hours daily, focussing on all the different components of fitness, viz cardiovascular, strength and flexibility. Increase the intensity rather than the duration of your workout. In other words, do a mile in 10 minutes rather than 12 or 13 when you jog; do a speedwalk instead of brisk walking; lift weights to failure, i.e. higher weights with fewer reps. This will also give you the muscle tone you desire, while shaving off the fat. Intersperse weightlifting with short (45-second) sprints to blast calories.
Cross train (jog. swim, bicycle) to avoid injury and protect your joints. Eat wisely — about five to six 300-400 calorie meals that are protein rich (beans, lean meat, lowfat milk, eggs) but also feature complex carbs and fibre (wholegrains, fruit and veggies).
Finally, don’t lose hope. Stay focussed and don’t forget your achievements — remember, you dropped 11 kg! That shows you have what it takes — the determination and discipline to achieve your fitness goals.

Be a Good dietician

medicalquestions — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:18:27 +0000

After the THR operation, the doctor advised me not to take up heavy work, running, etc. and so my weight has increased from 58 kg to 85 kg. And my waistline has gone up from 28″ to 36″. Doctor advised me to reduce weight to avoid wear and tear between the ball and socket.
Your overweight appears to be due to steroid intake, hence it will be difficult to shed it as long as you’re taking the medication. Exercise alone will not help. What’s more, strenuous activities will loosen the hip replacement, and in the event of a revision, it can be done only once. I feel you should see a dietician and a physician to counteract the effects of steroids with anti drugs. In any case, once you stop using the drugs the weight will go down gradually. Make the following changes in your diet:
1. Have 2 glasses of water first thing in the morning.
2. Have pulses or a cup of curd (prepared from skimmed milk) at breakfast.
3. You must have a snack at 11,00 a.m. may be a fruit.
4. Have 2 glasses of buttermilk before your lunch.
5. Instead of rice, have bread, which are easier to keep track of.
6. Do not have fried fish on a daily basis.
7. Avoid coconut in all your curries including fish curry. Have a mid evening snack like greeen salad or orange juice.
8. Start dinner with a large bowl of thick soup filled with veggies, a little chicken/fish and rice/ noodles.
9. Restrict the intake of potatoes and tubers such as sweet potatoes and yam.
10. Make sure you have 10-12 glasses of water in a day.
11. Continue with your cardiovascular exercise of 1 hour daily. With these measures, I would expect your weight to go down gradually.

Keep Your Stomach Clean

medicalquestions — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:23:53 +0000

I have a horribly embarrassing problem of gas. According to my friends and colleagues I expel noxious smells every half hour. I follow a healthy diet of western culture. In fact, I’m pretty lean and active.
Although people frequently attribute various symptoms to excessive bowel gas, neither the volume nor the excretion rate is readily measurable. In reality, many symptoms arising from Irritable Bowel Syndrome are wrongly attributed to gas, so get a proper diagnosis first. Bowel gas or intestinal gas may arise from swallowed air or intake of foods like dried beans, containing oligosaccharides — carbohydrates that are incompletely absorbed in the healthy human small intestine.
A nutritionist can help you make the necessary dietary adjustments. If the problem persists, consult a gastroenterologist. Nutritionist says
1. Instead of milk take plenty of curd, which has the useful bacteria to aid digestion.
2. Eliminate beans and pulses from your diet for a short period and see if it helps.
3. When you do get back to eating throw away the soaked water to get rid of the indigestible gas-forming sugars(oligosaccharides) these beans contain.
4. Fibre is also a culprit in gas formation. So limit raw salad intake.
5. Take a brisk walk for 30 minutes daily. Motion helps expel gas faster.
6. Cut back on fermented rice dishes and replace rice in at least one meal a day.
7. Avoid long intervals between meals. Have a small snack every 3 hours.
8. Take a probiotic(useful bacteria) supplement. A health food store or chemist will stock these.

Dieting because of Overweight

medicalquestions — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:00:59 +0000

Obesity is the commonest problem worldwide and overweight individuals go to any extent to shed those extra kilos, at any cost. But, lack of knowledge is the root cause of fat. Unlike the old myth, over-eating is not the only cause of obesity. Factors like heredity, hormonal imbalance, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle and water retention plays an equally important role in making you overweight. After you detect the right cause of excessive fat in your body you should work out the right plan to achieve the desired weight. In all cases of obesity, one must eat enough to keep calorie intake equivalent to the energy required by the body which will keep your system functioning the whole day.

This still does not mean depriving yourself of the food of your choice! It only goes to prove that any extra calories mean more fat. Keeping a constant check on your weight is easier than letting it become a chronic problem as fat becomes more stubborn to dissolve.

Dieting is the worst enemy of fat. It you discontinue to diet and get back to regular eating habits, you tend to put on more weight, as your metabolism slows down while you were eating less. Fasting once a week is a healthier suggestion as your body mechanism needs rest too.

Ten to fifteen minutes of exercise is a must, especially for people living sedentary lives. Vigorous and heavy exercise is not really required, do just enough to keep your blood circulation in check.

Obesity or overweight is a frequently recurring problem in adults. It is mainly caused by limited activity. Over-nutrition can be singled out as the most important etiological factor where food behavior plays a crucial role.

Fattier Foods

medicalquestions — Sun, 11 May 2008 06:00:49 +0000

Question: I am 59, of thin build, and still losing weight. My doctor says there is nothing wrong. Should I forget about cholesterol, and go on a diet of fattier foods?
High cholesterol levels can occur in both fat and thin people, and the chances of developing a high cholesterol level depends as much upon your choice in parents as your choice in diet. Cholesterol is just one factor contributing to an increased incidence of heart attacks and strokes. The other major factors are your inherited genes, smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure.
I assume that you have had your cholesterol checked by a blood test performed after fasting for 12 hours, and by a doctor (not a shopping center entrepreneur!). At your age, I would not be concerned about your cholesterol level unless it exceeded 6.0, and unless it exceeded 7.0 I would not recommend any medication. Lower cholesterol levels are far more important in younger men.
If your cholesterol is below 6.0, then start eating dairy foods and fats again. If it is above 6.0, you should continue to avoid fatty foods, but you can build up your weight with carbohydrates (bread, pasta, vegetables, fruit, sugars).
If your weight loss continues, you should have a thorough check up to ensure that there is no other disease present.

Good diet contains

medicalquestions — Sat, 10 May 2008 06:00:59 +0000

Question: All sorts of people are telling us what to eat. Some say no meat, some say no milk, some say there are too many poisons on vegetables. Eggs have cholesterol, but lots of vitamins. What should a good diet contain?
Humans are omnivores. They are designed to eat and utilize a wide range of foods. A well-balanced diet should contain cereals, vegetables, fruits, red and white meat, dairy products, oils and a small amount of sugar. They are listed in order from large quantities required to small, but individual preference will determine actual amounts. All foods break down into carbohydrates, fats and protein. Virtually all foods contain a mixture of these three basic components, but some foods contain far more of one component than the others.
Fiber is the fourth main constituent of foodstuffs, but this is not absorbed and passes out of the body in the faeces. Vitamins and minerals are trace chemicals and elements found in varying proportions in different foodstuffs. Numerous pamphlets and books can give details of the actual content of all foodstuffs. The best advice I can give is not to eat one type of food to the exclusion of others, but to eat sensibly a wide range of foodstuffs that you enjoy.