· The global weight loss/obesity management market was worth $265 billion in 2012, and is expected to reach $361 billion by 2017.
· 1.2 billion people worldwide are officially classified as overweight.
· 70 per cent of India’s urban population is obese.
· 10 per cent of couples in the country get affected by infertility due to obesity.
· Women who are obese are also at a greater risk for pregnancy complications.
Obesity is a chronic medical condition characterised by too much body fat. Obesity is diagnosed by the Body Mass Index (BMI), which calculates the amount of body fat. Your BMI is calculated from your current height and weight. The higher the BMI, the more body fat a person has.
According to a study published in The lancet, India is just behind the US and China in the global hazard list of top 10 countries with the highest number of obese people. India is truly under siege; Junk food, alcohol and sedentary lifestyle are leading us to silent self-destruction, making one in every Indian men and women either obese or overweight.
According to the WHO, 1.2 billion people worldwide are officially classified as overweight. According to recent study, 70 per cent of India’s urban population is obese and comes under the overweight category.
The above data forces us to ponder why despite the multibillion dollar weight loss industry, there seems to be no relief in the current upsurge of obesity and accompanying lifestyle diseases. We’re dying to know the facts about fat loss and health, but who has time to examine thousands of pages of scientific studies done solely in the name of promoting a product or a quick fix while ignoring all the other facets that comprise a healthy bodyIJ
We are all aware that being obese is not healthy. It’s not a choice that one makes in life, contrary to popular belief. No one would want to suffer the problems caused by obesity. The reason for obesity can be anything from junk food, alcohol to sedentary lifestyle. What is important is to take a step with determination and be a part of the fight against obesity.
Yet another growing problem in today’s time among the population is infertility caused due to obesity. Weight problem cases are on the rise everywhere, and so are infertility clinics. Almost 10 per cent of couples in the country get affected by infertility and are hesitant to take medical advice. The obesity rates in India have been rising, and a quarter of the women’s population is defined as medically obese.
Obesity has to do with the lifestyle issues of the major population in urban India. The urban populace has easy access to high-calorie packaged foods, such as burgers, chips and colas. Moreover, people in cities follow a sedentary lifestyle. little or no physical activity and a predilection for gizmos such as video games and computers are to blame.
I see at least 20 patients a day who come to me for infertility, of which 4-5 per cent are obese. Obese women are also at a greater risk for pregnancy complications, like having a C-section, giving birth to a large baby or even developing gestational diabetes and hypertension.
Kiran Juneja, now 31, (name changed on request) came to our Shantah IVF Centre. She weighed 87 kg when she was 29 years old. She and her husband had been trying for a baby for almost two years, but she couldn’t conceive due to her weight issues. She often complained about irregular periods too. We advised her to lose some weight first, and after a thorough checkup, we suggested an Intrauterine insemination (IUI) for her. Today, she is a proud mother of a daughter.
On the other hand, with little or no time in hand, the young urban population wants to lose a lot of weight in less time and can even spend exorbitant amounts to look good.
Then there could be the problem of hormonal imbalance, which is also caused by obesity. The obesity epidemic in teenage girls has led to increased insulin production and in some cases a hormonal imbalance called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and infertility.
Many young girls complain of irregular periods, acne, and abnormal hair growth on their body, which appear to be caused by a higher than normal production of male hormones. If overweight women with PCOS can lose up to15 kg, they might get regular periods without medication. This would also improve their other PCOS related symptoms and also increase their chances of conceiving.
To get rid of obesity, one needs to prepare for the weight loss programme. Get your body in harmony for slimming down, which means taking full responsibility of your weight and health. Get clear on why weight loss is important to you. What would you ‘gain’ once you ‘lose’ the extra weightIJ Clarity is the power and this would inspire you to set the conditions to make your goal become an inevitable reality.
Following are some tips to help you on your weight loss mission:
· Ensure a balanced diet.
· Get creative with exercise. Pick out interesting ways to move your body.
· Eat three meals every day: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
· Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
· limit the fat, sugar and salt in your diet. Consult your GP for that.
· Quit smoking and drinking.
· Walk twice a day for 30 minutes each.
The writer is a gynecologist and IVF expert from Max Hospital