obesity Archives

October 31, 2019 By GOQii Leave a Comment

The New Age Health Horror of Diabesity

When someone says “horror”, what do you imagine? Definitely nothing pleasant but something extremely scary, right? Do you picture ghosts and demons? If your perception of horror is limited to only supernatural occurrences, you might want to take a big step back. While supernatural entities are subjective, health issues are very much real and their stats are horrifying to say the least.

Recently, we came across a study titled ‘Finding a Policy Solution to India’s Diabetes Epidemic‘ by Karen Siegel, K. M Venkat Narayan and Sanjay Kinra. The study indicated that ‘In India, 35 million people have diabetes—a number expected to more than double by 2025, disproportionately affecting working-age people’. That means over 70 million people. Isn’t that scary?

Diabesity, which is a combination of Diabetes and Obesity, is even worse! Can you picture it? Obesity is a key risk factor for diabetes. India has the world’s largest number of people with Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) and Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG), which are the precursors for diabetes. Obesity and IGT are mostly found in younger populations.

Major Causes Leading to Diabesity

Globalization: facilitates access to various pre-packaged and processed foods. In fact, there is minimal physical activity as we have one touch access to almost everything! Surely, we are growing economically but at the cost of our health.
Nutrition Transition: There is a major shift observed in the meal patterns of Indians today. People are turning more towards western foods, foods that are pre-packaged, ready to eat foods, high in calories, sugar, aerated drinks, hydrogenated fats over the simple traditional food which are high in vitamins, minerals, fiber and other essential nutrients.
Higher Percentage of Abdominal Fat: Abdominal obesity is the key factor of insulin resistance and development of diabetes.
Malnutrition During Pregnancy: Because of the co-existence of underweight and overweight, children are often born underweight and adapted to a low-nutrition environment. Low-birth weight infants are more susceptible than those of normal birth weight to obesity and diabetes, especially when raised in an Obesogenic environment.
Lifestyle: Most people today lead sedentary lifestyles devoid of much movement. Even at work we’re glued to our desks and laptops. This accounts to minimal physical activity. At the same time, the stress factor is the maximum with respect to targets/goals associated with work, family and social circles.

How To Keep It At Bay

Keeping Diabesity at bay actually involves 3 very simple and basic lifestyle modifications:

Make Healthy Food Choices: Choose whole grains and its products over refined ones. Incorporate more fruits and veggies daily. Opt for products less in sugars, fats and high in fiber. Make a habit of reading nutritional labels before buying a product. Do not forget “MODERATION IS THE KEY”.
Exercise: Make it a point to exercise on a regular basis. Exercising will not only keep you active but also help reduce insulin resistance, improve cardio vascular strength, tone your muscles, and increase Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). Exercising releases endorphins which is a feel good hormone that will also help you relieve stress(both physical and mental).
Stress Management: Managing time and stress is essential to stop the release of the stress hormone Cortisol which makes you crave for foods that are high in carbs. All that you eat when stressed is stored in the body as fats, especially in the belly. Meditating regularly before going to bed, deep breathing during stressful moments, indulging in your hobbies, exercising, completing your work on time, etc. will help curb stress levels. It is not a single factor that would work but both.

If you want to learn about effective ways to manage obesity and diabetes, or want effective exercises to combat both, tune into GOQii Play and get live coaching from renowned experts you can even interact with.

We hope this article on Diabesity alarms you enough to make necessary lifestyle modifications before its too late! Stay healthy and #BeTheForce!

October 11, 2019 By Kusum Soni 6 Comments

5 Common Habits that Cause Obesity!

You might have been trying hard to lose that stubborn weight with sincere healthy food habits and sweating hard through physical activities. Despite your efforts, that scale doesn’t seem to budge. You might be wondering why. To understand why, you will need to understand what Obesity is.

What is Obesity?

As per WHO, Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to an extent that it may have a negative effect on health. Various studies and meta-analysis have demonstrated that it increases the likelihood of various diseases and conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases, Type2 diabetes, obstructive sleep-apnea, certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis, and depression. And Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive food intake, lack of physical activity, and genetic susceptibility.

Here are 5 common habits that eventually lead to obesity.

1. Eating Quickly

How many times have you quickly eaten your food while on a call or before rushing for a meeting or a chore without so much as even tasting the food?

This practice of eating quickly & unmindfully could be making you gain fat. Studies among middle-aged men and women have suggested that eating fast leads to obesity. Eating fast has been associated with childhood general and abdominal obesity as well as greater consumption of food.

It takes approx. 20 minutes for the satiety signal/hormones to reach the brain from the stomach. And eating hurriedly overrides this mechanism of stimulating the satiety centre in the brain. Thus, eating too quickly makes you overeat, paving the way for obesity and related disorders. Eating slowly helps in portion control, makes you aware of when your stomach gets full and you also know how much to serve yourself and when to stop. Plus, chewing well promotes the release of salivary enzymes in the mouth and digestive juices in the stomach, which in turn starts-off the digestion process. Hence, eating slowly metabolizes food faster and more efficiently.

Be conscious while eating and take smaller bites. Eating slowly is associated with enhanced Postprandial Thermogenic Effect of Food, elevated serum adiponectin (a hormone which increases fatty acid oxidation and inhibition of hepatic glucose production) and suppressed Non Esterified Fatty Acid (major component of triglycerides/ body fat). Try planning your meal timings along with the official meetings, not only for yourself but also for your subordinates and colleagues. This will not only improve your health but also the productivity. Be mindful when you eat.

2. Not Drinking Enough Water

I have seen people during my practice, who drink less than 1L of water and are still overweight despite eating healthy and being active throughout the day.

Water is critical to proper physiological and cognitive functioning. An average human adult is approximately 55-60% water by weight, whereas some obese people are as little as 15% water by weight. This is because fat tissues do not retain water as well as lean tissues do. Adipose tissue contains about 10% of water, while muscle tissue contains about 75% water. Plain water helps you have healthy muscle mass which is responsible for improving metabolic rate which eventually helps in fat loss.

Combined with physical activity, drinking water helps increase fat oxidation. Another study establishes the role of drinking 1.5L of excessive water in weight reduction, body fat reduction, and appetite suppression in overweight female participants. This is because water fills you up in zero calories and even suppresses appetite thus it acts as a natural appetite suppressant.

So go for plain water instead of too many milky teas/coffees, fruit juices, soft drinks and other so-called healthy energy drinks. If you find plain water boring, try adding slices of cucumber, lemon or your favourite fruit, any condiments/spices to add a dash of flavour and enjoy the drink.

3. Not Getting Enough Sleep

Sleep deprivation has become a hallmark of modern societies. There are many factors such as frequent travel to different time zones, social and tech changes, internet, social media and so on that contribute to inadequate sleep.

Sleep deprivation increases obesity or weight gain because of the metabolic and endocrine alterations, including decreased glucose tolerance/insulin sensitivity, increased evening concentrations of cortisol, deranged hunger hormones, and the individuals who are awake longer will be exposed to food stimuli resulting in wider waist circumferences, which are proven in various studies.

Good sleep helps you to eat better, exercise better, keeps hormone levels in balance and stay healthier. Try these tips to sleep better.

4. Kitchen Grocery

Have you ever looked at the kind of food you have in your kitchen cabinets? I am sure there you will find all sorts of processed foods in colourful packets of biscuits, cereals, toast, cookies, beverages, fruit juices, etc.

Such food tends to cause major spikes in blood sugar levels, which leads to a subsequent crash in blood sugar which can then trigger hunger and cravings for more high-carb foods. This is the “blood sugar roller coaster” that many people experience. Such foods lack essential nutrients. In other words, they are “empty” calories. The added white sugar is another story altogether, it’s the absolute worst and linked to all sorts of chronic diseases.

Whole foods are loaded with nutrients and fiber, and don’t cause the same spikes and dips in blood sugar levels as the processed food. Remember: A low-fat cookie is still a cookie! So, aim to store whole grains, healthy fats, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables in your kitchen grocery. This would naturally balance out your diet and lower your daily calorie intake.

5. Long Sitting hours

As per WHO, more than 50% of the world’s population lives in urban areas. Most urban jobs revolve around electronic gadgets/devices which require long sitting hours. Traditionally, obesity has been thought to have been caused by the lack of a healthy diet and physical exercise. However, researchers have found that one hour of intense physical exercise does not make up for the negative effects of inactivity when rest of the hours of the day are spent sitting.

So don’t throw away all that hard work at the gym or park in the morning by hitting the couch for the rest of the day in office or at home. Try to work on your sedentary levels. It makes a big difference by being active throughout the day. Try these tips to remain active:

Stand up and move after every 30 mins for 3 mins or for 5 mins every hour.
Walk around in your office.
Walk when you are talking over mobile.
Use stairs or park your vehicle at a distance from your office.
Keep water bottle away from your table, so get up every hour to get water.
Go to your colleagues to discuss something or share a document.
Swap TV time with hobbies or a sport or household chores

We hope this article helps you understand what causes obesity and take necessary measures to curb it. Do reach out to your GOQii Coach or tune in to GOQii Play within the GOQii app for tips on weight loss. Get the app here.

#BeTheForce

March 18, 2019 By CHARMI GOGRI 19 Comments

Myths, Tips and Tricks for Weight Loss

Are you facing issues with weight loss? Have you tried everything from fad diets to exercises to health clubs but found no permanent results? At some point, you may have even gained the kilos almost as quickly as you lost them. So when it comes to weight loss, what exactly works?

As each person’s body needs and compositions differ, weight loss works differently for different people. What remains common is the fact that weight loss needs to be holistic and diet alone isn’t the best method. The ideal method is a combination of various lifestyle factors.

The key to weight loss is making permanent changes in your eating habits as well as lifestyle. It is said that weight gain is not quick and is not the result of days or even a few months. It’s a result of years of overeating. The safest and the most effective way of slimming is to lose weight sensibly. For instance, a kilo in a week is quick, safe and manageable.

Crash diets should be avoided because more often than not, they fail. A severe diet can slow the body’s metabolism down. The key to successful weight loss is making permanent changes in your eating habits. Do not try to revamp your diet all at once. Start with a few adjustments and gradually build on them until balanced nutrition choices become a regular part of your routine. Gradual changes in diet are more likely to become habits eventually.

Here are some myths, tips and funny tricks about weight loss

Myths

A glass of warm water in the morning helps you lose weight: Many believe that consuming warm water on an empty stomach is a cure for excess weight. They believe that hot water dissolves fat but the truth is that fat does not dissolve in water
Switching sugar with honey will aid weight loss: I agree that honey has many therapeutic and curative powers but curing obesity is not one of them
Bananas are fattening: This is the most misunderstood fruit and has calories as much as any other fruit. Also they are a wonderful source of potassium. They are filling and assuage constipation
Standing while eating burns more calories: The truth is you tend to eat more while standing. I always recommend one to sit and eat unless circumstances demand otherwise
Skipping breakfast is good during dieting: It’s recommended never to skip breakfast or else you tend to overeat in your next meal. After dinner, our body is in the fasting state and next morning when we wake up, our body needs fuel to get going
Potatoes are fattening: It’s safer to consume potatoes over breads as breads are twice as fattening as potatoes. Go for boiled potatoes rather than fried ones
Saunas help in shedding kilos: You may feel rejuvenated and great sitting in a sauna but what you really lose after one session is merely the weight of water. Once the fluids have been replenished, your weight comes back to normal

Tips

Eat plenty of green leafy veggies, fruits, and whole grains
Drink plenty of water. This will keep off hunger. Sometimes, what we often think as hunger is in fact thirst. Here’s how you can differentiate between hunger and thirst
You need to watch the nutrients that you consume. Divide your entire day’s plate into 4 quarters. Fill more than half of your plate with veggies and fruits. Remaining could be balanced between dairy, beans or cereals
Try to go for small frequent meals instead of typical 3 square meals i.e. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Ideally, you should consume some food after every 2.5- 3 hours
Have a colourful meal. By colours I don’t mean artificial/synthetic colours. What I mean is choose foods with colourful veggies and fruits and make your plate aesthetically attractive
Eat your meals mindfully and chew thoroughly. This will help in portion control, better digestion and reduces the chances of overeating
If you have a sweet tooth, don’t hold the guilt, satisfy it. Choose a sweet, like a candy or peppermint, which will last in your mouth for some time and tastes heavenly. If it is a high calorie sweet loaded with sugar and fat, take just a bite. Remember taste is what you want, not the calories
If you happen to treat yourself with some sweets or fried foods, do so at breakfast. As our metabolism is more active during this time of the day. Plus, you have an entire day to burn off the extra calories
Sleep deprivation can cause you to snack unnecessarily. Have a good rest and sleep for weight moderation
Focus on deep breathing, into your stomach and not just your chest. Oxygen is one key to lose weight, as fat burns in the flame of oxygen. Take equal time to exhale so as to eliminate toxins from the body
Don’t miss your daily workout. If you don’t have the luxury of time, try and be active for at least 20 minutes per day as it’s always said that a little workout is better than no workout

Tricks

Develop a reward system. It’s proven that when you have something to look forward to at the end of each milestone, it automatically helps to mentally and emotionally shorten the cycle of long term success
While setting a target, try to be realistic and do not dream of a petite figure. It will boost your confidence once you achieve that realistic goal
This sounds silly but really works (personal experience). When you are tempted to reach out for that forbidden snack, before satisfying your taste buds, just take a deep breath & count to 100. Usually, by the time you finish counting to 100, your craving would have vanished
Chocolate craving is the most addictive of all. Next time you feel like eating a chocolate, just take a whiff of a strong perfume. This eases the craving
Pinch your ear to lose your appetite! Surprising, isn’t it? Well Reflexologists believe that pinching your ear will curb cravings and reduce your appetite
Above all, always be motivated! Think thin and fit. Imagine yourself at the weight you would like to be or the clothes you would like to fit in. Also picture how others will react to you at your new weight and look. Enjoy the feelings that these thoughts will evoke as they will keep you motivated for the long run!

The takeaway message here is that weight loss comes as a by product of an active and healthy lifestyle. It’s you who has to get you off the couch to exercise, cook a healthy meal and move that body!

Do you have any other myths, tips or tricks you’d like to share? Drop them in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

June 26, 2018 By Samar Hafeez 5 Comments

Know all about ‘Eating Disorders’

eating problms

DO YOU look in the mirror and pick yourself apart? Do you constantly worry about what and how you look?

Ask yourself, “What percentage of your time in a day you are preoccupied with thoughts regarding food, weight, and body image?”

If your answer is that you spend so much time with these concerns that it interferes with your happiness and daily functioning, then let me tell you that you may be having an Eating Disorder.!

What Is an Eating Disorder?

Eating Disorders are illnesses that cause serious disturbances in a person’s everyday diet. They are characterized by irregular eating habits which include inadequate or excessive food intake which can damage individual’s well-being.

In addition to abnormal eating patterns, there are severe distress or concern about body weight and shape. An Eating Disorder also includes your beliefs about food and how they impact your body.

Who Suffers From Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders can develop during any stage in life but typically it appears during teen years or young adulthood but, may also develop in childhood. It can affect both men and women, however, it’s more common in women.

Eating disorder when manifested at a young age can cause severe impairment in growth development, and overall mental and social well- being.

Let’s move on to knowing three most common types of Eating Disorders

ANOREXIA NERVOSA

The Term Anorexia Nervosa literally means “Lack of Appetite induced by Nervousness”

This is perhaps the best- known eating disorder. It causes its sufferers to excessively fear to be overweight and restrict their eating habits in an unhealthy, dangerous way which leads to a significantly low body weight.

Male and female suffering from Anorexia show following hallmarks

Extremely limited food intake
Obsessive intense fear of weight gain
Problems with body image (Unrealistic perception of the body) and a low self-esteem
Denial of low body weight

Overtime, the following symptoms may develop as the body goes into starvation

Physical symptoms

Menstrual cessation
Osteopenia or osteoporosis(Thinning of bones)
Anaemia
Fatigue
Brittle nail and hair
Skin dries and can take on a yellowish cast
Severe constipation, Low BP

Emotional and behavioural symptoms

Excessive/Compulsive exercising
Frequently skipping a meal or refusing to eat
Denial of hunger
Frequent checking in the mirror for ‘perceived’ flaws
Flat mood(Lack of emotion)
Low self-esteem
Irritability
Low sex drive

BULIMIA NERVOSA

The Greek word for Bulimia is BOULIMIA which means extreme hunger. Patients with bulimia nervosa eat frequently in a discrete period of time (example within any 2 hour period) they also have a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode.

They often consume thousands of calories that are high in sugars, carbohydrates and fats. They can eat rapidly, sometimes gulping food without even tasting it.

After a binge, they PURGE their bodies of food and calories they FEAR by using laxatives, enemas, diuretics, vomiting or by excessive exercise. People with Bulimia can be underweight, overweight or even obese.

Many people don’t know when a family member or friend has Bulimia nervosa because they almost always hide their binges but Bulimia nervosa does have symptoms that should raise red flags:-

Physical Symptoms

Chronically inflamed or a sore throat
Salivary glands in the neck and below jaw bone swollen; cheeks and face often become puffy
Tooth enamel wears off and begins to decay from exposure to stomach acids
Constant vomiting causes GERD (Gastro oesophagal reflux disease)
Laxative and Diuretic abuse cause kidney and intestinal problems
Frequent Severe dehydration from purging of fluids

Emotional and Behavioural symptoms

Negative/distorted self- image
Hoarding or hiding food
Social withdrawal
Extreme guilt and sadness
Excessive worry about body weight and shape

binge eating

BINGE EATING DISORDER

It is a form of compulsive OVEREATING. Sufferers feel a compulsion to eat large amounts of food and as though they cannot stop and UNLIKE PEOPLE WITH BULIMIA, THEY DO NOT TRY TO PURGE OR GET RID OF FOOD BY INDUCING VOMITING AND BY USING OTHER UNSAFE PRACTICES.

Symptoms are more or less similar to Bulimia nervosa except for purging and laxative abuse.

Binge eaters eat a large amount of food when not feeling physically hungry, binge eating episodes typically take place in private and can last for hours or a whole day. It is common for sufferers to feel distressed or guilty about their lack of control, it is this shame and guilt that can prevent a person from talking and seeking help.

CAUSES

Eating disorders are complex thus are influenced by a facet of factors. Though the exact cause is unknown, it is generally believed that a combination of biological, psychological, and/or environmental abnormalities contribute to the development.

Certain psychological, biological/genetic, and personality traits may predispose people to develop eating disorders.

However specific traits are linked to each of the disorders. People with Anorexia tend to be perfectionists and with bulimia and binge eating disorder impulsive nature is common. Hormonal irregularities and nutritional deficiencies can be among causes. As discussed earlier in this blog, negative body image, dissatisfaction with one’s body and low self-esteem can help build tendency towards abnormal eating patterns.

Among Socio-cultural factors, the media has the largest influence on people especially teens and young adults. The media pushes body image, clothes, fast food and weight loss with unrealistic results, the combination of all these lead teens and young adults down the road to eating disorders and a confusing self- image.

And on another side of continuum popular social media pages and videos with a variety of recipes and restaurants tempt people to eat more and more.

Other causes include disruptive thinking patterns and an inability to understand the healthy relationship between food and hunger, family dysfunctions and major life stressors/changes, negative emotions or traumas such as rape, childhood sexual abuse or death of loved ones can also trigger eating disorders.

Even a happy event, such as giving birth can lead to an eating disorder because of the stressful impact of the event on an individual’s new role and body image.

IMPORTANCE OF TREATMENT

Eating disorder untreated can have serious consequences like Malnutrition, stunted growth, osteoporosis, reduced metabolic rate, critically low blood pressure, serious heart, kidney and liver damages, obesity, diabetes (TYPE 1 AND 2), depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance abuse, cardiac arrests and even death!

Remember, the sooner the treatment starts, the better it is. The longer abnormal eating patterns continue the more deeply ingrained they become and more difficult to treat.

EFFECTIVE TREATMENT METHODS

PSYCHOTHERAPY
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is a therapy focussing on the beliefs, values, maladaptive cognitive processes and negative emotions which are associated with meaning of weight, shape and appearance, it aims at reducing destructive eating patterns and restoring a healthy relationship with food. Psychologists identify important issues associated with causes of destructive eating habits and develop CBT plan respectively.
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps to cope with painful emotions. The focus is on individuals who react to emotional circumstances with extreme behaviours. Weekly sessions help a person with Eating disorder practice mindful eating, distress tolerance and emotional regulation which focus on identifying barriers to changing emotions to constructive ones and to increase positive emotional events.
- Incorporating Family, Group and Marital Therapy: This can be helpful in addressing the underlying causes of eating disorders and help prevent relapses by resolving interpersonal issues which are related to eating disorders.

Nutritional Counselling: This would involve a nutritionist’s guiding plan through weight restoration and stabilization, guidance for normal eating by keeping a food journal which includes type of food, amount, benefits, feelings thoughts associated with intake of food and drink, it also includes which binge foods are to be avoided. The inclusion of individualized meal plans for specific patients to improve nutritional intake is created.
Medication: Some patients with Bulimia Nervosa benefit from placebo or anti- depressants. But, medication should always be paired with psychotherapy and nutritional counselling.

A holistic approach involving all above methods/ways with an experienced team of caregivers and healthcare professionals can help patients suffering from eating disorder regain control of their eating behaviour and their lives!

Good Health is more than just being free from disease or injury. A healthy lifestyle helps you feel good, have a vibrant energy and maintain a positive outlook on life thereby contributing to your physical, mental, social well- being. Your mental health is as important as physical health and work hand-and-hand. Letting go of your eating disorder is one of many ways to move towards good health!