Reasons For Diabetes

We have started realising for the last few years the curse of modernisation on our health. This is also referred as “Couch Potato syndrome" as we will be watching TV and taking chips and drinks (soft and hard!). Computer based work in different professions has worsened the scene. In this way more and more we are neglecting the need for being active, maintaining ideal body weight and eating healthy food.

Diabetes, heart problems, cancer and what not are on the rise, and are going to do so unless we start intervening. The term we are using now-a-days is TLC, which basically means to eat a healthy balanced food, avoid too much fast or fatty food, maintaining regular timing of food, maintaining ideal weight, regular exercise, health awareness, regular health checks, etc.

What is regional obesity?

The traditional definition of obesity includes a measure of height/weight and defined as Body Mass Index (BMI). Now with the advancement of science we are realising regional obesity is much more important for health. Here we measure the girth of waist and hip and express that as a ratio called Waist Hip Ratio (WHR). We describe this as a shape like an apple i.e., middle protrusion of the tummy, so called potbelly.

What are the bad effects of regional obesity?

Regional obesity is associated with a cluster of metabolic problems such as Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis (hardening of blood pipes) which all lead to problems with the heart (heart attack) and brain (stroke). Medically we call this as Syndrome X. The other concern is back pain; because of the potbelly the forward curvature of the lumbar spine increases and is one of the risk for disc problem and spondylitis.

What is the treatment?

First and most important step is to make us aware that regional obesity is bad not only for cosmetic reason but also for health. We need to eat the correct food (like eating plenty of vegetables and optimum fruits on daily basis), which obviously means to avoid high fat and calorie food as much as possible. We need to undertake some form of physical exercise every day for at least 30-45 min. Also we need to keep a regular eye on our BMI, WHR, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar etc.