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Physical activity and healthy eating habits are an imperative with increasing age
Look that you are not suffering from wheat belly
New Delhi, January 14, 2019 : Excess belly fat can probably shrink the grey matter volume in your brain, according to a new study. Grey matter contains most of the brain’s 100 billion nerve cells, while the white matter is filled with nerve fibres that connect the brain regions. Excess weight was associated with shrinkage in specific regions of the brain: the pallidum, nucleus accumbens, putamen (linked only to a higher BMI) and caudate (linked only to a higher waist-to-hip ratio). All these brain regions are involved in motivation and reward.
Increasing central adiposity is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, in addition to measuring body mass index, waist circumference should be measured to assess abdominal obesity. Patients with abdominal obesity (also called central adiposity, visceral, android, or male-type obesity) are at increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.
Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr KK Aggarwal, President, HCFI, said, “Normal weight obesity is the new epidemic in our country. One of the primary reasons for this is the lifestyle people lead today. On-the-go and fast-paced lives mean people skip their breakfast and end up eating unhealthy, quick-fix refined carbs meals through the remainder of a day. An extra inch of fat around the abdomen can increase the chances of heart disease by 1.5 times. An abdominal girth of more than 90 cm in men and 80 cm in women is an indication that a person is vulnerable to future heart attacks. One should not gain weight of more than 5 kg after the age of 20 in males and 18 in females. It is also imperative to monitor one’s weight and reduce it appropriately after the age of 50.”
Once a person’s height stops increasing, his/her organs stop growing and only muscles can build up to an extent. The deposition of fat is the only cause that increases the weight of the body after that stage.
Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, who is also the Group Editor-in-Chief of IJCP, said, “People who are obese should aim at limiting the intake of refined carbohydrates as they tend to increase blood sugar levels and the production of insulin. In those with insulin resistance, this surge can lead to further weight gain. Apart from this, aim at getting about 30 to 45 minutes of physical activity every day, five times a week.”
Some tips from HCFI
- Exercise every day and consume a healthy diet, a mix of all seven colours and six tastes.
- Do not consume refined sugar in any form as this can get absorbed into the blood stream more easily and cause further complications.
- Reduce stress through activities such as meditation and yoga.
- Skip one food item every day so that the food antigenicity is taken care off
- If you are wheat sensitive ( not wheat allergic) you may end up with wheat belly and may require ti omit wheat from the diet
