Why weight gain with normal BP and sugar can still mean trouble later

Fiftyeightyearold Pradip Baweja was an active marathoner for eight years before he suffered a heart attack at the age of 51 Priding himself at being able to knock off 10 kilometres in 67 minutes Baweja even with his bulging belly confessed to being of the opinion that unless his metabolic reports indicated otherwise he was fit Many professional athletes carry extra weight but given their field they are believed to be fit My blood pressure reports were normal I didnt have a previous heart condition and had no issue in carrying my weight I would run and lead an active lifestyle Hence I had no reason to believe I wasnt fit says the chemical engineer admitting that he was compelled to view his diet and exercise differently after his heart was unable to endure a stressful domestic situationBaweja is among the many who live with the opinion that obesity accompanied by normal metabolic parameters can be harmless However experts in the UK whose study was discussed at the European Congress on Obesity held in Portugal last month have refuted previous suggestions and claimed that obese individuals who show no initial signs of heart disease diabetes or high cholesterol are still at risk of ill health later in lifeWhy fat cant be fitBusting the fat but fit myth Dr Sanjay Borude bariatric surgeon with Bhatia Hospital tells midday Obesity is the mother of most diseases Metabolic syndromes take their own sweet time to develop Obese individuals may not show any signs of illness but will develop them in due course of time While the thyroid and pituitary glands were once considered the most prominent endocrine glands fat is being upheld as the biggest endocrine system today Extra fats secrete hormones that cause havoc Your physical activity isnt going to save you from such conditions if you continue to carry excessive visceral fat he explains Health risks in obese individuals were once linked to high blood pressure and sugar levels that develop due to the excess weight The study however asserts that irrespective of these metabolic parameters obesity continues to be a ticking time bombDr HB Chandalia Dr Prof HB Chandalia director endocrinology diabetes and metabolism Jaslok Hospital and Research Center explains that a persons weight is dependent on two factors mdash calorie intake and expenditure People may not consume too much food but do they exercise If you eat properly but have little physical activity you may still put on weight he says pointing out that weight gain due to metabolic conditions like a dysfunctional thyroid needs to be dealt with differentlyWe mention that in several cases regular marathoners are spotted carrying belly fat and the surgeon reasons Genetic factors also determine a persons body composition Such individuals will be worse off if they did not run Exercise needs to be planned differently for different people If you have more belly fat an increase in abdominal workouts is essentialOwn up MumbaiDr Chandalia lists two factors while stating how India may emerge as better equipped to fight obesity Our cities need to be planned better Government bodies along with health planners must work towards creating more open spaces including walking lanes and cycling tracks to encourage physical activity Mumbai is not just dirty its also among the unhealthiest cities because there are no sidewalks he says lamenting the unwillingness of authorities to even make building terraces available for members When you ask them the response is somebody may jump off Thats ridiculous not everybody goes to the terrace to jump If you keep them open people can go and walk there In rural areas the incidence of diabetes is low but urban areas see a spike partly because there is no town planningAnother powerful tool to fight these diseases is education Every outlet that can educate the masses adds Dr Chandalia must do so responsibly There is a lot of incorrect information floating around and people who have taken six to 12 month courses are now calling themselves expertsDr Sanjay BorudeThe media among other educational institutes must work towards delivering appropriate content that can educate the masses he says highlighting that the criticism that artificial sweeteners have received is a classic example of this misrepresentation Sweeteners have been around for decades If they were bad would they not be banned They help reduce calorie intake and are beneficial in fighting obesityBut a change in the approach towards health points out Dr Chandalia is evident with schools eliminating unhealthy meals and encouraging children to take part in physical activities He adds that with gyms and physical training studios becoming available everywhere individuals who were earlier wary of working out in the presence of others are also becoming comfortable with exercise Incidence of diabetes has levelled off in America with good education This can happen in the next decade in India as well