April 7: World Health Day March 31: World Kidney Day May 19: World Hepatitis Day May 31: World No Tobacco Day September 21: World Alzheimer's Day September 28: World Rabies Day September 29: USA National Women's Health & Fitness Day September 30: World Heart Day October 4: USA National Child Health Day October 10: World Mental Health Day October 16: World Food Day October 20: World Osteoporosis Day December 1: World AIDS Day … [Read more...]
How to control Obesity epidemic?
October 1, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Obesity is gradually attaining epidemic proportions not only in developed countries but also in developing countries. People are getting obese cutting across country, class, economical status and region. Lack of physical exercise, junk food habits, lack of awareness and advertisements are fuelling the growth of obesity. Surprisingly, obesity is rapidly growing in low to middle income families due to use of cheap junk foods. Obesity causes more than 50 diseases of which Diabetes, heart disease and stroke are major ones. It is very difficult to control blood sugar and blood pressure in obese patients. They gradually develop metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance if they failed to control their weight. How to control Obesity? 1. Exercise for 30-45 minutes is best. Brisk walking is ideal and simple exercise to control one’s weight. 2. Eating diet rich in vegetables and fruits is good. 3. Stay away from fast foods which are rich in unsaturated fatty acids. 4. Never skip breakfast. 5. Stay away from soft drinks and other high calorie diet. 6. Encourage children to play physical games than computer games. 7. Schools should not allow the vendors to sell soft drinks and fast foods in their campuses. 8. Parents should control TV watching habits of children. 9. Governments should levy higher taxes on junk foods and high calorie drinks. Controlling weight is in our hands. We just need determination to control this epidemic. … [Read more...]
Obesity Research: Cold virus may cause Obesity
August 30, 2007 by Leave a Comment
A common virus, causing cold can be a factor causing obesity, according to a study conducted at the Pennington Biomedical Research centre at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. The researcher further says that “virus is not the only cause of obesity but this study provides stronger evidence that some obesity cases may involve viral infections.’’ The adenovirus-36 (AD36) has already been implicated at the cause of weighting gain in animals, and with this study also, researchers showed for the first time that it can also cause humans to pile on the pounds (kilograms). These findings could accelerate the development of a vaccine or an anti viral medication to help fight the battle of the bulge, alongside the diet and exercise which the other factors are causing obesity. A previous study showed that 33.3% of the obese people are infected with the virus, compared to their linear counter parts who are 10% affected. In laboratory experiments, it is found that the bug appeared to promote the formation of fat cells from stem cells. The team took adult stem cells from fatty tissue left over from patients who had undergone liposuction (a procedure to remove fat from the body), and exposed some of it to AD-36, leaving the remaining cells untreated. They are allowed to grow in a tissue culture for a week of time, most of the virus-infected adult stem cells developed into fat cells, (where as the untreated cells did not develop in fatty cells). The researchers further says , “it is not clear what drives the transformation, how long the virus lingers in the human system or whether its fat-enhancing effect continues after the body has cleared the virus.” As the research is going on, the real mechanism will be revealed in the near future. As usual we should always keep in mind the other factors that cause obesity like, Lack of exercise, Excess food intake, Depression (sometimes the patient takes extra food to combat depression), etc. If it is true, it may be difficult to control Obesity. Obesity is a major factor in causing Type2 Diabetes, Coronary Heart disease and other lifestyle related chronic diseases. … [Read more...]
Health problems due to Obesity
December 26, 2006 by Leave a Comment
Obesity till recently seen as a disease of developed countries. It is not a cosmetic concern. Obesity is ultimately life threatening. Many Health risks are due to obesity. In the America, more than 3 Lac deaths are linked to obesity annually.In India, 120 million urban Indians are seriously obese. The Indian capital, New Delhi, is called as Obesity capital where 45% males and 55% females suffering from severe obesity. According to World health organization, the Obesity epidemic is increasing faster in developing countries than in the developed world. The prime cause for Obesity is Life style changes as a result of affluence and sedentary life style. We are taking more food with high calories and not burning enough of it with exercise. We know that fat is ugly, but many unaware that it is dangerous as well. Increased work hours and tremendous stress making it difficult for allocating time for exercise. One out of ten urban Indian children is overweight. India is now under fat Tsunami. Obesity in the western countries is associated with poverty while in developing countries; it is the problem of rich. A stout person is always a laughing stock. Health probelms in Obese persons: Obesity leads to life threatening medical conditions. 1. Rise in Blood pressure: If body weight is increased by 1 kg, the heart has to pump the blood more blood. Heart needs to work harder unnecessarily. It leads to heart attack. 2. Stroke: Due to Obesity, The blood supply to the brain is suffered and in tern leads to their rupture. It causes paralysis due to loss of blood supply to that brain tissue. 3. Sleep Apnoea 4. Breathlessness 5. Heart Diseases: hardening of blood vessels due to bad cholesterol and reasons explained above. 6. Rise in Cholesterol levels due to more fat and calories in the obese persons. 7. Stones in the Gall bladder: Fat, females and >40 years are risk factors for Gall stones. 8. Type 2 Diabetes: Obesity increases risk for type 2 diabetes. It makes diabetics insulin resistant. 9. Large bowel cancers: Due to fat food intake . 10. Infertility: Especially women who are obese are more prone to infertility. 11. Osteoarthritis: Bones become thinner and have to bear more weight. Joints are also affected. 12. Shape of the body: There is an increased cardio vascular disease in men with waist measuring more than 101 cm. (in women it is 89 cm). People whose belly is like apple fruit shape are at higher risk of heart diseases than pear shaped ones. So, Obesity is not a cosmetic problem, it is a medical condition. … [Read more...]
