Health and Fitness Mantras

Classification Of Obesity In Terms Of Body Mass Index

In recent years there has been a huge upsurge in Kolkata in the number of people suffering from obesity. No doubt there is a lot of reasons for this upsurge. Weight loss surgery has become quite common in Kolkata since this upsurge.

Obesity is a medical condition that causes an individual to gain excess body weight, particularly in terms of fat. The situation becomes severe with time, up to the extent where it starts to cause significant physical discomfort, mental trauma and attract several other medical conditions. Often it cannot be cured by any of the conventional means and weight loss surgery in Kolkata remains the only plausible solution for the same.

Every medical condition needs a particular measure in some aspect order to qualify it for the same. In case of obesity, it is done in terms of Body Mass Index or more commonly known as BMI. BMI was first introduced by the Belgian anthropometrist Adolphe Quetelet in the 19th century.

BMI is calculated by dividing an individual’s weight by the square of his height. BMI combined with an individual’s age and gender can estimate the body fat percentage. In metric terms, it can be obtained by dividing the body weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. Given below is the table showing the result of this formula that gives the weight status of an individual with the help of this formula.

Less than 18.5 – Under weight
18.5 to 25 – Normal Weight
25 to 30 – Overweight
30 to 35 – Severe Obese
35 to 40 – Morbid Obese
More than 40 – Super Obese

Even though it does not account for the entire fat distribution in the body or muscle mass, in today’s world, BMI is considered as one of the widely used tools for determining the healthy body weight and any deviation from normal. It is a very important tool to find the weight status of an individual along with whether or not he needs weight loss surgery.

It holds true for most of the adult individuals globally. Some of the exceptions would-be bodybuilders, strenuous sportsmen and pregnant women, who gain reasonable extra weight for obvious reasons without qualifying for being fat or clinically obese. So, once you get to know under which category of obesity you fall in you must take precution as needed. Whether you are undrweight or overweight, neither one is good for health.

12 Alarming Signs Of Diabetic Foot To Watch Out For

Diabetes is a condition in which the sugar level in the blood increases drastically. Advanced diabetes treatment can help you manage diabetes effectively. But poorly managed diabetes can lead to many severe complications eventually. Today let’s discuss one of them, the diabetic foot and its alarming signs.

Diabetic foot is an umbrella term which refers to the conditions of feet that are affected by prolonged diabetes. Usually, prolonged diabetes leads to many complications in eyes, skin or kidneys, But the number of issues that affects foot health is severed as well. Thus there is a separate specialization for the same and the doctors who offer treatment for it are known as a diabetic foot specialist.

The following are the alarming symptoms of an underlying diabetic foot condition. It might occur in either or both feet.

Numbness in foot and ankle that makes it difficult to recognize if anything is poking the areas.
Muscles weakness or tenderness with no other reasons.
Sharp and intense pain that may last for a few moments and return from time to time.
Tingling or burning sensation in feet and heals.
Reduce in the ability to feel any pain, pressure or temperature change in the feet.
Heightened sensitivity especially for pain, so that even socks or bed sheets can feel heavy.
Loss of balance during walking or standing even though dizziness is not the reason.
Inability to feel even if feet are brushing against each other while walking or running.
Easy bruising and slowed healing over long periods.
Loss of reflex and ability to respond to both internal and external stimulus.
Foot ulcers, and infection that takes too long to heal or worsens over time.
Bone, muscle, and joint pain in the foot and heels.

Many times, when the loss of sensation or infection becomes too severe, it becomes inevitable to amputate the foot. Thus it is best to take every measure to ensure diabetes stay in limit with the help of timely, diabetic treatment. If you are consulting a good diabetologist, they will offer you all these information along with check-up, apart from evaluating your blood sugar level from time to time and prescribing medicines for the same. Either way, it is crucial to go for annual screening for diabetes check-up that includes screening for foot, eyes and kidney and all other organs that can be affected due to diabetes.

7 Useful Snacks Swaps To Keep Extra Calories At Bay

The statistics of obesity surgery in India is on the rise from the past few decades. The habit of stuffing ourselves with unhealthy snacks in between meals is a big reason for gaining extra weight. Today, we are offering some useful tips to cut calories by simply switching from fattening snacks to healthier ones.

Dhokla for Samosa

Samosa is undoubtedly the most popular snacks throughout India. These deep-fried snacks add a lot of calories and many times can also bring unwanted health disease, as these are often fried in leftover oil from the previous batch. So, instead of samosa, try a piece or two of dhokla. Its much tastier and healthier option.

Popcorn for Chips

Munching on chips is very common for youth these days. So when you crave for something crunchy, go for popcorn instead. It will satiate your craving for crunchiness but will add far fewer calories into your body.

Makhana for French Fries

Having french fries is very tempting but it contains too many calories, spices, and oil. So go a much lighter and yet crispy snacks – makhana. You can alter it at home by adding some spices in it.

Mustard for Mayo Dips

Let it be french fries of pizza, having a dip has kind of became a must. So, instead of adding too many calories in every bite, try dunking them in mustard instead. It is a much healthier option and light on calories too.

Idly for Vada or Pancake

In case you like to have vada or pancakes as mid-day snacks, it is a better option than a cheese-loaded sandwich, but you can make things even healthier. Go for the same portion of idly and reduce oil and calorie content of your platter in the blink of an eye.

Buttermilk for Lassi

After a meal, it is very common to find people to look for a chilled packaged beverage. So next time, you are thinking about picking lassi, try buttermilk instead. Both these beverages are made from curd, but lassi contains sugar and other artificial sweeteners, making buttermilk a much healthier option.

Ice Lolly for Fancy Chocolate

During summers, it is also inevitable to crave for some ice creams. But instead of falling for chocolate ice creams, with multi-layers of sweeteners, switch to simple ice lollies. They contain much lesser sugar in them.

Switch to these healthier snacks and keep calories at bay successfully. In the long run, you can stay healthy and obesity free. But in case, you are already dealing with obesity, try to consider obesity surgery.

5 Common Causes Of Heavy Breathing You Should be Aware of

Do you often feel out of breath? In between tasks, you need to slow down, catch your breath first before resuming? Breathlessness is a medical condition in which the body does not get adequate oxygen. Often people assume it is solely due to a strained heart and seek a solution at best heart hospital. However, there might be other reasons for the same as well.

Here we present some of the most common causes of breathlessness.

1. Cardiovascular Conditions

Needless to say, this is one of the most common reasons for being out of breath. This condition arises when the heart is unable to pump an adequate amount of oxygenated blood to the muscle. The muscles then work much harder to compensate for the same, resulting in breathlessness. A severe case of such a deficiency leads to a heart failure which is a medical emergency and requires extensive medical treatment from best heart hospital.

2. Lungs Condition

Apart from the heart condition, another main reason for breathlessness is some underlying lung condition. Exhausted lungs put strains of the respiratory system and thus, leads to breathlessness. People who regularly find themselves out of breath routinely should look for a complete diagnosis to evaluate the exact cause of it.

3. Allergy

The severity of allergies ranges from person to person. For some, it simply causes a runny nose, or itchiness and redness, but it can also shortness of breath for many. Many people get rid of the symptoms on their own after some time, but some require extensive care or anti-allergen shots.

4. Exercise

Doing light exercise can make you a little tired, but it is the heavy, vigorous exercises that are the culprit if you are loosing breathes in between or right after your gym session. While exercising the muscle has to work extra hard with a regular supply of oxygen, and result in shortness of breath.

5. Dehydration

Though this might not sound like a major possible factor, dehydration causes lots of trouble for the body. The human body is 70% water. So deficiency of water affect in many ways and rapid breaths are simply one of them. You can notice heavy breathing during the loose motion for the same reason.

So, in case you often find yourself struggling for breath, then its time for you to evaluate yourself for the reasons and seek proper treatment for the same.

6 Health Risks Of Obesity That Everyone Should Be Aware Of

Obesity is defined by obesity surgery doctors as a health condition in which the individual accumulates extra body weight and become a breeding ground for many more health issues. Today let’s list out some of the most common obesity-associated illnesses that call out the need for undergoing weight reduction surgery.

1. Breathing Problem

Being overweight strained the lungs and thus, needless to say, breathing problem is the most common among people who have excess body weight. These individual struggles for breath, even with a very minute walking or climbing the stairs.

2. Heart Problem

Just like the lungs, the extra body weight exerts strain on the heart too, which now has to pump extra hard. Heart problems are thus, very common among overweight and obese people.

3. High Cholesterol

Obesity causes the body to have a much high level of cholesterol than what is considered to be safe. As a result, a plaque build-up to become quite common and it uplifts the risk of heart attack and stroke. Obesity surgery doctors recommend keeping an eye on the cholesterol profile for every overweight individual.

4. Depression

Though many might not count this as a health condition, depression and lack of confidence can make people very sick as well. Obesity, particularly when it is clubbed with body shamming, can make people withdraw from their social gathering and eventually, can cause severe illness.

5. Joint Pain

Having joint pain is very common among overweight and obese individuals, as the excess body weight exerts too much strain on the joints. In most cases, the joint pain stops the people form doing intense work out to lose weight. As a result, they cannot often lose weight through traditional approach and have to take resort of weight reduction surgery,

6. Sleep Apnea

We all snore from time to time. But it is quite common and quite dangerous for obese people specifically. The extra layers of fat deposits in the neck region often block the airway leading to snoring and a severe condition called sleep apnea, in which the breathing stops for a few seconds, during sleep.

In case, you or your loved ones are struggling with any of the above-mentioned condition, along with being overweight or obese, please get in touch with an obesity surgery doctor and consider getting weight reduction surgery.

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5 Easy Way To Cut Calories From Your Diet

Though bariatric surgery is a fail-safe procedure to get rid of obesity for once and for all, if you can cut down the extra weight on your own, you should. Cutting down calories from the diet is more challenging than you might think.

Here we offer some effective tips to cut calories from your everyday diet.

1. Start With A Heavenly Breakfast

The best way to avoid extra calorie is to have some healthy calories at home itself. No matter how busy you are, try to have breakfast, every day, without fail. Go for hearty meals instead of just bread, jam, and butter. This will help your system to work much better and help you cut calories later on the day. People seeking obesity treatment are often found to skip their breakfast most days.

2. Bake Your Own Snacks

Snacking is inevitable for most of us. Instead of going for packed, deep-fried snacks, it’s a good idea to bake your own snacks. It might sound like little inconvenient but actually, it is quite handy after a few attempts and definitely, it is worth the efforts. At home, you can choose the better ingredients and make versions that are more healthy.

3. Carry A Water Bottle

Many people eat when they actually should just drink. So, being hydrated is an easy and effective way to cut extra calories off the meals. To help you boost your aim, carry your water bottle with you. You can refill your water, all day long. Moreover, you can make infusers that will motivate you to have more water and supply various nutrients to your body.

4. Get rid of Food Apps/Pages

You are most likely to have at least one food delivery app that offers you a huge discount to a certain day of the week, or pretty much every day. Similarly, the food based blogs or posts make us feel more hungry and encourage us to try out more and more such fattening food. So keep your exposure to such food as little as possible. It can be done easily my uninstalling such as food apps and unfollowing such food blogs.

5. Chew While You Work

Try to fill your stomach with healthy food so that unhealthy items get no space. Try to have fruits and nuts, and sprouts in between work. This will motivate you to have them as work can bet monotonous. Moreover, it is a brilliant way to cut off extra calories.

Feel feel to let us know if you have any such calorie-cutting ideas that will help you stay healthy.

Bariatric Surgery in India – A Step Towards A Healthier Life Ahead

What is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery more commonly known as weight loss surgery is a procedure to reduce excessive body weight, for individuals dealing with Obesity.

How is Bariatric Surgery Helpful?

Fat loss surgery achieves significant weight loss by 3 ways.

Limiting the food intake
Limiting the re-absorption
Causing hormonal changes

Types of Bariatric Surgery

A. Lap Band

A silicone band is wrapped around the upper portion of the stomach to create a smaller pouch at the top. Only this portion holds the food after surgery and the person feels satisfied with a small portion.

B. Gastric Band

The stomach is resized and then attached to the rerouted intestine. It ensures much lesser food consumption and lesser re-absorption of nutrients back into the body.

C. Gastric Sleeve

The stomach is reduced vertically by almost 60-70 percent. This thinner tube-like stomach pouch holds the food and makes the person full with smaller food portion.

How Effective is Bariatric Surgery?

The effectiveness of bariatric surgery is quite high and helps to attain significant weight loss. If the post-surgery guidelines are followed, it stays effective for a lifetime.

Who Qualifies for Bariatric Surgery?

People with BMI 40 or above.
People with BMI 35 or above with associated complications.
People with BMI 30 or above who failed to lose weight otherwise.

Benefits of Bariatric Surgery

Long-term and significant weight loss.
Resolution or improvement of obesity-related health conditions.
Increased life expectancy.
Enhanced self-esteem and confidence.

What is Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery?

Laparoscopic obesity surgery is an advanced surgical procedure that uses minimally invasive technique to carry out weight loss surgery.

Benefits of Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery

Fewer complications during surgery.
Fewer complications after surgery.
Better aesthetics.
Faster recovery and quicker resume.

Post-Bariatric Surgery Guidelines

Regular physical exercise
Dietary changes

Role of ILS Bariatric Care in Providing Effective Bariatric Surgery in Kolkata

ILS Bariatric Care has been awarded with the prestigious title of “Center of Excellence” by SRC and OSSI. It offers laparoscopic obesity surgery for patients suffering from long-term obesity and its associated illnesses.

Tips to Stay Healthy During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, it is very important to take care of your health, because with you, your baby stays healthy too.

Here are some healthy tips which every woman needs to follow during pregnancy.

Eat Healthy Diet

Healthy eating during pregnancy is very important for your baby’s growth and development. To get the nutrients you need, you must eat from a variety of food groups, including fruits and vegetables, bread and grains, protein sources and dairy products.

Avoid Certain Foods

Some foods you should not eat when you’re pregnant because they might make you ill or harm your baby.

Stay Hydrated

Hydration is always important, and during pregnancy, those fluids are even more precious than usual. Drinking lots of fluids during pregnancy can work wonders, easing constipation, softening skin, reducing edema and decreasing the risk of both urinary tract infections and preterm labor.

Proper Prenatal Care

Proper prenatal care is very important as it helps prevent complications and inform women about important steps they can take to protect their infant and ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Say No to Alcohol

There is no safe limit of alcohol during pregnancy. The safest option is to give up alcohol completely when planning a pregnancy.

Do not Smoke

Smoking during and after pregnancy also increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Quit smoking is always a good idea whether you are pregnant or not.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep is very important for pregnant women carrying another life in their bodies.

Reduce Stress

Stress reduction during pregnancy can help you enjoy your pregnancy and also stay healthy.

Following these simple tips can help you and baby in your tummy to stay healthy.

Must Follow Do’s and Don’ts For Hernia Patients

Hernias are budged protrudes from belly and chest where intestine and abdominal fat comes out. These mainly occur in the abdomen but can also be found in upper thigh, belly and groin areas.

Here are some Do’s and Don’ts that person suffering from hernia should follow.

Do’s to follow

Consume fruits, vegetables, and grains
Drink plenty of water and other fluids to prevent constipation
Sweat and lose excess toxin
Eat small meals instead of larger meals
Exercise regularly

Don’ts to follow

Don’t reduce the amount of food
Stop smoking and drinking
Avoid lying down after meals
Don’t wear tight clothes
Avoid food difficult to digest
Avoid physical activities like lifting