Category: General

Anti-obesity medications can support weight loss, but they work best with a healthy diet and lifestyle changes. These medicines help by reducing appetite, blocking fat absorption, or influencing metabolism, but they are not a substitute for nutritious eating. Combining medication with a healthy diet can lead to better weight loss. A balanced diet rich in proteins, dietary fiber, low GI carbs, and healthy fats ensures that your body gets essential nutrients while managing calorie intake effectively. Diet and lifestyle changes help to develop habits that promote long-term weight management. Relying solely on medication without proper dietary control may limit long-term success and could lead to weight regain once the medication is stopped.

Focus on:

1. Eating mindfully, controlling portion sizes, and choosing whole, unprocessed foods can enhance the effectiveness of weight-loss medications.

2. Pairing diet with regular physical activity further accelerates results, helping to build a sustainable and healthier lifestyle.

3. Hydrate adequately.

4. Restrict sugars, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates.

5. Adopt a healthy lifestyle with a nutritious diet and regular physical activity.

Ms. Sreekutty S, MSc

Losing weight in nowadays is a challenging journey. Effective exercises for weight loss are those that not only burn calories but also aid in muscle building, increase metabolism, and boosts overall physical and mental well-being. Losing weight can be achieved through a combination of regular exercise, a healthy diet and lifestyle changes. Here is some effective exercise for weight loss.

Aerobic Exercises

1. Brisk Walking: Walking at least 10 mins per session, 3-4 times a week or 150 min of moderate walk per week.

2. Jogging/Running: Running or jogging at a moderate intensity with 10-15 mins, 2-3 times a week, and gradually increase duration and frequency.

3. Swimming: Start with 20-30-minute swimming sessions, 2-3 times a week.

4. Cycling: Cycling is a low-impact, aerobic exercise that offers numerous physical and mental health benefits. Start with 20-30 minutes of alternating between high-intensity cycling and 5-10 minutes of cool down period.

5. Dancing: High-energy dance workouts like Zumba.

Strength Training Exercises

1. Squats: Its targets lower body muscles, including quads, hamstrings, and glutes. It is recommended to do 3 sets with 8-12 repetitions.

2. Lunges: Lunges are a compound exercise that target multiple muscle groups in the legs, hips, and glutes. Start with a frequency of 2-3 times a week, allowing for at least one day of rest in between.

3. Push-ups: Push-ups are a classic exercise that target multiple muscle groups, including the chest, shoulders, triceps, and core. Start with 3 sets of 10 reps with 5-10 minutes of static stretching.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

1. Burpees: A full-body exercise that involves a squat, push-up, and jump. Start with 3-4 sets with 8-10 repetitions, 2-3 times per week.

2. Jump Squats: Jump squats are a plyometric exercise that combines the strength and power of squats with the explosive movement of jumping. It is advised to start with 5-10 of light cardio with 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

3. Plank: Its targets multiple muscle groups, improving overall core strength, stability, and posture. Start with 3 sets of 50-60 seconds with 60-90 seconds of resting time.

Yoga and Flexibility Exercises

1. Yoga: Yoga postures can help build strength, especially in the core muscles, arms, and legs. Various styles like Hatha, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga can help with weight loss.

2. Pilates: Pilates targets the core muscles, including the abdominals, oblique, and lower back muscles. A low-impact exercise that targets core strength and flexibility making it easier to move and perform daily activities.

3. Stretching: Regular stretching exercises can improve flexibility and balance.

Remember to:

• Consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise program.

• Always start with a warm-up exercise to prepare your muscles and prevent injuries.

• Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week.

• Incorporate strength training exercises at least two times per week.

• Listen to your body and rest when needed and stay hydrated

• Combine exercise with a healthy, balanced diet for sustainable weight loss.

Ms. Revathy.V.K, MSc

The most effective anti-obesity medicines available are orlistat (Xenical), phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia), lorcaserin (Belviq), bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave), Liraglutide (Saxenda) and Semaglutide (Wegovy) and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro).

Anti-obesity medicines help people with obesity lose weight and keep it off. New drugs like Semaglutide (Wegovy) and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) can help people lose 10-20 % of their weight. They also help control glucose and reduce heart disease, blood pressure, sleep apnea, fatty liver, and heart failure associated with obesity.

These drugs should only be used under the supervision of a doctor with expertise in treating people with obesity. They will always be a part of a weight management regime that includes appropriate diet, physical activity and behavioural changes.

Dr Mathew John MD, DM

As you are aware, obesity is associated with a host of diseases that include diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart disease, stroke, fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, gout, gall bladder stones, osteoarthritis, heart failure and increased chances of death. The treatment of obesity is aimed at reducing the risk of these diseases and death. It is known that the higher the degree of obesity, the higher the risk of developing these diseases, but different people can develop these diseases at various levels of BMI.

Anti-obesity drugs are indicated if

1. The BMI is 30 kg/m2 or more.

2. The BMI is 27 kg /m2 or more in the presence of an obesity-related disease like diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart disease or sleep apnea.

It is known that people in India can develop complications of obesity at lower levels of BMI, and the definition of obesity is beyond a BMI of 23 kg/m2. Please check with an endocrinologist to see if you will benefit from anti-obesity medicines.

Dr Mathew John MD, DM

Puberty is a time of life when there is rapid growth and attainment of final height. There is also rapid bone deposition, leading to increased bone mass. Further, there is an increase in muscle mass and growth of sexual organs in both sexes. Poor dietary choices will lead not only to an impairment in these processes but also to obesity.

The following aspects are essential.

1. Age and weight-appropriate calorie intake. A nutritionist should preferably guide this.

2. Protein is essential for muscle development during puberty. It should come from sources like eggs, chicken, fish, lean meat, nuts, seeds, beans, and soy products.

3. Calcium helps to build bone mass and promote growth. Food should include low-fat dairy, broccoli, tofu, nuts, and seeds.

4. Iron is vital for rapid growth, muscle mass, and blood volume. Good sources of iron include legumes, enriched grains, leafy vegetables, chicken, and beef.

5. Regularly use fruits and greens to supply folate, iron, and fibre.

It is always good to consult with your dietician to understand the dietary needs appropriate for pubertal development and preventing obesity.

Mrs. Rejitha Jagesh MSc

In boys, puberty generally starts between ages 10 to 14. However, it could start any time after nine years of age. The first sign of puberty in boys is the enlargement of the testes. However, this is rarely noticeable from the outside. Later, the pubic hair starts to appear. Further developments lead to an enlarged penis, voice changes and an increase in height. Most boys would complete the pubertal growth by 18 years of age.

If you notice any signs of puberty below nine years in a boy, it merits a visit to an endocrinologist. The investigations are directed at the causes of increased androgen (male hormone) production. Increased androgen production could be from the testes (directly or triggered by the pituitary) or the adrenal glands. For boys, it is essential to investigate the cause of puberty. It could be an activation of the brain’s hypothalamus that controls the pubertal process. It can be caused by tumours, cysts, hamartomas, infections, or congenital causes. It could be due to disorders of the testes or adrenals. Since some of these causes may be potentially dangerous, it is essential to diagnose them early.

Dr. Mathew John MD,DM

The onset of puberty below eight years in girls and below nine years in boys is called precocious puberty. The endocrinologist should see all kids with suspected precocious puberty. Some of them are normal puberty that started earlier than expected. On the other hand, some kids with early puberty may turn out to have diseases of the pituitary, the hypothalamus, the gonads (testes and ovaries) or even the adrenals. The early onset of puberty will bring both emotional and physical problems. The biological concern includes early stoppage of bone growth leading to short adult height. In addition, kids with early puberty are highly self-conscious about the changes occurring in their bodies. This may lead to low self-esteem and increase the risk of depression and substance abuse. The early onset of menstrual periods in girls is also a concern to parents. Medicines called GnRH analogues (e.g. Leuprolide, Triptorelin) are commonly used to stop the production of gonadotropins and, hence, arrest puberty’s progression. When used early and at an appropriate age, these drugs help to improve the final HEIGHT of kids with precocious puberty. They are generally safe and have very few adverse effects.

Dr. Tittu Oommen MD,DM

The typical age for puberty onset in girls is around 11. The first sign of puberty in girls is breast enlargement, which is called thelarche. Pubic and underarm hair grows, and body hair may darken. The height spurt in girls starts almost at a time when there is growth of the breast, and the velocity comes down as they get their menstruation. Most girls attain their adult height by the time they reach the age of 15 years.  

In boys, puberty usually starts between the ages of 10 and 14, with the average age being 12. The first sign of puberty in boys is an enlargement of the testes, which often goes unnoticed. They then develop pubic hair and growth of the penis. The growth spurt happens in mid-puberty, and they soon have a deepening of voice. The axillary hair and facial hair appear around this time. Most boys reach their final height around 16-18 years.

 Dr Mathew John MD, DM

Checking a single growth hormone (GH) level is not sufficient to diagnose growth hormone deficiency because GH is released in sporadic bursts, primarily overnight, making a single blood test unreliable. The size and duration of these pulses vary with the time of day, age, and sex, rendering random GH measurements rarely useful. A higher level may appear normal if the blood was drawn during a pulse, while a lower level may be normal if the blood was drawn at the end of a pulse. Instead, endocrinologists use the following tests to diagnose growth hormone deficiency:

 1)Growth Hormone Stimulation Test:

This is the primary test for diagnosing growth hormone deficiency. During the test, your child will receive medications designed to stimulate the pituitary gland to release GH. Blood samples are then taken at intervals to measure GH levels and sent to the lab for testing. If the results show that GH levels did not rise to the expected level, it may indicate that the pituitary gland is not producing enough GH.

2)IGF-1 Blood Test:

 Other blood tests measure substances like insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), which is produced when GH stimulates the liver. IGF-1 then promotes growth in bones, muscles, and organs. Because IGF-1 remains in the bloodstream longer than GH, doctors can use IGF-1 levels as an indirect measure of GH levels.

It is also essential to understand that in certain diseases like Turner syndrome, Prader Willi Syndrome, and in kids who are born small for gestational age, growth hormone testing is not necessary before starting growth hormone.

Together, these tests provide a more accurate diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency, ensuring appropriate treatment for the affected individuals.

Dr. Tittu Oommen MD, DM

Some adults have growth hormone deficiency due to diseases of the pituitary. This may be due to radiation or surgery. These people have low muscle mass, fatigue and depressed mood. They benefit from taking growth hormone replacement.
However, GH is commonly used as a gym supplement and in competitive sports. GH is banned by the International Olympic Committee. It is punishable if a person is found to be using GH while engaging in competitive sports events at the national or international level. Scientific studies have shown that using GH in normal people who engage in sports improves muscle mass. However, this has not been translated into strength, exercise capacity or performance. Further, people using large doses of GH experience diabetes, hypertension, arthralgia and fluid retention.
Hence, it is high time to restrict the availability of GH for recreational use in sports and gyms.

Dr. Mathew John MD, DM