Exercise beneficial for overall health, even without weight loss, says expert

New Delhi, (IANS) Do you stop working out if there is no weight loss? You may be wrong, as exercise is beneficial for overall health, even if it does not help you lose weight, according to a top neurologist.

Sudhir Kumar from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals said this, citing a recent study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Led by researchers from Harvard University in the US, the study demonstrated that physical activity is beneficial to many critical markers, independent of weight loss, among obese adults.

"If exercise does not lead to weight loss, is it worthless? The answer is NO," Sudhir said on X.com.

The Hyderabad-based neurologist said that some people who consult him report a lack of significant weight loss despite exercising.

"They lose hope and want to quit exercising. My advice to them is to not give up and continue exercising," he said.

"A desire to lose weight is one of the main motivators for people to exercise, but it should not be the sole aim of exercising," the doctor added.

Further, he explained that some of the health-related benefits associated with regular exercise (irrespective of weight loss) include "increased insulin sensitivity, lowering of blood pressure, HbA1C, serum triglycerides, increase in HDL or good cholesterol, improvement in sleep quality and quantity, depressive symptoms, lower risk of diabetes, stroke and heart attack, improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 Max), and muscle mass and muscle strength."

"These result in lower risk of premature mortality, lesser healthcare-related expenditure, and increase in healthy lifespan," Sudhir said."Do not stop exercising if weight loss is not seen. A healthy diet (carbohydrate restriction) plays a significant role in weight loss," he said. Exercise beneficial for overall health, even without weight loss, says expert | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→October 14, 2024

Calcium, vitamin D deficiency may affect bone health of pregnant women

New Delhi, (IANS) Proper intake of calcium and vitamin D in pregnancy may be key for good bone health in women during and after birth, said experts on Saturday.

A woman's bone health can change before and after pregnancy. While a woman is pregnant, her body undergoes numerous changes to support the growth of the foetus, and this affects bone health.

"Oestrogen that helps maintain bone density reduces significantly during pregnancy, leading to increased bone resorption. This involves breaking down old bones in the body to release calcium needed by a growing baby. Vitamin D deficiency and anaemia further add to bone loss. They must be taken care of pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy too," Sandhya Rani, Senior Consultant - Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Aster Women and Children Hospital, Bengaluru, told IANS.

Some women with inadequate levels of calcium, and vitamin D are likely to suffer from pregnancy-associated osteoporosis.

Although rare, these women typically experience bone fractures during birth or eight to 12 weeks following delivery.

"Calcium is important in pregnancy. The pregnancy is a highly metabolic state because of the hormonal imbalance of progesterone and everything. The calcium requirement for the mother and the baby is more," Vinay Kumar Gautam, Consultant - Orthopaedics, Manipal Hospital, Kharadi, Pune, told IANS.

"But to avoid any kind of osteoporosis, we have to see the calcium intake. If calcium is minimal we add vitamin D3," the doctor added.

Sandhya explained that oestrogen level decreases even more after giving birth. The most affected part of the skeletal system is found on the spine, hips, and wrists therefore more intensive loss of bone mass occurs here.

Within this period, there is typically a rapid decline in bone density that persists for about six months following childbirth (particularly among those who breastfeed).

"Most of the women regain normal bone density by 12 months post-delivery. Calcium requirement goes up because of breastfeeding which may also accelerate skeletal resorption. To conclude, a balanced diet, exercise, and supplements are the key," she said. Calcium, vitamin D deficiency may affect bone health of pregnant women | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→October 06, 2024