Killing obesity

Parvesh Handa

Today being figure conscious is more a rule than an exception among women and for many -- including models and working executives -- staying slim and trim is a necessary professional hazard. Women with a fat surplus of 8 to 15 per cent over the ideal weight are considered over-weight or obese. When the skirt belt or jeans begin to get a little tight or there is a bit of a strain on your jacket buttons, it is time to be careful. Every woman should be cautious when:

the neck thickens and loses its normal contour

there is an appearance of double chin

the skin loses its firmness and tautness

fat starts over-hanging the hips and the waist

the buttocks get enlarged

the skin gets puffy

the breasts sag down to the stomach

stomach droops over the pubis

A woman has to be on her guard against obesity which may mar her looks and later, her health. Excess weight may cause the following problems:

Circulation Problems

An obese person gets palpitationsand experiences pain in the heart with slight exertion. The heart gets tired because of being surrounded by the weight, resulting in heart trouble. It may also lead to high blood pressure, diabetes or gout (disease of lower joints called gathia.

Psychological and Nervous Troubles

These afflict obese people causing irritation, tiredness, nervousness, and lethargy.

Digestive Problems

Obesity causes dilation of stomach, inflammation, spasm of the intestines, congestion of the liver, fatty degeneration and digestive upsets. Genital Disorders The infiltration of fat into the nervous and glandular tissues which control sexual appetite cause temporary impotence. However, if left untreated too long, the cells may mortify.

Excess weight may be hereditary, because of overeating or may result from old age, nervous factors, a sedentary lifestyle or over secretion by sub-renal glands.

Solutions to obesity are many. Apart from exercising, reducing one's intake of food is a good idea. What isneeded is a quantity diet on one hand and a quality diet on the other.

Lower the number of calories consumed every day. Cut down on fat and alcohol. Reduce carbohydrates to the minimum, but retain a sufficient amount of proteins for your own needs.

Normally, a healthy body digests the food within 15 to 20 minutes and converts it into energy. A wise and correct choice of food items, the method of cooking and regularity of food timings are important for good health. A sound health in itself is a means of real beauty. Food must contain a balanced quantity of proteins and carbohydrates. A young woman of average height, who is not pregnant, or who is not engaged in strenuous physical labour, requires 2,300 calories a day. One gram protein gives 4 calories, one gram carbohydrates also gives 4 calories, whereas one gram of fat gives 9 calories.

An ideal diet

Non-fatty soups, slightly salted vegetables

One egg a day

Fresh butter and liquid paraffin

Fresh or condensed milk(skimmed and unsweetened)

Fresh cheese with low fat contents

Cooked or raw green vegetables

Fruits (raw or stewed without sugar)

Fruit juices and herbal teas

Foods to Avoid: Bread, biscuit and pastries, fat meats and fatty fish, fried foods, butter and oils, cream and milk foods, corn flakes, starch flour and rice, fatty, fermented and salted cheese, dried vegetables and mushrooms, bananas, chestnuts, walnuts, jam, honey, cocoa and chocolates. Wine, beer, cider, alcoholic and sweetened drinks.--The author is a beauty therapist

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