Your health is around your waist
Jun 29, 2008
WITH a pot belly, a Mark II car and an advocate’s job, 29-year-old-Nathan looked like a well-to-do man. His only problem was that he used to sweat excessively. No matter what time of the day it was, the back of his shirt always had a wet patch.
By Titus Serunjogi
WITH a pot belly, a Mark II car and an advocate’s job, 29-year-old-Nathan looked like a well-to-do man. His only problem was that he used to sweat excessively. No matter what time of the day it was, the back of his shirt always had a wet patch.
People said that was alright. Some reasoned that if the sweating was not due to his genetic make up, then it was a sign that he was free from stress and enjoying life. Indeed Nathan was famous for taking his friends out for roast meat and booze.
However, last month, he had to be rushed to a clinic. He was sweating profusely, his breathing was shallow and his arms were numb. The nurse said his blood pressure had suddenly surged.
Two hours later, Nathan suffered a stroke and was rushed to hospital. Today, his arms and legs are permanently disabled.
Hypertension or high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases linked to obesity are on the rise not only in the US and Europe, but also in undeveloped countries like Uganda.
Dr. John Omagino, the assistant director of the Uganda Heart Institute, says many men are likely to suffer the same fate as Nathan if they do not change their lifestyles.
“Many men still look at a potbelly as a badge of pride and success. But a big belly may also be a sign that a man is having visceral fat. This is fat surrounding the organs like the heart, lungs and stomach.
Such fat is a factor in life-threatening illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and erectile dysfunction,†Omagino says.
Visceral fat is more common in men than women. This is because men gain weight beginning from the waist, abdomen and upwards while women begin gaining weight from around the hips, buttocks and upper thighs.
The wider a man’s waist is in relation to his hips, the higher his chances of getting diabetes and high blood pressure are.
Omagino says fat packed around the organs in the abdomen builds up plaque inside the blood vessels, which ruptures or blocks the vessels, leading to internal bleeding or stroke.
Researchers also say fat around the organs is more metabolically active and releases inflammatory proteins and acids that go into the blood stream, build up plaque in the blood vessels and trigger the body’s immune system into overdrive.
This state is self-destructive because it wears down the cells and organs and deteriorates the body.
Dr. Drake Adupa, a consultant gynaecologist at Mulago Hospital, says men who have a lot of stored fat generate excessive heat, which severely reduces their sperm count and testosterone levels, thus leading to erectile dysfunction.
He adds that more than 14% of Ugandan men are suffering from erectile dysfunction.
Today, the Uganda Heart Institute is dealing with 400 people with coronary disorders.
Another study published in the Journal of Neurology in April showed that people with bigger bellies are more likely to suffer from dementia (memory loss during old age).
The World Cancer Research Fund in Britain also concluded that “fat, especially in the mid-section, can increase the production of hormones that drive the development and growth of cancer cells.â€
Countries like Japan do not just read the research reports, they are putting them in action.
The Newyork Times, in a June 13 article, reported that two months ago, Japan passed a new law that requires that all Japanese between the ages of 40 and 74 measure their waistlines as part of their annual check-up.
Men’s waistlines should not exceed 33.5 inches and women’s 35.4 inches.
However, critics say this is very strict. But others warn that the measurements are in relation to the Japanese structure.
Ordinarily, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, one is at risk if one’s waist measures more than 102cm (40inches) for men and more than 88cm (35inches) for women.
Getting rid of belly fat
Omagino advises that: “To lose fat, you have to burn more calories than you consume. A simple way to reduce your calorie in-take is by drinking water instead of soda or beer. People should also reduce the consumption of deep fried foods.â€
He also advises people to eat their larger meals earlier in the day when they need energy and smaller meals in the evening when they are less active. He adds that it is better for people to split their meals into five or six servings a day, instead of the usual three meals.
People wishing to shed off the bulging tummy should also incorporate exercises into their daily routine to increase their heart rate. For example, if you use taxis, try and get off a stage or two before reaching home and walk the remaining part of the journey. Avoid using lifts and instead use the stairs.
Many people imagine that doing sit-ups will solve the problem. But experts at ezinearticles.com suggest that without a cardiovascular workout, sit-us may be useless.
They advise workouts such as jogging, walking, swimming, biking or anything that will take the heart rate up and keep it there for 20 minutes.
Some pot-bellies are caused by weakened abdominal muscles. This can be corrected by exercises that target both the lower and upper abdominal muscles.
However, Omagino advises that before going to the gym, people battling the bulge should first see a doctor. He adds that there are many other causes of a pot belly.
Chronic constipation can also cause abdominal distension which gives the appearance of a protruding tummy. Some people have a prominent belly because they are suffering from disorders like gastroparesis, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and even certain types of cancer.
WITH a pot belly, a Mark II car and an advocate’s job, 29-year-old-Nathan looked like a well-to-do man. His only problem was that he used to sweat excessively. No matter what time of the day it was, the back of his shirt always had a wet patch.
People said that was alright. Some reasoned that if the sweating was not due to his genetic make up, then it was a sign that he was free from stress and enjoying life. Indeed Nathan was famous for taking his friends out for roast meat and booze.
However, last month, he had to be rushed to a clinic. He was sweating profusely, his breathing was shallow and his arms were numb. The nurse said his blood pressure had suddenly surged.
Two hours later, Nathan suffered a stroke and was rushed to hospital. Today, his arms and legs are permanently disabled.
Hypertension or high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases linked to obesity are on the rise not only in the US and Europe, but also in undeveloped countries like Uganda.
Dr. John Omagino, the assistant director of the Uganda Heart Institute, says many men are likely to suffer the same fate as Nathan if they do not change their lifestyles.
“Many men still look at a potbelly as a badge of pride and success. But a big belly may also be a sign that a man is having visceral fat. This is fat surrounding the organs like the heart, lungs and stomach.
Such fat is a factor in life-threatening illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and erectile dysfunction,†Omagino says.
Visceral fat is more common in men than women. This is because men gain weight beginning from the waist, abdomen and upwards while women begin gaining weight from around the hips, buttocks and upper thighs.
The wider a man’s waist is in relation to his hips, the higher his chances of getting diabetes and high blood pressure are.
Omagino says fat packed around the organs in the abdomen builds up plaque inside the blood vessels, which ruptures or blocks the vessels, leading to internal bleeding or stroke.
Researchers also say fat around the organs is more metabolically active and releases inflammatory proteins and acids that go into the blood stream, build up plaque in the blood vessels and trigger the body’s immune system into overdrive.
This state is self-destructive because it wears down the cells and organs and deteriorates the body.
Dr. Drake Adupa, a consultant gynaecologist at Mulago Hospital, says men who have a lot of stored fat generate excessive heat, which severely reduces their sperm count and testosterone levels, thus leading to erectile dysfunction.
He adds that more than 14% of Ugandan men are suffering from erectile dysfunction.
Today, the Uganda Heart Institute is dealing with 400 people with coronary disorders.
Another study published in the Journal of Neurology in April showed that people with bigger bellies are more likely to suffer from dementia (memory loss during old age).
The World Cancer Research Fund in Britain also concluded that “fat, especially in the mid-section, can increase the production of hormones that drive the development and growth of cancer cells.â€
Countries like Japan do not just read the research reports, they are putting them in action.
The Newyork Times, in a June 13 article, reported that two months ago, Japan passed a new law that requires that all Japanese between the ages of 40 and 74 measure their waistlines as part of their annual check-up.
Men’s waistlines should not exceed 33.5 inches and women’s 35.4 inches.
However, critics say this is very strict. But others warn that the measurements are in relation to the Japanese structure.
Ordinarily, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, one is at risk if one’s waist measures more than 102cm (40inches) for men and more than 88cm (35inches) for women.
Getting rid of belly fat
Omagino advises that: “To lose fat, you have to burn more calories than you consume. A simple way to reduce your calorie in-take is by drinking water instead of soda or beer. People should also reduce the consumption of deep fried foods.â€
He also advises people to eat their larger meals earlier in the day when they need energy and smaller meals in the evening when they are less active. He adds that it is better for people to split their meals into five or six servings a day, instead of the usual three meals.
People wishing to shed off the bulging tummy should also incorporate exercises into their daily routine to increase their heart rate. For example, if you use taxis, try and get off a stage or two before reaching home and walk the remaining part of the journey. Avoid using lifts and instead use the stairs.
Many people imagine that doing sit-ups will solve the problem. But experts at ezinearticles.com suggest that without a cardiovascular workout, sit-us may be useless.
They advise workouts such as jogging, walking, swimming, biking or anything that will take the heart rate up and keep it there for 20 minutes.
Some pot-bellies are caused by weakened abdominal muscles. This can be corrected by exercises that target both the lower and upper abdominal muscles.
However, Omagino advises that before going to the gym, people battling the bulge should first see a doctor. He adds that there are many other causes of a pot belly.
Chronic constipation can also cause abdominal distension which gives the appearance of a protruding tummy. Some people have a prominent belly because they are suffering from disorders like gastroparesis, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and even certain types of cancer.