How to get fit and healthy

We frequently see advertisements on exercises to lose weight in televisions, banners on the road side and all over the internet. Does exercise truly help us to reduce weight? The answer is no. shocking! I was stunned when I heard the news myself. “In general, for weight loss, exercise is pretty useless,” says Eric Ravussin, chairman in diabetes and metabolism at Louisiana State University and a prominent exercise researcher.

We know that exercise can help you burn calories to lose weight. However it has a great effect on burning calories; it can stimulate hunger as well. You end up eating more calories than what you have burnt in the workout. It is possible that once you exercise heavily, the release of appetite hormone level (Ghrelin) will be increased in your body which will make you eat more.

Recently, PLoS a nonprofit Public Library of Science published a remarkable study on negative effects of exercise on weight loss. During the study, overweight women who didn’t exercise regularly were assorted into four groups. Women in three groups were asked to exercise regularly with a personal trainer for six months and women in the fourth group named as control group were asked to maintain their usual routines. All the groups were asked not to change their dietary habits for six months. Finally, women in all the groups including the control group lost weight, but the women who exercised regularly did not lose significantly more weight than the control group did. As the control group did regular activities, they consumed less food. It is important to note that some of the women in each group except control group actually gained weight!

Exercise is good for health but it is better to have a good control over amount of exercises. Less exercise means less in hunger stimulation so then you can consume fewer foods and maintain your shape perfectly.

Obesity is spreading intensely throughout the world. It is due to unhealthy diet, genetic defects and lack of or reduced physical activity. Obesity leads to diseases like heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, hypertension, as well as a lot of psychological issues. There are many ways to lose weight rapidly but weight loss surgery is the latest trend among teens.

Weight loss surgery also known as bariatric surgery or gastro intestinal surgery, which will alter the digestive process to achieve rapid weight loss. The operations can be divided into three types namely restrictive, malabsorptive, and combined restrictive/malabsorptive.

Restrictive surgery

This kind of surgery will reduce the stomach volume to limit the intake of food. Less food means a reduced calorie intake which will lead to quick weight loss.

Malabsortive surgery

Malabsortive surgeries will shorten the length of the digestive track to reduce the amount of food that the body can absorb. Remember, this surgery results in the absorption of fewer calories and nutrients in the body which leads to vitamin/mineral deficiencies. So it is not suggested by most doctors for their patients. There are four procedures which fall into this category namely Roux-en-Y, Biliopancreatic Diversion, Fobi Pouch and Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch.

Combined restrictive/malabsorptive surgery

Combined surgeries use stomach restriction and a partial bypass of the small intestine as well.

Is the weight loss surgery safe?

Yes, it is safe only when the operation is done by a skilled surgeon. ” Severely obese women are at an incredibly high risk for multiple cancers, primarily breast and (uterus) cancer but also colorectal and other gynecologic cancers,” Dr. Susan C. Modesitt from the University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville said.

Nothing in life is free from risks; however there are more advantages to bariatric surgery like improved blood sugar control or even reversal of type 2 diabetes, some risks may arise after surgery. Possible risks include development of blood clots in the deep veins of the legs or in the pulmonary artery of the lungs, reoperate surgeries, bleeding, etc.

In a nut shell, Bariatric weight loss surgery is the next step for people where nonsurgical approaches like exercise, dieting  etc have failed.  It is safe if you consult a professional doctor and follow their advice after surgery.