50% Increase in Childhood and Adolescent Obesity in Girls Causing Infertility: Doctors

·         Serious lifestyle disorder such as poor diet high in calorie and low on nutrition, peer pressure and near-absence of physical activity are the primary reasons for abnormal body mass index (BMI) in teenage girls.

·         Adult women who come to us with issues such as irregular periods or PCOD also show a consistent trend of carrying extra weight as teenagers.

·         Many of these women were able to reduce weight and conceive and complete their pregnancy successfully, but not all, doctors say.

·         Researchers have shown a close relationship between energy metabolism, nutritional state and reproductive physiology and disorders or alterations in nutritional state (obesity, malnutrition, anorexia nervosa, etc.) and metabolic disturbances can disrupt the complex interplay of hormones essential for fertility.

12^TH July .2019: An alarming 50 percent rise in the number of overweight children, especially girls who grow into obese teens and adults, is one of the preventable but inevitable cause of infertility in women, according to the doctors at the Columbia Asia Hospital here.

Doctors suggest that serious lifestyle disorder such as a poor diet high on calorie and low on nutrition, peer pressure, and near-absence of physical activity are the primary reasons of abnormal body mass index (BMI) in teenaged girls. This often leads to chronic health conditions such as polycystic ovary disease (PCOD) or Stein-Leventhal syndrome. This in turn contributes to anovulation (the ovaries do not release an oocyte during a menstrual cycle resulting in no ovulation causing irregular menstrual cycles or amenorrhea) and other menstrual irregularities, reduced conception rate, and a reduced response to fertility treatment.

“The ideal weight for a girl between 6 and 12 years should be 19.2 - 38.5 kg and between 12 and 17 years, it should be 38.7 - 53. 0kg. However, many of the young girls who have attained puberty come to us are overweight – within the range of 56 - 78kg. Adult women who come to us with issues such as irregular periods or PCOD also show a consistent trend of carrying extra weight as teenagers. Most obese women with infertility and signs or symptoms associated with androgen excess are affected by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).  Many of these women were able to reduce weight and conceive and complete their pregnancy successfully, but not all,” says Dr. Neera Bhan, Obstetrics and Gynecology Columbia Asia Hospital, Ghaziabad.

Researchers have shown a close relationship between energy metabolism, nutritional state and reproductive physiology and disorders or alterations in the nutritional state (obesity, malnutrition, anorexia nervosa, etc.) and metabolic disturbances can disrupt the complex interplay of hormones essential for fertility, such as gonadotropins and gonadal. Studies in the past have shown how early-onset obesity is associated with early puberty and abnormal maturation of the activities of hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovary; these changes may lead to the development of PCOS.

“More than anything else, obesity, especially abnormal amount of abdominal fat, hampers the natural physiological mechanism of a girl’s body, irrespective of her willingness to have a child. That a preventable disorder such as obesity is causing havoc in the lives of our girls is a cause of serious concern. Weight loss improves menstrual regularity, ovulation and fertility, and should be promoted as the initial treatment option for obese girls at risk of infertility: Usually, only 8 to 10 percent weight loss is required. Lifestyle modifications are the best way to achieve and sustain weight loss, including regulated dieting, regular exercise, cognitive behavior therapy and a supportive group environment,” says, Dr. Neera Bhan, Obstetrics and Gynecology Columbia Asia Hospital, Ghaziabad.

Managing Obesity in Young Girls and Teenagers: ·         Sensible diet and changed eating habits ·         Behavior modification, reduction of stress, well being ·         Effective physical activity programme sustainable for the long term ·         Avoiding ‘crash diets’ and short-term weight loss ·         Stopping smoking and reducing alcohol consumption ·         Avoiding aggressive surgical approaches ·         Adopting the weight loss programme to meet individual needs ·         Social support by physician, family, spouse and peers ·         Long-term observation, monitoring and encouragement of patients who have successfully lost weight

Use of Gadgets Hurting Spine of Youth; 80% Cases Can Be Rectified with Lifestyle Modification: Doctors

·         The most common problem seen in young people are related to cervical spine and backbone – slip discs, repetitive stress injuries, sore back, and injuries to the ligament.

·         Spine related problems occur more in the gadget-savvy working professionals between 20 and 40 years who sit for long hours, making them prone to repetitive stress injuries, also known as overuse syndrome.

·         In past few years, Columbia Asia has received approx 50% patients who are below 40 but have serious spine conditions; repetitive stress injury is the most common condition.

·         Prolonged and abnormal exposure to screens makes them susceptible to sprains in the ligaments that bind the vertebra, resulting in muscles becoming sore and increases chances of problems in the disc.

22nd May 2019: Spine problems in young people between 20 and 40 years occur more in the gadget-savvy working professionals who sit for long hours, making them prone to repetitive stress injuries, the spine surgeon at the Columbia Asia Hospital says. As much as 80 per cent of the spine conditions in young people can be corrected by simple lifestyle modifications such as good nutrition and adequate exercise, the doctor says.

Repetitive stress injury (RSI) describes the pain in muscles, nerves and tendons caused by repetitive movement and overuse. The condition is also known as overuse syndrome, work-related upper limb disorder or non-specific upper limb pain.

“Most of the people in this age group are working professionals who drive long distances to office and after that perform most of the jobs sitting for the whole day. They work on computer or laptops, sit for long meetings, and are active on social media available on their mobiles. Once home, they use gadgets to read books and fall asleep while reading. Such prolonged and abnormal exposure to screens puts unnecessary stress on the spine and makes them susceptible to sprains in the ligaments that bind the vertebra, resulting in muscles becoming sore and increases chances of problems in the disc,” says  Dr.Ashutosh Jha – Consultant Orthopedics, Columbia Asia Hospital,Ghaziabad.

As spine related problems in youth are becoming rampant in India, the doctor finds that most of the issues occur due to the dual burden of long sitting hours and abnormal use of spine prompted by gadgets.

“The spine of a human being is originally designed to support movement and when used, spine remains healthy. The problem in today’s youth is due to inactivity of the spine and excessive dependence on and use of gadgets. The most common problem seen in young people are related to cervical spine and backbone – slipdiscs, repetitive stress injuries, sore back, and injuriesto the ligament. In past few years, I have received 125 patients who are below 40 but have serious spine conditions and repetitive stress injury is the most common condition I come across. The most important step is to identify the problem on time which lowers the need of medical or surgical intervention and can be treated with simple lifestyle modification such as good, nutritious food, moderate exercise and reducing sitting time by taking a short walk at regular intervals,” says  Dr.Ashutosh Jha – Consultant Orthopedics, Columbia Asia Hospital, Ghaziabad.