CENTRAL OBESITY (PART 1)

by Dr D B Nugegoda

Central obesity is a very serious condition, and is highly prevalent today. It is due to the accumulation of fat in and around the internal organs in the abdomen, the visceral fat. It is related to practically all the diseases faced by man today, Diabetes, Heart disease, High blood pressure, Cancers, Dementias, Alzheimer’s disease, Arthritis, etc. It is also a risk factor for all infections including COVID 19. It has been observed that obese people are more prone to get this infection, suffer more from the complications of it and also more likely to die from it.

I have mentioned that oral cavity, lungs and the gut could be sites of chronic inflammation pouring pro inflammatory cytokines into the blood leading to all above mentioned diseases. Visceral fat present in central obesity too acts like a factory churning out these cytokines and pouring them into the blood, causing these illnesses to occur and also intensifying them among those who are already having these diseases.

There is a very simple way to find out whether you have central obesity or not by using just a piece of string, “the string test”. You do not need even to find your weight.

As an adult you have reached your maximum height. Take a piece of string equivalent to half your height. If you are 60 inches tall the string should be 30 inches. Wrap this piece of string around your waist at the level of the umbilicus after expiration. If the two ends of the string meet or overlap you are not having central obesity. If they do not meet, WHICH WILL BE THE CASE FOR MOST OF YOU, you are having CENTRAL OBESITY and are liable to all above mentioned diseases. For those who are already having these diseases, the control of them will be difficult if you are having central obesity. If you are having central obesity it should be got rid of gradually. THIS SIMPLE STRING TEST I FEEL IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL THE EXPENSIVE BLOOD AND OTHER TESTS YOU ROUTINELY CARRY OUT TO ASSESS YOUR HEALTH STATUS.

If you fail the string test, do not get disheartened, as you are not alone, you are with the majority. The basic problem is you are eating too much and burning too little. Take steps to lower your weight and repeat the string test one month later, if you can even reduce the gap by half an inch you have done very well. As reducing the weight is no easy task. Repeat the string test every month and assess your progress.

If you can look after your oral, lung and gut health and cut down your waist line your health is assured. If you are already suffering from any illness, I am confident you will be able to control your illness, and may EVEN BE ABLE TO OVERCOME IT.