Healthy lifestyle is best wayto beat obesity, other ailments
Saturday, July 14, 2007
HEALTHY lifestyle, which includes exercising more regularly and making healthier food choices, is the best defence against obesity and other weight-related diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
Most of the peopl interviewed by The Brunei Times were of the view that cutting down on fatty food and sugary drinks and increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables is the best to keep one slim and healthy.
Dr C D Reynolds of the Riverview Medical Clinic, said "Problems such as obesity in Brunei can be contributed to a variety of reasons like genetics or hereditary factor, lifestyle and in some way the climate when heat and humidity keep people indoors and prevent them from going outside to do any kind of physical activity like exercise, jogging or walking".
"There needs to be change in attitude whereby it changes your lifestyle and what you eat and drink. My advice is to drink lots of water, increase vegetable and white meat intake and cut down on carbohydrates. I know Bruneians like fried food but having them alternatively boiled or grilled is healthier. Exercising for at least 20 minutes per day just to stretch the muscles and increase the blood circulation is very essential," he added.
However, Dr Reynolds pointed out that trying out easy options to reduce weight by taking diet pill and capsules should know that these measures work on a short term basis. What one requires is change in lifestyle and motivation to lead a healthy life. Anyone over 35 and wants to go on diet to reduce weight must see a doctor to avoid any health complication during the diet.
Prosper Mazorodze, a South African personal trainer at the Zunicwellness Gym, said that most of his clients have weight problems due to their lifestyle, genetics or family history.
"People who come to me either want to keep fit as well as due to health concerns, but sometimes the problem is that most Bruneians do not want to pay for health sessions," he said.
The personal trainer, who is currently training his clients in the area of martial arts and body combat, said to keep fit one needs self-discipline and motivation.
"The intake of carbohydrates should also be reduced such as rice, sugary drinks and oily food," he added.
Mimi Ramli, a 24-year-old government servant, has opted for Atkin's diet to keep healthy.
"The mechanism of Atkin's diet is that I try to cut down on my carbohydrates intake and my body will switch to the fat burning engine. In this way I cut down on the carbohydrates but I can get to eat meaty food as much as I can," she said.
Mimi, who has been on the diet for the past one month, said she is doing it to get back to shape she had when she was young
"Well sometimes I think there is a pressure from the society itself. But in my case, I felt and looked good at the weight I had earlier, and I just want that back," she added.
Rosinah Husaini, a 49-year-old mother from Kuala Belait, who spends two hours at the gym, at least four times a week where she does cardio exercises to keep healthy, said she has been going to the gym for the past seven years.
"In Brunei, it all depends on how you can motivate yourself because it is not in our culture to have a limited diet. But for me I go to the gym for stamina and to control my weight as I love to eat as well as for my physical looks as I enjoy being attractive and slim," she said.
She said since she has become health conscious she has seen and felt vast improvement in her health, keeping my blood pressure and cholesterol level at normal level.
"As you grow older, exercise becomes important. I started by doing 20 minutes of exercise per day before increasing length of sessions," she said.
The Brunei Times
Most of the peopl interviewed by The Brunei Times were of the view that cutting down on fatty food and sugary drinks and increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables is the best to keep one slim and healthy.
Dr C D Reynolds of the Riverview Medical Clinic, said "Problems such as obesity in Brunei can be contributed to a variety of reasons like genetics or hereditary factor, lifestyle and in some way the climate when heat and humidity keep people indoors and prevent them from going outside to do any kind of physical activity like exercise, jogging or walking".
"There needs to be change in attitude whereby it changes your lifestyle and what you eat and drink. My advice is to drink lots of water, increase vegetable and white meat intake and cut down on carbohydrates. I know Bruneians like fried food but having them alternatively boiled or grilled is healthier. Exercising for at least 20 minutes per day just to stretch the muscles and increase the blood circulation is very essential," he added.
However, Dr Reynolds pointed out that trying out easy options to reduce weight by taking diet pill and capsules should know that these measures work on a short term basis. What one requires is change in lifestyle and motivation to lead a healthy life. Anyone over 35 and wants to go on diet to reduce weight must see a doctor to avoid any health complication during the diet.
Prosper Mazorodze, a South African personal trainer at the Zunicwellness Gym, said that most of his clients have weight problems due to their lifestyle, genetics or family history.
"People who come to me either want to keep fit as well as due to health concerns, but sometimes the problem is that most Bruneians do not want to pay for health sessions," he said.
The personal trainer, who is currently training his clients in the area of martial arts and body combat, said to keep fit one needs self-discipline and motivation.
"The intake of carbohydrates should also be reduced such as rice, sugary drinks and oily food," he added.
Mimi Ramli, a 24-year-old government servant, has opted for Atkin's diet to keep healthy.
"The mechanism of Atkin's diet is that I try to cut down on my carbohydrates intake and my body will switch to the fat burning engine. In this way I cut down on the carbohydrates but I can get to eat meaty food as much as I can," she said.
Mimi, who has been on the diet for the past one month, said she is doing it to get back to shape she had when she was young
"Well sometimes I think there is a pressure from the society itself. But in my case, I felt and looked good at the weight I had earlier, and I just want that back," she added.
Rosinah Husaini, a 49-year-old mother from Kuala Belait, who spends two hours at the gym, at least four times a week where she does cardio exercises to keep healthy, said she has been going to the gym for the past seven years.
"In Brunei, it all depends on how you can motivate yourself because it is not in our culture to have a limited diet. But for me I go to the gym for stamina and to control my weight as I love to eat as well as for my physical looks as I enjoy being attractive and slim," she said.
She said since she has become health conscious she has seen and felt vast improvement in her health, keeping my blood pressure and cholesterol level at normal level.
"As you grow older, exercise becomes important. I started by doing 20 minutes of exercise per day before increasing length of sessions," she said.
The Brunei Times
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