Ask

Dear Deboshree, Thank you for the question

Intermittent Fasting is recommended for specific health conditions and should be followed under the supervision of health care professionals.

It is specified for different individuals’ basis different metabolic rate, need and fitness goal. Ideally for apparently healthy individuals without any underlying medical conditions the ideal time duration for Intermittent fasting is when you can eat during 6-8-hour window period and fast for the remaining 14- 16 hours. For further details and specific guidance please contact your healthcare professional or registered dietitian.

Despite following intermittent fasting, unintended weight gain can happen due to sedentary lifestyle, hormonal imbalance and/or an underlying health condition. Please contact your health care professional for further diagnosis and assistance.

Sustainable weight management requires a holistic approach which involves lifestyle management which includes Dietary modification, Physical activity, hydration, and stress management. 

With any weight loss plan changes take time to reflect as your body requires sufficient time to adapt to the changes in order to show results.

An ideal weight loss meal plan should include calorie deficit diet with appropriate exercise regime followed under professional guidance.

However here are few objectives to be considered when planning to start with a weight loss program.

Count Your Daily Calories

• • It is recommended to consume 500kcal less than your average, daily, current dietary intake of calories to target on 2-3kg weight loss per month (ideally 0.5kg per week).
  • This target is a healthy& sustainable way of reducing and then maintaining the weight loss.
  • The first step hence is “counting your daily calorie intakes”. Counting your daily calorie intake is proven to be effective when on a weight loss diet. You can use applications/apps freely available, that will help you count your calories to keep a track on your daily calorie intake and physical activity levels.
  • These apps will also help you to track your hydration & sleep patterns which also impact your weight.
  • Ideal body weight for an individual can be calculated using the Broca Index (BI) which is: Ideal Standard Weight (kg) = Ht (cm) – 100
  • WHO has given different BMI (Body mass index) classifications to categorise adults into different weight categories. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height. It can be considered as a 2nd level indicator of overall health.

It can be calculated using a simple formula of BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m²)

Following is the WHO BMI Classification for Asians

18.5 to 23 - Normal

Less than 18.5 - Underweight

23 to 27.5 - Overweight

Above 27.5 – Obese

Please note it is recommended that the target body weight must be maintained within the normal BMI & ideal body weight range.  

General Dietary Guidelines for weight loss that can be considered:

• • Eat a well-balanced diet that includes all the 5 food groups (cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk & milk products).
  • Do not skip your meals. Have small quantity of meals at regular intervals.
  • Choose healthy snacking options in between your meals.
  • Monitor your portion size.
  • Fiber in your meals can potentiate the satiating property, suppress excess hunger and control food intake. All fruits and vegetables, whole grains, multigrain, millets, nuts & seeds etc., are a good source of fiber.
  • Try switching from saturated fats and trans fats to MUFA (mono-unsaturated fatty acids) & PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) as they are essential fatty acids and are good for your health.
  • Include protein in your diet. Some of the sources include pulses, lentils, milk, paneer, soybean, eggs, lean meat, nuts & seeds, etc. 
  • Consume fresh, seasonal fruits as they contain many essential nutrients and are good sources of fiber.
  • Carbonated and alcoholic beverages to be limited or preferably avoided.
  • Deep Fried foods to be restricted. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
  • Minimum of 8 glasses of water should be consumed to keep yourself hydrated.
  • Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before Bed time.
  • Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

Some Physical Activity Tips:

Engage in at least 30-45 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity such as walking for at least five days a week.

However, for specific exercise regimen to cater to specific fitness needs please contact a fitness expert

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions please contact your Health care professional or any registered dietician.

Hope we have answered your query.

Wishing you a great day ahead.

Dear Rajjat, Thank you for the Question. 

To achieve and sustain ideal body weight, it is very important to practice dietary modification. You can begin with small gradual changes towards portion guidance, and including high protein food.

Sustainable weight management requires a holistic approach which involves lifestyle management which includes Dietary modification, Physical activity, hydration, and stress management. 

With any weight loss plan changes take time to reflect as your body requires sufficient time to adapt to the changes in order to show results.

An ideal weight loss meal plan should include calorie deficit diet with appropriate exercise regime followed under professional guidance.

However here are few objectives to be considered when planning to start with a weight loss program.

Count Your Daily Calories

• • It is recommended to consume 500kcal less than your average, daily, current dietary intake of calories to target on 2-3kg weight loss per month (ideally 0.5kg per week).
  • This target is a healthy& sustainable way of reducing and then maintaining the weight loss.
  • The first step hence is “counting your daily calorie intakes”. Counting your daily calorie intake is proven to be effective when on a weight loss diet. You can use applications/apps freely available, that will help you count your calories to keep a track on your daily calorie intake and physical activity levels.
  • These apps will also help you to track your hydration & sleep patterns which also impact your weight.
  • Ideal body weight for an individual can be calculated using the Broca Index (BI) which is: Ideal Standard Weight (kg) = Ht (cm) – 100
  • WHO has given different BMI (Body mass index) classifications to categorise adults into different weight categories. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height. It can be considered as a 2nd level indicator of overall health.

It can be calculated using a simple formula of BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m²)

Following is the WHO BMI Classification for Asians

18.5 to 23 - Normal

Less than 18.5 - Underweight

23 to 27.5 - Overweight

Above 27.5 – Obese

According to your mentioned Height & weight your BMI is 32.7 kg/m2 which is under the Normal BMI range as per WHO classification.

According to your mentioned Height & weight your Ideal body weight is 86Kg.

Please note it is recommended that the target body weight must be maintained within the normal BMI & ideal body weight range.  

General Dietary Guidelines for weight loss that can be considered:

• • Eat a well-balanced diet that includes all the 5 food groups (cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk & milk products).
  • Do not skip your meals. Have small quantity of meals at regular intervals.
  • Choose healthy snacking options in between your meals.
  • Monitor your portion size.
  • Fiber in your meals can potentiate the satiating property, suppress excess hunger and control food intake. All fruits and vegetables, whole grains, multigrain, millets, nuts & seeds etc., are a good source of fiber.
  • Try switching from saturated fats and trans fats to MUFA (mono-unsaturated fatty acids) & PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) as they are essential fatty acids and are good for your health.
  • Include protein in your diet. Some of the sources include pulses, lentils, milk, paneer, soybean, eggs, lean meat, nuts & seeds, etc. 
  • Consume fresh, seasonal fruits as they contain many essential nutrients and are good sources of fiber.
  • Carbonated and alcoholic beverages to be limited or preferably avoided.
  • Deep Fried foods to be restricted. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
  • Minimum of 8 glasses of water should be consumed to keep yourself hydrated.
  • Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before Bed time.
  • Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

Some Physical Activity Tips:

Engage in at least 30-45 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity such as walking for at least five days a week.

However, for specific exercise regimen to cater to specific fitness needs please contact a fitness expert

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions please contact your Health care professional or any registered dietician.

Hope we have answered your query.

Wishing you a great day ahead.

Dear Trisha kundu, Thank you for the question  

Starting the journey towards achieving ideal body weight is a  good initiative on leading a healthy lifestyle! Kudos to you on your initiative.

Sustainable weight management requires a holistic approach which involves lifestyle management which includes Dietary modification, Physical activity, hydration, and stress management. With any weight loss plan changes take time to reflect as your body requires sufficient time to adapt to the changes in order to show results.

An ideal weight loss meal plan should include calorie deficit diet with appropriate exercise regime followed under professional guidance.

However here are few objectives to be considered when planning to start with a weight loss program.

Count Your Daily Calories

• It is recommended to consume 500kcal less than your average, daily, current dietary intake of calories to target on 2-3kg weight loss per month (ideally 0.5kg per week).
• This target is a healthy& sustainable way of reducing and then maintaining the weight loss.
• The first step hence is “counting your daily calorie intakes”. Counting your daily calorie intake is proven to be effective when on a weight loss diet. You can use applications/apps freely available, that will help you count your calories to keep a track on your daily calorie intake and physical activity levels.
• These apps will also help you to track your hydration & sleep patterns which also impact your weight.
• Ideal body weight for an individual can be calculated using the Broca Index (BI) which is: Ideal Standard Weight (kg) = Ht (cm) – 100
• WHO has given different BMI (Body mass index) classifications to categorise adults into different weight categories. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height. It can be considered as a 2nd level indicator of overall health.

It can be calculated using a simple formula of BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m²)

Following is the WHO BMI Classification for Asians

18.5 to 23 - Normal

Less than 18.5 - Underweight

23 to 27.5 - Overweight

Above 27.5 - Obese

Please note that it is recommended for the target weight to be within normal BMI

General Dietary Guidelines for weight loss that can be considered:

• Eat a well-balanced diet that includes all the 5 food groups (cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk & milk products).
• Do not skip your meals. Have small quantity of meals at regular intervals.
• Choose healthy snacking options in between your meals.
• Monitor your portion size.
• Include protein in your diet. Some of the sources include pulses, lentils, milk, paneer, soybean, eggs, lean meat, nuts & seeds, etc. 
• Fiber in your meals can potentiate the satiating property, suppress excess hunger and control food intake. All fruits and vegetables, whole grains, multigrains, millets, nuts & seeds etc., are a good source of fiber.
• Try switching from saturated fats and trans fats to MUFA (mono-unsaturated fatty acids) & PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) as they are essential fatty acids and are good for your health.
• Consume fresh, seasonal fruits as they contain many essential nutrients and are good sources of fiber.
• Carbonated
• and alcoholic beverages to be limited or preferably avoided.
• Deep Fried foods to be restricted. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
• Minimum of 8 glasses of water should be consumed to keep yourself hydrated.
• Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before Bed time.
• Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

Some Physical Activity Tips:

Engage in at least 30-45 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity such as walking for at least five days a week.

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions please contact your Health care professional or any registered dietician.

Hope we have answered your query.

Wishing you a great day ahead

Dear Soma Thank you for the Question. 

Consuming the right quantity and quality of protein is important for weight gain, it is necessary to include good biological value protein as a part of your daily balanced diet which helps in maintaining your lean muscle mass increase your muscle weight and overall weight.

Weight gain is a journey which requires appropriate nutritional management along with stress management, ideal sleeping hours and physical activity to maintain a healthy weight, prevent loss of lean body mass, Muscle mass and avoid malnutrition.

WHO has given different BMI (Body mass index) classifications to categorise adults into different weight categories. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height. It can be considered as a 2nd level indicator of overall health.

It can be calculated using a simple formula of BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m²)

 Following is the WHO BMI Classification for Asians

18.5 to 23 - Normal

Less than 18.5 - Underweight

23 to 27.5 – Overweight

Above 27.5 – Obese

As per WHO BMI (Body Mass Index) classification, a person weighing less than 18.5 kg/m2 is considered underweight.

 

Please note it is recommended that the target body weight must be maintained within the normal BMI & ideal body weight range.

The causes of underweight or unintended weight loss can be due to genetics, inadequate food intake, stress, hormonal imbalance, malabsorption or other underlying health condition which may require medical assistance.

An ideal weight management program such as weight gain involves lifestyle management including dietary modification, regular physical activity, hydration and good sleep cycle. With any weight gain diet, changes take time to reflect as your body requires sufficient time to adapt to the changes in order to show results.

A high calorie and high protein diet is recommended for weight gain. High protein foods give a feeling of satiety, delay gastric emptying and help in maintain lean body or muscle mass . Daily protein requirement should ideally be followed as 0.8-1g per kg body weight. You can include non-vegetarian sources of protein such as chicken, eggs, fish, prawns etc and vegetarian sources Milk & milk products like paneer, Legumes, lentils, beans (chickpeas, kidney, mung, pinto etc.), peas (green, split, etc.), soybeans (and products made from soy: tofu, tempeh, etc.), peanuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, hemp seeds, squash and pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds as a part of your daily balanced diet

Here are few guidelines that can be considered for weight gain

 

• Having a Healthy Diversified Balanced Diet that includes all the food groups in the right quantity which thereby provides you with all the essential macro and micro nutrients that your body requires daily for proper functioning. Include energy dense foods, keeping in mind the daily needs.

• Maintain a positive energy balance where the calorie intake should be more than the energy expenditure.

• Include energy dense foods, keeping in mind the daily needs. Some of the energy dense   foods include Whole wheat, multigrain millets, dairy products, nuts, colocasia leaves, banana, raisins, pulses/lentils etc.

• Do not skip meals. Eat small frequent meals.

• Three major meals a day with healthy nutritious snacks in between is preferred.

• Include good amount of fiber in your daily balanced, some of the god sources of fiber include whole grain, multigrain, millets, fruits and vegetables, nuts etc.

• Try to increase the serving size and portion size gradually and systematically

• Include healthy fats from nuts and seeds.

• Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day to maintain hydration

• Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

Regular physical activity or exercise is necessary and beneficial for overall health as it not only helps in burning calories but also helps in improving muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness, maintain ideal body weight, prevent, and manage lifestyle disorders as well as improve digestive health. Engage in at least 30-45 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity such as walking or Yoga for at least five days a week. Indulging in physical activity can also help in increasing the appetite and give a feeling of hunger.

For specific exercise regimen to cater to specific fitness needs please contact a fitness expert.

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions, please contact your Health care professional.

Hope we have answered your query.

Wishing you a great day ahead

Dear Rishi, Thank you for the Question.

Adolescence or teen age is a critical period of our lives in which our body undergoes rapid changes, growth and development. It is very essential to consume a healthy balanced diet with adequate amount of protein and other nutrients such as calcium, iron, vitamin D etc., which will help support growth, development, pubertal changes and strong bones.

Reference weight and height for a 19-year-old male is 52.7-64.1kg and 164.8-177.8cm Respectively

You can begin by consuming a balanced diet which provides all the nutrients in required amounts and proper proportions. It can easily be achieved through a blend of the four basic food groups. The quantities of foods needed to meet the nutrient requirements vary with age, gender, physiological status and physical activity. A balanced diet should provide around 50-60% of total calories from carbohydrates, preferably from complex carbohydrates, about 10-15% from proteins and 20-30% from both visible and invisible fat.

As a general dietary guideline, for an apparently healthy individual/ with no specific health or nutrition needs and/or metabolic condition it is recommended to consume 2000kcal/d and the RDA for protein requirement is 54g/d and the RDA for Fiber is 30g/d for men.

Here are a few general Dietary guidelines to be considered for adolescent nutrition

• Adolescence represents a period of active life, hence no meal of the day should be missed to sustain energy and growth spurts

• Having a Healthy Diversified Balanced Diet that includes all the 5 food groups (cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk & milk products) in the right quantity which thereby provides you with all the essential macro and micro nutrients that your body requires daily for proper functioning.

• Begin your day with a well-balanced breakfast as it is an important meal of the day.

• Consume minimum 5 servings of vegetables and 1 serving of fruit as they are rich in Fiber, essential minerals & Vitamins as well as they give you a feeling of satiety.

• Consume small frequent meals, with healthy snacking options.

• Include protein in your diet. Some of the sources include pulses, lentils, milk, paneer, soybean, eggs, lean meat, nuts & seeds, etc.  

• Include prebiotics such as banana, soyabean, garlic etc., good sources of probiotics like yogurt, buttermilk etc., to maintain a healthy gut.

• Food should be colourful and attractive.

• Avoid empty calories from foods such as carbonated beverages.

• Iron rich foods should be included in the diet to prevent iron deficiency anaemia. Some of the sources of iron include red meat, green leafy vegetables, eggs, etc

• Calories and protein rich foods should be taken to support the growth spurt. Some of the good sources of protein include, milk, paneer, lean meat, eggs, lentils, soybean, nuts etc.

• Include fruits and vegetables to meet the vitamin, minerals and fiber requirement.

• Try to consume more of Whole grains, Millets and Multigrain foods as they are a good source of fiber.

• Limit intake of deep-fried foods. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.

• Drink adequate amount of water (minimum 8 glasses) of water daily to keep yourself well hydrated

• Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before Bed time.

• Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

Regular physical activity or exercise is necessary and beneficial for overall health as it not only helps in burning calories but also helps in improving muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness, maintain ideal body weight, prevent, and manage lifestyle disorders as well as improve digestive health. Engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity throughout the week.

For specific exercise regimen to cater to specific fitness needs please contact a fitness expert.

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions please contact your Health care professional or any registered dietician.

Hope we have answered your query.

Wishing you a great day ahead.