Exercise and diet play a big role in checking hair loss and constipation

Out of shape

Q: I am a 26-year-old student, with a thin body structure and a bulky stomach. My hands, legs and other parts (except belly) have not grown in the right proportions. I tried many medicines, but they are of no use. What should I do? Please find a solution for me.

A: You are right. Medicines will not help. It is not possible to sculpt your body without overall fitness. You cannot spot reduce your paunch. You need aerobic exercise (running, jogging, etc) for 45 minutes a day with abdominal crunches (around 500 daily) and weight training. That way your arms and legs will develop, your stomach will reduce and overall fitness will improve. I would seriously advise joining a gym. They have qualified personal trainers who will help you to sculpt your physique.

Colitis trouble

Q: I am a 30-year-old man. I have been suffering from colitis for the past five years. I have mucus in my stool frequently. I have taken some medicines, but they have cured it partially. Can you suggest a diet regime and some medicines? Can I exercise? Please help.

A: You need to get a stool examination proctoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and barium enema done. This way any infection or pathology can be identified, diagnosed and tackled. Diet and medicine can only be prescribed if there is a diagnosis. If your problems are due to a chronic infection, specific treatment will help. It is always better to evaluate and obtain a diagnosis and treat rationally. Generally, increasing the fibre by eating six helpings of vegetables or fruits and drinking at least 3-4 litres of water per day can be helpful in reducing the symptoms.

Ear pain

Q: My son (two-and-a-half years old) frequently complains of severe pain in his left ear and in the part just below it whenever he takes any food. Our ENT specialist has prescribed a course of antibiotics, but there has been no improvement. His paediatrician suggests that there is nothing to worry and has prescribed eardrop Otogesic. But the ear drop could not provide any relief to my child.

A: What you seem to be describing may be occurring in the joint (temperomandibular) just below the ear, the tonsil or the throat or in the molar teeth. A paediatrician will be able to evaluate it and advise you best.

Losing weight

Q: I am a 20-year-old girl. My height is 5’4” and my weight totals 65 kgs. I have given up all kinds of junk food and sweets. But there is not much change. Please advise how I can shed the extra kilos with a regular health regime.

A: Shedding weight is hard work, but you will succeed because you seem to be tremendously motivated.

Do aerobics for 40 minutes per day. Do jogging, running and cycling. It should be fast enough to prevent normal conversation (don’t walk along talking to a friend). Do muscle toning exercises for 10 minutes and yoga for 10 minutes. Follow the rule of two, two idlis, two dosais or two chappatis. Go for one cup of rice per meal. Fill up with vegetables and salads. Use only five ml (one tsp) of oil per day per person in the house. Do not take a second helping! No matter how tasty the food seems.

Hitting a plateau

Q: I am 23 years old. I am 5’6” tall. Over the past two years, I have lost 20 kgs and now I weigh 85 kgs. But now, despite my efforts, I don’t seem to lose weight. Also I am very prone to pimples that have left ugly marks on my face. Please help.

A: You have to take 1200 calories a day, go for running, jogging, cycling or swimming for one hour a day and do weights three times a week. After the initial weight loss, you have just hit a temporary plateau. The downward spiral always starts again in due course.

As for the pimples, see if you have dandruff. Treating dandruff can prevent pimples. Wash your face three times a day with Neko soap and apply five per cent persol ointment at night.

Aiming high

Q: I am 15 years old. My height is just five feet. Please tell me how I can grow taller.

A: Height may be genetic. Your eventual adult height is usually the average of the heights of the parents. Good nutrition and physical activity (especially basketball every day) may eventually result in an increase of 1-2 inches in addition to the anticipated calculated height. Please do not subscribe to fraudulent claims and purchase miracle cures promised on the Internet or on the TV. Also, growth hormones are not advisable in the absence of a proven deficiency. They should be taken under the supervision of an endocrinologist.

Dr Gita Mathai is a paediatrician with a family practice at Vellore. Questions on health issues may be emailed to her at yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in