New Delhi: The new obesity guidelines set for topical aims of raising awareness on weight control and establishing cut off points for obesity related diseases such as BMI may potentially allow for the pushing back of the arthritis diagnosis by constructing the identification of differentiating symptoms from overweight or obese patients suffering from arthritis. The new rules lay out that a doctor may be more inclined to treat the weight problem before any other condition that has not been explored. Since obesity is a risk factor for stress and inflammation of joints, phenomena such as joint pain, stiffness or swelling will be sought to be treated as some sort of indicator of arthritis but rather than a diagnosis on its own.

Could the obstacles created by the revised obesity parameters eliminate the possibility of developing arthritis?

In a dialogue with News9Live, Dr. Ram Murti Sharma, Medical Superintendent with Sharda Hospital remarks: “New obesity recommendations wherein more weight is being placed on BMI criteria for diagnosing obesity-related conditions maybe tardily catch the developing arthritis by possibly neglecting adjunct symptoms that manifest during the early stages of the disease among the overweight and obese populace. These guidelines further imply that practitioners may try to attend to the condition of overweight patients without investigating other diseases first. The condition of obesity alone, being a risk factor for stress and inflammation of joints, may explain the phenomena of joint discomfort, stiffness or swelling rather than treating the arthritis as a separate condition.”

Is it safe to assume that the obtaining status of India as the diabetes capital has a mark of distinction of obesity?  

Dr Narendra Shetty – Chief Wellness Officer, Kshemavana, while answering the same, said, “Yes research evidence has confirmed that India is the diabetes capital and the major contributing factor is obesity. Lack of physical exercise coupled with diabetes type 2 has predisposed the population, obesity is a vicious circle between high calorie high fat and high sugar intake which translates into high levels of visceral fat which in turn pushes an individual towards diabetes.

The criteria for Comorbid Obesity state that one must have a BMI greater than 30 while also fitting a particular age and gender profile -‘According to NSO of India 6.4% females and around 4% of males aged between 15-49 years are thought to suffer from diabetes. This adds to the problem of diabetes’. The recently revised obesity guidelines rests their cross-functional management of overweight and obesity on nutrition, lifestyle changes, medication, and even surgery techniques. They state that there has been an excessive overhead with regards to the paralysis category and this subsequently lead to an indefinite diagnosis of the condition, obesity. Since these guidelines postulate various types of obesity related to treatment focus as well as management of arthritis for instance weight reduction, they postulate a lower part of the hierarchy. However these stipulations do underline a multi-facetted stance which allows monitoring of health measurements such as arthritis.

Dr Shetty further added: ”The policies and guidelines can be of assistance, but this issue is more complicated. Convenience and quick food availability, the research says, is one of the factors that lead to increased obesity. These guidelines, however, can help healthcare providers tackle obesity, but they do not directly benefit the food industry or alter consumer behaviour. On the other hand, providing insights and education about healthy diets and lifestyle choices could encourage people to eat smart. Also, Policies like those of India’s Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society also help enforce policies which self-regulate the market and the nutritious foods.”