The Hindu Business Line : How good is your health resume?

Getting fit is like getting promoted with loads of perks. The bottom-line: If you screen your health resume, you'll never have to be screened for complications like prostrate cancer, caused by unhealthy eating habits and obesity.

Name: Rajesh Chopra

Job: Director, Quality Control, Pharmaceutical department of a German multinational

Residence: Frankfurt, Germany

Age: 37

Height: 5 ft 9 inches

Weight before: 101 kg

Weight after: 72 kg

Triglyceride levels before: 700 (over 200 is hazardous to health)

Triglyceride levels after: 90

Blood pressure before: 160/105

Blood pressure after: 125/84.

Since he migrated to Germany, 10 years ago, Chopra's meals were sausages, eggs, cheese fries and peanuts, washed down by beer. Every time he tried a diet, he would rebound by eating more. During his company's annual medical check-up, the doctor didn't give him a talk as he normally did. He simply said, "You can't go on this way."

Meanwhile, Chopra's company got a new managing director (MD). A fit, active man who went on hikes, did mountain climbing, and who circulated health memos to the staff. At a meeting, when Chopra returned from the men's room, the MD looked at him and said, "You are breathless, Herr Chopra. I want you to go on leave. Return only after you are healthy." And he proceeded with the meeting.

The shock treatment worked. Feeling his job was on the line, Chopra and his wife, Mona, set up a daily point system. For every low-fat meal, he awarded himself 10 points — maximum 40 points for the day. For every half-hour exercise-session, he awarded himself nine points. The idea: His workout score should always exceed his eating score. He ate air-popped popcorn, tomatoes, carrots and apples.

He walked on his treadmill, at first pausing to get his breath back before continuing. In nine months, he lost 29 kg. His waist-span shrank from 44 to 36 inches. He played tennis to keep himself "occupied." And, did a workout on the treadmill for a non-stop 50 minutes.

Back at work, Chopra says his greatest moment of victory was at his first directors' meeting. "My MD didn't recognise me!" he says gleefully. Today his habits have changed. He chooses the treadmill over the sofa to watch TV. On the evenings he is a bit pooped, he chooses the stationary bike. Water has replaced beer. "I sip water," he says. "I guess I can't rid my elbow-bending habit. But I bend it to drink the right stuff!"

Underlying Chopra's weight-loss story is a bigger drama. At the same medical annual, his doctor had told him his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was slightly elevated. This indicates traces of cancer in the blood. At that time, Rajesh paid no attention.

Besides, the doctor had said his PSA-free radicals were on the low side. The main symptoms for prostate problems are severe backache, constant visits to the loo, including what is sensitively termed as `accidents' — meaning involuntary wetness. Catheters, surgery and pads come on the follow-up list.

The following five factors put a man at risk, and a point-based self-test devised by experts can be taken to keep a check:

Age: Under 30 (0 points); 30-40 (+10); 41-50 (+2); 51-60 (+3)

Family history: No history (0); Father had PSA (+3); Father's two relatives (+6)

Race: Asian (+1); Africans: (+5)

Diet: Low fat (0); Red meat/ghee thrice a week (+1)

Smoking: Non-smoker (0); Smoker: (+1)

Score: +6 or more - high risk of prostate cancer; +3-5 - moderate risk; Under 3 - no risk.

Experts point out that men with high-fat diets have a greater chance of developing prostate cancer. Also, being overweight or obese is like taking it on as a partner. However, there are five vital prostate-friendly nutrients that researchers say could be helpful. Lycopene: the red hue of the tomato. Recommended per day (RPD): Four tomatoes + four carrots. The beta-carotene in carrots increases lycopene absorption. Watermelon and pink grapefruit are great sources too.

Boron: RPD: Two apples/pears/peaches/oranges.

Friendly fibre: RPD: One bowl of oatmeal/beans.

Selenium: RPD; a 200 mg supplement.

Soya: RPD; half-a-cup of any soya product.

Overall, Chopra's health resume reads pretty well today, as you saw at the beginning of this column. Getting fit is like getting promoted with loads of perks. It adds years to your life and life to your years.

The bottom-line: if you screen your health resume, you'll never have to screen your prostate.

The writer is co-author of the book, Fitness for Life.

Picture by G.R.N. Somashekar

Response can be sent to life@thehindu.co.in

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