Effects of dietary counselling on lipid profile among liposuction patients.

Objectives: To observe the effects of dietary counselling on weight management after liposuction. METHODS: The case-control study was conducted at the La Chirurgie Cosmetic Surgery Centre and Hair Transplant Institute, F-8/3, Islamabad, Pakistan, from January to July 2018, and comprised adults (100) of either gender undergoing liposuction and/or abdominoplasty who were followed for three months in the postoperative period. The subjects were divided into dietary-counselled group A, which received diet plans, and control group B, which followed up without any dietary advice. Lipid profile was done at baseline and three months post-liposuction. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 100 subjects enrolled, 83(83%) completed the study; 43(51.8%) in group A and 40(48.2%) in group B. Overall, there were 19(22.9%) males, 64(77.1%) females, and 55(66.3%) were aged <40 years, while 28(33.7%) were aged ≥40 years. Intra-group improvement was significant for total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides for both the groups (p<0.05). The change for very low-density lipoprotein in group B was not significant (p>0.05). Change in high-density lipoprotein was for the better in group A, while it decreased in group B and the change in both cases was significant (p<0.05). Inter-group differences were not significant (p>0.05) except for total cholesterol (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Liposuction alone resulted in the improvement of lipid profile, while dietary intervention resulted in better values with respect to very low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein.

Study of metabolic syndrome indicators in newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus type 2 patients in Pakistani population.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) being a biological abnormality confers the highest risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). AIM: To assess MetS indicators in the newly diagnosed T2DM Pakistani population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study (N = 123) with newly diagnosed T2DM patients (gender: both, MeanAge: 49.24 ± 6.84 years) was selected from Medical OPD, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. Basic profile, family history, and physical activity were recorded through a predesigned questionnaire, dietary intake through seven days Food Diary and Food Frequency Questionnaire. Blood pressure and selected clinical signs and symptoms were recorded. Anthropometric measurements included mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-and-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and conicity index. Lab parameters included fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin levels, and lipid profile. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was computed to assess insulin resistance. RESULTS: Almost all parameters related to MetS were higher than normal. The prevalence of MetS was 59.7%. BMI, MUAC, and WHtR were independently associated with HOMA-IR, but WC, WHR, and the conicity index had no relationship MetS indicators. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of MetS was found to be 59.7% in newly diagnosed T2DM patients. MUAC was found to be a better parameter for the diagnosis of central obesity and insulin resistance in the selected population.

Relationship between physical activity level and BMI among Pakistani labourers in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the level of physical activity of Pakistani labourers in Saudi Arabia, and to find its relationship with body mass index. Methods: The observational study was conducted inside the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from October 2017 to March 2018, and comprised Pakistani males aged 22-60 years doing unskilled and semi-skilled jobs. Body mass index was calculated, and the level of physical activity was assessed using the short form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: There were 130 subjects with mean age of 33.53±7.9 years. There were 109(83.8%) subjects aged <40 years, and 21(16.2%) were aged >40 years. Mean body mass index of the sample was 26.13±5.29kg/m². Overall, 71(54.6%) participants were insufficiently active having energy expenditure <600 metabolic equivalent of task in minutes per week. No statistically significant result was found when total energy expenditure was considered (p>0.05), but significant result was found for energy expenditure due to 'walk alone' (p<0.05). Significant correlation was found between profession and overall energy expenditure and job-related energy expenditure. Significant but weak positive correlation was found between body mass index and walk-related energy expenditure (r=0.279), (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mean body mass index of the sample was high compared to South Asian cut-off values, and the level of physical activity was very low, but the findings failed to show an inverse relationship between physical activity level and body mass index.

Demographic Differences and Trends of Vitamin D Levels Among the Teenaged Girls in Balochistan.

Background Vitamin D is a vital micronutrient and plays a vital role in defining the bone mineral density of an individual. There are many factors that regulate the levels of vitamin D in our body. The deficiency in vitamin D leads to various complications, with the most important one weakening of bones. Adolescence defines the degree of bone mineral density, which reduces with the growing age in a gradual fashion. Methods The study was a cross-sectional study conducted in Zarghoon town, Quetta, Pakistan. A sample size of 142 was taken from urban and rural areas. Participants were adolescent girls falling in the age bracket of 13-18 years. The circulating level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D was assessed using the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technique. Data were analyzed with SPSS Version 20 (IBM Corp.). Results Overall, vitamin D deficiency was 32.4%, and 9.9 % of girls were found to be severely deficient, where the highest proportion belonged to urban samples. The prevalence rate of vitamin D insufficiency was 39.4%. The urban population had a higher prevalence of low levels of vitamin D. In urban respondents, 49.1% had an insufficient vitamin D level, 33.3% had a deficient vitamin D level, and 17.5% had a severely deficient vitamin D level. In rural respondents, 47.1% had normal vitamin D levels, 32.9% had insufficient vitamin D levels, 15.3% were deficient, and 4.7% were severely deficient. Conclusion It was concluded that vitamin D deficiency has a high prevalence among adolescent girls of school age. Additionally, it is more prevalent in urban areas than in rural areas.