Booking weighty issues

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Recent figures from a top book retail website indicated how weight loss books are becoming bestsellers in the non-fiction category in India. With several dieticians, some even with a celebrity client or two, and fitness experts penning books on how to shed the kilos, the junk food-obsessed generation only seems to be more than

willing to invest in these books. Rujuta Diwekar, more famously known for giving Kareena Kapoor her size zero look, shot to fame with her first book Don’t Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight and now her second, recently-launched book Women and the Weight Loss Tamasha is soaring to the top of the charts. Celebrity yoga trainer Payal Gidwani Tiwari’s book
From XL to XS has also turned out to be another bestseller, as has Linda Delany’s Secrets of a Former Fat Girl… and the list goes on.
Experts believe that with changing lifestyles and people being bound by 24/7 work schedules, fitness might be on the minds of many people but they might not know how to prioritise this concern. These books offer shortcuts and tips that help people easily integrate fitness into their daily routines. Says Payal Gidwani Tiwari, “Books are a great idea in the sense that they provide sufficient knowledge about various aspects of weight loss. Nowadays, fitness enthusiasts come from all walks of life and these books cater to a wide audience.” But does this mean approaching a trainer for guidance takes a backseat? Payal adds, “It’s best to have a personal trainer even if you’re reading weight loss books as these books are customised and cater to different needs of people, but personal advice will take into account the body type and kind of exercise and diet one ought to follow.”
Books have become a shortcut to weight loss and experts feel weight loss should not be a short-term goal. Says Mickey Mehta, India’s holistic health guru, “There are two sides to this — one is weight loss for vanity and the other is weight loss for good health. Losing weight should not be a short-term goal. One needs a balanced diet, ample physical activity and a healthy lifestyle — a combo of all these is an ideal way to fitness and not just shortcuts like reading books.” Experts also stress on the fact that one needs to verify the credibility of the author before following the advice in these books.
Renowned dietician Dr Ishi Khosla, has this to say: “The increasing availability of these books is a great trend. But since there are plenty of options, people wouldn’t really know what suits them best. Every individual’s workout pattern and diet needs to be customised according to his or her metabolism and body pattern. Qualified trainers and dieticians must be consulted as books only provide limited advice.”
Allergies and physical ailments are an important aspect before opting to go by instructions given in a book. And experts feel unless and until a qualified trainer or nutritionist overlooks your regimen, it might prove harmful in the long run.
Says Dr Shiny Chandran, a nutritionist, “Some people may suffer from health problems such as hyper-thyroidism, which will not allow them to exercise. A specialist dietician and trainer immediately identify such problems during consultancy and these issues will remain unaddressed if people just follow instructions from a book. Tailor-made fitness regimens are the best options these days and books can only provide limited knowledge.”