Joana Menezes Nunes , endocrinologist in the Hospital da Luz units of Arrábida, Guimarães and Vila Real, was the specialist interviewed in the latest My Obesity Podcast , the online platform that counts with the participation of the medical community to debate the main questions related with obesity. “ How to keep a healthy weight in containment? ” was the theme highlighted in the segment, where Joana Menezes Nunes explains the causes and dangers of neglecting routines, besides giving useful advices to deal with containment so as to preserve health. The pandemic of COVID-19 has altered habits and routines, and containment has generally led to a more sedentary life, often filled with caloric culinary experiences and consumption of foods rich in sugars and fats. The consequences are even more damaging for people with chronic diseases, noticing a poorer metabolic control of diabetes for instance, as well as a generalized weight gain and high blood pressure. “A good weight corresponds to a good cardiovascular risk”, states the specialist, stressing that the decision of adopting and/or maintaining a healthier lifestyle has to come from each one of us: “The more reliable information one has, the more apt one will be to take better decisions”. Thus, Joana Menezes Nunes alerts to the importance of reading the food labels (something that is decisive in the moment of shopping), knowing the Mediterranean diet and respecting a balanced diet with a diversity of products. It is also crucial to maintain the medical consultations and the routine screenings, she added. How to manage food in times of containment? The Hospital da Luz specialist leaves a few rules to achieve a good domestic management of our diet, while in this phase of containment: Organize properly our pantry, placing the most tempting and caloric foods further away and even out of sight; Always do a shopping list, including vegetables and fruits; Read the food labels and know how to interpret them; Drink a lot of water; Have a balanced diet. How to keep a heathy weight in containment
