DEAR DR. ROACH: Over the previous yr of pandemic lockdown, I’ve labored onerous at lowering energy to drop pounds and growing my train on an elliptical coach. I’m 5 ft, 7 inches tall and age 70. I went from 202 kilos to 149.3. My weight aim is 145. My waistline is 25.5 inches. I’ve achieved a measurement 14 in clothes, which is what I wore in 2002. According to my digital scale, my BMI is now 23.4, and based on the BMI chart, I’m now within the good “wholesome weight” vary.
Also, in May 2019 I had complete knee alternative surgical procedure and imagine that lowering my weight can be useful to my hips, knees, ankles and ft. Because of my continued bodily remedy train, in addition to dropping the additional kilos, I really feel steadier on my ft than I’ve felt in years.
I lately learn that “older adults have a [BMI] of between 25 and 27, not below 25,” or they run the danger of osteoporosis. My final bone density scan confirmed that I had important enchancment of my bone density, and I might assume that with all this strolling on the elliptical coach (30-60 minutes every day), it would show to be at the very least pretty much as good. In addition, I do some workout routines with small hand weights. I’ve no motive to assume I’m amongst the 24% of “older” ladies who’ve osteoporosis of the backbone, and so on.
Should I be content material with a weight of 149? Should I acquire again some fats? — P.R.
ANSWER: I believe nutritious diet and common train are far more necessary than the burden or BMI, at the very least for people who find themselves not very overweight. It is true that carrying some additional weight protects to some extent towards osteoporosis, and really skinny ladies are at larger danger. However, I’m so impressed together with your exercise and accomplishments over the previous yr that I might advocate you proceed your train and let your weight keep the place it’s. You ought to proceed to get bone density scans as beneficial, however you’re fairly proper that common weight-bearing train is especially good at sustaining bone well being, together with a weight loss program together with ample calcium and making certain good vitamin D if you’re in danger for low vitamin D.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 58-year-old male. I had COVID and was given monoclonal antibody therapy as an outpatient two months in the past. I recovered from COVID with delicate to average signs. How do I decide if I’m shielded from getting COVID once more? I’d prefer to know if I ought to get a vaccine and in that case after I ought to get it. — J.D.
ANSWER: Even individuals who have had COVID-19 might get the illness once more, so that they do profit from the vaccine. However, due to the monoclonal antibody you bought, it is strongly recommended you wait 90 days from the monoclonal antibody therapy to vaccine administration. You ought to be capable of take the vaccine in about one other month.
There is a few partial immunity that comes from getting the illness, and you’re at low danger for 90 days after an infection. It seems that the vaccine provides profit, and I might advocate the vaccine.
