Anant Ambani, the youngest son of the Reliance Industries tycoon Mukesh Ambani is all set to get married to his childhood sweetheart Radhika Merchant. Earlier last year, when pictures of their engagement surfaced online, they broke a huge discourse among netizens about Anant Ambani’s significant weight gain. This was quite a hot topic because a few years back, Ambani, had made headlines for losing 108 kgs.
Anant Ambani’s Weight Loss Journey
There was a time when Anant Ambani was 208 kgs, from which he got his weight down to 100 kgs. According to his mother, Nita Ambani, Chairperson and Founder of Reliance Foundations, his tremendous 108 kgs weight loss was not the result of any surgeries, but rather a strict diet and workout routine.
He managed to lose this weight within an impressive 18 months, by following the routine designed for him by celebrity fitness trainer Vinod Channa. Apparently, his routine included yoga, functional training, weight lifting, and high-intensity cardio exercises followed by a 21 km run. This took five to six hours daily.
Probable Causes Of Weight Gain
In 2017, Nita Ambani, Anant Ambani’s mother, said in an interview, “Anant was highly asthmatic so we had to put him on a lot of steroids. He suffers from obesity. Hence, the asthma treatment resulted in a lot of weight gain." Experts online have been chalking up these as the reasons for him to gain weight again. Here’s how asthma and steroids can contribute to weight gain.
Asthma And Steroids Cause Weight Gain
Asthma itself doesn't directly cause weight gain. However, certain factors related to asthma may contribute to weight gain in some individuals:
- Corticosteroid medications, often prescribed to manage asthma symptoms, can lead to increased appetite and fluid retention, potentially causing weight gain.
- Limited physical activity due to breathing difficulties may also play a role.
According to a study conducted by the Asthma Publications Society, the use of inhaled corticosteroids in moderate to severe asthma has a directly proportional relationship with the Mody Mass Index (BMI). That means, the higher the steroid use, the higher the BMI index. Here are some mechanisms through which corticosteroids can cause weight gain:
- Increased Appetite: Corticosteroids can stimulate appetite, leading individuals to consume more calories than usual.
- Fluid Retention: These medications may cause sodium retention and water retention in the body, resulting in temporary weight gain due to increased fluid volume.
- Metabolic Changes: Corticosteroids can influence metabolism, leading to the redistribution of fat and the deposition of fat in certain areas of the body.
- Muscle Wasting: Prolonged use of corticosteroids can lead to muscle wasting, and as muscles are metabolically active tissues, this can contribute to a decrease in overall metabolism and potential weight gain.
Even though some information about Anant Ambani’s health and weight struggles is available online, it's important to note that it is still conjecture. Not everyone will experience weight gain while taking corticosteroids, and the extent of any weight change can vary among individuals. If you are on corticosteroids, managing a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise is crucial to minimise potential side effects. You must discuss any concerns about weight gain with a healthcare professional to determine the specific factors at play in your case.