Lipid consists of triglyceride, or fat in our body, and cholesterol. Cholesterol is divided into good cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) and bad cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol). A high LDL-cholesterol level increases the chance of heart attacks and strokes, but a high HDL-cholesterol level reduces it.
18% of all Singaporeans have high cholesterol. Together, heart attacks and strokes cause more than a quarter of all deaths in Singapore. Fortunately, they can be prevented. Research has shown that besides medication, a proper diet and regular exercise can improve our lipid profile and prevent heart attacks and strokes.
However, some patients develop problems from medications, or cannot control their cholesterol despite conventional treatment. On the other hand, many people are confused by the many contradictory dietary recommendations we come across every day, and many of those come from the West and are difficult to apply to our local context.
In addition, very few Singaporeans do regular exercise, because of the demand of work, family and many leisurely pursuits. Some of us have medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, back pain among others, which makes it difficult, painful or even potentially dangerous to embark on exercise. Others worry about possible injury with exercise as they have not tried it for many years.
At the LIFE Centre, we take care of people with all these difficulties and concerns. Our team of doctors, dieticians and physiotherapists are highly qualified to provide holistic care for patients with Lipid conditions in a safe and comprehensive manner.
Patients are encouraged to enroll with our Dietary Lipid Programme comprising of individual counseling, group therapy sessions, guided supermarket tour and cooking classes.
Patients may also enroll with our Exercise Lipid Programme where their fitness status is assessed, and an individualized exercise program is subsequently prescribed. Patients are closely supervised.
Those who require specialist medical care may consult Dr Daniel Wai, our Consultant, Lipid Specialist and Accredited Endocrinologist who has a research interest in Cholesterol Metabolism.
Metabolic Syndrome affects another 18% of patients. It comprises of several related conditions such as central obesity, low HDL-cholesterol, high triglyceride, high blood pressure and high fasting blood sugar (table 1).
Patients with the metabolic syndrome are predisposed to diabetes, heart attacks and strokes. Contrary to common belief, they need not be very obese to develop the metabolic syndrome. They frequently suffer from fatty liver, obstructive sleep apnea and polycystic ovarian disease. These conditions, together with the metabolic syndrome, needs to be treated with aggressive dietary and exercise programmes that tackle the underlying problem of insulin resistance.
Studies show that a structured programme is more effective in helping patients achieving weight loss and better health than standard advice to eat less and exercise more.
In fact, a structured dietary and exercise program can reduce blood pressure, blood sugar, waist line, triglyceride and increase HDL-cholesterol. Thus, tackle all aspects of Metabolic Syndrome. It can also reduce liver damage in fatty liver, reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea, and normalize menses in polycystic ovary disease.
So don’t wait, come and sign up with us today!
Table 1. Metabolic Syndrome Definition (American Heart Association)
3 out of the following 5:
- Central Obesity (Waist circumference >90 cm in males and >80 cm in females)
- Raised Triglyceride level: ≥ 1.7 mmol/L, or on specific treatment for this
- Reduced HDL cholesterol: < 1.03 mmol/L in males and 1.29 mmol/L in females, or on specific treatment for this
- Raised blood pressure: systolic BP ≥ 130 or diastolic BP ≥ 85 mm Hg, or on antihypertensive treatment
- Raised fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥ 5.6 mmol/L or diagnosed type 2 diabetes
Programmes
Dietary Lipid/Metabolic Syndrome Program
Dietary management lowers LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, waistline and weight. This 6 month program includes:
- Individual Consultations
- Group Sessions
- Supermarket Tour
- Healthy Cooking Demonstration
Exercise Lipid/Metabolic Syndrome Program
Exercise decreases triglycerides, waistline and weight, but increases HDL-cholesterol. This exercise programme allows patients to adopt an active lifestyle safely. It includes:
- Exercise Sessions
- Fitness Testing
- Individualized Exercise Programme
- Modified Programme for those with Complicated Medical Conditions
Therapeutic Fitness / DIABEX Exercise Class:
These are supervised exercise classes led by a Physiotherapist who will ensure safe and effective techniques during the exercise session. A detailed fitness assessment will be conducted prior to the programme to determine the appropriate exercise intensity and type of exercises. The programme allows patients to adopt an active lifestyle safely. It includes:
- Fitness Testing
- Supervised Exercise Sessions (18-20 sessions over 5 months)
- Individualized Exercise Programme
- Modified Exercise Programme for those with complicated medical conditions
Patient population: - Patients with controlled Type I or Type II Diabetes Mellitus OR Impaired Fasting Glucose OR Impaired Glucose Tolerance
Aim: - Control of Diabetes
- Improve control of, and prevent complications of other comorbidities (eg. Hypertension, High cholesterol, central obesity, etc)
Outcome measures: - HbA1c (<7%)
- Weight loss for patients whose BMI ≥ 25 (≈10% of body
weight / 1kg per week AND ↓ Waist Circumference)
- Fitness Re-assessment (after 1-2 packages)
No. of sessions: 18
For further enquiries on programmes and services offered, please call 6326 6697.