Body Mass Index (BMI)

Another very important test that should be done for all women across all age groups is to check their height and weight and use those to calculate their BMI. Having a normal BMI is very important for women who are contemplating pregnancy because a high BMI can lead to premature birth, still birth, diabetes in pregnancy and even complications for the baby once it is born. Women with a high BMI also are at risk of developing the metabolic syndrome.

Is there a particular age when women should start having complete health checkups to screen for disease?

It is advisable for women to start screening tests from the age of 35. However, if there is a strong family history of diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, these tests can be initiated at an earlier age. If a woman is planning on getting pregnant, then it is essential to get a medical check-up done. This is called pre-pregnancy counselling that screens for medical issues which may impact on the pregnancy and the baby. Indians, specifically, have a tendency to have high insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia). The high insulin levels are responsible for converting the food we eat, specifically carbs into layers of fat that get deposited around our waist. This, along with other factors, leads to something known as the metabolic syndrome.