Being overweight can present serious health issues, which is why at-risk individuals should consider weight loss management.
Being overweight can present serious health issues, which is why at-risk individuals should consider weight loss management.
Diabetes is a disease in which the blood contains too much sugar, and, according to the International Diabetes Foundation, Singapore has the second-highest proportion of diabetics among developed nations. This is a worrying statistic, given that diabetes can lead to coronary heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.
In order to know how to safeguard against the disease, one must consider the risk factors. The first is genetics. If a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, has diabetes, there is a higher chance of developing it. Ethnicity is also a factor; for instance, those of Chinese or South Asian descent are more likely to get diabetes. Next is weight: Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher are more at risk. Lastly, age affects the likelihood of getting diabetes; the older one gets and the less one exercises, the more weight one puts on.
While the first two factors can’t be changed, the other two can be controlled by making lifestyle adjustments that lead to weight loss, such as adopting healthier eating habits and exercising regularly. However, in cases of severe obesity, surgery may be required in order to reduce the size of the stomach.
In such instances, procedures such as intragastric balloon may be considered. In this new, non-surgical and reversible option, a silicone balloon is temporarily inserted into the stomach via the mouth. It induces a feeling of fullness and may lead to short-term weight loss. The balloon is removed after six to eight months.
Surgical intervention is said to be able to help the severely obese in weight loss over a long period of time. Consult Dr Ganesh Ramalingam to discuss what’s right for you.
For more information, visit Dr Ganesh Ramalingam, G&L Surgical @Pan Asia Surgery, #10-43/44 Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, 38 Irrawaddy Road. Tel: 9088-8313 www.glsurgical.com.sg
ALL In constant motion, difficult to craft, IN and always a joy to gaze upon, A the tourbillon – which means whirlwind in French – WHIRL is the spinning star of these exquisite time-tellers.
ORIGIN ST ORY
With the Classique 5335 Grande Complication Tourbillon Messidor (shown here in rose gold; Ref. 5335BR/42/9W6), Breguet pays tribute to one of its founder’s most famous inventions. The tourbillon was patented by Abraham Breguet in 1801, who realised that fitting the escapement and balance wheel in a rotating cage could help to cancel out timekeeping inaccuracies caused by the effects of gravity. The openwork, manually wound calibre 588 SQ2 housed in this 40mm watch is entirely engraved by hand.
SLENDER STATEMENT
Thanks to features like a micro-rotor, the Tonda 1950 Tourbillon by Parmigiani Fleurier is one of the slimmest self-winding tourbillon watches around. The 40mm-wide rose gold case of the model seen here has a thickness of 8.65mm. The flying tourbillon of Calibre PF517, which is visible through an aperture at seven o’clock, also has a streamlined cage that is crafted from titanium.
TECHNICAL TRIUMPH
The Richard Lange Tourbillon “Pour Le Merite” by A. Lange & Sohne features a regulator-style display, with the 60-second tourbillon directly connected to the subsidiary seconds at the bottom left, a minutes subdial at 12 o’clock, and the hour register at the bottom right. The manual movement features a fusee-and-chain mechanism for consistent rate accuracy. This boutique-exclusive edition features a 41.9mm white gold case.
LASTING ELEGANCE
The glossy white enamel of Blancpain’s Villeret 12-Day One-Minute Flying Tourbillon watch allows its tourbillon to take centre stage at 12 o’clock. Powered by the automatic Calibre 242, this 42mm red gold timepiece has an exceptional power reserve of 12 days. While the watch is kept clean on the front, there’s plenty to enjoy through its display caseback, including guilloche bridges and a power reserve disc, and an openwork rotor.
POWERING AHEAD
One of Cartier’s biggest launches for the year, the Drive collection is characterised by a cushion-shaped case, and the crown jewel of the family is the Drive de Cartier Flying Tourbillon. The 60-second tourbillon of the in-house movement 9452 MC is distinguished by the C-shaped carriage, which also indicates the seconds. Elsewhere, the 40mm pink gold watch has the design codes of the Drive pieces, which include a guilloche dial, and an openwork grid of numerals with a sunray effect.
STEADY AS IT GOES
Arnold & Son’s Constant Force Tourbillon is a time-only watch, but it’s by no means simple. The 46mm red-gold timepiece features a power regulating constant-force mechanism comprising two mainspring barrels. When the energy in the first barrel falls below a certain level, the second one tops up the former. Also, this watch has a true-beat seconds hand at seven o’clock, which ticks rather than sweeps. It’s almost enough to make you overlook the 60-second tourbillon at four o’clock. Almost.
ON ALL CYLINDERS
Occupying prime position at the bottom part of a beautifully grained silver-toned dial, there is no doubt that the tourbillon is the star of the Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Cylindrique by Jaeger- LeCoultre. But it’s no ordinary tourbillon – this spinning regulator features a cylindrical hairspring made by the brand, which apparently improves chronometric performance. It is powered by the automatic Calibre 995, which has a 45-hour power reserve.
01 GRANDE PLAN
A signature timepiece is updated in two very different ways for 2016.
In 2002, Jaquet Droz launched the Grande Seconde, featuring a pocket watch-inspired design distinguished by two subdials arranged in a figure eight. Since then, the brand has developed a number of versions of this distinctive model, and 2016 sees interesting additions to the Grande Seconde family.
Firstly, the Grande Seconde Tourbillon Paillonnee features one of the artistic techniques that Jaquet Droz specialised in back in the 18th century, and continues to use to set its watches apart today: Paillonne enamelling. Tiny, thin leafs of gold are carefully set, one by one, on a coloured-enamel dial, and then sealed with a layer of translucent enamel – a process requiring the dial to be subject to multiple firings at very high temperatures. It’s a process that requires expertise and a watchful eye: At any time, the dial can crack as a result of the firings.
Another novelty, the Grande Seconde Dual Time Ivory Enamel, adds a second time zone function to the watch, while retaining its tidy figure-eight configuration. This is made possible by a new movement that incorporates a 24-hour second time zone display and a date display within the lower seconds subdial. All this is set against a grand feu enamel dial in a red gold case, making the 43mm watch a timeless classic designed for contemporary life.
ON THE DOUBLE
The Grande Seconde Dual Time Ivory Enamel by Jaquet Droz neatly displays a second time zone.
EAST MEETS WEST
Following its collaboration with Hermes, Apple’s latest sartorial partner is Japanese fashion label Sacai, which has created a halfbracelet/ half-strap band for the Apple Watch.
02 AQUATIC LIFE
If you’re on the lookout for a new wear-anywhere watch that looks good with both an office get-up or weekend gear, you might want to consider the Diagono Scuba. Last year, Bulgari introduced updates of its 1990s sporty watch, powering the new versions with its in-house BVL 191 Solotempo automatic calibre. This year, it beefs up the collection with new blue-dialled steel models, which – like the 2015 versions – are powered by the BVL 191 calibre. They also feature water resistance to 300m and a unidirectional ratcheted bezel for measuring dive times.
03 AROUND THE WORLD
Even though Corum is focusing a good amount of attention on its dome-glass Bubble watches this year, it has not forgotten the Admiral’s Cup watch, which has some 60 years of history. The latest take on this nautical-inspired timepiece, the Admiral’s Cup Legend 47 Worldtimer, features a second time zone display and its corresponding city. Twelve nautical pennants on the dial add vibrant colour, and help to emphasise the 47mm watch’s 12-sided bezel. Available in titanium, or titanium and rose gold.
04 CASE STUDIES
Omega’s newest Seamaster Planet Ocean collection is called “Deep Black” – and this phrase does not just refer to the watches’ inky colour. Each model comes in a 45.5mm case made from a single block of ceramic, and is designed to be water-resistant to 600m, a depth at which the ocean would be pitchblack. Lightweight and scratch-resistant, ceramic is also used for the dials and the unidirectional bezels. Comprising a Sedna rose gold and ceramic model, an all-black version, and two models with either blue or red accents, the Deep Black collection is powered by the anti-magnetic Omega Master Chronometer Calibre 8906.
