Own Your Body: A Conversation With Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin

 

Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin, Padma Bhushan awardee and renowned gastroenterologist-hepatologist, is Founder and Director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi. Known for pioneering work in liver disease—defining Acute‑on‑Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) and launching the ‘Yellow Ribbon Campaign' for hepatitis B awareness—he has received honors like the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize and TWAS Prize. In his new book, Own Your Body (Bloomsbury India), he distils decades of clinical wisdom into practical health advice, empowering readers to take charge of their well-being. He recently spoke with Ashutosh Kumar Thakur about the book.

Q. What inspired you to write Own Your Body, and how does it reflect your medical journey?

Dr. Sarin: Thank you. I've watched patients repeatedly ask, "Why do I have high blood pressure?" or "Why can't I lose weight?" These are deeply human questions, and often doctors, including myself, struggle to explain root causes in empowering ways. Many such conditions fall under "metabolic ailments", affecting millions worldwide. I asked: how do we communicate effectively with these millions?

A guiding thought: you cannot choose your parents, but you can choose how healthy your children will be. Genetics matter, but lifestyle and awareness are even more powerful, affecting future generations. Most people rely on hearsay or social media, while only 5–10 per cent access good medical advice. I felt compelled to bridge that gap with scientifically sound, accessible information. That's why I wrote Own Your Body: to encourage people to take charge, not only as individuals, but as parents, children, and members of a health‑aware family lineage.

Q. The book is split into six sections. How did you choose the themes, and why are they relevant to today's readers?

Dr. Sarin: Most people comment on others' health but rarely their own or that of their family. That awareness gap motivated the structure: six sections guiding readers from understanding themselves to their children, relatives, creation, eternal well‑being, and essential lifelines. These draw on 21 real stories showing how health spans generations.

Section Two focuses on children. Parents shape a child's future—even if a 15‑year‑old is overweight or has early diabetes, they often feel defective and may suffer depression. The goal is to educate within the first ten years about nutrition, activity, and emotional well-being. Health must be a family responsibility; even the youngest can become the family's health custodian.

Another section on relatives emphasizes inherited risk. For example, a young man afraid of a stroke like his father's learned that awareness of family history allows preventive action.

The book introduces the "Red, Yellow, Green Lanes" framework:

• Green Lane: Born healthy to healthy parents; focus on maintenance.

• Yellow Lane: Born to unhealthy parents but currently healthy; vigilance needed.

• Red Lane: Born to unhealthy parents and already ill; lifestyle change can move one toward green.

The final sections cover four lifelines: 1) slim and fit (waist‑to‑hip ratio vs. BMI), 2) eating correctly (what, when, how much), 3) restorative sleep, physical activity, routine, and 4) medication—only after optimising the first three. The central message: Own your body and earn your health rather than outsource it.

Q. What are the most common poor lifestyle choices or misconceptions people have, and how can they improve?

Dr. Sarin: Many say, "I won't wake before 9", or "I need pizza after a night shift". Such choices contradict the body's natural rhythm. The book offers 50 life‑saving tips and 10 commandments—starting with: weigh yourself every morning. It's simple but often ignored.

Common misconceptions include thinking alcohol is harmless because a friend drinks socially—it's a poison, affecting people differently genetically. Others believe exercise alone causes weight loss; in reality, weight loss requires intake reduction. And eating late or during night shifts is also a choice. The book suggests alternatives like eating before sunset and after sunrise, and following the right diets and exercises.

Q. How do genes and family history influence our health, and what responsibilities fall on individuals and parents?

Dr. Sarin: We talk about our Janampatri (birth chart), but we need to focus on our Gene Patri. Genetics dictate predisposition, so if parents have diabetes, hypertension, cancer, or obesity, children must work twice as hard. That responsibility lies with parents. Don't bring high‑calorie snacks home. Food choices in the first ten years define children's habits. Teachers also play a role. Own your sleep, food, activity, stress management. The book helps you stay in the Green Lane or move from the Red or Yellow lanes. Think like a chartered accountant: track intake and output, and pass discipline to future generations to build a healthier family and nation.

Q. Leaders often feel invincible. How can they integrate your advice into daily routines?

Dr. Sarin: Many think, "I won't fall sick." That's denial and short‑sighted. The book encourages a future‑focused mindset. Integration comes through consistent practice. Readers, I met lost 10 kg using these tips. Some reread it three times, others read a few pages daily.

A striking example appears on page 71: signs on your neck — lines, warts, the "black necklace" (acanthosis nigricans) — can indicate genetic risks. Now people check their necks and ask barbers or tailors to point out signs. Awareness has spread among schoolgirls, barbers, and families. You may have genetic vulnerabilities, but you can act now.

Q. How can this knowledge extend beyond individuals to healthier families and communities?

Dr. Sarin: Health is everyone's responsibility — from parents and children to barbers and tailors, teachers and leaders. A tailor might say, "I won't stitch until you drop a few inches." Waist size, neck circumference, collar size: these aren't cosmetic — they're metabolic biomarkers. Without a blood test, your body signals, and the book shows you how to read them.

Money and property may be passed down, but the greatest legacy is health. A healthy family doesn't need medicine. That's true wealth. I call it the "2½ states of bliss": good sleep, a healthy body, and everything else is half the joy. Leaders must foster habits that support these simple joys.

Q. Lastly, what is your ultimate message to those aiming to live long and healthy lives?

Dr. Sarin: Own your body. Be your own chartered accountant — monitor intake, output, and effort. Measure your waist, track your weight annually, and ask: Am I better than last year? For those over 50, losing 2 kg could add two years to life. That's powerful.

The book's 50 long‑life tips are grounded in science, alongside 10 commandments covering diet, exercise, and knowing genetic history. It shows how organs—the liver, heart, and brain—are tied to inflammation and how liver‑fat–related inflammation can be reversed by conscious effort.

I believe the woman of the house plays a central role. If she stays healthy and mindful, the whole family benefits. Health is a family business — and the most important one. If you haven't read the book, start today. I aim to expand the next edition based on reader feedback. Together, let's strive not just to live long, but to live well.

(Ashutosh Kumar Thakur is a Bangalore-based management professional, literary critic, and festival curator.)

[Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, and views of ABP News Network Pvt Ltd.]

 

lifestyle