Ishita Dutta’s transformation after the birth of her baby is more of a warning that our health issues could be prematurely labeled a weight-loss success.
Drishyam actress said that the mother of her daughter, Veda, gained 15 kilograms post-pregnancy in less than 2 months. She knew first-hand that a woman’s postpartum weight loss after a baby was not a sign of fitness nor a sign of good health, but a time when she was physically unwell.
The 15-Kg Weight Loss Was Not Planned
When asked about the change on Zahra Jani’s podcast, Dutta shared that it was an unplanned transformation without a workout routine or diet programme.
“It was because I was ill. I was very, very ill,” she said.
Doctors discovered gallbladder stones, and she had to have an operation for the removal of her gallbladder.
The actor claimed it was due to that illness and the recovery process afterward that caused her weight loss. Instead of losing weight, she said she’s working on gaining weight, which she feels will make her healthier and stronger.
Her remarks carry significance because after giving birth to a baby, women tend to experience rapid weight loss, and it can be easily marketed to other new mothers as an ideal.
Severe Pain During Pregnancy
In fact, Dutta had experienced a tough first pregnancy. In her second pregnancy, the actress was given the advice of complete bed rest in the 6th month of her pregnancy due to the risk of preterm labour.
In those days, she suffered from heavy abdominal pain and was taken to the hospital a number of times. A follow-up scan later revealed gallstones. She said her doctors could not give her strong painkillers due to her pregnancy, as she had to wait for the pain to subside.
Doctors waited at least four weeks after the delivery of her daughter to try the gallbladder surgery, as she was still breastfeeding, she said. Her body had to adapt to life without a gallbladder, and she was on a strict diet after the surgery. It was during this time that she experienced a huge weight loss, she says.
Gallstones consist of hardened deposits that develop inside the gallbladder and may lead to sudden and severe abdominal pain when they affect the bile ducts. Gallstones can be more common during pregnancy since hormone shifts can impact bile and gallbladder activity, the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases states.
Why Her Story Matters To New Mothers
Dutta also talked about the pressure women are put under that they have to get back into a particular form of their bodies quickly after childbirth. This pressure, she said, is “completely unfair” and emphasized that a mom’s number one job after delivery is to recover and take care of her child, versus changing her body.
Medical advice favours the slower process. Women should be encouraged to return to their pre-pregnancy weight around 6-12 months postpartum, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This is a very different time frame than being able to lose 15kg in under 2 months.
ACOG recommends providing personal information about nutrition and exercise after birth. Breastfeeding mothers require more, and a well-nourished mother will need between 330-400 more calories per day than before she was pregnant.
The Bigger Message Behind The Number
Dutta’s tale illustrates the importance of putting celebrities’ weight loss stories into perspective. A dramatic drop on the scale does not necessarily equate to better health. In her case, it was accompanied by severe pain, surgery, and a strict recovery diet.
The message she had the loudest was Perspective. After she gave birth to her first child, she didn’t consider the gym for about a year or a year and a half, and she was just having fun, she said.
For new moms, her story is a helpful reminder: Postpartum healing isn’t a race. With many factors influencing weight fluctuation, if your weight has dropped quickly, this shouldn’t be considered a target without taking into account health factors.
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