CHENNAI: City doctors confirm something long suspected and worrisome. One out of four children today suffer from obesity. The number continues to increase alarmingly on a monthly basis, they claim as obesity has swept up the metropolis with fancily-wrapped snacks and sugared treats. With the increase in sales of junk food and a dip in healthy eating habits, experts suggest that Chennai is knee deep in obesity with over 26 per cent of private school children affected and 4.5 per cent corporation school students. A nation-wide statistic from 1988 had this figure at a mere two to three per cent.And obesity, they opine, can bring a host of issues to a child as young as six or seven, like low cardiovascular performance, Type 2 diabetes and even fatty liver condition which is touted to be dangerous. “Ninety per cent of kids with obesity in city have some sort of liver problem,” warns Dr Ramkumar S, Pediatric Endocrinologist. A sedentary lifestyle and the burden of their school syllabus, are the main causes for obesity points out Dr Anbezhil Subbarayan, who is also a senior Pediatric Endocrinologist. “There is no time for children to come back home and get the necessary exercise. They have so much homework and assignments. Nor is there space anywhere in an urban set-up for natural fitness. Schools must seriously start stressing on this through physical exercise classes and fitness routines,” he says.
Recently, the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) issued a draft regulation aiming to control FSS junk food rich in (Fat/Sugar/Salt) by removing them from school premises. Speaking along those lines he says, “Something must also be done about bringing healthy alternatives in school canteens instead of junk food that’s so readily available. Kids spend a significant amount of time at school, and its every school’s responsibility to ensure healthy alternatives and a yearly health screening are available,” he says.
Weaning children off junk isn’t easy, as common sense goes. From stress eating, to being habituated to consume food at odd hours, various practices pave way to obesity, or its milder form, being overweight. “Schools and parents should keep a look out for strange eating habits in their kids. Obesity caused by over-eating might sometimes be indicative of some psychological issue they’re not handling,” says Radhika Inuganti, child psychologist.
But this can only be done by early intervention, medical practitioners jointly opine. The later teen years tend to exacerbate the issue, as it can blow into complications like Poly Cystic Ovarian Disorder (PCOD) in girls and chestal-flab enlargement and skin discoloration in boys, which can take a toll on their body image as well.
Recently, the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) issued a draft regulation aiming to control FSS junk food rich in (Fat/Sugar/Salt) by removing them from school premises. Speaking along those lines he says, “Something must also be done about bringing healthy alternatives in school canteens instead of junk food that’s so readily available. Kids spend a significant amount of time at school, and its every school’s responsibility to ensure healthy alternatives and a yearly health screening are available,” he says.
Weaning children off junk isn’t easy, as common sense goes. From stress eating, to being habituated to consume food at odd hours, various practices pave way to obesity, or its milder form, being overweight. “Schools and parents should keep a look out for strange eating habits in their kids. Obesity caused by over-eating might sometimes be indicative of some psychological issue they’re not handling,” says Radhika Inuganti, child psychologist.
But this can only be done by early intervention, medical practitioners jointly opine. The later teen years tend to exacerbate the issue, as it can blow into complications like Poly Cystic Ovarian Disorder (PCOD) in girls and chestal-flab enlargement and skin discoloration in boys, which can take a toll on their body image as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment