Prevalence of Obesity in India is increasing, and India saw a dramatic rise in Obesity in children especially during Covid lock down. Current estimate suggests that one in 5 children are either obese or overweight. Obesity is a silent pandemic, and it predisposes our children to range of physical, mental and psychosocial complications and reduces quality of life. Dr Indu Khosla, Consultant Pulmonologist, Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital, Mumbai shares all you need to know:
Obesity can affect your child’s health and quality of life. It can cause high blood pressure, increase in Cholesterol levels, Diabetes, Knee or back pain, Liver problems Poor self-esteem, distorted body image, Depression. Obesity is important risk factor for Sleep apnoea and in this condition, it makes people stop breathing for short periods during sleep. Obesity also results in poor control of asthma.
Having a healthy weight as a child also makes a person more likely to have a healthy weight later in life. Being overweight as a teen or adult can lead to medical problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks.
Children can be overweight for many reasons like eating junk food, not getting enough physical activity, spending lot of time on watching TV or playing video games, poor sleep discipline.
Body mass index, or “BMI,” is a calculation that doctors use to help understand if child is falling in overweight or obese category.
Adopt healthy lifestyle and parents must set themselves as examples and adopt healthy dietary practise for entire family. Give your child 5 servings of fruits or vegetables each day. Limit your child’s “screen time” to less than 1 hour per day. Your child should be physically active for 1 hour or more each day. This can include organized activities like sports or dance. But children can also get exercise just through play. Do not give your child any sugary drinks.
Parents should try to avoid bringing a lot of unhealthy food into your home and ensure your child gets enough sleep at night. Have a set bedtime and wake-up time every day, even non-school days.
Tell your child that the goal is to be healthy and strong. Let them know that an important way to be healthy and strong is to eat healthy food and be active. Try not to focus too much on their weight or how they look. Dietician can help you in making food plans and setting goals Get help from doctors if your child’s weight is a concern.
