The number of children suffering from obesity is increasing rapidly across the country, and with it the risk of diabetes and heart diseases is also becoming visible at an earlier age.
According to health experts, the current lifestyle of children is the biggest reason for this problem. Children now spend more time on screens than ever before – mobiles, TV, video games and other digital devices have made their daily routines sedentary. Additionally, junk food, packaged snacks and sugar-rich beverages available in the market have become a part of children’s regular eating habits. As a result, excess fat starts accumulating in the body, which increases insulin resistance and may further lead to the development of diabetes.
Doctors emphasize that childhood obesity is not limited to physical changes only. This irreversibly affects the metabolism of children. Many children are developing a “pre-diabetic” condition, where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but have not reached diabetes levels. If timely intervention is not taken, this condition can soon turn into type-2 diabetes. Medical experts suggest that every child should get a blood sugar test done once a year, so that any danger can be detected in time.
Social attitudes have also given rise to this problem. In Indian families, a chubby child is often considered healthy, whereas the reality is quite the opposite. Doctors say that this thinking of people towards “Golu-Molu” children is actually a misconception, because it gives rise to the habit of considering obesity as normal and ignoring it.
Experts believe that family, school and government will have to make joint efforts to solve this problem. Parents have to inculcate healthy eating and active lifestyle habits in children. Physical activities should be made mandatory in schools so that children get adequate exercise every day. Apart from this, there is a need to reduce the consumption of junk food in children and strengthen nutrition-related education.
According to health experts, at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily should be made mandatory for children, which may include sports, running or yoga. Also, it is important to limit screen time and encourage spending time in outdoor activities with the family.
Finally, doctors warn that if India does not take action now, there will be a huge increase in cases of diabetes and heart diseases among the youth in the coming years. Childhood obesity is not just an individual problem, but a growing national crisis, which it is everyone’s collective responsibility to stop.