Childhood obesity causing early diabetes

22 February 2023
Media release
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On Monday the International Pediatric Association (IPA) launched its 18 point Call to Action at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar that coincided with the inauguration of India's first IPA Congress. Childhood obesity was a prime focus area of the conference besides issues such as vaccination and stillbirths.

The 14th point read "Advocate for healthy infant and young child feeding practices and prevention of childhood obesity through the promotion of evidence based practices and addressing the harmful effect of marketing breastmilk substitute and harmful food and beverages."

Dr Naveen Thacker, the president of IPA said that childhood and adolescent obesity is an increasing problem in India and much of the world.

"In low income countries there is a dual burden of malnutrition and obesity. So, we wind up with a combination of stunting and poor development, and then obesity due to limited access to healthier foods and promotion of sweetened  drinks, salty and sugary snacks and junk food," he said.

While the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) indicated significant rise in overweight children under 5 years from 2.1% in 2015-16 to 3.4% in 2019-21, several studies indicated study rise in the population of obese children in India.

Dr  Chetan Trivedi, president of Academy of Pediatrics, Gujarat, and organising secretary of IPA Congress, said that the pandemic hastened the process of childhood obesity. "Lack of physical activity and discipline food habits and increase screen time are some of the apparent reasons for the phenomenon," he said.

This piece was originally published on Times of India.