Obesity

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition not just in India, but across the globe. In developed countries, this problem has reached epidemic proportions while developing countries are not far behind. It is estimated that worldwide over 2.3 million children under the age of five are obese. One is 10 children is overweight India is said to have the second highest number of obese child in the world behind only China.

Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds lead to health problems that were once considered to affect only adults.

These ailments include dia¬betes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea, fatty liver, gall bladder problems, gastro oesophageal reflux, etc. Many obese children become obese adults especially if one or both parents are obese. Obesity can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression. One of the best strategies to reduce child¬hood obesity is to improve eating and exercise habits of the entire family"

Causes Obesity

• Lack of physical activity
• Overindulgence in indoor leisure activities, (too much of television viewing, computer games or the internet)
• Lack of open spaces and playground in school and communities along with increasing pressure on children to perform in academics and reduction on the emphasis on sports.
• Excess calorie intake is also a big concern. Unrestricted access to energy filled foods should be forbidden.
• Lifestyle related factors also play a part Daily allowances to purchase food, commuting to school by bus and car instead of walking or cycling, and aggressive advertising by trans-naleonal fast food and cola companies.
• Sociocultural factors and urbanisation, overprotection and forced feeding by parents, false traditional beliefs about health and nutrition, low knowledge about nutrition in parents and caregivers, limited availability of open spaces and parks due to population explosion and illegal settlement with abundance of fast food outlets and eatery points.

Some common food myths related to children

• Myth - Fat children are healthy, as they are not undernourished
• Reality - Fat children are not healthy inside. About 28% of fat children have syndrome X. They have a risk for chronic lifestyle diseases
  
• Myth - With age, children will gain height and loose fat
• Reality - Majority of obese children become obese adults
• Myth - So what, if a child is obese! Obesity is a problem of adults and not of children
• Reality - Fat children are at risk of developing early diabetes. Girls may develop polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Myth - Children do not develop high blood pressure or high cholesterol
• Reality - Many children will have high blood pressure and low HDL-cholesterol
• Myth - Children by nature are physically active
• Reality - Time on TV, Internet and studies leaves little time for play. Many do not participate in sports activity in mandatory sports periods in schools.
• Myth - Observing a child to be fat is considered inauspicious
• Reality - Obesity in children should be viewed with concern

Hazards of obesity in school children.

Physical

• Respiratory and sleep problems
• Insulin resistance
• High blood pressure
• Dyslipidemia
• Musculoskeletal problems
• Gall stones
• Fatty liver

Psychological

Low self-esteem, increased depressive symptoms and unhealthy dietary practices

Social

• Low participation in social activities
• Lack of social support due to less interaction with peers

Prevention

All health care personnel unanimously agree that prevention is a key strategy for controlling the current epidemic of obesity.

Central measures

• Controlling sales of food in public institutions to ensure that only healthy food sold in schools and preschools.
• Control on food, drink, adver¬tising on TV/ internet and print media.