PART 1 of the series in
"The weight of our nation:
India"
Childhood obesity in urban India is prevalent
and ever growing. Not only is this the problem faced by the upper classes but
also the middle class and the lower classes are not spared.
Genetics and hereditary may be blamed but one
has to remember that these are only inflamed because of a bad lifestyle and
constantly changing dietary habits towards the unhealthy pattern.
In 1974, the Government of
India adopted a National Policy for Children, declaring the nation's children
as `supremely important assets'. The government and policy makers should
address the issue of childhood obesity in urban India immediately, as such a
problem will hamper the growth of our country, taking heed from Winston Churchill who states the truth
when he quotes ““Healthy citizens are the
greatest asset any country can have.”
How much
obesity has to be created in a single decade for people to realize that diet
has to be responsible for it?
-Robert Atkins
-Robert Atkins
“Where you find obesity,
you'll find poverty. It's a reflection of the South's struggle to raise its
standard of living.” - Bill Ferris
·
Worldwide
obesity has nearly doubled since 1980.
·
65%
of the world's populations live in countries where overweight and obesity kills
more people than underweight.
·
Obesity
is preventable.
·
More than 75% of overweight
children live in developing countries with the prevalence in Africa almost
doubling in the last 20 years. Obese children are more likely to be obese as
adults, with an increased risk of diabetes and other diseases.
·
Some 43 million children
under five are overweight or obese.
world health organizations ADVICE: “To avoid a massive explosion of nutrition problems in the
next generation, policymakers urgently need to give more attention to improving
the nutritional status of pregnant women and adolescent girls who will become
mothers of the next generation,”
Childhood
obesity is a global problem without a global conversation
Prevalence
of obesity
- morbid obesity affecting 5% of the country's population
-In Northern India obesity was most prevalent in urban populations (male = 5.5%, female = 12.6%), followed by the urban slums (male = 1.9%, female = 7.2%). Obesity rates were the lowest in rural populations (male = 1.6%, female = 3.8%).
“Rapidly changing dietary practices and a
sedentary lifestyle have led to increasing prevalence of childhood obesity
(5-19 yr) in developing countries recently: 41.8% in Mexico, 22.1% in Brazil,
22.0% in India, and 19.3% in Argentina. Moreover, secular trends indicate
increasing prevalence rates in these countries: 4.1 to 13.9% in Brazil during
1974-1997, 12.2 to 15.6% in Thailand during 1991-1993, and 9.8 to 11.7% in
India during 2006-2009.” (1)
The
prevalence of malnutrition in India is a serious problem; the World Bank
estimates that India is the second highest country suffering from malnutrition.
Global hunger index rates India 15th as a leading country with a
hunger situation.
Then how and most importantly why is obesity an issue in a
country rating so high in malnutrition.
This reminds me of a quotation by one of India’s greatest
“The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.” - Mahatma Gandhi
A developing country like mine has an abundance to feed
all its citizens or children as we like to call our nation Bharat Maata.
Although increasing population and urbanization has lead to a scarcity in all
its recourses. Food is one such resource but as it is a basic human need it
affects much greatly than for say money or land.
Urbanization is supposed to lead the way for a better
future, which obviously constitutes of a better and healthier population. It has however backfired in a few ways. One
such example is the alarming rate at which obesity is at the rise in India. The topic for my seminar is childhood
obesity; it is absurd to some as I have been question why obesity in a country
flooded with hungry.
My answer to that is malnutrition has affected our
country severely, we as a nation are trying to overcome such a grave problem
but ignoring the steady growth of overweight and obese individuals will be the
first step to another serious problem. India doesn’t need any more diseases and
hence I as a nutrition student strive to educate and inform masses about the silent
evil of obesity which lurks in the shadows as all the light is only given to
malnutrition.
A nation with obese children will lead to a future
generation of obese individuals, and obesity is a prerequisite to diseases such
as cancer, cardiovascular problems, type 2 diabetes, bone problems, hernia,
joint problems, arthritis, depression, high cholesterol and finally lower life
expectancy.
Obese children become obese adults and therefore
childhood obesity is a serious matter and cannot be allowed to grow out of hand
and become an epidemic like it has in many parts of the world. After all
children are our future and we must remember George Benson as he advice's
“Children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way”
reference:
(1)
Childhood obesity in
developing countries: epidemiology, determinants, and prevention.
Source: Department of
Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
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