MillenniumPost
Bengal

Child obesity on the rise in city, warns doctors

KOLKATA: Around 20 percent of children in Kolkata are overweight, warned the city doctors.
They said many of them grow up as obese with the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and coronary artery diseases.
According to a study, around 25.2 percent of people belonging to the non-poor section in the city are suffering from overweight. Whereas, around 13.2 percent of the poor population are overweight.
The study also shows that around 7.7 percent of the people belonging to the non-poor section are obese. In case of Chennai, the figure stands at 15.1 percent which is quite high compared to Kolkata. In case of Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai the figures are 11.8, 8.7 and 8.8 respectively.
The number is pretty low in case of the poor population in the city. Around 2.9 of the population among the poor are obese. Obesity presents an exploding public health challenge around the globe.
According to experts, the country today is facing a great challenge in the name of 'obesity'. World Obesity Federation (WOF) estimates 48.3 million of Indian population to be obese by 2025.
The proportion of obese women in India rose from 13 percent to 21 percent in the last decade 2005-06. While the numbers continue to climb, obesity – a lifestyle disorder –remains a neglected public health issue.
Ipsita Chakravarti, a dietitian in the city said: "The trend of obesity in the country is worrying.
It has been steadily increasing in women and other groups despite many public health efforts to improve nutrition and physical activity.
It is time for people to adjust to a different lifestyle and take control of their weight or otherwise they will have to pay the price."
She added that obesity affects the health of women in many ways. It is a precursor to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and carries many complications with it.
From heart disease to pregnancy problems, the ramifications of obesity are devastating. The health consequences range from serious chronic conditions, disabilities to premature death.
Obesity in women can be caused by a variety of factors. Energy imbalances, endocrine medical conditions and certain medicines may also contribute to obesity.
Genetics do influence weight, but it is only a small part of the equation. Some people are more prone than others to gain weight than others but that doesn't imply they are fated for
weight problems.
"Besides adopting a healthy diet and increasing physical activity, we can turn to methods that assure effectiveness. Supplementation is one such method; it can help with right nutrition and curb weight-related problems," Chakravarti maintained.

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