After COVID, childhood obesity increased, impacting even children from low-income families. Physicians at Sion Hospital, the only BMC-run facility that offers an OPD for paediatric obesity, observe a two-fold increase in the number of overweight kids. Even though the number of instances is rising, many people are unable to access treatment due to ignorance.
According to the source, when one stops by Sion Hospital on Thursdays between 1 and 3 p.m., one finds that youngsters from poor families in Dharavi, the biggest slum in Asia, are also obese. Physicians emphasise how this shows that obesity is becoming more common in urban slums, particularly in the wake of the epidemic, and is no longer limited to wealthy families.
Assistant professor of paediatrics, Dr. Nikita Shah, stated that every year, about 20 kids seek care for weight-related issues, with 10% being classified as overweight. Prior to Covid, this number was just half.
“A troubling clinical reality that has emerged in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak is the rise in paediatric obesity. This surge has been fueled by a combination of changing food choices, increased sedentary activity, and disrupted routines. Kids used to play outdoor activities like cricket, wrestling, and kabaddi. But because cell phones are so widely used, kids of days prefer to stay indoors, according to Dr. Shah.
In order to protect our children from the long-term effects of post-pandemic obesity, she continued, “Addressing this challenge requires a holistic approach, emphasizing not just medical interventions but also fostering healthier lifestyles and societal awareness.”
The trend of childhood obesity has gradually changed during the past 10 years. Therefore, a distinct OPD for obesity was established in 2017 by Drs. Radha Ghildiyal and Alka Jadhav, the chairs of the paediatric department. Nearly 10–15% of all obesity-related patients are handled by the hospital that runs a paediatric OPD at “Chhota” Sion Hospital, which is housed inside Dharavi, the biggest slum in Asia.
According to the hospital’s dean, Dr. Mohan Joshi, more people are eating processed and junk food. In the past, obesity was only associated with those who were financially well-off, but these days, even low-income families are giving their kids unhealthy foods.
In an effort to address this issue, physicians are offering assistance through individualized meal planning and family therapy in an effort to stop overweight people from becoming obese. The involvement of parents and the modification of family food habits are critical to success. Advice is offered to parents as well because asking children to abstain from junk food and cookies may encounter opposition. But it might be difficult to convey to parents the serious consequences of obesity. Dr. Shah stated, “There is a widespread perception among Indian parents that overweight children are healthier and more attractive than smaller ones.
Drawing attention to the lack of knowledge on childhood obesity, Dr. Shah stated, “A lot of parents come into our normal outpatient department with worries about their kids’ colds, coughs, and phlegm. We provide a comprehensive evaluation if a youngster appears overweight during these appointments. Parents often express concern that their child’s height is not growing, thus Dr. Shah also stressed the significance of measuring several indicators including height, thyroid, and haemoglobin.
(Inputs from agencies)
-Raja Aditya
