The numbers speak for themselves.
In India, bariatric or weight loss surgery has increased almost 10 times over the past decade. Over 10,000 bariatric surgeries took place last year and the number is slated to jump to 50,000 surgeries per year.
“Obesity has to be arrested in childhood itself,” said Arun Prasad, vice-president of the Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society of India (OSSI).
“The problem of childhood obesity becomes difficult to control at a later age even though controlled diet and exercise. As a result, one has to take recourse to surgical procedures or bariatric surgery to reduce obesity,” Dr. Prasad added.
Inactive childhood leads to mismatch of body metabolism during the most formative years of a person, something that becomes very difficult to reverse at a later age. The individual later finds himself/herself in a difficult situation and has to try out various diet, exercise and weight loss programmes, say doctors.
“Losing weight later in life is not easy as the body is already poised at a different level and metabolism is now skewed. Last resort for many individuals is bariatric or weight loss surgery, which is now increasingly becoming a surgical specialty of its own,” explained Dr. Prasad.
He added that over the past 10 years, weight reduction surgery has increased by nearly 10 times.
“While about two to three such operations were happening per month then in Delhi, now we see almost 50-60 per month,” he noted.
To discuss the topic, experts from across the world are participating in a two-day conference on bariatric surgery at New Delhi’s Indraprashtha Apollo Hospital. The conference began here on Friday.
Doctors here say that if your child prefers to spend more time sitting at home and chatting or indulging in PS4 gaming rather than playing with his friends in a park or play area, then it is time for you to sit up and become alert.
“Such a habit in your child is inviting a string of serious diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and heart ailments which are triggered by obesity,” said K. S. Kular, the joint organiser of the conference. Experts pointed out that there is acute shortage of playgrounds and evening activities for children in most of cities across the country.
“At the same time, there is tremendous pressure on children to study more for competitive examinations and attend coaching classes. This effectively consumes their weekends too. The only source of entertainment for stressed out children is either PS4 gaming or their cell phone, etc.,” they added.
Experts at the conference emphasised that obesity starts during childhood and it is important to educate children and young parents.
“A chubby child is not healthy and cute is the message that we need to give across to the public. Processed foods and shortcut meals are the biggest culprits. This, combined with lifestyle pressures of a young urban family, makes healthy eating a real challenge,” noted experts.
