‘Early awareness better than cure'

British Deputy High Commissioner Mike Nithavrianakis presents the Prof. M. Viswanathan National Award for Excellence in Medical Teaching and Medical Care to Ramachandra Dattatraya Lele, emeritus professor, National Academy of Medical Sciences at a function in Chennai on Saturday. M.V. Hospital for Diabetes managing director Vijay Viswanathan is in the picture. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

A six-month interventional programme in schools found that when children are taught early about healthy food habits and lifestyle, they not only follow them but also remember what they have been taught.

“Post-intervention, there was a marked increase in the knowledge of younger children in the 8-11 years age group. Children ate more fruits and television viewing fell,” Anoop Misra, chairman Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology said at the M.V. Hospital for Diabetes' Diabetic Research Centre Gold Medal Oration 2011.

The interventional studies indicated that if children are taught from a young age about the need for healthy lifestyle, they retained the message and carried it forward by following it.

Earlier, M.V. Hospital for Diabetes presented the first Prof. M. Viswanathan National Award for Excellence in Medical Teaching and Medical Care to 84-year-old Ramachandra Dattatraya Lele, emeritus professor, National Academy of Medical Sciences.

The award included a gold medal, Rs.50,000 and a citation and was presented by Mike Nithavrianakis, deputy high commissioner of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Nithavrianakis said his government planned to work closely with the Indian government in the health sector.