World Obesity Day: Obesity spreads among children from underprivileged families, spike in cases post pandemic

Talking to The Indian Express on the World Obesity Day observed on March 4, Dr Nikita Shah–Assistant Professor, Paediatric department of the hospital said that around 20 children seek help for weight-related concerns each year, with 10% identified as overweight. Before Covid, this figure was half.

“In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, a concerning clinical reality emerges — a surge in childhood obesity. The confluence of disrupted routines, increased sedentary behaviour, and altered dietary habits has fuelled this rise. In the past, kids engaged in outdoor sports like kabaddi, wrestling, and cricket. However, with the widespread use of mobile phones, children now tend to stay indoors,” said Dr Shah.

“Addressing this challenge requires a holistic approach, emphasizing not just medical interventions but also fostering healthier lifestyles and societal awareness to fortify our children against the enduring impact of post-pandemic obesity,” she added.

In the last ten years, there has been a gradual change in the obesity pattern among children. So, in 2017, the heads of the Paediatric Department, Dr Radha Ghildiyal and Dr Alka Jadhav, initiated a separate OPD for obesity. The hospital that operates a paediatric OPD at ‘Chhota’ Sion Hospital, located inside Dharavi—the largest slum in Asia—also deals with almost 10-15 percent of the total cases related to obesity.

Dr Mohan Joshi, dean of the hospital said, “People are consuming more processed and junk food. Earlier, obesity was seen in economically well-off individuals, but now even low-income families are feeding their children things that contribute to obesity.”

To tackle this concern, doctors are providing support through tailored diet plans and family counselling, aiming to prevent the progression of overweight into obesity. Success hinges on parents getting involved and changing family eating habits. Asking kids to avoid biscuits and junk food may face resistance, so guidance is given to parents too. “However, it is a challenging task to make parents understand the severe side effects of obesity. There is a prevailing belief among Indian parents that overweight children are healthier and look cuter than slimmer children,” said Dr Shah.

Highlighting the deficiency in awareness about childhood obesity, Dr Shah shared, “Many parents visit our regular OPD, expressing concerns about their children’s cold, cough, and phlegm. If a child seems overweight during these visits, we conduct a thorough examination.” Dr Shah also emphasised the importance of checking various parameters like haemoglobin, thyroid, and height, as parents frequently raise concerns about their child’s height not increasing.

Well, a similar pattern has also been observed at other paediatric departments of Mumbai KEM and JJ hospitals. Dr Tushar Bandgar, head of endocrinology at KEM hospital, notes that with obesity and inadequate nutrition, children often face a paradox where malnutrition coexists with obesity due to limited access to balanced diets.

“This dual burden amplifies the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, impacting their cognitive and physical development,” said Dr Bandgar, who outlined that the number of children suffering from Type-2 diabetes has surged since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Obesity, akin to a mental issue, hollows out children and youth internally. “If teens grapple with obesity at 15, their bodies may deteriorate by 25, potentially causing diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Urging government attention, recording obesity data, and awareness programmes are vital. Parents play a pivotal role in averting childhood obesity, emphasising timely intervention,” said Dr Mukesh Agarwal, the former paediatric head of KEM hospital.

The NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a global network of scientists, and the World Health Organization (WHO) report a stark increase in obesity rates among children and adolescents worldwide. The analysis reveals that, in 2022, the prevalence of obesity was four times higher than the rates recorded in 1990.

The problems caused by obesity are diabetes, hypertension, feeling tired, calcium deficiency and joint pain.