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Journalism of Courage
How does junk food affect the health of children?
All the junk food items available in the market are not healthy. In one item a child is getting salts through multiple ways. For example, in a burger three different kinds of salt are used, baking powder, filling powder and then mayonnaise. So, in one item you have three types of sodium which is very harmful. There is a need to avoid this. Even though you get extra calories, you have extra sodium and extra fat as well which is not good for health.
Now children usually opt for ready-to-eat food as well?
There is a status symbol to have ready-to-eat food among children. The media shows these things and the children get lured by it. And what is happening is that consumption of vegetables and fruits is going down. In fruits and vegetables the water content is higher which is good for health and will keep children more fit. Ready-to-eat food items should not be taken regularly.
What diseases junk food can lead to among children?
It starts with obesity and then you have metabolic syndrome. Obesity is a big risk for cancer, diabetes and other disease. In junk food you have extra calories which create trouble for the children.
These days mothers too prefer to give ready-to-eat food to children.
Yes, mothers these days prefer to give children ready-to-eat food because they want to prepare it quickly. It should be given once a month. Then it is not harmful. Parents should focus on giving fruits and vegetables to children because nowadays the consumption of water among children is very low. These days, health drinks are not taken and they prefer cold drinks. I would say that mother has a role to play here.
Have you done any study about the junk food among children?
No, we have not done any kind of study. The school of public health, PGI, had done a study regarding the junk food. It revealed that salt, sugar and fat was higher among children which lead to obesity.
What is the trend you are seeing among the children who are coming to PGI?
In our clinic, we usually see that children are obese. Children don’t do psychical activities and they keep themselves inside their homes and then they take junk food items.
What are your suggestions. How can we stop it?
In school canteen, there should not be any option to provide junk food items. Only health food items should be kept on the menu. Mothers can also play a role if they give such food items to the children which will keep their wards healthy.
