Pune: Has your child suddenly gained 15 to 20 kgs weight in the last nine months of lockdown? Is he suffering or showing symptoms of thyroid, blood pressure, etc? If yes, you should immediately consult your doctors as your child may become obese and develop several other health complications. Medical experts have warned that parents are neglecting these early symptoms of obesity in their children which may prove to be harmful in future.
City doctors have observed that these symptoms are on a rise in children especially those in the age group of 8 to 15 years. The absence of school and sport activities and a sedentary lifestyle has given rise to these serious health-related issues. The worrying fact is that parents are approaching doctors a little too late as they are not aware of the obesity-related health complications.
Dr. Geeta Dharamatti, a nutritionist and former president of the Indian Dietetic Association, every child should be engaged in physical activity for at least two hours a day. For the past nine months, unfortunately, physical activities of children have come down to zero.”
Due to the closing of schools, children’s engagement in the virtual world has subsequently increased so has their carbohydrate intake. The children are staying indoors most of the time and it has reduced the intake of vitamin D. Children these days also have easy access to processed, junked food and drinks.
Senior bariatric surgeon, Dr Shashank Shah said “Parents are bringing their kids to the hospitals when the prevention stage is gone and the treatment becomes difficult. When a child falls ill with fever, cold, or cough they are quick to visit the doctor, but when it comes to weight gain they fail to act. They come to us when the child puts on over 15-20 kg and develops complications such as thyroid, blood pressure, cholesterol, or become pre-diabetic.”
Due to the pandemic children are spending their entire day at home and have turned out to be volume eaters. This has pushed them towards weight gain and verging on obesity. There has been a marked rise in the number of kids coming with weight beyond 100 kg, since the lockdown.