In around 23 per cent cases of severe obesity, the seeds are sown in the childhood or adolescence, suggested a recent study released by Sir Ganga Ram hospital on Thursday. Around 30 per cent of school going children of the private school is obese, suggested another study.
According to Dr Sudhir Kalhan, Chairman Institute of Minimal Access, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (IMAS), Sir Ganga Ram hospital, the hospital analyzed around 1078 patients who underwent weight loss surgery between 2010 and 2018.
"We found that 23 per cent of the patients were obese in their childhood or adolescence that went on to become severely obese as adults. These people later developed problems like diabetes, hypertension and several sleep disorders", said Dr Kalhan.
The hospital also conducted a study on private school going children in central Delhi in 2016 and found 30 per cent of them to be obese. Interestingly, 10 per cent of them were found to be pre-diabetic and hypertensive, added the doctor.
"In our study we found that many schools were not aware of the unhealthy eating habits of their children. School canteens were serving high calorie drinks and deep fried snacks cooked in unhealthy oils containing trans fat and oils reheated multiple times", said Dr Sudhir Kalhan.
Interestingly, after reducing weight, the patients experienced a drastic fall in diabetes, hypertension, sleep disorder and other obesity related problems, suggested the study. As per the study, around 73 per cent of all patients had their diabetic condition reversed after losing weight. Similarly, hypertension was resolved in around 62 per cent patients and sleep disorders were resolved in 81 per cent of the patients.
Cricketer Gautam Gambhir and Gaurav Gill, Asia Pacific Car Rally Champion among others were also present in the event.
"What I see today is that children are preoccupied. They are always busy on phones or other gadgets and there is a lack of physical activity which is a reason why children are obese. Another reason is that people are aware about obesity and exercise today but these children, by the time they realise, they are already obese" said Gautam Gambhir. So the best way to tackle the problem is to start early, he added.