If we go back in time, before the pandemic, kids in their spare time had an opportunity to have activities outdoors, leading to some physical activities.
The latest National Family Health Survey has surveyed 20 states out of 22. which showed that on the one hand, there is a rise in malnutrition in many forms, but the survey also tells us there is an increase in obesity among children in 20 states out of 22.
Since covid-19 and the lockdown, there has been a restriction of leisure activity, which led to less physical activities and more static activities.
“COVID 19 is expected to possibly worsen the situation of overweight in middle and high socio-economic groups since the tendency for home confined young and school-aged children and adolescents to indulge in frequent munching or consumption of high calorie and empty nutrient value snacks such as ‘namkeen’, biscuits, bread, buns, noodles, ice creams, cookies and cakes, fried snacks, sweetened beverages would increase. These items are rich in carbohydrates, sugar and fat and are sought routinely consumed to get relieve boredom.” stated Dr, “These items are rich in carbohydrate, sugar and fat and are sought routinely and consumed to get relief boredom,” said Dr Sheila Vir, Director, Public Health Nutrition and Development Centre, Delhi.
In the current period, parents are also encouraged by feeding them salty, sweet and fast food regularly to meet the constant demands.
One more obstacle is the online classes which have been inactive from March to October, still in some places. This reduced the activity even more like socialising, playing and physical contact, critical for their psychosocial wellbeing and development.
Keeping in mind obesity is associated with a higher chance of premature death and disability in adulthood and many diseases.
Some of the diseases are listed dow.
- All causes of death (mortality)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides (Dyslipidemia)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary heart disease.
- Stroke.
- Gallbladder disease.
- Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint)
The measures that can be used to avoid obesity stated by Dr Sheila Vir, Director, Public Health Nutrition and Development Centre, Delhi, “Overfeeding a child, if undernourished earlier, should be strictly avoided. TV time should be restricted, and playtime encouraged. Regular weight monitoring, as far as feasible, should be encouraged. In fact, the entire family should ‘Eat Right’ since the overweight problem in mothers is also associated with overweight and obesity in their offspring. Also, get into the habit of checking the nutrient content which is printed on the food packets, as per the government/FSSAI policy”.
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