Eight per cent of kids in Mumbai obese

In bustling Mumbai childhood obesity is quietly snowballing into a fullblown health crisis A government survey conducted in December 2024 under the Poshan Aahaar Yojna during the sixth Poshan Pakhwada flagged that 8 per cent of Mumbairsquos children are obese The statewide figure is even more alarming at 13 per centThis isnrsquot an isolated phenomenon National Family Health Survey NFHS5 data reveals that obesity among children under five rose from 21 per cent in 201516 to 34 per cent in 201921 What was once dismissed as ldquopuppy fatrdquo is now a serious red flag tied to poor lifestyle choices unhealthy diets and even environmental factorsJunk Monster in kitchenBusy parents highpressure schedules and marketing overload have exposed children to a diet of highfat highsugar and nutrientpoor foods ldquoFast food contains harmful ingredients like Ajinomoto preservatives and concentrated sugar which can be harmful for anybody especially for children whose immune systems are building These trigger inflammation in the body stress the adrenal glands and cause hormonal imbalances that result in weight gainrdquo said Dr Roshni Vijay Sonone Latekar Clinical Endocrine DieticianThe effects go deeper ldquoFrequent junk food intake reduces insulin sensitivity which leads to weight gain Were also seeing obesity rising faster in girls due to early hormonal imbalances like PCOD and PCOS sometimes starting as early as age 10 or 11rdquo added Dr Sushma Gummani a nutrition expert ldquoJunk food also lacks essential nutrients like calcium and vitamins needed for a healthy menstrual cycle further worsening the issuerdquoSedentary livesModern schooling and city living have dramatically reduced physical activity among children ldquoItrsquos not just about lack of outdoor play Long school hours AC classrooms and buses and minimal sun exposure are causing widespread Vitamin D and B12 deficienciesrdquo Gummani said ldquoChildren are also overmedicated with supplements or in some cases steroids for conditions like asthma which further disrupt metabolism and lead to obesityrdquo added Dr LatekarAdding to this misguided selfmedication is compounding the crisis ldquoParents often give their kids multivitamin gummies or protein supplements without consulting a doctor These can cause hunger pangs and lead to overeatingrdquo said Dr Ujjwala Baxi dietician and diabetes educatorUrban lifestyleUrban lifestyles have triggered a range of health issuesmdashnot just in adults but increasingly in children ldquoRising parental affordability has brought luxury within easy reach of children Their screen time has skyrocketed turning many into couch potatoes With generous pocket money they can afford to snack on junk food regularly Dining out is no longer reserved for special family occasionsmdashbe it birthdays or the last day of exams kids now celebrate fortnightly at restaurants and fastfood joints Even weekend lsquofamily timersquo often means eating out This frequent consumption of outside food contributes directly to weight gain and obesityrdquo said BaxiStress is another major factor driving childhood obesity ldquoPeer pressure and FOMO werenrsquot common terms a decade ago but theyrsquove become central to students lives today The competitiveness in academics and extracurriculars has made children increasingly selfconsciousrdquo Baxi addedAre schools stepping upSome institutions are trying to turn the tide Swati Popat Vats president of the Early Childhood Association ECA believes schools must be part of the solution ldquoChildren consume high amounts of processed and junk food often from school canteens Our campaign focuses on helping kids understand the difference between empty calories and nutritious foodmdashwithout bodyshamingrdquo she told middayldquoA pizza made with nachni or bajra base tomato puree and vegetables can be far healthier than its maidaladen counterpart Our aim is to bring kids back to millets and traditional dietsrdquo she addedSunita George principal of Bombay Scottish School Mahim said ldquoLast year we organised Garam Masala where students presented how many foods marketed as lsquohealthyrsquo actually arenrsquot They learned to read labels and make informed food choicesrdquoAt the school the PTA runs the canteen through a dedicated committee ldquoThe PTA decides the menu selects the vendor and even conducts surprise kitchen checks Feedback is taken from both students and staff We try to strike a balancemdashfood must appeal to children but also support their wellbeingrdquo George addedIn March 2024 the Early Childhood Association ECA and Association for Preparatory Education and Research APER wrote to the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Union Consumer Affairs Minister recommending a ldquofat taxrdquo and ldquohealth taxrdquo on sugar in packaged foods The proposal includes a 145 per cent cess on burgers pizzas and doughnuts sold by branded restaurantsBacked by a survey of 3000 parents and triggered by the McDonaldrsquos case the groupsmdashcomprising educators psychologists and parentsmdashhave urged schools to ban cakes and chocolates on birthdays and replace them with fresh fruitUnder their campaign titled lsquoSay No to Junkrsquo ECA has also asked schools to stop distributing wafers packaged drinks and chocolates and avoid field trips to malls or soft drink factories that promote excess sugar and salt consumptionFixing the fat trapgtgt Bring back traditional diets Replace processed snacks with millets sprouts and seasonal fruitsgtgt Reclaim outdoor time Encourage more free play and physical activity in daily routinesgtgt Educate without shame Promote healthy habits without bodyshaminggtgt Redesign school menus Reform portion sizes and ingredients in canteensPoshan Aahaar Survey findingsMaharashtra1337 children obeseMumbai837 234893 children surveyedThane637 185360 children surveyedPune737 298929 children surveyedRecommendations to schoolsgtgt Ban HFSS highfatsugarsalt foods near and within schoolsgtgt Promote fruits vegetables in canteensgtgt Avoid fried and confectionery itemsgtgt Ban hydrogenated oilsgtgt Mandate daily physical activityatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params