KOLLAM: The incidence of lifestyle diseases in children is alarmingly high and the trend has been continuing for the past few years, according to noted paediatrician Dr.M.C.Thomas.
Addressing the delegate session of the 39th state conference of Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) here on Saturday, Dr.
Thomas, president of the IAP, Kollam Branch and chief paediatrician and joint medical superintendent of Azeezia Medical College, said that a sedentary lifestyle and high intake of junk food were driving these `silent killers.’ He said that there had been a well-documented paediatric obesity epidemic and dramatic increase in clinical diseases associated with it. Despite the increasing prevalence of obesity and associated health hazards, paediatric obesity as a diagnosis is often overlooked by health care providers. This can be attributed to the transformation in the life-styles of young children from being physically active and consuming more of home cooked food to being more and more home bound, spending time on the Internet, video games and TV and the easy accessibility to fast food.
As a result there is an increase in the number of overweight, passive youngsters with lifestyle diseases. Instead of asking children to spend too much time indoors, parents should persuade them to be active in sports and games in schools for preventing non-communicable diseases, Thomas said.
He said that awareness among children regarding lifestyle risk factors of non-communicable diseases was not satisfactory.
Counselling sessions to incorporate lifestyle changes in their routines which includes eating more vegetables, whole grains and low fat dairy products and cutting down on saturated fat and sodium; getting three hours of exercise a week will do good.
He recommended the parents to encourage the children to indulge in outdoor games. He also emphasised the curriculumbased education regarding the prevention aspects and motivation of children to incorporate healthy lifestyle. “Instead of giving children cookies and burgers ask them to eat more fruits and vegetables.” Avoid junk food, bad snacks, tobacco and alcohol, start saving money and save health, he said.
“Change style, Change life, Catch them young,” is the theme of the conference in which around 50 prominent paediatricians from various parts of the country will present papers. The conference will conclude on Sunday.