Prevention and Impact of Childhood Obesity in India

Volume 3, Jan 2014

Anoop Misra, MD, Swati Bhardwaj, PhD, New Delhi, India

 Background: Childhood obesity has become a prominent health issue in developed countries and has now gained access in the developing world as well. Secular trends indicate increasing prevalence rates of childhood obesity in India, from 9.8% (2006) to 11.7% (2009). Similar increase can be seen in other developing countries; 4.1% (1974) to 13.9% (1997) in Brazil and from 12.2% (1991) to 15.6% (1993) in Thailand. Important determinants of childhood obesity include poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyle, high socioeconomic status, unawareness and false beliefs about nutrition, marketing by transnational food companies, increasing academic stress, and poor facilities for physical activity. Obesity among children has medical as well as psychosocial impact leading to huge economic impact on the individual family, health sector as well as the country. Successful prevention/reduction and management of childhood obesity requires a multilevel approach involving the family, school, peer group, government and the society as a whole. (J Clin Prev Cardiol. 2014;3(1):5-11)