The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Obesity is a deadly disease’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Obesity is a deadly disease’

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: The message was loud and clear. Spread of lifestyle associated disorders is gradually acquiring epidemic proportions in our society and it is about time people started changing the way they live.

In the inaugural session of a two-day seminar on ‘Benefits of Fitness’ organised by Indo German Nachkontact Association (IGNA)-Hyderabad at Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, medical professionals felt that there was a dire need to change lifestyle of people.

“Increasing affluence has led to conditions like obesity, which is leading to diabetes and heart related ailments. A brisk walk for 30 minutes a day is all it takes to maintain good health. However, still a majority of the public are unable to fathom,” feels Head of the Department of General Medicine, NIMS V.R. Srinivasan.

Srinivasan went on to add that ‘leisure’ was playing a major role in making ‘couch potatoes’ out of people. “There is no physical activity among children. They are becoming obese by the age of 14 years and this has to change. Lifestyle is what we have to change,”

In his talk on ‘Obesity-Causes and Complications’, Associate Professor of Endocrinology, Gandhi Medical College, Rakesh Sahay said that sample surveys conducted by various groups indicate 25 per cent prevalence of obesity among adult population in our State.

“This is an epidemic but no one realises it and by the time they do, sometimes, it’s too late. On an average obesity reduces life expectancy by eight years. Best way to regulate obesity is to control our eating habits and get out of our sedantry life,” Dr. Sahay said.

Director of National Institute of Nutrition, B. Sesikeran and medicare professionals from Indian Institute of Chemical Technology also participated in the seminar.

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