The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Beware of that junk food you eat Public eye

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

Karnataka - Bangalore

Beware of that junk food you eat Public eye

Sahana Charan

Unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise are contributing to obesity among Bangaloreans

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Keeping fit: Regular exercise and healthy food are essential to keep your body weight under check.

BANGALORE: “Chubby cheeks, dimpled chin…” might well go on to being tagged fat soon enough. Your child might be the teacher’s pet, but chubby cheeks are not so cute anymore, with experts saying that 80 per cent of overweight children in the 10 to 14 year age group are at the risk of becoming overweight adults.

Take 10-year-old S. Preethi (name changed). Her food intake includes six to eight eggs, fat laden, unhealthy junk food and fizzy drinks throughout the day. At 49 kg, she is way past her ideal body weight and with jet-setting parents having high-stress jobs, there is no one to regulate the child’s eating habits. She had fainting spells and was finally taken to a nutritionist.

It is no different among adults. T. Subramaniam (name changed), an IT professional in his late 30s, discovered that he was diabetic and had high cholesterol levels during a routine health check-up arranged by his company. Now he seeks medical help to control his weight.

Young city, but…

Bangalore is often termed a young city, with increasing number of people having high disposable incomes and leading sedentary but highly stressful lives. There is a section of children that rarely goes out to play and is content gaming, watching television at home, munching on junk while adults seem to lead an erratic lifestyle that includes very little exercise and hours in front of the computer. This is taking a toll on the health of a majority of young people, especially IT professionals and those working in business process outsourcing (BPOs) units and call centres, with many becoming obese at a young age.

“In India, studies show that 7 to 8 per cent of the population is obese. In Bangalore, there is an increase in the number of people who are obese and those who have obesity-related health problems,” says S.S. Srikanta, diabetologist and Director of the Samatvam Endocrinology Diabetes Centre.

“It is no more a cosmetic problem and is known to lead to ailments, including hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, menstrual irregularities in women and bone-related problems. What is commonly seen among Indians is abdominal obesity, which makes them more prone to heart ailments and diabetes, caused by a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise and improper food habits,” Dr. Srikanta adds.

Nandini Mundkur, developmental paediatrician and Director, Centre for Child Development and Disabilities here, stresses the importance of healthy eating practices early in life. “Eating habits have changed considerably in the last few years. We find that mothers are increasingly weaning their infants from breast feeding to formula feed. Research shows that formula foods can contribute to weight gain.”

The trend towards eating food “imported” from the West such as burgers, pizzas and colas or fried snacks and pastries — all high in trans fats — can do much harm. “Indian home-cooked food has all the essential ingredients of a balanced diet and is best suited for (us). Children should be encouraged to eat fresh food cooked at home, to play outdoors and discouraged to watch television or play computer games,” she says.

Dr. Srikanta observes that Bangaloreans are increasingly eating out as there is apparently no time to cook. Apart from poor eating habits, psychological stress wrought by pressure both at the workplace and at home may be one of the underlying causes for people becoming overweight.

Among adults, those who have jobs that involve a lot of travelling, software professionals and those who have to meet deadlines are the ones who put on weight.

The daily intake does not include the required amount of fibre, essential proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables but only contains fatty, sugary food and processed foodstuffs which can do much harm and contribute to obesity.

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