The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Obesity foundation to be started

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Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Obesity foundation to be started

Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE: Gem Hospital is joining hands with members of the public to start an organisation to address obesity-related issues.

C. Palanivelu, Director, Gem Hospital, told journalists here on Tuesday that Obesity Foundation would be started on World Obesity Day, which fell on October 24.

“Gem Hospital with its vast experience in curing obesity through surgical means is now joining hands with people who have already benefitted and are likely to benefit, philanthropists from medical and non-medical communities and others in starting the Foundation.”

It would be a non-profit organisation providing education on treatment of lifestyle disorders like diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and most importantly obesity.

Such a move was necessary because obesity was a leading cause of death worldwide, with increasing prevalence in adults and children alike, and authorities viewed it as one of the most serious public health problems of the century.

Dr. Palanivelu pointed out that the World Health Organisation had predicted that overweight and obesity might soon replace more traditional public health concerns such as malnutrition and infectious diseases as the most significant cause of poor health.

In the last 10 years, the Hospital had treated 750 persons for obesity-related problems. Most of those were from middle class and led a sedentary lifestyle. Increase in consumption of junk food was also one of the reasons, he said. As part of the World Obesity Day celebrations, the Hospital would conduct free screening camp and also offer follow-up treatment.

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