According to the National Family Health Survey 2019-21, about 23% of Indians are obese and therefore suffer from a multitude of health conditions due to this disease.
The Obesity Prevention Summit 2023, initiated by the Integrated Health and Wellbeing Council think tank, was held on Saturday to mark World Obesity Day.
Discussing the impact of obesity on the overall health of individuals, Dr. Pradeep Chowbey, President of the Max Institute of Laparoscopic, Endoscopic, and Bariatric Surgery, said weight management can play a role in delaying weight loss. obesity epidemic.
Lifestyle change is also important and when combined with the right medical interventions, it can actually improve patients’ quality of life, he said.
Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director and Vice President of Novo Nordisk India, discussed obesity as a major risk factor for diabetes.
”Obesity and diabetes are closely linked. India is already the diabetes capital of the world and obesity is increasing exponentially in the country. “At Novo Nordisk, we focus on research and development for two conditions that are intrinsically linked to each other. We are convinced that with innovative solutions to the disorders, relevant awareness of lifestyle interventions can go a long way to solving the crisis,” he said.
According to the WHO, too much body fat increases the risk of non-communicable diseases, including 13 types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart problems and lung conditions.
This year’s theme for World Obesity Day, which was celebrated on March 4, was to change perspectives, avoid shame and blame, and minimize efforts to address obesity as a problem. complex system requiring coordinated action by all stakeholders at all levels of the healthcare ecosystem. .
Initiating the summit, Kamal Narayan, CEO of IHW Council, said, “Apart from having a genetic predisposition to obesity, Indians have started leading extremely sedentary lives with a rapid influx of junk food. Urbanization has been a major contributing factor when it comes to obesity.” The closing session focused on breaking the partnership between diabetes and obesity.
During the session, doctors discussed the role weight plays in type 2 diabetes, how diabetes and obesity combined can lead to complications, and recent treatment choices that manage body weight as well. than blood sugar in type 2 diabetes.
Dr Banshi Saboo, President of the Indian Association for Advancement of Obesity Research (AIAARO), said that a preventive and multi-sectoral approach starting from school and creating more relevant awareness is the need for the hour when it comes to obesity.
Several researches have shown that the rates of diabetes and obesity have continued to rise in tandem and present an increased risk of mortality as well as increased health care costs for the country. Dr. Sujoy Ghosh, Diabetologist and Endocrinologist, Department of Endocrinology, Postgraduate Medical Education and Research Institute, Kolkata, remarked, “Genetics and obesity are the most important risk factors… Weight loss is important not only for diabetes remission, but also for improved metabolic parameters.” ”Diabetes and obesity lead to a host of complications. Fortunately, we have made great strides in diabetes management over the past decade. However, forensic drug use as well as lifestyle modifications must be ensured to derive lasting benefits,’ said Professor Dr Anoop Misra, Director of NDOC.
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