Rohit Shishodia
The obesity time bomb is ticking for both adults and children in India. It is expected that by 2025, India will have over 15 million obese children and may stand at second place among 184 countries. Experts say that preventing obesity is crucial for prevent diabetes.

Dr. Sadhana Tayde, Senior Official from Health Department of Maharashtra Government, says: “Diabetes has become an epidemic in India. Every fourth person in India is diabetic. Among the key risk factors, one factor responsible for causing diabetes is obesity or overweight. Overweight and obesity is the result of unhealthy food habits and physical inactivity and inclination towards tobacco and alcohol use.”

Speaking on the occasion of World Diabetes Day in Pune at an awareness program on obesity, She further said, “It is a never ending vicious cycle. India has its 21% population in the adolescent age group. This young India is also in the claws of diabetes which fuels up with childhood obesity, unhealthy lifestyle, use of alcohol and tobacco. Diseases occurring in adulthood have their roots in the unhealthy habits followed during childhood. So, a child needs to be made aware about these risk factors and promote healthy lifestyle.”

Dr. Jayashree Todkkar, Director, Maharashtra State Obesity and Non Communicable Diseases Taskforce, has said that obesity raises risk of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular, kidney and respiratory diseases and diabetes.

Dr Todkkar added “Healthy habits like active exercising and a well- balanced diet can prevent or control these diseases. However, obesity has become a threat owing to the poor awareness among the masses. The situation is serious and we need some aggressive mass-based efforts to deal with it.”