When we discuss childhood obesity, the conversation usually boils down to eating too much unhealthy food and exercising too little.
However, according to paediatrician Dr Ankur Chawla, the reality is far more complicated than that.
In an interaction with HT Lifestyle, Dr Chawla pointed out that there are multiple factors at play behind the noticeable rise in childhood obesity . In his words, “The reality is more complicated. The food environment around children has changed, daily movement has declined, screens occupy more hours, and sleep routines are increasingly irregular.”
He shared that the World Health Organisation (WHO) considers the habit of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages to be linked to overweight and obesity in children. A child eating dinner in front of a television or scrolling on a phone may pay less attention to hunger and fullness cues. Screens can also expose children to constant food marketing and make snacking feel like part of entertainment. As per Dr Chawla, children do not require constant activity at the gym or sports academy. Walking to a nearby shop, taking the stairs, playing outside, cycling, assisting with home chores and switching between tasks all count.
“A sugary drink, such as a fruit drink, juice in a carton, or flavoured milk, does not fit the traditional definition of meal food, yet will add to calorie consumption without satiating hunger,” stated Dr Chawla. “Thus, replacing sugary drinks with plain water or regular milk can be an excellent improvement in diet,” he added. “Best method means making simple changes and building children’s diets around a healthy and active lifestyle: drinking water instead of sugary beverages, eating meals without screens, always going to bed at the same time, walking more, playing games actively and eating less junk food,” stated the paediatrician.
