{"id":10715,"date":"2025-09-06T13:19:57","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T13:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/06\/how-childhood-obesity-leads-to-early-diabetes-and-heart-disease-lifestyle-news\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T13:19:57","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T13:19:57","slug":"how-childhood-obesity-leads-to-early-diabetes-and-heart-disease-lifestyle-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/06\/how-childhood-obesity-leads-to-early-diabetes-and-heart-disease-lifestyle-news\/","title":{"rendered":"How Childhood Obesity Leads To Early Diabetes And Heart Disease | Lifestyle News"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Last Updated:<\/span>

In 2020, approximately 33 million Indian children were living with overweight or obesity, representing about 9% of all children under 20. That could go up to 83 million by 2035<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"font\"<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"80%<\/p>\n

80% of these children remain obese into adulthood, making early onset diabetes and heart disease almost inevitable.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve observed a disturbing trend: childhood obesity has spiralled into a global epidemic\u2014no longer a simple lifestyle issue but a major contributor to chronic disease,” says Dr Pradeep Chowbey, Chairman, Max Institute of Laparoscopic, Robotic and Bariatric Surgery and Allied Surgical Specialities, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket.<\/p>\n

In 2020, approximately 33 million Indian children were living with overweight or obesity, representing about 9% of all children under 20. That number could climb to 83 million by 2035.<\/p>\n

Even more alarming, Dr Chowbey points out that 80% of these children remain obese into adulthood, making early onset diabetes and heart disease almost inevitable.<\/p>\n

Fundamental Causes<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Dr. Chowbey, improved economic status and urbanization have created an environment that fosters obesity. \u201cEasily available transport has cut down physical activity to almost zero. To add to this, high-calorie processed foods are everywhere\u2014they offer little nutritional value but significantly contribute to weight gain,” he explains.<\/p>\n

This leads to a caloric imbalance, where intake is high but calorie burn is minimal. Dr. Chowbey also emphasizes the role of poor sleep patterns. \u201cSleeping at late hours increases the chances of late-night binging, and since metabolism slows during sleep, this significantly increases the risk of obesity,” he adds.<\/p>\n

Diagnosing obesity in children largely relies on Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated as weight (kg) divided by height squared (m\u00b2). While this metric has limitations, it remains the standard. BMI between 18.5 and 25 is normal; 25 to 30 indicates overweight; above 30 is obese. Dr. Chowbey recommends regular BMI checks, especially from age five, as a priority in schools.<\/p>\n

The Immediate and Long-Term Consequences<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Chowbey warns that the consequences of childhood obesity are immediate and profound.<\/p>\n

\u201cObese children often develop high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and many become prediabetic well before adulthood. I\u2019ve seen young teens with early signs of Type 2 diabetes, joint pain, sleep apnea, and cardiovascular risk markers,” he notes.<\/p>\n

The psychological toll is equally concerning. Many obese children suffer from bullying and low self-esteem, leading to anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal.<\/p>\n

Moreover, obese girls face a heightened risk of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)\u2014leading to irregular menstruation and even infertility later in life.<\/p>\n

Over the longer term, Dr. Chowbey cautions that childhood obesity sets the stage for serious chronic diseases: \u201cHeart disease, diabetes, stroke, specific cancers, and osteoarthritis are all too common in those who remain obese into adulthood.”<\/p>\n

The Path Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n

So what can be done? Dr. Chowbey stresses that it begins at home and in schools.<\/p>\n

\u201cSchools must conduct regular BMI screenings, and parents need to model healthy habits. Replace sugary snacks with nutritious meals and involve children in cooking. Reduce screen time and encourage active play whether at school or in the neighbourhood,” he advises.<\/p>\n

He also issues a strong public health warning, \u201cThis doubling of childhood obesity in just a few decades is a public health alarm bell. If we don\u2019t act now, we\u2019ll raise a generation predisposed to early-onset chronic disease. It\u2019s time for a collective, informed effort to safeguard our children\u2019s futures.”<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\"authorimg\"<\/figure>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Swati Chaturvedi<\/a><\/p>\n

Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl…Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl… Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health<\/a>,\u00a0fashion<\/a>,\u00a0travel<\/a>,\u00a0food<\/a>, wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. <\/span>Also\u00a0Download the\u00a0News18 App<\/a> to stay updated.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n
\n

September 06, 2025, 18:45 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

News<\/a> lifestyle<\/a> How Childhood Obesity Leads To Early Diabetes And Heart Disease<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last Updated:September 06, 2025, 18:45 IST In 2020, approximately 33 million Indian children were living with overweight or obesity, representing about 9% of all children under 20. That could go up to 83 million by 2035 80% of these children remain obese into adulthood, making early onset diabetes and heart disease almost inevitable. \u2018I\u2019ve observed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10715"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10715\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}