Diet and lifestyle of obese children in the selected districts of kerala and tamil nadu and the impact of medical nutrition therapy

Abstract

Childhood is a crucial period in the life cycle of an individual. It is an important period for the health interventions as health-related behaviours are just in formation, and it seems possible to intervene for preventing the development of lifestyle disorders. newlineChildhood obesity is one among the primary priority programmes of the World Health Organization and is the most serious public health challenge of the twenty first century. The problem is global and is steadily affecting many low and middle income countries, particularly in the urban settings. An alarming rate of increase is seen with an estimated 22 million children under the age of five years being overweight throughout the world and is further expected to rise by 2020 (http://www.who.int/childhood/en/childhood overweight and obesity). newlineChildhood obesity is one of the major public health problems in the modern world. In the period 2003 to 2006, 32 percent of the US children were classified as obese or overweight, and increasing trends in childhood obesity were seen all over the world. The results are alarming as overweight children show a high risk of becoming obese adults. newlineChildhood obesity is an emerging pandemic of the new millennium. This has profound public health consequences, as 70 percent of the overweight children become overweight adults. Obesity is defined as an excess of body fat as measured by Body Mass Index (BMI) ratio in adults this is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. In adults, a BMI over 25 is classified as overweight and over 30 as obese (classes I, II or III or moderate, severe or morbidly obese). newlineHistorically, a fat child means a healthy child, one who is likely to survive the rigors of under nourishment and infection. But unlike the past, today obesity or over weight in childhood is considered as a major health risk condition developed mainly due to malnutrition and improper lifestyle, which can lead to a number of health problems both in childhood and later