Spreading Awareness Against Childhood Obesity Through a Mega Drawing Competition Across Maharashtra!

by Suman Gupta

The obesity time bomb is ticking for adults and children in India. Reportedly by 2025, India will have over 15 million obese children and may stand at second place among 184 countries.

Mumbai : Dr. Jayasshree Todkkar (Director, Maharashtra State Obesity & NCD Taskforce and Director, Service Projects – Medical, RCKP) states: Obesity raises risk of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular, kidney, respiratory diseases and diabetes. 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.

Rotary Club of Koregaon Park, Pune (RCKP), known for undertaking various social issues, has come forward with an exceptional campaign for a healthier and obesity-free India. This year, RCKP along with its partners Directorate of Health Services – State Govt. of Maharashtra, Navneet Foundation, and JT Foundation, have launched second phase of the campaign against obesity to bring awareness of this malady through a unique drawing competition for students.

‘Fight Childhood Obesity – Drawing Competition 2019’ aims to reach maximum students in the schools across Maharashtra. The drawing competition will kick start on the occasion of Children’s Day – 14^th November 2019 and continue till 30^th November 2019, across all the schools of the state. It will give an excellent opportunity to the students to express their thoughts on A) Healthy Habits and B) Dangers of Obesity.

Dr. Sadhana Tayde, Director-Health Services m, State Family Welfare Bureau “Diabetes has become an epidemic in India. Every fourth person in India is a 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. It’s 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 its roots in the unhealthy habits followed in the childhood. So a child needs to be made aware about these risk factors and promote healthy lifestyle.”

India’s Honorable Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi had launched ‘Fit India Movement’ recently on 19^th August 2019 for a fitter and better India.

We are extremely proud to say that our Honorable Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi and Honorable Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan have acknowledged and endorsed our ‘Fight Childhood Obesity’ campaign with great enthusiasm.