Unhealthy food choices and sedentary routine are changing the health landscape in India and not for the better.
These trends could have health implications even on children.
A report published by a national daily claims that a growing number of Indian children are showing dark, velvety patches around the neck.
It’s an early sign of insulin resistance and metabolic imbalance.
Called Acanthosis nigricans (AN), it is mistaken for poor hygiene or puberty changes.
Experts now warn these are signs of diabetes, hormonal disorders, and even heart problems.
Every case of dark neck pigmentation in children should prompt a metabolic screening. Ignoring it could lead to serious complications by early adulthood.
Studies show a strong link between AN and insulin resistance in both normal-weight and obese children.
The report outlined a 2019 study in the Indian Dermatology Journal which recommended screening all children and adolescents with AN, regardless of BMI. Early detection and lifestyle intervention can prevent or delay diabetes.
Further, the report alluded to a school-based study of 1,832 higher secondary students found AN was more common in girls (30%) than boys (18%). Hypertension, obesity, and high stress were also linked.
Another study of 400 adolescents aged 13–14 found AN in 14.5% overall. Among obese adolescents, it was 61.5%, strongly associated with low physical activity.
Early signs
The American Diabetes Association recognises dark neck patches as an early warning sign of diabetes in overweight children, especially around puberty.
Data from paediatric practice in India shows over 40% of overweight and obese children have AN. Many have high blood sugar and low physical activity.
Severe cases of adolescent obesity are rising. Children aged 10–16 have been recorded weighing over 150 kg. Some are already diabetic and require bariatric surgery.
The National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21) says that 3.4% of children under five are overweight, up from 2.1% in 2015–16, the report added.
UNICEF’s World Obesity Atlas 2022 projects India will have over 27 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 living with obesity by 2030. This will be 11% of the global burden.
A public awareness campaign, Choose Your Weight, aims to shift perceptions of obesity from cosmetic to chronic disease.
Excess body fat affects hormones. Boys may experience delayed puberty and low testosterone. Girls may develop polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD).
Hormonal reversals, including oestrogen dominance in boys and androgen excess in girls, affect fertility and mental health.
Obesity remains stigmatised despite recognition as a chronic disease. It is often seen as a failure of discipline. Insurance coverage is limited for related psychological and orthopaedic problems.
Instead of using “obese person,” medical professionals advise using “person living with obesity.”
How other countries are tackling this issue…
There isn’t a system in India to diagnose kids for metabolic hazards or obesity. Accountability is limited by a lack of reliable data.
Maternal health is the key. Pregnant women who are obese or have diabetes may put their unborn children at risk.
Better diet and lifestyle choices made by the mother during pregnancy can have a good impact on the child’s long-term health, a study claims.
Lifestyle choices play a critical role. Ultra-processed meals, sugary drinks, screen time, and sedentary lifestyles contribute massively to childhood obesity.
New Zealand, Canada, Japan and have proved that enforcing nutrition labels, taxing sugary drinks, controlling school meals, and outlawing trans fats can reduce childhood obesity to a large extent.
Although India has started, its efforts are still dispersed. The general thought is that strengthening school nutrition and public health policies is considered critical to addressing the growing burden of childhood obesity and metabolic disease.
Also Read: New Research Links Obesity to Lower Survival Rates in Children with Cancer https://www.vibesofindia.com/new-research-links-obesity-to-lower-survival-rates-in-children-with-cancer/
