Obesity in Children

Childhood overweight and obesity is rising rapidly in urban India — driven by energy-dense snacks and sugary drinks, less active play, more screen time, smaller households with easier access to processed food. Excess weight in childhood raises the risk of early type 2 diabetes, high BP, fatty liver, early heart disease, bone/joint problems, sleep apnoea, and — significantly — emotional distress.

Diagnosis — by BMI centile

• BMI for age and sex is used for children — not the adult 25/30 cut-offs.
• A paediatrician plots BMI on growth charts (Indian references available).
• Waist circumference is increasingly used too.
• "Chubby" does not equal "healthy" — an old Indian myth worth letting go of, especially past infancy.

What actually helps — the whole family has to change

• Eat together, at the table, without screens.
• Home-cooked meals the default; packaged foods the exception.
• Cut sugary drinks — soft drinks, packaged juices, flavoured milk, sweetened yogurts.
• Cut ultra-processed snacks — namkeen, biscuits, chips — don't keep them at home.
• Fill half the plate with vegetables and fruit; include dal/legumes and whole grains.
• Smaller portions; eat slowly.
• Not about "diet" — about family food culture.
• 60 minutes of active play a day — cycling, running around, sport. Active commuting (walking/cycling to school, safely) matters.
• Strict screen-time limits; no screens at meals or before bed.
• 9-12 hours sleep for school-age children.
• Don't use food as reward or comfort.
• Parents set the example — "do as I do" beats "do as I say."

When to see a Health Expert

• BMI plateauing above the centile line over repeated measurements.
• Sudden rapid weight gain in a child.
• Signs of complications — dark skin folds (acanthosis nigricans), snoring/sleep apnoea, knee pain, frequent headaches, menstrual irregularity in girls.
• Emotional distress, bullying, low mood — take seriously; treat in parallel with the weight.
• Very young children with rapid weight gain.

Medical options

For most children, lifestyle + family + behaviour support is the mainstay. In specific severe cases — with significant complications — paediatric endocrinologists can consider specific medicines or (rarely, for adolescents with severe obesity and comorbidity) bariatric surgery. This should be done only at specialised centres.