Why is obesity not checked frequently like blood pressure? How dangerous is this carelessness?

Obesity Health Risk: Obesity in India is no longer just a lifestyle problem, but has increasingly emerged as a serious health threat. It is directly related to many problems like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Yet while checking blood pressure is a routine part of every clinic visit, obesity is often ignored. This neglect is now becoming a major cause for concern.

The picture of increasing cases of obesity in the country is also worrying. According to the National Family Health Survey, almost every fourth adult is overweight or obese. In some states this figure has reached 50 percent. The special thing is that this problem is not limited to cities only, but is spreading rapidly in rural areas also. Statistics show that a large number of women and men in villages too are struggling with this problem. In such a situation, let us now tell you why obesity is not checked frequently like blood pressure.

Obesity is no longer a lifestyle issue

There was a time when obesity was considered to be the effect of a comfortable lifestyle. But now it has become the root of many serious diseases. Especially the fat accumulated around the stomach is considered to be the most dangerous, which increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The situation is worsening rapidly at the global level also. The cases of obesity have doubled in the last 15 years and have increased three times in the last 30 years. This is a clear indication that the problem is now spreading rapidly.

How is the danger increasing due to modern lifestyle?

Changing lifestyle has completely changed the eating habits and daily habits. Today’s food is quick, cheap and often high in fat, salt and sugar. According to the World Health Organization, a large part of the world’s population is not able to do enough physical activity. Another challenge in India is that a large number of people cannot afford a balanced and healthy diet. Its effect is clearly visible on children also, where obesity is increasing rapidly due to less physical activity and high calorie food. According to the estimates of the Global Burden of Disease Study conducted in 2017, more than 144 lakh children in India are victims of obesity.

Why is regular checkup as important as blood pressure?

Regular checking of blood pressure has become common because it is easy and danger is detected in time. The same principle applies in the case of obesity. Simple methods like body mass index and waist map can identify early risk. But these have still not been made a part of regular checkups in the clinic. With timely detection, major diseases can be prevented through small changes. Also, now that obesity will be seen as a medical condition, the social stigma associated with it will also reduce.

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Treatment is no longer limited to just dieting

A balanced diet, regular exercise and good sleep are still the most important ways to control obesity. But in serious cases this is not enough. There has also been a lot of progress in medical science, now surgical options like sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass are considered safer and effective. It not only helps in reducing weight but also helps in controlling the metabolism and appetite of the body.

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