‘Online food order exposes kids to obesity risk’

Ahead of the World Health Day, health experts have warned that ordering food online is exposing children to enormous risks of obesity. The experts claimed that a reverse shift in lifestyle in urban areas — from going out to getting in — which means getting food home rather than going out to eat, is aggravating sedentary habits and is especially exposing children to enormous risks of obesity.

According to senior consultant, endocrinology and endocrine surgery, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, Dr Ajay Kumar Ajmani, as per World Health Organisation (WHO) number of diabetics in India doubled in 13 years, from 32 million in 2000 to 63 million in 2013 and is likely to surge to 101.2 million in next two years.

“This is alarming and calls for massive attention and immediate intervention from all of us. A culture of complacence — and reliance on non-physical modes of activities is a cause to worry. Online food ordering may have myriad of conveniences, but alongside it also has its inherent health risks, especially for children depending on the kind of food ordered. Because of the ease it offers, people are inclined today to order food online, and at regular frequency. Parents should refrain from getting into this habit,” added Dr Ajmani.

The experts advised taking extra care while ordering packaged food online. “Additional care should be taken while purchasing packaged food online as we cannot check the nutritional details of any product when we purchase it online or on phone,” said chief dietician, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, Dr Sunita Roy Choudhary.

Dr Ajmani warned that the trend towards being overweight in childhood and juvenile obesity is acting as a driver for the development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the youth, particularly after the onset of adolescence.

The experts said prevention is also critical given the enormous social costs that diabetes imposes on the nation and claimed that according to one report, the annual spend on account of diabetes is pegged at Rs 1.5 lakh crore, or 4.7 times the Centre’s allocation of Rs 32,000 crore on health.