Physical activity is essential
Health concerns among the young adults are becoming a reality not only in mainland India but in a place like Jammu and Kashmir as well.
According to the ‘Children in India 2025’ report by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, 9.7 out of every 10-19-year-old adolescents in Jammu and Kashmir are in a pre-diabetic stage.
Diabetes among young children in India is a growing concern. Type 1 diabetes, often diagnosed in kids, requires lifelong insulin management while as Type 2 diabetes, linked to lifestyle factors, is also rising among children.
As of now India has around 95,000 children under 15 living with Type 1 diabetes suggesting that the burden of diabetes is no longer limited to adults; it is increasingly affecting children and teenagers as well.
Experts suggest many causes for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. These vary from genetics, lifestyle factors, and obesity.
Since the numbers are alarming, the situation requires urgent lifestyle changes and public health measures. As about 10 per cent of young people in the 10-19 age group are pre-diabetic, it puts them at high risk of developing full-blown diabetes if no action is taken quickly.
Experts suggest that most of these cases are linked to the excessive consumption of sugary drinks, fast food, and processed foods.
Ironically, the shift towards convenience foods has replaced traditional diets, leading to poor metabolism even at a young age. Besides, the increased screen time and decreased outdoor play or physical activity has led to a rise in physical inactivity among the children.
This has in turn reduced insulin sensitivity, meaning the body needs more insulin to control blood sugar levels, which can speed up the progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes.
Notably, obesity is also strongly connected to pre-diabetes in adolescents, with overweight teens being over 40 per cent more likely to have early blood sugar problems compared to their normal-weight peers.
Experts point out that obesity affects every organ and is a disease with lifelong implications, including diabetes, heart ailments and metabolic disorders.
As the issue seems quite concerning we need to act fast and initiate various measures so that the young population is saved from turning into a unhealthy lot. Parents, teachers and elders need to notice early symptoms like fatigue and excessive thirst among the children.
Besides, dietary habits too need to be implemented properly and thrust should be laid on consuming whole foods, which include fruits, vegetables, legumes, and lean proteins. Children need to be advised to stick to traditional home-cooked meals to help prevent the diseases at an early age.
For a place like ours where already 19% of the population is already diabetic, our prime focus needs to help our children to eat healthy and adopt a more active lifestyle rather than allowing them to turn into couch potatoes.
