A Silent Emergency
A phenomenon that was once considered as a problem of the affluent class is silently taking on most of the people in the society. From households in Srinagar to village living rooms, screens and fast food are quietly reshaping children’s bodies and futures.
As most of the children are getting overweight, the health concerns too are increasing with experts suggesting immediate measures. In today’s world overweight child becomes tomorrow’s chronic-disease patient, and the cost will be borne by families and the regions heealth system alike.
Recent data shared by GMC Srinagar is sobering. NFHS-6 (2023-24) shows adult obesity in J&K climbing fast: 42.8% of women aged 15-49 are now overweight or obese, up from 36.1% in NFHS-5.
Even men have seen a similar rise. Experts say this adult burden is rooted in childhood habits that have changed dramatically in one generation. While NFHS-6 hasn’t yet released official child figures for J&K, school-based studies cited by doctor’s estimate 8–15% of children are overweight and 3–8% obese.
Urban areas and affluent homes report the highest rates, where sedentary routines and processed diets are most common. Childhood obesity is an emerging public health concern in Jammu & Kashmir. If we fail to act early, the consequences will be severe in the coming decades.
The shift is visible on our plates and playgrounds. Traditional meals rich in vegetables, pulses, and fruit are losing ground to fast food, sugary drinks, bakery items, and packaged snacks.
At the same time, outdoor play has collapsed. Screen time on phones, TVs, and gaming devices eats up hours that were once spent running, cycling, or playing cricket and football.
Academic pressure, shrinking open spaces, and dependence on cars and buses to reach school have cut daily movement to a minimum. Obese children are witnessing health issues even during childhood days.
Paediatricians are seeing high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, and joint pain in school-age kids. Beyond the clinic, the psychological toll is real: low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, bullying, and poor academic performance.
The weight stigma at a young age leaves scars that last into adulthood. Worse, childhood obesity rarely ends at 18. Studies confirm obese children are far more likely to become obese adults, raising lifetime risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, osteoarthritis, certain cancers, and reduced life expectancy. J&K’s already rising adult obesity rates show where this road leads.
Ironically, here the fix is not a pill but a cultural reset, and it must begin early. Health experts push the “5-2-1-0 Rule” for children: five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, under two hours of recreational screen time, at least one hour of physical activity, and zero sugary drinks.
A simple, but powerful solution that if adopted widely will create a huge difference and ensure a healthy tomorrow for all of us. If we act now — in kitchens, classrooms, and colonies — we can ensure the next generation inherits energy and opportunity, not diabetes and spending on health.
