Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 26: On the occasion of Obesity Day VLCC held a pledge ceremony here today to dedicate themselves to the cause of Prevention and control of obesity in the country.
Minister of Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla who was the special guest on the occasion asked the allopathic and homeopathic medical fraternity to advice people to opt for regular exercises to keep obesity at bay.
Mr Bhalla said obesity and over weight has become a major health issue across the world, adding that now it has dramatically risen even in the developing and underdeveloped nations, especially in urban pockets.
He said at least one third of the world’s population is overweight and one fifth of the world’s population is obese.
Bhalla said that according to national Family Health Survey data, over 11 percent of urban population in India was overweight and about three percent were obese, adding that the number has risen significantly day by day.
He said the Government was making all out efforts to construct recreation cum health centres and multi play centres across the State for making the people physically and mentally fit.
Dr Jitendra Singh a renowned Diabetologist who was the chief guest on the occasion said that epidemic of obesity is sweeping across the world and it is important for all of us to realize that obesity particularly central obesity is the nidus around which all the life style diseases of the modern era grow which include diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that in the next 20 years or so the primary focus of all the health providing agencies including VLCC will be on prevention of obesity particularly obesity in young and adolescents, because obesity at earlier age is a fore bearing of disease like diabetes in later age, he added.
He said that it is a matter of satisfaction that VLCC this year is observing anti obesity day with a ceremonial pledge to dedicate itself to the task of controlling and eliminating obesity from society.
The central head of VLCC Jammu Miss Rima who was also present on the occasion said VLCC will be coming out with a new programme to control obesity.
Other members of VLCC also joined Dr Jitendra Singh in taking a formal oath to work against obesity.
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