Chennai: Obesity, a chronic disease, is one of the major public health problems affecting every region of the globe. Currently, India has more than 135 million people who are obese.
Commenting about the impact of obesity Dr V Mohan, senior diabetologist, said, “In my 40 years of practice, nearly all the obese patients suffer from any one or a combination of the following conditions: type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, joint pains, sleep apnea, liver and kidney diseases, etc. Obesity also leads to certain cancers like breast and ovaries in women and colon and pancreatic cancer in men. Many of them do not realise that obesity can be familial. Timely intervention is critical for effective management of obesity”.
Highlighting the risk of infections such as Covid-19 in people with obesity, Dr Nitin Kapoor said, “People with obesity are more likely than normal-weight people to get other diseases that are independent risk factors for severe Covid-19, including heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes. They are also susceptible to metabolic syndrome, in which blood glucose levels, fat levels, or both are unhealthy and possibly lead to high blood pressure. In addition, obesity also has a direct impact in increasing the severity of Covid-19”.
Similar to all chronic medical conditions, effective management of obesity requires a partnership between a highly motivated patient and a committed team of health professionals, which may include physicians, psychologists, physical and exercise therapists, dieticians, and other sub-specialists, depending on the co-morbidities of the individual patient.
Positive thinking
Having dedicated his life towards research and advancement in diabetology, Dr V Mohan, a Padma Shri awardee, has launched his book – Making Excellence a Habit in the city. Unraveling the secrets behind building a world-class healthcare system in India,the latest book is a hand guide to success through powerful anecdotes that promise to inspire and motivate people of all ages. Published by Penguin Random House, it talks about positive thinking and more.