Childhood obesity in India has always been a cause of concern. In the year 2022, India was predicted to have more than 27 billion obese children, according to Unicef’s Obesity Atlas for 2022. The recent study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has led to an even more shocking revelation, stirring alarm. Read to know.

The study, which is backed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was conducted on 3,888 children from various public and private schools, all in the age group of 6 to 19 years. It was found that the incidence of obesity is significantly higher (almost 5 times) in children studying in Delhi’s Private Schools as compared to those studying in Public Schools.

But, it doesn’t stop here. It’s not just their weight that is concerning, but the fact that most of the children have started showing early signs of serious obesity-related health complications. During the study, experts assessed various important health markers.

Shockingly, 13-year-old children presented with signs of metabolic disorders, blood sugar, hypertension and cholesterol.

When we think of childhood obesity, fast food is usually the first culprit that comes to mind. Thanks to the oily, calorie-rich snacks and meals served in most private school cafeterias and canteens.

But the truth is, this is only a small part of the problem. In Delhi’s private schools, the alarming rise in childhood obesity is a result of many hidden and often overlooked factors that go beyond just unhealthy eating habits.

Due to the ever-increasing academic pressure and tightly packed daily routines, children studying in private schools have become increasingly sedentary.

From early mornings to late evenings, they spend most of their time sitting at school desks, in tuition classes, or hunched over their study tables at home, leaving hardly any window for physical activities.

“Take 10 10-minute break to relax your mind”

It has come to a point where physical movement is no longer considered a necessity but rather a ‘break’ to relax and rewind your brain to learn more.

And if, by any chance, the child gets some free time, it is devoted to enrichment classes, coding, olympiad training, foreign languages, competitive quizzes, and more.

Although schools have physical education classes, these are often sacrificed for completing the syllabus and exam prep. All this leaves very little to no time for the children to take part in sports and physical activities.

Post-COVID, the dependence on screens for online learning sessions and courses has increased drastically, and it’s become more of a trend now, which determines how affluent a school’s digital infrastructure is.

Private schools boast of virtual classrooms, smartboards, online assignments and more, and somewhere down the line, they have started to cross the thin line between productive screen time and harmful overexposure.

Children spend several hours sitting in front of the screen, and they are not to be blamed. After-school online classes, assignments, research work, and even collaborative school projects are important too.

Even though it may seem educational, we shouldn’t forget that it’s still screentime, and our bodies cannot differentiate between the two.

Online learning may seem like a privilege, but it comes with many overlooked side effects, such as a sedentary lifestyle, eye strain, poor posture, and disrupted sleep cycle.

Personally, I believe that things would be simpler if schools focused as much on health cards as they focus on report cards and parents need to be equally vigilant.

We must understand that sports and physical activities are not a luxury but a necessity that should not be ignored at any cost.

The focus should be on these 4 key points

1. Routine health checkups at school and at home

2. More dedicated time for play

3. Less screen time, even if it’s for studies

4. Nutritious and healthy meal options at school

Do you feel that your child needs this change too? Let us know what you think, in the comments.