Ex-GMCH head: 30% women, 22% men in Punjab obese

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 1

According to a study, 30 per cent of women and 22 per cent men are obese in Punjab. This was stated by Dr Atul Sachdev, former Director-Principal of the GMCH-32, while speaking at a seminar on ‘Good nutrition or poor health: choice is yours’ organised by the Society for Promotion of Ethical and Affordable Health Care (SPEAK) at the Chandigarh Press Club here today.

He said 70 per cent of the Delhi population was obese, adding that 60 per cent cancers happened to obese people. He said: “30 per cent of the world population is overweight. By 2030, 80 per cent people in the US will be obese or overweight. The seminar was held under the series ‘universal health literacy for the prevention of disease’ and saw two interactive sessions between doctors and other experts.”

Dr R Kumar, president, SPEAK India, while speaking on the occasion, said: “The focus of the seminar is on the importance of good nutrition to achieve the goal of healthy India, with underlying message that most ailments can be prevented through healthy lifestyle and clean environment.”

Dr SK Sharma, former Director, PGI, said: “While India is one of the emerging economies, we do not know what we are eating because of heavy contamination. Stringent measures need to be taken so that we get proper food. The government should act and bring awareness among people.” 

Dr JS Thakur from the PGI spoke on essentials of nutrition and genesis of malnutrition.