IMA plans to launch a campaign against junk food in schools

To address the issue of rising prevalence of obesity in children and its adverse health effects, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Maharashtra has planned to start a  statewide awareness campaign against junk foods among school children. Childhood obesity is a major problem of the present century. According to World Health Organization (WHO), the problem is global and is spreading alarmingly across the globe especially in children in the urban population of developing countries. Globally, in 2013, the number of overweight children under the age of five, was estimated to be over 42 million.

Out of this, approximately 31 million are living in developing countries. Childhood obesity  is likely to be propagated even in adulthood, giving rise to at least 53 other lifestyle diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular problems etc. However, overweight and obesity can highly be preventive…