Need to recognise obesity as chronic disease: Experts
Mumbai (PTI): There is a disconnect between awareness, understanding and management of obesity and recognising it as a chronic disease will be the first step towards obesity management, experts have said.
A recent report by global healthcare company Novo Nordisk, that involved more than 2,000 people living with obesity (PwO) and 300 healthcare professionals in India, underlined the need for an integrated, long-term approach to the treatment of obesity.
PwO face immense difficulties in maintaining weight loss and more than half of those surveyed said they reverted to old eating habits despite their efforts to change.
More than 44 per cent regain lost weight within six months, the report said, emphasising the need for more sustainable, long-term solutions that go beyond just lifestyle adjustments.
"The first step towards obesity management is to understand that it is a chronic disease. We need to support People with Obesity (PwO) with tools that not only help them lose weight but also maintain that loss over time," Novo Nordisk India Vice President Clinical, Medical, Regulatory Dr Maya Sharma told reporters on Wednesday.
A successful obesity management strategy must combine lifestyle changes, behavioural interventions, medication, and surgery where necessary, said Dr A G Unnikrishnan from Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune.
"Only through such integration can PwO achieve their weight loss goals and maintain long-term health improvements," Unnikrishnan said.
Obesity is also closely linked to other chronic diseases like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, eating disorders and cardiovascular diseases among others.
According to the report, every two in five PwO suffer from conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes.
The healthcare professionals say that many PwO have anywhere between one and four co-morbidities, such as high blood pressure (32 per cent), high cholesterol (27 per cent), eating disorder (23 per cent) and cardiovascular diseases (19 per cent), reinforcing that obesity is a chronic disease requiring medical intervention.
"Even a 5 per cent weight loss can bring significant health benefits, and it's important that PwO understands that small, sustainable changes are key. We as healthcare professionals have to overcome any inhibitions in discussing the condition with our patients on a regular basis and support them in their weight-loss journeys," Dr Rishma Pai from Mumbai said.
Despite the availability of prescription weight-loss medications, PwO remains hesitant and only one in seven PwO believe such medications would be helpful, with concerns about side-effects and safety being the primary deterrents, said the report.
Despite the growing awareness, there are still significant misconceptions and hurdles that need to be addressed. Hence, involvement by the government is crucial in addressing the growing obesity challenge in India, Novo Nordisk India Corporate Vice President Vikrant Shrotriya said.
Obesity is not just an individual issue but a significant public health concern that impacts healthcare resources, economic productivity, and the overall well-being of our society, he said.
"A multifaceted approach that includes policy interventions, awareness programs, and accessible healthcare solutions is essential to address this complex issue effectively," Shrotriya added.
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Vinod Tawde seeks apology from Kharge, Rahul through legal notice, warns of defamation lawsuit
Cash-for-vote row
New Delhi, Nov 22: BJP leader Vinod Tawde has demanded an apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for making "false and baseless" allegations against him in the cash-for-votes incident in Maharashtra, saying if they don't he would sue them for defamation.
Tawde was accused by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, a regional party, of distributing Rs 5 crore to woo voters, with its members barging into a hotel room on November 19 in a Mumbai suburb, where the BJP leader was present.
The former Maharashtra minister and BJP national general secretary claimed innocence, saying the alleged amount was not recovered in the probe by the Election Commission and police.
"The Congress only believes in spreading lies, and this incident is a proof of the party's low level politics to dent me and my party's image," Tawde said.
The two Congress leaders and the party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate seized on the row to accuse the BJP of using money power to influence the November 20 assembly polls in the state.
The legal notice sent to the three claimed that they were aware that they were pushing a "totally false story fabricated" by them.
"You all have deliberately, mischievously with the sole intention of damaging the reputation of our client intentionally fabricated the story distribution of money. You all have published false, baseless allegations against our client on various media for tarnishing his image in the eyes of right thinking people in the society," the notice read.
The Congress leaders were in a "great hurry" to damage Tawde's reputation, they did not bother to check the fact and or despite knowing the entire fact they made the false, baseless allegations, it said.
"The entire imputation made by you all are totally false, baseless, malicious and mala fide and as our client is in no way involved in any such illegal activity and as a responsible office bearer of the national political party he is aware of his duties," it added.
The notice demanded an "unconditional apology" to Tawde within 24 hours from the time the receipt of the notice, which was sent on November 21, and published in newspapers and X.
If they do not offer apology, then Tawde will initiate criminal proceedings under Section 356, which covers defamation, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and also civil proceedings for the damages of Rs 100 crore against the three Congress leaders, the notice said.
