Obesity International launches MOM IT, to protect children from Diabetes

MOM IT, India’s first Child Nutrition System comprising of assessment, correction and monitoring tools, launched on the joint occasion of children’s day and world diabetes day

Mumbai, MH, Nov 16, 2022, ZEXPRWIRE, Obesity International, an international healthcare not for profit initiative fighting obesity and diabetes, today launched an IT based nutritional system, that can add help parents and schools fight the growing incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes amongst children and adolescents in India.

Emerging literature suggests a link between child obesity and the increase in type 2 diabetes in India. Obese children have a higher risk of abnormalities that are recognized to bring on Type 2 diabetes, such as subclinical inflammation, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

Children in India are exposed to an obesogenic (fattening) environment, created by changing diet patterns,high amount of screen time and low physical activity.

Many parents still think that being chubby is good for children and take little efforts to plan their nutrition or physical activity. Lack of awareness amongst parents and teachers about the dangers of obesity is fueling the rise. India is already known as the Diabetes Capital of the World, and urgent steps need to be taken to save the country’s children from this malaise.

“MOM IT is designed to help parents and schools to identify the dangers and take back control,” said Himanshu Arora, Country Head of Obesity International. “Our goal is to make sure that we provide parents and schools access to MOM IT on a war footing, so steps can be taken to stop this epidemic in its tracks”.

MOM IT comprises of a simple 3 point formula, Modulate, Observe and Measure, based on published scientific guidelines to reduce incidence of diabetes. The IT tools comprise of a personalized Nutrition and Food Habits Scan and a tool to Swap unhealthy foods with foods that are healthier for children. Parents and schools can access the tool online on Obesity International Website at www.obesityinternational.org or through WhatsApp.

About Obesity International

Obesity International is a non-profit initiative set up with an unrestricted grant from doctors and public health professionals based in the United States, India, and Australia with a common desire to reduce the burden of obesity on the individual and the society.

Our goal is to:

  • Monitor research on obesity and translate findings into strategies to prevent or treat obesity and its health consequences.
     
  • Commission research and fund the development of tools that can improve the standard of care for obesity.
     
  • Create a cadre of health care professionals, who are equipped to educate the public about ways to prevent and treat obesity.
  • Obesity International collaborates with a range of partners to advance research and awareness related to obesity, nutrition, and physical activity.

In India, we operate out of our office in Mumbai, C/O F.A.C.E Pvt Ltd, Executive Center, 7th Floor, The Capital, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai 400051

About Obesity and Diabetes in Indian Children

The number of overweight and obese children are rapidly increasing in India, especially among the upper socioeconomic strata and in urban areas. Surveys in higher end schools conducted in Chennai, Delhi and Pune, during the last decade found that 22 to 30% of children were either overweight or obese.

A recent study found the prevalence of pre-diabetes/diabetes was 12.3% and 8.4% among adolescent boys and girls in India, respectively. Doctors at tertiary care hospitals are reporting 5 to 10 new cases of Type 2 diabetes among children every month. The number has been increasing during and after the COVID break.

Press Contacts:

Himanshu Arora

Country Head, Obesity International

Email: [email protected]

Cell: +91 91360 – 40360

Published On: November 16, 2022