On obesity beat, cops put their best foot forward
On World Obesity Day, 240 traffic policemen took part in walkathon to increase awareness about obesity
Express News Service
Ahmedabad, November 26: This World Obesity Day guess how Ahmedabad’s traffic policemen started off on the ‘right’ foot? With a walkathon. On Sunday, around 240 traffic policemen legged it from Police Stadium in Shahibaug to RTO Circle and finally to the Police Welfare Hospital opposite the Police Commissioner’s office as part of an obesity awareness walk. They were joined by 200 others from various walks of life.
The walkathon, which began at 7 am, was jointly organised by the Ahmedabad Traffic Police and the Apollo Hospitals. And afterwards, the policemen queued up for a free check-up by a medical team from Apollo.
‘‘When people see such a large number of traffic policemen walking down the road, they’re bound to sit up and take notice and in the process start thinking about obesity. That was the idea behind the walkathon. Moreover, traffic policemen too work under conditions which may take a toll on their health. The constant stress, standing out in the sun and the pollution is bound to tell healthwise. So, I was keen that through the walkathon they also begin thinking on the wellness front,’’ said Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Ahmedabad, Vikas Sahay.
‘‘Only recently we had a case where a police personnel died while performing exercise. It is important that policemen start taking care while they are still fit. Why rush to the doctor only after you’re 20 kg overweight?,’’ said Dr Mahendra Narwaria, Consultant Obesity Surgeon at Apollo Hospital.
A lesson Jehanbax Doctor has learnt the hard way. Doctor, who runs a security agency called Docsuns Services Pvt. Ltd, weighed 135 kg and had to go in for an operation. ‘‘I couldn’t walk. I was suffering from severe back, knee and joint pains. Besides, I have had high cholestrol and BP for 25 years now. I went in for an operation in February 2005. Now, I am particular about going to the gym and walking 5 kms daily. Although I eat everything, I am more particular about my weight,’’ said 58-year-old Doctor, who now weighs 84 kg.
‘‘Ahmedabad ranks second (after Chandigarh) in terms of the number of obesity cases thanks to wrong eating habits and inadequate exercise. Though there is medication for obesity, in certain cases, we have to resort to surgery. One of the first things an obese person becomes prone to is heart attacks. Besides this, approximately 20 per cent of obese people are diagnosed with diabetes, around 25 per cent with blood pressure and hypertension each,’’ said Dr Narwaria.
‘‘Policemen need to be on the alert when it comes to asthma, bronchitis and lung problems too. Obesity too, is a growing cause for concern. I feel we must take the right steps sooner than later. I was glad to see the turn-out on Sunday morning as it was a voluntary exercise,’’ said Sahay.
‘‘Since obesity and related chronic diseases can be prevented, we need to have regular check-ups done,’’ added Dr Narwaria.
Obesity in India 
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