Rapid Responses to:

NEWS ROUNDUP: Rhona MacDonald European GPs don't know how to deal with obesity epidemic BMJ 2005; 330: 1348-a [Full text]

Rapid Responses: Submit a response to this article

Rapid Responses published:

Obesity: the new "raja" or just fetal origins?

Dr. Rajesh Chauhan, Sandeepa Chauhan, Shruti Chauhan, Shivendra Pratap Singh Chauhan.   (14 June 2005)

Obesity: the new "raja" or just fetal origins? 14 June 2005
Dr. Rajesh Chauhan, Consultant, Family Medicine & Communicable Diseases. 309/9 A.V. Colony, Sikandra, Agra -282007. INDIA, Sandeepa Chauhan, Shruti Chauhan, Shivendra Pratap Singh Chauhan. Send response to journal: Re: Obesity: the new "raja" or just fetal origins?	Dear Editor, I write to you after having read nearly all the articles on obesity that have been published in your journal, including this news item that now Europe is being troubled with the epidemic of obesity [1]. The first news of this epidemic came from the USA and was thereafter seen afflicting other affluent countries of the region and now it is the turn of Europe. India too seems to be determined to join this exclusive club soon enough, where mixed trends of co-existing malnutrition and obesity are already being noticed [2-4]. Despite its foetal origins, but with lack of peace, congeniality, purchasing power, good food and enough rest, probably obesity would fail to manifest. In the era gone by, obesity or “health” as it is usually called in this part, was a ‘privilege’ of a few. These included some “Raja” (king), ministers, people engaged with trade and commerce in their times of peace, tranquility and relative inactivity, as can be made out from relics and paintings. Similar good “health” was inherited and enjoyed by their kindred. Following freedom, all the “Raja” have now gone. The famous words of Tennyson, “the old order changeth yielding place to new”, aptly portrays the present scenario in India. A new rich and upwardly mobile category has come up with many more joining in regularly, who are able to live like an erstwhile “Raja”. It is here, in this ever expanding group, that obesity is prevalent. Welcome, the new “Raja”. However obesity seems not to be such a big problem for the real wealthy. They have advanced access to health care, better understanding about health and nutrition, and having ample time for ‘fitness’ and ‘slimming centres’. With regards. Dr. Rajesh Chauhan References: 1. MacDonald R. European GPs don't know how to deal with obesity epidemic. BMJ 2005;330:1348. 2. Mudur G. Asia grapples with obesity epidemics. BMJ 2003;326:515. 3. Chatterjee P. India sees parallel rise in malnutrition and obesity. Lancet 2002; 360: 1948. 4. Caballero B. A Nutrition Paradox — Underweight and Obesity in Developing Countries. NEJM 2005; 352 (15): 1514-1516. Competing interests: None declared