Naidu concerned over obesity in youngsters, sedentary life style

Citing health experts' opinion that the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, including cancers and cardiovascular diseases, will increase in the coming years, Mr Naidu said modern lifestyle, diet and genetic predisposition were believed to be among the major contributing factors for this trend.

He was addressing a gathering after releasing two books titled 'Minimally Invasive GI Cancer Surgery' authored by renowned laparoscopic surgeon, Dr. C. Palanivelu and 'Bariatric Surgical Practice Guide', edited by Dr. P. Praveen Raj.

The Vice President said that incidence of GI cancers involving digestive organs such as esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, lungs, large intestine and rectum, was increasing alarmingly due to fast foods, smoking, alcohol and lifestyle changes. He expressed concern that obesity was reaching alarming proportions and that youngsters were getting affected by GI cancers.

He also exhorted the medical fraternity to treat their profession as a mission to provide healthcare to the masses at an affordable and reasonable cost.

The Vice President said people consider a doctor to be next to God, so the medical fraternity should adopt a humanitarian approach.