Substantial number of obese, underweight and even anaemic students detected
VIBHA VERMA
PANJIM: In what should be a warning for parents, a survey of government and aided schools in Goa has shown that there are substantial numbers of obese, underweight and even anaemic students with health experts attributing this to unhealthy eating habits, and specifically gorging on junk food. Tooth decay and poor oral hygiene too have been found to be quite common among students.
A comprehensive general health checkup of 2,24,872 school students which was carried out at 1874 schools across the State, under the National Health Program in the academic year 2013-14, doctors found that 17,292 students were underweight. Similarly, another 5483 students were detected with obesity and this was attributed to unhealthy food.
Sources said the joint campaign of education and health departments also found that 3959 students were anaemic. However, health officials said, the weakness is not because of malnourishment.
“Children are not malnourished. But we have recommended iron and folic tablets for some. This will improve their immune system,” said one of the team doctors.
The number of anaemic students in 2011-12 and 2010-11 were 1860 and 1652, respectively. Education officials said that the health tests during the last two academic years did not cover all the schools.
What is astonishing is that 47,572 students suffer from tooth decay and poor oral hygiene and 14 students were detected with diabetes.
“Dental problems are also because of junk food,” a health official said.
The students had also gone through vision and hearing screening in which 3811 had eye-related problems. The report recently compiled by the concerned agencies also disclosed that 5500 students had skin and other related ailments.
The students, during the medical examination have been advised to eat healthy food and increase their physical activity including sports.
Education officials told Herald that the students will be subjected for general health checkup this academic year as well. Similarly, mid-day meals will also be checked for its quality and hygiene before being served to students.
