KARACHI: Balanced diet helps prevent bone diseases
KARACHI, Oct 19: Local parents were advised to inculcate proper and balanced dietary habits among their children to prevent a wide range of complications with regard to bone fragility as they grow up.
Medical experts addressing a symposium held under the aegis of the Osteoporosis Society of Pakistan here on Saturday to observe World Osteoporosis Day, which falls on Oct 20, warned that drastic change in the food pattern, as well as lifestyle, was taking a heavy toll on the general health of locals.
Speakers, including orthopaedic surgeons, paediatricians, endocrinologists and physicians were of the unanimous opinion that calcium and vitamin D deficiency in the food intake of local children, with particular reference to the female population, enhances their risk and vulnerability to fractures.
A surge was observed in the increased consumption of food with a high content of carbohydrates, fat and artificial additives. Also, improved transportation facilities and the dearth of playgrounds, parks and open spaces has also negatively effected the physical activity of people in general.
Micro-nutrient deficiency was said to be comparatively more common among local children, and despite the fact that it can be easily contained through proper care, the situation is allowed to take a serious turn at the cost of childrens’ health and lives.
Considering the situation, the experts urged that there was not only a need to create public awareness, helping people modify their behaviour, but the agencies concerned are also required to develop efficient strategies, and to ensure that these are implemented.
Vitamin D deficiency was identified as a leading cause of rickets among local children. Speakers warned parents about the increased risk of their kids to rickets, caused by the lack of adequate exposure to sunlight on the part of the children.
Those effected were mainly cited to be those living in multi-storeyed buildings where the sun’s rays generally could not get across. A mere 30 minute daily exposure to sunlight could adequately curtail vitamin D deficiency.
Many of the parents were found not to have enough information about the alternative sources of vitamin D, which included curd, cream, cheese, fish, eggs and oil/ghee.
Again, the misconceptions about certain items such as fish and eggs — considered inappropriate for consumption during the summer — was noticed to deny children of a basic micro-nutrient.—APP
