Paediatricians pedal for a cause

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 4

The Department of Paediatrics at Government Medical College in association with the Indian Academy of Pediatrics Punjab Chapter took out a cycle rally to mark World Obesity Day on Thursday.

GMC Principal Dr Rajiv Devgan along with head department of paediatrics Dr Manmeet Kaur flagged off the cycle rally from the college premises. The rally moved through Majitha Road, Mall Road, Lawrence Road before culminating at GMC through Circular Road.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Devgan said the obesity is a mother of many diseases as hypertension, diabetics and joint pains. He added physical exercise especially cycling can help overweight people manage their weight and prevent knee joint pains.

Dr Manmeet Kaur said in paediatrics department they see that many a children are overweight due to lack of physical exercise. “The parents must cut down the screen time of their children and ask them to play outside and cycle for entertainment and exercise,” she said.

She added that in the recent times, the tendency to cycle has increased among the city residents, which is good sign. “In the days after the lockdown was imposed, there has been vast increase in the number of residents who can be seen using cycles,” she added.

Assistant professor Dr Sandeep Aggarwal said a large number of faculty members joined the rally to create awareness. “We had also asked all the participants to bring their water bottles from home. It is a simple method of cutting down our carbon print. Everyone should carry one instead of relying on water bottles sold in markets,” he said, adding that these small efforts would go a long way in saving the planet from the scourge of plastic.