Outlook Collector’s Edition: Children and the Pandemic ( Dr. Dhaval Mody )

OutlookIndia

Dr. Ashok Johari, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, shares insights into the times and offers his expert take on health and well-being.   Outlook Collector’s Edition: Children and the Pandemic. This is the new frontier, a new challenge. How do we overcome it? We have gathered some exceptional minds to talk to you—paediatrics, mental health experts, educators, nutritionists, fitness experts et al.  India's top names are here for you in a complete, exclusive package. Best of all, the children speak too—through word and art.  #Poshan #OutlookPoshan #OutlookMagazine #OutlookGroup

Transcript

00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:03 I have been asked a question as to how

00:12 COVID has impacted children.

00:15 And I have an expertise for my specialty.

00:18 And I can reply to this question based on my experience.

00:24 With COVID, we know that children

00:28 have stopped outdoor activities, which

00:30 means a lack of physical activities.

00:33 And a lack of physical activities

00:35 can have many implications.

00:37 For example, obesity is one of the implications

00:40 because calories are not being used.

00:43 Weakness of muscles, eventually, because the muscles are not

00:47 being exercised.

00:48 A reduction in bone mass and bone density,

00:51 which can have a lot of future implication

00:54 as the child grows into an adult and into old age.

00:57 So building a body mass is something

01:00 which is very, very important.

01:02 And children, because of their activities,

01:05 can do this very well in the absence of activities.

01:09 Building a bone mass, building of endurance, stamina,

01:13 all that is hampered.

01:16 Another problem with COVID is lack of exposure

01:19 to the outside world and lack of exposure to sunlight,

01:23 for example.

01:25 When our exposure to sunlight falls,

01:28 our vitamin D levels fall because sunlight

01:30 works to increase our level of endogenous vitamin D.

01:35 So with lowering or a subclinical shortage

01:39 of vitamin D, it can have effects on bones and joints.

01:42 And bones and joints can get deformed.

01:45 For example, bow legs and knocked knees.

01:48 A low level of vitamin D reduces also muscle activity

01:53 and has implications all over the body,

01:55 including the cardiovascular system.

01:57 So in effect, it is important that we

02:02 provide some form of exposure to children, to sunlight,

02:07 for example, some form of indoor physical activities

02:10 to build up their bone mass, to build up their muscle

02:13 mass and stamina and endurance, and to reduce

02:17 the chances of obesity.

02:19 So COVID has had many implications on children.

02:23 And it's everyone's fond wish that COVID should go away

02:27 and children can get back to the best that they were doing,

02:32 and which was being children, having a great time playing,

02:37 interacting, and having a great time with an exposure

02:41 to the outside world.

02:42 Thank you.

02:43 [NON-ENGLISH SINGING]

02:46 [NON-ENGLISH SINGING]

02:49 - Bye. - Bye.

02:50 [MUSIC]

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