Expert-led program addressing the rising burden of childhood obesity
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Bengaluru. Marking World Obesity Day, and reinforcing its commitment to tackling one of the most pressing pediatric health challenges of our time, Rainbow Children’s Hospital has launched a dedicated WeightWell clinic – A comprehensive childhood obesity and weight management clinic at its Marathahalli unit.
Observed globally to raise awareness about the growing burden of obesity, World Obesity Day serves as a reminder of the urgent need for preventive action and early intervention. In India, rising urbanization, sedentary lifestyles, and changing dietary habits have contributed to a steady increase in childhood obesity.
WeightWell Clinic was formally launched byDr. Rakshay Shetty, Clinical Director, Pediatric Services Head, Pediatric Intensive Care Services, Marathahalli, Dr Lavenya R P Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterology and Dr Dr. Tejasvi Sheshadri, Consultant Pediatric Endocrinologist Lead, Pediatric Diabetes Program & DSD Services and Dr. Piyush Prakash, Unit Head – Marathahalli,in the presence of senior clinicians and hospital leadership. The inauguration marks a significant step toward providing specialized, multidisciplinary care for children facing unhealthy weight gain, growth disorders, and metabolic complications.
Experts note that nearly one in five urban children today is either overweight or obese, placing them at higher risk for hypertension, fatty liver disease, and long-term cardiovascular complications.
“Childhood obesity and diabetes are no longer adult-onset conditions, we are witnessing a steady rise in cases among children and adolescents,” said Dr Lavenya R P Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterology.She added “Studies indicate that nearly one in five urban children is either overweight or obese, significantly increasing their risk of metabolic complications. These chronic conditions can diminish overall quality of life and lead to serious long-term health consequences if not addressed early. On the occasion of World Obesity Day, we reaffirm our commitment to addressing this growing health burden through personalized, evidence-based care and a patient-first, multidisciplinary approach that supports sustainable weight management and overall metabolic health.”
The Weight Well Clinic will provide comprehensive evaluation and management for:
● Childhood Obesity
● Endocrinology evaluation of complications such as diabetic mellitus, hypertension, PCOS, thyroid disorders.
● Evaluation and management of gastroenterology complications such as constipation MASLD
● Liver Health Assessment
● OSA Evaluation
● Structured Weight management plan
● Nutritional and fitness management
● Pharmacological management of obesity and its complications
The clinic brings together pediatric endocrinologists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, pediatric gastroenterologists and child psychologists under one roof to create individualized treatment plans focused on growth monitoring, nutrition correction, physical activity guidance, behavioral support and parental education.
“Obesity is a rampant problem with significant health consequences, and it needs to be tackled at a very young age said Dr Rakshay Shetty, Clinical Director, Pediatric Services Head, Pediatric Intensive Care Services, Marathahalli. “At our clinic, specialists from endocrinology, gastroenterology and nutrition come together to evaluate each child thoroughly and create a personalised plan. With options ranging from exercise and dietary modifications to medications like Ozempic, every aspect including the type of diet, exercise, medication, and required evaluations is carefully decided through collective assessment. Our goal is for doctors and support staff to work together, follow up regularlyand address the problem at its root,” he added.
By launching these specialized clinics on World Obesity Day, Rainbow Children’s Hospital reinforces the urgent need for early screening, proactive intervention, and sustained family engagement in addressing the growing epidemic of childhood obesity and diabetes, shifting the focus from reactive treatment to preventive, long-term metabolic care.
About Rainbow Children’s Medicare Limited
Rainbow Children’s Medicare Limited network comprises of 231 hospitals and 5 clinics in 9 cities, with a total bed capacity of 2,3751 beds. Our Pediatric services operating under the brand “Rainbow Children’s Hospital” includes new-born and pediatric intensive care, pediatric multi-specialty services, pediatric quaternary care (including organ transplantation); whereas our women care services under “Birthright by Rainbow” offers perinatal care services which includes normal and complex obstetric care, multi-disciplinary foetal care, perinatal genetic and fertility care along with gynecology services.
Rainbow Children’s Hospital built on strong fundamentals of a multidisciplinary approach with a full-time consultant led clinical service along with 24/7 commitment in a child centric environment. The company follows a hub-and-spoke operating model where the hub hospital provides comprehensive outpatient, inpatient care, with a focus on tertiary and quaternary services, while the spokes provide 24/7 emergency care,
large outpatient services and comprehensive obstetrics, pediatric inpatient and level 3 NICU services. This model is successfully operational at Hyderabad and is gaining traction in Bengaluru. The endeavor is to replicate this approach in Chennai and across the National Capital Region. Subsequently Rainbow intends to expand into tier-2 cities of Southern India.
Rainbow Children’s Hospital embraces a unique doctor engagement model, where doctors work exclusively on a full-time, retainer basis. The doctors work in teams and have 24/7 commitment, which is particularly important for children’s emergency, neonatal, pediatric intensive care services and to support pediatric retrieval services. The Company also operates the country’s largest pediatric DNB training programme in private healthcare, offering post graduate residential DNB and fellowship programme.