Become Slim & Trim Under The Guidance of Renowned Bariatric Surgeon in Maharashtra 

The World Health Organization had warned us about the

problem of obesity ten years ago. Since the last few years, my friend and obesity expert, Dr. Jayashree Todkar and leading bariatric surgeon in maharashtra, has been spreading awareness regarding obesity across the state and also in the neighbouring states. The main challenge is that we never try to understand exactly what obesity is. There are many beliefs and misconceptions about obesity in our society. Thus, there is a need to continuously spread awareness regarding the same through various ways. As a part of these efforts, the book, \’Obesity Mantra\’, written by obesity expert Dr. JayashreeTodkar and journalist Santosh Shenai, plays an important role. Obesity is present in all regions of Maharashtra and at all levels. Not just is it found in the cities due to our changing lifestyles, it is increasingly being found in the villages too, where, till recently, people in the farming occupation were lean. It is important to study why people, who eat zhunka-bhakar and do physical labour, are getting fat. Earlier, people used to put on weight in their sixties. But nowadays, increasing waistlines can be seen in people who are in their early thirties! There are many school-going children who are also affected by obesity. They do not understand the fact that they are ill due to obesity. Basically, we are not even aware that obesity is a disease and that this disease is the root cause of many other diseases. This is because there has been no such awareness or education.

Hence, we have decided to promote a comprehensive programme on the education, training, diagnosis and treatment of obesity. Maharashtra shouldn\’t be ill due to obesity. Everyone in Maharashtra should be lean and strong, like the soldiers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Therefore, we have created a task force to work on obesity. Maharashtra is the first state to make such an effort. When we develop a disease, one or two among our physical, mental, social and economic conditions, gets adversely affected. However, since obesity invites other diseases as well, all these conditions get affected at the same time. Obesity does not mean physical robustness. That is just visible bloating. It does not bring about true growth. We do not want such fake bloating in any sector. We do not want swelling caused by fats, which is dangerous for our lives. We want strength through energy. We want a healthy society, a healthy state. Hence, we have planned to take Maharashtra out of the clutches of this disease. It has been ten years since the serious warning of the World Health Organization regarding the problem of obesity. But it has been neglected. It is harmful to neglect public health. Therefore, we are attending to this problem immediately. We have decided to start an obesity clinic in every medical college and government hospital. Independent obesity clinics have also been started for the first time in the country. In cities as well as in villages, doctors will be properly trained to diagnose and treat obesity and to understand the various diseases that occur due to obesity. This subject will not only have an important place in all medical curriculums viz., Allopathy, Ayurveda and Homeopathy: it will also be included in school syllabi, whereby children will be educated about obesity at a young age itself. If priority is given to inculcating the importance of exercises, games, diet & metabolism, and lifestyle in children at a young age itself, it would help in building a healthier future generation. Along with this, we are also planning a scheme in which obesity diagnosis and treatment will be available everywhere, starting from primary health centres Health volunteers will help to identify whether or not a person is obese, how to direct him/her to the right doctor, and how to treat him/her. The task force is already conducting camps for this purpose. We will have to slowly increase the scope of this activity.

Dr. Jayashree Todkar is playing an important role in this initiative. She was always a bright student in her school days. She has a great academic career and also has a great record as an excellent surgeon. Since the past few years, she has been running a movement against obesity all over Maharashtra. On one hand, she is continuing her research, presenting research papers in international conferences, is a renowned faculty in many universities all over the country, and is well-known as a bariatric surgeon in Maharashtra, and on the other, she is spreading awareness among the people about obesity & weight loss by conducting camps for them. Personally, I think her social awareness is commendable. She has conducted many group-wise examinations for the police, bus drivers, coolies etc., and has also guided them. She has trained around 3000 doctors all over the country in the treatment of obesity. This shows her earnest desire to utilizing her medical expertise for the benefit of common people. She has set a great example of how, without quitting one\’s career, one can maintain social awareness and do good work to help people. It is a very difficult and tenacious task to bring people on the right track by providing information about the working of the body, metabolism, calorie consumption etc. Dr. Jayashree Todka intends to provide scientific information on the stages of obesity, medical information about the process of becoming obese and its consequences, beliefs and misconceptions regarding obesity, and weight loss treatment, in such a way that every person, young or old, will understand it easily.

– By Devendra Fadnavis, Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra