CHANDIGARH, 25.09.25-As part of the ongoing national campaign ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan’, PGIMER, Chandigarh organized an awareness talk highlighting critical issues concerning women’s health, with a special focus on osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, and preventive lifestyle practices.

The event brought together leading experts from the Department of Endocrinology including Prof. Sanjay Bhadada, Head of Department, Dr. Rimesh Pal, and Dr. Soham Mukharjee, who collectively emphasized that women’s health is central to family and community well-being, and preventive measures must be adopted early to avoid lifelong complications.

Prof. Sanjay Bhadada, Head, Department of Endocrinology, PGIMER, while addressing the gathering, remarked, “Our lifestyle is undergoing drastic changes, and we must go back to basics. Physical activity should be the cornerstone of our daily routine. If ignored, obesity – which is the mother of diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol problems, and numerous other diseases – will rise alarmingly.

In the next 20 years, childhood obesity is projected to almost double. This not only leads to health problems but also serious economic consequences, as young people lose work efficiency and become dependent on medicines. Parents must take responsibility, reduce pampering, and ensure discipline in children’s habits. Otherwise, we will be preparing a generation vulnerable to chronic illness. Education and awareness must start early, and schools should be actively engaged in this mission, ” added Prof. Bhadada.

Adding a critical dimension to the discussion, Prof. Bhadada flagged excessive mobile usage among children as one of the growing contributors to sedentary lifestyles and obesity. Reduced outdoor play and increased screen time have been strongly linked to unhealthy weight gain, poor posture, and even mental health concerns.

To further the cause, Prof. Bhadada emphasized that active collaboration with the education sector is crucial to curb the alarming rise in childhood obesity. It was suggested that the Education Secretary, UT Chandigarh may be requested to initiate a structured campaign across schools, focusing on reducing screen dependency, promoting outdoor activities, and embedding lifestyle awareness into the curriculum.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rimesh Pal highlighted that osteoporosis disproportionately affects women, particularly after menopause, due to reduced bone density.

Dr. Soham Mukharjee further underlined that diabetes is emerging as a serious concern among younger women and that gestational diabetes during pregnancy poses risks not only to mothers but also to their children. Women were advised to undergo regular blood sugar checks and HbA1c testing to ensure timely diagnosis and management.

The session concluded with a collective message from the faculty urging women and their families to prioritize preventive health practices by ensuring regular screening, maintaining healthy nutrition, adopting disciplined lifestyles, thereby reinforcing the campaign’s core message: a healthy woman is the foundation of a healthy family and a stronger society