IDAI: Obesity, hypertension, diabetes rise in younger children
Pediatricians also urge zero screen time for children under two, citing links between device exposure, speech delay and virtual autism.
Ikatan Dokter Anak Indonesia warned that lifestyle-related diseases in children are appearing at younger ages, marked by rising cases of obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. PP IDAI Chairman Piprim Basarah Yanuarso said poor eating habits and lack of physical activity are the main drivers of the shift. At the 72nd anniversary event for IDAI at Taman Margasatwa Ragunan, Jakarta, on Sunday, he said children's health problems are no longer dominated by infections, but also metabolic diseases that were once found mostly in adults. IDAI also highlighted excessive device exposure from an early age, which makes children passive, reduces movement and is associated with speech delay and virtual autism. For children under two, IDAI recommends no screen exposure at all.