Free obesity clinic for policemen has only five regular patients

Over the past 11 months, Balakrishna Deshmukh, 40, a police dog-squad constable has lost 14kg by following a healthy diet and a simple exercise plan. Menaka Rao reports.

Over the past 11 months, Balakrishna Deshmukh, 40, a police dog-squad constable has lost 14kg by following a healthy diet and a simple exercise plan. Deshmukh is one of five policemen who have benefited from regular visits to the obesity clinic opened at the Nagpada Police Hospital last March. The clinic, which was set up to tackle obesity in the police force, rarely gets new patients. It is mainly the policemen’s wives who avail the services of the clinic, which is open every Friday.

HT Image

So far, only 36 policemen and 22 women (not policewomen) have visited it. “On most Fridays I sit here doing nothing. I mainly attend to policemen’s wives, mothers and daughters,” said Dr Girish Gadkari, an obesity consultant at the hospital.

Doctors suggest a change in diet and lifestyle after noting the patient’s cholesterol levels and lipid profile. “Only 10 patients, of which five are policemen, have come for follow-ups. There should be some incentive or compulsion for obese policemen to come here,” added Gadkari. All the patients who have come for follow-ups have lost weight, some more than 10kg.

As a result, hospital authorities wrote to the city police establishment asking them to create awareness about the free service. “Policemen seldom visit the obesity clinic. I will write again this April,” said Dr SM Patil, a police surgeon at the hospital.