Juniorthon, the first Kids marathon in Pune aimed to create awareness about childhood obesity witnessed- whelming support

Pune February 4, 2019:Juniorthon, largest kid’s marathon witnessed over whelming support from over 1500 kid’s,and their parents who ran to create awareness about growing childhood obesity in Pune. The objective was to encourage running as an active lifestyle choice for the children and the entire family and discourages over use of gadgets. The kid’s marathon, which took place on February3, 2019 (Sunday) at,Laxmi Lawns, Magarpatta City, Pune also saw whole-hearted participation from the doctors of Apollo hospital who supported the run and urged the children to engage in physical activities to avoid unhealthy weight gain.

Speaking on the kid’s marathon Dr Vijay Yewale, Head, Institute of Child Health , Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai “We have witnessed an upward trend in the number of obese children visiting our hospital every year, this has given rise to many comorbidities such as hypertension, pre diabetic state and even arthritis in children as young as 10 years and above. It is important that we encourage children to go out and witness outdoor activities to keep physically fit and ovoid health problems.”

Dr Yewale further added that “Childhood obesity has doubled by over 50% over the last 3 decades; more than 15 million children are estimated to be overweight in urban India.  To encourage them to involve in physical activity and cultivate the behavior for exercise and outdoor activities Juniorthon, flagged of its 1st season, establishing itself not only as the largest Kids marathon in Pune but also as a community project supported by parents and the entire family. The run encourages children to participate without worrying about winning or losing, as it awards every child with a ‘Finishers medal’ for completing the run.”

Speaking on the run Mrs Bhavna Mehta, Organizer, Juniorthon Pune, said, “We are thankful and thrilled to witness such a humongous support by kids and their parents, the objective of the event was to create awareness and urge parents to encourage children to come out of their sedentary life style. Childhood obesity, depression, vitamin D deficiency & other related diseases are on rise in India, as children no longer engage themselves in outdoor activities. The run thus was to provide a platform for children to enjoy outdoor activities.”

Juniorthon is categorised to accommodate various levels of runners considering age and distance. To support a good cause and promote a healthier future for children, the goal of this marathon is to discourage the over use of gadgets and encourage them to come out and play outdoor, facilitating visual development and engagement with the community.

Categories included:

• OPENERS:                                              Distance: 0.5 km – 1 Parent + 1 child aged between 5-11 years
• BEGINNERS:                                          Distance: 1 km – Age: 6 to 11 years
• AMATEURS:                                          Distance: 2 km – Age: 8 to 13 years
• PROS:                                                     Distance: 4 km – Age: 10 to 15 years
• DIFFERENTLY ABLED:                          Distance: 0.5 km – Age: 6 to 15 years