Irritable bowel cases rise in Bengaluru kids as diets, urban lifestyles change
Medical specialists in Bengaluru are reporting a significant rise in childhood Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) over the last decade. Doctors attribute the trend to changing dietary habits, increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, and urban lifestyle shifts.
Why it matters
The rise of chronic conditions in children highlights the public health challenges associated with rapid urbanization and the adoption of Westernized diets in developing nations.
BENGALURU: Childhood Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), once considered relatively uncommon in India, is increasingly being diagnosed among children, with specialists in Bengaluru reporting a noticeable rise in cases over the last decade.Doctors say the increase is likely a combination of a genuine rise in disease incidence and improved awareness, diagnosis and access to specialised care.At Smiles Institute of Gastroenterology, a 12% increase in childhood IBD cases has been recorded over the past six months, while 886 children have been diagnosed with the condition over the last five years.
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