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nORTH AMERICAn newsline DECEMBER 25, 2020 | The Indian Eye 30

aaPI to observe january 7th as global Wear

Yellow Day for obesity awareness & Health

Our Bureau

Chicago, IL

ontinuing with the goal of creating
awareness by educating the public
Cand healthcare professionals, Amer-
ican Association of Physicians of Indian
Origin (AAPI) is observing January 7th,
2021 as the Global Wear Yellow Day for
Obesity Awareness & Health, showcasing
Yellow for Energy, Motivation, Hope, Op-
timism, Joy and Happiness. AAPI’s theme
and campaign around the world is to: “Be
Healthy, Be Happy.” And, the “Secret to
Living Longer is to Eat half, Walk double,
Laugh triple and Love without measure.”
During an educational webinar on
NObesity held on December 12th, 2020
and led by internationally renowned health-
care leaders, Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda,
President of AAPI said, “The impact and
role of AAPI in influencing policy makers
and the public is ever more urgent today. mission to help 100 000 000 people across Chair is Dr. Uma Koduri and co-chairs are
AAPI being the largest ethnic medical or- the world overcome obesity & maintain a Drs. Padmaja Adusumili (Veteran obesity),
ganization in USA and the second largest healthy body for life. Pooja Kinkabwala (Childhood obesity) and
organized medical association after AMA, Dr. Hira Nair, a Professor of Psycholo- Uma Jonnalagadda (Adult obesity) with
we have the power and responsibility to gy at Kansas City Kansas Community Col- chief advisors Dr. Kishore Bellamkonda
influence the state and the public through lege, the Coordinator of the Teacher Edu- and Dr. Lokesh Edara.
education for health promotion and dis- cation Program, believes that education is “While following in the footsteps of
ease prevention. Hence AAPI is trying ‘To transformative and psychology prepares American Heart Association initiatives,
Educate to Empower’ as ‘An Ounce of Pre- students to live an introspective and collab- “National Wear Red Day, on the first Fri-
vention is Worth a Pound of Cure.’ In this orative life. She has recently joined efforts day in February,” which has become an
context, AAPI is in the process of getting with AAPI to educate the local communi- annual campaign to raise awareness about
Wear Yellow for Obesity Awareness Proc- ty about food addiction and anti-obesity. heart disease in women, AAPI is leading
lamation from the White House so it can She works tirelessly on social justice issues a campaign to create awareness on Obesi-
be implemented nationwide. So far, we got within the context of the community, and ty,” said Dr. Sajani Shah, Chairwoman of
official proclamations from Mayors from around the globe. She shared with the au- AAPI BOT.
several States,” he added. dience, her own experiences while actively Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, Presi-
The interactive webinar was moderated participating in building community aware- dent-Elect of AAPI said, “With obesity
by Dr. Uma Jonnaladadda, Chair of AA- ness of important global issues such as hun- proving to be a major epidemic affecting
PI’s Physicians Section; Board Certified ger and the importance of educating the girl nearly one third of the nation’s population,
Family Medicine Secretary, GAPIO, and child. we have a responsibility to save future gen-
AAPI’s First Lady. Other moderators were: Major contributors for the success of erations by decreasing childhood obesity.
Dr. Padmaja Adusumilli, and Dr. Pooja AAPI’s obesity awareness campaign over And therefore, we at AAPI are proud to
Kinkhabwala. the years include, Dr. Uma Koduri, who undertake this national educational tour
The eminent speakers at the Webi- had organized the pilot programs for child- around the United States, impacting thou-
nar included: Muamer Dajdic, a Motiva- hood obesity in USA since 2013, childhood sands of children and their families.”
tional Educator, who had struggled with obesity in India in 2015 and Veteran obe- Dr. Satheesh Kathula, Treasurer of
obesity his whole life. He shared with the sity in USA in 2017 with the help of Drs. AAPI, said, “AAPI has taken this initiative
audience his own inspiriting life’s story of Sanku Rao, Jayesh Shah, Aruna Venkatesh as a “main stream” issue in both children
how weighing nearly 500 lbs, with obesity for childhood obesity, Vikas Khurana, and adults, in the US and in India. AAPI
almost killing him, he lost over 300 lbs. in Satheesh Kathula for Veteran obesity, and has helped organize several childhood obe-
1.5 years. The author of an upcoming book: Janaki Srinath, Uma Chitra, Avanti Rao for sity and veterans obesity programs across
The Healthy Living Process, he earned the childhood obesity in India. the US. We have the right team to take this
Melting Snowman nickname & set out on a Presently, AAPI Obesity Committee’s project forward”.

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