Pediatrician offers practical tips for healthy living
8/27/2015
8/27/2015 (La Porte, IN) - A new pediatrician in town is leaning in with some helpful philosophies to help our community's children live healthy lives. Praveen Singh, MD, is now seeing patients at the IU Health La Porte Physicians Pediatrics office, 1509 State St., La Porte. He brings to our community a wealth of knowledge and interest in healthy living, and some excellent tips for parents and families.
"In New York, where I did my residency, many of our children and families struggled with being healthy due to poor eating habits and little to no physical activity. Here in La Porte, our children have access to wide open spaces for recreation and activity, and there are plenty of opportunities for them to choose healthy eating. That is encouraging," Singh said.
Singh found the 5210 Let's Go! Childhood Obesity Prevention Program to be particularly helpful in educating children and families about healthy choices. 5210 stands for: 5 fruits and veggies, 2 hours or less of screen time, 1 hour of physical activity, and 0 sugary drinks.
"It's a simple, easy number to remember, but the challenge is actually following through," Singh said.
Some tips that have worked with his patients and families include eating vegetables and fruits first in the meal, before anything else; setting and following practical rules for limiting TV and personal devices to key times; getting outside in all seasons when possible; and adding chopped fresh fruit to plain ice water to create good flavor without added processed sugar. "I have dropped strawberries into water and it is delicious," he said.
Singh obtained his medical degree at the Indira Gandhi Medical College in Shimla, India, and completed residency training in Brooklyn, New York at Maimonides Infant and Children Hospital. During residency he obtained training in inpatient (hospital) care, ambulatory (office) care, and emergency medicine and procedures. He also was a junior resident in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Indira Gandhi Medical College.
Singh is watching important health topics related to children closely, so he can best advise patients and families using evidence-based information and research. Areas that are particularly interesting to him, and that he knows parents ask about frequently, include vaccinations, allergies, Type 2 diabetes in children, childhood obesity, and adolescent alcohol abuse.
"Motivational interviewing – which is making sure to listen to patients and really find the root causes of what may be bothering them – has been proven to improve the incidence of childhood obesity," Singh said. In addition, he's paying close attention to new studies that show introduction to certain allergens during a child's first year may reduce the risk of allergies later. "The more I can stay informed about the issues parents and children are facing, the more effective I can be as their doctor," Singh said.
He is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Indiana Medical Association, and the Punjab Medical Association.
When he is not seeing patients, Singh enjoys spending time with family and friends, jogging, walking, cycling, listening to Bollywood music, hiking and relaxing on the beach.
Singh is now accepting new patients. To make an appointment, call 219.324.3431.
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