Not chips, nor chocolates: Delhi’s RML Hospital surgeon warns of a ‘healthy’ food parents give kids that may trigger early fatty liver

A food many parents proudly add to their child’s daily diet may be quietly doing more harm than expected. According to a recent awareness post by a senior doctor from Delhi’s Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, the biggest dietary risk for children is not junk food but something often mistaken for a nutritious choice.

A Warning From the Hospital, Not the Snack Aisle

Dr Obaidur Rahman, orthopaedic and sports surgeon at RML Hospital, recently shared insights from his clinical experience through an Instagram awareness post. In the video, he cautions parents against assuming that foods marketed as healthy are automatically safe for children.

“The most dangerous food for a baby is not chips,” Dr Rahman says in the post, adding that the real concern lies in an item that parents regularly offer believing it supports growth and nutrition.

Fruit Juice, Not Fruit, Under the Scanner

According to Dr Rahman, packaged and processed fruit juices are among the most misleading foods in children’s diets. While fruits are naturally rich in fibre and nutrients, juices strip away most of these benefits.

He explains that during processing, fibre is removed and additional sugar is often added. This leads to a high fructose load in the body, which the liver struggles to process efficiently. Over time, this excess fructose is converted into fat and stored in the liver.

“In a majority of cases we see clinically, even in children as young as one to five years, fatty liver is commonly linked to frequent fruit juice consumption,” he notes in the Instagram post.

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A post shared by Obaidur Rahman (@drobaid_rahman)

Early Fatty Liver Is No Longer Rare

Fatty liver disease was once considered an adult lifestyle condition. Dr Rahman’s observations suggest that it is now appearing alarmingly early in children, particularly those regularly consuming fruit juices and other ultra processed foods.

He also points to cream biscuits as another commonly consumed item that adds to the problem. Despite being popular with children, these foods offer little nutritional value while significantly increasing sugar and refined carbohydrate intake.

A key misconception Dr Rahman highlights is the belief that children can digest anything due to their age. He stresses that digestion does not equal nourishment.

“For proper growth and development, children need high protein and genuinely nutritious foods,” he says, urging parents to look beyond labels and marketing claims.

Why This Message Matters Now

Dr Rahman is known for using public platforms to highlight overlooked health risks. His Instagram post serves as a preventive health message rather than a dietary prescription, drawing attention to habits that often go unquestioned in Indian households.

By sharing observations rooted in hospital practice, he hopes to encourage parents to rethink daily food choices and prioritise whole fruits and balanced meals over processed substitutes.

Dr Obaidur Rahman is an orthopaedic surgeon at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi. He holds qualifications including MBBS, MS in Orthopaedics, DNB and MNAMS. Alongside treating complex bone, joint and sports injuries, he actively advocates preventive healthcare through public education, particularly on issues that are commonly misunderstood or ignored.