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The OECD just released a report on obesity around the world, and there appears to be a link between the Great Recession and obesity.

The OECD compiled the following chart, showing the percentage of children who are overweight in each country.

Surprisingly, the U.S. does not top the list. While the U.S. had the highest obesity rate among adults, Greece had the largest proportion of overweight children.

The OECD found that families who suffer economic hardship end up cutting healthier foods out of their budget, instead buying cheaper food loaded with more calories, sugar, and fat.

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From the report, in 2008 and 2009, "households in the United Kingdom decreased their food expenditure by 8.5% in real terms, with some evidence of an increase in calorie intake (the average calorie density of purchased foods increased by 4.8%). This change resulted in additional 0.08 g of saturated fat, 0.27 g of sugar and 0.11 g of protein per 100 g of purchased food."

The OECD cites evidence that this link between economic hardship and increased consumption of unhealthy food existed throughout Europe, Australia, and the United States.

The recession even might have impacted exercise. In the U.S., after the economic crisis, leisure time exercise went up slightly, but this gain was more than offset by a huge loss in physical activity at work.

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CHART: Here Are The Countries With The Most Obese Kids

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The OECD just released a report on obesity around the world, and there appears to be a link between the Great Recession and obesity. The OECD compiled the following chart, showing the percentage of children who are overweight in each country. Surprisingly, the U.S. does not top the list.

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Jamie Oliver: Teach every child about food

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Sharing powerful stories from his anti-obesity project in Huntington, West Virginia -- and a shocking image of the sugar we eat -- TED Prize winner Jamie Oliver makes the case for an all-out assault on our ignorance of food.

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Statistics released for 2014-15 by the Dubai Health Authority's (DHA) Schools and Educational Institutions Unit back in July showed that 33 per cent of school children from kindergarten to grade 12 across 176 private schools are either overweight or obese.

They say repetition is the key to success, but despite reading countless reports about the rise in childhood obesity in the UAE, the situation isn't getting any better.

For your information: Exercise, higher grades go hand in hand

Although the message for immediate change is constantly being drummed into us, the reality is, very little is changing. And the numbers here prove it.

Statistics released for 2014-15 by the Dubai Health Authority's (DHA) Schools and Educational Institutions Unit back in July showed that 33 per cent of school children from kindergarten to grade 12 across 176 private schools are either overweight or obese.

You must follow this: Here is what an ideal school lunch box should contain

Of that figure, 14 to 16 per cent are obese.

But why? Over the past few decades we have witnessed a huge change in the dietary habits of people living in Dubai.

So what can: Childhood obesity: Carrots can't fight it alone

It has shifted from a traditional healthier diet to one with poor nutritional qualities. Physical activity has taking a backseat too, especially in children.

But with students spending a huge chunk of their day in school, the school canteen is the best place to start when it comes to tackling childhood obesity.

Find out why: Let your child snack less and brush more

According to the 'Guide of Health and Nutritional Practices of School Canteens' by the Dubai Municipality (DM) and the DHA, "most children consume half their daily calories at school".

As such, schools are responsible for a child's physical and developmental growth, as well as their academic prowess.
Positive eating habits
A sample survey on nutrition and health by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) does highlight some positive eating habits among children though.

According to its figures, 72 per cent of children aged between 12 and 16 years surveyed eat a good breakfast in the morning, with 65 per cent admitting they go to school feeling well rested.

Among those aged between 9 and 13 years, 80 per cent ate breakfast and 83 per cent said they go to school feeling well rested.

Additionally, 92 per cent and 94 per cent (respectively) said they liked to be physically active.

These results prove that the children themselves seem willing to lead more nutrition-conscious and active lives.

And the fact that a standard physical education guideline has been launched in schools - which is mandatory for students from primary to secondary age - is also a positive step forward.

A huge advocate of good nutrition in schools is Dr Hamed Yahyah Hussein, family and community medicine specialist at the DHA's schools and educational institutions health unit.

He said breakfast is the most important meal of the day. "Studies show that children who eat a nutritious breakfast function better. They do better in school, and have better concentration and more energy."

We are increasingly seeing schools here strengthen their nutritional standards in compliance with the DM and DHA rules. But it is now up to parents to ensure they are doing the same at home.
kelly@khaleejtimes.com

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Statistics released for 2014-15 by the Dubai Health Authority's (DHA) Schools and Educational Institutions Unit back in July showed that 33 per cent of school children from kindergarten to grade 12 across 176 private schools are either overweight or obese.

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WEST SENECA, N.Y. -- For kids Zumba instructor at Southtowns Family YMCA, Nemisis Negron, what started out as a personal fitness journey after a recent pregnancy has quickly turned into a labor of love.

"After I had my second child, I needed to lose a lot of weight," Negron said. "So I started going to Zumba classes and that gave me the inspiration that I needed."

She quickly turned that inspiration into a certification and became licensed to teach Zumba earlier this year.

"With Zumba kids it makes it super easy because we don't know that we're working out," said Negron, "The kids didn't know that they were doing lunges and squats and that they were doing all those different things. They didn't know they were doing that because they were having fun."

The YMCA Buffalo-Niagara is highlighting the year-round course in honor of Childhood Obesity Awareness month.

A new study from the "State of Obesity" says that obesity rates among kids in New York State have gone down from about 17 percent to roughly 14.5 percent in the last eight years.

It's a vast improvement, but the Health & Wellness Director at the Southtowns location, Shelly Cavalier, says New York can do even better.

"We want to make of childhood obesity and the risks and so by putting in the Zumba kids class we get them moving and we get them into those healthy habits," said Cavalier.

It's why Cavalier developed the kids Zumba and kids yoga programs at the Southtowns branch, to offer kids alternative ways to stay in shape.

They encourage anyone who is interested in signing up to visit their website or come in to one of their branches.

However, whether or not you actually make it to a class, Negron says introducing your kids to a healthy lifestyle can be done from the comfort of your own home.

"We're all a child inside and it's just figuring out how to get that out. Just turn on the radio, learn some new music moves," said Negron.

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YMCA Helping the Fight Against Childhood Obesity

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A new study says obesity in kids has decreased significantly in New York State. The news comes just in time for &quot;Childhood Obesity Awareness&quot; month. Time Warner Cable News reporter Rochelle Alleyne tells us how the YMCA of Western New York is working to keep that number low.

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CHICAGO (CBS) - In the past 30 years, obesity rates have doubled in young children and quadrupled for teenagers.

Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the U.S., which is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dedicated the month of September to raising awareness.

CBS 2's Marissa Bailey talks to Lifestyle Specialist Maisha Wynn, of Live to Wynn, who shares some simple changes you can make to keep your kids healthy and combat childhood obesity:

Be a leader

Get them in the kitchen

Get them moving

Avoid sugary drinks

Focus on the positive

Wynn, who says she was obese her entire childhood and has lost over 120 pounds as an adult, says when it comes to managing childhood obesity, parents are really the leaders. "Parents are leaders, they're influencers, so you want to make sure that you lead by example," Wynn said. "If you're eating healthy, your child will eat healthy."

Have children participate in grocery shopping or preparing food for the day, Wynn says. "Start having them go grocery shopping with you, pick fresh produce, fresh veggies...If they're old enough having them to cut fresh veggies."

It's important to keep kids active. "Make sure you have your children doing something they enjoy," Wynn says., including swimming, walking, martial arts, etc.

Avoid sugary drinks. "Re-think the drink that you get children. There's so much sugar and soda in sweet tea, so I love infusing my water with various fresh fruits and vegetables." Wynn added.

And lastly, Wynn says to stay positive in the way that you talk about health. Don't make negative comments about your child's weight or your own, she says.

Wynn is hosting a back-to-school wellness event on Oct. 5, from 5-7 p.m. at Pete's Fresh Market, 259 Lake St. in Oak Park. For more information, visit the Live to Wynn website.

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CHICAGO (CBS) - In the past 30 years, obesity rates have doubled in young children and quadrupled for teenagers. Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the U.S., which is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dedicated the month of September to raising awareness.

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OBESITY could be making children less brainy, a study has warned.

It found youngsters with high blood pressure - a common side-effect of being too fat - performed significantly worse at tests.

US experts tested the mental abilities of a group of ten to 18-year-olds - half healthy and half with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

They found the healthy children performed better at memory tests, thinking speed and verbal skills.

Dr Marc Lande, of the University of Rochester in New York, said: "This suggests hypertension in youth may have an impact on brain function, and perhaps brain development in childhood."

One in five Brits starts primary school overweight or obese, rising to one in three when they leave.

Data shows 37 per cent of young teens are too fat, up from 28 per cent in 1995.

The National Obesity Forum's Tam Fry said: "A few years ago we assumed loss of brain power was an adult problem brought on by obesity.

"To have it show up at adolescence is deeply concerning."

Blood Pressure UK boss Katharine Jenner said it was especially worrying as high blood pressure in under-18s was on the rise.

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Obesity could be making children less brainy, say boffins

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OBESITY could be making children less brainy, a study has warned. It found youngsters with high blood pressure - a common side-effect of being too fat - performed significantly worse at tests. US experts tested the mental abilities of a group of ten to 18-year-olds - half healthy and half with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

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Alan Kadish, M.D.
Alan Kadish, M.D., is President of the Touro College & University System. A graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University, Dr. Kadish received postdoctoral training at the Brigham & Women's Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and at the University of Pennsylvania. He is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease. Under his tenure, Touro has become a national leader in the education of health care professionals. See More.

Email: editor@nymetroparents.com

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Childhood Obesity: What You Need to Know

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Alan Kadish, M.D. Alan Kadish, M.D., is President of the Touro College & University System. A graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University, Dr. Kadish received postdoctoral training at the Brigham & Women's Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and at the University of Pennsylvania.

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September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, as health officials across the United States shine a spotlight on what has been increasingly seen as a widespread epidemic, decades in the making.

According to NIH, childhood obesity prevalence among those aged 2 to 5 years has more than doubled in the past 30 years. Among those aged 6 to 11 years, the rate has tripled, and for those aged 12 to 19 years, it has more than tripled. The most recent National Health and Nutrition Surveys, conducted in 2007-2008, indicate that 17% of children aged 2 to 19 years are obese, while an additional 15% are considered overweight.

Below is a listing of the latest research and news regarding childhood obesity. Here's what you need to know:
Childhood obesity risk increases with antibiotic use under age 2 years
The administration of three or more courses of antibiotics in children younger than 2 years was associated with an increased risk for childhood obesity, according to a retrospective cohort study. Read more.
First sugar-sweetened beverage tax in US decreases soda consumption
The 1-cent-per-ounce excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages implemented in Berkeley, California, has resulted in reduced regular soda consumption and increased water consumption among low-income residents. Read More.
Childhood obesity linked to increased risk for early onset hypertension
There was a "strong, statistically significant" association between increasing BMI and BP and the risk for hypertension, according to data published in Pediatrics, and the researchers are calling on physicians to more effectively help patients prevent obesity in early childhood. Read more.
Poverty, not race or ethnicity, primary driver of pediatric obesity
After evaluating 2009 data from 68 Massachusetts school districts on 111,799 first-, fourth-, seventh- and 10th-graders, researchers found that overweight or obesity in children is more strongly related to low-income status than to race or ethnicity. Read more.
Primary care program aimed at obese youth delivers lifestyle changes
A pilot intervention targeting children and delivered by trained primary care clinicians and staff resulted in significant clinical and lifestyle changes, including decreases in BMI. Read more.

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Childhood obesity: What you need to know

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September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, as health officials across the United States shine a spotlight on what has been increasingly seen as a widespread epidemic, decades in the making.According to NIH, childhood obesity prevalence among those aged 2 to 5 years has more than doubled in the past 30 years.

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From nursery school through college, fat students experience ostracism, discouragement, and sometimes violence. Find out what you can do to help your overweight child.

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The continent which is more often linked to malnutrition and under-eating is facing an equally as dangerous problem on the other end of the weight spectrum.

According to a new report on childhood obesity from the World Health Organization (WHO), a quarter (25%) of all overweight or obese children are in Africa.

In 2014, it is estimated that 41 million children under 5 years of age were affected by being overweight or obese - and in Africa, the number has nearly doubled since 1990, increasing from 5.4 million to 10.3 million.

When taking Asia into account, the two regions account for almost 50% - in absolute numbers, more overweight and obese children live in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.

However, the prevalence of childhood obesity still remains higher in high-income regions.

Many countries - including South Africa - face the burden of malnutrition in all its forms, with rising rates of childhood obesity as well as high rates of child undernutrition and stunting.

Childhood obesity is often underrecognized as a public health issue in these settings, where, culturally, an overweight child is often to be healthy, the WHO said.

The most recent statistics show that one in four South Africans are obese - with researchers from the North West University stating that South African children are among the fattest in the world.

Take on the sugar problem

SA children's health is negatively influenced by a diet that lacks diversity, as well as the rise of sedentary living. Children in the country are also exposed to high salt and sugar content in foods, which exacerbates these conditions.

The WHO said that 81% of adolescents do not achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

The group recommended that countries develop context-specific nutrition guidelines and make them accessible to society at large - and that it take on the global sugar problem implementing an effective tax on sugary-drinks.

In South Africa, government is already mulling a 20% sugar tax to combat the growing problem.

Further the WHO says that governments should limit children and adolescents' exposure to marketing of unhealthy foods, and promote more physical activity - particularly in schools.

More on health
The hidden sugar in South African fast food 20% sugar tax on the cards for South Africa South Africa's sugary drinks shock Why South Africa needs a sugar tax

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Africa facing a childhood obesity crisis

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The continent which is more often linked to malnutrition and under-eating is facing an equally as dangerous problem on the other end of the weight spectrum. According to a new report on childhood obesity from the World Health Organization (WHO), a quarter (25%) of all overweight or obese children are in Africa.

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The government is under serious pressure to drop its opposition to a tax on sugary drinks, following the publication of a hard-hitting report from MPs which says a 20% levy is an essential part of any national strategy to tackle child obesity.

David Cameron has consistently ruled out a sugar tax, but the cross-party health select committee, chaired by the Tory MP Dr Sarah Wollaston, strongly backs it as one of a range of tough interventions designed to reduce the availability of unhealthy foods.

Writing in the Guardian, Wollaston says the stark inequalities in childhood obesity and, as a consequence, the chances of a healthy adult life, make a compelling case for action by the prime minister. A quarter of the most disadvantaged children are obese by the time they leave primary school, double the rate among the most affluent. "We do not believe that this is an attack on low income families as industry lobbyists will no doubt claim, but rather an essential part of trying to reverse the harm caused by these products," she says.

As the report was published, campaigners and health groups queued up to support the tax and other regulatory measures, hoping to influence the government's child obesity strategy, which will be published in the new year.

A petition for a sugary drinks tax - launched by Jamie Oliver, who gave evidence to the committee, and signed by over 150,000 people - is being debated in Westminster Hall on Monday.

At the same time, an alliance of 19 influential health and campaigning organisations has been launched to lobby for change. The Obesity Stakeholder Group, which includes medical royal colleges, public health organisations and charities, has 10 recommendations to government on the advertising and marketing of unhealthy food, including introduction of the tax.

A 20% tax on full-sugar colas, lemonades and other popular drinks will not curb child obesity by itself, says the health committee report, but it cites evidence from Public Health England (PHE), which the committee successfully fought to have published during its inquiry, that it would reduce consumption at least for a while. Children consume three times more sugar than is recommended. Soft drinks are the biggest source, accounting for 29% of the sugar intake of 11- to 18-year-olds and 16% for younger children.

The drinks industry argues that such a tax would hit the poorest families hardest, but the report says those are the worst hit by obesity and that zero-sugar alternatives exist which would be cheaper. The money raised from the tax should go into a child health levy, directed at helping the worst affected.

There should be a sunset clause so that the tax can be repealed if it fails to work but, says the committee: "A sugary drinks tax is an essential part of a wider package of measures to tackle childhood obesity." It is no longer possible to pick and choose which anti-obesity measures - all will be needed.

The tax also has an advantage over some other measures in that it can be brought in very swiftly, the committee says.

"The scale and consequences of childhood obesity demand bold and urgent action from government," says the report. "We urge the prime minister to make a positive and lasting difference to children's health and life chances through his childhood obesity strategy."

It calls for far greater controls on the promotion, advertising and marketing of unhealthy foods to children. It recommends an end to price promotions to stop supermarkets offering two cakes or packets of biscuits for the price of one. It wants sweets removed not only from checkout areas at supermarkets but also from sale in clothing shops and other non-food outlets. It calls for a ban on TV ads for any high fat, salt or sugary food, which would include products such as pizza and crisps, not just during children's broadcasting but during any programme before 9pm.

Attempts to educate the public about the dangers of obesity do not work when the food industry is spending £256m on promoting unhealthy food and drink, as it did last year, says the committee in its report. It casts doubt on the usefulness of the voluntary Responsibility Deal agreements with industry as well as the social marketing venture Change4Life, which have until now been the government's two flagship anti-obesity initiatives.

The committee is clear that market intervention is required if the current high levels of child obesity are to come down. One fifth of children starting in reception class each year is overweight or obese and that rises to a third of those moving on to secondary school in year 6.

There are few interventions to help obese children lose weight and most become obese adults, at risk of serious health problems including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Treating obesity is estimated to cost the NHS £5.1bn a year and diabetes costs it £8.8bn. But the UK spends only £638m on obesity prevention programmes, says the report.

It is imperative to change the food environment, the report says: "Physical activity has enormous benefits, regardless of weight, but encouraging people to increase their physical activity levels alone is unlikely to have an impact on the obesity crisis."

PHE said in response to the committee's report that the promotion of sugar to children had to change. "PHE's evidence is clear; what we see in the media, on our streets and in shops is encouraging us to eat too much sugar," said Dr Alison Tedstone, PHE's chief nutritionist. "We need a range of measures including controls on marketing, advertising and price discounts of sugary products and reducing the added sugar in foods and drinks, to help tackle the obesity epidemic.

"Being obese can have a devastating impact on a child's life. They are more likely to experience bullying, low self-esteem, be absent from school and have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease in later life."

The Obesity Stakeholder Group, which includes the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the British Medical Association, Cancer Research UK, Diabetes UK, the Royal Colleges of Physicians and of GPs and of Psychiatrists, the Faculty of Public Health and the Royal Society for Public Health, backed the advertising ban and the sugar tax and called for fewer displays of unhealthy products in shops.

The campaigning organisation Action on Sugar welcomed the recognition that education and increasing children's physical activity alone would not be sufficient. "It is inevitable that manufacturers will have to reformulate their food and drink products to reduce the amount of sugar, fat and overall calories," said the nutritionist Jennifer Rosborough.

The British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) spurned the committee's call for a sugary drinks tax. "This was not an inquiry in the conventional meaning of the word. It was part of the PR campaign by the health lobby to persuade ministers to introduce a tax on soft drinks," said Gavin Partington, the BSDA director general.

"By its own admission, the health select committee is merely proposing this tax because it's easy to do, yet there is no evidence worldwide that such a tax has an effect on obesity." Reducing portion sizes and reformulating products - both of which the committee also recommends - were far more effective, he said.
Topics

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Pressure grows for 20% tax on sugary drinks to fight childhood obesity

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The government is under serious pressure to drop its opposition to a tax on sugary drinks, following the publication of a hard-hitting report from MPs which says a 20% levy is an essential part of any national strategy to tackle child obesity.

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A chubby, young girl stands with her arms crossed facing the camera. "WARNING: It's hard to be a little girl if you're not," reads the stark copy below her photograph. This striking message is just one of a series of anti-obesity advertisements dubbed "Stop Sugarcoating," released by the Strong4Life campaign and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

ABC News reported that the health organization produced these ads after surveying parents in two Georgia towns. They discovered that 75 percent of parents with obese children were not aware that their children were overweight, while 50 percent of parents didn't realize that childhood obesity was a problem to begin with. And in a state where nearly 40 percent of children are overweight or obese -- Georgia is in 2nd place for childhood obesity rates nationwide, only behind Mississippi -- these statistics are problematic.

The advertisements, which include both print ads and TV spots, show actual overweight Georgia children and include taglines such as "Being fat takes the fun out of being a kid" and "My fat may be funny to you, but it's killing me." (Scroll down to see the ads in full.)

Linda Matzigkeit, a senior vice president at Children's Healthcare, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the campaign's harsh tone was a necessity:

We felt like we needed a very arresting, abrupt campaign that said: "Hey, Georgia! Wake up. This is a problem."

The organization also made a point to specifically target parents. One TV spot shows a child looking miserable and asking his mother "Mom, why am I fat?" His equally overweight mother sighs and looks ashamed.

The ads are meant to draw attention to the childhood obesity epidemic. However, they've drawn mixed reactions from both parents and health experts, who have called their effectiveness into question. Many say that the campaign will more likely increase stigmatization against overweight children and make them feel ashamed of their bodies, rather than encouraging healthy habits.

As Dr. Miriam Labbok, director for the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, told ABC News:

Blaming the victim rarely helps. These children know they are fat and that they are ostracized already.

And while similarly straightforward campaigns have worked to reduce smoking and meth use, childhood obesity prevention researcher Marsha Davis told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that similar tactics have rarely proven effective when it comes to weight. "We need to fight obesity, not obese people," she said.

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Georgia Anti-Obesity Ads Say "Stop Sugarcoating" Childhood Obesity

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A chubby, young girl stands with her arms crossed facing the camera. "WARNING: It's hard to be a little girl if you're not," reads the stark copy below her photograph. This striking message is just one of a series of anti-obesity advertisements dubbed "Stop Sugarcoating," released by the Strong4Life campaign and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

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The challenge of obesity - quick statistics

The worldwide prevalence of obesity nearly doubled between 1980 and 2008. According to country estimates for 2008, over 50% of both men and women in the WHO European Region were overweight, and roughly 23% of women and 20% of men were obese.

Based on the latest estimates in European Union countries, overweight affects 30-70% and obesity affects 10-30% of adults.

Estimates of the number of overweight infants and children in the WHO European Region rose steadily from 1990 to 2008. Over 60% of children who are overweight before puberty will be overweight in early adulthood. Childhood obesity is strongly associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, orthopaedic problems, mental disorders, underachievement in school and lower self-esteem.

Physical activity and diet

Participation in 150 minutes of moderate-intensive aerobic physical activity each week (or equivalent) is estimated to reduce the risk of ischaemic heart disease by approximately 30%, the risk of diabetes by 27%, and the risk of breast and colon cancer by 21-25%. In addition, it has positive effects on mental health by reducing stress reactions, anxiety and depression and by possibly delaying the effects of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
In Europe, estimates indicate that over one third of adults are insufficiently active. Men were more active than women, particularly in high-income countries, where nearly every second woman was insufficiently physically active. Through decisions impacting urban design, land use and transport, societies have become increasingly car-friendly over time, and there is a growing geographical separation of living, working, shopping and leisure activities. As a consequence, the role of active modes of transport, such as cycling and walking, has decreased dramatically in some countries, as have opportunities for active recreation. Recent research has also suggested that people should reduce extended periods of sedentary behaviour, such as sitting at work or watching television, since these may constitute an independent risk factor for ill health regardless of other activity levels.

Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Survey

The HBSC 2009/2010 survey of countries in the WHO European Region and North America found that girls across all countries and age groups report being less active than boys, with the gender gap increasing with age. The survey found that in general 15-year-olds (average 15%) were less likely to report meeting the physical activity guidelines than 11-year-olds (average 23%) in the majority of countries. Only 19% of 11-year-old girls report engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes per day. For boys, the figure is 28%.
Family afﬂuence was signiﬁcantly associated with overweight or obesity in around half of the countries surveyed in the HBSC study: those from lower afﬂuence families were more likely to be overweight or obese. This pattern was strongest in western Europe.
A daily breakfast and at least daily fruit consumption are seen as two of the most important healthy eating habits. In the HBSC study, eating breakfast daily was signiﬁcantly associated with higher family afﬂuence in the majority of countries for boys and over half for girls. Similarly, low family affluence was signiﬁcantly associated with lower levels of fruit consumption among boys and girls in the majority of countries surveyed.

Promote a life-course approach

Health in later life is influenced by an accumulation of experience across the life-course. A life-course approach is therefore needed to effectively promote physical activity and to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases in Europe. It starts by ensuring physical activity before and during pregnancy and continues with appropriate levels of physical activity for infants and their parents. Action to encourage physical activity for children and adolescents in day-care centres, kindergartens, schools and the community is reinforced and sustained by the promotion of physical activity as a part of daily life for adults and for older people, at home, in the community and at the workplace. It also includes the promotion of sufficient levels of physical activity in health-care settings, such as primary health-care centres, hospitals and residential homes.

Prevention

WHO's recommendations for preventing and managing obesity emphasize the need for coordinated partnerships involving different government sectors, communities, the mass media and the private sector to ensure that diet and everyday levels of physical activity can be changed effectively and sustainably.

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The worldwide prevalence of obesity nearly doubled between 1980 and 2008. According to country estimates for 2008, over 50% of both men and women in the WHO European Region were overweight, and roughly 23% of women and 20% of men were obese.

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Nutritionist Weighs in on Childhood Obesity- Nutrition Article

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"We need to understand how we got to this point and, more importantly, how to correct it," said Harington, who has seen a remarkable increase in childhood obesity and juvenile diabetes in our "super-sized" era. "Our first goal is to help parents recognize the signs of childhood obesity and the risks involved.

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We're going to turn to robin's exclusive interview with first lady michelle obama. All over the headlines this week, especially after that surprise appearance at the oscars to announce the best picture. Robin sat down with her before heading to l.A., To talk about the first lady's let's move campaign and more. Including how the president is handling a teenager in the white house. Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. Reporter: It really seemed, mrs. Obama, that you and the president and your family, this time around, really took in the moment. Was that the case? Absolutely. We made a conscious decision to take this in because four years ago, it was a whirlwind. So, this was one of those times where we had to just stop and breathe and appreciate all that we'd accomplished and all that was left to do. Reporter: As president obama begins his second term, gun violence has become an issue close to both the president and the first lady. In january, mrs. Obama attended the funeral of one, young victim in chicago, gunned down just a week after performing at the inauguration. She was an honor student. One of the things her mother said, I did everything I was supposed to do. And she was absolutely right. She did everything she was supposed to do. She was standing in a park, with her friends, in a neighborhood blocks away from where my kids grew up, where our house is. And she was caught in the line of fire. I just don't want to keep disappointing our kids in this country. I want them to know that we put them first. Reporter: Our country's children have long been the focus of mrs. Obama's time in the white house. This is the third anniversary of her let's move campaign taking on childhood obesity. What have you accomplished with let's move? And what res to be done? When we started, there were a lot of people in this country that would have never thought that childhood obesity was a health crisis. But now, we're starting to see rates of obesity coming down, like never before. This new initiative that we're announcing, the my plate recipe partnership, where we're collaborating with some of the top media companies in this country. And they are compiling and labeling and promoting recipes that meet the my plate guidelines. Reporter: Now, before I let mrs. Obama go, I couldn't resist asking about her latest trend-setting move. Yep. Those new bangs. There's no hotter topic -- oh. Reporter: No hotter topic, than your bangs. Bangs? What bangs? Reporter: You forced me to go wigless. In december, my wonderful stylist picked out a wig for me. In december. You didn't debut this until january. Look at this picture. My goodness. That's cute. I was going to do that -- every would have thought I was copying you when I came back. Robin, you were so gorgeous. You are one of the women who can do whatever to your hair and you look great. Thank you. You can mix it up. That was december, the wig. Robin had it first. Robin -- I'm following you. Reporter: Not at all. But that's the spirit of everything. And when I think about your children, malia's going to be 15 in july. I know. Reporter: And your husband has joked a little bit about the knock, knock, knock 1600 pennsylvania avenue young man. Is he really concerned about that? No. I think he likathers in particular, I don't think they really know how they're going to feel until it happens. You know? There's nothing like the look on his face when malia dresses up for a party and she's heading out. And she walks past him. And you can see his face sort of just drop a little bit. Like, what is that? He's a little gray. People think the gray is from his job. It's from his children. So, we'll see how that goes. Welcome to the club on that one. Good luck. I'm loving all the details that are coming in about the secret oscar announcement. It was like something out of "argo." One of the producers told "the hollywood reporter" they had to fly secretly to the white house. Keep it off the manifests. And the first lady said yes immediately. I think it's a great idea. They watch movies all the time. And they pulled it off. They sure did. That was great.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

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Video: Michelle Obama: Doesn't Want to Disappoint U.S. Kids

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We're going to turn to robin's exclusive interview with first lady michelle obama. All over the headlines this week, especially after that surprise appearance at the oscars to announce the best picture. Robin sat down with her before heading to l.A., To talk about the first lady's let's move campaign and more.

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Vijf maaltijden per dag eten kan tieners beschermen tegen het ontwikkelen van overgewicht. Dat blijkt uit een onderzoek van de universiteit van Oost-Finland.

De onderzoekers volgden ruim vierduizend Finse baby's vanaf hun geboorte tot hun 16e. Zowel jongens als meisjes die dagelijks onbijt, lunch, diner en twee tussendoortjes aten, bleken minder vaak overgewicht of obesitas te krijgen.

Bij jongens zorgde vijfmaal daags eten bovendien voor een opvallende vermindering van overmatig buikvet. Een regelmatig eetpatroon verkleinde ook het effect op de Body Mass Index (BMI) van acht genetische varianten waarvan bekend is dat ze een rol spelen bij obesitas.

Ontbijt

Het ontbijt overslaan bleek verband te houden met een hoger BMI en grotere middelomtrek. Daarnaast hadden kinderen van moeders die tijdens de eerste twintig weken van de zwangerschap meer dan zeven kilogram aankwamen vaker last van obesitas. Het risico op obesitas was vooral groot bij het nageslacht van ouders met een BMI van hoger dan 25.

"Deze resultaten benadrukken het belang van het vroeg aanpakken van het hele gezin om obesitas bij kinderen te voorkomen. Daarnaast is het belangrijk om je ervan bewust te zijn dat je het effect van genen kunt veranderen met leefstijlgewoontes, zoals regelmatig eten", zegt onderzoeker Anne Jaaskelainen.

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Vijf maaltijden per dag eten kan tieners beschermen tegen het ontwikkelen van overgewicht. Dat blijkt uit een onderzoek van de universiteit van Oost-Finland.

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Stelling: we moeten maatregelen nemen om (kinder)obesitas te voorkomen.

Jaap Seidell, hoogleraar voeding en gezondheid en overgewichtspecialist.
U schreef: "In de overdaad van voedsel schuilt een groot gevaar: overgewicht." Kunt u dit toelichten?
"We hebben een ingebouwde voorkeur voor zoete en vette voedingsmiddelen - denk maar aan borstvoeding. Die voorkeur heeft de afgelopen honderdduizend jaar uitstekend gewerkt om ons te laten overleven. Maar in een land waarin de beschikbaarheid van voedsel zodanig gemaximaliseerd is, krijgt je brein steeds impulsen om te gaan eten. Heel veel mensen kunnen zich daar niet tegen verzetten. Kijk maar naar de overdadige voedselconsumptie in de VS. Overgewicht zorgt - nog afgezien van de lichamelijke ongemakken - voor veel psychosociale problemen. Wanneer je te zwaar bent in onze samenleving, word je vaak gepest en heb je meer kans op een depressie."
Moeten we de focus verleggen naar voorkomen in plaats van genezen?
"Ja, want als je heel zwaar bent, is het heel moeilijk om je gedrag te veranderen en af te vallen. Slechts een heel klein percentage verliest het het gewicht blijvend. Het is ook heel logisch, want je brein en je lichaam verzetten zich tegen ondervoeding. Voorkomen is veel beter dan wachten tot het uit de hand is gelopen."
Hoe kunnen we het dan voorkomen?
"Niet door voorlichting, maar door het voedselaanbod te veranderen. Er is zo ontzettend veel ongezond voedsel voor kinderen, dat ze voortdurend overal krijgen aangeboden. Zulke verleidingen moeten we verbieden of reguleren."

"Voorkomen is altijd beter dan genezen! Maar obesitas kan je overkomen; het is een erkende ziekte, waar je zo goed mogelijk mee moet leren leven. Er zijn maar heel weinig mensen die voor overgewicht kiezen. Helaas zijn er nog steeds enorme vooroordelen over overgewicht, denk aan: elk pondje gaat door het mondje. Er zijn zo veel wegen die naar overgewicht leiden. Je hebt mensen met lipoedeem, lymfoedeem of genetische obesitas, en mensen die slecht reageren op medicijnen. Die zien er allemaal hetzelfde uit, maar geen van hen heeft overmatig gegeten.""Het is heel belangrijk om in een vroeg stadium te zoeken naar de oorzaak. Die kan medisch zijn, maar ook psychisch. Overigens kun je, wanneer je goed beweegt en gezond eet, heel gezond zijn met obesitas." Anja Mulder, bestuurslid bij de Nederlandse Obesitasvereniging
Hoe denken jullie over obesitas?

U zegt dus dat obesitas vaak niet kan worden voorkomen?

Wat wil jullie vereniging bereiken voor mensen met obesitas?
"Wij propageren een gezonde leefstijl. Verder willen we dat mensen met overgewicht - meer dan vijftig procent van de Nederlandse bevolking - meer geaccepteerd worden. We moeten rekening met hen houden en ze niet afwijzen. Neem bijvoorbeeld de nieuwe trams hier in Den Haag. De stoelen zijn voor veel mensen te klein. Ook hopen we dat de sportscholen voor mensen met overgewicht toegankelijker worden. Nu kunnen de apparaten vaak een gewicht tot maximaal 120 kilo aan. En het verbaal schofferen van mensen met overgewicht is helaas aan de orde van de dag."/
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Waarom we kinderobesitas (niet) moeten voorkomen - HP/De Tijd

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Stelling: we moeten maatregelen nemen om (kinder)obesitas te voorkomen. Jaap Seidell , hoogleraar voeding en gezondheid en overgewichtspecialist. U schreef: "In de overdaad van voedsel schuilt een groot gevaar: overgewicht." Kunt u dit toelichten? "We hebben een ingebouwde voorkeur voor zoete en vette voedingsmiddelen - denk maar aan borstvoeding.

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Extreme Obesity | Junk Food Addict Marla

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Childhood Obesity | In Defense of Food | PBS Food

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Watch the full program: http://to.pbs.org/1OwIpvH 11 year-old Anthony Scavotto and his family are alarmed that in just one year he's gained 30 pounds. Rising obesity among American kids is making them susceptible to type 2 diabetes, which used to be very rare in children.

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Ob sich Übergewicht bei Kindern negativ auf die Gesundheit auswirkt, kann nur der Arzt entscheiden. Er bestimmt letztlich, ob das Kind im medizinischen Sinne übergewichtig ist, indem er den Fettanteil im Körper des Kindes misst. Ein Indikator dafür ist der sogenannte Body-Mass-Index (BMI), der anhand einer einfachen Rechnung ermittelt werden kann: Körpergewicht (kg)/Körpergröße (m) x Körpergröße (m)

Das könnte Sie interessieren: BMI-Rechner für Kinder
Liegt das Gewicht Ihres Kindes im gesunden Normalbereich? Finden Sie es heraus mit unserem BMI-Rechner für Kinder.

Bei der Errechnung des Body-Mass-Index sind die jeweiligen Wachstumsphasen des Kindes zu beachten. Anhand von Wachstumskurven kann der Arzt ermitteln, ob das Kind übergewichtig ist, bzw. sich das Gewicht noch in einem vergleichsweise normalen Rahmen bewegt. Die Neigung zu Übergewicht ist bei Kindern in bestimmten Wachstumsphasen erhöht. Vor allem während der Zeit der Einschulung und in der Pubertät sind Kinder durch die sich verändernden Lebensbedingungen besonders gefordert. Im ersten Schuljahr muss sich der Körper auf weniger Bewegung und die sitzende Tätigkeit einstellen. In der Pubertät dienen Schokolade & Co. oftmals als Seelentröster. Das alles kann in der jeweiligen Phase zu Übergewicht bei Kindern führen.
Wie entsteht Übergewicht bei Kindern?
Die Neigung zu Übergewicht ist bei Kindern zum einen genetisch festgelegt. Es tritt häufig in Familien auf, in denen auch die Eltern und Großeltern mit Übergewicht zu kämpfen haben. Auch schlechte Ernährung und mangelnde Bewegung fördern Übergewicht bei Kindern. Kinder beschäftigen sich heutzutage immer mehr mit sitzenden Tätigkeiten vor Computer, Spielekonsole und Fernsehgerät. Dazu kommen die Verlockungen überzuckerter und fetthaltiger Speisen wie Süßigkeiten, Chips und Fastfood, die Übergewicht bei Kindern fördern.

Lesen Sie auch: Wieviel Zucker ist ok für mein Kind?
Die Folgen von Übergewicht bei Kindern

© Thinkstock

Übergewicht hat nicht nur körperliche, sondern auch seelische Folgen für die Betroffenen. Übergewichtige Kinder leiden häufig unter Hänseleien und Minderwertigkeitskomplexen. Sie werden aus Gruppen ausgeschlossen und im Sportunterricht veräppelt. Deshalb kann Übergewicht bei Kindern zu Depressionen und Essstörungen führen.

Die gesundheitlichen Konsequenzen sind erhöhter Blutdruck mit negativen Auswirkungen auf den Blutzuckerspiegel und die Blutfettwerte. Im schlimmsten Fall kann Übergewicht auch zu Herzkreislaufkrankheiten und Diabetes führen. Da die Gelenke ein vielfaches an Gewicht ertragen müssen, werden diese ebenfalls in Mitleidenschaft gezogen. Die Folge sind Haltungsschäden und Verschleißerscheinungen.
Was tun bei Übergewicht?
Ein adäquater Speiseplan nach dem Ampelprinzip hilft beim Abnehmen und als Präventivmaßnahme gegen Übergewicht bei Kindern. Die Faustregel ist ganz einfach: Lebensmittel aus dem grünen Bereich können Kinder bedenkenlos essen. Bei "gelben" Lebensmittel sollten Eltern darauf achten, dass Kinder nicht zu viel davon essen. "Rote" Lebensmittel sollten nur selten verzehrt werden.

© Thinkstock

Die Ernährungsampel

➤ Grün: Mineralwasser, ungesüßter Kräuter- und Früchtetee, Obst, Gemüse, Getreideprodukte (möglichst Vollkornprodukte), Kartoffeln, Nudeln

➤ Gelb: Milchprodukte (möglichst fettarmer Joghurt, Quark, Käse, Milch), Fleisch und Wurst, Fisch, Eier

➤ Rot: Zucker, Fett, Öl, Süßigkeiten, Chips, Fastfood

Das könnte Sie interessieren: Sport für Kinder: Fußball
Fußball ist ein idealer Sport für Kinder ab dem Vorschulalter. Lesen Sie, was Ihr Kind beim Fußballspielen alles lernt.

Neben gesunder Ernährung sollten Eltern versuchen, die Kinder zu mehr Bewegung anzuregen. Bewegungsspiele, Wanderungen und Ausflüge machen Spaß und bringen die Pfunde ganz von selbst zum Purzeln. Vielleicht findet das Kind so ganz intuitiv zu einer Sport- oder Bewegungsart, die es vertiefen und in den Alltag integrieren möchte.

Übergewicht bei Kindern ist häufig Auslöser für Minderwertigkeitskomplexe. Eltern sollte daher versuchen, das Selbstwertgefühl der Kinder zu stärken. Lob, Aufweisen der eigenen Stärken und Aktivität unterstützen das Kind im Kampf gegen die überflüssigen Pfunde. Stress, Leistungsdruck und fehlende Zuwendung sind oftmals Auslöser für Übergewicht bei Kindern. Deshalb sollten Zuwendung und Entspannung auf der Tagesordnung stehen. Durch regelmäßige Erholungsphasen kann sich das Kind von seinem Schulalltag und den Sorgen ausruhen. Gemeinsame Mahlzeiten, offene Gespräche und Entspannungsmethoden wie beispielsweise Yoga für Kinder sind hilfreiche Partner im Kampf gegen Übergewicht bei Kindern.
Bildergalerie Regelmäßig Vollkornprodukte, einmal in der Woche Fisch: Wir verraten Ihnen 10 Regeln für die gesunde Ernährung von Kindern. Therapie gegen Übergewicht bei Kindern

HIlfe und Tipps im Netz

Eine Therapie gegen Übergewicht bei Kindern sollten Eltern immer mit dem behandelnden Kinderarzt besprechen. Wenn durch das Übergewicht Gesundheitsrisiken für das Kind entstehen, muss das Kind abnehmen. Im Bereich der Therapiemöglichkeiten gegen Übergewicht bei Kindern gibt es vielfältige Angebote, die je nach Situation angepasst werden können.

von Tanja Echter
folgen

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(0) Melden Sie sich in unserer Community an, um Beiträge zu Ihren Favoriten hinzuzufügen. Jetzt anmelden Ob sich Übergewicht bei Kindern negativ auf die Gesundheit auswirkt, kann nur der Arzt entscheiden. Er bestimmt letztlich, ob das Kind im medizinischen Sinne übergewichtig ist, indem er den Fettanteil im Körper des Kindes misst.

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Autor: Zentrum der Gesundheit

aktualisiert: 07.03.2018

Ihr Kind ist übergewichtig? Und Sie wissen nicht recht, wie Sie die Lage ändern können? Diäten sind bei Kindern - genau wie bei Erwachsenen - völlig fehl am Platze. Gehen Sie besser Schritt für Schritt vor. Ändern Sie langsam aber sicher die Ernährungs- und Trinkgewohnheiten nicht nur Ihres Kindes, sondern am besten die der ganzen Familie. Welche Faktoren Ihr Kind dick machen und worauf Sie achten sollten, damit es wieder schlank wird, erfahren Sie im folgenden Artikel. Starten Sie am besten noch heute mit der Umsetzung unserer Tipps - für Ihr Kind und Ihre ganze Familie :-).

Jedes sechste Kind zu dick

Jeder zweite Erwachsene ist zu dick. Aber auch schon jedes sechste Kind hat mit demselben Problem zu kämpfen und ist übergewichtig1. An den Genen kann es nicht liegen, denn diese sind ja immer noch dieselben wie vor tausenden von Jahren. Neben zu wenig Bewegung ist eine falsche Ernährung die Hauptursache von Pausbäckchen und Speckröllchen.

Altersdiabetes mit fünf Jahren

Schon im Kleinkindalter geht es los: Zu viel tierisches Eiweiss, zu viel Weissmehl, zu viel Zucker sowie ein Übermass an falschen Fetten macht viele Kids nicht nur dick, sondern oft auch krank. So war der jüngste Patient mit Alterszucker ( Diabetes Typ 2) bei Diagnosestellung gerade einmal fünf Jahre alt - und er kam nicht etwa aus den USA, sondern aus Deutschland!

Rückenschmerzen, X-Beine und Gallensteine durch Übergwicht

Weitere Gesundheitsbeschwerden, die gerne mit Übergewicht einhergehen und oft schon Kinder betreffen können, sind Gallensteine, eine Fettleber, Wirbelsäulenprobleme, Rückenschmerzen sowie übergewichtsbedingte Fehlstellungen der Gelenke, die zu X-Beinen und Spreizfüssen führen können.

Hormonelle Störungen können sich infolge von Übergewicht ebenfalls einstellen und eine frühzeitige Pubertät bis hin zu Unfruchtbarkeit mit sich bringen. Selbst Asthma kann sich bei Übergewicht verschlimmern, und nachts sorgen Atemstörungen dafür, dass dicke Kinder lauter schnarchen als schlanke Kinder2.

Übergewichtige Kinder oft Aussenseiter

Übergewicht führt bei Kindern ausserdem nicht selten zu einem geringen Selbstwertgefühl, zu Aussenseitertum sowie zu Mobbing durch Gleichaltrige. Sorgen Sie deshalb dafür, dass Ihr Kind nicht zum Opfer wird. Achten Sie auf eine gesunde, vitalstoffreiche und lebendige Ernährung. Sie macht Ihr Kind nicht nur schlank, sportlich, leistungsfähig und beliebt, sondern beugt schon jetzt späteren Zivilisationskrankheiten vor.

Doch wie genau geht man vor? Was kann man tun, damit das dicke Kind - und zwar ganz entspannt und gutgelaunt - wieder schlank wird?

Richtige Babynahrung beugt Übergewicht vor

Die richtige Ernährung beginnt direkt nach der Geburt. Muttermilch ist die von der Natur vorgesehene Nahrung für Babys in den ersten Lebensmonaten. Sie enthält in den ersten Lebenstagen der Kleinen etwas mehr Protein (2,6g/100ml), ab der dritten Woche dann nur noch ca. 1,1g Eiweiss pro 100 Milliliter bei einem Energiegehalt von durchschnittlich 69 Kilokalorien. Daher dürfen wir davon ausgehen, dass diese Kalorien- und Eiweissmengen ideal für das gesunde Wachstum eines Babys sind.

Dicke Kinder durch zu viel Kuhmilch

So lange Babys ausschliesslich Muttermilch trinken, ist alles bestens. Säuglingsmilchnahrungen fürs Fläschchen können dem Original zwar noch längst nicht das Wasser reichen, jedoch wurde zumindest der Eiweissgehalt dem Vorbild Muttermilch inzwischen angenähert3. So richtig dicke kommt es deswegen erst im Beikostalter, nämlich dann, wenn die Kleinen zu viel Kuhmilch oder entsprechende Milchprodukte bekommen.

Besonders ungünstig sind die gerne gekauften Babydesserts mit Joghurt oder Quark (Joghurt & Frucht, Quarktöpfchen usw.) oder Griessbrei und Pudding, die häufig als Zwischenmahlzeit ab dem 7. oder 8. Monat Einsatz finden. Sie liefern bis zu 3,4g Eiweiss pro 100g und damit bis zu dreimal so viel wie Muttermilch. Deshalb rät sogar die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin e.V., die nun wirklich nicht für besonders ökologische Ernährungsempfehlungen bekannt ist, ganz offiziell von Zwischenmahlzeiten dieser Art ab4.

Übergewichtige Babys durch zu viel Eiweiss

Eine amerikanische Studie an über 19.000 Babys ergab, dass Säuglinge, die in den ersten Lebensmonaten schnell zunahmen, im Alter von sieben Jahren häufiger übergewichtig waren5. Es zeigte sich, dass neben einer zu hohen Kalorienaufnahme vor allem zu viel tierisches Eiweiss (insbesondere aus Milchprodukten) an der Misere schuld ist6.

Bei einer hohen Eiweisszufuhr steigt die Konzentration freier Aminosäuren im Blut. Diese regen die Ausschüttung von Insulin und einem bestimmten Wachstumsfaktor an (Insulin like Growth Factor-1 = IGF-1). Beide beeinflussen sowohl das Wachstum als auch die Gewichtszunahme ganz entscheidend7.

Durch die Ernährung im Säuglings- und Kleinkindalter wird der Stoffwechsel aber nicht nur für den Moment beeinflusst, sondern sogar langfristig programmiert. Kinder also, die im Babyalter mit Milchprodukten (oder anderen eiweissreichen Lebensmitteln) gemästet werden, sind im späteren Alter deutlich stärker für Übergewicht anfällig als Kinder, die nur ihrem Bedarf gemäss mit Eiweiss versorgt werden.

Kuhmilch belastet Darm und Nieren von Babys

Zu viel Eiweiss aus Milch oder auch aus anderen tierischen Quellen macht jedoch Kinder nicht nur dick. Es verlangt ausserdem Schwerstarbeit von den Nieren, denn es wird zu Harnstoff abgebaut und der muss über die Nieren erst einmal ausgeschieden werden können.

Weil Säuglingsnieren den Urin noch nicht so stark konzentrieren können wie ausgereifte Nieren, ist dazu eine erhöhte Flüssigkeitsmenge nötig. Wenn Babys sich jedoch mit dem Trinken zurückhalten, ist dies besonders ungünstig. Auch der Darm wird nicht selten in Mitleidenschaft gezogen. Studien belegen, dass Kuhmilch im ersten Lebensjahr zu unbemerkten Darmblutungen führen kann8.

Auch Kleinkinder von Eiweiss-Überschuss bedroht

Nach den offiziellen Empfehlungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Ernährung e.V.9 benötigt ein Baby im Beikostalter 10g Eiweiss pro Tag. Für ein Kleinkind bis vier Jahren wird 1g Eiweiss pro Kilogramm Körpergewicht empfohlen. Doch was die Kleinen heutzutage verspeisen, liefert sehr viel mehr Eiweiss als nötig. Bis zu 5g Eiweiss pro Kilogramm Körpergewicht ist leider keine Seltenheit. Hier ein Glas Milch macht 7g Eiweiss, da ein Wiener Würstchen von der freundlichen Verkäuferin zugesteckt gleich noch einmal 10g - und schon ist der Eiweissbedarf eines Kleinkindes von 17 Kilogramm Körpergewicht bereits gedeckt, ohne dass das Kind auch nur eine einzige ausgewogene Mahlzeit gegessen hätte.

Milch als Eisenräuber

Kuhmilch und Produkte daraus enthalten nun aber nicht nur viel Eiweiss, sondern auch nur relativ wenig biologisch verwertbares Eisen. Zusätzlich behindert Kuhmilch die Eisenaufnahme aus anderen Lebensmitteln. Mit jedem Becher Kuhmilch und mit jedem Milchfläschchen zu viel sinken daher die Eisenwerte im Blut10.

Besonders ungünstig ist es, wenn Kleinkinder noch "an der Milchflasche hängen", statt eine ausgewogene Kost mit viel Obst und Gemüse zu verspeisen. "Flaschenkinder" kommen schnell auf einen halben Liter Milch pro Tag und mehr, leiden dafür aber doppelt so häufig unter einem Eisenmangel wie Kinder mit ausgewogener Kost.

Beginnen Sie daher gegen Ende des ersten Lebensjahres, Ihrem Kind - wenn es bisher die Flasche bekam - diese abzugewöhnen und es dazu zu animieren, aus einem Becher zu trinken - eine Massnahme, die rasch zu einer Reduktion der täglich verzehrten Milchmenge führt und damit nicht nur zu einem ausgeglicheneren Eisenhaushalt, sondern auch zu einem gesünderen Gewicht.

Dicke Kinder durch Salz

Es steht ausser Frage, dass Kinder für ein gesundes Wachstum genügend Eiweiss brauchen - aber eben nicht ZU VIEL Eiweiss und schon gar nicht in Form von Wurst und Käse. Diese nämlich belasten das Kind mit reichlich Salz - und im Falle von Wurst - auch mit Nitritpökelsalz.

Während Letzteres als gesundheitsschädliche Substanz mit krebserregendem Potential grundsätzlich nicht in die Kinderernährung gehört - ob die Kinder nun dick oder dünn sind - führt schon das ganz "normale" Salz nicht nur zu Wassereinlagerungen und fördert daher Übergewicht, sondern kann (wie weiter unten erklärt) im Übermass verzehrt offenbar auch die Entstehung von Autoimmunerkrankungen unterstützen.

Übergewichtige Kinder durch Fettmangel?

Wurst und Käse überlasten jedoch nicht nur mit zu viel Eiweiss und zu viel Salz, sondern versorgen zudem mit reichlich Fett. Auch in Backwaren wie Keksen, süssen Teilchen und anderen Süssspeisen ist viel Fett. Leider das falsche - nämlich Fett mit zu vielen Omega-6-Fettsäuren und womöglich noch Transfetten.

Essentielle Omega-3-Fettsäuren hingegen sind Mangelware. Omega-3-Fettsäuren aber bzw. das richtige Fettsäure-Verhältnis spielen bei Übergewicht eine enorme Rolle. So weiss man, dass Menschen mit Übergewicht einen deutlich niedrigeren Omega-3-Fettsäuren-Spiegel besitzen als schlanke Menschen.

Daher sollte man auch bei übergewichtigen Kindern einen Omega-3-Fettsäuren-Mangel zu verhindern suchen.11

Richtige Fettversorgung für Kinder

Omega-3-Fettsäuren finden sich reichlich z. B. in Leinsamen, Leinöl, Hanföl, Walnüssen, Walnussöl sowie in fettem Fisch. Bei Letzterem ist jedoch Vorsicht geboten, da Fettfisch oft stark mit Schadstoffen belastet ist, ganz besonders die Innereien! Bevorzugen Sie daher besser Fischsorten wie Hering, Makrele und Wildlachs, die in der Regel weniger belastet sind.

Achten Sie ferner darauf, die aufgeführten omega-3-haltigen Öle nicht zum Kochen oder Braten zu benutzen und sie bald nach dem Öffnen zu verbrauchen bzw. sie bis dahin im Kühlschrank zu lagern. (Zum Kochen und Braten eignen sich idealerweise Olivenöl bzw. natives Kokosöl!).

Dicke Kinder durch falsche Kohlenhydrate

Kommen wir jetzt zum Hauptbestandteil der üblichen Ernährung, nämlich den Kohlenhydraten. Kohlenhydrate sind wichtig, aber meist ist es mal wieder des Guten zuviel - vor allem an Zucker und Weissmehlprodukten. Sie lassen den Blutzuckerspiegel in die Höhe schiessen, lösen eine starke Insulinausschüttung aus und führen dadurch oft zu Heisshungerattacken, die verständlicherweise wieder schnell zu Übergewicht führen.

Schlanke Kinder durch richtige Kohlenhydratversorgung

Zucker und Weissmehlprodukte liefern dabei so gut wie keine wertvollen Bestandteile wie z. B. Vitamine, Antioxidantien oder Mineralstoffe. Vollkornprodukte, Hülsenfrüchte, Obst und Gemüse enthalten zwar ebenfalls Kohlenhydrate, jedoch in Kombination mit wichtigen Ballaststoffen, so dass der Blutzuckerspiegel mit diesen gesunden Lebensmitteln weniger stark ansteigt.

Daneben haben diese Lebensmittel viele weitere „innere Werte" zu bieten. Als Getreide sind z. B. Hirse, Quinoa und Hafer - nicht zuletzt wegen ihres günstigen Eisengehaltes - sehr zu empfehlen sowie Amaranth aufgrund seiner hohen Magnesiummenge. Doch wie setzt man diese Lebensmittel so ein, dass Kinder sie auch mögen?

Kinder lieben Haferflocken besonders in Müslis, in selbstgebackenen Keksen oder feinem Haferbrot, Hirse schmeckt lecker als Hirseauflauf mit Sultaninen, Quinoa passt gut als Beilage zu Gemüse, und zu leckeren Bio-Riegeln aus Amaranth kann kaum eine Naschkatze nein sagen.

Dicke Kinder durch Fastfood

Häufig lieben dicke Kinder jedoch Fastfood. So belegt eine deutsche Studie12, dass 12- bis 13-Jährige durchschnittlich zwei bis drei Portionen Fastfood pro Woche verspeisen, wobei speziell Jungen mit zunehmendem Alter im Schnitt auf bis zu fünf Portionen wöchentlich kommen. Am beliebtesten ist demnach Pizza, aber auch Pommes und Burger sind hoch begehrt.

Klar, dass mit so einer Ernährung zu viele Kalorien aufgenommen werden, zu viel Fett (auch die schädlichen Transfette), zu viele Kohlenhydrate, zu viel Salz und automatisch auch viel zu wenige Vitamine, von sekundären Pflanzenstoffen und Antioxidantien ganz zu schweigen. Wen wundert's also, dass zu viel Fastfood die Kinder (und natürlich auch Erwachsene) nicht nur übergewichtig, sondern auch krank macht:

Das "schnelle Essen" fördert Übergewicht und Typ-2-Diabetes13.

Wer regelmässig Fastfood oder industriell hergestellte Backwaren (Plundergebäck, Croissants etc.) isst, hat ein um 50 Prozent höheres Risiko, depressiv zu werden14. Ursache ist der hohe Gehalt an Transfettsäuren15, die im Übrigen auch das Risiko für Herz-Kreislauferkrankungen erhöhen.

Schon dreimal Fastfood pro Woche lässt Kinder häufiger an Allergien (Heuschnupfen, Asthma, Ekzemen) erkranken16.

Fastfood fördert ferner durch den hohen Salzgehalt die Entstehung von Autoimmunerkrankungen17, bei denen sich das Immunsystem gegen Strukturen des eigenen Körpers richtet. Nach einer Fast-Food-Mahlzeit steigt die Zahl aggressiver und entzündungsfördernder Immunzellen im Blut nämlich messbar an.

Fastfood vom Imbiss oder als Fertiggericht aus dem Supermarkt sollten Sie also für Ihr Kind künftig besser meiden. Warum aber bereiten Sie Ihrem Kind zu Hause nicht einfach ein GESUNDES "Fastfood"? Auf diese Weise fällt es Ihrem Kind leicht, von den wenig sinnvollen Imbiss-Mahlzeiten Abstand zu gewinnen: z. B. mit Pizza aus Vollkornteig und üppigem Gemüsebelag, dafür aber wenig Käse oder mit einem selbst gemachten Burger aus hochwertigen Zutaten wie einem Dinkel-Vollkornbrötchen, Salat, Tomate, Gurke und einem Bratling aus Tofu, Getreide oder hochwertigem Bio-Hack.

Dicke Kinder durch Fruchtzucker

Fastfood bzw. Fertignahrung und vor allem Süssigkeiten enthalten häufig Fruchtzucker (Fructose). Weil Obst nun gesund ist und darin von Natur aus Fruchtzucker steckt, kann dieser ja wohl nicht ungesund sein - oder etwa doch? Im Obst ist gegen Fruchtzucker auch wenig einzuwenden.

Problematisch ist jedoch die in Fertignahrung zugesetzte industriell hergestellte Fructose, die sich als billiges Süssungsmittel in immer mehr Produkten findet (z. B. Süssigkeiten, Limonade, Ketchup, Joghurt, Marmelade, Gebäck uvm.). Aber auch normaler Haushaltszucker besteht zur Hälfte aus Fructose, und Agavensirup enthält sogar bis zu 85 Prozent (!) Fructose, was aus ihm alles andere als ein ideales alternatives Süssungsmittel werden lässt.

Was macht Fruchtzucker so schädlich? Fructose wird schneller in Fett umgewandelt als andere Zucker, sie lässt Fettpolster also besonders effektiv wachsen18. Fructose macht ausserdem weniger satt als andere Zucker19, denn das Sättigungszentrum im Gehirn reagiert kaum auf eine Fructosezufuhr, so dass danach mehr als nötig weiter gegessen wird.

Als Probe aufs Exempel hat sich bei übergewichtigen Kindern und Jugendlichen dann auch gezeigt, dass sie abnehmen, wenn sie weniger Fructose aufnehmen20.

Meiden Sie Industrie-Fruchtzucker!

Prinzipiell ist es folglich immer ein guter Rat, Produkte mit einer längeren Zutatenliste gleich von vornherein im Regal stehen zu lassen. Einen besonders grossen Bogen sollten Sie jedoch um Produkte machen, die Fructose enthalten, insbesondere gesüsste Getränke21. Auf der Zutatenliste steht dann z. B.

Genauso wenig empfehlenswert sind natürlich auch Lebensmittel mit Kristallzucker oder Saccharose, denn dabei handelt es sich um Haushaltszucker, der ja - wie oben erwähnt - ebenfalls Fructosehaltig ist.

Dicke Kinder durch Fruchtsaft

Selbst reine Fruchtsäfte (auch wenn sie zu 100 Prozent aus Direktsaft bestehen!) sind in grösseren Mengen nicht zu empfehlen, denn auch hier steckt Fruchtzucker drin. Ein bis zwei Gläser haben Kinder schnell getrunken und der Saft macht noch nicht einmal satt. Geben Sie Ihrem Kind lieber Obst oder Gemüse als Fingerfood! Wenn Ihr Kind Fruchtsäfte gewöhnt ist und Probleme hat, davon wegzukommen, verdünnen Sie die Säfte wenigstens mit Wasser (1:1).

Gesunder Zuckerersatz für Kinder

Kinder sind von Natur aus Süssschnäbel, denn an süssen Geschmack sind sie schon von der Muttermilch (Milchzucker) gewöhnt. Doch der Geschmack lässt sich trainieren. Wir alle - Kinder wie Erwachsene - mögen Speisen insbesondere deshalb, weil wir sie oft gegessen haben und an ihren Geschmack gewöhnt sind und nicht etwa, weil ein natürlicher Instinkt uns sagen würde, wir müssten viel Zucker essen.

Deshalb sollten Babys und Kleinkinder am besten selbst zubereitete Kost ohne zugesetzten Zucker bekommen, damit ihr Geschmackssinn gar nicht erst durch zu viel Süsses verdorben wird.

Fructosearme Zuckeralternativen wären z. B. Reissirup, Hafersirup oder Dinkelsirup. Aber auch hier handelt es sich um konzentrierte und klebrige Süssungsmittel, die den Zähnen schaden können und lediglich in gemässigten Mengen sinnvoll sind.

Für grössere Kinder (ab etwa 10 Jahren) könnte auch der Zuckeraustauschstoff Xylitol (wohldosiert in geringen Mengen) eine mögliche Alternative sein. Er enthält 40 Prozent weniger Kalorien als Zucker und wird ohne Insulinausschüttung verstoffwechselt.

Zusätzlich ist er gut für die Zähne, da er das Wachstum von Kariesbakterien bremst. Achtung, Xylit kann in grösseren Mengen oder bei Unverträglichkeit zu Blähungen oder Durchfall führen. Es ist nicht für Babys geeignet, da sie ihn noch nicht abbauen können. Auch bei Kleinkindern ist sein Einsatz nicht angezeigt!

Dicke Kinder durch die falsche Darmflora

Lange Zeit wurden Übergewichtige mitleidig belächelt, wenn sie behaupteten, sie wären eben "gute Futterverwerter". Doch inzwischen weiss man, dass das in gewisser Weise tatsächlich stimmt. Die Zusammensetzung der Darmflora entscheidet zu einem Teil darüber, wie gut der Energiegehalt von Speisen genutzt werden kann22.

So gibt es beispielsweise Darmbakterien, die auch relativ schwer verdauliche Kohlenhydrate noch verstoffwechseln, in Energie für "ihren" Menschen verwandeln können und diesen somit dick machen. Andere Darmbakterien hingegen klassifizieren diese Kohlenhydratart schlicht als Ballaststoff, der daraufhin unverwertet mit dem Stuhl ausgeschieden wird - und daher auch nicht dick machen kann.

Achten Sie bei Ihrem Kind also bitte auf eine gesunde Darmflora und unterstützen Sie die Darmflora Ihres Kindes gegebenenfalls mit einem hochwertigen Probiotikum.

Dicke Kinder durch Glutamat

Kinder wachsen in Schüben. Während solcher Wachstumsphasen essen sie natürlich mehr als sonst. Doch gibt es Kinder, die ständig hungrig zu sein scheinen. Wenn dies bei Ihrem Kind der Fall sein sollte und es gleichzeitig zu Übergewicht neigt, sollten Sie Ihr Augenmerk einmal auf einen ganz besonderen Übeltäter richten: Auf den Geschmacksverstärker Glutamat. Er steckt in vielen Fertigprodukten und verbirgt sich nicht nur hinter E-Nummern (E620 bis E625), sondern auch hinter Begriffen wie Würze oder Hefeextrakt.

Nach Ansicht einiger Wissenschaftler beeinflusst Glutamat das Sättigungszentrum im Gehirn und lässt die Regulation des Appetits entgleisen. Problematisch ist dabei nicht nur das in vielen industriell hergestellten Nahrungsmitteln enthaltene Mononatriumglutamat (Salz der Glutaminsäure), sondern auch eine insgesamt zu hohe Eiweisszufuhr, da Glutaminsäure ein natürlicher Eiweissbestandteil darstellt.

Besonders viel Glutaminsäure findet sich in Fleisch, Käse sowie in Weizenvollkorn.

Eine Studie von Michael Hermanussen, Professor für Kinderheilkunde an der Universität Kiel, belegt, dass bei Kindern ein eindeutiger Zusammenhang zwischen der Höhe der Eiweisszufuhr und dem Risiko für Übergewicht besteht und sieht als Bindeglied die appetitanregende Wirkung der Glutaminsäure23.

Dicke Kinder durch Bisphenol A

Bisphenol A, ein weit verbreiteter Weichmacher für Kunststoffe, ist in Babyfläschchen seit 2011 verboten - und das ist auch gut so! Denn schon 2007 stellte der Wissenschaftler Frederick vom Saal ( University of Missouri-Columbia) auf einem Kongress aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse zu Bisphenol A vor. Nach seinen Forschungen wogen Frauen, bei denen eine hohe Konzentration an Bisphenol A im Blut gemessen wurde, mehr als ihre Geschlechtsgenossinnen mit niedrigen Bisphenol-Werten.

Dieselbe Korrelation fand er auch beim Nachwuchs: Kinder von Müttern, die stark mit Bisphenol A belastetet waren, waren dicker als jene Kinder von weniger belasteten Frauen. Entsprechende Effekte waren aus Tierversuchen bereits bekannt. Mäuse, deren Futter mit Bisphenol A versetzt wurde, legten deutlich an Gewicht zu.

Frederick vom Saal geht daher davon aus, dass die hormonwirksame Chemikalie den Stoffwechsel negativ in Richtung Übergewicht und Diabetes beeinflusst und sogar Ungeborene im Mutterleib schon aufs Zunehmen programmieren könnte.

Auch neuere Studien stützen diese Sichtweise24. Der Kinderarzt Leonardo Trasande ( NYU School of Medicine, New York City) wertete die Messergebnisse für Bisphenol A im Urin von 2.828 Kindern und Jugendlichen zwischen sechs und 19 Jahren aus und setzte sie in Beziehung zum Körpergewicht. Dabei zeigte sich, dass Kinder und Jugendliche mit der höchsten Belastung mehr als doppelt so häufig übergewichtig waren als diejenigen mit der niedrigsten Belastung.

Dickmacher Bisphenol A in Plastikverpackungen und Konservendosen

Als Quelle für Bisphenol A sind schon lange insbesondere Plastikflaschen für Getränke wie Limo oder Cola bekannt. Diese Quelle können Sie problemlos meiden, da kein Kind auf Getränke dieser Art angewiesen sein sollte. Relativ neu ist hingegen, dass auch Konservendosen offenbar ganz erheblich zur Belastung beitragen.

Wie kommt Bisphenol A in die Dose? Es dient als Ausgangsstoff für Epoxidharze und diese werden zur Innenbeschichtung von Konservendosen eingesetzt, damit die Dose nicht rostet. Von dort geht Bisphenol A dann auf den Doseninhalt über und gelangt in unsere Körper - und das nicht zu knapp! Die Belastung wurde bisher stark unterschätzt, doch eine Studie an der Harvard School of Public Health in Boston belehrt uns eines Besseren25.

75 Freiwillige wurden dabei in zwei Gruppen aufgeteilt. Allen wurde an jeweils fünf Tagen eine Gemüsesuppe serviert, ansonsten ernährten sie sich wie üblich. Die Teilnehmer der einen Gruppe erhielten eine frisch gekochte Suppe, die der anderen bekamen Suppe aus der Dose vorgesetzt. Nach einer zweitägigen "Auswaschphase" ohne Gemüsesuppe wurde gewechselt, sodass die Dosensuppenkonsumenten jetzt die frisch gekochte Suppe erhielten und umgekehrt.

Die Wissenschaftler waren selbst überrascht, wie stark sich diese eine Suppenmahlzeit aus der Konserve auf die Bisphenol-A-Ausscheidung im Urin auswirkte. Die Werte im Urin stiegen von 1,1 auf 20,8 Mikrogramm (µg) Bisphenol A pro Liter auf das nahezu Zwanzigfache an! Wir dürfen davon ausgehen, dass nicht wenige Menschen, darunter natürlich auch viele Kinder - vielleicht sogar unbewusst! - mehr als eine "Dosenmahlzeit" pro Tag verzehren. Man braucht nur zu bedenken, dass bei Ausser-Haus-Verpflegung in Restaurants und Grossküchen ( Kita- oder Schulessen!) gerne Zutaten aus Konserven verwendet werden und diese somit Übergewicht verstärken können.

Meiden Sie daher besonders für Ihr Kind Konservendosen, wo immer es geht! Wenn Sie einmal nicht frisch kochen können, sollten Sie möglichst auf unbelastete Alternativen wie Tiefkühlware oder Glaskonserven ausweichen.

Was Sie tun können, wenn Ihr Kind zu Übergewicht neigt

Ganz klar: Eine Diät kommt für Kinder - genau wie für Erwachsene - nicht in Frage. Die Lösung heisst: Geschickte Umstellung der Ernährung kombiniert mit mehr Bewegung.

Animieren Sie Ihr Kind zu mehr Bewegung. Legen Sie mehr Wege zu Fuss oder mit dem Rad zurück und lassen Sie das Auto in der Garage. Gehen Sie so oft wie möglich auf den Spielplatz. Vielleicht schaffen Sie sich ein Trampolin an, denn das animiert auch die grössten Bewegungsmuffel zum Austoben.

Nur kalorienfreie oder -arme Getränke zum Durstlöschen. Dass Gezuckertes wie Limonade schadet, leuchtet ein. Doch auch Milch, Getreidedrinks und Säfte enthalten ca. 50kcal pro 100ml. Geben Sie Ihrem Kind am besten Wasser (z. B. kalziumreiches Mineralwasser) oder ungesüssten Tee (Rotbuschtee schmeckt auch ohne Zucker), allenfalls mit einem sparsamen "Schuss" reinem Fruchtsaft (ohne Zusätze) aufgepeppt.

Kochen Sie selbst, vermeiden Sie Fertiglebensmittel. Nur dann können Sie sicher sein, dass Unerwünschtes wie Zucker, Weissmehl, Salz, viel ungünstiges Fett, Zusatzstoffe usw. nicht im Magen Ihres Kindes landet.

Bieten Sie Nahrungsmittel - besonders für Zwischenmahlzeiten - mit geringer Energiedichte (wenig Kalorien) und gleichzeitig mit hoher Vitalstoffdichte an. Das Sättigungsgefühl wird nicht von der Menge an aufgenommenen Kalorien gesteuert, sondern vom gefüllten Magen. Deshalb sind Salate, Gemüse - und in ausgewogenen Mengen auch Obst - ideal, weil Ihr Kind sich daran satt essen kann, ohne zu viele Kalorien aufzunehmen.

"Verschlanken" Sie Ihre Familienkost, indem Sie z. B. Lieblingsgerichte Ihres Kindes wie Nudeln mit Sosse durch untergemischtes Gemüse kalorisch "verdünnen". Tauschen Sie Weissmehlprodukte gegen die Vollkornvariante aus (Vollkornmehl anfangs unter das Weissmehl mischen und allmählich den Vollkornanteil immer grösser werden lassen).

Geben Sie Ihrem Kind Speisen, die es kauen muss. Joghurt, Pudding oder Brei sind schnell in den Mund gelöffelt. Es dauert jedoch mindestens 20 Minuten, bis das Sättigungsgefühl einsetzt. Bis dahin ist viel Joghurt oder Brei im Magen gelandet. Wenn Ihr Kind hingegen die Nahrung, z. B. Fingerfood richtig kauen muss, isst es in der gleichen Zeit automatisch weniger. Mehr Informationen zu Fingerfood finden Sie hier: Baby-Breie machen Babys dick

Trinken statt essen. Es ist heutzutage eine verbreitete Unsitte, Kindern auch zwischen den Hauptmahlzeiten permanent Essen anzubieten. Schon Babys sitzen im Kinderwagen oder Autositz und lutschen ständig an einem Keks oder einer Reiswaffel. Abgesehen davon, dass dies auch für die Zähne schlecht ist, gewöhnen sich die Kleinen beizeiten ans "Daueressen". Doch das ist völlig unnötig und stellt nur eine schlechte Angewohnheit dar. Selbst ein wenige Wochen alter Säugling kommt bereits zwei Stunden ohne Nahrung aus. Natürlich kann Ihr Kind bei Hunger eine Zwischenmahlzeit bekommen. Bieten Sie ihm zuvor aber immer erst mal etwas zu trinken an. Oft können Kinder Hunger und Durst nicht so ganz genau unterscheiden und nach einem Getränk ist der Magen zunächst einmal voll und der Hunger vorerst weg.

Lesen Sie auch: Vitamin-B-Mangel macht Kinder dick

Ihre Ausbildung zum ganzheitlichen Ernährungsberater

Gesunde Ernährung ist Ihre Leidenschaft? Sie lieben die basenüberschüssige, naturbelassene Ernährung? Sie möchten gerne die Zusammenhänge zwischen unserer Nahrung und unserer Gesundheit aus ganzheitlicher Sicht verstehen? Sie wünschen sich nichts mehr als all Ihr Wissen rund um Gesundheit und Ernährung zu Ihrem Beruf zu machen?

Die Akademie der Naturheilkunde bildet Menschen wie Sie in 12 bis 18 Monaten zum Fachberater für holistische Gesundheit aus. Wenn Sie mehr über das Fernstudium an der Akademie der Naturheilkunde wissen möchten, dann erfahren Sie hier alle Details sowie Feedbacks von aktuellen und ehemaligen TeilnehmerInnen.

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Autor: Zentrum der Gesundheit aktualisiert: 07.03.2018 Ihr Kind ist übergewichtig? Und Sie wissen nicht recht, wie Sie die Lage ändern können? Diäten sind bei Kindern - genau wie bei Erwachsenen - völlig fehl am Platze. Gehen Sie besser Schritt für Schritt vor.

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Today, about one in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese. The prevalence of obesity in children more than tripled from 1971 to 2011.. With good reason, childhood obesity is now the No. 1 health concern among parents in the United States, topping drug abuse and smoking.

Among children today, obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren't seen until adulthood. These include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated blood cholesterol levels. There are also psychological effects: Obese children are more prone to low self-esteem, negative body image and depression.

And excess weight is associated with earlier risk of obesity-related disease and death in adulthood.. Perhaps one of the most sobering statements regarding the severity of the childhood obesity epidemic came from former Surgeon General Richard Carmona, who characterized the threat as follows:
"Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents."
What is "overweight" in children?

When defining overweight in children and adolescents, it's important to consider both weight and body composition. Among American children ages 2-19, the following percentages of children are obese, using the 95th percentile or higher of body mass index (BMI) values on the CDC growth chart:

For non-Hispanic whites, 17.5 percent of males and 14.7 percent of females.

For non-Hispanic blacks, 22.6 percent of males and 24.8 percent of females.

For Mexican Americans, 28.9 percent of males and 18.6 percent of females.

The prevalence of obesity (BMI-for-age values at or above the 95th percentile of the 2000 CDC growth charts in children ages 2-5 increased from 4.8 percent in 1971-74 to 12.1 percent in 2009-2010. For 6-11 year old children, the prevalence of obesity increased from 4.0 percent in 1971-74 to 18.0 percent in 2009-10. The prevalence of overweight in adolescents ages 12-19 increased from 6.1 percent to 18.4 percent.

How do you prevent and treat overweight in children?

Reaching and maintaining an appropriate body weight is important. The healthiest way to change weight is gradually. That's why recommendations that focus on small but permanent changes in eating and physical activity may work better than a series of short-term changes that can't be sustained. The importance of continuing these lifestyle changes well past the initial treatment period should be emphasized to the entire family. Learn our tips for preventing childhood obesity for parents and caretakers of children.

How is body fat measured?

Body mass index (BMI) assesses weight relative to height. It provides a useful screening tool to indirectly measure the amount of body fat for both children and adults, although different measuring tools must be used. The AHA's BMI Calculator for adults should not be used to measure a child's BMI. The CDC has an online BMI calculator for children (link opens in new window) which factors in children's age, gender, height, and weight.

This content was last reviewed on 08/2014.

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obesity; overweight; children; child; youth; obese

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Today, about one in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese. The prevalence of obesity in children more than tripled from 1971 to 2011.. With good reason, childhood obesity is now the No. 1 health concern among parents in the United States, topping drug abuse and smoking.

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The impact of food advertising on childhood obesity

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Increases in advertising for nonnutritious foods are linked to high rates of childhood obesity, which increases morbidity and mortality and has substantial economic and social costs.

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Directed by Stephanie Soechtig. With Michele Simon, Katie Couric, Bill Clinton, Michael Bloomberg. An examination of America's obesity epidemic and the food industry's role in aggravating it.

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Failings of our new government's childhood obesity strategy - Jamie Oliver | Features

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For more information please visit jamiesfoodrevolution.org

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Junk food firms had FORTY meetings with ministers... then tougher laws were scrapped by the Government!

Experts accuse the Government of caving in to industry pressure

They also warn that child obesity will continue to boom as a result

Ministers scrapped plans to ban TV adverts for unhealthy food

Won't get rid of cartoon characters on children's food packaging

Food industry lobbyists met health ministers 40 times before the Government issued its 'watered-down' obesity strategy, official records reveal.

Experts last night accused the Government of caving in to industry pressure - and warned that child obesity will continue to boom as a result.

Critics are furious ministers scrapped plans to ban TV adverts for unhealthy food and abandoned a proposal to get rid of cartoon characters on children's food packaging.

The strategy is also missing a proposed ban on dangerous trans-fats and contained no concrete rules to force companies to reduce the sugar in food.

In the past two years, former public health minister Jane Ellison met representatives of Coca-Cola, KFC, the powerful Food and Drink Federation and the Advertising Association trade group, according to Department of Health records.

The full list of 40 appointments, dating between July 2011 and March 2016, also includes meetings with Pizza Hut, Tesco and Nando's.

Miss Ellison, who last month was promoted to become Treasury Minister, on Thursday announced the details of the new Childhood Obesity Strategy.

She insisted the strategy would lead to a 20 per cent reduction in sugar by 2020, adding: 'That is the most ambitious programme of reformulation that any developed country has undertaken.'

But critics say the strategy does not go far enough.

Just last autumn - after the proposed strategy had already been delayed once - Miss Ellison met the British Retail Consortium, the Food and Drink Federation, and the Advertising Association.

Other companies allowed in to the Department of Health include Nestle, Kelloggs, and Asda, who met Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, and McDonald's and the British Frying Federation, who met former minister Anna Soubry.

Government officials last night stressed that ministers had also met with dozens of health charities in that time.

But London cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra said: 'This is clear evidence of the influence of the junk food industry over the Government, which has put company interests before children's health. This is not only a national scandal of epic proportions, but in the long term very damaging to economy and society.'

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: 'It is becoming more and more clear that there was influence to water this report down. A sugar-coated report might serve big business well, but weakens the fight to tackle childhood obesity.'

A Government spokesman said: 'Obesity is a complex issue so it is absolutely right that ministers consulted widely.

'We have been very open about the fact we considered a number of different policies but we have focused on the ones that experts tell us are the most effective.'

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Junk food firms had 40 meetings... then tougher laws were scrapped!

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Critics are furious ministers scrapped plans to ban TV adverts for unhealthy food and abandoned a proposal to get rid of cartoon characters on children's food packaging.

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TakePart | Stories That Matter, Actions That Count

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Stories That Matter, Actions That Count.

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"Childhood obesity is not a cosmetic issue or something the child will just grow out of. Obese children tend to become obese adults, and there are many medical issues associated with obesity. Children are now taking the same type of medications as their parents to manage blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol. This is frightening but true," Dr. Rani Whitfield, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association, told Medical News Today.

Over the past 30 years, the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents.

Unfortunately, what Dr. Whitfield says is no exaggeration. Over the past 30 years, the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents.

The prevalence of obesity in children aged 6-11 years increased from 7% in 1980 to 18% in 2012, while the percentage of obese adolescents aged 12-19 years soared from 5% to 21% in the same period.

These significant increases have led to a rise in obesity-related health conditions among children and adolescents. A 2007 population-based survey of 5-17-year-olds revealed that around 70% of obese children and adolescents have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and it has been well established that the condition can increase the risk of musculoskeletal diseases, diabetes and cancer.

The effects of childhood obesity can persist well into adulthood, and there is global concern that if rates of childhood obesity continue to rise, so will the prevalence of related medical conditions. This will not only put the health of future generations at risk, but it will also put an enormous strain on the economy.

Such concerns have led to the launch of public health campaigns in an attempt to tackle childhood obesity, such as the Let's Move initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama in 2010.

But how have rates of childhood obesity reached such a high? Is enough being done to tackle the problem? And are we taking childhood obesity as seriously as we should? Medical News Today investigates.

Why have we seen such an increase in childhood obesity?

Weight status in children is determined by body mass index ( BMI)-for-age percentiles. This calculates a child's weight category based on their age and BMI. A child is deemed overweight if their BMI-for-age percentile is over 85% and deemed obese if it is over 95%.

There is no doubt that the main causes of childhood obesity are an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity.

Amanda Staiano, PhD, co-chair of the Public Affairs Committee at The Obesity Society - the leading organization dedicated to the study of obesity - told Medical News Today:

"The availability of liquid calories and empty calories, combined with a deluge of fast food and junk food advertisements, have changed the way children eat. The majority of children fail to meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity and spend a huge amount of time sitting. The way we've structured our daily lives makes it hard for children to live healthily."

It is clear that lifestyle changes have had a significant impact on childhood obesity over the past 30 years. Children used to consume one snack a day, while 1 in 5 school-age children now eats up to six snacks a day.

Food and drink portion sizes are also bigger than they were 30 years ago. In the mid-1970s, a standard sugar-sweetened drink was 13.6 ounces, while it stands at 20 ounces today.

Furthermore, the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, MA, state a child's daily calorie intake from sugary beverages rose by 60% between 1989-2008.

Although availability of junk food and drink has decreased in schools, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that more than half of middle and high schools in the US still offer them for purchase.

And the advertising industry, health care professionals believe, has not helped rates of childhood obesity, with past studies suggesting that children exposed to junk food commercials are more likely to become obese.

Levels of physical activity have also reduced over the past 3 decades. The CDC state that last year, only 29% of high school students participated in the recommended 60 minutes of exercise a day.

The CDC state that last year, only 29% of high school students participated in the recommended 60 minutes of exercise a day.

Gone are the days when children would run around and play for hours after school. Now, they are more likely to engage in sedentary behaviors, such as watching TV, playing computer games or using social media. Children now spend an average of 7.5 hours a day using entertainment media.

There are other factors that have been associated with the development of childhood obesity. Genetic disposition is one.

A 2012 study reported by Medical News Today discovered two gene variants that researchers claim increase the risk of childhood obesity. A more recent study by researchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK revealed that a gene mutation called KSR2 may cause obesity by causing continued hunger pangs.

But health care experts believe it is primarily unhealthy diets and lack of exercise that have caused rates of childhood obesity to soar. "Although heredity may explain some of the obesity epidemic, it does not justify the explosion we've had over the last 30 years," Dr. Whitfield told us.

Parents 'not taking childhood obesity seriously'

It seems encouraging children to eat a healthy diet and exercise more is the route to success against childhood obesity. The aforementioned Let's Move initiative is focused on doing just that. But is childhood obesity taken seriously enough for such campaigns to work?

A recent report from the CDC found that 30.2% of children and adolescents in the US misperceive their weight status. Around 48% of obese boys and 36% of obese girls consider their weight to be normal, according to the report.

A 2013 study published in the journal Maternal & Child Nutrition found that 62% of parents of obese children perceive their child as being of a healthy weight.

Dr. Eliana Perrin, associate professor of pediatrics at North Carolina Children's Hospital, told Medical News Today:

"[Parents] often do not recognize when their children are becoming overweight. Because young children at a healthy weight look skinny and because children who are overweight are becoming the norm, parents often do not realize when their children are not on a healthy track. I think they only start to worry when obesity affects their day-to-day lives."

Dr. Perrin is the lead author of a study we reported on earlier this year that claimed many parents adopt infant and feeding practices that increase a child's risk of obesity later in life.

She told us that parents need support to ensure their children adopt healthier lifestyles - something that is echoed by Staiano:

"Parents should be talking with their child's pediatrician about how to attain a healthy weight and make healthier choices with their child - even if the pediatrician doesn't bring it up. Parents are the best advocates for their children," she said, adding:

"Parents can play a role by speaking up at PTA meetings and parent-teacher conferences, advocating for healthier meals in daycares and schools, and demanding that the places children visit, such as schools and parks, are promoting healthy eating and physical activity."

Could schools do more to help tackle childhood obesity?

There is certainly an onus on schools to do more to encourage children to adopt healthy behaviors.

In the US, around 32 million students eat school meals every day, and for many of these children, school meals account for up to 50% of their daily energy intake.

Schools have already been subject to new guidelines for school meals, developed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2012.

"Schools have a responsibility to create a safe, supportive place where the healthy choice is the easy choice," according to Staiano.

These guidelines require schools to have a higher offering of whole-grain rich foods, offer only fat-free or low-fat milk products, offer fruits and vegetables to all students every day of the week, limit calories based on the age of the student to ensure they receive the correct portion size, and increase focus on lowering the amount of saturated trans fat and salt in foods.

Earlier this year, we reported on a study led by the Harvard School of Public Health, revealing that since these guidelines have been launched, students now eat more fruits and vegetables.

But schools need to do more than just offer healthy foods, according to Dr. Whitfield:

"Schools play a very critical role in encouraging healthy behaviors in children. Many children spend a significant amount of time at school where both good and bad habits can develop. Physical activity and health education should be mandatory for those in kindergarten through high school."

Staiano noted that schools are under a lot of pressure to teach core subjects but agrees that healthy living is something they should be educated about. "Schools have a responsibility to create a safe, supportive place where the healthy choice is the easy choice," she said.

But she added that encouraging children to adopt healthier lifestyles should not stop at school. Staiano noted that during school breaks, some communities offer structured summer programs that offer physical activity and healthy snacks to children.

"Neighborhood soccer and softball leagues can encourage healthy competition and physical activity as well as positive social interaction," she added. "Attractive parks with equipment catered to a variety of age ranges can provide family-friendly activity to get parents moving, too."

Fight against childhood obesity remains 'an uphill battle'

Overall, it seems childhood obesity is receiving much more attention, and health care professionals are in agreement that obesity campaigns - such as the Let's Move initiative - have helped raise awareness of the issue.

Some US states have even seen a reduction in rates of childhood obesity. A report from the CDC revealed that between 2008-11, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, South Dakota, and the US Virgin Islands showed a minimum decrease of 1% in their childhood obesity rates.

But although such figures show we are heading in the right direction, Staiano told us there is still a lot more work to be done.

"Childhood obesity remains at a historical high," she said. "These declines are still within the margin of error, and it is important to continue following trends to see if the trends plateau or continue to go up."

"We are certainly making some progress," added Dr. Perrin, "but given the abundance of marketing to children of unhealthy foods, the lack of easy ways to incorporate healthy activity into children's usual days, and the simultaneous unfairness of obesity stigma, it's an uphill battle."

But it seems Michelle Obama, for one, is not giving up the fight anytime soon:

"In the end, as First Lady, this isn't just a policy issue for me. This is a passion. This is my mission. I am determined to work with folks across this country to change the way a generation of kids thinks about food and nutrition."

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Childhood obesity: is it being taken seriously?

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Childhood obesity has soared in the past 3 decades, meaning more children are at risk of obesity-related illnesses. But is the condition still overlooked? We investigate.

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Consequences of child obesity

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"She likes to eat," the mother said. She didn't have to spell it out. It was obvious that her child at the age of nine was well on her way to become obese.

I counseled clients like her before. They keep coming to my practice on a regular basis. Children as young as three or four years old are being diagnosed with multiple health problems caused by overweight. Sadly, they will have to cope with the consequences for the rest of their lives. They are cut off from their future in so many ways, and so unnecessarily.

There are the physical aspects. Too much fat in a growing body wreaks havoc all around, from bones and muscles to vital organs. Overweight and obese children and teenagers are at an immediate risk of heart disease due to high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Most are pre-diabetic, meaning they are likely to develop full-blown type 2 diabetes before they reach adulthood. Their bones and joints, unable to carry the extra weight, will weaken and in many cases deform. The list of potentially catastrophic outcomes goes on.

Many of the health issues they are facing early on will only worsen as they grow older. Most will continue to struggle with weight management and related diseases for as long as they live. The long-term effects can become ever more severe, and at some point acutely life-threatening. Premature death from heart failure, stroke or cancer is a real possibility.

The children who fall prey to these diseases will never live their lives to the fullest and will probably succumb far too soon.

For children, the psychological impact of being overweight is equally as menacing. Many suffer from a poor body image and low self-esteem. Depression and suicidal thoughts are not uncommon among older kids and adolescents who struggle with their appearance. Some develop eating disorders and engage in other dysfunctional and detrimental behaviour, like under-age smoking, drinking and drug use.

For parents, it can be hard to acknowledge that their offspring is having weight issues. They may hesitate to address the subject because they don't want to hurt their child's feelings and make things worse. If they are themselves on the heavy side, they may not see "a little chubbiness" as such a big deal. Or they blame it on their family's genetic makeup. Or they hope their kid will eventually outgrow it all.

That may be the case for some, but unfortunately, not for most. Childhood obesity is real and it has taken on epidemic proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), weight problems plague twice as many children and four times as many adolescents than just a generation ago. One in three is now diagnosed as overweight or obese before the age of 18.

We are not helpless in the face of this crisis. Enough information on how to address the underlying problems is available. We know what to do. What we need is to be clear-sighted and determined to take the necessary steps that can reverse these trends.

There are multiple obvious culprits we know contribute to childhood obesity. Poor diets consisting of fast food and sugary drinks are among them. So is lack of exercise and physical education (PE) in schools. None of these issues are isolated or occur in a vacuum, and I have written plenty about many of them and how they connect with one another.

But foremost -- and this cannot be overemphasized -- it is the parents who must act as gatekeepers. They are the ones who ultimately control what goes into their children's mouths. If there is junk food in the house, the kids will eat it. If there are sodas, they will gulp them down. If these things are not brought home, the kids will not even develop a taste for them, let alone overindulge.

This is a choice all parents can make. Yes, healthy food can be more expensive and may not even be readily available everywhere. Yes, not all communities have parks, bike paths or swimming pools. Some may not even be safe enough for kids to play outside without supervision. But alternatives can be found and investments can be made if we only care enough.

The risks are too high and the damages too serious to ignore what's at stake here. The children who fall prey to these diseases will never live their lives to the fullest and will probably succumb far too soon. For them this is nothing short of a nightmare. It doesn't have to be this way. It must not.
Food and Health with Timi Gustafson R.D.
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Child obesity sees rise in XL schoolwear: Increasing numbers of parents having to find bigger uniforms for children as young as five as 20% are now overweight when they start

Extra large school uniforms are becoming the norm in classrooms in UK

Charity said increasing numbers of parents are having to find bigger sizes

57,100 pupils who start school at healthy size end up obese or overweight

Extra large school uniforms are becoming the norm in classrooms across the country amid a snowballing obesity crisis, a leading charity has warned.

Cancer Research UK said increasing numbers of parents are having to find bigger school clothes for children as young as five because of their expanding waistlines.

New figures from the charity show that every year 57,100 children who started primary school in England at a healthy weight end up obese or overweight by the time they leave.

When youngsters start primary school one in five are overweight or obese, but when they leave that figure has risen to one in three, the charity said.

Cancer Research UK has transformed a shop front in east London into an 'XL school uniform shop' to highlight the growing obesity epidemic.

The charity has accused the Government of 'failing' youngsters with its childhood obesity plan.

When the document was published two weeks ago, leading health organisations said that the plan did not go far enough to help stem the number of children who are overweight or obese.

Curbs on junk food advertising did not form part of the document, despite repeated calls from health experts.

Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK's director of prevention, said: 'Young waistlines have been expanding steadily over the last two decades.

'With so many overweight and obese children in England, we are seeing a greater need for larger school uniforms.

'The childhood obesity plan is simply not up to the task of tackling children's obesity.

'Instead, the next generation faces a future of ill health, shortened lives, and an overstretched NHS.

'It will take more than encouraging exercise and a sugar tax to tackle the obesity epidemic.

'The Government has already recognised the influence of junk food marketing on children's health by banning junk food advertising during children's programmes - it's time to close the loop hole during family viewing time.'

Previous reports suggest many parents are having to buy clothes for their children which are meant for much older youngsters.

Some are buying adult clothes as school uniform as nothing designed for children fits.

One woman told the BBC recently that her two nieces were wearing size 14 skirts by the age of 11, the average size worn by a grown woman in the UK.

Dr Sarah Wollaston, chair of the health select committee, yesterday said the the Government's obesity plan was 'disappointing' and 'watered down'.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: 'Our obesity plan is world-leading, with more far-reaching and comprehensive measures than anything pursued by any other western government. 'Nevertheless, we will measure progress carefully and do not rule out further action if results are not seen.'

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Child obesity sees rise in XL schoolwear

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New figures from Cancer Research UK show that every year 57,100 children who started primary school in England at a healthy weight end up obese or overweight by the time they leave.

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Abstract

National surveys conducted since 1982 were used to assess maternal and child obesity in Latin American and Caribbean countries and in U.S. residents of Mexican descent. Obesity in women, a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m ², was 3% in Haiti, 8-10% in eight Latin American countries and 29% in Mexican Americans. Median BMI for Latin American women were near or above the 50th percentile of the general U.S. population; values exceeded the 75th percentile in the case of Mexican Americans. The prevalence of overweight (>1 SD above mean weight-for-height) in children 1-5 y of age ranged from 6% in Haiti to 24% in Peru among 13 countries. Overweight occurred in 24% of Mexican-American children. Prevalences of overweight in children and of obesity in women were greater in urban areas and in households of higher socioeconomic status. Overweight in children increased with higher maternal education; however, in some countries, obesity in women decreased with higher education. No general pattern of change over time was observed in eight countries in overweight in children. Obesity in women increased in the three countries with such data and in Mexican-American women and children. There was a tendency for greater national incomes to be associated with greater obesity levels in women and with lower levels of stunting in children. Levels of obesity in the region indicate a public health concern, particularly among women, considering that studies have identified mortality and morbidity risks associated with obesity in adults.

Undernutrition remains the nutrition problem of greatest concern in developing countries. However, there is increased recognition, particularly in Latin America, that dietary patterns and lifestyles are changing dramatically, and that as a result, chronic and degenerative diseases are becoming important public health concerns ( Monteiro et al. 1995, Popkin 1994, Sinha 1995, Walker 1995). These changes are occurring at a time when undernutrition levels, although reduced over the years, still afflict large sectors of the population (Administrative Committee on Coordination/Sub-Committee on Nutrition 1992 and 1997).

Popkin (1994) notes that authors have emphasized the demographic (i.e., from high fertility and high childhood mortality to low fertility and low childhood mortality) and epidemiologic (i.e., shift in causes of mortality from infections to chronic diseases) changes occurring in many developing countries while neglecting what he calls the concurrent "nutrition transition." The latter includes adoption of "Western" diets (i.e., high in saturated fats, sugar and refined foods) and increases in levels of fatness and obesity. In addition to diet, reduced levels of physical activity, increased use of alcohol and tobacco and increased stress, particularly in the rapidly growing cities of developing countries, are among the determinants of obesity and other chronic and degenerative diseases.

Obesity is increasingly recognized as a growing problem in Latin America. Using national survey data from Brazil, researchers have shown that obesity increased between 1974 and 1989 in adults ( Monteiro et al. 1995, Sichieri et al. 1994) but not in children ( Monteiro et al. 1995). Defining obesity as a body mass index (BMI) ⁵ ≥30 kg/m ², prevalences increased from 2.5 to 4.8% in men and from 6.9 to 11.7% in women ( Sichieri et al. 1994). Obesity increased with family income in children ( Monteiro et al. 1995) and adults ( Monteiro et al. 1995, Sichieri et al. 1994). However, the relationship between adult obesity and income was nonlinear; at low and middle income levels, obesity increased with income but at high levels the pattern was reversed, just as in developed countries ( Monteiro et al. 1995). Results from the 1988 National Nutrition Survey of Mexico suggest that obesity in women was as common in Mexico as in the United States in the 1970s (Hernandez et al. 1996). Approximately 17% of Mexican women aged 12-49 y exceeded the 85th percentile, or a BMI of ∼27 kg/m ², of the distribution found in women measured in the 1976-80 Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The Ministry of Public Health of Costa Rica reported increases at the national level in the prevalence of obesity (≥25 BMI) between 1982 and 1996 of 34.6-45.9% (Ministerio de Salud 1997). National surveys in different Caribbean countries found that 7-20% of males and 22-48% of females >15 y of age exceeded 120% of reference weight for height, or a BMI of ∼27 kg/m ² ( Sinha 1995). In addition, serial data from Barbados showed increases in the prevalence of obesity from 7 to 16% in males and 33 to 38% in females between 1969 and 1981 ( Sinha 1995).

Results from studies of selected samples complement those from national surveys. In Costa Rica, 14% of men in a rural area exceeded 130% of reference weight for height (i.e., a BMI of ∼30 kg/m ²) compared with 21% in an urban area; in women, the corresponding values were 33 and 39% ( Campos et al. 1992). In Santiago, Chile, the prevalence of obesity, defined as >120% of reference weight for height, was 20% in men and 30% in women ( Atalah 1993). Although socioeconomic status (SES) was unrelated to obesity in men, it was related negatively in women such that levels were ∼10% for high SES and 40% for low SES. There was also an interaction with stature; the highest prevalence of obesity was found among low SES women of short stature, nearly 50% ( Atalah 1993). In a study of school children from Santiago, the prevalence of obesity, defined as >120% of reference weight for height, was 8.9% and increased as a function of income ( Ivanovic et al. 1987). In an urban community from Trinidad, Beckles et al. (1985) found that obesity, defined as a BMI ≥30, was greater in women than in men and greatest among those of African descent. Obesity was present in 8, 7 and 4% in men of African, mixed and Indian ancestry, respectively; in women, the values were 32, 29 and 25%, respectively.

The above results suggest that obesity is a problem in Latin America, particularly in women. However, varying definitions of obesity and different age ranges of the subjects studied make cross-country comparisons difficult. Also, estimates of obesity have been reported for only a few of the many national nutrition surveys that have been carried out in the region. This omission reflects the fact that most surveys have been used to provide information about undernutrition in women and children. The scarcity of information on men and school age children also reflects the focus of most nutrition surveys on women and young children.

It is important for policy makers to have accurate information not only about the level of obesity at the country level, but about how values vary across subgroups of the population as defined on the basis of region, urban/rural residence, levels of education and socioeconomic status. Also useful to policy makers is information about changes in the extent of obesity over time.

The primary objective of this study is to estimate prevalences of obesity in women and children from Latin American countries based on national survey data collected since 1982. Uniform definitions of overweight and obesity are used to facilitate comparison across countries. A second objective is to investigate how obesity varies by area of residence, socioeconomic level and education. A third objective is to estimate trends in obesity.

METHODS

National nutrition surveys from Latin America and the Caribbean collected since 1982 were the focus of study. These surveys typically contain height and weight information for children <5 y of age, sometimes for women of reproductive age (15-49 y) and almost never for men. Most surveys used were collected by the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS/IRD, 1992) program, which has assisted countries since 1984 in conducting national surveys on fertility, family planning, and maternal and child health (Institute for Resource Development/MACRO International 1990). In these surveys, women of childbearing age were interviewed or measured with the use of standard survey instruments; the areas of data collection were family planning knowledge, attitudes and practices; maternal and child health; nutritional status of women and their children; and social and economic background indicators (Institute for Resource Development/MACRO International 1990). DHS surveys are available to investigators through the World Wide Web [ http://www.macroint.com/dhs/rsqb;.

We used 16 DHS data sets from 9 Latin American and Caribbean countries, data from 8 other national nutrition and health surveys from 5 Latin American countries, and data from Mexican Americans (i.e., persons of Mexican origin living in the United States) who were included in two national nutrition and health surveys from the United States (). All 26 data sets included anthropometric data for children but only 14 data sets contained anthropometric data for women (Table 1). Information about Mexican Americans was included for comparison because this population, of Latin American origin, has a diet and a lifestyle characteristic of an industrialized country. Not all national surveys carried out in Latin America since 1982 were accessible to us. However, those included constitute the largest compilation ever assembled to assess the extent of obesity in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The variables of interest in women were height, weight, age, family, socioeconomic status, residence (urban or rural) and education. Only records with complete data for all variables were used. The age range in women was restricted to between 15 and 49 y, the focus of virtually all available national surveys. Pregnant women were excluded. Children 12-60 mo of age were selected for study, but some surveys provided data only for children 12-36 mo. Anthropometric Z-scores were computed for children relative to the WHO/National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference population ( Dibley et al. 1987) using the Anthropometric Software Package Tutorial Guide and Handbook ( Jordan 1990). Records with height-for-age, weight-for-age, or weight-for-height Z-scores > +5 or < −5 were excluded from the analyses. Populations <5000 were designated as "rural" and those above as "urban" in the DHS datasets; similar criteria were applied to non-DHS datasets. Maternal education was coded as low (primary school or less) and high (at least 1 y of secondary schooling). An index of socioeconomic status (SES) was calculated for individual families in each dataset based on amenities (e.g., electricity or water), possessions (e.g., radio, television or bicycle) and characteristics of the home (e.g., type of floor or roof). The calculation was particular to each country and thus, the socioeconomic index is not valid across countries; rather, it reflects relative socioeconomic status within each country. The poverty index in the datasets from the United States was generated by NCHS and is a continuous variable based on income, estimates of living costs appropriate for the area of residence and date of measurement, and family composition. A poverty index (PI) ≥1.0 implies that the family should be able to meet its basic needs; a PI <1 was used as the definition of low SES.

Obesity in children was defined as weight-for-height Z-scores >2 SD as recommended by WHO (1995). In addition, overweight in children was defined as a Z-score value >1 SD above the WHO/NCHS mean weight-for-height. Wasting and stunting were defined as Z-scores <2 SD below the reference mean for weight for height and height, respectively. By definition, ∼15.9% of cases in the reference population were overweight and ∼2.3% were obese. Obesity in women was defined as a BMI ≥30 kg/m ². Also, estimates were provided using the definition of ≥27.3 kg/m ² to facilitate comparison with the literature and for grades 1, 2 and 3 of obesity as defined by WHO (1990 and 1995) (1 = 25.0-29.9, 2 = 30.0-39.9 and 3 = ≥40 kg/m ²).

Sample weights were used in all cases where applicable. The analyses of relationships between relative weight and SES, education and area of residence focused on obesity (≥30 BMI) in women but on overweight (>1 SD) in children because the prevalence of obesity (>2 SD) in children was low and statistical power consequently poor. Odds ratios for overweight or obesity (0 = No, 1 = Yes) were estimated in multivariate logistic regressions that included area of residence (0 = rural, 1 = urban), SES (0 = low, 1 = medium or high) and education (0 = none or primary, 1 = secondary or higher) as independent variables. In analyses of overweight in children, gender (0 = male, 1 = female) and age in months were included as additional covariates. In analyses of obesity in women, age and age squared were included in the models because these provided a better fit than age alone. Multivariate analyses were restricted to the most recent national survey when countries had more than one survey. Statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05.

Trends for overweight in children were estimated for eight Latin American countries and for Mexican Americans. In two countries, Guatemala and Colombia, children 12-36 mo of age were measured in the first survey and children 12-60 mo of age were measured in the second survey. Restricting the second survey to 12-36 mo provided similar results to those for 12-60 mo, reflecting that overweight prevalences are similar over the 12- to 60-mo range. Unfortunately, trends in obesity in women could be estimated only for three Latin American countries and for Mexican Americans.

Finally, analyses were carried out at the country level to explore whether overweight and obesity varied by the level of child stunting or the gross national product (GNP) per capita in 1992. Information about national incomes was obtained from the State of the World's Children, 1995 (UNICEF 1995).

RESULTS

Obesity among women.

Sample sizes, age and anthropometric characteristics of the women are given in Mean ages were very similar across surveys, but body sizes varied markedly. Women from Guatemala, Peru and Bolivia were very short in comparison to women from Haiti and the U.S. Mean BMI were between 23 and 25 kg/m ² for all but Mexican Americans who were the heaviest at 27.1 kg/m ² and Haitian women who were the leanest at 21.2 kg/m ². Similarly, the extent of obesity (≥30 BMI) was lowest for Haitian (2.6%) and greatest for Mexican-American women (28.7%). The range in the prevalence of obesity was 5-40% when a BMI ≥27.3 kg/m ² was used as the criterion for obesity. Defining obesity as a BMI ≥25 kg/m ², as in the WHO classification, led to large numbers of women being classified as obese, specifically, over one third of Latin American women and more than one half of Mexican-American women.

Median BMI values at various ages for each sample are plotted in Figure 1 relative to the U.S. distribution published by Frisancho (1990), which is based on data from the first (1971-1973) and second (1976-1980) National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Medians for all countries, with the exception of Haiti, were near or above the 50th percentile of the U.S. distribution. Mexican American women had medians that were closer to the 75th percentile, whereas medians for Haitian women were closer to the 25th percentile.

The percentage of obese (BMI ≥30) women is given in by area of residence, SES, and educational level. The risk of obesity (BMI ≥30) by category of the social variables is given in Results from unadjusted models (see Table 4, footnote 1) indicate that obesity was 1.5-4 times more common in urban areas except in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and the U.S. where obesity rates were similar in urban and rural areas. High SES and obesity covaried in all samples except among Mexican and Mexican-American women where SES bore no relationship to obesity. Better education was associated with greater obesity in Haiti, Guatemala and Peru, some of the poorest countries, but there was no relationship in Bolivia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and in Mexican Americans; in Brazil and Mexico, there was more obesity in poorly educated women. Multivariate models attenuated the associations, particularly for education. Controlling for area of residence and SES, there was a tendency for higher prevalences of obesity in poorly educated women except in Haiti and Guatemala where more education was associated with increased obesity. Urban residency and high SES were strongly and independently related to greater levels of obesity in most countries. Only in Mexican Americans were all three social variables unrelated to obesity levels.

Overweight and obesity in children.

Sample sizes, age, and anthropometric characteristics are given for children in Table 5. Stunting was pronounced in several countries, whereas wasting was less common. The country with the greatest proportion of stunted children was Guatemala (56%); the highest proportion of wasted children was observed in Haiti (8%). The percentage of overweight children (Z score > 1 for weight-for-height) or obese (Z score > 2) was highest in Mexican Americans and lowest in Honduras and Haiti. The samples with higher rates of obesity than the 2.3% value found in the reference population were the U.S. Mexican Americans (7.4%), Peru (4.7%), the Dominican Republic (4.6%), Brazil (4.1%), Mexico (3.9%) and Paraguay (2.7%).

The percentage of overweight children is given in by area of residence, SES, maternal education and gender. As in the case of women, the risk of overweight is given by category of each social variable in In general, social variables were not as strongly related to relative body mass in children as they were in women. Urban residency, high SES and greater maternal education were associated with greater risk of overweight in children in most countries.

There was a tendency for obesity to be 10-20% more common in girls than in boys, but this was significant only in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Peru (Table 7).

Trends in obesity and overweight.

Repeated surveys for women were available for only four samples. Prevalences of obesity (BMI ≥30) increased in all. In Brazil, values increased from 7.6 to 9.2% between 1989 and 1996; small increases were also observed in Peru between 1992 and 1996, 8.8-9.4%. Greater increases occurred between 1991 and 1996 in the Dominican Republic, 7.3-12.1%. Among Mexican Americans, the increase in obesity from 1982-1984 to 1988-1994 was large, from 19.5 to 28.7%. More information is available from repeated surveys for children. The percentage of overweight is plotted in Figure 2 for countries with data for more than one survey. Overweight increased in Mexican Americans, but the pattern was mixed for Latin American countries; some reported increases and other decreases.

Relationship with stunting and national incomes.

At the national level, there was a significant relationship between the level of overweight in children and per capita GNP ( r = 0.53, P = 0.05, n = 14); however, excluding the data point for Mexican Americans (identified as U.S. in the figures), an outlier in terms of income, reduced the correlation to 0.11 ( P = 0.72, n = 13; Fig. 3). The relationship between percentage of children stunted and GNP was negative and significant ( r = −0.53, P = 0.05, n = 14), even after excluding Mexican Americans ( r = −0.61, P = 0.03, n = 13). The relationship between the percentage of children stunted and the percentage of children overweight was negative but not significant ( r = −0.45, P = 0.11, n = 14); excluding Mexican Americans gave similar results ( r = −0.29, P = 0.34, n = 13).

Relationships with obesity in women were stronger. Obesity in women was related significantly to GNP ( r = 0.95, P < 0.001, n = 10) but not after excluding Mexican Americans ( r = 0.51, P = 0.16, n = 9; Fig. 4). The percentage of obesity in women was negatively related to the percentage of children stunted ( r = −0.66, P = 0.04, n = 10); the correlation coefficient was of similar magnitude but not significant after excluding Mexican Americans ( r = −0.55, P = 0.12, n = 9).

DISCUSSION

Women of reproductive age.

The definition of obesity emphasized in this report, a BMI ≥30 kg/m ², is extreme. Yet we find that with the exception of Haiti, where only 3% of women were obese, the prevalence of obesity was between 8 and 10% in eight other Latin American countries that we studied. Some define obesity as a body mass index ≥27.3 kg/m ² in women and ≥27.8 kg/m ² in men, equivalent to ∼120% of desirable weight according to 1983 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company height and weight tables ( Kuczmarski et al. 1994, Solomon and Manson 1997). If we use the criterion of obesity in women of a BMI ≥27.3 and exclude Haiti, between 17 and 23% of women were obese in Latin America. Using the WHO criteria, which considers grade 1 of obesity to begin at a BMI of 25 kg/m ², prevalences of obesity (total of grades 1, 2 and 3) in Latin American countries other than Haiti were 34-49%.

There is reason to be concerned about the levels of obesity found in Latin American women. Overwhelming evidence links obesity to a number of diseases, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia and ischemic heart disease; additionally, a relationship is found with all-cause mortality ( Solomon and Manson 1997). Authors of a review of studies that adjusted for effects of smoking and underlying disease concluded that optimal weights in terms of mortality are well below the commonly used cut-off points of a BMI ≥27.3 kg/m ² for women and ≥27.8 kg/m ² for men ( Solomon and Manson 1997). Using American Cancer Society data, analyses show that mortality for both men and women begins to rise among individuals with a BMI of 22-25 kg/m ² ( Stevens et al. 1998). Thus, the criteria of a BMI ≥30 and a BMI ≥27.3 identify only the extreme groups at risk.

Mexican-American and African-American women are among the heaviest in the United States ( Kuczmarski et al. 1994). We found that nearly 29% of Mexican-American women were obese (BMI ≥30) in the 1988-1994 survey, and that this represented an increase over the prevalence of 20% found in the 1982-1984 survey. Mexican Americans receive special emphasis in U.S. surveys because they are the largest Hispanic minority. Cuban Americans and Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. were also included in the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 1982-1984. Obesity was found to be high and similar in all three groups ( Pawson et al. 1991). Centralized obesity, usually identified through high waist-to-hip ratios or through measures of greater fat deposition in the trunk vs. the extremities, was greater in Mexican Americans than among non-Hispanic whites ( Kaplowitz et al. 1989). Central accumulation of fat has been found to be adversely related to morbidity and mortality outcomes (Solomon and Manson 1994). The Latin American surveys analyzed did not contain measures of relative fat deposition, and this remains an issue for further research.

Trends in obesity were available only for Brazil, Peru and the Dominican Republic. Levels of obesity in women increased in all three countries. Other data from Costa Rica (Ministerio de Salud 1997) and Barbados (Sinha 1995) also indicate increasing levels of obesity among women. Additional surveys are required to examine whether obesity levels are also rising in men and in other countries. The high prevalences found in Mexican Americans, furthest along in the nutrition transition, suggest that a high priority should be assigned to monitoring obesity levels in Latin America.

Children.

Measuring obesity or overweight in children is difficult because body proportions, bone mass, and the ratio of lean-to-fat tissue changes during growth and maturation ( Troiano and Flegal 1998). Although BMI correlates well with measures of adiposity, it is not as reliable a measure of fatness in children as it is in adults ( Troiano and Flegal 1998). Racial and ethnic variation in these dimensions, for example, body proportions, may also affect the interpretation of weight-for-height indices ( Martorell et al. 1987, WHO 1995).

An important question is the degree to which weight for height predicts BMI in adulthood. Most of the studies to date used BMI as the weight-for-height variable in childhood and found that its predictive power was a function of age ( Guo et al. 1994, Serdula et al. 1993, Whitaker et al. 1997). In a literature review, Serdula et al. (1993) found that the risk of adult obesity was 2.0-2.6 times greater in obese preschool children than in nonobese preschool children. Among school-age children later examined as adults, the corresponding range in risk ratios was 3.9-6.5.

Whitaker et al. (1997) found that young adult obesity was associated with child obesity (defined as >85 percentile) at 3-5 y of age but not at 1-2 y of age. However, these relationships were considerably stronger in older children. Also, the risk of adult obesity was increased when the mother or father of the obese child was also obese.

Tracking in BMI also occurs in subjects from rural Guatemala (Schroeder and Martorell 1998). Correlations between BMI measured at 12-42 mo of age and later during adolescence (7-14 y) or adulthood (18-26 y) were ∼0.3. At ∼5 y of age, the correlations between childhood and adolescent or adult BMI were ∼0.4-0.5.

The levels of overweight and obesity found in Latin American children are lower than those in the United States today but approach those of the WHO/NCHS reference population, which are more reflective of conditions in the U.S. up to the mid-1970s (Dibley et al. 1987). Despite the availability of serial data for several countries, we could not discern a clear pattern of change in overweight in Latin American children. Finally, we call attention to the need for information from national surveys on school-age children, a group not generally included, in whom overweight and obesity would be a clearer concern than among preschool children.

Obesity and social factors.

In their review of the world literature on the relationship between obesity and SES, Sobol and Stunkard (1989) found that the prevalence of obesity in adults and children increased with rising wealth in developing societies. In developed societies, in contrast, prevalence is lower with greater income, at least among women. Thus, developing countries in transition to greater wealth should be found along a continuum that begins with a positive relationship between obesity and SES in the poorest countries, to no relationship in those with middle incomes, to a negative relationship in those with the greatest wealth. The pattern of relationships between income and obesity described by Monteiro et al. (1995) for different income levels of the Brazilian population fits this expected pattern (see introduction).

Unfortunately, almost all of the surveys we analyzed lacked measures of income. Furthermore, the socioeconomic indices we calculated were specific to the country and relied on relative wealth based on amenities, possessions and home characteristics. Educational attainment of women and area of residence were used as additional social variables. Despite the limitations of our studies, the findings should still be of interest to scholars trying to describe the relationship between SES or income and obesity or overweight. We found that, in general, the patterns of relationships among children were those expected for poor, developing countries. Overweight in children tended to be greater in urban areas, in families of higher SES and in households with higher maternal education. Relationships were much stronger and more complex in women compared with children. Obesity in women was more common in urban areas in the poorest countries and was unrelated to area of residence in the richest two (i.e., Brazil and Mexico) and in Colombia. SES was related positively and significantly to obesity in women in all Latin American and Caribbean countries except Mexico. Controlling for SES and residence, obesity was more common in women with higher education only in Haiti and Guatemala, two very poor countries; in all other countries, there was a tendency for more obesity in women with lower education. On the other hand, no significant relationships were observed between social variables and obesity in Mexican-American women. In the context of the United States, the Mexican-American population is of low socioeconomic status and has one of the highest levels of obesity.

One limitation is that some countries show great variations in wealth by region, and these analyses do not investigate regional differences. Brazil and Mexico are perhaps the best examples of countries with much intracountry variation. Grouping countries as single entities, as we did, probably masks patterns of relationships between social variables and obesity.

We wish to emphasize that obesity in women is less common, but is not rare, in rural areas and in poor households and that there is a strong tendency for obesity to be more common in poorly educated women. Because poor and rural households represent significant proportions of the total population, large numbers of obese women and children are found among them. For example, on average, about a third of obese women in Latin America come from rural areas. The social mapping of obesity should be examined at the country level, including examination by region, when contemplating possible programs and policies. Even the limited information presented here indicates that educational campaigns should be designed to meet the needs of a broad range of income and education levels. In countries such as Brazil and Mexico, obesity can no longer be dismissed as a condition of the elite, but viewed rather as a concern of the disadvantaged.

Relationships with stunting and GNP.

The analyses at country level were limited by low statistical power such that most relationships examined were not significant, particularly after excluding the data for the U.S. In general, the results suggest that greater national incomes are associated with greater obesity levels in women and lower levels of stunting in children. Also, there was a tendency for greater levels of stunting in children to be associated with less obesity in women and in children. These results are consistent with our initial expectation that increased national wealth would be associated with less undernutrition and greater obesity.

The results reviewed have important policy implications. Prevalences of obesity (BMI ≥30) among women were between 8 and 10% in all countries except Haiti. These statistics suggest an already existing public health concern. Although the prevalences of overweight and obesity in children approached or exceeded that in the U.S. reference population (Dibley et al. 1987) in a few countries, most countries had low values. Because uncertainty remains about the significance of overweight in children <5 y of age, it is unclear what level of concern to express about the results reported here.

Tackling the problems of overweight and obesity poses enormous challenges for Latin American countries. First, many of these countries still have high levels of undernutrition and it is imperative that this issue remain a priority. In addition, Latin American countries are not prepared institutionally to deal with problems of diet and chronic disease. Professionals assigned to diet and chronic disease within ministries of public health are rare, even in countries where these problems are large relative to those of undernutrition. Finally, consensus is lacking about how to address diet and health problems in developed countries (Blackburn and Kanders 1994). Achieving behavior change that leads to reduced obesity has proven difficult in the United States and elsewhere; even when success occurs, programmatic lessons must be made applicable to each Latin American country. These are difficult issues that warrant urgent discussion among researchers, public health practitioners and policy makers.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Helpful comments are acknowledged from Wilma Freire and Manuel Peña of PAHO and from Kenneth Resnicow, Richard Levinson and Dirk Schroeder of Emory University.

LITERATURE CITED

Abbreviations

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Obesity in Latin American Women and Children | The Journal of Nutrition | Oxford Academic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
National surveys conducted since 1982 were used to assess maternal and child obesity in Latin American and Caribbean countries and in U.S. residents of Mexican descent. Obesity in women, a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m 2, was 3% in Haiti, 8-10% in eight Latin American countries and 29% in Mexican Americans.

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The average age at which people in the UK first become obese is decreasing, figures show.

University College London researchers looked at data from more than 56,000 people born in Britain between 1946 and 2001.

They found a clear shift over time, with obesity becoming more common and starting earlier in life.

The latest data, however, suggests childhood obesity may now be stabilising among the under-10s.

But it is too early to say if this will continue. Public health officials have said they are concerned.

Obese children often go on to be obese adults, carrying with them an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Tipping point

Prof Rebecca Hardy and colleagues looked at five generations of Britons and reported their findings in the journal PLOS Medicine.

The first, post-War male babies, did not become overweight until they hit the age of 40, on average - the report said.

But the next two generations of men got fatter younger - at a median age of 33 and 30, respectively.

The trend was the same for women. By the third generation - babies born in the 1970s - the median age for becoming overweight was 41, compared with 48 for those born in 1946 and 44 for those born in 1958.

By the fourth generation, obesity was becoming common in childhood.

Children born since the 1980s were up to three times more likely than older generations to be overweight or obese by the age of 10.

Latest figures for England suggest a fifth of children joining primary school are now obese or overweight.

Obese environment

Prof Hardy said: "Our work shows this coincided with the onset of an obesogenic environment in the 1980s, where there was easy access to high-calorie food.

"The onset of obesity has been getting earlier and earlier and this does have implications if people are not losing that weight.

"Being overweight over a lifetime means you accumulate risks for things like heart disease and diabetes."

Eustace De Sousa, national lead for children, young people and families, at Public Health England, said: "Evidence shows that children of obese parents are much more likely to have weight problems, which is a major concern when almost two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese.

"Almost one in 10 children in Reception are obese - but what's even more shocking is that by the time they leave primary school, this doubles to nearly one in five."

The government has already launched a number of initiatives to help people eat more healthily and be more active.

It estimates that health problems associated with being overweight or obese cost the NHS more than £5bn every year.

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The average age at which people in the UK first become obese is decreasing, figures show. University College London researchers looked at data from more than 56,000 people born in Britain between 1946 and 2001. They found a clear shift over time, with obesity becoming more common and starting earlier in life.

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Medical experts and campaigners have criticised the government's childhood obesity strategy as weak and embarrassing, and accused policymakers of throwing away the best chance to tackle the culture of unhealthy eating that is crippling the NHS.

The government's measures, centred on the sugar tax announced by George Osborne in March, rely on voluntary action by the food and drink industry and are shorn of any restrictions on junk food marketing and advertising.

The industry, which has lobbied hard against regulation for months, has undertaken to reduce by 20% the amount of sugar in products such as cereals, desserts, yoghurts and sweets. The strategy document makes clear that manufacturers that reduce sugar in their products will escape the sugar tax, which is not due to come in for two years.

The money accrued by the levy on sugary drinks will go to fund breakfast clubs and sport. Schools will be asked to give pupils an extra 30 minutes a day of physical activity, and parents and carers will be encouraged to get their children moving for a further 30 minutes.

Citing the triumphs of Team GB at the Olympics and the example of St Ninians primary school in Stirling where children walk or run a mile every morning, the public health minister, Nicola Blackwood, said: "Initiatives like this will make a huge difference to children's health and fitness and we hope our new measures on school sport will help to create future Team GB Olympians."

But the strategy contains neither of the two measures that Public Health England (PHE) said would have the most impact on the childhood obesity epidemic.

A third of children leaving primary school are overweight or obese and at risk of a lifetime of health problems including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Asked to investigate the issue and make recommendations on what should be done, PHE backed a sugar tax and reductions in sugar content of foods but prioritised two other measures:

Banning price-cutting promotions of junk food in supermarkets, such as multipacks and buy one get one free, as well as promotion of unhealthy food to children in restaurants, cafes and takeaways.

Restricting advertising of unhealthy food high in salt, fat and sugar to children through family TV programmes such as Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor, as well as on social media and websites.

Neither appears in the strategy.

Campaigners likened the strategy to the responsibility deal brought in by Labour and continued throughout David Cameron's premiership, which was widely condemned as a failure. Food and drink companies were encouraged to pledge to make their food healthier by cutting salt, fat and sugar. There has been little in the way of monitoring, but health groups believe the deal has not significantly contributed to improving the nation's diet.

"After the farce of the responsibility deal where Andrew Lansley made the food industry responsible for policing themselves, it is sad to see that this is just another imitation of the same responsibility deal take two," said Prof Graham MacGregor, chairman of Action on Sugar and Consensus Action on Salt and Health.

"It is an insulting response to the UK crisis in type-2 diabetes, both in children and adults. This will bankrupt the NHS unless something radical is done."

Action on Sugar called on the prime minister to rescue the childhood obesity strategy. "Theresa May launched her prime minister campaign by saying that she wanted to tackle health inequalities, obesity being a major factor in this," said Jenny Rosborough, the group's campaign manager and a registered nutritionist. "The UK should lead the world in tackling obesity and type-2 diabetes and this is an embarrassing and inexcusable waste of a fantastic opportunity to put the nation's health first."

Although the childhood obesity strategy was a flagship initiative of Cameron's and originally the work of staff in Downing Street, May has chosen not to launch it. It has been published by the Department of Health while she is on holiday in Switzerland.

The Children's Food Campaign, a member of the Obesity Health Alliance, which includes charities and health organisations such as the royal colleges, fought hard for tough action on cut-price junk food and a ban on TV adverts for unhealthy food before 9pm, when viewing by children tends to drop off.

"Price promotions were one of the big issues that Public Health England majored on," said Malcolm Clark of the campaign. "It looks like the government is failing to listen to its own public health experts.

"Industry likes to paint us as nanny-statists, but PHE is not a campaigning organisation. They have done a very thorough literature review of peer-reviewed evidence and come up with a recommendation on that."

Sir Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, said: "While encouraging more exercise in schools is to be welcomed, the evidence is compelling that we also need restrictions on the marketing and promotion of unhealthy foods. We need stronger action to protect children from junk food advertising if we want to make a difference. So for the government to ignore these aspects is inexcusable.

"The government had a chance to protect the next generation from diseases like cancer and reduce the crippling burden of obesity on the NHS. We need the game-changing strategy it promised a year ago. As it stands, our children will witness a rising tide of ill-health from obesity well into the future."

The strategy document nods to the thinking underlying the focus on voluntary measures and physical activity. It aims to "significantly reduce" childhood obesity within 10 years, it says. "We are confident that our approach will reduce childhood obesity while respecting consumer choice, economic realities and, ultimately, our need to eat."

The president of the Royal College of Physicians, Prof Jane Dacre, said: "I am disappointed that after such a long wait for the childhood obesity strategy, the government has published a downgraded plan."

The British Medical Association described the strategy as weak. "Given the UK has the highest level of obesity in western Europe, with one in three children overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school, the government should be doing everything in its power to tackle this problem. Instead it has rowed back on its promises by announcing what looks like a weak plan rather than the robust strategy it promised," said Prof Parveen Kumar, the BMA board of science chair.

"Although the government proposes targets for food companies to reduce the level of sugar in their products, the fact that these are voluntary and not backed up by regulation, renders them pointless. Targets are also needed to reduce levels of saturated fat and salt in products - these must be backed up by regulation.

"Poor diet has become a feature of our children's lives, with junk food more readily available, and food manufacturers bombarding children with their marketing every day for food and drinks that are extremely bad for their health. It is incredibly disappointing that the government appears to have failed to include plans for tighter controls on marketing and promotion."

The British Soft Drinks Association, meanwhile, said it was unhappy that the sugary drinks levy was going ahead. "Given the economic uncertainty our country now faces, we're disappointed the government wishes to proceed with a measure which analysis suggests will cause thousands of job losses and yet fail to have a meaningful impact on levels of obesity," said Gavin Partington, its director general.

He said manufacturers were already cutting the sugar content of their drinks.

Ian Wright, director general of industry body the Food and Drink Federation, said:
"The proposed tax on soft drinks is a disappointing diversion from effective measures to tackle obesity. Soft drink companies are already making great progress to reduce sugars from their products, having achieved a 16% reduction between 2012 and 2016.

"However the target set for sugars reduction in the plan is flawed. It focuses too strongly on the role of this single nutrient, when obesity is caused by excess calories from any nutrient. Moreover the target is unlikely to be technically practical across all the selected food categories.

Reformulation is difficult and costly: there are different challenges for each product; recipe change can only proceed at a pace dictated by consumers. We will of course do everything we can in the next six months to work towards a practicable reformulation solution while continuing to urge the government to adopt a 'whole diet' approach."

Topics

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Childhood obesity: UK's 'inexcusable' strategy is wasted opportunity, say experts

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Medical experts and campaigners have criticised the government's childhood obesity strategy as weak and embarrassing, and accused policymakers of throwing away the best chance to tackle the culture of unhealthy eating that is crippling the NHS.

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Childhood overweight and obesity is on the rise.

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cincinnati children's hospital medical center (hospital)

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childhood obesity (disease or medical condition)

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Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

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Crushing Weight: Jacob's Story | A Cincinnati Children's Documentary

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http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/s/weight-loss/patients/stories/ Jacob Miller's weight was killing him. By the time he was a teenager, he was gaining 100 pounds a year. At his heaviest, he was 6-foot-5 and 707 pounds. And he was just 15. This is Jacob's story.