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Childhood obesity a heavy burden for parents

By Nina Lenton (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-03 09:38

The rates of adult obesity both globally and in China are on the rise, with current figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating more than 1 billion overweight, and 300 million obese, people worldwide.

A study in the journal Health Affairs, released in July this year, put China's rate of obesity and overweight at 25 percent of the population with this figure set to double by 2028 unless drastic action is taken.

Even more concerning is the rate at which childhood obesity is increasing. Figures from the China national surveys on the constitution and health of schoolchildren showed the prevalence of obesity among children aged 7 to 18 had increased four times in the 15 years between 1985 and 2000, while figures for the number of overweight children in the same age range and time period had increased 28 times over.

The detrimental effects of obesity on health are multiple, associated with increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and various forms of cancer. Metabolic effects have been observed in children as young as 6 years old.

Unfortunately, research shows that obese children are likely to remain obese into adulthood, with overweight adolescents 70 percent more likely to be obese or overweight as adults.

The parents of many of today's children in China can recall times when cabbage formed the mainstay of their winter diet. Of course this was not a desirable situation but the contrast in the food available for children these days is clearly partly responsible for the phenomenon.

Intake of energy from animal sources has increased from 8 to 25 percent in the 20 years from 1982 to 2002 among Chinese living in urban areas, and the average intake of dietary fat has risen from 25 to 35 percent of energy (above the recommended 30 percent).

Also to blame are increased overall food availability due to increasing affluence, the introduction of new foods such as dairy and an influx of fast food.

This is not to say that food such as meat and dairy products are bad for health in their own right. It would just seem that there is a lack of education as to how they should be eaten. For example, choosing lean cuts of meat, and preparing them with minimal fat added or consuming dairy in the form of low-fat milk rather than sugary, high-fat ice cream.

This increase in food availability is compounded by increasingly sedentary lifestyles, especially for children who spend vast amounts of time playing computer games, watching TV, surfing the Internet and spending long hours completing their homework.

Treating childhood obesity is extremely difficult and the numbers of those who effectively lose weight and maintain this loss are extremely low.

The answer lies in prevention and the key to this is education - teaching kids about obesity and why it happens, what the dangers of obesity are and what "healthy eating" is. It is also crucial to teach children how to cook and avoid dependence on takeaways and fast food, and of course, to highlight the huge importance of exercise.

The Chinese government is certainly aware of the need for action. Earlier this year The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a guide to healthy eating for Chinese children and their parents in a direct attempt to slow rising childhood obesity levels.

Minister of Education Zhou Ji has stipulated that schools should ensure at least one hour's physical exercise per day, with additional dance lessons being introduced last year.

Ultimately though, responsibility must lie with the families. Encouraging proper balanced meals at home, along with exercise and discouraging TV and computer games will set a good example to children.

At the National Obesity Forum conference in the UK this year there was a lively debate as to whether child obesity should be considered a child protection issue based on the premise that the consequences of neglect leading to malnutrition can be just as serious as those leading to obesity. That's certainly something to think about.

This nutrition-related column is written by Nina Lenton, a qualified dietitian living and working in Beijing. Contact her at nina_lenton@hotmail.com.