A new report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) reveals that overweight affects 1 in 10 children worldwide.
The report, “Obesity in children and young people: A crisis in public health”, has been issued by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) of the WHO in co-operation with the Iternational Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO) in May 2004.
Around 30-45 million within that figure are classified as obese – accounting for 2-3% of the world’s children aged 5-17.
A further 22 million younger children are also affected according to previous IOTF global estimates based on WHO data for under fives.
The report identifies examples of problematic social trends:
– Increase in use of motorized transport, e.g. to school.
– Fall in opportunities for recreational physical activity.
– Increased sedentary recreation.
– Multiple TV channels around the clock.
– Greater quantities and variety of energy dense foods available.
– Rising levels of promotion and marketing of energy-dense foods.
– More frequent and widespread food purchasing opportunities.
– More use of restaurants and fast food stores.
– Larger portions of food offering better ‘value’ for money.
– Increased frequency of eating occasions.
– Rising use of soft drinks to replace water, e.g. in schools.
Stronger policies are needed to:
– provide clear and consistent consumer information, e.g. on food labels;
– encourage food companies to provide lower energy, more nutritious foods marketed for children;
– develop criteria for advertising that promotes healthier eating;
– improve maternal nutrition and encourage breast-feeding of infants;
– design secure play facilities and safe local neighbourhoods;
– encourage schools to enact coherent food, nutrition and physical activity policies;
– encourage medical and health professionals to participate in the development of public health programmes.
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The report is available upon request from the IOTF.
– More information on childhood obesity and the work of the IOTF.
