More children than ever are overweight, setting off an obesity time-bomb for years to come.
If we don’t change our eating habits now, there will even be more Diabetes, High Cholesterol, and Heart Disease.
Sun on Sunday Health quoted Dr Pramod Nair, a top paediatrician: “Years back we didn’t care so much about overweight children because there was a greater chance that they would lose excess weight through exercise and not grow up to be obese.
“But there are now more obese children due to sedentary lifestyles. These will become me obesity adults if these habits do not change.
“Alder children don’t go out to play as much and exercise, they stay home and play on computers.
This sedentary life style can also affect sleep, which could lead to weight gain.
Take-out is a convenient and cheaper alternative to home cooking.
Even modest portions of processed food high in sugar and fat can cause obesity.
Early childhood education is key to establishing healthy habits in children.
“I am concerned that if we don’t address the eating habits and lifestyles of children soon, there will be a large obese population in future years.
“The obesity figures are high, but I predict that they will be even higher if we don’t take action.”
According to the Health Survey for England, 26 percent of adults are obese.
In the 45-74 age group, this figure increases to 72 percent.
New figures reveal that child obesity is on the rise. In England, nearly 8,800 children under 17 were admitted to hospitals last year as a result of a secondary obesity diagnosis.
In 2021/22, 34 toddlers had a primary obesity diagnosis.
10% of the reception class kids are obese, and another 13% are overweight. This is almost a quarter (25%) of Britain’s 4 and 5 year olds.
According to the National Child Measurement Programme, by year six (ages 10 and 11), this number rises to nearly 40%, with 23% of children classified as obese, and 14% overweight.
Since 1998, when Dr Nair began his career as a paediatrician, he has witnessed an increase in the number of children seeking medical attention for obesity.
He said: “There has been an increase of between 10 and 20% across all age groups, but especially in the over-tens.
Families often have a difficult time reducing the weight of morbidly overweight children. This has serious psychological and medical consequences for them.
Dr Nair’s and BMI of children has improved by using smaller plates and reducing the amount of sugar and salt in their meals.
He suggests that kids should not use food as a comforting emotional tool and instead, eat fruit.
Sakshi Chhabra-Mittal, the founder of Foodhak whose recipes and food are based on clinical nutrition research, shares her tips for making your children’s food healthier.