Britain's Children Getting Fatter And Fatter

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Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness;  Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 28 Feb 2006 - 17:00 PST

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A report by the National Audit Office, Healthcare Commission and the Audit Commission, says that more and more British children each year are obese. In 2003, 13.7% of the country's children were clinically obese - by now the percentage will be even higher and is likely to continue growing.

The report calls on the government and agencies to make more effort to tackle this growing problem.

The economic impact of obesity is starting to be felt in the UK. Estimates put the economic cost at £2.3 billion a year ($4 billion), while the NHS is reeling under an annual bill of £1 billion ($1.8 billion). By the year 2010, says the report, the cost to the nation's economy will be 40% higher.

If children are becoming obese and overweight, when they come into adulthood they are much more likely to suffer from serious chronic diseases such as diabetes II, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Obese people also have a much higher risk of developing cancer. Obese cancer patients have a much higher death rate than non-obese cancer patients.

Nutritionally, the UK has turned into a little America. There are fast food centres everywhere, children are much less physically active then their parents were. Children are now chauffeured by the parents everywhere, while in the past they would walk, take a bus or cycle. Consumption of fruit and vegetables in many sectors of British society are is alarmingly low - while canned foods, take-aways (take-outs) and junk foods are the norm. Rather than going out to play with their friends, most British children opt for indoor video games or just passive TV watching. Many schools are starting to respond to parental demand for better quality school-lunches.

Other European countries are starting to express alarm at the size of their children's waistlines. Even Mediterranean countries, such as Greece and Italy, which were famous for their healthy diets and lifestyles, are reporting more and more obesity among their children.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today