HDA comment on SIRC claims that child obesity fears are being 'over-hyped'

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 23 Feb 2005 - 18:00 PST


The Health Development Agency today cautioned against complacency in reaction to claims by the Social Issues Research Council (SIRC) that child obesity fears are being 'over-hyped'.

The SIRC has challenged the way that the extent of childhood obesity is estimated in the UK, and has concluded that there have been 'no significant changes in the average weights in children over nearly a decade.' Their interpretation of data from the 2003 Health Survey for England shows only small increases from 1995 figures.

The HDA has expressed concern that this analysis of the figures could lead to complacency. It is true that obesity is rarely a disease in childhood, but allowing a pattern such as this to be established early in life carries considerable potential dangers. Levels of obesity in children have risen steadily since 1980, and educating youngsters about nutrition and physical activity remains as important as ever.

Children are classed as obese if they fall into the top 5% in relation to the weight range for their age. However, there is an international measurement which looks at height/weight distribution across six countries including the UK. The UK method suggests obesity rates in children aged two to 10 have increased from 9.6% in 1995 to 15.5% in 2003.

The problem of obesity is a long term trend, and the examination of one particular decade's worth of data conceals the larger issue. The point that must be addressed is that obesity is not only a disease in itself but is also a significant risk factor, a principal cause of cancer and coronary heart disease, and is also linked to Type II diabetes and other conditions. Treatment of established obesity is difficult and expensive - education and action in childhood in terms of establishing healthy practice from an early age is a far preferable and more effective approach.

The report also takes no account of variations in the figures attributable to regional and socio-economic factors - both of which require considerable work in educating individuals in order to slow, and ideally reverse the trend.

Speaking to the BBC's Breakfast programme this morning, Professor Mike Kelly, HDA Director of evidence and guidance said:

"The real issue is the danger of creating the false impression that there is no problem. The unfortunate thing is that patterns of eating, exercise and so on are set in childhood and that's why the emphasis has been on children."

"Whether one interprets the figures over the last ten years or since 1980, it remains of paramount importance that the severity of the issue is not underestimated, and that the best time to set in place good practices that will protect someone for life is when they are young."

Notes to Editors

1. The Health Development Agency is the national authority on what works to improve people's health and to reduce health inequalities. It works in partnership across sectors to gather evidence of what works, advise on standards and to develop the skills of all those working to improve people's health.

2. The HDA's evidence briefing, "The management of obesity and overweight: An analysis of reviews of diet, physical activity and behavioural approaches" details what works to prevent and treat obesity and overweight and maintain weight loss in both children and adults.

For further information: Please contact David Burrows at the HDA Press Office on 020 7061 3108.

http://www.hda-online.org.uk/ html/about/press/16022005.html" target="_blank">Health Development Agency, UK

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