Tens of thousands of obese kids may die before their parents in UK

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 04 Apr 2004 - 0:00 PST

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An obese child has a 20% higher probability of developing cancer as an adult than a normal-weight child, according to Dr. Colin Waine, National Obesity Forum, UK.

Dr. Waine criticised the UK government for telling doctors not to prescribe weight loss drugs to obese kids - the reason was to save the government money (prescription drugs are free for under 18s in the UK - the state pays for them).

The UK Department of Health did not accept Dr. Waine's criticism.

In a recent radio programme (BBC Radio 5 Live) Dr. Waine said "An obese boy is 14% more likely to develop cancer as an adult and an obese girl is 20% more likely to develop cancer as an adult.,,,These are shocking statistics. In terms of childhood obesity, there are so many cardiovascular risk factors present in children with serious obesity that we are in danger of breeding a generation who will die before their parents…..This is such a serious issue that children are now displaying illnesses previously seen in adults like certain types of diabetes and heart disease."

The UK Department of Health said they are committed to tackling the explosion in obesity levels in the UK.

In the UK at the moment, there is a great deal of talk about whether there is a link between childhood obesity and targeted advertising of junk foods (targeted at children).

Another recent report said that many parents were not aware their child was overweight because the 'average' child is now plumper than 20 years ago. If you child is a bit plump, and lots of other kids around you are a bit plump, you are more likely to think you child does not have a weight problem.

Children's lifestyles in the UK, as in many other countries have changed over the last twenty years in the following ways:

-- Fewer children walk or cycle to school

-- Most schools do fewer hours of sports each week

-- Children spend more time indoors watching TV or playing computer/video games

-- Children eat more junk and fewer fruits and vegetables

-- Government schools have sold thousands of acres of playing fields in order to raise money (the County Councils run the schools and want/need the money)

-- Roads are so clogged that children are often discouraged by their parents from playing outside

-- Children sleep two hours a day less than their parents did when they were kids (some recent studies have shown that adequate sleep aids weight loss)

-- Many kids communicate with each other by texting (on their mobile phones) or emailing each other rather than popping round to see each other. These electronic options did not exist twenty years ago

-- Families have fewer meals together. More meals are eaten individually and randomly. Proper sit-down meals are happening less often, snacking is becoming more common.

-- Meal portions are bigger today in restaurants

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