Is the obesity epidemic far from dying down? Maybe yes, because scientists from the NHS and British Heart Foundation have revealed that the number of obese kids in the UK is apparently on the rise.
In the study conducted in 2010 and 2011, about 19% of 6 year old children examined in the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) seemingly fell in the obese category. This figure was 18.7% in the period between 2009 and 2010 and 17.5% from 2006 to 2007.
Tracy Parker, our Heart Health Dietitian commented, “This is a really sad statistic. It is a shame that even more of our children are finishing primary school obese.â€
The team believed that kids who are obese during childhood may most probably be overweight as adults. This condition is supposedly linked to a range of diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disorders. The experts urged the importance of diet and lifestyle influences in the long run.
The Food4Thought campaign initiated by this team is motivating adults, kids, parents, teachers and politicians to keep a check on the kind of food the young generation is consuming. They have also been informed to observe the amount of daily physical activities children engage in.
The last report on this front stated that UK kids are opting for snacks laced with fat and sugars while neglecting healthier choices such as fruits and vegetables. Professionals are now working towards setting up vending machines to help students consume healthier meals in the day. This is an essential step to tackle childhood obesity.
The report is published online by the NHS.