As a nation our waistlines are increasing year on year and unfortunately this is not just isolated to adults – the weight of children is also increasing year on year. It was reported in 2014/2015 that one in four children in Australia are now overweight or obese (alongside the higher number of two in three adults).
Why has obesity/being overweight almost doubled in children in recent years?
There are lots of different contributing factors as to why one in four children are now obese or overweight compared to previous generations.
Food choices – children seem more likely to chose high fat and sugary foods as opposed to healthier options. Without food consumption being monitored this can become a real problem and lead to obesity. Fast food is cheap and easily available which creates more of a problem as it is rarely nutritious and usually high in calories.
Physical activity – Australian children are less active than they have been previously, now spending more time watching television (on average they watch tv 2 ½ hours a day), computers or electronic devices such as tablets. Most families have cars now which also contributes to lower level of physical activity.
Family influence – a family’s eating pattern can have a major influence on a child’s weight, often overweight parents can lead to overweight children. Aside from the family’s eating habits, unfortunately genetics can also play a part in the weight of a child. Some rare gene disorders cause severe childhood obesity, whereas other genes acting together with any of the above can make some children more susceptible to obesity.
Obesity and the effects on children
As with adults, being obese or overweight can have very negative effects on your health. For example Type 2 Diabetes is a medical condition often associated with obesity, and until recently was only diagnosed in adults but is now starting to appear in children. Other conditions that are common in obese adults are also present in obese children, such as sleep apnoea, respiratory problems, knee and joint problems and many more.
Aside from physical medical issues, being overweight or obese as a child can create social issues too. Children can also be cruel and bullying is very common, being obese or being overweight is unfortunately providing an easy target for a lot of bullies. Obesity can have a major effect on how a child feels about themselves and consequently how they interact with others. Low self esteem can have long-term negative effects on a child and can effect their relationship forming and school work.
What is the Government doing to help?
There isn’t a simple answer for reducing the rate of childhood obesity, it will require a number of years and different tactics to start to reverse the current 
upward trend. A good starting point is the website Healthy Kids, which is packed full of information. This Government funded project aims at educating parents and carers, as well as teachers and childcare workers about the importance of healthy eating and maintaining a healthy weight. But this website isn’t just for the adults that care for children, with such a tech savvy generation on our hands there is also a section for children/teens too.
Although it’s not the answer it’s certainly a start, and having this information freely available works towards the greater goal of educating people about eating habits to encourage them to form healthy habits.
Alongside the Healthy Kids website is also a Healthy Kids for Professionals website. This mini site is specifically designed to help health professionals such as your GP understand not only how to provide advice on how to tackle being overweight or obese, but also how to identify it in the first place. A lot of children or parents may not even recognise that there is an issue with weight until it is brought to light by an ‘outsider’.
Everybody should be doing everything they can to encourage healthy eating for children and teens, to help ensure that they live long and healthy lives. If you are overweight or obese as a child you are more likely to be overweight or obese as an adult.
0 Comments