Child obesity a big problem
It used to be that fat children were considered cute. You couldn’t resist pinching that fab flab of fat! But now, child obesity is a big problem that should not be taken lightly.
Health experts around the world blame it on “TV watching and overconsumption of unhealthy snacks.” Sounds familiar? As kids (or even as adults), you probably remember munching on tons of junk food while glued to the TV set it was hard to pry you away from the electronic babysitter.
According to research conducted by scientists in 10 European countries, this mindless consumption of mounds of unhealthy snacks and soft drinks while watching TV is making preschool children pile on the excess pounds.
The big fat truth is obesity among European preschoolers is hitting record levels, with more than one in eight children overweight in northern Europe. The number increases to more than 25 percent in parts of southern Europe. Showing the highest levels, with 38 percent classified as overweight, are the young girls of Spain.
The multi-country research project is supported by a multi-million grant from the European Commission, and will include the development and testing of a new program designed to help kindergartens in six European Union countries promote healthy snacking, water consumption, physical activity, as well as limiting sedentary activities such as TV-watching and playing computer games.
The countries involved in the ToyBox study are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
There are no local statistics available on child obesity, but I guess an even bigger problem here is childhood malnutrition.
How to solve this big problem?
“We need a new approach to prevent obesity,” says Dr. Yannis Manios, coordinator of the ToyBox study and assistant professor at Harokopio University, Athens. “Young children are naturally energetic and they like being physically active since for them this is a way to interact socially and make friends. However, in the opposite direction, the natural human preference for sweet-tasting and energy-dense foods and drinks is leading children towards these food items whenever they are exposed to them. For these reasons, obesity prevention programs should try to ensure that children have free time and space to be physically active, create a healthy food and drink environment but also guide teachers and parents on how they can promote such behaviors.”
Dr. Manios and his team underscored the need for health-promoting policies. He notes, “We found that many countries are lacking clear guidelines on healthy eating and active play. However, there is good evidence linking sedentary behavior (like TV watching) with subsequent obesity. Therefore, TV-watching in kindergartens should be replaced by more active, non-competitive, fun activities which will promote the participation of the whole class and help children to achieve optimal growth, health and well-being.”
He hastens to add, “Similarly at home, TVs in the bedroom and unhealthy snacks in the kitchen cupboard are a bad idea. Parents should also remember that their role is not only to provide healthy food and drink options but also to act as a role model themselves, since kids are copying their behaviors.”
Attention, all parents!
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