The Obesity Epidemic
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Overweight and obesity are about health, not looks; dietary change and physical activity are prescriptions, not options. Learn how to diagnose and treat.
- The Obesity Epidemic. I grew up in Toronto, Canada in the early 1970s. My younger self would have been utterly shocked that today, obesity has become a rising, unstoppable global phenomenon.
- Slowly but relentlessly, the obesity epidemic has become a major threat to every child's ability to achieve their full potential as a healthy, productive adult. Children, adolescents and young adults now have obesity related conditions that were once rarely seen before adulthood--type 2 diabetes, liver disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, and more--that are compromising their current and future health.
The continued weight increase in the youngest Americans is especially worrisome for long-term health. One in five adolescents, ages 12–19; one in five kids, ages 6–11, and and one in ten preschoolers, ages 2–5 are considered obese, not just overweight.
Historical Obesity Rates In The Us
Obesity is medically defined as having a body-mass index of more than 30. The findings on obese kids in the U.S. Comes on top of this week's World Health Organization report that childhood obesity is soaring around the world, increasing more than tenfold over the past four decades.
Overweight and obese children have a higher risk to stay obese and childhood obesity is linked to a higher chance of early death in adulthood. Overall, 70.7 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese, meaning that an unhealthy weight has become the norm, with normal weight Americans — a BMI of less than 25 — now in the minority. Related: What the CDC report doesn't reveal is why the obesity crisis continues to worsen. A recent study by epidemiologists at Georgia Southern University discovered that fewer Americans, particularly women, are. Public health experts say that an unhealthy diet and the lack of exercise are still the two biggest culprits. 'There’s still a huge amount of cheap, accessible, highly processed food available everywhere almost anytime,' says Hu. 'And despite people doing more recreational activity these days, the overall activity level, household activity and occupational activity has decreased in recent years.'
Professor Russell Viner from the Royal College of Paediatrics shares his thoughts on the UK Government’s strategy to tackle the UK’s obesity epidemic Little over a year ago the government launched its. This long-awaited plan (which in its formative stages had been called a ‘strategy’) had been eagerly awaited by health campaigners, following a consultation process. The talk was that it would be a comprehensive and far-reaching strategy to tackle the UK’s obesity epidemic. With one in five children overweight or obese by the time they arrive at primary school, and this number rising to over one in three by the time they leave, this was a strategy that was long awaited and much needed. Unfortunately, when it came to launching, the strategy had become rather watered down. Having a Childhood Obesity Plan clearly signals a commitment from government that it has a strong.
However, the Plan as published was disappointing in its reach. The only real structural element was the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. Otherwise, it relied on physical activity, personal responsibility and voluntary product reformulation as the solution.
There was nothing on restrictions to junk food marketing at children or indeed more dramatically changing the unhealthy environment in which our children are growing up. Sugar and soft drinks The Soft Drinks Industry Levy – commonly referred to as the ‘sugar tax’ – was certainly the biggest positive from the plan. The levy seeks to encourage manufacturers to remove sugar from soft drinks or face a financial levy dependent on added sugar content. Passed by Parliament in April this year and coming into force next year, the soft drinks levy has already encouraged big name companies tofrom their drinks – which typically contribute the most sugar to children’s diets. Another promising aspect of the government’s plan is the sugar reduction programme. Led by Public Health England, this programme is working with retailers, manufacturers and restaurant sector to reduce sugar from foods commonly eaten by children by 20% by 2020.
In addition, to coincide with the Obesity Plan’s one-year anniversary, Public Health England announced plans to begin a new programme of work to make everyday food less calorific. This is very welcome – but targets must be ambitious and meaningful sanctions have to be imposed on those companies that don’t comply. But as we’ve said previously, these measures alone will not be enough, and on a range of fronts. Junk food Getting a will not happen unless we prevent the junk food industry from advertising to our children.
There is a wealth of evidence to show junk food advertising encourages unhealthy food choices in children, yet children continue to be bombarded with sophisticated advertising techniques during programmes they watch on TV and online. A recent study by the Obesity Health Alliance found that the top spending crisps, confectionary, and sugary drinks manufacturers put more than £143 million into advertising their products each year. When you compare that to the government’s £5.2 million spends on its flagship healthy eating campaign, Change4Life, it is perhaps not surprising that continue to climb. Existing Ofcom and Committee of Advertising Practice regulations need to be strengthened and expanded and the introduction restrictions on junk food advertising on TV and online media before the 9 pm watershed would send a strong signal of intent and leadership from the government. Coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and eight different types of cancers are clearly linked to overweight and obesity. And are five times more likely to grow into obese adults with not only a lifetime of health complications ahead but also a lifetime of costs incurred by the NHS.
The government must ensure children have the best possible start in life and parents and families are enabled and encouraged to make healthy food choices. At the moment, making the healthy choice often very difficult, particularly in the light of the so-called obesogenic environment in which we live. As has been said time and again, obesity is a complex problem with no silver bullet solution. But any solution must be a comprehensive and crucially long term.
Tackling obesity should not fall victim to political short-termism or industry lobbying. Obesity is a killer – just as smoking is. The government took on the tobacco industry effectively and there’s no reason why they can’t do the same with junk food. Professor Russell Viner Officer for health promotion Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Tel: +44 (0)20 7092 6000.