MY WORLD OF TRUTH

Child obesity is sometimes referred to as a modern-day epidemic. This is unsurprising, given that it is now regarded by the World Health Organisation(WHO) as one of the most serious global public health challenges of the 21st century.

Obesity in children is defined as a child having a body mass index (BMI) over the 95th centile on child growth charts, this measurement takes into account height, age and sex. Although there is debate about the best way to define child obesity. Nevertheless, national child growth statistics show that the numbers are a major concern.

Formal national records have been kept since 1995, and these now show that 19% of 10-11 year olds are obese. Figures suggest that the numbers may have started to level off, but remain alarmingly high. Even among younger children, the rates of obesity are shocking, with one in ten Reception-age children classed as obese. If overweight children are also included, the figures show that around 1 in 3 children is overweight or obese – that’s over four million children. Research suggests that if this is left untreated, up to 85% of these children will become obese as adults.

Child obesity is a problem that didn't actually come to light until the 1990s, when the number of obese children and adults saw a significant increase. In the 1980s, the number of children regarded as overweight was around 5%, while those found to be obese was only around 2% – within a decade these figures had almost doubled.

Weight gain occurs when we take in more energy (calories) from food and drink than we use up in our day-to-day activities. Obesity is a multi-factorial condition, which means that a combination of factors, including access to cheap, energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods and drinks, reduced activity and living in ‘obesogenic’ environments together cooked up a ‘perfect storm’. These factors are likely to have given the ideal conditions for the obesity epidemic to take hold.

Consequently, the solution is also likely to involve a range of factors, from those at the individual level, such as deciding to take the stairs rather than the lift, to those which tackle the environment and choices we are given as a society, such as the proposed tax on sugary drinks.

Statistics show that children aged 11-15 are more likely to be overweight and obese than younger children. However, weight issues can affect children at any age and studies show that many parents don’t even recognise when their child is overweight, and so don’t take any action. However, given the right kind of support, children who are obese can achieve a healthy weight as they grow, and can maintain this into adulthood if healthy habits are learned.

Obesity is common in all social classes, although it is twice as common among those families in the most deprived areas of England compared to the least deprived. Healthy eating is perceived as being expensive, but there are many ways to make healthy recipes on a budget. 

There are both acute and longer term consequences of obesity in childhood; physical, social and psychological well-being can all be undermined. In the short term, obesity can cause problems with bone health, breathing difficulties and impact social and psychological well-being, with problems including bullying and self-esteem. Obese children are also more likely to become obese as adults, with increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and some cancers, as well as joint and muscle problems.

Good nutrition is a cornerstone to children’s growth and development, and for many children, some small changes to food and activity levels will mean that over the growing years, slowing down the rate of weight gain, rather than losing weight per se, will help to achieve a healthy weight for height. For some children, who are already severely obese, more specific help might be needed, and this should be discussed with a GP, who may refer a child to a specific healthy weight programme, led by expert practitioners. Typically, these programmes are family-based and include nutrition, physical activity and behaviour components. The five pillars that can help to tackle child weight issues and obesity include:

For more information and other ways to help children who are very overweight, see the NHS child health measurement programme. 

Overall, the best way is to achieve a healthy weight from the start, beginning with the first stages of weaning and developing a lifelong love of good food.