New Study About Child"s Obesity
Not much time passed since an eight-nine years believes that the greatest gift I could receive is a bike, today kids this age want a computer or PlayStation. Apparently nothing serious, but it draws attention to a very important aspect - the level of physical activity is continuously decreasing. Many children prefer to spend hours in front of your monitor or TV at the expense of practicing a sport as a recreational activity or performance. The latest statistics from the UK show that 15% of the 5 million children aged 2 to 11 are obese, and another 15% are overweight.
Across the Atlantic the situation is similar - 10% of children aged between 2 and 5 are obese, 11.5% of those between 6-11 years and 15.5% of children in the 12-19 range. Moreover, 65% of the American population is considered obese, and 80% of obese children become obese adults.
As you know, obesity is a very serious health problem, contributing to 300,000 deaths annually in the U.S., and more worldwide. Statistics say that in 2005, obesity has made more victims than AIDS and tobacco. The negative effects of obesity in children and adolescents affect all body systems and appliances: hypertension, cardiovascular disease, joint problems, sleep apnea,respiratory problems and increase susceptibility to various cancers. There should be omitted from the list of psychological problems - depression, anxiety, social isolation, alienation - all due to a very low self-esteem, very bad image of oneself, poor relationships with others, which leads to frustration and conflicts.
The average caloric intake has increased dramatically in recent decades. If 1970 was 3300 kcal / day in 2004 reached an average of 3800 kcal / day. 60% of children aged 9 to 11 years eat sweets every day, while 16% consume salty snacks daily. In this respect, the UK government began the initiative rigorous control over advertising around what is considered "junk food" campaign that has spread from newspapers, television, billboards, the Internet, computer games, cinema. The most difficult fight proved that with aggressive advertising on television. On the other hand, were encouraged grocery stores and supermarkets offer loyalty points to customers who buy healthy food with low fat, sugar and salt. In addition, British doctors began to be monitored to see if they focus on preventing the onset of obesity in children.
All these measures back not only for public health care, but also a strong economic argument. Obesity is expensive. For example, childhood obesity cost the U.S. more than $ 35 million in 1979-81 and this amount has increased four times from 1997 to 2000, reaching $ 127 million. Obese children are 5 times more likely to a life of poor quality, than children of normal weight. Their schooling is bad because the days spent with medical problems similar to that of children with cancer receiving chemotherapy.
Obese youth are at risk of type 2 diabetes, a disease that was previously the preserve of the elderly, but now has become common among obese adolescents. These children obese diabetic involve a number of very significant costs to the healthcare system, not to mention that they are predisposed to heart disease, heart attack, kidney failure, blindness, infections which sometimes lead to amputations of limbs and sudden death.
Children living in large cities tend to have more weight than those who live in small towns or rural areas. This trend seems to be related to the fact that in cities and large cities there are plenty of fast food restaurants. Chicago is the epicenter of the obesity epidemic. 70% of schools in Chicago have at least one fast food nearby, and children prefer fast food menu, which can contain up to 1000 kcal more than a meal considered healthy.
Across the Atlantic the situation is similar - 10% of children aged between 2 and 5 are obese, 11.5% of those between 6-11 years and 15.5% of children in the 12-19 range. Moreover, 65% of the American population is considered obese, and 80% of obese children become obese adults.
As you know, obesity is a very serious health problem, contributing to 300,000 deaths annually in the U.S., and more worldwide. Statistics say that in 2005, obesity has made more victims than AIDS and tobacco. The negative effects of obesity in children and adolescents affect all body systems and appliances: hypertension, cardiovascular disease, joint problems, sleep apnea,respiratory problems and increase susceptibility to various cancers. There should be omitted from the list of psychological problems - depression, anxiety, social isolation, alienation - all due to a very low self-esteem, very bad image of oneself, poor relationships with others, which leads to frustration and conflicts.
The average caloric intake has increased dramatically in recent decades. If 1970 was 3300 kcal / day in 2004 reached an average of 3800 kcal / day. 60% of children aged 9 to 11 years eat sweets every day, while 16% consume salty snacks daily. In this respect, the UK government began the initiative rigorous control over advertising around what is considered "junk food" campaign that has spread from newspapers, television, billboards, the Internet, computer games, cinema. The most difficult fight proved that with aggressive advertising on television. On the other hand, were encouraged grocery stores and supermarkets offer loyalty points to customers who buy healthy food with low fat, sugar and salt. In addition, British doctors began to be monitored to see if they focus on preventing the onset of obesity in children.
All these measures back not only for public health care, but also a strong economic argument. Obesity is expensive. For example, childhood obesity cost the U.S. more than $ 35 million in 1979-81 and this amount has increased four times from 1997 to 2000, reaching $ 127 million. Obese children are 5 times more likely to a life of poor quality, than children of normal weight. Their schooling is bad because the days spent with medical problems similar to that of children with cancer receiving chemotherapy.
Obese youth are at risk of type 2 diabetes, a disease that was previously the preserve of the elderly, but now has become common among obese adolescents. These children obese diabetic involve a number of very significant costs to the healthcare system, not to mention that they are predisposed to heart disease, heart attack, kidney failure, blindness, infections which sometimes lead to amputations of limbs and sudden death.
Children living in large cities tend to have more weight than those who live in small towns or rural areas. This trend seems to be related to the fact that in cities and large cities there are plenty of fast food restaurants. Chicago is the epicenter of the obesity epidemic. 70% of schools in Chicago have at least one fast food nearby, and children prefer fast food menu, which can contain up to 1000 kcal more than a meal considered healthy.