More On Childhood Obesity From The UK

Share Button

exerciseFrom Your Health Journal…..”A very interesting article in a local publication from the UK called the Sunderland Echo called Sunderland children among fattest in the country. It is very interesting to read a ‘local take’ on childhood obesity from this UK town, whose children are being labeled as among the fattest in their country. According to the article, “While across Sunderland, 21.1 per cent of Year Six children – 10 and 11-year-olds – are fighting weight issues, well above the national average of 18.7 per cent.” Obesity is on the rise all over the world, part of defeating it is acknowledging it, then coming up with a game plan. This article mentions how they are looking for a solution. So many children already show risk factors for heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and weak joints. Also, many of these young children are bullied at school, as well as having low self esteem. Please visit the Sunderland Echo (link provided below) to read the complete article.”

From the article…..

Sunderland youngsters are among the fattest in the country, the Echo can today reveal.

And in one city ward, a quarter of reception age children – four and five-year-olds – are overweight or obese.

While across Sunderland, 21.1 per cent of Year Six children – 10 and 11-year-olds – are fighting weight issues, well above the national average of 18.7 per cent.

The areas which have the highest levels of childhood obesity are Millfield, Hetton, Castletown and Washington Central.

But it is in the Sandhill ward where the biggest concerns are, where one-in-four reception age youngsters are deemed overweight.

The figures come amid calls for fizzy drinks to be heavily taxed and junk food adverts banished until after the watershed.

Nicola Young, specialist weight management dietician at Sunderland Royal Hospital, said: “There is no one answer to this, but a lot of it has to start with education at an early age.”

In a bid to tackle the problem, GPs, school nurses and other health professionals in the city have referred more than 160 families to the Lifestyle, Activity and Food programme (LAF) based at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

The programme aims to help support and guide families in areas including preparing a balanced meal, taking regular exercise and teaching them the importance of an overall healthy lifestyle.

Sunderland’s Child Poverty Needs Assessment identified a correlation between low income and a greater risk of obesity.

With 45 per cent of Sunderland residents living within 20 per cent of the most disadvantaged areas across England, rates of childhood obesity are soaring.

Professor Stephen Singleton, interim chief executive and medical director for NHS North of England, said: “We know that obesity often leads to more serious health problems later in life, such as diabetes and cancer and increases the risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.”

Wearside’s adults aren’t fairing much better in the fat-stakes with 3,456 being referred by their GPs to the city’s Exercise Referral Programme, dubbed fitness on prescription.

In total, a quarter of adults in the city are now overweight or obese.

Millions of pounds is spent each year on Wearside tackling the growing problem but dieticians say simple factors like learning to cook a meal could make the world of difference.

To read the full article…..Click here