Kids

You cannot miss the high levels of concern being expressed about levels of childhood obesity.  Almost a quarter of children aged 11 – 15 are obese – which means that their weight already puts them in danger of ill-health.  This figure shows a dramatic increase in only a decade.  Observers are linking these two facts and making predictions about how that increase could continue, leading to the majority of children being obese within the next ten years.

First of all, let’s take the hysteria with a pinch of salt.  There is no denying the huge jump in obesity rates for children and the worrying implications on health, especially for the future.  But that does not necessarily mean that the next ten years will show a similar rise.  So, before we write off our children’s future or our children’s children’s futures, let’s concentrate on the facts and not the projections of what might or might not happen.

That said, the scale and seriousness of the current levels of childhood obesity should not be underestimated.  In addition, we should also be concerned about how many children are not yet obese but are overweight.  Denying the problem prevents a solution.  With rates of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease already showing the effects of the change in waistlines, action is needed – and now.

So who is going to act?  Is it down to the government with yet another expensive (and not terribly successful) health initiative?  Is it down to schools?  Or is it down to us, the parents?

Well, the government is well-equipped to hand out advice and should be funding ventures which are proven to help kids reduce their weight.  Schools need to do their bit too, to provide healthy choices for children in eating, drinking and exercise.  But home life takes up the vast majority of a child’s life and it’s there that the biggest changes can be made, if necessary.  So parents – you have the duty, and you will reap the benefits along with your child.  Go forth and change those statistics!