Childhood Obesity Warning: Junk Food 'Destroying Health Of A Generation', Say Doctors
Junk Food 'Destroying Health Of A Generation Of Children'
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The health of an entire generation of children could be "destroyed" by a diet of junk food and lack of exercise, doctors have warned.
As a result, GPs have called for an emergency taskforce to tackle childhood obesity and reduce the risk of future health problems.
In an open letter to the Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Dame Sally Davies, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and 11 partner organisations said a national Child Obesity Action Group (COAG) should be formed as "a matter of urgency".
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The taskforce would be similar to the Government's Cobra panel, which deals with terrorism and national disasters, and would tackle "the rising epidemic of childhood obesity", a RCGP spokesman said.
Doctors, nurses, midwives, dieticians, dentists and schools would collaborate to try to prevent obesity and improve treatment services to stop children developing health problems in later life.
In the letter to the Chief Medical Officer, health leaders have called for a raft of other measures including:
:: Increased support for the National Child Measurement Programme
:: Improved investment in data-gathering IT programmes for weight management
:: More training in malnutrition and obesity for GPs and other health professionals
:: Outreach projects to educate families about the dangers of obesity
Dr Rachel Pryke, RCGP clinical lead for nutrition said: "The nutritional patterns laid out in early years can define a child's health for life and the stark fact is that overweight children are being set up for a lifetime of sickness and health problems.
"We are in danger of destroying the health of a whole generation of children. As parents and health professionals, we need to take responsibility and ensure that every child has a healthy and varied diet and regular exercise."
Dr Pryke said child obesity treatment was "a postcode lottery", with many areas having limited or no services at all.
"We cannot allow our young people to become malnourished, squandering their childhood and vitality hunched over computer consoles and gorging on junk food," she added.
"We have reached a state of emergency with childhood obesity and the current threat to public health is most definitely 'severe'.
"We need the right infrastructure, investment and knowledge to bring about the huge changes that are necessary if we are to protect the next generation.
"A national Child Obesity Action Group will allow us to call up a 'battalion' of health professionals to lead the fight for our children's health."
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Why Are Kids Obese?
Genes(01 of15)
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The issue: As the "No Time to Wait: The Healthy Kids Strategy" report notes, there are more than 50 different genes that have been found to be associated with obesity, and likely more that haven't yet been uncovered. Some of these include genes that contribute to people feeling hungry, even when they're not.The potential solution: For some genes, breastfeeding has been found to help stave off these effects. A Harvard study also found that exercise can be another preventative measure. (credit:Shutterstock)
Physiology(02 of15)
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The issue: Thanks to the way evolution works, our bodies tend to crave high-calorie foods over other types to ensure we have enough to sustain our energy — even when there's plenty of options around us. The potential solution: The answer could start in utero — correlations have been found between women eating high calorie foods while pregnant and children growing up with weight issues. (credit:Shutterstock)
Sleep(03 of15)
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The issue: Just like for adults, getting enough sleep in childhood is closely linked to weight gain, and according to Time, children have been getting anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes less sleep in the past decade.The potential solution: Ensure children are getting the sleep they need, according to their age. For newborns (0-2 months), that's 12-18 hours; infants (3-11 months) 14-15 hours; toddlers (1-3 years), 12-14 hours; preschoolers (3-5 years) 11-13 hours; school-aged children (5-10 years) 10-11 hours; and adolescents (10-17 years) 8.5-9.25 hours. (credit:Shutterstock)
Mental Health(04 of15)
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The issue: While research is still being conducted on the relationship between weight and mental health, some links have been made with medication and weight gain, as well as a lack of self-esteem and less physical activity.The potential solution: Definitive research is still needed, but there's a potential for children falling into a vicious cycle of, for example, depression and not eating properly or exercising regularly. Incorporating physical activity can help reduce stress as well as potential for mental illness, while medical professionals can help advise on alternatives to medications that cause weight gain. (credit:Shutterstock)
Time Crunch For Cooking(05 of15)
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The issue: Parents point to a lack of time to prepare healthy meals, and are serving more fast food and processed food to their kids.The potential solution: Ensuring family meals are a regular occurrence, where both kids and parents pitch in with healthy menu ideas and preparing the food. This helps ensure everyone knows what ingredients are going into their bodies. (credit:Shutterstock)
Cost Of Groceries(06 of15)
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The issue: Fresh fruits and vegetables tend to cost more than fast food or prepared meals, and it can be difficult for families, especially those with less income, to buy healthy food all the time.The potential solution: One suggestion nutritionists often make is to buy frozen fruits and vegetables (not frozen meals) to cut down on costs and seasonality, making them an easy addition to most meals. Just watch out for seasonings, which can contain lots of sodium. (credit:Shutterstock)
Access To Fresh Food(07 of15)
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The issue: For smaller towns and communities, fresh food isn't available all year round, but fast food is plentiful.The potential solution: These so-called "food deserts" are an issue across the continent, but some potential innovative solutions have been cropping up, like mobile markets and fresh food in reclaimed regions like shipping containers, as CBC reported. (credit:Shutterstock)
Knowledge(08 of15)
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The issue: We might have a ton of information about nutrition at our fingertips, but not a lot of it is sinking in. According to the Panel, parents report not knowing how many calories their kids need each day, or what nutritional information on foods actually means.The potential solution: Reading articles about deciphering nutrition labels is always helpful, but giving kids a holistic education in school on their daily needs, and which foods will actually deliver them in a healthy manner, could also change the tide. (credit:Shutterstock)
Changes In Kids' Activities(09 of15)
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The issue: There's no question kids are more attached to electronics than ever before (as we all are), and it's impacting how much they are moving around. As the Panel reports, kids now spend 62 per cent of their waking hours sedentary.The potential solution: The CDC recommends children get at least one hour of physical activity each day, so parents need to make an effort to ensure that's happening with their children, whether it's walking to and from school, playing in the backyard or engaging in extracurricular activities. (credit:Shutterstock)
No Time To Walk(10 of15)
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The issue: Along the same lines of the issues with physical activity, the busier schedules get, the more likely kids are to get around by car and less by their own physical effort, whether that means walking, biking or even being pushed in a stroller.The potential solution: Planning enough time to allow children to walk to and from activities and school, and building that into the daily schedule. Stopping the reliance on the car will be good for the wallet, the earth and the body! (credit:Shutterstock)
Cost Of Activities(11 of15)
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The issue: For kids who want to get involved in sports or extracurricular activities, this can mean a significant financial investment — and often for parents who can't afford it.The potential solution: Looking into secondhand equipment or even scholarships for sports is an option, as are lower-cost leagues or sports that require fewer pieces of equipment, such as track and field. (credit:Shutterstock)
Changing Neighbourhoods(12 of15)
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The issue: Along with busy schedules that compel parents to drive are neighbourhoods that do the same thing, thanks to a lack of sidewalks — or other areas that don't allow for outdoor playing, as when ball hockey is banned on streets. The potential solution: Finding open spaces in your neighbourhood for kids to play together, whether it's on playgrounds or even someone's big front yard. Parents can also band together to talk to town officials about restrictions in order to find a way to get kids moving. (credit:Shutterstock)
Safety Concerns(13 of15)
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The issue: A combination of potential dangers and parents who are possibly more nervous than those in generations past can make for situations where children aren't allowed to go outside and play, keeping them from their healthy physical activity.The potential solution: Talking to other neighbourhood parents about the issue can help create an organization that allows for kids to play safely together, possibly with a rotating chaperone. (credit:Shutterstock)
Food Marketing(14 of15)
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The issue: The massive prevalence of junk food advertising directed at children — according to the Panel, in one week, 2,315 food-related ads were shown on free channels in Ontario and Quebec, 257 of which aired when at least 20 per cent of the audience was targeted at 2-to-17 year olds. The potential solution: The Ontario government is currently taking into consideration the recommendation that junk food ads be banned from being shown to kids, though nothing has yet been set in place. (credit:Shutterstock)
Social Disparities(15 of15)
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The issue: This massive topic obviously affects everything from health to education to relationships. But when it comes to obesity, lower incomes mean fewer fresh foods, both in supermarkets and restaurants. It could also mean living in an area where such options aren't even available, and for immigrant families, not having access to (or enough time to prepare) traditional ingredients and meals.The potential solution: This issue encompasses almost every factor mentioned in the report, and each step forward from both a personal and governmental level can help alleviate the issues, if not completely correct them. (credit:Shutterstock)
Dr Richard Roope, RCGP clinical lead for cancer, said: "For the first time, we have a generation of patients who may predecease their parents. Only 3% of the public associate weight with cancer, yet, after smoking, obesity is the biggest reversible factor in cancers.
"Radical steps need to be taken - at the very least levying tax on sugary drinks. We've seen this approach work with smoking where there was a notable fall in the number of smokers once prices were increased.
He added: "GPs aren't killjoys - we want all our patients to have healthy and fulfilling lives, whatever age they are- but this crisis is happening and it's real.
"We have a huge problem on our hands when seven-year-olds present in our surgeries with type two diabetes - something that was previously only ever associated with the weight gain of middle-age.
"We are in denial. Our children are currently amongst the most overweight in Europe. This statistic is something that we should all be extremely ashamed of and we all have a responsibility to take action and reverse the trend."
A Department of Health spokeswoman said the Chief Medical Officer would formally respond "in due course".
She said: "Tackling obesity is one of our major priorities, but there is no magic bullet to solve the problem, and everyone has a role to play. We know that childhood obesity is at its lowest since 1998 but more should be done. The Government is not considering a sugar tax."