« March 2006

Child obesity termed epidemic
March 07, 2006

The number of overweight children worldwide will increase significantly by the end of the decade and scientists expect profound impacts on everything from public health care to economies, says a study published yesterday.

Nearly half of the children in North and South America will be overweight by 2010, up from what recent studies say is about one-third, according to a report published by the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity.

In the European Union, about 38 per cent of all children will be overweight if present trends continue -- up from about 25 per cent in recent surveys, the study said.

"We have truly a global epidemic which appears to be affecting most countries in the world," said Philip James, chairperson of the International Obesity Task Force and author of an editorial in the journal warning of the trend.

The percentages of overweight children also are expected to increase significantly in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Mexico, Chile, Brazil and Egypt have rates comparable to fully industrialized countries, James said.

He estimated that, for example, one in five children in China will be overweight by 2010.

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