Researchers increase issues in a current commentary.
Since 1990, the prevalence of childhood obese and weight problems has practically doubled worldwide, affecting each continent. Although the United States leads in prevalence, many different international locations are shut behind.
In Southern Europe, together with Greece, Italy and Spain, 10 to 15% of youngsters are overweight, whereas Eastern European international locations have considerably decrease charges, however are experiencing a speedy enhance which will quickly match Southern Europe. Globally, Asia has practically half of all obese youngsters beneath the age of 5, and Africa has one-quarter of such youngsters. In Latin America, about 20% of youngsters beneath 20 are obese. Many creating international locations face the twin problem of each obese/weight problems and malnutrition of their youngsters.
The deleterious penalties of this epidemic are already evident: childhood hypertension, kind 2 diabetes, amongst others. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine and colleagues sound the alarm and talk about each challenges and potential options in a commentary printed in The Maternal and Child Health Journal.
“Pediatric overweight and obesity have reached epidemic levels in the U.S. and are becoming a pandemic globally. These conditions lead to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and lipid disorders, which contribute to metabolic syndrome. In adults, these issues significantly increase the risks of heart attacks, stroke, liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, arthritis, and certain cancers – many of which are now occurring at younger ages,” stated Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., first writer and the primary Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “Through coordinated clinical and public health efforts, we can address these troubling trends and work toward a healthier future for children and families globally.”
The Role of Body Mass Index (BMI)
In the commentary, the authors report on the main causes of this epidemic together with high body mass index (BMI), which will increase the dangers of many critical health points. In the U.S., a preschooler is taken into account obese if their BMI exceeds the 85th percentile. Research exhibits that these youngsters are at a considerably greater danger of being obese throughout adolescence in comparison with these with a BMI on the 50th percentile. This underscores the misperception that youngsters merely “outgrow” obese points.
In addition, the authors be aware that healthcare suppliers and public health practitioners face main challenges in boosting each day bodily exercise amongst youngsters, which is essential for growing metabolic charges, decreasing BMI, and lowering future dangers of coronary coronary heart illness.
“With declining physical education in schools and excessive time spent on electronic devices, many children fail to meet recommended activity guidelines. This sedentary behavior contributes to overweight and obesity through poor diet, reduced sleep, and decreased physical activity,” stated Panagiota “Yiota” Kitsantas, Ph.D., co-author and professor and chair, FAU Department of Population Health and Social Medicine, Schmidt College of Medicine. “Encouraging organized, enjoyable activities rather than competitive ones can help children achieve necessary physical activity levels.”
The authors additionally warning that whereas growing ranges of each day bodily exercise is important, it isn’t adequate to make a serious influence on the charges of childhood obese and weight problems. The rise of high sugar-containing meals, together with consumption of ultra-processed meals are also main contributors.
“Nearly 70% of the average U.S.-based child’s diet is made up of ultra-processed foods,” stated Hennekens. “Moreover, consumption of ultra-processed foods among children under 24 months is rising worldwide, triggering not only the potential of developing obesity but also decreased immunological protection.”
The authors say that extra analysis is required to pinpoint which parts of ultra-processed meals contribute to weight acquire in youngsters. However, they warn {that a} food regimen high in ultra-processed meals is linked to rising charges of obese and weight problems, with colleges being a serious supply of those meals.
Addressing School Nutrition and Food Marketing
“Evidence suggests that enhancing school lunch nutritional standards could help reduce obesity, particularly among low-income children,” stated Kitsantas. “We recommend adopting school food policies that remove ultra-processed foods from menus and promote healthier alternatives, alongside educational programs on healthy eating, despite the challenges posed by external influences on children.”
Among the challenges highlighted within the commentary is using social media and promoting, which considerably have an effect on youngsters’s food selections and behaviors together with sharing unhealthy food posts and recognizing many unhealthy food manufacturers upon publicity.
“Despite recommendations from the World Health Organization and public health authorities to restrict food marketing aimed at children, few countries have implemented such measures,” stated Hennekens. “The effectiveness of existing regulations in today’s media landscape is uncertain, creating an opportunity for health providers and public health practitioners to educate families about the impact of this advertising.”
The authors clarify that addressing the rising pediatric weight problems epidemic requires a multifaceted strategy. In 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed WHO pointers and launched their very own suggestions for managing pediatric obese and weight problems. These pointers advise healthcare suppliers and public health practitioners to sort out social determinants of health, use motivational interviewing to switch nutrition and exercise behaviors, and contemplate pharmacotherapy or surgical procedure to fulfill personalised affected person objectives.
However, the authors say that whereas there are licensed drug therapies out there, earlier than prescribing pharmacologic choices, maternal and little one healthcare suppliers ought to make use of therapeutic life-style modifications.
“While the ultimate goal is the prevention of pediatric overweight and obesity as well as metabolic syndrome, to paraphrase Voltaire, we should not ‘let the perfect be the enemy of the good,’” stated Hennekens.
In conclusion, the authors urge leveraging all out there assets to not less than stabilize the rising charges of childhood weight problems and its related health points. Ignoring these challenges might result in an unprecedented world epidemic of childhood and adolescent weight problems, with extreme future health penalties, as seen within the U.S.
“Healthcare and public health professionals must collaborate across disciplines to address these issues with patients, families, communities, and policymakers. United efforts can help reverse these troubling trends and ensure a healthier future for children worldwide,” stated Kitsantas.
Reference: “Navigating the Global Pandemic in Pediatric Overweight and Obesity: Emerging Challenges and Proposed Solutions” by Charles H. Hennekens, Dawn Harris Sherling, Alicia Caceres, Katerina Benson, Alexandra Rubenstein, Allison H. Ferris, Panagiota Kitsantas and Sarah Okay. Wood, 24 September 2024, Maternal and Child Health Journal.
DOI: 10.1007/s10995-024-04001-6
