Childhood Obesity Statistics

With childhood obesity statistics at a worrying level and the topic of overweight and obese children in the news so much these days, childhood obesity is an important issue for not only individuals, but also governments.

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in many parts of the world and is now a cause for concern for the World Health Organisation. According to the WHO, the number of under-5s suffering from childhood obesity worldwide is a staggering 42 million. (2010) The majority of these children – around 35 million – live in developed countries.

Childhood Obesity Statistics in America

In the US, about 19.6 percent in the 6-11 age range and 18.1 percent of 12-19 year olds were overweight in 2008. Although this number has not seen a significant increase since then, with an apparent levelling off of childhood obesity, this still means that the number of overweight kids in the US has tripled approximately 30 years and so is still a major health concern.

While we often associate childhood obesity with the US, the rest of the developed world is not immune.

Childhood Obesity Statistics
 in the UK

A recent survey in the UK indicated that 25 percent of British children are either overweight or obese by the time they start school at the age of 5 and over a third are overweight when they leave between the ages of 16-18.

And a shocking number of those children fall into the obese category while still at primary school. In 2010, just over 18% of British youngsters were obese by the time they reached 10 or 11. The levelling off of obesity in children seen in the US does not appear to be matched in the UK.

It is likely that at least one fifth of boys and one third of girls in the UK will be obese by 2020. Overweight teenagers have a 70 per cent chance of becoming overweight adults and if one of their parents is overweight, the risk goes up to 80%. Apart from the alarming increase in diseases related to obesity, these statistics are having a serious effect on life expectancy. It is predicted that life expectancy in developed countries, which has been rising gradually,will soon start to decrease.

This means that many more parents will watch their children die before they die themselves, which is a reversing of what they would expect to be the normal course of events. This is because long term obesity which starts in childhood will result in many of the diseases which would not generally be seen until middle or old age are actually affecting young adults as a result of obesity.

Therefore it is important that parents take note, keep an eye on their children and get advice if a child is putting on weight. It is much easier to prevent obesity if action is taken at the first signs of weight gain, than it is to treat the condition once the child is seriously overweight or obese. It is also important for the child's self- confidence and general well-being as well as for his or her physical health that measures are taken sooner rather than later.

Even simple steps, for example including more fruit and vegetables and less sugar and fat in the diet will go a long way to curtailing the problem. If the child is inactive, introducing a 30 minute walk, bike ride or kicking a ball in the garden or park is not too difficult and would be good for parents too. It's also a great way to catch up with your child and chat about what is going on at school and with friends.

Childhood Obesity Statistics in the European Union

In the European Union overall, over 20% of school-age children are overweight or obese. Thisadds up to over 12 million children.

Childhood Obesity Statistics In China

I visited China in the 80s, a country where a bit of extra weight was considered a sign of wealth and in my year there, I don't remember seeing anyone who was seriously overweight. Now, since the arrival of western fast food restaurants, 1 in 10 children in urban areas are not just overweight, but obese. This is also linked to the one child policy, which has resulted in only children who are spoiled by parents and grandparents and in a country which was recently very poor,, that often takes the form of overfeeding.

Adults are also becoming more and more overweight as they enjoy a wealthier lifestyle and now about 100 milliion obese people in China.

Childhood Obesity in Australia

Around 20% of Australian children and teenagers are overweight, which is an alarming figure, particularly when the rest of us associate Australia with the outdoor lifestyle and visualize children taking part in lots of sports. It is estimated that if this trend continues, by 2020 about 80% of Australian adults and 33% of Aussie kids will be either overweight or obese.

Childhood obesity statistics for all of the major areas of the developed world are frightening making obesity prevention and treatment an urgent necessity for both children and adults worldwide.

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