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The facts on childhood obesity continue to reveal important information that parents must read and address if they are not going to inflict their kids with this potentially life destroying problem.
Here are three recent reports that reiterate the dramatic effects of early childhood obesity.
‘Being fat at four means a life of ill-health’
More than one in five children in England start their school life overweight or obese.
Some four-year-olds are so big now that, for the first time, Marks and Spencer has launched a range of out-sized school wear to cater for them.
Such overweight and obese children are left at increased risk of health problems such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, joint and foot problems, as well as psychological problems.
Kellogg’s announces cut in sugar in its cereals
Kellogg’s is reducing the sugar content in a range of its breakfast cereals by 15%.
The move comes after criticism that high levels of sugar, salt and fat in cereals are contributing to childhood obesity.
The change will happen next year in four of the firm’s Coco Pops products.
Greg Peterson, Kellogg’s UK managing director, said: “We have listened to mums. They want a balance: lower sugar cereals which children will still eat.”
He added: “We have invested millions of pounds and thousands of staff hours over the last two years to make this happen, and will do this without compromising the taste.”
At present Coco Pops contain 35% sugar. After the reduction the level will go down to 29.75 %.
However, it will still be almost double the maximum amount recommended by the Food Standards Agency of 15% – the amount where sugar turns red on the traffic light labeling system.
Obesity ‘often set before age of two’
A study of more than 100 obese children and teenagers found more than half were overweight by 24 months and 90% were overweight by the age of five.
A quarter were overweight before they were five months old, the researchers reported in Clinical Pediatrics.
In the UK, around 27% of children are now overweight.
The children in the study – who had an average age of 12 – were all overweight or obese by the age of 10.
It’s perfectly clear from the above reports that parents have a profound effect on their children’s future obesity risks and early dietary control is essential.
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