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According to a 2004 report of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, since the 1970s the prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States has more than doubled for the 2-5 and 12-19 year age brackets and more than tripled for the 6-11 year age bracket. Worse still, those who are obese are trending to become heavier. On a distribution curve measuring body mass index (BMI), the lower end (underweight) was largely unchanged, yet the obese end of the spectrum had risen sharply. These are alarming statistics and a major cause for concern because of the huge social and medical imposts.

Childhood obesity leads to learning and social difficulties as obese children are often the objects of teasing or bullying and suffer from poor self-image. The incidence of depression in children has a high correlation with the rise in childhood obesity. The physical health problems associated with childhood obesity are frightening increased risk of diabetes, cardio-vascular disease, orthopaedic and back problems, poor balance and menstrual abnormalities to name a few.

Obese children invariably grow into obese adults and the consequent psycho-social and physical health problems impose a significant burden on the health system. These problems often occur in tandem and there is a heightened risk that these health issues will become chronic. Statistically, obese people are more likely to be found at the lower end of the socio-economic scale and employed in unskilled jobs or not employed at all. This means that the public burden also extends to welfare payments.

Why has childhood obesity increased so rapidly?

Our society seems to be reluctant to accept personal responsibility for many things and childhood obesity is one of them. Blame is often placed on genetic make-up, the prevalence of fast food advertising and the low cost and ready availability of these foods. The 2004 report above found that there had been no statistically significant increase in genetic causes, so the blame lies elsewhere.

Children tend to follow the example of their parents and it is hard to not point the finger at the parents of obese children. People are working longer hours and there is a decline in both the number of single income families and the number of extended families, meaning that more people fall into the trap of eating out and more often or relying on re-heat style meals that are quick and easy to prepare. These types of meals are often processed foods that fall short in terms of nutrition,

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