Childhood Obesity –An International Problem. What Every Parent Should be Aware of

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a major public health problem that requires immediate action by the scientific community and the goverments. It is not clear what causes obesity but several dietary patterns seems to have association. We examine the association of breakfast consumption, meal frequency, school's canteen's food, fruit -vegetable and fast -food consumption. Keywords OpinionThe increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents worldwide, is "dramatic" in recent decades [1]. The IOTF characterizes it as an "out of control" situation. The figures are alarming: more than 155 million schoolage children are overweight, of which 30-45 million are obese. Childhood obesity comlicationsAs stated in the WHO global report on obesity, the most important long-term complication is the fact that obesity is maintained in adulthood, along with all the accompanying health risks [2]. Amongst the effects affecting all organic systems are dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, type II diabetes andfatty liver. Other complicationsmay be a reduced quality of life, low self esteem and poor academic performance [3]. Childhood obesity etiology"If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health." Hippocrates 460-377 BC Although the circumstances under which obesity occurs are not fully understood, it is confirmed that obesity appears when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure. However, environmental factors, preferences, lifestyle and cultural environment seem to play an important role in the increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide [4] (www.ideficsstudy.eu). The food categories related to childhood obesity are oils, sweets, meat, cheese and frozen desserts [6]. Dietary patterns associated to childhood obesitySeveral factors have contributed to the change of children's nutrition. To name a few; the increasing food availability, the urbanization and the overall improvement of the socio-economic conditions. Below, we will examine dietary factors that are linked to childhood obesity, such as breakfast consumption, meal frequency, eating at school, types of snack, fruit, vegetables and fast food consumption. Breakfast:Although the exact mechanism remains unclear, eating breakfast may be associated to a lower fat intake and a better distribution of calories intraday [7].Moreover, breakfast consumptionis a sign of a healthy and organized eating behavior [8].