Too much, too young

Lucy Atkins says children have never been fatter or so prone to eating disorders and offers practical advice to parents.  Professor Jane Wardle, director of the Cancer Research UK health behaviour unit at University College London, who led a study into childhood obesity, points out that there has been a huge rise in childhood obesity across all social groups. 

Wardle works with families to tackle children’s weight problems and says: “It is definitely not the parent’s fault alone.  We are programmed by evolution to maximise food consumption and minimise action”.  Wardle points out that there is also a genetic component to weight.  

Atkins writes about the importance of exercise and says it is not a normal part of life any more. She points out that the number of children being driven to school has doubled in the past 20 years, along with obesity levels. 

On average children spend more time in the car than in PE lessons.  Although all pupils should be offered PE on the UK curriculum at least twice a week, this is nothing like enough exercise for a child, who should be running around for an hour or more a day.  T

he Traffic Light programme run by Great Ormond Street to tackle childhood obesity through diet and exercise is mentioned.   

Ken Fox, professor of exercise and health science at Bristol University points out that studies show activity rates drop off sharply in the teenage years, particularly among girls.  He says that parents should encourage activity whenever possible.  Professor Paul Gateley, an exercise and obesity specialist at Leeds Metropolitan University, talks about the importance of parents acting as good role models.

(Guardian G2, pages 6-11, Lucy Atkins)