Overweight at 11 more likely to be heavy adult

[kwikdriver]

LONDON - Children who are overweight or obese by the age of 11 are likely to carry their excess weight into adulthood and to suffer from related health problems, researchers said on Friday.

A study by scientists at University College London who tracked nearly 6,000 children in Britain over five years showed about a quarter had a weight problem when they entered secondary school.

“Children who joined the study at age 11 and were already plump did not slim down at all over the five years of follow-up,” said team head Professor Jane Wardle.

The research, published online by the British Medical Journal, suggests that by the age of 11 a tendency to be overweight or obese is already set.

“It looked like obesity at 11 is already persistent obesity, so these things are being set earlier than we had previously thought,” she told Reuters.

Although the findings related to British children, Wardle said there is no reason to suspect that the same phenomenon would not been seen in other countries.

“I think of it as being part of the whole obesity epidemic. What is happening is that persistent obesity is starting earlier and earlier,” she added.

Health experts expect child obesity rates to soar in most parts of the world by the end of the decade. In Europe the number could reach 26 million, according to the International Obesity TaskForce (IOTF).

Overweight children face an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels and cancer as they grow older.

Wardle and her team said 29 percent of girls were overweight or obese, which was more than in boys. It rose to 38 percent among black girls but fell to 20 percent for Asian females.

There was little difference in weight in boys of different ethnic origins but 31 percent of students from a deprived socio-economic background had a weight problem, according to the research.

Wardle said the gender and ethnic association with excess weight was significant and requires further research.

Changes in diet, less exercise and too much time spent in front of television and computer screens have been blamed for the obesity rise.

North America, Europe and parts of the Western Pacific have the highest prevalence of overweight children.

Wardle said the findings of the study, which was funded by the charity Cancer Research UK, highlight the need for early intervention to prevent childhood and adult obesity.

“I think society as a whole needs to take childhood obesity much more seriously,” she added.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12641219/

[kebaldwin]

but 31 percent of students from a deprived socio-economic background had a weight problem

BINGO! This is what I have been preaching. If you saw what they gave kids for free breakfast, free snack, and free lunch -- you wonder if the kids would be better off not eating?

Assuming that both parents are working their butts off, and don't have time to come home and cook a healthy meal -- I bet the kids get another snack and dinner at home that came from a box / bag / fast food, etc -- that most likely is high glycemic.

If this is not bad enough -- the real problem is that the disasterous effects on their health will drag them behind in school which drags them behind in jobs which creates a perpetual state of future generations remaining deprived socio-economic.

And the problems have been getting worse and worse over the last several generations with the rise in high glycemic foods.

For those that are not deprived economically -- it effects you as well! Most of the these people do not have to pay for their medical care - but create huge medical bills. The people that have insurance pay for the people that do not, who are getting worse and worse.