(14-01-07) 27% of young kids overweight or obese

A new study of school children in the west of Ireland has found that over one-quarter of senior infants are overweight or obese.
According to the study, which took place in primary schools in Mayo, 27% of senior infants were overweight or obese, compared to a European average of less than 20% for five to 17-year-olds.
While young girls appeared to be more prone to putting on weight, the researchers noted that the most high risk group in the study was six-year-old boys whose families held medical cards.
They said that if such information on weight was gathered regularly, it could contribute to a national database on growth measurements, as recommended by the National Task Force on Obesity.
The research was carried out by Dr Marita Glackin, a specialist in public health medicine and Dr David Evans, a senior researcher with the HSE West.
Children who are overweight or obese are significantly more likely to be overweight or obese as adults. People who are overweight or obesity are at an increased risk of developing a number of serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.
Weight problems can also have a serious effect on a person's psychological health and studies indicate that overweight children are more likely to be bullied.

FONTE: Irishhealth.com

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