Diet report Less overweight children

Weight problems in preschool children are declining

16/12/2012

On Thursday, the German Nutrition Society (DGE) handed over the Nutrition Report 2012 to the Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Ilse Aigner. The report shows, among other things, that the number of overweight children has dropped significantly.

In particular, the high-sugar and high-fat diet with simultaneous lack of exercise is responsible for the massive increase in weight problems in children and adolescents in recent decades. The current nutrition report reveals a pleasing trend reversal towards a healthier diet. At the same time, the experts noted a decline in the number of overweight children in Germany - at least in preschool age. In the opinion of the Federal Consumer Minister, this positive development is also the result of intensive education and prevention measures. However, these have apparently not reached the adults, because here the proportion of overweight remains at a high level.

Proportion of overweight increases in old age
While the proportion of overweight and obese children in preschool age according to calculations of the German Society for Paediatrics and Youth (DGKJ) has fallen by up to three percent (obesity or obesity: decline by 1.8 percent), are still 60 percent of men in Germany and 43 percent of women too fat. With increasing age, the proportion of obese people increases continuously. According to the latest nutrition report, 74% of men and 63% of women are overweight in the 70-74 age group. This is mainly due to the imbalanced nutrition of the elderly. She is according to the nutritional report clearly too fatty. Especially for many men, meat is part of every meal, which usually involves a high intake of fat. According to the experts, they eat an average of one kilogram of meat per week, which clearly exceeds the recommendation of the German Nutrition Society for a maximum of 600 grams of meat per week. The meat consumption of women is on average just below this nutritional recommendation of the DGE.

Germans eat more vegetables
In addition to the pleasing decline in weight problems among preschool children, the 12th Nutrition Report, which was presented by the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) on Friday in Berlin, also shows a positive assessment of fish and vegetable consumption. The additional consumption of more than 1.1 kilograms of vegetables per capita in 2012 compared to the year 2000 is also an expression of a trend towards „more conscious diet“, explained Ilse Aigner. The President of the German Nutrition Society, Professor Helmut Heseker, added: „We welcome this positive trend very much.“ The only downside is the decrease in fruit consumption in the same period by 800 grams per capita per year. Overall, the change to more vegetables, however „for a better supply of some vitamins as well as phytochemicals and fiber“, explained Prof. Heseker. The expert advises to make even greater use of the health-promoting potential of plant-based foods in the future. „For vegetables and fruits as well as grains from the whole grain“ should consumers „even more access“, so the DGE president. Professor Heseker recommends five servings of vegetables and fruit each day as well as the intake of at least 30 grams of fiber.

For more than forty years, the nutrition report appears
Every four years since 1969, the German Nutrition Society has published the Nutrition Report, which contains the „Basis of a scientifically founded stocktaking and evaluation of the nutrition situation in Germany“ is the current press release of the DGE. Commissioned and supported by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV), the DGE has now prepared the 12th Nutrition Report. Among other things, the researchers are investigating the question of what and how much is eaten in Germany, the health consequences this entails and how the dietary habits and the supply of people change. „Thus, the nutrition report in the food and information information overload, with its often complex, often confusing and contradictory statements, provides a sound and objective source of information for those interested in nutrition topics in the fields of counseling, education, media, politics, economics and science“, explained Prof. Peter Stehle from the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University in Bonn, editor-in-chief of the 12th Nutrition Report.

Nutrition situation of senior citizens
In the 12th Nutrition Report, the authors paid particular attention to the diet of elderly elderly people cared for and cared for in private households as well as the quality of food on wheels. Overall, the 12th Nutrition Report consists of the five chapters „Nutritional situation in Germany; Nutritional situation of senior citizens with need for care in private households; Situation and satisfaction with the offer of meals on wheels; Food Safety“ such as „Prevention through nutrition“. So cover the report „many current nutritionally relevant topics“, This is the message of the German Nutrition Society. (Fp)

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World Vegetarian Day: Many celebrities eat vegetarian
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On the first of October is the World Vegetarian Day
Vegetarians live longer?
Vegans live healthy with risks
Health benefits of the vegetarian diet
Gout: Sport and vegetarian diet helps

Picture credits: H.D.Volz